“I won’t tell you again,” Matthewson said in a stern voice. “You stay back here where it’s safe. Graham—” he turned to the officer at his side “—if you see Miss Waterston make a move away from this spot, arrest her. I’m going to get a bit closer and see if I can set up a line of communication.”
When the PC moved up close, Holly shook her head and took a seat at an outside table nearby. “Fine,” she called out. “I’m not moving.”
As soon as the man turned his head, she pulled out her mobile and phoned through to the bakery. It was a long shot but from what Matthewson had said about communication, it was worth a try.
“Welcome to Sweet Baked Treats,” a very hesitant voice answered.
If Holly hadn’t known that Ben was in the shop, she never would have guessed the voice belonged to him. “Ben? It’s Holly. Is Lucy still in there with you?”
“Yes.” The poor kid sounded close to tears. “She keeps demanding to see Crystal. Says that she knows that your sister is hiding Clarence and she wants her to bring him around to see her. I told her she wasn’t working here today, but she won’t—”
There was a gasp and the voice abruptly cut off. For a horrified second, Holly thought that Lucy must have hurt Ben, then the young woman’s voice came on the line.
“Holly? You tell your sister to bring Clarence down here right now, or this young man won’t be so pretty when I return him to his mother!”
A wave of panic rose up from Holly’s feet, making her arms shake. She gripped the phone harder, a sheen of sweat making it slippery in her hand. “I can’t do that, Lucy. The police won’t allow anybody else to enter the shop. Come out now before anybody else gets hurt.”
“I want Clarence!”
“He’s staying with Derek Masters,” Holly shouted into the phone. For the first time, the PC realized that she was talking and made a grab for the mobile. She jerked back in the seat, scared for a second that the phone would go flying out of her hand, then it settled back into her palm. “Crystal’s been visiting him to help with his sobriety, but she’s not involved with this at all.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No! I swear on my life that Crystal doesn’t know where he is. She’s not interested in Clarence except as a sponsor—she’s just got engaged for Pete’s sake.”
There was a pause so long that Holly checked the phone display to ensure it was still connected. When Lucy came back on the line, her voice sounded subdued. “I don’t know what’s gone on? Where’s Petey? I swear I had him with me a few moments ago.”
“He’s out here, safe with me,” Holly lied, swiveling her head to see where the golden retriever had run. To her relief, she saw that someone had tied Petey to a bicycle stand nearby. She signaled to the PC and pointed to the dog, raising her voice as she did so. “I can bring him around to the bakery, but you must come outside to see him. It’s a health violation to let him inside, and I’ve already been cited for that after your last visit.”
There was a sniff on the line. “I don’t know what to do. All I wanted was to come down here for a week to meet up with my family. and now everything’s gone pear-shaped.”
“I understand,” Holly said, moving in step with Graham to where the dog was tied up. When she reached out for Petey’s lead, the PC gestured for her to move back, taking the leash himself. “Sometimes, no matter how much you want to show your family you love and care for them, you end by stuffing everything up.”
“What would you know?” Lucy was sobbing now, her mouth so close to the receiver that the sounds turned into bursts of static, nonsensical.
“Crystal isn’t in the bakery because I had a fight with her. Baking is the only job she’s ever wanted to do, and I treated her so badly that she walked away from it. Not only that, she left home and probably thinks I don’t love her any more.”
It seemed that Lucy’s tears were contagious.
“I’ve always loved Clarence. From the moment that Jessica brought him to the first family barbecue to show him off, he’s been the only man I had time for. It didn’t matter that he was from the wrong side of town, or a rotten drunk. I loved him a thousand times more than Jessica.” She broke off for a second, sniffing. “I would have treated him a thousand times better too.”
Together, the PC and Holly came into the square, the bakery straight in front of them. Sergeant Matthewson was already on site, giving Holly such a baleful glare that she could feel her toes curling.
“Here’s Petey,” Holly said, just as the PC dropped his leash. “Can you see him outside waiting for you? I bet he loves you a thousand times better than Clarence ever would.”
“It was an accident,” Lucy blurted out. “I can see the sergeant crouched down by the tavern entrance. You tell him that it was an accident. I gave Jessica a shove, sure, but she was the one who completely lost her footing and fell down the side of the hill.”
“I’ll tell him,” Holly said. “But wouldn’t you rather come outside to see Petey, then you can tell the sergeant yourself?”
“He won’t believe me. It’s like with Danny. That was an accident, too. I just went into his trailer to grab a bottle of bourbon that he’d stashed away in there. I thought if I planted a full bottle in Clarence’s trailer, it would stop the police from bothering him with their questions about when and how many bottles he bought and drank. I never meant to hurt the man. He just surprised me, and I hit him over the head. It was all an accident.”
“I believe you,” Holly said, clenching her jaw hard so she wouldn’t accidentally shake her head. Lucy might be watching her through the window and a gesture like that would make her true beliefs known. “The sergeant will too. There’s plenty of time to explain everything to him in detail. I used to work as a lawyer—I know how long it takes for justice to move, but if you tell the truth and ensure that everyone hears you, this mess can be sorted out in time.”
“You used to be a lawyer?”
“Yes. Back in Christchurch. I only came back to Hanmer Springs when my father died.” Holly’s voice spiraled down into sadness. “I thought that it was more important to stay here and build a relationship with my sister, but I guess I mucked that up.”
The PC standing next to Holly gave her a strange look and she shook herself. What on earth was she doing, talking on the phone to a criminal abductor as though Lucy was her counselor? Get a grip!
“Would you be my lawyer, if I surrender?”
Holly desperately wanted to lie and say yes. Say anything if it meant that Lucy would come outside and leave Ben safe and unharmed. But when she tried to form the words, her mouth refused, her throat seized. Matthewson was glaring at her, gesturing for Holly to hand him the phone. She shook her head. “I wasn’t in criminal law—I worked for companies. I can recommend someone, but I wouldn’t be any help to you at all.”
Now, Matthewson was frowning, shaking his head. Holly took a step back, straight in front of the door of the bakery. Only a few yards now stood between her and Lucy and Holly turned to look straight into the young woman’s eyes. “Please let Ben go. He’s just a kid. Please come outside.”
Lucy stared straight at Holly, raising the knife to shoulder height, blade pointing toward the door. Then her shoulders slumped, and her arms dropped, hand opening so that the knife fell uselessly to the ground. She stepped to the door and pushed it open slowly.
“Lay on the ground!”
Sergeant Matthewson directed her until Lucy was safely restrained and being escorted back to the police station.
“Here,” Graham said, handing Holly Petey’s leash. “Could you look after him until I sort something out? I need to get back to the station too.”
“Sure.” Holly was distracted, watching as Ben hugged his mother. The look of utter relief on Mrs. Hendrickson’s face was a stark reminder of the danger that Ben had been in just a few minutes before. She looked down at Petey. “I hope you’re good at minding the till, doggie, because I really doubt that I’ll be allowed to b
orrow Ben again.”
Petey looked up at her, tail wagging so vigorously that his entire body swung back and forth. While his long tongue hung down, the way Petey’s mouth pulled back made it look like he was smiling.
“Glad to see that someone’s happy,” Holly said, pulling him inside the bakery. She briefly thought of the lie that she’d told Lucy, about a dog in the shop being a health code violation. She thought that it might have sprung to her lips so quickly because it might truly be a regulation.
Holly shut the bakery up quickly, anxious to get the dog out of there and back home, where he could safely romp around in the backyard.
Chapter Twenty
Holly sat in Tilly’s living room, staring out into the back yard, laughing. “I think I’d better get Petey home before Elvira starts licking him back!”
The golden retriever had received a warm welcome from the household. With Lucy Walsham facing a long prison sentence, the responsibility of caring for the dog had stuck with Holly. She wasn’t sure quite how that had happened, but it didn’t matter—she was grateful for his company every day.
Company that she didn’t mind sharing.
While working in the bakery one morning, Elvira had shared that her mother Tilly would have loved a pet, but couldn’t reasonably take one on, given her condition. Always one to let someone else put ideas into her head, Holly had decided upon the visit immediately. Given the success of the first try, she intended to bring Petey around again.
“I heard that Lucy has already lodged an appeal against the verdict,” Tilly said, earning her daughter a few more minutes playing with Petey. “She still claims that the first murder was a terrible accident and the second was just manslaughter.”
“I doubt she’ll have any luck with that.” Holly pursed her lips. Although she liked to think of herself as seeking the good in people, Lucy had started off a lot higher in her estimation than she was trending now. “From what few details Matthewson has seen fit to release, she was lucky not to have a minimum parole period stuck on her sentence. I can’t imagine what it takes to wipe out an entire family unit just to have a better chance at your dream boyfriend.”
“Poor, Danny,” Tilly agreed, eyes gazing into the mid-distance. “I hate to think of him coming around from the blow to his head just long enough to be gassed.”
Holly laid a hand on Tilly’s. “I don’t think he regained consciousness. I certainly sleep easier believing that.”
She looked outside as Petey gave a louder bark than usual. Elvira had collapsed onto the ground and Holly was halfway to the door when she realized the girl was paralyzed, but only with laughter. She stood there for a moment longer, staring out at the display of mutual appreciation.
“Time to go,” she announced, heading outside. Holly patted her thighs and Petey left Elvira alone to come running. A step away he sat down, looking up expectantly for a treat. She fished one out of her pockets, having learned the hard way to always keep something tasty on hand during training. The one time she’d forgotten, it had set the golden retriever back a week.
“Can he come to the bakery tomorrow?” Elvira asked, giving Petey a farewell pat. “I’m sure that my decorating skills would be greatly enhanced if I had him for an audience.”
“Not until he’s a lot better trained than he is now,” Holly said. She’d love the opportunity to have him at work, too, but given the health concerns that would raise, she didn’t think she could swing it.
“Is Crystal ever coming back?”
Holly swallowed past a large lump in her throat at the surprise query. Although she’d never discussed the issue with Elvira, the teenager had intuited it was a subject out of bounds for conversation. Still, Holly should have understood that situation wouldn’t last forever.
“I’m paying her a visit tonight,” she admitted, mental fingers crossed that her latest plan at reconciliation would pan out in a way the previous attempts hadn’t. “Hopefully, I’ll have an update tomorrow.”
“That’s great!” Elvira gave Holly a quick hug. “Good luck.”
“Thank you.” Holly attached Petey’s leash and led him down the driveway, waving goodbye to Tilly as she passed the window. Just as she reached the sidewalk, Holly realized that the approaching footsteps belonged to Aidan. For a moment, she wanted to turn and run away, then she was dragged toward him by Petey’s eager welcome.
“Hi,” Aidan said with a shy smile. “How’re you doing?”
Holly stood, frozen in place, uncertain if he was addressing her or Petey. “I’m good,” she muttered, looking anywhere but at his face.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you’d be here.” Aidan gave her a tight smile. “I kind of wish that I’d stayed for a second cup of coffee after work.”
“Don’t be silly. This is your house. I’m the one who shouldn’t be popping in without checking first.”
The two of them stood in awkward silence for a minute, then Petey decided that he’d had enough. He started pulling Holly forward, giving a sharp bark when she resisted.
“I’d better go. I’ll see you around.”
Aidan gave a short reply, swallowed by the thumping of her heartbeat in Holly’s ears. She hurried along the street, unable to resist glancing back when she reached the corner. Aidan had gone.
Holly let out a pent-up breath and tugged Petey away from a lamppost. “That was uncomfortable, wasn’t it?”
The dog seemed unconcerned, continuing to pull Holly forward. Still, if that had been an awkward interaction, she had more of that to come at her next stop.
Alec answered the door, an expression of relief crossing his face when he saw Holly standing outside. “Crystal’s in the kitchen,” he said. “I’ll make myself scarce.”
Before Holly had the chance to tell him that wasn’t necessary, Alec disappeared into a doorway down the hall. She tied Petey’s leash to a coat hook outside the front door, telling him to sit. “I won’t be long.”
As she walked inside, Holly hoped her words of reassurance to the dog might turn out to be a lie.
Crystal perched on a stool at the kitchen counter, a pair of headphones leaving her unaware of her new guest. Holly stood in the doorway, watching her sister stir batter in time with the music. She gave an extra wiggle of her rear end as the song reached an exciting pitch.
When Holly tapped her on the shoulder, Crystal jumped a few inches into the air. She snagged the cord plugged in her mobile, popping the ear buds free with one quick motion.
“You startled me.”
No kidding. “I wanted to drop by and bring you and Alex an engagement present. We never got around to going out for that celebration meal.”
Crystal’s eyes were wary as she took hold of the envelope Holly held out for her. She held it by the edges as though it was a gift of anthrax powder rather than a card wishing her best of luck for the future.
When a minute passed with no attempt made to open it, Holly grew frustrated. One hand went straight to her hip, while she exclaimed, “It’s not a trick. You’re safe to look at what’s inside.”
“Okay.” A small frown creased her sister’s face as she slid her fingernail under the edge of the sealed flap.
When it got stuck, Holly gave an exasperated sigh. “Give it here.” She pulled the card out of her sister’s hands and tore open the envelope. “First off, here’s your card. It says best wishes for the future, in case you’re frightened of what it says inside. And here.” Holly held out a signed letter that had been folded inside.
“What’s that?”
“Your engagement present. I could pretend that it’s for Alec, as well, but I don’t think he’d really care about ownership of half an old house or half a bakery.”
Crystal looked at her with a cautious glance. The wariness in her gaze went halfway to breaking Holly’s heart.
“You’re gifting me half of Dad’s estate?”
“Yes.” Holly pointed to the signatures at the bottom of the page. “I’ve had it signed and witnessed and th
e whole thing’s kosher. You don’t even need to do anything—the transfer of title into both our names has already been made.”
“But… Dad’s will?”
Holly shook her head, huffing out another breath of air between pursed lips. “Dad’s will was so out of date that you should have challenged it to begin with. It’s obvious that he would have changed it to include you if he’d been thinking straight. The fact that he didn’t speaks more to his laziness and expectation he’d live forever, than any slight against you.”
Crystal continued to stare at the documents, now held in an increasingly shaky hand. “Are you sure?”
Holly gave a small cry, then grabbed her sister and pulled her into a hug. She’d missed her so much over the past few weeks that it was hard to put into words. The transfer was the only thing that she could think of that came somewhere close to breaching the gap between them. “Of course, I’m sure. You know as well as I do that my return to Hanmer Springs was only meant to be a short-term thing. This has always been part of your plan, your life. I should never have held the terms of an outdated document against you.”
She broke off the contact, head tilting forward while Holly fought for control of her voice. The words in her head always sounded so smooth and engaging but, in the moment, full of emotion, they stuttered and stumbled, failing to bridge the gap.
After a second spent staring at the floorboards, Crystal ran from the room and Holly closed her eyes. This had been the last best hope she had at her disposal for a rapprochement with her sister. To have it fail when she thought that it might, for once, turn out okay was a bitter disappointment.
Holly wiped the tears from her eyes with a sleeve. In a minute, she could walk outside and go back to her solitary evening. All she needed was a few deep breaths, then she wouldn’t rile Petey up into a barking mess of concern. The dog was so attuned to her feelings that sometimes he felt like a second skin.
Raspberries and Retaliation Page 12