Max & Me Mysteries Set

by Patricia H. Rushford

  I must have dozed off, because I woke up with a jolt around midnight. I’d heard something. There it was again—a creak on the stairs. I threw the covers aside and headed for the closet.

  It’s probably Amelia.

  Or not.

  The doorknob turned. A chill shuddered through me. I grabbed the knitted throw from the back of the chair and pulled it around me as I moved into the closet and quietly pulled the door closed. Every sound seemed magnified, though I doubted Amelia could hear a thing. The door opened and someone stepped inside. I curled up tighter and stopped breathing. All I could hope for now was that the intruder couldn’t see or hear me. I peeked through the slit in the closet door and ducked back when an elongated shadow filled the doorway. Something the sheriff said to Amelia pounded in my ears. “If they wanted the land, why not just kill you?”

  He’s back, and this time he’s going to kill Amelia.

  I flattened out against the wall wishing I could make myself invisible.

  If he was going to kill Amelia, why would he come into Max’s room? Of course, he might not know which room was hers, but something didn’t seem right. And if he did plan to kill Amelia, why was he still here? With the door partly open, I leaned forward for a better look.

  My breath came rushing out when I saw who it was. I pushed the closet door open farther and stood in the doorway with my arms folded. “Where have you been?”

  The girl I thought was my best friend whirled around and glared at me. “Jess, you nearly scared me to death. What are you doing here?”

  “I have been looking everywhere for you.” This wasn’t at all the reunion I expected to have if I ever saw Max again. She seemed furious with me, and to be honest, I wasn’t too happy with her either. “Everyone has,” I said. “I thought you’d been kidnapped. I told them you wouldn’t run away. I told them you hadn’t stolen anything, but you did run away, didn’t you? And what about Amelia’s missing money? Did you take that too?”

  Max looked at me for a minute, then pulled me the rest of the way out of the closet. “We have to talk.”

  “I’m not sure I have anything to say to you.” My eyes filled up, and I brushed them away with my sleeve.

  “Look, this wasn’t my idea. I had no choice. I had to leave.”

  I dropped onto the bed. “What are you talking about?”

  “This guy told me if I didn’t leave town for good, he’d kill me.”

  “Seriously?” Feeling suddenly cold, I wrapped the throw tighter around myself.

  “I wouldn’t lie to you, Jess.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “I came back to get some things.”

  I closed my eyes trying to understand. “You can’t just leave again.”

  “I have to. Don’t you see? I don’t have any proof that this guy did anything.”

  “You know who he is?”

  “No … I …” She bit into her lower lip. “He must have taken the money from Mrs. T and framed me. I can’t turn myself in. No one will believe me.”

  She was probably right about that. As much as I wanted to, I wasn’t sure I believed her myself. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

  Max glanced at the door, looking like she was about to bolt. Instead she moved to the window and lifted a slat in the blinds to look outside. “Okay. The night after the hit-and-run, Mrs. T and I went to bed early, but I woke up around 11 and couldn’t sleep. I went downstairs. I was reading when the phone rang. This guy told me I had to do exactly what he said or he’d kill me. He told me there was a boat waiting for me at the dock and an envelope with a thousand dollars cash in it plus a bus ticket to Portland.”

  “Oh, Max.”

  “He said if I tried to contact anybody, he’d kill me and you.”

  “Me?”

  “I think that was just to scare me into doing what he wanted for sure.” She came back and sat on her bed. “I know this sounds crazy, but he gave me a thousand dollars cash and a bus ticket to Portland. All I had to do was promise to leave for good.”

  “But you didn’t go to Portland or leave for good.”

  “No.” She sighed. “I couldn’t. I rowed up to Lakeside, and when the stores opened, I bought some camping supplies and went out to the island to lay low for a while.”

  I pressed my hands against my eyes. I wanted to believe her, but I sensed that Max wasn’t being totally honest with me. “You know who it is, don’t you?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. Anyway, I’m not positive. I have to go.”

  “What did you come back for?”

  “This.” She held up her journal. “And I wanted to give Mrs. T back the money he took from her.”

  I walked out into the hallway with her and down the steps. “I should scream right now and wake up Mrs. T. Then you’ll have to stay.”

  “No!” Max stopped and I ran into her, nearly knocking us both down the stairs. “Didn’t you hear what I said? If we tell the sheriff any of this, the guy will kill us.”

  “What if he’s bluffing?”

  She turned around and started back down the stairs. “What if he isn’t? We can’t risk it.”

  I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t keep Max there, but … “Maybe I should go with you.”

  With a heavy sigh she turned around again and grabbed my shoulders. “You can’t.”

  “Carlos is dead,” I said. “He was murdered.”

  “What?”

  I told her about the mine and how Amelia had found his body. “You can’t leave, Max. You need to help me find out who killed him and who wants you out of the way. If you know anything …”

  Max let go of me, looking even more worried than before. “He’s not bluffing. Carlos knew too much, and it got him killed. Do you want that to happen to us too?”

  “At least tell me where you’re going.”

  She shook her head and let herself out. I stood in the shadows, watching her jog down to the dock and get into the boat. I stood there for a long time. No way could I sleep now. I had to figure out how to help Max. Pulling the throw tighter around myself, I went downstairs to the living room. God, please keep her safe. Should I wake up Amelia and tell her Max was here? Maybe I’ll tell her in the morning.

  It was at that moment I realized I was not alone. The downstairs was dark except for the light coming in through the windows from the yard light. Still, I could see the menacing form of a man standing in the entry. I couldn’t see his face, but I doubted it would do me any good if I could identify him. Unless I could outrun him, I’d never see another sunrise.

  I screamed and bolted for the front door. The throw dropped to the floor. I screamed again, hoping it was loud enough to wake Amelia. Once outside, I ran into the barn through the big doors, but instead of looking for a place to hide, I went out through the small side door and waited. The man’s footsteps pounded across the gravel and into the barn. Please let him think I’m hiding in there. I heard him thrashing around the barn, his flashlight swinging back and forth.

  While he tore through the barn, I crept back to the house and slipped inside, then closed and locked the door.

  “Jessie?”

  “Yikes!” I spun around.

  Amelia stood in the middle of the living room in her pajamas. “What’s going on? I heard screaming.” She pulled me into a hug when I stepped closer.

  “He’s out there.” I could barely squeeze the words through my throat. “The one who …” I hesitated when I saw Molly standing beside Amelia. Molly hadn’t barked when the guy came in, which meant only one thing. Molly knew the intruder. “He’s looking for me in the barn, but it won’t take him very long to realize I’m not in there, and then he’ll come back inside.”

  “Wait right here.” All traces of sleep had left Amelia’s eyes as she ducked into the closet by the door. When she backed out, she had a rifle. “You stay out of sight. I’ll have a little surprise for our guest when he comes back.”

  I placed a hand
on her arm. “You can’t shoot him. It’s Fred.”

  “Are you sure?” She looked suddenly pale and older.

  “I think so. Molly didn’t bark.”

  We both looked up when someone stuck a key in the lock. The door opened, and Fred Truesdale stepped inside. Surprise registered on his face when he saw his mother holding the gun. “What …? Mother, put that thing away before you hurt someone.”

  Amelia lowered the shotgun. “I think you have some explaining to do. For starters you might want to tell me what you’re doing here in the middle of the night.”

  “I drove in from Portland after work and thought I’d just crash here. I came in and saw her.” He nodded toward me. “When she screamed and ran, I naturally thought she was up to no good, so I went after her.”

  “I thought you were going to kill me.” My reaction seemed silly now, but at the time I didn’t realize it was him.

  “I’m sorry if I frightened you, Jessie. That wasn’t my intention.”

  “Well, Fred,” Amelia said, “maybe you should call next time you decide to come in this late. What did you want to see me about?” Amelia asked.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about the farm and you and this business about you wanting a foster kid. I was wrong to try to push you into retiring. I came out to tell you I’m sorry and I won’t stand in your way. When I saw how determined you’ve been through all this …” He waved his arm. “The vandalism and getting your tires slashed, and the business with Max and Carlos.”

  I didn’t believe him. “So you’re saying you didn’t do any of those things?”

  “Of course not. I love my mother and wouldn’t do anything to harm her.”

  “What about Max?” I asked.

  Fred thrummed his fingers on the table. He looked at his mother. “I still think getting a foster child at your age is nuts, but …”

  “What about me?” The familiar voice came from the front room.

  I jumped up, knocking over the chair in the process. “Max!” I threw my arms around her when she came into the kitchen. “You came back.”

  “So the sheriff was right,” Amelia said. “You did run away.”

  “Not exactly. I bought some camping gear and stayed on an island not far from here. I decided it just wasn’t right. I never should have left. I’m sorry, Mrs. T.”

  Amelia nodded. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  “I didn’t steal your money, Mrs. T.” Max told them about being threatened and forced to leave town.

  Fred pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s quite a story, Miss Hunter. But I don’t believe a word of it.”

  She looked over at me. “I told you they wouldn’t believe me.”

  “On the contrary, Max,” Amelia said. “I believe you. Can you identify the man’s voice?”

  “I’m not sure. I think he disguised it.”

  “I have an idea,” I said. “Where’s the money, Max?”

  “I brought it back earlier and set it in Mrs. T’s sewing room.”

  I asked Max to get it. “What are you thinking, Jess?” she asked.

  “We should have the sheriff check the envelope and the money for fingerprints. Whoever took the money is probably the one who did all the other stuff too.”

  “Good thinking, Jessie,” Amelia said.

  “There’s no need for that.” Fred sighed, then leaned forward and lowered his head to his hands. “I took the money and sent Max away. I should have known she wouldn’t do as she was told.”

  Amelia stared at him like he’d turned into Dracula. “How could you?”

  Fred got up and walked to the sink as if he needed to put some distance between himself and his mother. He turned around and leaned back against the counter. “I was desperate for you to sell this place, Mother. I wanted to wear you down. I knew if Max stayed, you’d dig your heels in even more than you had before. I realize now it was a mistake.”

  “I’m confused,” I said. “Why would you run Max off the road, and then later pay her to leave town?”

  “I didn’t do any of those things except take money and try to pay off Max.” He glanced at his mother. “I wanted it to look like Max had taken the money and run away so you would rethink your decision.”

  “There’s more to it than that,” Amelia said. “Why were you so intent on my selling the farm?”

  “Things haven’t been going so good for my business, and the farm is losing money. You kept turning down offers on the house. I was getting desperate.”

  “I should have you arrested.” Amelia checked her watch. “But I won’t. At least not tonight. I think we should all go to bed and finish talking about this in the morning.”

  After giving Fred some bedding for the sofa, Amelia came upstairs with Max and me. “I’m glad you’re back, Max. I’m so sorry Fred put you through this.”

  “Sorry about spending some of the money,” Max said. “I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

  Amelia hugged her. “You’ll do no such thing. Now, off to bed with you both. I have a feeling we’ll all be sleeping in this morning.”

  Max fell asleep right away, but it took me a while. I kept thinking about Fred’s money problems. He’d confessed to threatening Max and taking the money, but I felt like he wasn’t telling us everything. And I had this nagging feeling things were going to get worse. Much worse.

  It didn’t take long for me to realize my intuition had been right on.

  I was almost asleep when I thought I heard voices outside. The clock on the nightstand read 4:02 a.m. I pushed the covers aside and lifted one of the slats in the window blinds. Martin’s old green truck was parked by the barn.

  “What’s going on?” Max came up next to me.

  “Isn’t it kind of early for Martin to be working?” I asked.

  “Ah—I don’t think he’s working, Jess.”

  Martin glanced around like he wanted to make sure no one was watching. He then bent down and slid his arms under a man’s shoulders and dragged him toward the house.

  “He’s killed Fred,” I gasped. I suddenly knew why Martin had looked so familiar.

  “That’s not Martin. I mean Martin isn’t his real name. That’s John Porter—the millionaire my dad is designing a house for.” I swallowed hard. John Porter must have been the developer who wanted Amelia’s property so badly. And he seemed willing to do anything to get it. He had gone back to the truck and was pulling two gas cans out of the back of his pickup and heading toward the house.

  Max jabbed her feet into her tennis shoes. “Jess, we’d better get out of here. You wake up Mrs. T and call the fire department and the sheriff.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Head him off at the pass.”

  “No. You’re no match for him.”

  “If he douses the house with gas, all he has to do is light a match and this place is history.” She pulled on a jacket as she left the room. “There’s no way the fire department can get here in time.”

  My heart had slammed into overdrive and I could hardly breathe, let alone talk. I raced into Amelia’s room and picked up the phone to call 911. At the same time I shook her awake. Somehow I managed to tell her and the dispatch operator what was going on.

  Amelia and I left the house by the front door, which faced the lake. “What about Max?” Amelia started to go back.

  “She’s outside.”

  “Jess! Mrs. T!” Max yelled for us from the other side of the house. We ran around to the back porch. I had expected to see flames licking the house by now, but that wasn’t happening. Instead, John Porter, alias Martin, was sprawled facedown in the dirt. Molly stood over him barking. Max had Amelia’s rifle from the hall closet trained on John’s back.

  Seeing that Max was okay, Amelia glanced toward the porch where I’d already gone to check on Fred. “Is he …?”

  I felt for a pulse and let myself breathe again. “He’s alive.”

  “Thank God.” Amelia clasped Max’s shoulder and took the gun. “
I don’t know how you did it, Max, but I’d say you just saved our house and our lives.”

  Max shrugged. “He wasn’t expecting me. Besides, I couldn’t have done it without Molly. When I opened the door she charged out and tackled him. It’s like she knew what he was doing.”

  “She probably sensed we were in danger.”

  “Amelia.” John/Martin started to get up. “I can explain. I caught Fred …”

  “Save your breath.” Amelia shoved her slippered foot into his back. “The girls saw everything.”

  “So you got an offer you couldn’t refuse,” the sheriff said to Fred once they’d arrested the crooked developer.

  We were all sitting in the kitchen while the sheriff questioned us. He’d talked to Amelia, Max, and me first and was trying to figure out where Fred fit into it.

  “That’s about right.” Fred gently touched the gauze bandage wrapped around his head. “Charlie knew he couldn’t convince my mother to sell, so he came to me. John Porter had offered three times what the land was worth. At first, I didn’t know why he was willing to pay so much, but I later realized he’d known about the mine all along. Carlos must have found out, and Porter killed him.”

  “So he took on Martin’s identity and got the job as Carlos’s replacement.” Sheriff Clark straddled the chair and took a sip of the coffee Amelia had made.

  Fred nodded. “I didn’t know he’d killed Carlos until you found the body. That’s when I knew I had to come forward. That’s why I came here tonight. I had to stop him from destroying the house. I was supposed to rescue you.” There were tears in Fred’s eyes when he looked up. “I told him the deal was off and to walk away or I would turn him in. A lot of good that did me. He knocked me out and was going to kill all of us in the fire. Martin would then disappear and—well, Sis would have inherited, and she’d have sold the farm in a heartbeat.”