Oh, Fudge!

by Nancy CoCo

  “I don’t want anyone to accuse me of pocketing anything that isn’t mine.” We both walked out into the entrance and Blake let Rex inside.

  “What is so darn important that I needed to come right away?” he asked as he took off his hat and wiped his feet on the welcome mat.

  “We found diamonds,” Blake blurted.

  I held up the small bag of sparkling rocks. “They were inside the batting from the African shipment.”

  “Well, that explains a lot,” he said and took the bag from me. He lifted it in the light and whistled low. “There must be a million dollars’ worth here.”

  “Or more,” I said. “I wanted you to witness. Come into the staging area.” We walked through the vinyl and Blake and I took him step by step through the process of how she left the tote, where we opened it, and showed him the spot on the ground where the tote and box and batting was as proof.

  “I’ll call Shane in,” he said. “All of this is evidence.”

  “What about Dan Jones?” I asked. “You should go see him.”

  “I’ll send Brent over.” He called dispatch and had Brent go over to Dan Jones’s apartment. The call came in within twenty minutes. When Dan didn’t answer his door, Brent broke it down and found the young man dead face down on his kitchen floor.

  Rex looked at me. “Things just got a whole lot worse.”

  Chapter 18

  “Wait, you found a bag of diamonds?” Jenn said, astounded. “Did you dump them into your palm? I would have totally dumped them into my palm to see if it looked like it does on TV when they find them.”

  “What made you think to look in the batting?” Frances asked.

  “I was thinking about why someone would search through everything at the Butterfly House. It wasn’t how Sean acted when he stole things. Then I realized that she just received a shipment from Africa and since they didn’t take the butterflies, maybe there was something else in the shipment. It occurred to me when I was thinking about Mr. Sikes being in the import/export shipping business.”

  “Do you suspect Mr. Sikes is the big boss behind this?” Jenn asked.

  We sat on the patio of a local bar. It was Frances’s bachelorette party. We made her wear a sash that said BRIDE and a crown. She glowed with happiness and embarrassment. She had agreed to the attention as long as we didn’t hire a stripper. Jenn had pouted with disappointment but I was secretly glad not to have that at the party either. My own love life was pretty messed up right now and I didn’t need to make things worse.

  “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” I said. “There are so many people who own summer homes here who could be involved.”

  “That’s right,” Frances said. “There’s Randal Hunter, who has a packaging company. Thad Beaumont, who owns the airline company FedEx uses, and John Eves, who runs the butterfly import/ export business.”

  I sipped my margarita. “Diamonds are marked with a serial number. I’m sure Shane will figure out where they came from. It might take a while, but they will be able to find out who was smuggling them into the area. The real question is, was Barbara’s death part of this?”

  “So you’re still investigating,” Jenn said.

  “No.” I shook my head. “No more investigating for me. I have a dear friend with a wedding tomorrow.” I raised my glass. “To Frances and Douglas, may they find their happy ever after.”

  “Here, here,” the other ladies said. There were four of us: Frances, me, Jenn, and Sandy. We had left Megan in charge of the McMurphy with strict instructions to notify us if she needed anything. We had a table at a noisy bar that faced the water. Tomorrow evening was Frances’s wedding. Jenn had done a great job of planning and executing everything Frances wanted. There was even to be a harp player playing as she went down the aisle. My friends were happy and healthy and made me proud.

  My thoughts turned to Wanda who had lost her best friend. After the wedding I would go check on her again. Mr. Sikes wasn’t too receptive, but if I ran into him I would reassure him that I was definitely off this case. As far as I was concerned, Victoria could do her own investigating.

  Two hours into the party, I got up to use the restroom. I wound my way inside and noticed that Mr. Sikes was here, talking to another man I didn’t recognize. They were arguing over something. I wasn’t close enough to hear, but was close enough that he looked up and spotted me. He gave me a hair-curling glare and turned his back on me.

  It was almost as if he blamed me for Barbara’s death. Which was just plain silly. Maybe he was afraid I would uncover the truth. Maybe he killed Barbara. Maybe Frances was right. He could have easily been working with Dan Jones to smuggle diamonds into the U.S. Mackinac Island was pretty close to Canada.

  “Hey, Allie.” Liz intercepted me on my way back from the bathroom. “How are things going?”

  “Fine,” I said. “We’re here for Frances’s bachelorette party. You should stop by and have a drink in her honor.”

  “My pleasure. But first I need you to talk to me about Dan Jones’s murder.”

  I paused and grabbed an empty bar-height chair and climbed up. Liz sat across from me and took out her pen and notepad. “What do you want to know?”

  “I need details. Rex is being pretty close-mouthed about this one.”

  “I’ll do what I can. What do you not know?”

  “It’s better that I tell you what I do know,” she said and flipped open her pad. “Dan Jones was found dead by Officer Pulaski. He got a call from Rex asking him to check in on Dan. When he got there the door was locked and it seemed no one was home. Brent entered the apartment to find Dan dead on the floor.”

  “Yes, that sounds about right to me,” I said.

  “Why did Rex call Brent to check on Dan? Do you know?” Liz asked.

  “Rex didn’t tell you?”

  “He said it was an ongoing investigation.” Liz frowned.

  “I don’t know if it’s okay to say anything on the record,” I said. “But then again, Rex didn’t tell me to keep it to myself.”

  “What happened?”

  I told Liz the story of finding the diamonds and how Dan was our first suspect because he was recently fired.

  “Wow, that is a great story,” Liz said.

  “Hey, Allie, there you are,” Jenn said as she came in from the patio. “We were wondering what happened to you. Hi, Liz, why don’t you come out and have a drink with us?”

  “Sure.”

  We went back to the patio and chatted about girl things, but my mind was on Trent and Victoria. Even if she was the one to kiss him first, I saw him kiss her back. It didn’t help that they had been high school sweethearts. You never do forget your first love. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  “So, Allie”—Liz turned to me—“I hear that you got flowers yesterday and today. Sounds like someone’s either in love or in trouble.”

  “Trouble,” I grumbled.

  “Oh no, what happened?”

  “I saw Trent and Victoria kissing. I didn’t even know he was on the island and now he’s gone again.” I crossed my arms as tears welled up.

  “Well, that certainly sounds fishy to me.”

  “Me, too,” I said. “Do you want any flowers?”

  Everyone at the table laughed. It was late and we all had had enough excitement. Especially the bride. She looked about ready to fall out of her chair. So we said our good-byes to Liz and walked Frances home, made sure she got into her condo, and tucked her into bed before we left.

  The McMurphy was a short walk home. The scent of night on the island filled my senses. Warm air, lake breezes, horses, and the lingering scent of fudge and candy surrounded us. Main Street was empty of tourists. The ferries didn’t run this late at night and most people who stayed on the island overnight were at their hotels, swimming in the pools or sitting outside on the lawns toasting marshmallows.

  “I’m sorry about Trent,” Jenn said. “You have every reason to be mad at him.”

  “Thanks. It really hu
rts that Victoria knew he was on the island and I didn’t. I have no idea why.”

  “Maybe you should hear him out.”

  “No, I’m still too mad.”

  “What you need is a distraction.”

  “You mean a wedding and running my fudge shop isn’t enough distraction?”

  “Clearly not, as you weren’t in the room with us tonight. We were celebrating Frances.”

  “Ugh,” I said and slumped my shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

  “You have to do better tomorrow. You are a bridesmaid. You should be focused on Frances.”

  “I’ll be focused,” I said. We cut through the back alley to go up the steps that led to my apartment on the top floor. When I first moved in, the back alley entrance was a fire escape with only a ladder. I had installed stairs and now we used it to take Mal out of the apartment. It became more of a front door of sorts so that locals didn’t have to go through the McMurphy at night to visit.

  Trent stood on the landing waiting for us. He had flowers in hand. Gerbera daisies, one of my favorites.

  “Hi, Trent,” Jenn said.

  “Jenn, Allie.”

  I was stuck. I had to get by him to get into my home and he knew it.

  “Well, I’ll leave you two alone.” Jenn opened the door and slipped inside. I stood as far from Trent as I could. My arms were crossed.

  “I came to apologize,” he said and held out the flowers.

  “I really am not sure I’m ready to hear you out.”

  “I hate that you’re this angry,” he said. “If you would let me explain.”

  “Explain why you were back on the island and didn’t tell me. Explain why I saw you kissing my cousin. I understand that she was your first love. If you were going to cheat on me, you should have broken up with me first.”

  “It wasn’t anything like that.” He pulled the flowers back when I refused to take them. “Look, Victoria contacted me.”

  “And you came running back. Meanwhile I’m left waiting for you. I thought you were in Chicago.”

  “I was in Chicago,” he said. “Please listen.”

  “How do I know you weren’t in Chicago with some other girl?”

  “Allie, that’s crazy.”

  “I saw you with my own eyes.”

  He shoved his hand through his thick preppy hair. “I’m buying horses and I have a couple that are for sale. They have done good work and now should be given homes where they can be out to pasture.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I had a buyer for the horses but he wanted to see them. So I flew him up on the company jet.”

  “Why didn’t I see this buyer?”

  “Most likely because he was looking at the horses. Victoria came into the stables and pulled me aside.”

  “So you could kiss her.”

  “She kissed me.”

  “You kissed her back.”

  “Allie—”

  “Why didn’t you text me that you were coming? We could have gotten lunch or at the very least I could have been the one kissing you.”

  “I know how busy you are with the McMurphy and we were only here for two hours.”

  “So you flew a buyer up here, looked at horses, kissed my cousin, and flew back. All in too short a time to tell me you were coming.”

  “I know it sounds ridiculous,” he said.

  “And.”

  “And I’m sorry,” he said. “It won’t happen again.”

  “No, it won’t because I’m pretty sure we’re over.”

  “Allie, I don’t want us to be over.”

  “What did Tori want with you anyway?”

  “She’s investigating Barbara Smart’s murder and she had a death threat.”

  “Why tell you? Why not go to Rex?”

  “She doesn’t trust Rex after he arrested her.”

  “So she had a death threat and wanted you to run to save her.” I hated the indignation in the tone of my voice.

  “She wanted to know if I knew who might have figured out she was investigating Barbara’s murder.”

  “Why would you know something like that?”

  “Because I hear things,” he said. “It’s a small island. I know that you are investigating who broke into the Butterfly House. I know you found diamonds in the packing.”

  “That means everyone knows I was the one who found diamonds in the packing.”

  “Yes,” Trent said. “It’s another reason I came back. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “But I’m no longer investigating Barbara’s murder,” I said. “And I didn’t get a death threat. So don’t change the subject on me. You were kissing Tori—”

  “She kissed me.”

  “Because she had a death threat?”

  “Because I sent a locksmith out to change the locks on her cottage.”

  “What is my boyfriend doing sending a locksmith out to another woman’s house? Did Tori ask for that?”

  “No, she didn’t have to. She’s my friend, Allie.”

  “A friend you kiss. How many such friends do you have? Here I was thinking I was the only one. But I guess I was wrong.”

  “It was a thank you,” he said. “That’s all.”

  “Nice thank you.”

  “It didn’t mean anything.”

  “I’m sorry if I’m not ready to accept that just yet.”

  He frowned and pushed the flowers at me. “I don’t know what more I can do to satisfy you.”

  “Give me time,” I said. “Time to work things out.”

  “Just know while you’re taking this time, Allie, that I only have eyes for you.”

  “And my cousin.”

  “Who’s my childhood friend.”

  “You mean first love.”

  “We aren’t getting anywhere.” He tugged on his hair. “Just take the flowers.” He pressed them against me and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Think of me when you look at them.” He let go and I grabbed them before they could fall to my feet. “I’m not going anywhere until you know how much you mean to me.”

  “You can’t camp out at my doorstep.”

  “No, but I won’t be leaving the island,” he said. “I don’t care about business. It means nothing if I lose you.”

  I felt he was being overdramatic. I lifted the corner of my mouth in disbelief. “Please just give me some time. Okay? I can’t unsee you kissing Tori.”

  “Tori kissed me.”

  “You kissed her back.” It was my turn to sigh. “Good-bye, Trent.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Don’t be too surprised if I don’t answer.”

  “Allie?”

  “Frances is marrying Douglas,” I said. “I’m going to be busy.”

  “Wait, why wasn’t I invited? Or Paige or my mom?”

  “It’s very small,” I said. “I’m in the wedding party so if I brought you as my plus one, you would spend a lot of time alone. Besides you’ve been off the island a lot lately, I didn’t think you had the time.”

  “Oh, that’s not fair.”

  “Isn’t it? And Paige and your mom are off the island this week as well. I checked with your housekeeper. Frances didn’t want you all to feel obligated to send a present. In fact, she has asked for no presents, only our presence.”

  “She can’t have my presence if I don’t know about it.”

  “I think it’s best if you and Tori stay away. This is Frances’s day. I don’t want any drama.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Good night, Allie.” He turned and went down the stairs, leaving me in the soft starlight with a bouquet of flowers in my hand wondering who to believe.

  Chapter 19

  The next morning, I made extra batches of fudge and canceled the demonstrations. This was one day I would take off and devote to my friends. Jenn and I met Frances and Maggs at the Island Salon for manicures, pedicures, and to have our hair done.

  “I heard th
at you and Trent are on the outs because he kissed your cousin Victoria,” Sally Jenkins said as she started my manicure.

  “Let’s not talk about that today, okay?” I said. “It’s Frances’s big day.”

  “Got it.” She sent me an exaggerated wink.

  I tried hard not to let her see me roll my eyes. “Frances, Jenn has everything setting up in the park by four PM. That gives us a couple of hours to get gussied up and then Jenn and I will escort you out to the park in a special carriage. The men will be there a few minutes before us and will be up front.”

  “Maybe we should have had a rehearsal,” Frances fretted.

  “We didn’t need one,” Jenn reminded her. “It’s very simple. You’ve done this before. There is a small, short aisle. I’ll walk down, then Allie, then Maggs, and you. You will stand beside Douglas and the preacher will say a few words. Do you have your vows ready?”

  “I do,” Frances said and blushed. “Do you want to hear them?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  Frances opened her mouth to give us her vows when the door to the salon opened and Rex came in. He took his hat off and came straight over to me. “Excuse me, ladies, I need to talk to Allie.”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I know you all are prepping for the wedding, but I have some bad news.”

  “Now you’re scaring me.”

  “Your cousin Victoria is missing,” he said. “She was supposed to meet Irene Hammerstein for coffee. When she didn’t show, Irene contacted her mother and her mother called the police. Brent went over to your uncle’s cabin. The door was wide open and it looks as if there was a struggle.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said, stunned. My toenails were done and drying. We were only on the first layer of polish on my fingers. I pulled my hands away and stood. “Tori is missing?”

  “We believe she’s missing,” Rex said. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask you some questions.”

  “Of course,” I said and sat back down.

  “Did you want to go somewhere private?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “There isn’t anything you could ask that Frances, Maggs, and Jenn couldn’t hear.” I looked at Sally. “Sally, could you get us all a cup of coffee?”