by B. J Daniels
* * *
DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHITEHORSE, Maddie Cavanaugh took the news of the engagement party even harder.
“No, that’s not possible. Laci can’t, I mean, she didn’t say anything about—”
“It’s wonderful that your cousin is doing this for you,” her mother said, cutting her off. “You should be thankful.”
Since Sarah Cavanaugh had married into the family, she’d been trying to gain her rightful place. While she lived in a nice enough house to the east of Old Town Whitehorse, she had always been overshadowed by Titus and Pearl Cavanaugh, who were like royalty in this part of the county.
Sarah had felt slighted even though she’d tried to be part of this community and the Cavanaugh family. This party for her daughter though would finally put her part of the family in the limelight. It was only right that she and Maddie would get some attention. It angered her that Maddie didn’t want the party—and she said as much to her.
“It just seems...premature,” Maddie said.
“Premature? You’ve been engaged for over a month.”
“Bo and I haven’t even set a date.”
“Well, then I suggest you do. You can announce it at the party,” Sarah said.
“I wish Laci had asked me about this,” Maddie said. “Saturday? I had plans that night.”
“The party’s in the afternoon. But even if it runs into evening, you can just change your plans,” Sarah said gruffly, frowning at her daughter who had once been so malleable.
Sarah blamed it on the fact that Maddie had been spending way too much time away from her fiancé. Sarah had hoped Bo would be able to handle Maddie. But she’d heard her daughter had been seen at the bars, dancing with older men. If she hadn’t known how much Maddie loved Bo and needed him, Sarah Cavanaugh would have been worried.
Chapter Four
All week, Laci had been baking, forcing anyone who came by to try her treats. From candy to cookies to tarts and turnovers, and individual cobblers and cheesecakes, she’d worked to come up with the perfect dessert menu with growing expectation of Saturday’s event.
Laney had her own expectations as the day finally arrived. She hadn’t seen Deputy Nick Rogers, wasn’t even sure he would show for the party, but she was still anxious anyway—and upset with herself for being so excited about seeing him again. She’d seen the man only once, had barely said two words to him. This was so unlike her to be excited about a man she’d just met. Unlike her younger sister, she always looked before she leaped. But this time, she just wanted to jump—and that should have scared her.
Maddie had stopped by the day after Laci had started inviting everyone to the engagement party.
“I wish you’d mentioned a party to me,” Maddie had said. “Not that I don’t love the idea.”
Laney had seen that Maddie was anything but delighted with the party idea.
“Don’t thank me,” Laci had said, giving her cousin a hug. “I just wanted to do something special for you. Because you’re special.”
Maddie’s blue eyes had filled with tears. She’d bit her lip and said nothing more.
But Laney had seen her expression. Maddie wasn’t just displeased about the party, she seemed... worried. Since that day, Maddie hadn’t been by, which was strange in itself.
When Laney had called to make sure she was all right, Maddie had told her she’d taken a job helping Geraldine Shaw clean out her attic.
“I like this kind of work. I think it might be like accounting,” her cousin had said. “Something that actually makes sense, you know?”
“Maddie, is anything wrong?” Laney had asked. “Because if you need someone to talk to—”
“Wrong? Of course not. Everything is wonderful. I’m marrying Bo.” Laney had heard the catch in her cousin’s voice. “I can’t imagine life without him.”
“You don’t have to,” Laney had said.
“No, I don’t. Bo is perfect for me.” Another catch in her voice.
“Still, every bride-to-be gets cold feet,” Laney said.
“Not me.” She’d hesitated. “We’ve had our problems, just like any other couple. But once we’re married things will be different.”
Her cousin didn’t really believe that marriage solved the problems, did she? “Maddie—”
“I’m fine. Really. There is nothing to worry about.”
But Laney had worried.
Now she heard a car and glanced at her watch. Aunt Sarah had called and offered to take some of the desserts for the party to the community center in her van.
Sarah had also helped with the decorations and volunteered to taste treats as was needed over the week.
“Because of your darned sister, I’ve gained ten pounds,” Sarah said as she came into the house.
“I had to refuse to taste another thing,” Laney said. “Laci was giving me a toothache. Is Maddie ready for the party?”
Sarah nodded, her face beaming. “This is so exciting. A party for my baby. Thank you for doing this. I can’t tell you what it means to us.”
“It’s all Laci’s doing,” Laney said, but she could see what it meant to Sarah. She wasn’t so sure about Maddie. She considered broaching her concerns about Maddie to her aunt but Laci came out of the kitchen with a container full of bite-size chocolate-covered cherry cheesecakes, and Sarah began oohing and aahing over them. They were beautiful. And much too pretty to eat.
After Sarah left with the back of her van full, Laney checked her watch again.
“Shouldn’t we be getting over to the community center?” she asked her sister.
Laci was nervously staring through the oven glass. “Just a few more minutes on the caramel puffs. They’re best if served warm. I have the macaroons resting at room temperature.”
Laney shook her head. “Lace, there is no way we’re going to be able to eat all of this.”
A knock at the door surprised them both. Laney thought it might be Sarah back for something. “I’ll get it. You watch your puffs.”
Geraldine Shaw was standing on the porch. She wasn’t dressed for the party. She looked harried and upset as Laney opened the door.
“Where’s Maddie?” Geraldine asked abruptly.
“I don’t know.”
“She was gone when I returned from the post office and my mother’s diamond bracelet is missing,” Geraldine said, looking past Laney. “Are you sure she isn’t here?”
“Yes. She might be at home or at the community center, but I’m sure if the bracelet is missing, Maddie had nothing to do with it.”
“I showed her the bracelet when we were cleaning out some things. When I left, I told her to be sure and put it back in the box.” Geraldine sounded near tears. “It’s gone.”
“I’m sure it’s just misplaced,” Laney said with concern. “Why don’t I call Maddie and see if—”
But Geraldine was already off the porch steps, huffing as she climbed into her car and tore off in a cloud of dust.
A shriek came from the kitchen. Laney went racing in to find her sister hysterical.
“My caramel puffs fell. This is an omen. The party is going to be a disaster.”
Laney calmed down her sister and sent her to get ready. She didn’t have the heart to tell Laci that there were worse problems with the party than some fallen caramel puffs. Not that Laci would appreciate the gravity of the missing bracelet. Not when gravity had ruined her caramel puffs.
* * *
WHEN NICK DROVE into Old Town Whitehorse, he was amazed at how many vehicles were parked around the community center. Laci Cavanaugh was right about one thing: the entire county had turned out for the engagement party.
He parked and walked down the road to the center, reminding himself he was on a case—even if not technically on duty. He planned to
leave in time to watch the bars tonight in Whitehorse. It was Saturday and if the assailant was true to form, he’d be attacking some poor cowboy before the night was over.
As Nick slipped into the crowded building, the band broke into a country ballad. His best friend would have gotten a real kick out of this.
Just the thought of Danny O’Shay cut like a blade into his heart. Danny couldn’t see this because Danny was dead. And Nick was the reason.
“Deputy Nick Rogers,” said a female voice dripping with sugar. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
A tall, thin middle-aged woman with a braying laugh reached for his hand and shook it vigorously. “I’m Arlene Evans. This party is for my son and his fiancée.”
Bo’s mother. While her son was a nice-looking young man, Arlene Evans was one of those raw-boned ranch women.
“And this is my daughter, Violet,” Arlene said as she grabbed the woman’s arm next to her and literally dragged her over. “Violet, say hello to Deputy Rogers.”
Violet Evans gave a meek nod.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Nick said. With Violet it was hard to tell her age. She was as plain as any woman he’d ever seen. She had her mother’s raw-boned look but on a larger frame.
“Deputy Sheriff Rogers is new in town and single,” Arlene said and winked at Nick. “The Whitehorse grapevine.”
Violet stared at the floor, but Nick noticed a flush creep up her neck and several veins pop up prominently. The woman was more than embarrassed.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Titus,” Nick said as the band took a break. As he escaped, he heard Arlene chastising her daughter about not saying something interesting to make Nick stay. This was the woman who’d raised Bo Evans, he reminded himself. It could explain a lot.
“I see you made it,” Titus said and looked past him to the crowd. Titus Cavanaugh was a large, white-headed man with a powerful voice and a strong handshake. “My granddaughters are here somewhere. Quite the turnout. I hope you’ve tried some of Laci’s desserts. She really did go all out, but then that’s Laci. She was born with a spoon in her hand.” He laughed at his small joke.
Nick wanted to ask about Laci and Laney’s parents. He hadn’t heard anything about them. But he didn’t get the chance.
Across the room, he spotted Maddie Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a pale blue dress the same color as her eyes. Even from here he could see that her face was drawn, her freckles seeming to jump out. She looked upset.
He saw that she was listening to something Arlene Evans, her future mother-in-law, was saying. Arlene had a firm grip on Maddie’s arm and seemed to be trying to lead her out the back door.
“Here’s one of my granddaughters!” Titus announced.
Nick turned to come face-to-face with Laney Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a peach-colored dress that fell like water over her curves. Her face had a glow to it that had nothing to do with makeup, and those eyes, those amazing emerald eyes...
Past Laney, he saw Arlene Evans drag Maddie outside.
Nick cursed under his breath. “Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back,” he said to Laney and made his way through the crowd after Arlene and Maddie.
* * *
WELL, THAT WENT WELL. Laney tried to hide her disappointment. She’d been looking forward to seeing Nick Rogers all week. In fact, when she’d spotted him talking to her grandfather, she’d made her way through the crowd, too impatient to wait for him to find her.
Or maybe worried he wouldn’t.
Laney wasn’t used to behaving like this. She turned away, fighting the urge to flee. Instead, she went over to the dessert table to see if she could help her sister.
“It’s a success,” Laci announced and sighed. “My first catered party. I can tell you now. I’m opening my own catering business, Cavanaugh Catering, right here.”
“Here?” Laney stared at her sister. Not because this surprised her. The way Laci loved to cook, it was the perfect career choice. “Here in Old Town?”
“Not just Old Town and Whitehorse, silly. I was thinking that it’s crazy that nobody lives in Mother’s house. I could run my catering business from the house. That way I would be close to Gramma and Gramps. But I would cater the whole county.”
Laney didn’t know what to say. Laci had always been the one who couldn’t wait to get out of here after their two-week summer visit each year. “What about Seattle?”
“It will always be there,” Laci said with a laugh.
Laney eyed her sister. “This seems kind of sudden.”
“Not really. I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’ve already told Gramma.”
Gramma hadn’t been responding to anything since her stroke.
“It was the weirdest thing,” Laci confided. “She looked right at me. I swear she squeezed my hand. It was like there was something she wanted to tell me, needed to tell me, then she closed her eyes...”
“She’s happy for you,” Laney said quickly, not knowing if that was true or not. Gramma Pearl had always encouraged them to do what made them happy. Laney wasn’t sure what their grandmother would think about Laci staying here though. But she was positive what Gramps would say. Titus would be thrilled.
“I thought I’d tell Gramps after the party,” Laci said. “Oh no, we’re almost out of those chocolate-covered cherry cheesecakes. I should have made more.”
Or kept Violet Evans away from them, Laney thought as she watched Violet devour the last of the little cakes and then move down the buffet table toward the macaroons, stuffing a handful into the big pockets of her jumper when she thought no one was looking.
But Laney was distracted by the sight of Geraldine Shaw heading for the dessert table. Had she found her diamond bracelet? Laney could only hope so. She glanced around for Maddie, but didn’t see her anywhere.
* * *
BY THE TIME NICK STEPPED OUT through the back door of the community center, whatever Arlene had dragged Maddie out there for was over.
The two were standing a short ways from the back door. Maddie had her arms folded over her chest, her eyes on the ground. She’d been crying. Arlene was standing over her, glowering down at her.
“Is there a problem?” Nick asked pointedly.
Arlene turned in surprise, her expression instantly changing as she stepped back from Maddie. “Why, Deputy, you’re missing the dance. My daughter Violet—”
“I was hoping to dance with the bride-to-be,” Nick said looking at Maddie. He could hear the music coming from the center, but he was more interested in what Arlene had been saying to Maddie. Whatever it had been, he was betting it hadn’t been good. Arlene had been giving Maddie hell—and at her engagement party. That didn’t bode well for their future relationship.
Arlene’s look soured as she glanced from Nick to Maddie and back.
“I wanted to wish her well on her engagement,” he added. “If you’ll give us a moment,” he said pointedly to Arlene.
“Of course,” the older woman said, sending a warning glance at Maddie before she went back inside.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Maddie looked up, her blue eyes filled with tears. She made a swipe at them. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Please,” Maddie said looking nervously toward the door. “Don’t. You’ll only make things worse.”
“Is that possible?” he asked.
Maddie dried her eyes.
“Let me help you,” Nick said.
“What’s going on out here?” asked a strident male voice.
Nick recognized it without turning. Bo Evans. His mother’s doing no doubt. She’d sent him out here. “I meant what I said,” Nick whispered to Maddie. “I can help if you’ll let me.”
She gave him an indecipherable no
d and, putting a smile on her face, stepped around him.
Nick watched as Bo pulled Maddie to him none too gently and the two disappeared back inside. Nick swore and went to find Laney Cavanaugh.
But as he entered the center, he heard a bloodcurdling scream and saw the crowd converge to a spot in front of the dessert table.
Nick pushed his way through to find Geraldine Shaw on the floor. She was gasping for breath, her face bright red, her eyes bulging. “Everyone get back!” he yelled as he knelt down next to her. “Can you hear me?” He could see the panic in her face. She tried to lift her arm from the floor and he saw what was left of a macaroon clutched in her fist.
Nick felt the woman’s panic. He’d been here before. But like before, there was no time to do anything. The poison was too fast acting. Geraldine Shaw went into convulsions and he caught the familiar odor of bitter almond just before she died.
Chapter Five
“Internal asphyxia,” the state coroner said as he came out of the autopsy room. “She literally died due to lack of oxygen.”
“And the macaroon she had in her hand?” Nick asked.
“Laced with enough cyanide to kill a horse. But her age and health were obviously factors in how quickly the poison acted.”
Nick cursed under his breath. He’d known Geraldine Shaw was poisoned with cyanide. He’d just hoped he was wrong. “What about the other macaroons?”
The coroner shook his head. “We also checked the other desserts that you brought us. None had poison in them.”
“So it was just the one cookie?”
“Apparently so.”
Nick shook his head. How could the killer be sure that the one poisoned cookie went to the right victim? Or was it random? He raked a hand through his hair, worried that this had nothing to do with Geraldine Shaw and a whole hell of a lot to do with him.
But there was no way Keller could have found him because no one knew he was here, right? Nick hadn’t trusted anyone after what had happened in L.A. It was just a coincidence that Geraldine Shaw had been poisoned with cyanide—the same poison that had been used to kill his friend Danny.