“I have a gut feeling about this,” Nikki said.
“Okay, but I still think he is a suspect,” Hawk replied. He turned on the car and they drove into a nicer section of town.
“This is Tom Stuart’s house,” Hawk told Nikki as they drove up to a gate. Hawk pushed a button and introduced himself. The gates opened.
“This is a huge house,” Nikki said. It was a mansion set in the town. Tall hedges surrounded the house and the lawn was perfectly manicured.
“How can he have this place if he was arrested for fraud?” Nikki asked Hawk.
“He does not own the house. My father could never figure out who owned it. My father thinks Tom has ties with the mob, but he was only able to arrest him on tax evasion. Tom spent his time in jail surrounded by the mafia. They took care of him and he got out on good behavior. I would not be surprised if they taught him how to take someone out while he was in there,” Hawk said as they pulled up to the front door. The door opened and a man walked out. He was older than the chief, but he was in excellent shape. Hawk and Nikki got out of the car. The man met them on the front lawn.
“Hello, Hawk,” Tom said.
“Hello, Tom,” Hawk replied.
“What brings you around?” Tom asked.
“I need to know where you were three days ago,” Hawk replied.
“I was out of town,” Tom said.
“Where were you exactly?” Hawk asked.
“I was at the Clairmore Hotel,” Tom said. The Clairmore hotel was a nice hotel a couple of towns away. It was located in a ski resort. It was one of those hotels Nikki knew she would never be able to afford to stay in.
“Was anyone with you? Your wife, maybe?” Hawk asked.
“No,” Tom answered. “The hotel staff can vouch for my presence. I was meeting someone.”
“Who were you meeting?” Hawk asked.
“That is my business,” Tom replied. “You wanted me to give you my alibi, the hotel staff will tell you I was there all day.”
“If I had the name of the man you were meeting with, I would be more satisfied with your alibi,” Hawk answered.
“It was not a man,” Tom said. “I prefer to leave the lady’s name out of this discussion.”
“That is fine for now,” Hawk said. “Stay in town. I may need to question you again.” The front door of the house opened, and an older woman stepped out.
“Tom, I didn’t know we had company,” the woman said to Tom.
“Martha, they were just leaving,” Tom replied. The woman waved goodbye to Hawk and Nikki. Nikki and Hawk walked back to the car.
“That was suspicious,” Nikki said to Hawk. “I wonder why he would not give us the woman’s name he was with.”
“It was probably a prostitute,” Hawk said. “He might not even remember her name.”
“I still think it’s suspicious,” Nikki said. “He was the only one to evade your questions. That puts him on the top of my list.”
“I think it was either Rafael or Jim,” Hawk replied. “We will check out their alibis tomorrow.” Nikki agreed and asked Hawk to drop her at the chocolate shop.
“You mean your designer chocolates?” Hawk asked and laughed. Nikki hit his shoulder and laughed. She told Hawk she would meet him at her house for dinner. Hawk kissed Nikki and Nikki went into the shop. It was almost closing time, and Nikki started to help Tori and Lidia clean up the shop. Nikki noticed that most of the truffles were sold.
“They love your truffles,” Lidia said. “Putting that hashtag out has gotten us some new customers.”
“That’s great,” Nikki replied. They cleaned up and closed up the shop. Tori told Nikki that she was going to get some food to take to the house. Nikki thanked her.
“I am going to whip up some truffles and then I will be there,” Nikki replied. She made the truffles and she also baked some small cakes to try the next day. Nikki knew she was cutting it close with the cake, but she wanted to solve this mystery. She put the chocolates in the refrigerator and covered the cakes to try the next day. Nikki went home and enjoyed an evening of dinner and conversation with everyone.
Chapter Nine
After dinner Seth asked if he could drive Tori home. He had been by the chief’s side these past few days. Hawk told him to go.
“Nothing else has happened, so I think we can be without you for a couple of hours,” Hawk said. Nikki agreed.
“I will be back in a little while,” Seth promised. He and Tori left, and the chief offered to do the dishes.
“I’m not able to do much of anything else right now,” the chief said. Nikki could tell he was getting antsy about staying at home. Hawk asked Nikki if she wanted to join him on the porch, and Nikki agreed. She brought Hawk a beer and she had a glass of wine. They sat down side by side. Nikki asked if Seth was getting Hawk’s wedding arrangements set.
“Yep,” Hawk replied. “He has his tux ordered and they will be delivering them to my house tomorrow. He even called the mayor and made sure the house was ready and the flowers were being delivered.”
“That is wonderful,” Nikki replied. She put down her wine and gave Hawk a hug and a kiss. They sat outside enjoying the fresh night air. It was a bit chilly but not cold enough for a jacket. They looked at the stars and Nikki saw a shooting star go flashing by.
“Make a wish,” Hawk declared. Nikki shut her eyes and wished for the case to be done soon. Nikki and Hawk sat on the porch for a while and soon the chief joined them.
“I put away the dishes for you,” the chief said.
“Thank you so much,” Nikki replied. “You seem to be a bit antsy. Are you not enjoying your time off?”
The chief scowled, and Nikki and Hawk laughed.
“Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate your hospitality,” the chief said. “I just didn’t think I would be here this long. I am starting to go a little stir crazy.”
“Well, what would you say if I told you I cleared you for half a day’s work tomorrow?” Hawk replied.
The chief grinned. “Since there have not been any other threats, and since we have our suspects under surveillance, I think it would be okay for you to come into the precinct for the morning,” Hawk said.
The chief thanked Hawk, and Nikki could tell the chief was genuinely happy.
“I still want Seth beside you at all times,” Hawk said. “Especially since we are dealing with three convicts.”
“That is fine by me,” the chief said. “I remember when I arrested Jim for cooking meth. His boys put up a fight, but we were able to get him without anyone getting hurt. We waited until he had left his compound. While some deputies were raiding his compound and taking his equipment, I followed him in an unmarked car. He stopped to get some groceries. I waited until he was coming out of the store and I arrested him. I had two men with me, and they took down Jim’s bodyguards. It was a quick arrest, and I am glad no one was hurt. He says he stopped cooking, but I would be surprised. He made a lot of money making and distributing meth.”
“He says his buyers and users are coming after him for stopping,” Hawk said.
“That would make sense if he did indeed quit,” the chief said. “Did you check on the permits for his guards?”
“I did,” Hawk replied. “They all have permits, at least the ones who are not out on parole. Those men did not have guns when we stopped by.”
“Well, maybe he is turning over a new leaf,” the chief said. “Wouldn’t be the strangest thing to have happened.”
“I still think he could have put a hit on you,” Hawk said.
“I agree,” the chief replied. “Speaking of hits, how is Tom doing?”
“Martha looked well, but Tom is up to something, I am sure of it,” Hawk said. “He met a woman outside of town.”
“Probably a prostitute,” his dad answered. Nikki grinned. Like father, like son she thought.
“How do we know it is not his mistress?” Nikki asked.
“Well, the last time he had a mistress his wife ran him out of town. I h
eard that she told him to stick to prostitutes,” the chief said. Nikki asked why.
“You know what they want up front and they are less likely to talk to the police,” Hawk replied.
“That actually makes a weird kind of sense,” Nikki said.
“I met Rafael,” Hawk said.
“He seemed nice,” Nikki added.
“I truly believe that his father abused him,” the chief said. “I just could never find any proof. If his father had hurt him, he did it in a way that did not leave a trace. I felt bad for Rafael and that is why I did not ask them to charge him as an adult. I still would be cautious around him.”
“I agree,” Hawk said. Nikki was glad to get some more background on the cases, although she wished it helped narrow down the list.
“It could be any one of them,” Hawk said. The chief concurred.
Seth showed up about an hour later. The chief gave him the good news about going to work the next day. Seth was happy to be getting out of the house as well.
“I will have undercover officers around you at all times,” Hawk promised his father and Seth. Nikki was glad to hear that. She did not want anything happening to Seth or the chief. Seth and the chief decided to go to bed. Nikki and Hawk sat out on the porch for a little while longer.
“This night is beautiful,” Nikki said, snuggling next to her fiancé.
“You are beautiful,” Hawk replied and tilted her head up toward his. Hawk kissed her and Nikki relaxed into his arms. They sat there for a little while longer and then Nikki said she was ready for bed. She stretched and Hawk tickled her. He kissed her again. Nikki laughed and broke free. She went inside and washed her wine glass. Hawk followed her in. He put his beer bottle in the recycle bin after rinsing it out and kissed her goodnight. Nikki went up to bed.
The next morning Nikki got up and was happy to see the chief in his uniform. Seth had made breakfast and Hawk was doing a perimeter check. They all sat down and enjoyed the bacon and eggs that Seth had made. Nikki poured everyone coffee.
“I’m sure you are happy to get back to work,” Nikki said to the chief.
“I am. I enjoy a vacation, but this has felt like being in jail,” the chief said. “No offense, but not being able to contact anyone and not being able to help more with the case has driven me up the wall.”
“I am not surprised or offended,” Nikki said. “If I had to stay somewhere and was not able to contact anyone it would drive me crazy too.”
“I can’t wait to get back to the station,” Seth said.
“You mean you can’t wait to get back near Tori,” the chief said. Seth blushed and everyone laughed.
Nikki enjoyed her breakfast with the gang, and everyone got ready to leave.
“Now you know I want you back here by this afternoon,” Hawk told his father. “There is still someone out there threatening you. I don’t want your freedom going to your head.”
“Yes, yes. I will be here,” the chief replied.
“I am going to call Seth and make sure you are here,” Hawk warned his father.
“We will be here. Now let me get to work,” the chief said as he pushed by Hawk. Nikki laughed. Seth followed the chief and they got into Seth’s car. The undercover police officers followed them into town.
“Do you need to go to the chocolate shop before we go out of town to check these leads?” Hawk asked Nikki.
“I think Lidia and Tori can handle the shop this morning,” Nikki replied.
“Okay, let’s roll,” Hawk said. They got into Hawk’s car and drove out of town.
Chapter Ten
Nikki and Hawk drove out of Maple Hills. The mountaintops showed a dusting of snow. Nikki was glad it had not snowed yet in Maple Hills. She knew colder weather was coming, but she hoped it would stay away until after the wedding. The leaves were turning brilliant reds and oranges and deep gold. Nikki liked looking at the different-colored leaves. It was like the mountains were wearing a crazy quilt. Nikki turned and asked Hawk where they were going first.
“We are going to stop by the church and see about Jim’s alibi first. Then we will go to the hotel where Tom said he was staying,” Hawk responded. They drove out to a small church in the next town. It was a stone church with a white steeple. The church was small but cute. Hawk parked the car and they went over to the side entrance. Hawk knocked on the door and it was answered by a young woman. Hawk introduced himself and Nikki. The young woman’s name was Sally, and she told them she was the church’s administrative assistant. She invited them into her office. Nikki followed Hawk inside, and they sat down across from Sally.
“What brings you over to our town?” Sally asked Hawk.
“I am checking on an alibi from three days ago,” Hawk replied.
“Okay. We were having a benefit luncheon. I was there and I think I saw most of our guests. If it is someone I did not see, I can ask our minister,” Sally replied.
“I was wondering if Jim French was at the luncheon,” Hawk asked Sally.
“Not only was he at the luncheon, he was the one who put it all together. The luncheon was to benefit the youth of the church. They are going on a mission trip and Mr. French thought the church members should help them. All the proceeds from the luncheon went to funding their trip,” Sally explained.
“So, Jim, I mean Mr. French, organized it? How much did you make?” Hawk asked.
“We made almost enough to fund their trip. When it was all over and the donations counted, Mr. French contributed enough money to make sure the trip was completely funded. Mr. French was here all morning getting the event organized and calling people to make sure they were going to show up,” Sally replied. “He really is a generous person.”
Nikki wondered if Jim was using the event to launder his drug money and she could tell that Hawk was thinking the same thing. However, this put him here and not at the crime scene. Hawk thanked Sally, and he and Nikki got back into the car.
“Maybe he has changed. I’ll get a warrant to check out his finances and I’ll let the chief know what Jim is up to,” Hawk said.
“I was wondering if he was using the church to launder his money. That would be a new low,” Nikki said. “In any case, he does have an alibi for the day Luke was killed.”
“For now, I still think he could have put a hit out on my father,” Hawk said. “If I can get a warrant to check his finances, we should be able to trace the money he would have paid someone to kill the chief.”
“The only question I have is why the hit man killed Luke. You would think they would have had a picture of the chief,” Nikki said.
“Maybe they got confused,” Hawk said. “Both men have nearly the same build and both have white hair. And then when they realized they shot the wrong person, they left that threatening note about the chief.”
“That makes sense,” Nikki said.
They drove further from Maple Hills and decided to stop for lunch before checking their next location. Hawk knew of a little restaurant in the next town over, so they stopped there. It was a quaint town with a ski lodge and a main street. Hawk parked by the restaurant and they got out. Nikki and Hawk sat in a booth and the waitress asked what they wanted. Hawk ordered a cheeseburger and Nikki asked for a grilled chicken sandwich. They both requested coffee.
“How much do you want to bet that the chief is still in the office?” Hawk asked when the waitress left.
“I am not taking that bet,” Nikki replied. One of the conditions of the chief going back to work was that he would go back to Nikki’s house at lunchtime.
“We should eat our food and then you can check on him,” Nikki said. Hawk laughed.
Nikki and Hawk enjoyed their lunch together. Hawk called Seth and confirmed that the chief was back at Nikki’s house. Hawk and Nikki were both happy that he was back in protective custody. They left the restaurant and drove a few more hours to the hotel where Tom had stayed.
The Clairmore Hotel was a large luxury ski resort. It had valet parking, which Hawk balk
ed at, and a grand entrance. Hawk flashed his badge and the valet driver left his car alone. Hawk and Nikki walked up to the front of the hotel. The went inside and Nikki gasped. There was a large fireplace in one corner and a bar with high-end liquor in another corner. The hotel was busy, and Hawk and Nikki made their way across the foyer.
“This reminds me of the place we stayed in for the chocolate competition,” Nikki told Hawk. He agreed. They walked up to the front desk, and Nikki looked around while they were waiting to be helped. She noticed most of the clientele were middle-aged or older men. Many of them seemed to be carrying guns. Nikki was sure not to keep her eyes on anyone for too long. She turned to Hawk.
“Did you notice how many people were packing here?” Nikki asked Hawk.
“I am not surprised. This is a known mob location. We have undercover people here all the time. Usually they get caught and have to bail. Fortunately, no one has been killed on the job,” Hawk replied. Nikki shivered and was glad she had her gun. A woman approached them, and Hawk asked about Tom. He showed the woman his badge and she answered his questions.
“Yes, he was here three days ago,” the woman said.
“Can you tell me if he left the hotel at any time during that period?” Hawk asked. The woman typed something into her computer and shook her head.
“No,” she replied. “He was here the whole time according to our valet records.”
“Can you print me a copy of those records?” Hawk asked.
“I would be happy to,” the woman replied.
“Was Tom here alone?” Nikki asked.
“As far as I know he was,” the woman answered. Nikki’s suspicions were raised.
“Are you sure he was here by himself?” she asked.
“We do not require our guests to register any names but their own. If someone was staying with Tom, or if he brought someone back to the hotel, I did not see them,” the woman behind the desk informed Nikki.
“Thank you for your time and the parking registry,” Hawk said. He guided Nikki away from the front desk.
Wedlock Cake Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 12) Page 5