Wedlock Cake Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 12)

by Wendy Meadows

  “What is my prognosis?” Nikki asked.

  “The doctor said you have some second-degree burns on your back, but they will heal quickly. Your ankle is sprained, not broken, and you have a mild concussion,” the chief said. “Also, you have abrasions on your knees and hands, but the rest of you is fine.” Nikki was relieved that her injuries were not as extensive as she had thought.

  Nikki asked about the IV.

  “It’s because you were a bit dehydrated when they brought you in,” Seth replied.

  At that moment a nurse walked in and told Nikki she would be removing the IV. Nikki thanked her and was grateful to have the needle out of her arm.

  “I told them you did not want any major pain medications,” Seth said. Nikki thanked him. She wanted her head to be clear.

  “You need to stay in the hospital for a day or two so they can observe you,” the chief said.

  “A day or two?” Nikki exclaimed. “I have to get things ready for the wedding. I survived this wreck. I am not postponing my wedding.”

  “Lidia and Tori are working on things for you,” Seth said. “You have to stay here and rest. The doctor does not want anything else happening to you. No arguments.”

  Nikki realized she was lucky to be alive, so she did not complain.

  “Top of my list is finding out who did this. I am going to check around local garages and see if anyone brought their car in for repairs today. Specifically, front end damage,” Hawk said. “I will be back soon. Listen to the doctors.” Hawk gave Nikki a kiss and left. After he left, Nikki motioned the chief and Seth closer to the bed.

  “Does he know why I went back to the chocolate shop?” Nikki asked Seth.

  “No. We didn’t tell him you were going to work on the cake. He assumed you went back to make more chocolates for the store,” Seth replied.

  “Thank you,” Nikki said, relieved. She knew it was petty to worry about, but she wanted to have one surprise for Hawk.

  “Oh no.” Nikki realized something. “If I am stuck in the hospital, I won’t be able to finish Hawk’s cake in time.” Nikki started to panic and then she saw Lidia. Lidia had arrived in time to hear Nikki’s lament.

  Lidia went over to Nikki’s bed. She gave Nikki a gentle hug.

  “Don’t worry about the cake. I am taking care of it,” Lidia told Nikki.

  “But how?” Nikki asked.

  “Just consider it my gift to you. You need to rest and heal. We have all the wedding plans under control,” Lidia promised. Nikki started to cry. Lidia held her.

  “You are such a dear friend. What would I do without you?” Nikki asked Lidia.

  Soon, the chief and Seth said they were going back to Nikki’s.

  “We will get you a change of clothes and some better food,” the chief said. Nikki thanked them. They left and Lidia sat on the bed by Nikki.

  Lidia spent some time consoling Nikki. She reassured her that the plans for the wedding were moving along smoothly. Nikki was worried about the cake. She had some specific ideas in mind. Nikki thought about it and figured it did not matter what the cake looked like. Nikki was just glad to be around to have some. Nikki was also glad that Lidia was around to help her in her time of need. Nikki dried her eyes and asked Lidia about the chocolate shop. Lidia was filling her in on the day’s sales when suddenly Nikki remembered something.

  “Where is my phone?” Nikki asked Lidia. Lidia looked around and found Nikki’s phone. Lidia handed it to her. Nikki called Hawk.

  “Is everything okay?” Hawk asked.

  “Yes. I was just wondering about Rafael’s alibi,” Nikki said. Hawk was going to stop by Rafael’s house after work.

  “His alibi checks out. He was hanging with his girlfriend all day and all night long,” Hawk replied. “There were several noise complaints throughout the night, and he was there each time the police were called. They were just playing their music loud. Other people stopped by and the neighbor who lives beside Rafael’s girlfriend confirmed that Rafael was there all day. The neighbor saw Rafael come out of the apartment the next morning.”

  “Okay. Thank you,” Nikki said. She was glad that Rafael was cleared, but she was anxious because they still had no new leads in Luke’s killer or the chief’s threat or the person who ran Nikki off the road. Nikki felt if they were not the same person, then they were working together. Nikki felt a bit dizzy. She knew she probably should not sleep, but she needed some rest.

  “I am feeling a bit tired,” Nikki told Lidia.

  “Why don’t you get some rest. I am going back to the chocolate shop,” Lidia replied. “I don’t want to leave Tori by herself for too long. We are getting more and more new customers by the day.”

  “That is excellent,” said Nikki, yawning. Lidia said goodbye and Nikki drifted off, trying to remember anything about the car that hit her. Nikki slept. While she was sleeping, she dreamed of a woman with red hair screaming at her. Nikki woke up with a start and called Hawk.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nikki waited in the hospital for Hawk. She had called him with some information and Hawk dropped everything. Hawk told Nikki he would be there soon. Nikki kept thinking about the accident and was hoping that some more information would present itself to her. She thought about the wreck and she tried to piece together the moments before the car went off the shoulder. Hawk appeared.

  “So, what do you remember?” Hawk asked Nikki.

  “It was a dream, but it was so real,” Nikki said. “I saw a woman with red hair in a car beside me screaming at me. Could I really have seen that?”

  “I suppose the driver could have been visible right before you left the road, and it’s only now coming through your subconscious mind. At this point I will take any leads I can get,” Hawk replied. He sat on the bed and gently moved some of Nikki’s hair off of her face. Nikki was so happy by the gentle touch that she felt her eyes water up again. Hawk wiped Nikki’s eyes and kissed them. She settled down and kissed Hawk.

  “Did you find out about any cars needing repairs?” Nikki asked Hawk.

  “I went to John’s Motors and they had a car that had been in an accident, but the damage was in the rear. The front bumper was pristine. I drove over to Chuck’s place and he did not have any new repairs.” Hawk had driven to two other mechanics and their stories were the same. Hawk asked them to call him if anyone appeared with a damaged front end. All of the mechanics promised to do so.

  “I am going back to the office to see if a redheaded woman was mentioned in any of the files from my father’s former cases that we pulled.”

  “I really want to get out of here and help you,” Nikki said. “I am tired of being in this bed.”

  “I know, but you can’t leave without a doctor’s permission,” Hawk said.

  Nikki felt like she was hitting brick walls. “Now I know how the chief feels. Can’t you talk to the doctor and convince him I am ready to leave?” Nikki asked. “Let him know that I will stay off my feet, but I want to be in my own home.”

  “I think he knows you well enough to know you will try and get back to work,” Hawk said and chuckled.

  “I won’t, I promise, at least for the rest of the day and tomorrow morning. I just want to be somewhere where I can rest and not be poked and prodded every thirty minutes. I know the nurses and doctors are only doing their job, but I want to go home,” Nikki insisted. Hawk looked at her. Nikki knew Hawk realized how stubborn she could be. Hawk sighed.

  “I know that look in your eyes. Before you try and break yourself out of this hospital, let me talk to the doctor. If he clears you, I will drive you home,” Hawk told Nikki.

  Nikki smiled. “Thank you,” she said. She felt better knowing she might get out of the hospital soon.

  “I believe the doctor is doing his rounds on the other floors. Let me check the files and I promise I will talk to the doctor as soon as I am done,” Hawk said. Nikki reluctantly agreed. She knew if she pushed the doctor too hard, he would keep her in the hospital longer. N
ikki resigned herself to her afternoon hospital stay.

  Hawk gave Nikki a hug and kiss and left her alone in her hospital room. Nikki tried to rest in her bed, and she drifted into a light sleep. She woke up suddenly. The door was opening. Nikki hoped Hawk was back, but instead a nurse walked in.

  Seeing Nikki’s dejected look, the nurse asked, “Were you expecting someone else?”

  “I’m sorry,” Nikki replied. “I thought you might be my ride out of here.” The nurse smiled and checked Nikki’s chart.

  “Would you like me to get you a snack while you are waiting for your ride?” the nurse asked Nikki. “I have noticed your impressive visitors. It’s not everyone who has the chief of police and a handsome detective visiting them.” Nikki smiled and thanked the nurse.

  “I think I have some change in my purse.” Nikki started looking around for it.

  “That’s okay. I have some change. Would you like some chocolate?” the nurse asked. “I am sure they are not as good as yours, but it is chocolate.”

  “You know me?” Nikki asked.

  “I know your shop, and I put two and two together when I saw your name,” the nurse answered.

  “Thank you. Some chocolate would be great,” Nikki replied with a smile. The nurse left, and Nikki realized how lucky she was to have the chief and Hawk in her life, not to mention Lidia and Tori. Nikki had some of the best friends on the planet. She was feeling happy and smiling when the door opened again. It was the chief.

  “What are you smiling about? I am not complaining, I love to see you smile,” the chief said. “I brought you a change of clothes and some snacks from home.”

  “I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you and Hawk in my life,” Nikki said. “You have taken Seth and me in and made us a part of your family. I don’t know if I really thanked you for that. Thank you, Chief.”

  The chief had a duffel bag in his hand. He put the bag down by the bed and gave Nikki a gentle hug. “Thank you for being such a great person. I have never seen my son so happy before,” he said.

  “He makes me happy, too,” Nikki replied. She saw the nurse come in. Nikki frowned when she noticed that the nurse locked the door. Before Nikki could say anything, the nurse pulled out a gun and walked over to Nikki’s bedside. The nurse aimed the gun at the chief. Thinking quickly, Nikki swung her leg out of the bed and hit the nurse. Nikki kicked the nurse in her abdomen and the nurse bent over and dropped the gun. The chief dove for the gun but the nurse dove, too. They both reached it at the same time. The chief and the nurse struggled for possession of the gun. Nikki heard some yelling and banging. She tried to get out of the bed to help the chief, but she was caught up in her blankets. Both the chief and the nurse had their hands on the gun, each trying to wrestle it out of the other person’s hand. The chief tried to push the nurse, but he could not get any traction on the slippery floor. Just as the chief started to lose his grip, the door burst open. Seth and Hawk came running into the room. Seth jumped on the nurse’s back and Hawk grabbed the gun from her. Seth cuffed the nurse and Hawk helped the chief up off of the floor. The chief fell into a nearby chair, panting, while Seth cuffed the nurse. Nikki untangled herself from the sheets and looked at the nurse. There were some red hairs around her face.

  “Hawk, she has red hair,” Nikki told Hawk. “I think she is wearing a wig.” Hawk turned and pulled on the nurse’s hair. She was indeed wearing a wig, and it flew off.

  “You must be Penny Hatcher,” Hawk said to the nurse. The nurse scowled.

  “Who is Penny Hatcher?” Nikki asked.

  “Penny Hatcher was seeing Rafael’s father on the side. I saw her mentioned in Rafael’s file. I called Rafael and he said he had never heard of her,” Hawk said.

  “Yeah, I am Penny,” the woman said. “I know that Rafael shot his father. All his father did was slap him around a little. The jury should have given Rafael the death sentence. Instead, they let him go into juvenile detention. My sweetheart was dead because of that boy and all he got was a slap on the wrist. I wanted to kill Rafael to avenge his father, but I could not get near him. He was always with his girlfriend or his friends. He was never alone long enough for me to get near him.”

  “What do you mean Rafael’s father slapped him around?” The chief interrupted Penny’s rant.

  “His father was just trying to slap some sense into him. Rafael accused him of being a drunk. Rafael’s father socked him in the stomach. He liked doing that because it did not leave any marks on the kid. I thought the kid was learning but then he had to go and shoot his father. I never met Rafael, but his father would tell me what he had to do to keep Rafael in line,” Penny said.

  Nikki was horrified. The chief had turned pale.

  “He was abused,” Nikki heard the chief murmur.

  “What did you do when you could not get to Rafael?” Hawk asked Penny.

  “I went after the chief. After all, it is his fault that Rafael was not still in jail. He did all he could to persuade the judge and jury that Rafael was not a bad person. I scoped out the police department and learned the chief’s schedule. I put on a wig and walked into the police station. I pretended to sell calendars for charity. While I was talking to the receptionist, I heard the chief making plans with the officer. I heard him giving directions to the cabin and knew I would finally have my revenge. I went to the cabin early and waited. A car came by and someone got out. The person looked like the chief, so I shot him. When I realized my mistake, I wrote a note to the chief. I wanted him to know I was gunning for him and then I left. The next day I walked by the precinct and heard that the chief was not at his house. I didn’t know where he was, but I noticed that you two were getting cozy.” Here, Penny pointed to Hawk and Nikki. “I followed you home and noticed the officers keeping watch outside. I knew the chief was there, but I could not get to him. I tried on the day he went to town but there were too many cops. I decided to go after Nikki to lure the chief out again. I followed her down the road and rammed her. I waited and circled back a few times. I thought you might be dead. I was glad to see you on the side of the road.”

  “You were the car that drove by me and ignored me,” Nikki said.

  “Yep. I thought the chief would appear. Instead it was only him.” Penny pointed to Hawk. “He came to your rescue. I thought for sure I would never have a chance to get the chief and then I had an idea. I knew if I got into this room, I could kill the chief.”

  “But Nikki kicked her and sent the gun flying,” the chief said.

  “And then Hawk and Seth broke the door down,” Nikki added. “I wondered what that noise was. Thank you for saving us.” Hawk hugged Nikki as Seth dragged Penny up off the floor.

  “I am taking her to jail,” Seth said.

  “I am going with you,” the chief added. They marched Penny out of Nikki’s room.

  Nikki was thrilled. They had solved the case and no one else had been injured. Nikki winced as she lay back down. Hawk looked at her foot.

  “Is this the leg you used to kick Penny?” Hawk asked.

  “Yes,” Nikki replied.

  “You might need another X-ray,” Hawk said.

  “Why?” Nikki asked. She then realized she had kicked Penny with her sprained ankle.

  “I’m okay,” Nikki reassured Hawk. “I didn’t hear anything snap.” Hawk rolled his eyes.

  “At least you can now stay here for another night,” Hawk said.

  “No way,” Nikki said. “I still want to go home. The case is solved, and the wedding will go on as planned. And I was able to help you catch the killer. If I could do that, surely I don’t belong in a hospital bed!”

  Hawk sighed. “There is nothing I can say to change your mind, is there?”

  “Not a thing,” Nikki said. “Now, are you going to find a doctor or am I going to break out of here?”

  “Fine,” Hawk said. “Stay here and I will go and get a doctor.”

  Hawk left and Nikki got out of bed. She hopped over to the bag the chief had b
rought her. Nikki opened it and took out a change of clothes. She hobbled to the bathroom and got changed. By the time Hawk got back with the doctor, Nikki had her boots on and was ready to go. The doctor made her take off her boots and he examined her ankle.

  “It is not broken,” the doctor said. “I would like you to stay here so I can monitor you, but I know how stubborn you can be. So I am going to discharge you. You have to use crutches for the next couple of days.” Nikki thanked him and put on her boots. A nurse came in with some crutches. Nikki hobbled out and Hawk grabbed her bag. He followed her down the hallway and outside.

  “I will bring the car around. Stay here,” Hawk ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” Nikki beamed. She was excited. Her wedding was a couple of days away and she would be there. So would the chief. Everything was coming together.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nikki woke up. The sun was shining brightly, and she stretched before bouncing out of bed. Today was the day. Seth had slept over at Hawk’s house, and Lidia and Tori had spent the night at Nikki’s. Nikki was excited. She was also a bit nervous. She went downstairs using the railing and a crutch to support her ankle and smelled coffee brewing. Tori and Lidia had whipped up a breakfast fit for a queen. Lidia had made crepes and Tori had cut up fresh fruit and made a sauce to go with the crepes. Nikki was stunned.

  “Only the best for the best,” Lidia said as Nikki walked into the kitchen. Nikki had not been sure she would be able to eat breakfast, but she could not resist the delicacies in front of her. Nikki sat down and ate with Lidia and Tori. After breakfast, Nikki went upstairs to get ready. She took a shower and styled her hair. Tori helped Nikki with her makeup since Nikki’s hands were shaking. Afterward, Nikki sat on her bed thinking.

  “I’m here to help you get dressed,” Lidia said, coming into the room. “What are you doing sitting still? You have to get ready.”

  “I am trying to think of something borrowed and blue,” Nikki replied. “Like the rhyme.”

  “Okay. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. What do you have and what do you still need?”