Deadly Summer (Darling Investigations Book 1)

by Denise Grover Swank

  “That’s for me and my men to figure out, Teddy. Not you.”

  “Not if they’re on my land!” he spat out while he clenched his fist.

  “But you were about to chase ’em off your land.” Luke dropped his hand and took a step to the side. “Let’s just everyone take a breath, and then you can tell me what happened.” He glanced toward the barn. “Dixie and Miss Viola, if you’d be so kind as to put away your guns, I’d feel a little better.”

  I hadn’t noticed before, but sure enough they were both armed—Dixie with her handgun and Meemaw with a shotgun. The both lowered their weapons.

  Luke shot a glance to the candlestick still in my hand. “And if you’re planning to redecorate, you’ll have to wait until I’m done.”

  I narrowed my eyes and put a hand on my hip.

  His back stiffened, and he turned to me, giving me his full attention. “What the hell are you doin’ here at all? Dr. Livingston said he was keeping you until tomorrow.”

  “I decided to leave early, not that it’s any of your business!” I advanced toward him. “What’s the doctor doing givin’ you my personal medical information? Isn’t that against the law?”

  His jaw clenched. “I was checking in case I needed to give you protection in the hospital. And then I talked to Deputy Dixon.”

  “Oh, really? So you think I’m lying too?” I was standing in front of him now, and I had to lean my head back to look up at him. “You think I moved Otto Olson’s body to the woods for a freaking TV show I hate?” I knew he didn’t really believe that—he’d said as much in the morgue—but he’d also confessed our history might be clouding his judgment.

  “If you hate it so much, quit!”

  I wasn’t having this conversation with him again. We’d started having it twelve years ago, and it never ended any differently, so why were we still wasting our time? “Don’t you have other things to do besides berate me for my career choices, Officer?” I said in a snotty tone. “Like investigate the break-in?”

  “Was there a break-in?” he asked in an equally hateful tone.

  I gasped in pure shock.

  His face fell. “Summer . . .”

  Teddy took up the mantel of confronting Luke. “Are you seriously callin’ my cousin a liar?”

  Luke lifted his hands in defense. “Teddy, I was out of line.”

  “I’ll say.” His eyes widened, and he took a step toward Luke as he started putting things together. “Jesus Christ! You think she was lying about gettin’ attacked?”

  Luke took a step back, still holding his hands up in a defensive stance. “I didn’t say that.”

  Teddy was standing in front of me now, putting himself between us. “Then why would you suspect her of movin’ Otto’s body?” He glanced over at me, then back to Luke. “How the hell would Summer be able to move Otto’s body? Jesus Christ,” he said in disgust. “I knew you hated her, but that’s low even for you.”

  The words felt like a slap across the face. “Oh, my God.” I walked around Teddy to face Luke. “You told people you hated me?”

  “Summer. No.”

  Teddy balled his fists at his sides. “Get the hell off our land.”

  “Teddy,” Luke said in a pleading tone as he extended his hand toward him, “tempers are short—”

  “You’re damn right they are.”

  “But if you had a break-in, we need to investigate.”

  “I don’t trust you to investigate, Luke Montgomery,” Teddy said, taking a step toward him. “You didn’t see Summer when she came home tonight. She looked like a fuckin’ ghost. I had to carry her upstairs for fear she’d pass out before she even got inside the house. I take great offense to you insinuatin’ she’s fakin’ that.”

  Luke cast a concerned glance toward me. “Summer. Maybe you should sit down.”

  “Don’t you talk to her!” Teddy pointed a finger at him. “You have no right to talk to her. In fact, get the hell out of here before I call the sheriff to haul your ass off.”

  “I know she’s not fakin’ it, Teddy. I talked to her doctor—”

  “To see if she was fakin’?”

  “No!” Luke took a step back and put his hands on top of his head. “I’m talkin’ to you man-to-man now, Teddy, not as the police chief.” He paused to make sure Teddy was listening. “I know Summer’s not fakin’ anything. We may have our differences, but she’s incapable of that kind of duplicity. Was she attacked? I’d like to talk to her more about that. I thought she was spending the night in the hospital, and I planned to talk to her tomorrow, which is now today.” He pushed out a breath when he realized Teddy was listening. “But I do know something happened to her in the woods, and I’m trying to figure that out.”

  Teddy took in two heavy breaths before he answered. “I thought the sheriff’s department was handling Otto’s death.”

  Luke took a step closer and nodded. “They are, but just like you take care of your own, I take care of my own too.”

  My chest froze. Was Luke calling me his own? While part of me took great offense, another part of me rejoiced.

  “My sworn duty is to protect the citizens of Sweet Briar,” he continued as he held Teddy’s gaze, “and I take that very seriously. And since Summer’s originally from here and temporarily livin’ here again, she’s included in that.”

  Oh. Of course. That buoyant feeling that had risen inside me sank, carrying the rest of my energy with it. I knew I wouldn’t be able to remain upright much longer. “I’ve got to sit down.”

  Teddy snaked an arm around me, pulling me to his side. “I still want you gone, Luke.”

  “Teddy, listen to me. The sheriff’s department is the one trying to pin this Otto mess on Summer. If you want to help her, then keep them out of it.” He paused. “We’re on the same side here.”

  “Fine, then no one’s investigatin’. Matter of a fact, there wasn’t a break-in.”

  Luke released a groan.

  “Teddy,” Meemaw said, “enough of this nonsense. The window on the back bedroom is busted out.”

  “Raccoons busted out a window last year,” Teddy said in a gruff tone.

  “We may grow coons big here,” she said, “but I’ve never seen one get big enough to drive off in a truck.”

  Meemaw walked over to us, and her tone softened as she held Teddy’s gaze. “Your Pawpaw and your daddy would be proud of ya, boy—standin’ up for your family. But you have to know when to back down.”

  “Just like you’ve always backed away from anything to do with Summer?” he asked with a hard edge in his voice.

  Her eyes narrowed. “That’s enough, boy.”

  “Is it? You’ve been dancing around her bein’ back ever since that woman came to talk to you about her stayin’ here.”

  “This is a family discussion.”

  “Family . . . some family.”

  My grandmother looked so angry, I was sure she was going to snap his head off. “This is still my land, boy . . .”

  “And you never tire of reminding me of that.”

  The pain in Teddy’s voice broke my heart.

  I tugged on his arm and whispered, “Don’t do this on my account, Teddy.”

  He glanced down at me. “Family actually means something to me, Summer.”

  He made it sound like a conviction, only I was sure he wasn’t convicting me.

  Teddy glanced from Luke to our grandmother. “You two make me sick. Did you ever once stop and put yourself in Summer’s shoes?” He shook his head in disgust. “You do whatever you want, Meemaw. You always do.” He steered me toward the front porch, and I staggered along with him, hating that I was the source of this conflict.

  “Teddy, I’m sorry,” I whispered as tears stung my eyes.

  “Don’t you dare tell me that.” Then he grinned. “Unless you plan to tell me sorry for almost makin’ me run you down.” He paused. “Jesus. I think I aged ten years.”

  I leaned my head into his chest. “I couldn’t let you get hurt
. I heard gunshots. What if they shot you?”

  “I was the one to get off a few shots.”

  “Okay, then,” I said as we started up the porch steps. “What if you caught up with the robbers and got so pissed you shot them? Luke wouldn’t be able to get you out of those charges.”

  “Just like he didn’t get Dixie out of her charges?”

  The blood rushed to my feet, and I stumbled on the top step, but Teddy held me up. “What?”

  I stood still on the front porch.

  “Luke was the one who arrested Dixie for setting the old barn on fire.” He studied me. “You didn’t know?

  I shook my head.

  “Sorry, Summy. I thought you did.”

  I couldn’t help the small smile that surfaced at his use of his childhood nickname for me, but it faded as soon as his words registered. “How can Dixie stand talkin’ to him?”

  “She doesn’t blame him, but I do. My family had already been ripped to pieces, then Luke went and stole my sister too.”

  I closed my eyes, suffocating in guilt. “Oh, Teddy. I’m so, so sorry. I should have been here for you.”

  “You were livin’ in your own hell.”

  My eyes opened and I glanced up at him. “What?”

  “I’m not blind, unlike half the people around here, and I’m certainly not as stupid as Meemaw gives me credit for. I know Aunt Bea. She’s a manipulator and a bitch. I remember how much you always hated those pageants. You never wanted that life. You wanted to live here and marry Luke and have a family of your own and live on Baumgartner land. Aunt Beatrice stole your life from you.”

  I gazed up at him in wonder. Someone finally understood.

  “Ah . . . don’t cry, Summy. Why’re you cryin’?”

  I hadn’t even realized there were tears in my eyes. “Because I love you so much.”

  I threw my arms around his neck, and his wrapped around me. “I always have your back, Summer. Always. I take my responsibility as your cousin seriously. Just like my responsibility for Dixie.”

  I couldn’t believe he was giving me the same status as his sister. “I was gone for so long.”

  “We were always more like siblings than cousins,” he said with a crack in his voice. “The spell we spent apart doesn’t change that. But you’re back now. That’s what matters, isn’t it? Dixie came back and then you did. The Baumgartner kids are together again.”

  I started crying. “I’m so stupid.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because I was so scared to come back and face Meemaw. She made it clear that I wasn’t welcome here, but I should have fought harder to stay in the family. I was missin’ out on two something wonderfuls—you and Dixie.”

  “That’s all water under the bridge,” he said. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.” Then he leaned back and searched my face. “Promise me you won’t ever jump out in front of my truck again.”

  “No. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, Teddy. We Baumgartner kids have each other’s backs.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Teddy and I went into the kitchen, and he made me sit at the small two-person table shoved up against the wall while he set the kettle on the stove.

  “Maybe you should go back to bed, Summer.”

  I shook my head. “I could never go back to sleep.” Which was a lie. I was about to pass out in my chair, but it didn’t feel right to go to bed while Luke was here investigating.

  “Then how about we go hang out in the living room after I get your tea made? I hate these old, rickety chairs.”

  “Okay.”

  About five minutes later, Dixie came inside and saw Teddy fixing my tea.

  “I want a cup of tea,” she said in a good-natured whine.

  “Fine,” he said. “I’ll make you one too.” But he turned back and grinned at me, and I felt grateful that I was here with them.

  I started to cry again.

  “Summer?” Dixie asked, sounding worried. “Why are you cryin’? Are you feelin’ bad?”

  “No. It’s because I’m so happy.”

  “Happy? You’re sittin’ in Meemaw’s chair that’s about to collapse underneath you at two in the morning because someone tried to break into the room you’ve been sleepin’ in, and then your own cousin tried to run you over, and then that same cousin got into a huge argument with your old boyfriend.”

  “That has to be one of the longest sentences ever.” But Dixie was right. My feelings were crazy given the circumstances, yet there was no denying them. Maybe I’d suffered brain damage. I’d give it more consideration as soon as I could think straight. I grabbed a napkin from a wooden napkin holder decorated with a hand-painted design of a goat and a frog. I was pretty sure it was something Teddy had made in his woodshop. “And yes, I’m happy that I’m here with the two of you.”

  Dixie grunted. “I’m all for family time, but I prefer for it to be between nine a.m. and midnight.”

  “I’ll remember that for future reference.”

  Teddy reached for my arm and helped me out of my chair. “Let’s go into the living room.”

  “I’m not an invalid, Teddy.”

  “No, but you’re supposed to still be in the hospital, so let us baby you.” His eyes narrowed. “If you start cryin’ again, I’m not gonna give you your tea.”

  “Yes, you will,” I said with a huge grin as tears leaked from my eyes.

  “Why couldn’t God give me a boy cousin?” Teddy asked as he picked up my cup. “Or a brother?” he asked, pushing his way through the swinging door.

  “Hush. You love us.” Dixie grinned. “I made pie earlier. You get Summer settled, and I’ll get you a slice.”

  “Deal.”

  Several minutes later, we were in the living room, with Dixie and me snuggled up on the sofa and Teddy in the matching love seat. I took a few bites of pie and a sip of tea and then, content and cozy, leaned my head back against the cushions.

  I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, I was alone on the sofa, and Luke was saying something at the front door.

  “Sh . . . ,” Dixie said, hidden behind the short wall marking the entryway. “Summer’s asleep on the couch.”

  “Why did she really leave the hospital, Dixie?” he asked.

  “She was freaked out.”

  “You believe she was attacked?”

  “Yeah, I do. And I sure as shoot know she didn’t move Otto Olson’s body. And before you can ask, I didn’t do it either. I’m stayin’ out of trouble, Luke. Just like I promised.”

  That got my attention. She’d made some kind of deal with Luke?

  “Did you tell Teddy?” she asked.

  “I told you I wouldn’t tell a soul. Why?”

  She paused. “Nothing. Right now we need to think about Summer and the break-in.”

  “I’ll be honest, Dixie,” he said. “I don’t know what to make of any of this. Why did they break in to her window? Did it wake her up?”

  “She was up in my room because I wanted her close to me. The only reason she was stayin’ at the hospital was because they wanted to make sure she didn’t slip into a coma.”

  “What?”

  “Calm down,” she said. “The chances were low, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought her home.”

  “How many people know she’s stayin’ here?” Luke asked.

  “The whole dang town.”

  They were quiet for a minute before Luke said, “Do you think someone’s after Summer?”

  “I don’t know,” she said in quiet voice. “But I can’t help thinking someone is settin’ her up.”

  “Teddy is sure the break-in happened because of him. He says he thinks they broke in to get money he’d won in a poker game. He claims he pissed a few guys off because of his winnin’ streak.”

  “Then maybe that’s the reason,” she said. But I wasn’t sure if he believed her—I knew I didn’t.

  “She’s takin’ it easy tomorrow, right?” he asked. “I
don’t have to worry about her traipsing around town?”

  “She’s going to work,” Dixie said. “But if it makes you feel any better, she’s planning on keepin’ it pretty tame . . . lots of sittin’ around and interviewing Lauren’s lame clients.”

  “They can’t be that tame if they almost got Summer killed.”

  “That was our doin’,” Dixie said. “We followed a lead that Otto’s bike was at the lake.”

  “Lead? What lead? Deputy Dixon never said a word about a lead.”

  “I guess that’s because he was puttin’ so much effort into makin’ sure she looked guilty. People hate her just because she’s Summer Butler. I know you try to pretend you hate her too.”

  “Dixie.”

  “Look, I’m just sayin’ most people have a motive for doin’ things to someone else, but Summer gets haters just for breathin’. You know there’s a few people around here who are jealous of her. Isn’t that why you broke up with Gina Matherson?”

  Oh, my God. Luke had dated Gina Matherson? She’d been the queen of gossip in middle school, and the summer Luke and I had dated, he’d insisted she hadn’t changed. Of all the people in town, she was one of the last I could see him dating.

  “I don’t want to talk about Gina. Tell me more about the lead at the church.”

  I knew I should tell them I was awake, but every conversation Luke and I had devolved into an argument. At least he was getting useful information from Dixie.

  “After we interviewed Reverend Miller and a church member, Summer went to the bathroom and called you.”

  “Yeah . . .”

  “Well, I guess this guy popped out of a classroom and told her he’d seen Otto’s bike out on a trail near the lake. Said he was there fishin’. We went out there to see if we could find a lead on Otto. Summer thought the guy who told her was a janitor because he had a broom, but when she described him later, I knew she’d been tricked. The guy she saw was in his twenties, but Old Pete is the real janitor there—has been for years—and he’s in his seventies.”

  “So who did she talk to?”

  “Beats me.”

  “You didn’t see him?”

  “No. Only Summer.”