Blue Ridge Sunrise

by Denise Hunter

  THE DEPUTY WAS standing by the front door when Zoe came down the stairs a moment later. She’d asked Miss Ruby to keep Gracie in the kitchen just in case this wasn’t a friendly visit. Her legs wobbled like stilts as she took the last step.

  Her chin automatically thrust upward. “Deputy Mosley.” She was glad her tone came out strong.

  He pushed his wireless glasses up his nose. “Zoe. Sorry to disturb you so early this morning. And I was sorry to hear about Audrey. How’s Brady holding up?”

  Didn’t sound like a man about to make an arrest. She allowed herself a breath. “He’s in a bit of shock, I think.”

  “Understandable. I’m real sorry for his son.”

  “Thank you. We all are.” Zoe shifted. “Well, I’m sure you didn’t come to talk about that. Do you have news? Did you get hold of Garret?”

  “Maybe we could have a seat?”

  Her cheeks warmed. “Of course. ”

  Her grandmother would roll over in her grave at her appalling manners. Even if he did seem more foe than friend at the moment, she’d known the deputy all her life. He’d even been invited over for Sunday supper when she was younger.

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  He sank onto the center of the sofa, removing his hat. “No thanks. I’ve already reached my caffeine quota for the morning.”

  Zoe took the armchair, unable to do anything but perch on its edge. She tucked her hands under her thighs.

  “I’ll get right to it, Zoe. The phone records did corroborate your statement. You spoke with Daisy from 10:47 to 11:57. Since your 911 call was made at 12:02, there wasn’t adequate time to set a fire.”

  She released a breath and took a second to feel the pleasure of vindication. “Why, of course not. I tried to tell you that. You’ve known me since I was in diapers, Deputy.”

  A flush rose in his neck. “I’m just trying to do my job, Zoe. The sheriff’s office has to do its investigation, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed that you’ve caused a scuttle or two in your day.”

  “So I set off fireworks on the bridge a couple times and got a couple speeding tickets. I was only a teenager. Hardly a hardened criminal, Deputy.” She threw her hands up.

  He held his hand up, palm out. “I’m not here to dig up your past, Zoe. I hate that I have to be here at all.”

  “I had nothing to do with this fire. For heaven’s sake, I nearly died trying to put it out. Probably would’ve if Cruz hadn’t dragged me out.”

  “I believe you. The extinguisher was found in the ashes.”

  Her shoulders sank a good two inches on her exhale. “Then why on earth are you here questioning me instead of chasing down Garret?”

  “We’ve already spoken with Garret. He checked into a campsite in Tennessee the day before the fire.”

  “Well, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have come back.”

  “It’s over a four-hour drive. Highly unlikely he would’ve gone to all that effort. And we confirmed his reservation had been made two months ago. Zoe, I need to talk to you about Cruz.”

  She pressed her lips together. “You’re wasting valuable time that could be spent chasing down the real culprit. Cruz did not start that fire.”

  “The sheriff wanted to bring you down for questioning, Zoe. But out of respect for your family, I’m trying to keep things casual.”

  Zoe huffed. She sure didn’t want to add fuel to the fire—so to speak. “Fine.”

  “Cruz says he diverted his route to check on the barn. That it had been left unlocked in the past. Tell me about that.”

  “A framer I hired to help shore up the stairs left the barn unlocked one night. He said he forgot. His name is Allen Carlisle, and he’s part of Merck Framing and Construction out of Ellijay. Feel free to contact him. I spoke with him about his negligence.”

  “That’s helpful. I’ll do that.” The deputy planted his elbows on his knees. “It’s no secret you and Cruz have gotten tight lately. Or that your orchard is limping along.”

  “We’re having a hard year, as is every orchard in the area. It’s hardly the first low-yield year. Besides which, it’s not as bad as we’d feared. And just because Garret was camping the day before the fire doesn’t mean he couldn’t have—”

  “Zoe, you’re grasping at straws here.”

  She had to make him understand. “Deputy, Kyle has been trying to get me to come back to him for both personal and professional reasons. He’s been texting, sending flowers, calling . . . harassing me. The band is ready to sign with a label, and he wants me back, but I’ve refused. I made it clear I’m staying here and running the orchard. Kyle knows how critical the Peach Barn is in my plan to turn things around. He’s the one responsible for the fire. He was sabotaging my efforts in order to get me to come back to him.”

  Interest flickered in the deputy’s eyes. “Suppose that’s true. Kyle and all his friends have an alibi. Can you think of anyone else who could’ve done it?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he hired someone.”

  “We’ve subpoenaed his bank records. There’s nothing suspicious there, Zoe.”

  “Well, maybe somebody’s lying about an alibi.”

  “I’m afraid the sheriff has followed every other lead.”

  “Kyle’s a very controlling man, and he doesn’t like to lose. This is just the kind of thing he’d do. He was very angry about my rejection the last time we spoke.”

  “And when was that?”

  Zoe winced inside. “A few weeks before the fire.”

  “It sounds like maybe he’d given up, then. Listen, Zoe. I know you don’t want to think this way, but we have to look at the facts. Cruz was the first on the scene after you. It seems like an awful big coincidence that he came along so late at night, just as the barn was going up in flames.”

  “He did not do this. Kyle’s the one who—”

  “Kyle has an airtight alibi.”

  “So does Cruz! He was at the Rusty Nail with Brady.”

  “No one can pin down the exact time of his departure. It was somewhere between eleven thirty and twelve. But if it was closer to eleven thirty that allows enough time.” He sighed, his hazel eyes piercing hers. “Zoe . . . just consider. It’s not uncommon for an arsonist to stick around after setting a fire. Especially when the woman he’s involved with is trying to—”

  “All due respect, sir, you are barking up the wrong tree.”

  He held his hands out, palms out. “Just listen for a minute. Suppose Cruz had nothing but the best intentions. Perhaps he might even feel a bit responsible that the orchard isn’t faring well. As the manager, there’s quite a bit of weight on his shoulders, and he wants the best for you. Nobody doubts that.”

  “He’s hardly at fault for the mild winter.”

  Deputy Mosley held out his hand again, and Zoe folded her arms, pressing her lips together. Fine. She’d appease him.

  “Suppose he thought he’d help you out with a little insurance money to tide you over until next harvest.”

  “He knew I needed to get the market open by Peach Fest. We’ve both been working our rear ends off to get it ready in time.”

  “And he also knew Brady had a perfectly nice building waiting in the wings.”

  “And so he threw a rock through the window? With a gasoline-soaked rag? How stupid do you think he is?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time an arsonist started—”

  “Cruz is not an arsonist!”

  He nailed her with a look for a painfully long moment. “Hear me out.”

  Zoe pressed her lips together. Locked her jaw. Clearly he was going to have to get all this nonsense out before he listened to a word she had to say.

  “Imagine that he’s just set a fire—in order to help, mind you. But before the fire could get out of control, you show up. You enter the building and don’t come out. He starts to fear that you aren’t coming out at all so he rushes in after you. He just wants the insurance money, he sure doesn’t want you getting hurt.
<
br />   “Just think for a minute. Would he really have gone out of his way when he left the Rusty Nail that night? It was going on midnight. He had to be tired after a long day in the orchard. Does that make sense to you?”

  “Yes, it does. He wanted to make sure it was locked up tight. He feels a high level of responsibility to this place.”

  Deputy Mosley tipped his head back, and she realized her mistake. “That’s exactly what the sheriff is thinking.”

  Her mouth snapped shut. Everything he said made sense.

  But Cruz wouldn’t have done something so heinous, not even for her. That wasn’t his style.

  It sure was Kyle’s though.

  “Zoe . . . I don’t believe you’re at the bottom of this. But I can’t prove you weren’t in cahoots with Cruz, not even with the fire extinguisher. People do all kinds of crazy things to make themselves look innocent. You need to think long and hard here. Someone’s going down for arson. It’s a serious crime. We’re talking about heavy fines and possible jail time. You’re a single mother— think of Gracie.”

  Heat flushed through her body, and she gave him a flinty look. “You’re pitting me against my boyfriend? The father of my child?”

  “I didn’t set the fire, Zoe. I’m only trying to get to the bottom of it. And I’m afraid you’re the one with the most on the line.”

  chapter thirty-eight

  Zoe was shaking by the time Deputy Mosley left the house. She tried to calm Miss Ruby’s fears and put on a brave face for Gracie, but by the time she arrived at Brady’s barn twenty minutes later the weight of the deputy’s accusations had settled in her midsection like a cement block. She pounded her fist against her steering wheel.

  God, this isn’t fair! I didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did Cruz! Kyle did, and he’s going to get off scot-free.

  Her eyes burned at the injustice of it. Regardless of what Deputy Mosley said, one thing was obvious. The sheriff had already reached a conclusion about the fire.

  Cruz was going to get blamed for this, despite all her denials.

  She couldn’t let that happen. But what could she do? It was obvious to her that one of Kyle’s cronies had set the fire. If only she could figure out who and get him to admit it. But none of them considered her a friend.

  Distinct lines had been drawn that night at the Rusty Nail when Kyle hit her. They weren’t going to throw their friend under the bus no matter what.

  The hum of an approaching engine drew her from her thoughts, and she looked over to see Hope swinging her red Civic into the adjoining space. Zoe had completely forgotten that her friend had offered to help her unpack and label all the peaches.

  Hope came around to the open window at the driver’s side of Zoe’s car, the gravel crunching under her feet. As her eyes honed in on Zoe, her smile went flat.

  “Are you all right?”

  The stinging behind Zoe’s eyes increased at the concern in Hope’s voice. But first things first.

  “How are Brady and Sammy?”

  “They’re doing okay, all things considered. Brady was pretty shaken up last night after identifying Audrey. He felt better once he had Sam safe and sound though.”

  “I don’t know how he’s going to manage his business and full-time parenthood.”

  “The same way you and every other single parent does, I guess. One day at a time. I told him I’d pitch in until he finds someone permanent. Others will too. Now, how ’bout you tell me what’s got you all upset?”

  Zoe heaved a sigh. “I got a visit from Deputy Mosley this morning.”

  “Bad news?”

  “It’s terrible.” Zoe spilled the entire story, ending with how helpless and overwhelmed she felt that all the blame was shifting to Cruz no matter what she said.

  “Unbelievable.”

  “Isn’t it? You hear about people getting falsely convicted of crimes. I guess this is how it happens.” Zoe pressed her fingers to her forehead. “I’ll never forgive myself if Cruz gets blamed. I have to fix this, Hope.”

  “Well, we don’t know who actually set the fire, but we sure know who’s behind it. Maybe we can get Kyle to confess somehow.”

  Zoe scowled. “Why would he do that?”

  Hope leaned on the doorframe, a frown puckering her dark brows. “He wants something from you, Zoe. Maybe if he thinks he’s going to get it, he’ll admit to what he did.”

  Maybe Hope was right. Maybe Kyle was the weak link. He’d made no bones about wanting Zoe back. Maybe she could leverage that somehow.

  “So you’re saying I should set up a meeting, wear a wire, go all FBI on him?”

  Hope backed off. “Whoa. I was just thinking of taping a phone conversation or something.”

  Zoe considered that. “I don’t think he’d come clean on the phone. It wouldn’t be convincing enough. I was pretty adamant last time we talked.”

  Hope grimaced. “You know, I don’t think this is such a good idea after all. He has a volatile temper—I saw it firsthand, remember? Maybe you could bring the sheriff into this. Offer to help them set him up.”

  Zoe bit her lip, stared out the front windshield, thinking. A moment later she shook her head. “The sheriff seems pretty sure Cruz is responsible. At best he’d refuse to pursue this with me. At worst, he’d warn me to stay out of it. And then where would I be? No, I think this falls under ‘easier to ask forgiveness than permission.’”

  “What about taking Cruz along then? You can’t meet him alone. I don’t like to think what he might do to you if he suspects a trap.”

  “Take Cruz? Are you kidding me? Kyle would never admit to anything in front of him.”

  “He could stay hidden. He Who Must Not Be—”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, just say his name!”

  Hope scowled. “Fine. Kyle wouldn’t even have to know Cruz was there.”

  “I don’t want Kyle coming to Copper Creek at all. I don’t trust him, and I don’t want him anywhere near Gracie.”

  “Now you’re thinking smart. Let’s leave this in the sheriff’s hands.”

  “I was thinking more of going to Nashville and trapping him into a confession there.” She was starting to feel convinced this could work.

  “Are you crazy?”

  “Probably.”

  “You’d have to take Cruz. It’s way too risky to go alone.”

  The more Zoe thought on this, the more she realized what kind of tack she’d have to take with Kyle. She’d have to play up to his ego and let him think he’d won. Tell him he’d been right all along. That she was giving up on the whole idea of the orchard. She’d have to sweet-talk him and make him believe she wanted him back.

  She was already shaking her head. “There’s no way Cruz would go along with this. Especially when he knows I’m doing it for him. He’d want to strong-arm Kyle himself. And that’s no way to get Kyle to talk. Trust me. I know his weaknesses.”

  Cruz would want to do this his way, and it wouldn’t work. She was done letting other people control her life. Her dad had never known what was best for her. Kyle sure hadn’t. It was past time she took the reins of her own life.

  Hope straightened, pulling her elbows from the window frame. “It’s not safe to meet Kyle alone. I can’t go along with this.”

  “I’ll meet him someplace public. Someplace he wouldn’t dare cause a scene.”

  “That didn’t stop him at the Rusty Nail.”

  “We were in a dark parking lot. He thought we were alone.” Zoe was feeling less helpless with every second that passed. She was going to get this done.

  “I don’t know about this, Zoe.”

  “Don’t worry.” She gave her friend a confident look. “This is going to work. You’ll see. I’ll put out the bait right now and plan to move on it after Peach Fest.” She grabbed her phone from her pocket and opened her texts.

  “Wait!”

  Zoe looked up, raising her brows.

  Hope didn’t speak; she just ran her hand over her throat and gave Zoe
a pained look.

  “What am I supposed to be waiting for?”

  “For me to think of something to say that’ll stop you from doing this.”

  “It was your idea!”

  “That should’ve been the tip-off. You know I’m full of bad ideas.”

  “It’s a great idea.” Zoe tapped on Kyle’s name. “He’ll be expecting me to contact him. He’s thinking his plan to ruin my business was brilliant, and he’s just waiting for me to come crawling back to him.” She started texting.

  Hi Kyle. I’ve been thinking . . . reconsidering some of my recent decisions. I was thinking of coming up to Nashville soon so we could talk. You were right about so many things.

  Hope made a gagging sound.

  Zoe shot her a look as she sent the text. “There. He’ll respond to that. Knowing him, he’ll probably make me wait, but that’ll give me time to get through the grand opening.”

  She should be ready for this, though. Making Kyle wait would only anger him. “Do you still have that little hand-held recorder?”

  Hope gave her a pained look. “Maybe . . .”

  “Perfect. I’ll pick it up later today.” A small wave of euphoria washed over her. She was actually going to manipulate Kyle. Now there was a switch. Imagine how she’d feel when it was all over. “We are so doing this,” she said.

  “You’re doing this. I don’t want anything to do with it.” Hope stepped away from the truck as Zoe got out.

  “Fine. When I nail his rear end to the wall, all the credit will be mine.”

  “Promise me you’ll tell me before you head to Nashville. Someone needs to know what’s going on.”

  “I promise. Maybe we can even rig it up so you can listen in just to be safe. But you cannot tell anyone else.”

  “I don’t like this, Zoe.”

  “We’ll hammer out the details later. I have a grand opening to get through first.” Zoe shut the door behind her, her chin nudging north. “This is going to work, you’ll see.”

  “I sure hope you’re right.”

  Zoe headed to the barn. She felt good about this. Okay, maybe her knees were a tad wobbly. Maybe her pulse was a bit jumpy, her muscles a little twitchy.