“As it turns out, you might have a lot more time on your hands. Although, there’s a chance you’ll be spending that time behind bars—”
Gary cut David off. “Are you serious? I just told you, I’m going to pay the money back.”
“Mr. Thornton, I wasn’t referring to you taking money from the petty cash fund. I was speaking about Angela Hummel’s disappearance,” David said.
“But I had nothing to do with that,” Gary said.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m telling you the truth.”
David snickered. “You’ve already admitted to being a thief, so why shouldn’t I think you’re a liar too? Angela found out about you taking money from the petty cash fund and was going to confront you.”
“Yes. But like I told you. I had nothing to do with her disappearance.”
“Do you have any way of proving that?” David asked.
Gary took a deep breath and then shook his head. “Yes.”
“How?”
“The morning of Angela’s disappearance, I was with my mistress,” Gary said.
David pulled out his cell phone. “I’m going to need her name and number.”
Gary winced. “Are you really going to call her?”
“Absolutely,” David said. “Now give me her number. Or are you lying to me about your alibi?”
“Why would I lie about being with my mistress? The only reason I didn’t tell you this before is because I didn’t want word getting out that I was cheating on my wife. But I’d rather have the truth come out than go to jail for a crime I didn’t commit,” Gary said.
“Mr. Thornton, are you going to give me your mistress’s phone number or not?” David asked.
Gary became pensive. A few seconds later, he gave David the phone number.
My husband then called Gary’s mistress, Kaitlin Eldridge.
Surprisingly, Kaitlin verified Gary’s alibi.
***
So much for a hot lead. With Gary’s alibi confirmed, David and I had no choice but to cross him off of our suspect list.
Suddenly, David and I were back to square one with this case.
As I returned to the car, there was no way of keeping my frustration at bay any longer.
Even worse, David and I had no idea where to take this investigation next.
So we turned to a higher power for answers.
That evening, David and I spent a great deal of time praying.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next day, I shot up in bed with an intense feeling in my gut. Surprisingly, as I looked over at the clock, it was only five in the morning. Typically, I would try to go back to sleep. But this wasn’t just a normal morning.
As I sat in bed, I had a hunch about where to go with this investigation and I was determined to follow my instincts. But before I could begin working on the case again, I needed to wake David up. I poked my husband and he rolled over in bed. After he wiped his eyes, he looked over at me with confusion.
I told him about the feeling that I had in my gut. He listened to me very carefully. When I was done speaking, he climbed out of bed and got dressed. I did the same.
But there was still one more matter to attend to before we could tackle the case again—my daughter Jessica.
I called my mother. Thankfully, she agreed to drive over here and watch Jessica for a while.
That freed David and me up to follow up on my hunch.
***
When David and I left the house, our first move was to head over to Treasure Cove Beach. If my instincts were correct, it was important to be there by six-thirty.
The reason for that was simple. Even though David and I had gone to the beach on the day that Angela went missing, we had arrived shortly after eleven o’clock. In order to properly retrace her steps, the timing was crucial. Which meant arriving at the jogging path at the same hour of the morning that Angela typically did.
Just to hedge our bets, we got there a few minutes early. I didn’t know exactly what we’d find, but my gut was telling me that we weren’t going to leave the beach that morning emptyhanded.
As the minutes ticked by, I began to get antsy. There was no one on the beach and no activity on the jogging path.
Before I knew it, the seven o’clock hour was upon us.
I suddenly began to wonder if my instincts had steered me wrong.
But then I spotted something that made my eyebrows raise.
It was a man making his way down the jogging path. He was about two hundred feet away, but even at that distance, I recognized him. Mostly because he wasn’t just any guy.
I nudged David and pointed at the man.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” I asked.
David squinted. “Wait a minute. That’s Eric Hollingsworth.”
It took Eric a little bit longer to spot us, mostly because he was looking at his phone as he ran. When he finally did see us, he immediately stopped in his tracks. By that point, he was only about a hundred feet away. He also didn’t appear to be in any mood to speak with us.
But I was eager to talk to him. “Funny running into you here,” I joked.
Eric’s face tensed up. “Annoying is more like it. Can’t a guy just take a jog in peace?”
“You know, Angela went missing right around here,” I said.
Eric groaned. “I already told you before, I had nothing to do with that.”
“Did you know that Angela enjoyed jogging on this path as well?” I asked.
Eric shook his head.
My nose scrunched. “You didn’t realize that?”
Eric shrugged. “Why would I?”
“Because she came to this beach every morning,” I said.
“That’s news to me,” Eric said.
I put my hands on my hips. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I don’t care what you believe,” Eric said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to be going.” He took a few steps back.
“Where are you headed?” I asked.
“That’s none of your business,” Eric said.
David stared Eric down. “I disagree.”
Eric groaned. “I need to head home and get ready for work, all right?”
“Are you sure that’s the truth? Or are you just in a hurry to get away from us?” David asked.
“I’m due at work in just over an hour. That’s a fact,” Eric said. “Now this conversation is over.” Eric then sprinted away.
***
As David and I walked back to the parking lot, one thought was at the forefront of my mind.
“Talk about lying. I don’t believe a word he just said.”
“Neither do I,” David replied.
“You know, he made this big deal about needing to get ready for work,” I said. “But in reality, I think he just wanted to get out of answering our questions.”
“I think you’re right.”
I snickered. “I’ll tell you this. Eric’s a fool if he believes that he can shake us that easily. The fact is, he can run all he wants. But he can’t hide from the truth.”
“So what’s our next step?” David asked.
“I say we pay him a visit at his house. I have a feeling there’s much more to this story than meets the eye.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
When David and I got back to our car, my husband looked up Eric’s address. We then headed over to Sequoia Drive, where Eric’s blue Victorian-style home was located.
As we turned onto the street, our timing proved to be fortuitous. Just as David pulled into Eric’s driveway, the ad agency employee was loading a duffel bag into his car.
David intentionally parked directly behind Eric’s green sedan, blocking him in.
Eric gritted his teeth as David and I got out of our car.
“Why won’t you two just leave me alone?” Eric asked.
David ignored Eric’s question and fired off one of his own. “Where do you think you’re going?”
> “Work,” Eric said.
I broke into laughter.
Eric shrugged. “What’s so funny?”
“For starters, you’re still in your running clothes,” I said.
“I was going to change in the car,” Eric said.
I scoffed. “Sure you were.”
“It just so happens I’m running late this morning,” Eric said. “And the fact that you two keep bothering me isn’t helping matters.”
“You aren’t exactly helping your own case,” David said.
Eric squinted. “What are you talking about?”
“Since when do you pack a duffel bag to head off to work?” David asked.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Eric grumbled.
“I disagree. Between wearing running clothes to work, the duffel bag, and the fact that you were in a huge hurry to cut our conversation short earlier, I’d say that you’re acting mighty suspicious,” David replied.
Eric stared at David’s sedan. “Will you please move your car? I don’t want to be any later for work than I already am.”
I folded my arms. “Eric, drop the act. I know you aren’t headed to work.”
David scratched his chin. “If I had to guess, I’d say that you’re leaving town.”
Eric shook his head. “No. That’s not it at all.”
Just as he finished speaking, I heard a thud coming from the trunk of Eric’s car.
That was followed by a muffled groan.
With those two noises capturing our attention, David and I both turned our focus to Eric’s trunk.
“What was that?” I asked.
Eric played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Eric, we’re not stupid. There’s something in your trunk. Or someone, for that matter.” David held out his hand. “Give me your car keys.”
Eric shook his head. “No way.”
“Mr. Hollingsworth, you’re not leaving here until I see what’s inside that trunk. Got it?” David said.
Eric remained silent.
David threw out his arms. “What are you waiting for? Open the trunk.”
Eric continued to ignore David’s orders.
David’s patience wore thin. “Now!”
I heard another muffled groan coming from the trunk.
Instead of moving toward his car, Eric took a few steps back.
In response, David pulled out his gun. “Don’t you dare try to run away from us. Now open the trunk.”
Eric began to sweat. “You don’t understand—”
David shook his head. “That’s where you have it wrong. I understand exactly what’s going on.”
“Angela is in that trunk, isn’t she?” I said.
Eric didn’t respond.
I continued. “Isn’t she?”
David stared Eric down. “I’m only going to say this one more time. Open the trunk.”
Eric took a deep breath and then pressed a button on his car key that popped his trunk.
I frantically rushed over to the trunk while David kept his gun pointed at Eric.
When I lifted the trunk, my eyes widened. Just as I suspected, Angela was inside. There was a blindfold over her eyes and duct tape covering her mouth. In addition, her hands were tied behind her back. But she was still breathing, which was what I cared the most about.
As I looked at Angela, a sense of relief washed over me. “Thank God you’re alive.”
Meanwhile, David narrowed his eyes at Eric. “You’re going to jail for a long time, you maniac.”
Realizing that there was no escape, Eric’s emotions began spilling out. “It didn’t have to be this way. If she had just started dating me instead of Gavin, this wouldn’t have happened. Instead, she made me do things the hard way.”
I shot Eric a glare. “First of all, she didn’t make you do anything. And second, you can’t blame her for rejecting you. After all, you’re psychotic.”
Eric shook his head. “You just don’t get it. I wanted to show her what she was missing out on. I wanted to show her how wrong she was for turning me down.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re even crazier than I thought.”
Eric lowered his head.
David then handcuffed Eric while I freed Angela and helped her out of the trunk.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Once backup arrived on the scene, David loaded Eric into a squad car. My husband then spoke with a number of police deputies about what had just transpired.
While David was doing that, I tried to console Angela.
She was trembling and her eyes were bulging.
Just as I opened my mouth to say something comforting, Angela’s thoughts spilled out.
“I was so scared.”
“I’ll bet,” I said.
She continued. “He was going to kill me. I just know it.”
“You don’t have to worry about that now,” I said. “We got him.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That psychopath. He needs to pay for what he did to me.”
I nodded. “Trust me. He will. He’s going to jail for a very long time.”
Angela became quiet as another wave of emotions washed over her. She then started to sob.
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said. “It’s all over now.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Eric can’t hurt you now. Or ever again.”
“I really thought I was going to die back there.”
“I know. But you’re still here.”
“Talk about a miracle.”
I nodded. “My prayers were answered just in time.”
“So were mine,” she said. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you and David got here when you did.”
***
A few minutes later, Gavin arrived at the scene and called out to his girlfriend. “Angela.”
She turned to him.
He looked at her with wide eyes. “It’s really you.”
Angela gazed at him. “Gavin. It’s so good to see you.”
“That was going to be my line,” he said. “I was so worried.”
“You weren’t the only one.”
Gavin approached Angela, pulled her in close, and held her tight. “I’m so glad that you’re alive.” He gave her a deep kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said.
I decided to give Gavin and Angela some space. The loving couple had a lot to say to each other, and I didn’t want to get in their way.
While Gavin and Angela continued hugging, I walked over to David, who let out a big sigh.
I knew exactly how he felt.
There were so many terrible ways this case could have ended.
So for things to come to a close this way was a huge relief.
Epilogue
Three months later
It would be nice if I could tell you that things quieted down in Treasure Cove, but that just wasn’t true. The subsequent months saw no decline in the local crime rate. My hometown sure knew how to keep David and me busy. Thankfully, most of the crimes were nonviolent in nature.
While David and I had our hands full with various minor investigations, Angela’s life was far from quiet either. Shortly after Angela was rescued, she decided to move away. She ended up settling down in the small town of Whistling Falls, which was located an hour away from Treasure Cove. Gavin decided to go with her.
Once Angela and Gavin were done unpacking and had gotten themselves comfortable, they invited David and me to come visit them.
So one Saturday afternoon, David and I took a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Treasure Cove County to meet up with our friends.
Gavin and Angela gave us a quick tour of their new Victorian-style home before taking us out for a bite to eat at Whistling Falls Café. I ended up having a delicious chicken salad sandwich. But the real treat was the piece of cherry cake that I had for dessert.
&nbs
p; My eyes lit up as I took a bite of my dessert. “Talk about some incredible cake.”
“It gives Mitchell’s Bakery a run for its money, doesn’t it?” Angela asked.
I nodded. “It sure does. And that’s saying a lot.”
Angela gazed at the piece of cake that was in front of her. “I’d prefer to say very little and just savor this dessert before it’s gone.”
I smiled. “You’re a woman after my own heart.”
“Then again, what woman doesn’t like cake?” Angela asked.
Gavin held his pointer finger up. “It turns out men love cake too.”
Angela watched Gavin savor a bite of cake. “I can see that.”
“As a matter of fact, I almost want to order seconds,” Gavin said. “Is everyone up for a second piece?”
“Don’t tempt me,” I said.
“It’s on me,” Gavin said.
“Thank you for offering,” I said.
“And for treating us,” David added.
“Are you kidding? This is the least we can do,” Gavin said.
“Gavin, it really wasn’t that far of a drive,” David said.
“Besides, it was really pretty,” I said.
“Isn’t it?” Angela said. “My head was on a swivel the first time we drove here.”
“I can see why. Talk about a pleasant road trip. Not to mention this town is super cute,” I said.
“I’m glad you feel that way. Now granted, it isn’t quite as picturesque as Treasure Cove, but there’s one big thing Whistling Falls has that my old hometown doesn’t,” Gavin said.
“Don’t you mean two big things?” I asked. “As in, a pair of waterfalls.”
“I actually meant, a low crime rate,” Gavin said. “But yes, also waterfalls.”
“So you haven’t had any problems since you moved here?” I asked.
Angela shook her head. “Not one. Which is such a relief.”
“I’ll bet,” I replied. “I can’t say I’m not a little jealous.”
Mysteries of Treasure Cove Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 45