The Plain Jane Mystery Box Set 2

by Traci Tyne Hilton

  “I wouldn’t arrest you, darlin’, even if you were the only one here.” Dave’s spoke with a fatherly growl of concern, gruff but protective. “What you need is a medic to take care of that shoulder. And a hot meal and a mamma and a daddy to look after you, child.” He patted her extended hands. “Go with Jane, please. Get to that van back there and let those daddies look at you. We’ll get you to the doctor before you know it. I just gotta take care of these boys real fast.”

  Jane bit her lip. It was one thing to send Shannon to safety with a fatherly gesture. It was another to send herself away at the moment of discovery.

  “Come along.” Flora had snuck up behind Shannon. She put a hand on her waist. “I was a jungle nurse a long time ago. Let me make sure you’re okay.” She winked at Jane and took Shannon back.

  Jane assessed the situation. Josh had Miller on the ground, in cuffs. Dave moved to the four young men, Rocky close at hand.

  Jake watched the scene with a look of concentration on his face as though he was deep in prayer for every person she saw.

  “When did you last see your buddy Ryder?” Dave asked.

  Chapter 16

  “What do you think, Amos?” Levi asked the boy to his left. “Did we see Ryder the day before we left or not?”

  Amos shrugged. “Stu and Jim didn’t see him at all, since they met us out here. I sure wish I could help.”

  Levi had a half smile on his face. No sign of recognition that his “wife” had been stabbed or that his “friend” was having a mental breakdown on the ground in front of them. “But, just wonderin’, how do you know it was Ryder?”

  “He’s been identified by someone who knows him.”

  “Hmmm.” Levi looked at his fingernails. “Not many folks knew him.”

  “But you did,” Dave said. “How was the sushi?”

  Amos jerked his eyes to the cop.

  “First time ever eating raw fish, buddy?” Dave asked. “Did it sit okay?”

  Amos’s mouth opened, but he shut it again.

  “Who dropped the gun in the trash can?”

  One of the others—Stu or Jim—shook his head vigorously.

  “Ryder was going to ruin everything.” Miller’s voice was muffled, his face pressed against the ground. “He was trying to stop God’s work.”

  “Is that so?” Josh helped Miller sit up. “They couldn’t let that happen, could they?”

  “Levi is our prophet.” Miller took a deep breath. “And Ryder was a heretic. He just wanted everyone to trust in Jesus.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” Josh said.

  “He wouldn’t accept the new revelation.”

  “So you shot him?” Josh asked casually.

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t. I didn’t have a gun.” He looked sincerely disappointed.

  “Stop talking, Miller.” Levi sounded irritated.

  “Who did have a gun?”

  “Coco did.”

  “Wait—what?” Jane shook her head. He hadn’t just said Coco, had he?

  “It was Coco’s gun. She brought it, but Levi wouldn’t let her come, no room in the car. I saw her give him the gun.”

  “Can you describe it, just for fun?” Dave asked.

  “It was small and gold, with a white handle. Not any good for hunting, but still not a bad idea to have on hand. I have to give her props for thinking of it.”

  “You’re sure she gave it to Levi?”

  “She gave it to Cherry, but Cherry gave it to her cousin and laughed.”

  “Ahh.” That made more sense. Coco to the last was trying to help the girls.

  “Were you with Ryder when he was shot?”

  “No. I couldn’t be. They needed more money, so I had to work. I’ve been saving. The camp needs repairs and a garden. Things that take money, so I was still working.”

  “He’s crazy. You saw him. He’s just insane and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Levi took a few steps towards Dave. “I don’t have any gun.” He held his hands out, palms up. “But if you want to check, you can.”

  “That’s true, you don’t have the gun. We do. And we have prints on it, too. Nothing that’s in our system, which could explain why no one thought to wipe them off or wear gloves, but now that we’ve got you all together, we can sort out that minor detail. So let’s all leave real nice now.”

  Rocky ushered the boys forward. “Listen to the officer now. No point in arguing with a man with a real gun.”

  The tallest of the young men had been silent, so when his voice came out, high and scared, it surprised everyone. “I didn’t shoot him. I know my prints are on the gun, but I didn’t shoot anybody. Levi made me dump the gun. He didn’t say why. I was packing the car up that night when he went out. He went out alone. I don’t know what he did, but my fingerprints are on the gun and I didn’t shoot Ryder, I swear. He was my best friend. I loved him so much.”

  The other young man who had been silent put a hand on the tall guy. “I know, man, I know. I was with you, and Amos was, too. Ryder and Levi went out together for a walk and only Levi came back. None of us were there. You’ve got to believe us.”

  “Don’t do that to the prophet!” Miller cried out. “Why are you betraying the prophet?” He still sat in the dirt as the others walked past him.

  Amos stopped and knelt beside him. “It’s over, man. You’ve got to let it go. Levi didn’t have a vision from God. He just wanted a lot of women. Don’t you understand? He just wanted to start something. To show our father he was worthy. He never had any visions.”

  Miller wrestled against his handcuffs like he would have punched Amos in the face if he could.

  “Come and get your boy, Gerald. Walk beside him for once. Show him how a man handles his business.” Dave had no patience for Gerald or Miller.

  Miller’s father hustled to him, his lanky legs seeming too long. “Come on.” He lifted him by the elbow. “Your mom and I can sort this out. It was all just a camping trip, right? Or LARPing? Weren’t you all just role-playing? An end-of-summer game?” Sweat dripped off his forehead. “Please tell the police this was all just a game.”

  Miller stumbled after his father. “Yeah.” His voice was soft. “A game. And I didn’t mean to do that to Shannon.” He stared at his feet.

  “Buddy, don’t forget you have the right to remain silent, okay?” Josh patted his back as he walked past. “We’ll get a doc in to talk to him right away, okay, Ger?”

  Gerald just nodded. “The kids always did like those role-playing games you know…”

  Jane would have given anything to be in the police car with Levi, but at the same time, he had almost admirable self-control of his own mouth, so she doubted he’d admit anything, ever.

  Unfortunately for Jane and her starving curiosity, everyone was taken to the police station to be processed, girls included. Ken and Jeff stayed with their daughters, but Jane watched Gerald leave Miller behind. She hoped it was to get a good lawyer, but he looked as though he still hoped that “the kids were just playing” was a solid defense.

  Josh shook her hand in the parking lot and said he’d call later.

  Dave was busy.

  Rocky and Flora rode back to the beach house with them.

  “This isn’t where it ends, right?” Jane asked.

  Flora smiled. “Of course not. This was a small-town crime. A horrible one, but be patient, I bet you know everything in twenty-four hours.”

  “But how do we spend the time we’re waiting?” Jane paced the living room.

  Flora tapped the table. “You write your report. We need it on file, of course. And you need it to process everything you’ve seen and heard. Write it up, type it, and fax it to Miranda at the office.”

  “Email it,” Rocky corrected. “Much easier.”

  Flora waved the suggestion away. “Fine, so long as you take your time and do a thorough job. This particular case was rough. A lot going on in it.”

  “What do you think is wrong with Miller?” Jane sa
t at the table. “Mental illness, right?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he was just a hopeful dreamer who can’t handle disappointment. Those boys are older than him by at least five years.” Flora sighed. “He’s young. And stupid. But with help he can get straight.”

  “What about Levi? Do you think he really thought he was a prophet?”

  “That one is harder. I don’t know his culture, their theology, or his personal beliefs. All we can know is what he says, not what he means.”

  “Do you think he’ll admit to murder?” Jake passed around coffee cups. It was just after lunch, and they were all dragging.

  “He is submitting to fingerprints, so he may not need to confess.” Flora sipped her coffee. “Thanks for this, but we can go, let you kids get on with your honeymoon, right, Rock?”

  “Don’t leave yet.” Jane sipped her coffee.

  “Of course.” Flora opened the notebook and began to talk through the process Jane took in her investigation, including not remembering to get a description of the gun over the phone.

  It was a relief to have her and her words of wisdom and experience, and by the time they left, Jane was ready to put the case behind her for the day.

  Twenty-four hours later, Jane and Jake sat in the hard pews of the beautiful old Congregational Church in downtown Portland. Sharing just a little bit in the grief of a life cut short. A good man. A hardworking man. A compassionate man. Jane wondered, as she heard friend after friend speak of the good things he had quietly done and asked no credit for, if he had ever been a lovesick teenager with crazy dreams. And if he had ever acted on them. And if he had lived to regret them and so turned his life around. Ryder had had something going for him. His sister spoke of his goodness. He had tried to keep his friends from making a terrible mistake. He had tried to get them to have a simple faith in Christ. At least those were the things that were said during her investigation—which so far had served as his only memorial.

  But what about Miller? Or Levi? Or even Eric and Mason with their quick tempers and ready fists? Would those boys have a chance to outgrow these bad years? Were Levi and Miller lost forever, or could even these big sins be regretted?

  It was a dark and thoughtful place to be, this funeral, after this week. When it was over, she went through the motions of the receiving line, shaking hands with the widow, with the adult children of the deceased.

  They stayed for cookies and coffee. They listened and smiled.

  Jane spent all of her willpower not checking her phone for news of the case back at the beach.

  On the way to their car, Jake’s boss stopped them. “I am so grateful you could be here. Walt spoke so highly of you every time I saw him. He really liked you.”

  Jake nodded. “I really liked him.”

  “You’re a good kid, Jake, and a good fund-raiser. You get how this stuff works. Are you sure you want to go back in the field?” The boss didn’t look at Jane. “I could use a guy like you on my team forever, you know. Folks who get it, who make the big sacrifices like this, don’t come around every day.”

  Jake slipped his hand into Jane’s. “I will serve you with pride as long as we live stateside, Bill. But Jane and I are meant for something different, and as soon as we get the call, we’re going to hit the road.”

  Bill shook his head. “I know, I know. Get back to your honeymoon, okay? I’ve got a big list of clients for you to get to work on as soon as you get back to town…again.” He shook Jake’s hand, patted Jane on the shoulder somewhat awkwardly, and left.

  As soon as they were in the car, Jane pulled her phone out.

  “Any news yet?”

  “I’ve got a text!” She opened it up. “From Franny. Are you even kidding? A text from Franny? That woman…”

  “She’s your fairy godmother, I’m guessing. Don’t knock a woman who brings pies and murder weapons your way. It’s a rare combo.”

  Jane rolled her eyes, but chuckled.

  “What’s it say?”

  “Hey, kids, just saw the news. No words.”

  “If she had no words, what was she texting for?” Jake laughed.

  “Something must have hit the news while we were at the funeral.”

  “I spend perfectly good money on data minutes,” Jake said. “Google, please!”

  Jane found the news right away. A headline that turned her stomach and answered her questions. “Suicide at the Oregon Coast: Failed Cult Leader Commits Suicide in Local Jail. Investigation into death pending.” She turned the phone over and sighed. “Is that as good as a confession?”

  “There is nothing good about that news.”

  He held her hand as he drove back to the beach.

  She prayed to herself for several minutes. “Is there any point in going back to the beach?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Jake said. “I owe you a real honeymoon, and you are going to get it even if I have to take you to that haunted bed and breakfast to get it. For the next week if we find a dead body, we call the police and leave it to them, okay?”

  “Yeah. I can handle that. Josh and Dave are pretty competent.”

  Jake laughed. “Good. And I’m not answering my phone. Not again for the whole week.”

  She leaned her head on his shoulder. Happy, sad, disturbed, grateful, basically everything all at once.

  Which only made sense since they were married now. And everyone had told her: there is nothing easy about marriage.

  Killer Calling

  Killer Calling: A Plain Jane Mystery

  “This is a tricky one.” Flora handed Jane a slim file folder. “The client is panicking.”

  Jane sat across from Flora in the cluttered office of the Senior Corps of Retired Investigators. Driving rain outside smeared the drafty window. The heater had clicked on moments before with the dusty but cozy odor shared by all old buildings. She pulled her sweater around her a little tighter and opened the folder. It held a one-page dossier and an itinerary from Travelocity. At first glance, she saw nothing shocking. “What’s the problem?”

  “Teenagers.” Flora chuckled, but after the last case, Jane wasn’t so sure teenage problems were funny.

  “Are you familiar with the Trives family?”

  “The name’s familiar.” Jane scanned the dossier again.

  “It should be. The Trives family runs an investment bank, and their name is on several buildings. Also, they participate in most of the major ministries in town. Victor and Lorraine Trives are passionate about the gospel.”

  “Yes! I know who you mean now. The little library at my old Bible school was the Trives Room.”

  “That sounds about right. The Trives have one daughter, Tory. Tory, for the last three years, has been outright hostile to anything having to do with God.”

  “Ouch.” The single sheet of information about the Trives family also said Tory’s volleyball team were state champions and that she had early acceptance to Pepperdine.

  “It’s to be expected. The poor girl is under a lot of pressure in this town. Everyone expects her to follow in the family footsteps, making and giving a lot of money. In my opinion, she’s handling it fine, but my opinion doesn’t matter.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “She has a new boyfriend, and they are going on a missions trip to Mexico next week.”

  “But that’s great news!” Jane flipped to the itinerary. Two round-trip tickets to Los Angeles.

  “I agree, but Mr. Trives doesn’t. This new boyfriend has a Mohawk, tattoos, and he plays bass in a rock band.”

  “So…he’s a youth pastor?”

  Flora laughed. “No, he’s a professional musician in a band. And he’s a little older.”

  A little older. That hit a nerve with Jane. She could see, Mohawk aside, why daddy Trives might worry.

  “Mr. Trives believes completely that the only reason a tattooed Mohawked thug—his words, not mine—would go to Mexico for a week is to smuggle drugs under the innocent guise of missions work.” She sighed. “
I think there’s a high probability that he’s worried over nothing, but as always, we need to treat the case with the same level of concern that the client does.”

  “Is that why it’s tricky? Because odds are she’s met a nice boy who has gotten her interested in Jesus again.”

  “Exactly. Odds are there is nothing going on that anyone has to worry about. Nonetheless, Mr. Trives has hired us to catch the boyfriend in action and protect Tory. It’s impossible to prove a negative, Jane, so if this punk isn’t smuggling drugs, the job is a whole lot harder than if he is. And if he is smuggling drugs from Mexico, you have the cartel to worry about.”

  Jane stared at Flora. All she could think of when she heard Mexican drug cartel was kidnapping, murder, and mass graves.

  “The mission trip is a high school and college group from their church. They’ll be gone for fall break. You’ll fit in better than I would, so we’re sending you.”

  “But it’s really not likely to be drugs, I mean, the odds are just super against it.”

  “I agree. If I thought there was any risk of you confronting a drug cartel, I wouldn’t send you.”

  Jane exhaled. “Okay.”

  “But like I said, if they aren’t there to smuggle drugs, you are going to have to prove it. Mr. Trives is a good man, but a hard one. It won’t be easy.”

  “I see a ticket for Jake, too.”

  “Mr. Trives was very generous with the expenses. If Jake can’t go, it’s okay. But if he can, I think he’d be a real asset. You make a good team.”

  “I expect he can, but I’ll ask.” Jane was already giddy. Flora was right. There wasn’t much chance that the lovebirds had hitched a ride with a missions trip so they could smuggle drugs. She and Jake could buddy up with Tory and the new boyfriend, get to know them a little, and find out what had changed Tory’s heart. That part would be simple. Then they could all focus on the ministry work and escaping the November rain.

  It was like the world’s perfect case. There was no way things could go wrong.