“I was able to get ahold of almost everyone. Joe thanked me for letting him know but refused to come in, of course.”
“You said almost everyone. Who else is there? Ruby?”
“Yes, I’ve been trying to call her and her husband all morning. I believe Barry is up in Portland on some business, and I couldn’t get hold of Ruby. I’ve been leaving messages at her real estate office, and finally got ahold of one of the other realtors there. She told me Ruby was at home waiting for someone to install some security system for her house.”
The word security sent a chill down Abby’s spine, but she didn’t know why. Something tugged at her like shards of glass slowly falling into a recognizable shape. She turned toward Lanie and squinted her eyes as a suspicion slowly grew in her mind. “Do you know what kind of security system?”
Lanie shrugged. “Some sort of new locks, I think. They said Ruby got a great deal on them from Al Green at the hardware store.”
“Oh, god!” Abby said. The images of Al Green on Earl’s porch flashed before her mind. The man had been installing new locks on Earl’s home. The church and the antique store had also received new locks, and now he was over at Ruby Anderson’s home. How easy would it have been for him to make copies of the keys before installing them, letting him sneak into their home with no one the wiser?
“What’s wrong Abby?” Lanie asked, her own eyes widening in alarm. “What did I say?”
“Lanie, we have to get over to Ruby’s house right now! I think she’s about to be murdered!”
Lanie only blinked once before turning to Josh. “Take care of everyone and tell Sam to get over to Ruby Anderson’s house right now!” She turned and gestured for Abby to follow her out to the garage where they jumped into her sleek pursuit car. A moment later she turned on the lights and sirens, then tore out of the garage and headed toward Ruby’s house as fast as she could drive.
Chapter 29
“So, you actually caught him monologuing?” Sheriff Pearson asked from his hospital bed. He was sitting up with his head still wrapped in bandages. Lanie, Abby, Gabe, and Becky were all visiting him in the Salem hospital that he’d been taken after his head injury. Doctor Bennard was standing with Becky and holding her hand as he listened to the story that was being told.
Abby nodded. “Yes, if you can believe it. He was pacing in Ruby’s living room and waving his hands in the air, telling her how evil she was for supporting the Oregon Urban Renewal Association.
“Where was Ruby?” Charlie asked.
“Tied to a chair with duct tape over her mouth,” Lanie said. “I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy seeing her mouth covered, but Al was in full rant mode. From everything I heard, there’s no need for a confession since he included how he killed both Francine and John. He didn’t even hear the front door open.”
“Did he have a weapon?” Sheriff Pearson asked, raising one of his bushy eyebrows.
Lanie shook her head. “No. I think he was planning on strangling her. It looked like he’d started a few times since there were bruises on Ruby’s neck, but fortunately, he didn’t continue, choosing instead to go back to threatening her. After I told him to freeze, he charged me.”
Doctor Bennard looked concerned, but the sheriff only chuckled. “How long did it take him to wake up?”
“Twenty minutes,” Abby said, giving her friend an appraising look. “I didn’t know you knew jujitsu, Lanie.”
“Uh, how else am I going to take down perps that are bigger than me? That would be about everyone, so I have to have an ace up my sleeve.” Lanie replied. “I’m just glad this is all over. Despite Ruby’s big mouth, I still felt sorry for her. She was pretty shaken up after we cuffed Al and immediately went and ripped up the Association flyers she had laying around. I think at least that chapter in our town’s history is over.”
“Well, that’s all good news,” the sheriff said in his slow drawl. “I guess the doctor is going to allow me to get out of here in a day or so. Can you hold the fort down until then?”
Lanie smiled kindly at her boss and nodded. “You bet. I almost didn’t notice you were gone!”
“Hey now,” Sheriff Pearson said. “This old dog isn’t on his last legs yet. There’s still a thing or two I can teach you, I’m sure.”
“Like dodging shovels?” Lanie said, grinning back and making the older man wince.
“Let’s go get something to eat down in the cafeteria,” Gabe whispered in Abby’s ear, leading her out of the room while the rest of them kept the sheriff company. They made their way downstairs, and each of them grabbed a salad, sitting down at one of the tables toward the back.
“I’m glad that business is over,” Gabe said, pouring some blue cheese from a packet over his lettuce. “I feel sorry for Al, but that doesn’t make it right to resort to killing.”
“I know, but it was more than that,” Abby said. “He was losing his store, his wife and kids left him, and he felt he had nothing left to lose. It’s sad really.”
“Almost like a country song,” Gabe quipped lightly. “How about Ben and his family? Are they doing okay?”
“Yes. Robert Carrington gave me a little flak for just throwing the case at him cold, but he understood. He said it was only a matter of correcting some paperwork, and Ben would be okay. Robert has already submitted what was needed and updated the right agencies, and he also insisted that they stop harassing Ben and his family. He assured me this should no longer be an issue for the Martinez family.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear that Ben wasn’t the killer,” Gabe said. “He’s been a citizen for over forty years. I can’t imagine having to suddenly be afraid of being deported. It’s a good thing you know a good lawyer.” He paused, taking a bite of his salad. “Speaking of Robert, didn’t you mention something about Boston?”
Abby nodded, chewing on a tomato slice. “Yes, he said he might be able to help us with the deed and will, but it wouldn’t be easy. We’re going to have to go to Boston to get it all taken care of. I suspect it’s going to be a huge fight.”
“Well, you’re not going alone,” Gabe said, grinning at Abby.
She grinned back. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
Author’s Notes
You are amazing for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed it. This story is #7 in the critically acclaimed cozy mystery series about Red Pine Falls. Senator Clark is not large in this story, but his fingers can be felt in so much of what is going wrong in the beautiful little town. However, his comeuppance is coming soon. The next book I write will be Abby Morgan going to Boston, and all of the friends will find out that Senator Clark is but a pale image of his father.
That story will probably come in a few months, since I will be busy writing a cozy travel mystery set in Dubai! Laura Dash It will be part of an nine author anthology about mysteries set in various places in the world. It will be published in early August and I am very excited.
If you want to reach out and chat, please post something on my Facebook Page. It’s an open forum that I pay attention to, and I want to hear what you have to say! Whatever questions or anything you want to say, is welcome (as long as it’s polite, of course). Also, my email address, which I promise to respond to, is [email protected] . Keep sending me emails! It puts such a smile on my face!
Please leave a review. Reviews are very important for writers, not only for honest feedback from readers, but they help tell other readers if my book is worth reading. You would do me a GREAT service by doing so.
Books by Angela C Blackmoore – Red Pine Falls Cozy Mysteries
Hot Tea and Cold Murder 1
Cold Murder and Dark Secrets 2
Dark Secrets and Dead Reckoning 3
Cheerio and the Caves of Gold (Red Pine Falls Short Story) 3.5
Dead Reckoning and Murderous Intent 4
Murderous Intent and Deadly Desires 5
Deadly Desires and Killer Instincts 6
Winter Storms an
d Deadly Thorns (Kat Morgan Prequel)
Cheerio and the Day of Dread 6.5
Killer Instincts and Savory Pie 7
Brightwater Bay Cozy Mysteries – Angela C Blackmoore, Carolyn L Dean, and Beth Byers
A Little Taste of Murder (book 1 in the Anthology Three Carols of Cozy Christmas Murder)
A Tiny Dash of Death
A Sweet Spoonful of Cyanide
Killer Instincts and Savory Pie Page 10