by Lynn Ambers
I don’t think anyone would care or hear you anyway. You could drop to the ground and these revelers would just walk right over you. People don’t care Felicity when they are enjoying themselves. They are all for themselves,” Caleb said.
I struggled a bit and he tightened his grip on me. I could feel the blade press a little further into my skin. I stopped struggling.
“Ah, Ah, Ahh you are not listening. This is what you are going to do. You are going to stop all investigation into Valeria. I loved her, and I still love her even though she is gone. Your mainland Americans got the two suspects who killed her. That is enough. If you pursue this matter any longer. Angela, Ben, David, Sophie, and everyone you hold dear may disappear one day and you will never find them. Or maybe I’ll just kill them in cold blood since no one suspects me of the murder of Valerie,” he said.
“If you continue to investigate, the precious organic farm you have worked so hard to maintain will be destroyed. Do you understand. Nod if you do,” whispered in my ear. I nodded.
“That’s a good girl. I don’t want to see or hear from you again,” Caleb said.
“But why, why did you do it?” I said.
“You see I loved Valerie with all my heart. You can imagine how I felt when she told me she was in love with that scumbag Blake Dalefort. He has his looks, I’ll give him that, but he does not have the power I have. You see he has been running drugs as a favor to me in exchange for my silence on the lab results of the positive cancer link on the test for the Dalefort Industries. I knew that you who broke into my hotel. I of course have a camera in there. Thank you for not exposing me unlike Valerie. You see Valerie was going to expose me. She knows most of my secrets, but I put her in the beautiful home here and bought that bakery so she would stay happy and quiet,” he balked. I wiggled around trying to get myself free.
“Oh, I am not done,” Caleb continued, “So, you see. Valerie, fell out of love with me. She fell in love with Dalefort. I was willing to share her with him, but she came to me saying she wanted to live the white picket fence life with him. She wanted to be free and clear of me. She wanted him also to be free and clear of me. Only she knew of his connection with me. He never knew my connection with her. Can you believe for all I did for her; she was willing to drop me like that?” he hissed in my ear.
I twisted trying to get away from him and he just gripped my arms and dug the blade deeper into my skin.
“Oh, squirming is just gonna make it worse for you,” Caleb said, “Valerie gave me an ultimatum to release her and Blake on the ultimatum day was that market day my guys killed her. She said that I needed to release her and Blake from my control or she would expose my illegal activity. I put a toxic mix of sodium nitrate and nitrite two things that could be found on a farm that would help link it to you. Valerie also had old syringes for when her and David would use together. It did not take much to frame David. You see Felicity, no one gives me ultimatums. I showed Valerie who was boss. Now you are the only one who knows me and the Dalefort’s secret, but I know you are going to be welcomed into our little club. You keep your mouth shut and I won’t hurt you, your farm, or your friends. Do we have a deal?”
“I don’t give into threats from murderers,” I said. He pressed the blade further into my chest I began to bleed. I felt Caleb’s grip loosen and his hands and knife fell away from under my shirt.
I sputtered for a second and turned around. I was relieved to see Mathew right behind Caleb. Mathew was putting hand cuffs on Caleb.
I just glared at Caleb. All the hurt that he caused because he could not mend his own broken heart. He also was a greedy man who hurt other people to ensure his own gain.
I mouthed the words thank to Mathew. He smiled.
“Are you okay Felicity?” Mathew asked. I shook my head. I was shaking a bit, but I was relieved to be okay. I looked down at my dress and saw the blood. I just held my hand to it to stop the bleeding. Caleb only broke the skin.
“Let me get this guy behind bars at the station I’ll meet you back at the hotel if you still want to join the party?” Mathew said, “Can you get yourself there okay!
“Yes, I am fine, I want to be there to support David when he plays. I will see you there.” He nodded and then walked towards his cop car with Caleb struggling to get away.
I heard sirens and the crowd parted as two cop cars made their way to Mathew and Caleb. Mathew opened the back door of his cop car and ducked Caleb’s head as Caleb lowered himself into the back seat. Mathew and I looked at each other and smiled. I looked around at the crowd that was standing and watching. The crowd following the floats was already halfway down main street heading to the sunset area. I headed in the direction of the hotel to meet my friends.
Chapter Fifty-Six
We were standing on the balcony waiting for the show to start. Me, Angela, Heidi, Sophie, and the crew were all relaxing with drinks in our hands. Angela said that she lost me in the crowd and phoned Mathew to help find me. He looked at the street cameras from the laptop in his car to find where I was. I hugged Angela and was so thankful she was my friend. She also brought me another dress to change into.
The stage was being set up from the last band. David was going to play his set. A big crowd was up in front of the stage. People were waving their hands around. People were laughing. Money was flowing to the vendors. It was a good time.
I had a glass of wine in my hand. We heard a knock at the door. Everybody was talking and enjoying themselves. I walked over to answer it. I opened the door and it was Mathew. I wrapped my arms around him.
“Thank you so much for saving my life,” I said.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I got that call from Angela. I was worried and immediately looked in the cameras. I remembered you had a floral dress which you don’t anymore and you have those district sterling silver flower earrings. I just kept looking for your earrings,” he said.
“I found you and I saw your face full of fear. Then I saw Caleb behind you. I knew who he was because we finally pulled up a picture of him in connection with ownership of one of the guns on that boat,” he revealed.
“Thank god you were there, and you remembered my earrings. I was so scared, “I said.
“I rushed through the crowd and circled around the back of him. He was so immersed threatening you. He did not see me,” Mathew said.
“You are the best. Thank you for being such a great friend to me,” I said.
“Well, maybe we can start thinking about maybe being more than friends?” he said.
“More than friends?” I said. Just then Sophie yelled from the balcony.
“Felicity, Mathew come on, David is starting to play.”
“I looked at Mathew, we better get out there,” I said.
“We can discuss us later,” I said.
“I think I am into that,” he said.
“Meanwhile, here is a beer for my hero,” I said.
We walked over to the balcony. David was strumming his guitar singing a love song to his girl Sophie. He looked up at Sophie and blew her a kiss. The crowd went wild. David finished his songs, and the crowd went clapped and cheered.
When David was finished, we all cheered from the balcony as loud as we could. The head of the Float committee got up on stage and said, “and the moment you all have been waiting for, the winner of this year’s float contest is, drum roll please…..it came down to two fabulous floats the Dalefort’s and Sunlight Rehab Center and the winner is… Sunlight Rehab,” she said. We went wild cheering and clapping. The crowd went wild.
The head of the float committee continued; “Sunlight Rehab upset the winning streak of the Dalefort’s. Congratulations Sunlight Rehab, please come up and receiver your trophy and $1000 prize money. Better luck next year Daleforts. We always appreciate your floats.”
We spotted Mr. Dalefort in the crowd with some lady on his arm. He looked extremely disappointed and was pushing his way through the crowd with an angry scowl on his face
.
“Thank you all for coming,” the committee director continued. Thank you for everyone’s participation. We hope to see you next year, enjoy the rest of your night,” finished. We all cheered and hollered in excitement. I turned to Matt and he looked at me with a smile. I leaned forward and he leaned forward and we kissed.
The End
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