Turkey Trot Terror

by Kate Bell

  I gasped and put the receiver back to my ear. “Hello?” I whispered.

  “Hello,” the voice said again.

  “Hello,” I repeated. Then silence again. “Who is this?”

  “Is this Allie?” the weak voice asked.

  “Yes, who is this?” I asked.

  “Earl Spellman,” the weak voice said.

  I searched my mind. Did I know an Earl Spellman? I knew Todd, but he was dead. Maybe he had other relatives in town for the funeral? Then I realized it might be Mr. Spellman. I couldn’t recall ever hearing his first name.

  “Mr. Spellman?” I asked. “Todd Spellman’s father?”

  “Yes,” the voice creaked out. “I wanted to tell you something. Something bad.”

  My heart pounded in my chest and I checked the kitchen clock as if that would ground me in reality.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Killers are in my house,” he said.

  The room began to spin and everything went black. When I came back to myself, I was still standing with the receiver to my ear and I was staring at the phone on the wall.

  “Allie?” Alec said gently.

  I turned and looked at him. Then I glanced at the clock. Ten minutes had passed.

  “We need to get to the Spellman’s. Now,” I said, and reached to put the receiver in its cradle, and fumbled it, almost dropping it. I made another try, and it landed safely in the cradle.

  “Why do we need to do that?” he asked gently.

  “The killers are there. We need to go now,” I said, turning toward him. “Now.”

  “Allie, maybe we need to rest today. You know, just take it easy,” he said. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair stood up on the back of his head from where he had lain on it. The creases in his clothes were a mix of deep and small.

  “We have to protect Mr. Spellman,” I said, feeling desperation coming on. “Now.”

  I headed toward my bedroom to change my clothes. I had slept in warm flannel pajamas and had enough of my wits about me to know I couldn’t go out in public that way. I stumbled, still feeling drunk from the sleeping pill, but got to my bedroom just the same.

  “Allie, please,” Alec said, following me.

  I grabbed a sweatshirt and jeans and went in the bathroom to change. “Alec, if you’ve ever believed or trusted me on anything, you have to believe me on this,” I said through the closed door. I hurriedly took my pajamas off and got dressed.

  “Allie, I’m not sure we should do this. I think we both need more sleep,” he said.

  “Alec, I am going with or without you,” I said, catching up my hair and putting a hair tie on it.

  “Allie,” he started when I opened the door.

  “Alec,” I said and looked at him. “Mr. Spellman called, and he said the killers are there in the house with him.”

  Alec stared at me, and then said, “Okay. But you let me do the talking. I want you to stay calm and in control, is that understood?”

  “Yes. Bring your gun.”

  --23--

  I stumbled when I got out of the car. I needed to get a grip.

  “Okay?” Alec asked, concerned.

  “Yeah,” I said and headed to the front door.

  “Why don’t you stay in the car?” Alec whispered and took hold of my arm.

  “I got this. You got your gun?” I asked.

  “Yes. You promised you would stay quiet,” he reminded.

  “Got it,” I said and rang the doorbell.

  Sounds of people moving about could be heard from outside. I hoped we weren’t too late. When no one came to the door right away, I rang the doorbell again.

  The door swung open and Terrence stood looking at us, wide-eyed. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes at me. “What are you doing here at this hour? It’s too early for visitors.”

  “Excuse the intrusion,” Alec said, putting on a smile. “We’d like to speak with Mr. Spellman, if that’s all right.”

  “He’s still sleeping,” he said. “I really think we’ve given you all the information you need.”

  Alec still had a smile on his face when he said, “Yes, you’ve certainly been cooperative in this investigation, but I’d like to remind you that the investigation is ongoing.” Only a fool would think he didn’t mean business, smile or no smile.

  Terrence considered this for a few moments, then opened the door wide and led us into the living room. “What is it you need to know? Maybe I can supply the information you need,” he said over his shoulder.

  “What’s going on?” Connie asked from the kitchen. I could smell biscuits baking and I was suddenly hungry.

  “The detective, and uh, Ms. McSwain need more information,” Terrence said dryly.

  Connie went pale. She turned away and then left the kitchen without another word. I wanted to follow her, but I knew Alec wouldn’t like it.

  “I’d like to speak with Mr. Spellman. If he isn’t feeling well that’s perfectly understandable. I can go in to speak to him,” Alec said to Terrence.

  Terrence looked at us, considering. “No, I’ll go get him.” He left us standing in the living room.

  “Maybe you should follow him,” I whispered. “He might do something.”

  “It’s okay,” Alec said. “Just relax.”

  But everything inside me was saying, don’t relax. It felt like every nerve in my body was standing at attention.

  After we had waited for what seemed forever, Terrence came back to the living room, pushing Mr. Spellman in his wheelchair. He had a blanket over his lap and that glassy-eyed look that he had when Todd was alive. “Here he is,” Terrence said brightly.

  I glanced at Alec. I could see the hesitation in his face.

  “Good morning Mr. Spellman,” Alec said. “How are you doing?”

  Mr. Spellman looked at Alec blankly, drool running down his chin and then looked away.

  “He doesn’t seem well this morning,” Alec said to Terrence. “Has he been ill?”

  Terrence smiled. “Well, I’m afraid this is as good as it gets with him. For a small space of time he did seem better after his meds were adjusted, but he’s back to his old self. Dementia, you know.”

  “I see,” Alec said and looked at me.

  I wanted to scream. I had not dreamed our conversation earlier. Sleep meds or not, I was sure of it. I stepped forward and squatted down in front of Mr. Spellman. “How are you doing Mr. Spellman?” I asked.

  He looked at me, and focused his eyes. His mouth opened and he seemed like he was going to speak, but then closed it again.

  “Are you doing okay?” I asked him.

  Mr. Spellman opened his mouth and closed it twice more. “No,” he finally squeaked out.

  “What’s going on?” I asked him in a rush.

  “Now look, I can’t have the two of you harassing a sickly old man,” Terrence objected, taking a step toward me.

  “She isn’t harassing anyone,” Alec said.

  “What is it?” I asked Mr. Spellman.

  He struggled, opening his mouth and closing it. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

  “There, see? He isn’t feeling well. I need to get him back to bed,” Terrence said, and took hold of the wheelchair handles. Alec put his hand out and stopped him from moving the chair.

  “Tell me,” I pleaded.

  Then Mr. Spellman sat up and opened his eyes. He looked at me, then pointing a knobby finger in Terrence’s direction and croaked out, “killer!”

  At that, Terrence, leapt away from Alec and tried to run down the hall. Alec was faster and more nimble and knocked him down. It was only seconds before Alec had handcuffs on him.

  “Let him go!” Connie said.

  We all looked up, and she stood in the hallway with a rifle in her hands, with it pointed at Alec.

  “You don’t want to do that Connie,” Alec said. “Put the gun down.”

  “No. We aren’t going to jail. I’m going to take my father home with me,” sh
e said through trembling lips.

  “Connie, put the gun down,” Alec said calmly.

  “Don’t listen to him Connie,” Terrence said. “We’ll take your father home with us, just like you said. No one will know.”

  “Connie, you don’t want to do anything rash. Put the gun down,” Alec said. He was still lying on top of Terrence. Terrence started to thrash about and tried to throw him off.

  My mind tried to come up with something I could do to help Alec, but Connie had a clear view of me. If I made a move, she would see it and possibly shoot me or Alec, or both of us.

  “You put down!” Mr. Spellman croaked out as loudly as he could muster.

  Everyone turned toward him and he had that long bony finger pointing at his daughter. “Murderer!”

  His indictment brought Connie to tears, and she lowered the rifle. Alec sprang to his feet and took hold of the gun. “Go sit on the sofa,” he told her.

  Connie covered her face with one hand and made her way to the sofa. “I’m so sorry Daddy,” she sobbed. “I did it for you. Todd was hurting you, keeping you drugged up.”

  “No,” Mr. Spellman said firmly.

  Alec called for backup and I took a seat in a side chair. I was exhausted.

  “I don’t know how you could kill your brother,” I said in disgust.

  “You don’t understand!” she nearly shouted. “He was evil! He was spending all of my father’s money and keeping him drugged so he couldn’t say anything to stop him.”

  “Your father loved him. He was his son and your brother,” I pointed out. I should have left well enough alone, but I was still angry about being shot at. Twice. “Then you tried to kill Alec and I.”

  “You wouldn’t leave well enough alone! Those stupid cookies! Why couldn’t you leave it alone?” she asked.

  “My cookies aren’t stupid,” I said, bewildered. No one had ever called my cookies stupid.

  “Connie, shut up!” Terrence said from the floor. “Just shut up!”

  I could hear sirens in the distance and I leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief.

  --24--

  I sat on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, watching old black and white episodes of I Love Lucy. It took my mind off things while I waited for Alec. Lucy dozed fitfully on the loveseat, having given up her plan to stay up with me as long as it took for Alec to get things settled down at the police station. It didn’t matter. I was relieved the killers had been caught and no one else had been harmed.

  There was a light knock on the front door and I jumped up to get it. Alec stood on the stoop, hat covering his ears. It was a cold, but clear night with millions of stars in the sky.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey,” I said. “Come in and warm up.”

  He followed me back to the living room where Lucy was stirring awake and the Lucy on the television was stomping on grapes. Canned laughter filled the room.

  “I love I Love Lucy,” Alec said, and sat on the sofa.

  “Me too,” I said and sat next to him. “So did they tell all?”

  “They did. After a little persuasion. They believed Todd was stealing all of his father’s money and keeping him drugged. We don’t know how true it is about the money, but the drugged part seems to be true, because when we saw him at their home and he was doing better, it was due to a change in his meds, just like they told us.”

  “Why was he so out of it when we saw him today?” I asked.

  “Connie said they had caught him making that phone call to you. They hadn’t heard everything and didn’t know who he had called, but they figured he had said enough to make someone suspicious. They gave him sedatives and were trying to get out of the house before anyone got there. Connie said she panicked when she took shots at us at the Turkey Trot. She thought we saw more than we did. Terrence is an ace marksman and he was the one that shot and killed Todd.”

  “And who shot at us on the running trail? Connie?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Indeed. It seems you irritated her with all your baked goods and stopping by and she was paranoid that you knew more than you did. So she decided to take care of us before they left the state. Fortunately for us, she’s a terrible shot.”

  I shook my head at him. “How can someone be irritated with my baked goods?”

  Lucy giggled, having just woke up.

  “You hush over there,” I said.

  Alec chuckled and lay his head back against the sofa. “Let’s just be thankful she’s such a bad shot.”

  “Well, I guess we can be thankful for that,” I said. “I wonder where Mr. Spellman got my phone number. And what will happen to him now?”

  “We made some phone calls, and he has a much younger sister in Idaho. She’s going to come and pick him up. The drugs they had given him were wearing off, and he said he had an old phone book. Your number was listed and your name was the only name he could remember, so he called you.”

  “Huh. Phone book. I forgot those things existed. I Google everyone and everything these days.”

  “The joys of technology,” he said. “I’ve also made a decision.”

  “Oh?” I asked.

  “Yes. I’m officially retiring from the police department. I’ve put in thirty years and I’ve decided it’s enough.”

  “Wow,” Lucy said. “That’s something.”

  “Really? What will you do?” I asked.

  “Maybe I’ll start a blog,” he said thoughtfully. “Or maybe I’ll become a private eye. I can set my own hours and decide which cases I want to handle. I can even wear a fedora just like Ricky Ricardo.”

  I giggled. “That could be fun. Then I don’t have to bake cookies for Sam Bailey to keep him from being mean to you and he can’t keep me from going on investigations with you.”

  “Oh. Well, I hadn’t thought of that,” he said.

  “Yes! I can be your partner! That’s a wonderful idea!” I said, getting excited.

  “Me too!” Lucy said. “It will be so much fun!”

  “Oh, no,” Alec said. “Wait, you both have jobs. Remember? You work in a flower shop, Lucy, and you have a blog, Allie. You won’t have time to help me.”

  “Nope, Dick Bowen is selling the flower shop,” Lucy said. “I’ll be footloose and fancy free.

  “And I’ve already decided to end the blog. I’ll have time on my hands as well,” I said.

  Alec groaned. “Suddenly the blog idea sounds better than the private eye idea.”

  “I have leftover blueberry pie in the kitchen. Let’s celebrate,” I said.

  I was glad Alec was going to retire. He didn’t seem to like working for Sam Bailey and it would give him more free time to spend with me. And that was an excellent idea.

  THE END

  RECIPES!!!

  Sweet Potato Pie

  1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled, steamed and mashed

  2 large eggs

  1 tbsp vanilla extract

  ½ cup half and half

  1 tsp ground cinnamon

  ½ tsp ground nutmeg

  ¼ tsp ground ginger

  ¼ tsp ground cloves

  ½ cup white sugar

  ½ cup packed brown sugar

  ½ cup salted butter, softened

  1 9 inch pie crust

  Preheat oven to 350.

  In a large bowl, mash cooled sweet potatoes. Stir in spices and sugars to completely combine.

  In a small bowl, beat eggs and whisk in half and half and vanilla extract. Set aside.

  Whisk softened butter into sweet potatoes. Slowly whisk in half and half mixture until completely combined.

  Pour sweet potato mixture into piecrust. Bake 45-50 minutes.

  Pear Cranberry Tart

  1 9” piecrust

  2 ½ pounds firm Bosc pears, pealed and sliced ¼”

  2 tablespoons lemon juice

  1 / 4 tsp ground nutmeg

  6 tablespoons salted butter

  1 / 4 cup all purpose flour

  1 / 2 cup white sugar, divid
ed

  1/3 cup packed brown sugar

  2 tsp vanilla extract

  3 tbsp chopped candied ginger

  1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed and dried

  1/4 cup orange Marmalade

  1 tbsp orange juice

  Preheat oven to 375.

  Toss the pears and 2 tbsp lemon juice to coat pear slices. Sprinkle with nutmeg and set aside.

  Place 1 / 4 cup white sugar and 1 / 4 cup flour in a bowl and toss with cranberries. Set aside.

  Melt butter and mix with remaining sugars. Mix in vanilla and candied ginger. Mix with cranberries.

  Fan layers of pears into piecrust that has been put into a tart or pie pan. Spread cranberry mixture over pears. Fold up edges of pie crust over filling, if using a shallow tart pan.

  Bake 30-40 minutes, checking for doneness after 30 minutes.

  Combine orange marmalade and orange juice and melt over low heat. Spread over cooled tart.

  Persimmon Cookies

  1 cup persimmon pulp

  1 tsp baking soda

  dash salt

  2 cups flour

  1/2 tsp cloves

  1/2 tsp nutmeg

  1 tsp cinnamon

  2 tsp vanilla

  1 cup raisins

  1 cup chopped walnuts

  1 large egg, beaten

  ½ cup butter softened

  1 cup sugar

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees

  Mix dry ingredients. Add raisins and nuts to flour mixture, set aside. In a larger bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add persimmon pulp, vanilla, and beaten egg. Slowly combine flour mixture.

  Drop by teaspoons onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

  Pecan Pie

  3 large eggs, beaten

  1/2 cup white sugar

  1/4 cup packed brown sugar

  1 cup light corn syrup

  2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  1 tablespoon vanilla extract

  1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour

  1 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

  9” piecrust