Page 57 of Merry Murder Season
Andrew was already back at the counter, washing his hands after petting Emma. He waved as we left. For the second time that week, I felt like my baby birds had all flown the nest. The store was doing well without me. Maybe I neededanother hobby.
I’d talk to Beth when I got home. Maybe she would have some ideas. First up, I needed to ask Josh exactly what Matty had asked him to help with. I found him in the store, sweeping. “Okay ifEmma comes in?”
“Sure, she’s a good dog. Not like some of the ones people bring in. I caught one chewing on a leg of a dining room set I’d just bought from an estate sale.” He put the broom away. “Mandy said she told you she put her foot down with Matty. Now I hear she was attacked in her store. Something’s wrong with that woman.”
I tried to hide the smile. I agreed. Something was really wrong with Matty. “Josh, what did she want you to do that night she called? Do you know?”
“I wasn’t going to go anyway. She’d told me she needed help with a situation. Someone talked her into robbing her store to help her get through this season. She’s been having money issues. She told me that the only person hurt would have been the insurance company, but whoever she was working with had lied to her and was keeping her jewelry. She wanted me to talk him into giving it back.” Josh sighed. “I should have called Greg, but all I knew was what Matty told me. And I stepped away from her then. There was no way I would be involved in something like this.”
“Did she say who was helping her?” I thought I knew the answer, and so when Josh told me the name, I wasn’t surprised.
“She’s not a nice person. I talked to her after she and Mandy got into it and she was horrible to me, calling me names and such. I guess I’m just not a good judge of character.” He adjusted a stack of papers on the desk.
“You chose Mandy. That was a good decision,” I reminded him. A text came over my phone. Beth was ready to start the next batch of cookies, and if I didn’t get home quickly, she was going to make sugar cookies that I would be responsible for decorating alone. I smiled as I let her know I was on my way back. “Thanks for talking to me this morning, Josh. Did Mandy tell you about the document library?”
I shouldn’t have opened that discussion. Five minutes later, I finally left the antique store to head home. It was almost nine and Chris’s car was still on the street. The mayor had told Greg to tow any car that still was left on the street, so instead of heading straight home, I went over to Chip’s Bar. The front door was open, but I knocked and called out, “Chris? You need tomove your car.”
I heard voices in the back. Then an upset Chris hurried out of the office and into the bar area. It looked like she’d been thrown through the open door. “Sorry, I’ll be out of here in just a minute. I’m taking stock of the liquor bottles to see if we can reopen next week.”
It was a great reason to be there, except Chris had already done an inventory last week. I was there. She brushed tears awayfrom her face.
“You look upset. Maybe you should do this another day. You shouldn’t just push away the grief.” I tried to wave her toward me. Someone had to be in the back. In the room where I’d found the secret entrance on the blueprints that I’dleft for Greg.
“I’m fine. I’ve got to get back to my normal life sometime, right? I’d invite you in for a drink but you can’t bring that dog inside.” A noise sounded behind her. “Look, just leave me alone. I’ll move my car in a minute.”
She disappeared into the back and I left the bar. I didn’t pick up my phone. I was worried that whoever was in the bar with Chris might see me calling for help and do something stupid. Instead, once I was out of the line of sight, I called out to Emma. “Should we see if your Daddy’s back from Bakerstown yet?”
If I was being watched, maybe this would give me a good excuse that wouldn’tget Chris shot.
I headed into the station, locking the door behind me. Then I sank into a chair near Esmeralda’s desk.
“Jill, what’s wrong?” She came around andsat next to me.
I looked up into my friend’s face. “I think Gunter is holding Chris hostage as he looks for Chip’s secret room.”
I sounded like a lunatic, but instead of continuing to question me, Esmeralda stood and called out to Toby as she picked up the phone. “I need youin here, now.”
It took Greg less than ten minutes to arrive, and by that time, Toby had assembled all the deputies in town. They were dressed in riot gear, which included helmets and bulletproof vests. Greg had told them to get ready but wait for him.
I’d called Beth and told her to stay in the house with the doors locked. And that I’d be late getting back. There was no way I was walking home during this mess. Not with a murder suspect in town. Greg had sent officers to block off the street and Esmeralda was calling every business in town letting them know it was atotal shutdown.
Hopefully, this would be over before the Sunday holiday shoppers arrived. Darla had already tried to call me twice after she got the callfrom Esmeralda.
Greg rubbed Emma’s head and kissed me on the cheek when he came inside. “Show me the blueprints.”
As I did, he and Toby talked about the best access points. They were going to storm the bar. My heart sank as I heard them talking. “Greg? Is this the best answer? Can’t we wait forhim to leave?”
He took me in his arms before getting in his protective gear. “I’m afraid we’d risk losing Chris if we wait. Have a little faith. Beth knows to stay inside?”
I nodded, holding up my phone. “I called her. And Darla would like to talk to you.”
He chuckled. “Figures. It’s always about thestory, right?”
“That’s our Darla.” I touched his cheek. “Becareful, okay?”
“How do you know it’s Gunter? Did you see him?”
I shook my head. “Josh told me. Matty’s involved too. Some sort of insurance scam. I guess it’s not her firsttime, either.”
