Page 85 of All You Want
“She took the pickaxe.” He points to the wall where a set of gold mining pans are displayed alongside of an empty hook. “She says she’s going to get the murderer.”
“Does she know who it is?” Tami asks, coming up beside me.
“She thinks someone’s done it for you, Tami. She says Viola had proof of her ancestors’ claim to the underlying mine.” He grasps his chest.
“It’s okay, Uncle. Don’t talk. Tami’s safe.” I’m relieved to hear the sirens. “The ambulance is here.”
“I’m okay, but you have to stop Diana.” The words and spittle tumble from Uncle Chip’s mouth.
“Where was Diana last night?” Shane asks. “Tell us the truth.”
“I don’t know. She was here, but when I woke up, the pickaxe was gone. She came back at lunchtime and took a shower. She was muttering and raving about the Baja Angel curse and how we should blow up the hotel to keep everyone safe.” His face is gray, and he stops to take shallow breaths.
“Uncle. We’ll get Diana, don’t worry. The paramedics are here. I’ll meet you at the hospital.” I stand back while the paramedics fit an oxygen mask over his face.
When I turn to Tami, her face is stricken.
“Don’t be scared. I won’t let you out of my sight.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m not afraid of Diana. She can’t attack here in front of everyone.”
Her comments surprise me, but I don’t have time to follow up. “Come with me to the hospital and we’ll talk.”
“I can’t.” Her brow is crinkled. “The guests. We have activities. Now that Molly and Evan are gone, I’m the only one to run the show.”
As much as I want to protect her, I know she needs to put on a show of confidence. Diana could be trying to scare her so she’d lose business and give up the hotel.
“Okay, stay safe.” I kiss her on the lips. “I’ll come back for dinner. I’ll try.”
“No, go find Diana. I’m surrounded by my HEX sisters. Diana won’t find me alone.” She squares her shoulders and tilts her chin up defiantly.
Shane taps my shoulder. “I’m going to bug the judge for a search warrant for Diana’s room and her house.”
“Great idea.” I cup my hand and speak so only Shane can hear me. “You realize the handle of a pickaxe is the same shape as a police baton.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. If your uncle was drunk at the fireworks show, he wouldn’t know if she left shortly afterwards, knocked off Viola, because maybe Viola had proof against her claim, and tried to frame Tami by shoving her into the body.”
I give Shane a thumbs-up, because the boy is finally thinking like a small-town cop.
“I’ve got this,” I say to Tami and give her another kiss. “We’re going to track Diana down and bring her in. You can relax now.”
Thirty
~ Tami ~
As soon as Todd and Shane leave, I rush to Ma Belle’s Tearoom to find my friends. I’m staying with them tonight because I rented out the Weeping Widow, and I don’t want to go home with my parents.
“What’s going on? We saw an ambulance.” Rosalie greets me at the door while Suzette rushes out of the bathroom with a mascara wand in her hand. “The police are all over this place. Did they find the murderer?”
I tell them what happened to Uncle Chip but leave out the threats Diana made. After all, Todd is handling it, and I have a business to run.
“Have you guys heard from Larissa?” I ask once Suzette resumes applying her makeup.
“No, should we worry?” Rosalie thumbs through her phone. “Why hasn’t she texted selfies with this hunk?”
“She’s usually on social media at least twice a day,” Suzette adds. “If she’s hooking up with Bigfoot, wouldn’t she be bragging about it?”
“She hasn’t answered any texts,” Rosalie says.
