A Sweet Death, page 10
part #3 of Stoneybrook Series
His hand twitched, as if he wanted to reach out and touch her to make sure she wasn’t hurt. But he must’ve thought better of it because he jerked it away, running the hand through his hair instead.
Cassie didn’t miss the gesture either, and she shot Hadley a coy smile.
Inwardly rolling her eyes at the teenager, Hadley said, “I’m fine. It was my fault the bike’s messed up.”
Luke let out a wry laugh. “Right. Like I’m going to believe speed demon here didn’t have a part in it when her bumper’s dented.” He jabbed a thumb in Cassie’s direction, adding a glare for good measure.
“Luke, it’s—” Hadley started to say, but Cassie interrupted her.
“He’s right,” Cassie said. “I wasn’t paying attention. Hadley saved me from hurting an animal, sacrificing her bike instead.” She leveled Luke with a look of apology so sincere, Hadley noticed his shoulders automatically drop from their ready-to-argue position.
Hadley nodded when Luke’s gaze consulted her for confirmation. As if he’d heard them talking about him, Bailey let out a long yowl from his cage in the back seat of Cassie’s car.
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Another cat, Had?” he asked, a grin adding a teasing tone to his question.
She narrowed her eyes. “He’s not mine,” she said adding, He won’t even let me near him, to herself in annoyance.
“Bailey’s mine.” Cassie walked over, lifting the soft carrier out from the back seat to coo and console the cat, even though he looked perfectly comfortable. “Adopting him is the least I can do after almost running over him.”
Luke closed his eyes for a moment. “Hadley James, don’t tell me you threw yourself in front of a moving car to protect a cat.”
She waved a hand at him. “Of course I didn’t.” Squinting one eye, she added, “I threw my bike.”
Luke chuckled, and the laughter crinkled the corners of his eyes as he shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”
“Nothing would be nice, for once.” She elbowed him, unable to resist joining in on the laughter.
Cassie looked between the two of them and a devious smile curled at the corners of her mouth. She winked at Hadley and then pulled out her phone.
“Oh. I’m so sorry, Hadley, but I just got a text from my parents, and I have to get home. Thank you so much for helping me with Bay.” She gestured to the cat before setting the carrier back in the car and moving toward the driver’s seat. “Luke, do you think you could give Hadley a ride home?” She barely got the question out before she was grinning again.
Hadley inwardly groaned at the teenager’s blatant setup. There was no way Cassie Lee had ever dropped what she was doing to answer to her parents.
If he’d caught on to Cassie’s game, Luke didn’t let on. “Sure thing,” he said with a dip of his head.
Cassie sent them one last wave before she pulled away. Hadley was sure she could see the girl’s devious stare even in her rearview mirror.
15
“Come on. Let’s get you home,” Luke said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her toward his truck.
Hadley’s heart lightened at the gesture. They used to walk with an arm around the other’s shoulder all the time when they were younger. It took her back to laid-back summer days spent on the banks of the river, seeing who could skip a rock the farthest.
As she climbed into the truck, however, the avalanche of information she’d just learned came crashing back down on her.
“Actually, not home. If you don’t mind, I need to talk to Paul. Could you drop me at the station?”
Luke nodded as the engine rumbled to life. “Things going any better with the two of you? Or with Suze?” he asked, glancing over at her.
“I think worse.” Hadley closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. The truck smelled sweet, like dried hay. It was a different vehicle than he’d driven when they were teenagers, but the smell was just about the same. “I mean, Paul’s busy with this case, so I get why he’s being distant.” She picked a piece of lint off the seat. “Except earlier he definitely lied to me about where he was. Said he was grabbing coffee, but I could tell he wasn’t.” She shrugged. “The real problem is Suze. I think I saw an order of hers hanging in Mickie’s bakery.”
Luke tipped his head to one side as he pulled out onto the main road. She knew he was wondering why that was such a crime, but knew she was going to elaborate.
“I’m pretty sure it said something about a cake, Luke.” She stared him down, searching his face for any hint of recognition.
He squinted one eye. “You sure? Mick’s handwriting is awful at the best of times.”
“Yeah, but Mickie also acted all weird, blocking my line of sight so I couldn’t read what was on the order card. Why would she do that unless I wasn’t supposed to know?”
His lips tugged up into a half smile. “Maybe Mickie is cheating on you, using someone else’s jam.” Luke narrowed his eyes conspiratorially.
Hadley didn’t even humor him with a laugh. “Be serious. What if they’re planning a birthday party without me? Something romantic, just the two of them?”
Luke stopped at a stop sign and gave her his attention. “Would that be so horrible?”
She bit her lip, thinking maybe it would. Hadley and Paul had never not celebrated their birthday together, even when they’d both been away at college. But she knew pettiness wasn’t appealing, and it was probably unrealistic to hold him to that standard.
“No,” she said in a huff. “But that’s why it’s so suspicious. If they want time alone, why would they be keeping it from me? They wouldn’t have to do all of this sneaking around if they just came out with it.”
“Some people like the sneaking around part.” Luke raised an eyebrow before turning onto Main Street.
Hadley waved in thanks as Luke pulled away from the curb outside town hall. She jogged inside, trying to make sense of the disorganized mess of possible clues she had jumbled in her brain.
Paul was sitting behind his desk, poring over a file while his fingers dug into his temple.
“Hey,” she said, plopping down in the chair next to his desk.
He looked up, either startled or sleep deprived—Hadley couldn’t tell.
“When was the last time you ate something?” she asked, concern replacing the small amount of urgency to tell him about her newest discovery.
His hand moved from his temple to run down his face. “I don’t even remember.” He gestured toward a plate on his desk Hadley hadn’t noticed until now because it was almost hidden under multiple sheets of paper. The plate held a sandwich with one bite taken out of it. A fly was sitting on top, unmoving as if he were taking a nap or moving in. The mayonnaise visible from the side had an odd glossiness to it, making her certain it had been sitting out for far too long.
Hadley crossed one leg over the other. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something and then I’m getting you a sandwich and sit here until I watch you eat the whole thing.”
Paul sighed, but nodded. He pulled out his notepad, clicking open a pen. “Whatcha got?”
“Remember when Brenda stopped working at The Grill?”
He squinted. “Yeah? Late last year?”
“Well, the reason she stopped wasn’t because she quit or they fired her. She fell on the job and broke her back.”
Paul stared down at his desk for a moment before meeting Hadley’s gaze. “Which is how she got addicted to the pain pills.”
“Yeah. And, this is speculation still, but I’m pretty sure Miranda wasn’t buying the drugs from Jaxon for herself. I think she might’ve been getting them for her mom.”
At this, Paul scratched his bearded chin, looking dubious.
Hadley didn’t even give him space to voice his doubt. “I know, it’s a stretch, but Cassie was adamant she’d never seen Miranda under the influence.”
Paul pushed back his shoulders before jotting down a few notes onto his notepad. “Okay, it doesn’t open any doors, but it might down the line. Thanks.”
Placing a hand on Paul’s shoulder, Hadley said, “Okay. What kind of sandwich you want?” She looked at the warm fly condo warily.
He followed her gaze. “Anything that won’t give me botulism.” With one movement, he picked up the plate and dumped the food in the garbage next to his desk.
“Will do.” She patted his shoulder and stood to leave.
Walking down the street, Hadley headed for Wendy’s café, knowing it was a bit of a slim chance any of her popular premade sandwiches would be left at this time of day. Still, she preferred the gamble over going into her ex-in-laws’ grocery store.
Passing by Mickie’s bakery, Hadley pressed her lips into a disappointed frown as she realized it was after six and she’d been closed for hours at that point. Hadley would have to make a stop by tomorrow to see if she could get a closer glance at the order.
Luckily, there were a few sandwiches left in the cooler when Hadley entered Cascade River Coffee, and she grabbed a roast beef for Paul and a tuna salad sandwich for herself since she’d had too long of a day to want to think about making dinner. She added a small chai to her order. Feeling like the days were simultaneously lasting forever and going all too fast, Hadley decided caffeine that late in the day was worth the risk. She knew it might keep her up, but hadn’t been sleeping well since Miranda went missing, anyway.
After paying for her purchases, Hadley stepped aside to wait for her tea. The sound of the steamer screaming through the milk must’ve covered up the jingling sound of the front door opening, because suddenly Hadley looked to her right and jumped in surprise. Thea Clark had sidled up next to her.
The town librarian must’ve gotten the highest marks in librarian school; the woman was as quiet as falling flakes of snow, more often than not startling Hadley with her silent approaches.
Her short, curly hair framed her delicate face. Hadley smiled at her in hello, but had to do a double take. The fair-skinned librarian was not only as quiet as snow, but just as pale too.
“Thea, what’s wrong?” Hadley asked, putting a hand on the woman’s arm to steady her as she wobbled slightly.
Thea’s mouth opened. “Mir—” The name broke in half. She swallowed and tried again. “I saw the sign.” A shaky finger pointed to the Missing sign in the front window of the café. “When did this happen?”
“Thursday night.” Hadley clutched the older woman as she swayed. “Where’ve you been?” She didn’t mean the question to sound bratty, but it was inconceivable to her knowing the librarian’s propensity for knowing everyone’s business the moment it happened.
Blinking, Thea met Hadley’s gaze. “I left Thursday night for the regional Friends of the Library sale over in Pine Crest.” Looking down at her shoes, Thea muttered, “I was so happy because I sold twice the books this year.”
An ache spread through Hadley’s chest as she realized the woman wouldn’t have heard anything over on the other side of the mountains. This must be quite the shock. Wrapping an arm around the librarian, she led her to the nearest table and helped her sit.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” Hadley patted Thea’s hand.
Wendy came over with Hadley’s chai and a steaming mug for Thea. The barista clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Take a sip of this. It’ll help.”
Thea did as she was told, her hands shaking when she picked the mug up off the saucer. Mid-sip, the woman stopped cold, her eyes flashing up to Hadley and Wendy. “Does this have something to do with the fight she got in Thursday night?”
Skin prickling, Hadley remembered Josie mentioning Hal telling her someone had mentioned Miranda getting in a fight. Thea must’ve been that person.
“Then why did I just see Dennis working in the candy shop?” she asked, forehead wrinkling.
Hadley was glad to see her confusion mirrored on Wendy’s features.
“Why wouldn’t he be?” she asked.
“Because if Miranda’s missing, Dennis has to be the one responsible.” Thea’s voice had been shaky with surprise, but at this, her tone became steady and sure. “He and Miranda had a huge fight Thursday night. Phil left a box of books for me behind the bookstore to take with me to the sale. When I was back there picking it up, they were yelling next door.”
Hadley’s stomach dropped. She’d assumed the fight Josie had been talking about had been with Jaxon. Days had gone by, and they’d all but cleared Dennis from the suspect list.
“What was the fight about?” Hadley asked quickly, as if she could make up the time they’d lost.
Thea’s features tightened. “He accused her of stealing.”
“Candy?” Wendy asked, incredulity dripping off the word.
“Money.” Thea shook her head, an almost green pallor overtaking her complexion. “He didn’t say how much, but it sounded like a lot. Dennis’s voice was shaking so bad. I’ve never heard him like that. Miranda denied it, was bawling, and telling him he was wrong. I got scared for her, but then she ran down the street, away from him. The last thing he said was that he was going to call the cops on her.”
Hadley gasped. Dennis had seemed so distraught, had talked about what a great employee Miranda was. He hadn’t mentioned a thing about her stealing from him.
“Thea, you have to come with me.” Hadley stood. “You have to tell this to Paul.”
The woman followed her out of the coffee shop and down the street to the sheriff’s station. And even as she clutched Paul’s sandwich next to her own, she knew they’d be going in the fridge to be eaten much later.
16
Paul rapped his fist on the glass of the candy shop door five times. He peered in and waited a few seconds before checking the lock.
Turning back to Hadley, he said, “He’s not in there.” Paul pulled out his phone and pressed the screen a few times before holding it up to his ear. “Anything?” he asked, no doubt talking to Kevin, who’d gone to Dennis’s house.
From the way her brother’s jaw tightened, Hadley could tell Kevin had struck out as well.
“I swear, I just saw him in here,” Thea said, peering in past Paul. “He was opening the register when I walked toward the café.”
Running a hand over his tired face, Paul took a deep breath. His fingers flew across his phone again. “I need access to Dennis Larson’s bank account information, as fast as you can manage. He and the missing girl were arguing the night she went missing. He didn’t tell anyone about the altercation, and now we can’t find him,” Paul said to whomever was on the other end of the call. If Hadley had to guess, she would’ve said Sheriff McKay. Then he hung up without waiting for an answer.
Thea stayed out front while Paul and Hadley checked around the back of the building. That door was just as locked as the front. Hadley guessed the pounding her brother gave it was more out of frustration than actual hope Dennis might not have heard them at the front door.
Hadley put a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “You couldn’t have known. He lied. Thea was the only witness, and she was out of town.”
Paul’s back raised and lowered as his breathing slowed, but he didn’t turn around.
His phone rang in his pocket.
Both he and Hadley stiffened. There was no way McKay could’ve gotten the necessary permissions to look into Dennis’s finances. Right? The twins’ eyes met as Paul answered his phone.
“James… Yeah. Okay.”
Hadley studied her brother’s face for any clues, only having it and his end of the conversation to go by.
His eyebrows pulled together, tight. “And where is she now?”
The question caused hope to spark in Hadley’s chest. Miranda? Paul’s expression softened and he shook his head.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He was already walking before he’d even hung up the call. Glancing over his shoulder at Hadley on his heels, Paul said, “Brenda Walters was admitted to the ER up in Cascade Ridge for a possible drug overdose. I’ve gotta go up there.”
Thea straightened as the twins came speeding around the building. She didn’t even ask if they’d had any luck, just continued to wring her hands, in concern, in front of her body.
“Make sure Thea gets home okay, please.” He turned to Hadley. “I’ll call you if I learn anything more. You do the same.” And with that, Paul jogged across the quiet street toward the parking lot behind the town hall where his truck was parked.
Hooking her arm through Hadley’s, Thea pulled her close. “I feel so terrible I wasn’t here. If I had been, we could’ve caught Dennis before he fled.”
There was a hitch in Hadley’s breath as Thea said what the rest of them had been thinking, worrying. Dennis wasn’t anywhere to be found. Lying about his fight with Miranda then running definitely didn’t help him look innocent.
Leading the local librarian to the jam kitchen, Hadley grabbed her keys to the van. She knew Thea had walked into town, and could easily walk back, but it was beginning to get dark, and she was worried about the way she still seemed unsteady on her feet after learning the news about Miranda.
Thea didn’t question Hadley’s choice to drive, climbing quietly into the passenger seat and sitting in stunned silence during the few minutes it took Hadley to drive out to her neighborhood.
“Let me know if you two need anything else.” Thea’s smile looked more like an apology than a comfort when Hadley walked her to the front door of her small cottage next to the rushing river.
“I will.” She choked out the phrase, waving to Thea. Helplessness wrapped around her, making it difficult to breathe.
Getting back into the van, Hadley’s instincts took over, and she was turning off Thea’s street before she realized she was even driving.
I need to pay better attention if I’m going to be on the road, she realized, blinking her eyes as if it might clear her mind of distractions. After the second blink, her gaze caught on the green street sign for Alder.
