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Chapter Twelve

“I’m pretty sure Chelsea took the hatchet,” Ellery said when he and Jack were upstairs undressing for bed.

“Chelsea? Why?” Though Jack didn’t sound particularly surprised at this deduction.

“Well, it couldn’t have been Oscar or Freddie because they didn’t go outside after we arrived from the ferry. At least, not until much later. After I’d discovered the hatchet was missing. So that leaves Tosh, Flip, Lenny, and Chelsea.”

“Right. But why Chelsea?”

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much?”

Jack’s brows rose. “Methinks that’s an interesting observation.”

“Her practical jokes were always the most extreme. And, given the circumstances, there’s an extreme element to this, don’t you think?”

Jack nodded thoughtfully. “Given that we don’t have actual proof that Dolph isn’t roaming the countryside, yes.”

“It’s not Tosh’s style. In fact, Tosh wasn’t all that into the practical jokes. She’d play along, but I don’t really remember her as an initiator. And I think Flip and Lenny believe Chelsea was behind it.”

“Well, you’ll know for sure if you find the hatchet under the mattress of Chelsea’s bed after they leave.”

“Speaking of which, are we for sure getting snowed in?”

Jack grimaced, glanced at the window where glimmering snow continued to fall as heavily as the special effects of a community theater stage crew. “It’s looking like it. I think you’re going to have to make some phone calls tomorrow morning. Even if the snow stops tonight, I don’t like the idea of people trying to drive in these conditions after they’ve been drinking.”

Ellery nodded. He’d already accepted that the housewarming party would have to be indefinitely postponed.

Jack added with a hint of apology, “It’s also looking like I’ll probably be staying over in Pirate’s Cove tomorrow night.”

Ellery opened his mouth, but closed it. He sighed. “Right. I know. There are bound to be all kinds of emergencies to deal with, great and small.”

“That’s the truth. Stranded vehicles, burst pipes, power outages, traffic accidents. The medical center is a concern. So is Sunset Shores. They both have backup generators, but...”

“If worse comes to worse, you’ll figure something out. I have zero doubt.”

Jack moved to him, folded Ellery in his arms. He kissed the bridge of Ellery’s nose. “You’re a very good cop’s boyfriend—fiancé. Have I told you that lately?”

“I like hearing it,” Ellery admitted.

It was nice standing there in each other’s arms.

Nice in the obvious way of warm bare skin and shared heartbeats. But also nice in knowing with certainty that Jack was always going to do his best to be there for him. Ellery had loved both Brandon and Todd, but it hadn’t been anything close to his feelings for Jack. A huge part of that was because of the kind of person Jack was—and the kind of love that Jack offered.

He was the strongest guy Ellery knew, but he was also the kindest. He was honest and reliable and he sincerely cared about people. He was always going to try to do his best, because that’s who he was.

There were probably people who wouldn’t find those qualities, that kind of caring, quite as alluring as Ellery did. But after Brandon and Todd, Ellery had learned to value someone who told the truth and habitually put the needs of others before himself.

“What’s the mystery surrounding Noah?” Jack asked suddenly, interrupting Ellery’s peaceful thoughts.

“There really isn’t a mystery.” Ellery felt that familiar sadness. “Noah was killed in a hit-and-run during our junior year at Tisch.”

“So, your friend Noah was killed in a hit-and-run, and your character in theHappy Halloweenmovies is named NoahStreet?”

“I know,” Ellery said glumly. “Dark. But I didn’t name him. Brandon did. He considered it an homage to Noah.” He added, “But in Brandon’s defense, Noah’s death was a traumatic event in our lives. It had a big effect on all of us.”

When he didn’t continue, Jack asked, “Was the driver caught?”

“No.” Ellery added, “There were no witnesses. It happened late at night.”