Page 31 of Bobbing for Bodies
Just like I might have to live without him.
Chapter 15
We find Lainey perched by the open mouth of the garage, the police already there with two squad cars. It’s a horrible sight to see your sister’s house lit up with blue and red strobing lights in the night.
“Lainey,” I say, lunging at her with a hug. Everett sped just as fast as Noah did to get here, but Noah still managed to beat us. To be honest, it felt like I was caught up in some testosterone-fueled game as they kept trying to outrun one another. I’m not sure what happened between the two of them, way back when, but this screams unresolved childhood issues.
I spot Noah already deep inside the garage speaking with a member of the sheriff’s department.
“Tell me what happened?” I ask my sister as I quickly inventory all of the boxes from my old apartment, a few of which have toppled to the side.
My sister wraps her arms around herself as she turns to look inside. “Well, I came home and the garage door was ajar. I couldn’t figure out why, so I figured it must have been that rash of break-ins we’ve been having.”
Everett strides up next to me. “Is anything missing?”
Lainey shrinks a bit in her oversized plaid coat. “I can’t tell. I mean, it’s all your stuff, Lottie. How would I know if anything was gone?” She threads her arm through mine. “Does anything look as if it’s missing to you?”
I take a step inside, and Noah tips his head over at me, the look of grief slightly veiled in his eyes.
“Actually, it looks as if everything is present and accounted for.”
“Look at this”—Everett points over to a couple of bricks that are bucking in the driveway and a loose one tossed to the side—“it looks like your door may not have shut properly.”
“Oh no.” Lainey tips her head back. “I had it open before I left, looking for a bin of books I’ve been meaning to donate.” Lainey is forever donating books to the library. She once told me that working at the library felt as if she were visiting old friends. And she would be, considering half the books are donated from her private collection. “I guess it was a false alarm.”
“Not to worry.” The sheriff standing next to Noah comes over. “Better safe than sorry. It’s an odd thing, but those robberies seemed to have come to a stop abruptly a couple weeks ago. Whoever was doing it has either been caught or killed.” He nods our way. “Goodnight, folks. We’re heading on out.” He takes off, and my mouth falls open as a thought comes to me.
I glance over to the spot Noah was standing in, but he’s gone.
The sound of a car purring to life ignites behind us, and I turn just in time to see him taking off with a wave.
Everett huffs at the sight, “Don’t take it personally, Lemon. It’s me he’s ticked off at. I can promise you that.” He offers Lainey and me a slight bow. “Enjoy the rest of your night, ladies. I’m glad it was nothing.”
We watch as he takes off, and my sister lands her head on my shoulder.
“You really showed up with the cavalry. Have you settled on one yet?”
“Yes, I’ve settled on one. It’s just that he can’t seem to settle on me.”
“Option B isn’t so bad himself. Honestly, there are no wrong choices here.”
“There’s a wrong choice, all right,” I say, turning back around and looking into the cozy little garage—“and that choice would be me.”
“Oh,you.” Lainey is quick to swat me. “So, I guess those garage thieves moved on after all.”
“Or died.” I can’t help but think it’s the latter. “I’m starting to wonder if I knew Hunter Fisher at all.”
* * *
The next fewdays are maddening with nonstop baking as dozens upon dozens of devil’s food cupcakes are frosted in festive Halloween hues of orange, purple, and green, festooned with meringue ghosts, bright blue wizard hats, and licorice spiders.
But my mind is far from the task at hand. I can’t help but mull over the case while I pour batter into another batch of cupcake molds. As far as I’m concerned, Bear isn’t at all a suspect, but then, I guess I can’t really take anyone off the list just yet. Then there’s Chuck Popov, who as Bear suggested didn’t lend Hunter a dime. Although, Hunter could have borrowed money from Chuck behind Bear’s back. And Chuck did seem a little rough around the edges that day when I mentioned Hunter’s name. Perhaps he was just a disgruntled colleague? However, if Hunter owed him money, people can get unfriendly real quick when a little cash comes between them. Not that I’m assuming it was a small sum Hunter borrowed. But, as for now, that’s just my imagination running wild. Until something solid comes up, Chuck isn’t really on my radar. Then there’s Mom’s new boyfriend, Wallace, who said he tried to get Hunter a loan but failed. That actually penciled out. And interestingly enough, led us to evidence of Hunter’s stripper ex-girlfriend, the one with the kid. And, of course, there’s Micheline Roycroft. She didn’t do it. I’d stake my life on it. Although, she was useful in tipping me off as far as where I could find Stella. Stella. I shake my head. She was so angry. For an ex-girlfriend, she sure as heck didn’t so much as shed a tear. Come to think of it, she didn’t look too torn up at his funeral either. Stella. Maybe once I recuperate from tonight I’ll head back to Girls Unlimited and have another chat with her? I’m sure Everett won’t mind one bit escorting me back to that flesh-fest. I roll my eyes at the thought.
Keelie helps me transport the multitude of boxes to the McMurry Pumpkin Patch with just minutes to spare before the Fall-O-Ween Fest gets underway.
The crowds have already descended upon the place with costumes that range from adorable to looking like they outright belong in a horror movie. Keelie and I lean toward the adorable end of the spectrum with Keelie dressed up as a fairy in a pale green tutu and sparkly leotard to go along with it. Her makeup looks as if a fairy herself showed up to apply the magical wonder, but Keelie being Keelie has decided to vamp the look up a bit with some heavy eyeliner for dramatic flair. And have I mentioned that her leotard is low-cut in the front and that tutu hardly covers her rear?
“You’re going to freeze to death,” I say, shivering myself.