Page 26

TWENTY-SIX

The waitstaff, along with the mayor and the professor, huddled in a corner of the industrial kitchen. Near the stove was Chef Patrick, pointing a very scary shotgun at the small crowd.

“Get in here,” he growled.

Well, darn. I had not seen this coming . I mean, I knew it had to be one of the three, but he was the least likely of my choices. My stomach twisted into knots. I’d walked straight into the lion’s den.

I started to head toward those in the corner, but he motioned me to come near him. My legs turned to Jell-O, and it was all I could do to walk the few feet to where he stood.

Everything in me screamed for me to run, but he was too close with that gun.

“You cannot kill us all,” the mayor said calmly. “Just put the gun down, and we can talk about this.”

“We aren’t chums,” the chef growled again. Anger came off him in waves as he grabbed my arm, and then put the gun at my back. “You and Finneas know it was me. If any of you make a move, I’ll shoot her and then you.”

I swallowed the bile that crawled to my throat.

“If you’re going to kill me, can you at least tell me why you murdered your ex-wife Sebrena and James?”

“Isn’t that obvious? She cheated on me with my best friend and these two knew all along. They made me look like an idiot. They all deserve to die.”

Wait . This had nothing to do with the missing boy or manuscript? I mean, part of me was disappointed that it had boiled down to jealousy. The other part of me was quite concerned I might not survive this encounter.

“Friends tell one another when they are married to a cheating harpy. And James, he was never happy unless he had whatever I did. After all these years of protecting him from his sordid past, he took my Sebrena.”

I’d met the woman and I would have said James did him a favor but now was not the time to say so. I never liked it when men saw other humans as their possessions, but that was something else I planned to keep to myself.

“I’m telling you we had no idea,” the mayor said.

“You went out with them. I saw the photos on her phone. You and Finneas were in the photos. They were dated long before she left me for him. I’m always cleaning up after you guys, and then you couldn’t be bothered to tell me about them.”

“But wasn’t that years ago?” I asked. I couldn’t help myself. Besides, as long as he was talking, maybe he wouldn’t kill me.

“You nosing around hasn’t helped matters. If you’d left things alone, the police wouldn’t suspect any of us. It took me time to plan everything and to bide my time until an opportunity arose.”

My stomach churned, and it really was all I could do to keep my food down.

“All of this because you were angry at James and Sebrena?” I asked. “Did you also kill Keeley?”

“No. She’s dead?” He was behind me but sounded perplexed.

“Yes,” I said shakily.

“I’d nothing to do with that. I loved Keeley like a sister.”

“Even though she told the truth about the missing boy you guys killed on your sailboat?”

He shoved the gun in my back. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Her latest book was a fictionalized version of the boy you all killed when you were teens.” I had to keep him talking, and I prayed someone would notice I was gone from the main hall.

“That had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with your good mayor.”

“It was an accident,” the mayor said, wide-eyed. “And we were protecting each other.”

“That’s another mess I cleaned up for you,” Chef Patrick said. “I took the dinghy out and swum back so your story would hold true. And how do you pay me back? By letting that jerk take my Sebrena.”

This was a really messed-up situation.

He stabbed the nozzle of the gun harder into my back. I had to do something.

I’m going to die. Poor Lizzie will be all alone .

No . I couldn’t let that happen.

I glanced around for some kind of weapon, but all of the knives were too far away.

Just as I was about to give up my search, the door to the kitchen opened and three things happened at once.

“Are you hiding in here?” Lizzie asked. At the same time, Mr. Poe quickly assessed the situation and ran in, grabbed the chef’s leg and bit down hard. I turned and grabbed an iron skillet off the stove. Thankfully it wasn’t hot. Then I swung with all my might.

The shotgun clattered to the floor, and the chef swayed back and forth before doing a face-plant.

I hoped I hadn’t killed him, but I quickly grabbed the gun so none of his so-called friends could pick it up.

The group in the corner started to move toward us but I shook my head.

“Everyone stay where you are. The police will need to gather evidence and speak to all of you.”

“You cannot tell us what to do,” the mayor said.

“Oh, stuff it,” the professor said. “You will no longer be mayor after all this. Do what you must,” he said to me.

“Lizzie, call the police and tell them it’s an emergency.”

Since there were extra police as security for the festival, the place was soon swarming with officers. Kieran showed up about fifteen minutes later, having just come back to town.

He looked from me to the man on the floor. He still wasn’t awake, and the EMTs were treating him. At least he was alive, there was that.

I sat on the counter near the stove as my legs had finally given out.

“I see you’ve been busy,” he said. His eyebrows went up.

“Wrong place, wrong time,” I said.

He chuckled. “You make a habit of that.”

“You aren’t wrong,” Lizzie said from beside me on the counter. She held Mr. Poe in her lap.

“You’re both white as sheets, why don’t you head home. I’ll come by and get your statements later.”

We nodded in unison.

I left the scene on wobbly legs, I don’t think Lizzie was feeling much better, but with the help of Rob and Scott she held me up. At home, Mr. Poe went to the back door and she let him out.

“Sit down, and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

“Cookies will be helpful. I missed dessert.”

She shook her head. “You ate all the cookies.”

Rob and Scott laughed as they sat down at the table.

“I have some scones I made for tomorrow’s breakfast,” Lizzie said.

“Those will do.”

We sat there in silence and sipped our tea.

“What made you go in there?” Rob asked.

I explained what I’d seen while doing my introduction.

“You could have been killed,” Lizzie said. A tear slid down her cheek. I reached across the table and took her hand in mine.

“I’m sorry I scared you. I was just curious as to why they were arguing. I had no idea he had a gun.

“You know, it was you and Mr. Poe who saved the day. If you hadn’t distracted him right then, things might have been much worse.”

She shivered. “I don’t want to think about that.”

Neither did I. That had been a close one. My stomach still twirled with nerves, and it was all I could do to keep the tea down.

It was late when Kieran showed up at the house.

“He’s regained consciousness,” he said. “He’ll be seen for his injuries, but you needn’t worry. He’s under police custody and will not be going anywhere but jail.”

“What about the mayor and the professor?” I asked.

“Also under police caution, they will not be going anywhere. My superiors insisted they be held and charged in Dublin.” He pulled out his pen and tablet. He also put a recorder on the table. “Take me through everything as it happened.”

“Please have a scone,” Lizzie said. “I’ll get you some tea, unless you need something stronger.”

“Tea will be grand,” he said.

I told him everything that happened. “The mayor and Finneas helped cover up the missing boy’s death. Well, with Patrick’s help.”

“Aye, we’re aware. The professor, who was hoping for a lighter sentence, confessed everything. Even if it was an accident, they will be tried for covering it up. Oh, and it was the mayor who stole Keeley’s early manuscript from your home.”

“The mayor?” I asked, shocked.

“Aye. When he asked for a report on the case, I’d mentioned the book. He’d asked Finneas to be the lookout but he’d taken off when he saw your sister coming.”

“So, the boy in the boat had been the big cover-up. She’d just changed it to a woman in that early draft.”

“That’s what we think. Since she died, we cannot ask her,” he said.

“That explains why Patrick tried to kill the professor as well. I guess in time he would have gone after the mayor as well.”

Kieran nodded. “He’d been expecting quid pro quo is my guess. We’ll know more when we formally interview him.”

When we were done, he shook his head.

“You two have a penchant for trouble.”

“I blame her.” Lizzie pointed at me. “Her timing never has been particularly great.”

“Thanks a lot. But we caught the killer and two men acting in collusion for another death. I believe the words you’re looking for are, ‘thank you.’”

Kieran chuckled.

“Quick thinking with the pan,” he said.

“It honestly happened so fast I don’t even remember thinking about it. I acted on sheer instinct.” I rubbed my shoulder. “It was a very heavy pan.”

“Well, that worked in your favor and probably saved your life. I suppose you’ll be wanting to listen in when we question him tomorrow. Provided he’s recovered enough from his injuries.”

I bit my lip. “Is it too much to ask?”

“No. You deserve answers as much as anyone. Now, you two go get some rest.” He put his hand on my shoulder, and warmth spread through me.

Then he was gone.

After everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure how I would fall asleep.

I was more than curious about what Chef Patrick would have to say for himself.