Page 53 of Macaron Massacre
“Kenneth Locke.” He shrugs as if it didn’t matter.
“Locke?” I whisper as Scott charges for me, and instinctively I kick my foot in the air and nail him on the chin. The gun goes off, loud and deafening, and the woods seem to shiver with the effect.
“Lottie!” Noah shouts my name in the distance, and a swell of relief hits me.
“NO—” I’m cut off from shouting his name as Scott lands on top of me and clamps his hand over my mouth. I open wide and bite down hard over one of his fingers, and he howls as he yanks it out of my mouth. “Kenneth Locke!” I pant. “He was the one that made off with Rich’s fortune in the first place. You’re just as bad as your uncle.” I give another wild kick, aiming below his belt, but he bucks, and I hammer him in the chest instead.
The gun goes flying, and I watch as it lands behind a stump about three feet back.
Scott turns and scrambles, looking for it in the wrong direction.
A spear of incandescent light appears at the base of the stump as I dive over and pick up the gun, my gun, safe in my hands.
“Well done.” Nell forms before me, her ghostly frame fainter than it was before, and it induces an all new panic inside me.
“Oh, Nell.” I shake my head at her. “You can’t go. I’m not ready.”
“You are more than ready, my child.” Sparks ignite over her person in random order, and sadly it looks as if she were shorting out.
“No, you can’t leave. There is still so much more we have to talk about. I have questions, and you owe me answers,” I cry.
“Turn around!” she shouts thunderously loud, and I turn to find Scott less than four feet away, and I pull the trigger. Yes, I do.
The gun flies backward, and I nearly slap myself with it. The sound is so deafening my ears ring with the aftereffect.
Scott drops to his knees just as Noah and Ivy run up with weapons drawn.
“Freeze!” Noah shouts. “Facedown, right now!” he roars, but Scott doesn’t comply. Instead, his face grows deathly pale as he slumps slowly to the side.
“I killed him!” I scream.
Noah is on him, cuffing him, checking his pulse. “He’s alive. Ivy, keep your weapon on him.” He leaps to his feet and rushes to my side. Noah pulls me into a tight embrace, his heart drumming hard against mine.
“You’re safe, Lot.” He blows a molten hot breath of relief into my hair. “You did exactly what we wanted you to do. You protected yourself. You did good.”
“It’s over,” I pant hard, trying to take it all in. “I beat the deadline before Lainey’s wedding.” I pull back and give a little laugh as the woods are stormed with what looks to be the entire sheriff’s department.
“Lottie Lemon, you not only beat the deadline, you beat it in style.” He looks down and admires my sundress. “I still love you with all my heart.”
I bite down hard over my bottom lip to keep from bawling. “I know, Noah. You know I love you, too.”
“I know.” He pulls me in again and holds me that way a good long while.
Chapter 18
The conservatory at my mother’s B&B is already rollicking with Mayor Nash’s most staunch supporters by the time I arrive.
Noah had me checked out by a medic at the scene this afternoon, and I was thankfully released on site. Of course, I have a small bump on the back of my head and my shoulder is sore from the kickback from the gun, but Noah couldn’t stop gushing how proud he was of me shooting it when needed. I’m just glad I didn’t kill Scott. Just becausehekilled somebody doesn’t mean I wanted to do the same. Apparently, I blew out his elbow. Ivy informed me that was a particularly rare shot and offered me a congratulatory thump on my sore shoulder.
Noah had to take the gun down to Ashford as procedure required, and I’m relieved to be rid of the menace for a time—the gun, not Noah.
I glance around the glass-walled room. The sun is setting, and you can see a peach glow through the windows, as the evergreens seem to crouch in to see what all the noise is about in here. I didn’t call Everett and tell him about my ordeal because I didn’t want him worrying about me. I know he had a full day at the courthouse scheduled, but he assured me last night that he’d try to catch me at the lake if he could. I guess he’s running late, after all. But I can’t wait to wrap my arms around him and tell him every last detail. I’m so glad it’s over. I want nothing more than to go home and put on my PJs, my fuzzy socks, and snuggle with Pancake and Waffles while drinking my weight in hot chamomile tea. I’m sure Everett will come over and watch a game. It will be bliss.
“Lottie!” Mom breezes over with her arms outstretched. As soon as the sheriff’s department arrived en mass, everyone at Honey Lake was apprised of what went down. Both Mayor Nash and my mother thanked me profusely for helping to clear their names. “Oh my goodness, you are an angel.” She secures a tight embrace over me. “But you are not to do that again, young lady. You hear?” Her expression is stern. This is no playful scolding.
Mayor Nash tips his head my way. He’s exceptionally tan from a day at the lake, bordering on burnt, and his eyes glow against his skin.
“It’s a good thing you took his gun.” He nods as if this were a fact. “That was very brave of you, Lottie. I’m going to make sure you receive a citizen’s award.”