Page 52 of Toxic Apple Turnovers
I make a face when he says it. “Not really. I’ve been too busy getting held at gunpoint and trying to hunt down killers and thieves.” I’m just about to tell him about my mock marriage when my mock groom bounds over.
“Interesting news.” He does a quick sweep of the vicinity. “I just got some information on Pastor Gaines.”
“Did you run that information I gave you?”
“Yes.” Noah’s breathing ticks up a notch, a clear indicator he’s onto something big. “A few of the references he put down never heard of him. Two of them turned out to be bogus, maybe friends that vouched for him. But that’s not the interesting part. I ran his social security number, and the name didn’t add up. If the number does belong to him, then his name isn’t Stephen Gaines. It’s Stephen Heartwood.”
“Stephen Heartwood?” I glance to Everett. “Then Stephen Gaines is a phony, right? I bet Amanda knew this. I bet this is why she wanted to call the sheriff’s department. What else do you know?”
“I’m still working on a few things.” Noah stares pensively off in the distance. “Everett, don’t let Lottie out of your sight. I’ll be right back.”
I gasp as I look up at Everett. “I bet we’ve got our killer. I need to tell my mother. I need to make sure he doesn’t kill my mother next!”
“He’s not killing your mother.” Everett nods down the hill. “I see her. She’s with Meg. Maybe ask Meg not to leave her side tonight. We’ll leave the rest to Noah.”
“You’re right.” I quickly pull out my phone and do just that. “Meg said no problem.”
“Come on. Let’s get the rest of these apple turnovers out of your van.”
Everett and I do just that. It takes a million trips, but we cover all of the refreshment tables with my apple turnover caramel sauce dippers, and I’ve got Keelie’s cake in there, too, just waiting for eight o’clock when all of our friends and family are going to gather around and shoutsurprise!
It’s not anything too fancy, but I know that Keelie and Bear would prefer it this way. Becca has sent out the invitations, and we’ve routed any and all gifts to the B&B so Keelie didn’t stand a chance of running into them. And, I paid Hazel a handsome fee to oversee the decorations and those special details I can’t even think about right now. It’s a relief to know everything is going to turn out perfectly.
Everett and I finish up our final run and take a breather while watching the hayrides go by.
A woman with dark hair whipping back and forth screams like a banshee as she holds up a drink.
“I’m going to take my top off!” she howls.
I shake my head as the tractor hauling a flatbed stacked with hay cruises on by.
“Some people can’t hold their liquor. I knew selling appletinis would amount to no good.”
Everett groans hard. “I think that person in particular shares my genetic makeup.” A blouse goes flying, and Everett shouts for the hayride to stop as he speeds in that direction.
“Great. A drunk sister. That’s exactly what this night needed.”
I make my way over to the booth selling hot apple cider, and just as I’m about to get in line, I spot a couple of men laughing. The tall one with the ruddy complexion has something red tucked under his arm, and it looks like he’s concealing a—purse?
I suck in a quick breath.
“Hey!” I call out, but not a soul seems to notice. I thread my way through the crowd and come up behind the purse thief, and then I see it.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. Tracking along the back of his neck is a diamond-patterned snake. The exact pattern that was on the gunman that day in the bank.
I pull out my phone just as a group of girls glides by, and it falls right out of my hand.
“No!” I panic as I try to look for it, but a mob streams by. I glance back at the men, and they’re nearly to the parking lot. “God, help me,” I pant as I quickly search for my phone, but I can’t see it anywhere.
I jog up a few yards and watch as the men head toward the tourist buses. Probably hoping to get more loot.
Noah went in that direction. I bet he’s nearby.
Without thinking, I jog on over, and as I do a series of lights explode from the sky. And one by one they arrive: the tabby, the squirrel, Judge Baxter Senior, my sweet dog Dutch, the crankiest bear on the planet, the miniature angelic Chihuahuas, Greer, Macon, Max, Beastie, Cookie, and Owlbert.
“Nell?” I look around, unsure why she didn’t join the rest of the apparition brigade.
Greer waves from the front of the buses. “They’re not alone, Lottie! Go get Noah!”