All You Need Is Fudge (15 page)

I grimaced. “I think the bear trap teeth did that.”

“Which way did you come up?”

“We came up from Market Street.”

“Did you see anyone in the alleyway?”

“Mr. Beecher, but I highly doubt he did something this cruel. He loves Mal. He even carries treats every day . . . in case he runs into her.”

Rex nodded and wrote down what I said. “I'm sure he's not the culprit, but he might have seen something.” He stopped and looked me dead in the eye. “What have you been investigating, Allie?”

“What do you mean?” I put my hands on my hips. “You think this is my fault?”

“I think someone isn't happy with the questions you've been asking.”

“Maybe because I'm close to proving Paige Jessop's innocence and the real killer is not happy about it.”

“Or one of the Jessops wants us to think that.” He pushed his hat up with the end of his pencil.

“They would not harm me or my pets,” I said with indignation. “I am appalled you would even suggest such a thing.”

“You need to stop investigating, Allie,” he said with soft authority. “You have to trust me to do my job.”

“But there is no way Paige killed Carin. I simply won't believe it. Besides, I can't find a single motive for her to do it or a single person who can put her at the crime scene. Any evidence you have is purely circumstantial.”

“Oh, so you think you know what evidence I have?”

“Everyone knows what evidence you have,” I retorted. “This is a small island. All you have to do is ask the senior citizens and they'll tell you every time the wind changes direction. They are great sleuths.”

“You don't know what my evidence is, Allie, and it's driving you nuts.” He lifted an eyebrow at me.

Challenged, I put my hands on my hips. “Carin was murdered. She was dead before she hit the water, which is why I couldn't pump any water from her lungs. She was killed by a blow to the back of her skull with a blunt object. An oar from a lifeboat is the murder weapon. The lab found traces of blood and Carin's hair on it. That oar came from the Jessops' yacht, the
Scoundrel
. You arrested Paige because of a rumored confrontation she had with Carin that morning. But you see, Paige was out in the straits with a party of twenty all night. That's why the
Scoundrel
wasn't docked the morning I pulled Carin from the marina.”

“That's a lot of information for a woman who isn't investigating,” he said quietly. “You don't think perhaps all that digging is what caused someone to try to harm you or your pets?” He raised the evidence bag.

“If it is, then it's because I'm closing in on the real killer,” I said.

“And who is that killer, Allie?” he asked quietly.

I wanted to stomp my foot, but held myself back. “I don't know. I haven't found a motive for anyone to kill Carin.”

“Someone thinks you have. Maybe I should take you down to the station and debrief you.”

“There's nothing to debrief. I'm the one threatened here. Don't you think you need to figure out who wants to harm me?”

Rex nodded, “I do. I can do that by finding out who you've talked to and what they've said. Come on. Let's go to my office.”

“Do I need a lawyer?” I asked.

“I don't know,” he replied grimly. “Do you?”

“I don't know what you'd charge me for,” I said stubbornly.

“How about obstruction of justice? I can start there. We'll see what else pops up.”

“Now you're just being mean,” I said and started down the stairs.

“I warned you not to get involved, Allie.”

“I was involved from the moment Mal spotted Carin floating in the marina,” I said. “You should have let me help.”

“It wasn't my call,” he said grimly and guided me down the alley toward the police station.

“Then whose was it?”

“Trent Jessop.”

“Trent, you have to talk to me now,” I said into the cell phone, letting his voice message record me. “If you don't call me back tonight, I'm going to consider that you are breaking up with me. Is that what you want?” I paused to see if he was listening, but he didn't pick up. “Fine. It's nine
PM.
You have two hours to call me or come to my door and talk to me.” I paused again and knew I couldn't remain tough. “Trent, seriously, I don't want to break up with you. I'm falling in love with you, but I can't love a man who doesn't trust me. The least you can do is break up to my face. It's what a real man would do.” I hit
END
before I stooped to begging and threw my cell phone across the room. It skidded on the floor and bumped up against the wall. Mella thought it was great fun and pounced on it, batting it around like a toy.

I turned my back on the phone and the living room. Tears sprang to my eyes. I had spent three hours at the police station telling Rex exactly who I'd talked to and what they'd said. In exchange, I learned nothing more about his case against Paige. It was infuriating. He claimed he needed to know everything so he could figure out who set the trap. I wasn't sure that was even related to my investigation.

For all I knew, it could have been some neighbor out to get me. There were a few who weren't all that happy to see me thrive during my first season. The innkeeper behind me was the perfect example. I told Rex that. He made a note and told me to let the police do their job.

I hated being patted on the head and told to go make fudge. Not that that wasn't what I was best at, but still. I wasn't half bad at figuring out who the heck killed someone. How could I let whoever had set that bear trap bully me into stopping?

Unfortunately, Rex threatened me with jail time for obstruction if I continued to ask questions about Carin. That didn't mean I couldn't ask about who might have left that trap on my doorstep. Yes, Mr. Beecher would be the first person I talked to about it. Someone had to know something. Like who owned bear traps? Who sold bear traps? And who bought hamburger to bait the trap?

“What was that noise?” Jenn came out of the bathroom with her hair in a towel and her pajamas on.

“I threw my phone,” I said with a childish pout. “I left a message for Trent.”

“Again? How long has it been since he talked to you?”

“He called today, but all he did was tell me to butt out. Then he hung up on me. I left him a voice message that said if he didn't talk to me in the next two hours, I would have to consider that a breakup.”

“Ouch,” Jenn said. “Isn't that a little harsh?”

“He doesn't even know about the bear trap that threatened me and my babies,” I said. “What kind of boyfriend misses that kind of information?”

“A bad one,” Jenn said with a sigh. “I guess you were right. He does need to talk to you. Do you think he's breaking up with you?”

“I hope not.” I plopped down on my living room chair. “I think I'm falling in love with him.”

“What if he's off the island or doing something else and won't get the message in time?” Jenn asked. “Will you really break up with him?”

“How can I date someone who doesn't trust me when important things are going on in his life? I'm going to have to break up with him. It's the only right thing to do.”

Jenn shook her head. “I don't know how you can let all that gorgeous man go. You're my friend so if you break up with him, I'll support you.”

“I'd certainly hope so,” I said.

The phone rang.

I raced across the room and snagged it out from under the sofa where the cat had batted it. “Hello? Trent?”

“Allie, it's Frances.”

“Oh, hi Frances. I'm sorry I missed you tonight. Rex kept me a long time at the station. Did everything go well today?”

“Everything is fine. I was calling to see how you were. I heard from Jenn that someone left a baited bear trap at your doorstep. Are you locking your doors? I want you to be safe.”

“The doors are locked,” I said, glancing over to see that I did indeed turn the deadbolt on the back door. “I can't believe anyone would do that. Have you heard any rumors about it?”

“There is some speculation,” Frances said, “but nothing definitive. Bear traps aren't sold on the island. Whoever had it brought it in.”

“Or they might have found one brought in years and years ago,” I said. “It looked kind of old, but the teeth on it were shiny like they were recently filed.”

“I still can't believe anyone would put you and your pets in danger like that,” Frances said. “They have to be mad.”

“I think I'm closing in on Carin's true killer or someone is worried that I am. The note on the door said to be careful where I was stepping. I don't think they meant where I put my feet. Rex thinks it wasn't meant to hurt my pets. He said a bear trap is overkill if you want to get rid of a cat or dog.”

“I agree,” Frances said. “It was a statement. Do we need to huddle as a group and go over the clues you've uncovered?”

“That might be a good idea,” I said thoughtfully. “How about tomorrow night?”

“Sounds good. I'll let Douglas know.”

“Please be careful, as well,” I said. “A threat to me is a threat to all my friends.”

“We'll be careful,” Frances said. “Try to sleep tonight.”

“I will. Thanks!” I hit OFF on the phone.

“Not Trent?” Jenn said when I put the phone down on the counter.

“No, it was Frances.”

“What are you going to do if he doesn't call?”

My heart skipped a beat. “I don't know. I hate to give ultimatums for that reason. I don't want to break up with him, but if he can't include me in his life, especially during hard times, then why am I dating him?”

“You do have to be strong,” Jenn said. “You have a lot going for you, Allie. You deserve a guy who is there for you and lets you be there for him.”

“I know.” I sat down on my couch and put my head in my hands. “Why can't things be easy?”

Jenn chuckled. “You know the old saying.
Nothing worth having is ever easy.
”

I stuck my tongue out at her. “Just because it's true does not mean I want to hear it.” The phone rang and I jumped up and grabbed it. A glance at the number told me it was Trent. I headed toward my bedroom. “Hello?”

“Allie, it's Trent.”

“Really? I thought maybe you were dead. What other reason would you have for not doing anything more than bark orders at me?”

“I don't bark orders.”

“I think I'll just agree to disagree on that point,” I said and closed my bedroom door. I climbed up on my bed and sat cross-legged. “More importantly, why have you shut me out? It hurts me to think you can't share the hard part of your life with me.”

“Allie.”

I could picture him running his hand through his hair like he does whenever he is finding me difficult. Let's face it: relationships were difficult. “Trent.”

“We were advised by our lawyers to not talk to anyone about what's going on,” he said.

“That's a sorry excuse. You could have called me to tell me how you were feeling. You could have called to see how I was feeling.”

“I've been a little overwhelmed.”

I was at once frustrated, sad, and oddly understanding. “I know you are a busy man.”

“Allie, stop. You are right. You are important to me and I should be sharing my day with you no matter what has happened. I'm sorry.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. Apologies were tricky. Was he saying it just to get me off his back or did he really mean it?

“Allie,” he spoke into the silence. “I really mean it. I don't blame you if you are mad at me and want to break up. I've been out of line not including you.”

“I don't want to break up. I need to know that you won't shut me out of your life.”

“I won't. I mean it, Allie. I know you won't endanger the investigation or put Paige at risk. It was stupid of me to allow my mother and the lawyers to pressure me into excluding you.”

“Yes, it was,” I said. “And I accept your apology. How's Paige doing?”

“She's taking this hard. It's difficult for her to believe anyone would think her capable of murder.”

“Can you tell me anything about the case they have against her?”

“What do you know?”

“I know bits and pieces,” I said. “Although someone seems to think I know enough to be a danger.”

“Why? What happened?” His voice turned stern.

“So, now you want to know what's going on with me.”

“Allie . . .”

“Fine. Someone left a baited bear trap open at my back door.”

“What?”

“A steel metal trap that grabs a bear's paw and doesn't let go.”

“I know what a bear trap is. I thought they were illegal.”

“They aren't sold on the island,” I said. “We think it was an old one out of someone's home.”

“Who is we?”

“Jenn and me. I called Rex and he came and took it away. He took me to the office and questioned me for hours. Then he wrote up a report and said he'd find whoever put the trap there. Trent, it could have killed Mal or Mella. It could have seriously hurt me or anyone who might have stepped out of my apartment without looking first.”

“That's outrageous.”

“I know. I agree.”

“When did it happen?”

“Late this afternoon. Rex seems to think it's linked to my questioning people about Carin and her death.”

“Allie,” Trent said grimly, “you have to let this investigation go. I can't lose both you and Paige.”

“I'm not going anywhere. I'm trying to help Paige. I want to help you, Trent. It's clear your sister is being framed. I want to know who would do that and why.”

“Listen, Allie. I know you love me. Paige knows you are a good friend, but you shouldn't risk your life or the lives of the ones you love to help us. We have a lot of resources, Allie. A lot of people are helping us.”

I frowned. “You shut me out. What else was I supposed to do? Not help? Go about my day as if I wasn't involved in this?
I
found Carin.
I
dragged her from the water. I feel some responsibility. Besides, I don't want to be the one who got your sister into this mess.”

“You aren't the one,” Trent said. “We know it. My entire family knows you aren't behind this frame up. Please, Allie, stop what you're doing. I need you to take care of yourself. Can you do that for me?”

“But I might know something that can help Paige.”

“I tell you what,” he said. “I'll send our investigator over to talk with you and get the details you know. That way you've helped, but you have to promise me you'll stop investigating. I need to know you're safe.”

“Fine,” I said, saddened. “I'll stop.”

“Thank you.” The relief was clear in his voice. “Other than that, how are you? I miss you. I miss our dinners together.”

“I'm fine.” I sighed. “Oh, Mr. Devaney asked Jenn and me to come up with a great way for him to propose to Frances. Isn't that sweet?”

“That is sweet,” Trent said. “Those two deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“I know.”

“Do you and Jenn have a plan?”

“We're getting there.” That reminded me. I needed to talk to Jenn about the ideas we'd come up with and what I'd learned about Frances. I said into the phone to Trent, “When will I see you again?”

“I'm sorry,” he said again. “Business is always crazy on yacht race weekend. Are you free for dinner tomorrow?”

“Sure. I'd love to see you.”

“I'll pick you up at eight. We can have a star-filled picnic.”

“Sounds nice,” I said with a smile. “Thanks for calling me.”

“Thanks for accepting my apology,” he said. “I know you want to know before our date what is going on with Paige. Can I stop by with the investigator around lunch?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Good. Good night, Allie. I love you.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words. “I love you, too. I'll see you tomorrow.” I hung up the phone and sat for a moment absorbing what just happened. Trent had said he loved me and I'd had the presence of mind to tell him I loved him, too. It was a big step. I was glad that he finally understood how hurtful it was to not include me in the investigation. Finally, things started to feel right again.

All I had to do was figure out who really killed Carin before Rex went any farther with Paige. Why did figuring out who killed Carin seem so impossible? Somehow, somewhere I had overlooked a clue.