Deep Fried Homicide (The Donut Shop Mysteries) (20 page)

“I’ll have everyone in place in under an hour,” Chief Martin said a little unhappily.  “I’ve got to say again for the record, the one thing I don’t like about the plan is that I’m not going to be involved in it.”

“That’s not true at all,” Terry said.  “You and a few of your best men are going to be standing by waiting for our call.  We could need you as reinforcements after we’ve sprung the trap, but you’ve got to remember that if there are too many people at the house, Rusk is never going to believe our setup.  We have to sell this the first time, because we’re only getting one shot at it.”

“I can see your point, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be particularly happy about it,” the chief said reluctantly.  After a moment, he sighed softly, and then he added, “Well, if that’s the way that it’s going to be, then I’d better get started on my end.” 

As he got up to leave, I stopped him.  “Thanks for doing this, Chief.”

“I know that it’s important,” he said.  “Don’t mind me.  I’m just getting grumpy in my old age.  Suzanne, be careful, okay?”

“I promise.”

“I know that your mother will appreciate that, and so do I.”

“She’s nervous about this, isn’t she?” I asked.  I’d briefed her about our plans over the phone earlier, and after some discussion back and forth, she’d finally seen that Jake and I really didn’t have any choice.  That didn’t mean that she had to like the idea of setting a trap any more than Chief Martin did, though.

“She understands why it’s important to do this right now, but of course she’s going to worry until this is all over.”  The chief paused, patted my shoulder gently, and then he added, “I’ll go fetch your Jeep and park it right out in front of the shop.  The keys will be on the left front tire.”

“Aren’t you worried that someone might steal it?” I asked him with a smile.

“I’ve seen your Jeep.  I’m not that worried,” he answered with a small grin of his own.

After the police chief was gone, Terry shook Jake’s hand.  “Give me half an hour before you go back to the cottage, okay?  I need a little time to get things set up on my end.”

“We can do that,” Jake said.

“Good luck.”

“Right back at you.”

After Terry left, it was down to just my boyfriend and me.  “Jake, is this really going to work?” I asked him softly.

“I hope so.  After all, it’s our best shot at catching him anytime soon.”

“He’s a pretty crafty guy though, isn’t he?  What happens if Rusk sees this for what it is, just a ploy to expose him?”

“Suzanne, I won’t lie to you; he’s clever.  I didn’t even realize the man existed until after I was shot.  I’m not exactly sure what all he’s capable of doing.”

“But we’ve planned for every contingency as far as you can see,” I said.

“Are you getting cold feet about all of this?” he asked me, the concern clear on his face.  “You know, it’s not too late to back out of this.”

“No, the logic of it is all sound.  We need to catch him while we can, no matter what the risk is.”

Jake touched my shoulder lightly.  “Don’t worry.  I’ll be with you the entire time.  Everything is going to work out just fine.”

“Of course it will,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure that I believed it.

The next thirty minutes felt like a lifetime as we waited for the allotted half hour to pass, but it was finally time to head back to the cottage.  “Are you ready?” Jake asked me.

“As I’ll ever be.  How about you?”

“Are you kidding?  I can’t wait to get started,” he said with a grin.

“You really mean that, don’t you?”

“Suzanne, I
hate
just sitting around waiting for something to happen.  The only way that we have any chance of controlling the situation is by being proactive, and not reactive.”

“Is that cop talk for doing something instead of waiting around for something to be done to you?” I asked him with a slight smile as we exited the donut shop and walked to my Jeep.

“It’s just common sense,” he said.  In a lower voice, he added, “Help me in.  Remember, we need to sell this.  If Rusk is watching, he needs to believe that I’m completely helpless.”

“I’ve got it.  I’ll play my part convincingly,” I said as I took his good arm and practically shoved him onto the passenger seat.

Once we were both buckled in, I drove us back to the cottage.  It took less than a minute to get there, but I fought the urge to look around the entire time we were on the road.  I had an eerie feeling that we were being watched, and not just by the good guys. 

As I parked in front of my place, Jake took my hand and squeezed it gently.  “Remember, make it a good show.”

“I’m going to be so good that I’ll probably win an Oscar,” I said, trying to summon a smile I didn’t feel.

“Wait right there for me,” I said loudly as I walked around to Jake’s side of the Jeep.  “You need to be careful getting out.”

“Suzanne, I’m so exhausted I don’t think I can make it up those steps,” he said loudly.  I thought he was overdoing it, and I softly said so when I reached him.  “Tone it down a little, Jake.”

“Sorry,” he whispered as I helped him out.  Jake stumbled a little, but I caught him before he fell.  As I steadied him, I wasn’t sure if he’d been acting, or if he really had lost his balance for a moment.

George had to have been listening to our exchange from his position on the porch.  He hadn’t been clued in about this part of our plan, since we wanted his behavior to seem normal to Rusk if he was watching our little play.  “Do you two need any help?”

We hadn’t thought about enlisting anyone else at this stage, but it was brilliant as I considered it.  “That would be great.  I’m afraid that Jake’s not doing too well tonight.”

George hurried down the steps, with Officer Grant close on his heels.  “Take it easy,” the mayor said as he helped steady Jake.  Once he was ready to walk again, Officer Grant flanked him, and the two men helped Jake up the steps and inside the cottage. 

“Take it easy, my friend.  We’re almost there,” George said with encouragement as Jake stumbled a little again going inside.

Once the four of us had the door shut behind us, Jake straightened back up and smiled at the mayor and Officer Grant.  “Thanks, guys.  You were both great.”

“Wow, you got better in a hurry,” Officer Grant said with a smile. “What was that all about?”

“We need to talk about that,” Jake said.  “We’ve come up with a plan to smoke Rusk out of the woods tonight.  Would you two care to help?”

“You betcha,” George said enthusiastically.  I knew that he loved being mayor, but his time as a cop had been one of the highlights of his life, and he clearly missed it.  “What can we do?”

He wasn’t all that pleased when Jake explained his role, though.  After he finished telling them the plan, Jake asked, “Do you understand what it is we want you to do?”

“Sure,” George said reluctantly, “but we can do more than that.”

“After Phase One is over, you need to be ready to step in if you’re needed, just in case.  That goes for both of you.”

“Understood,” Officer Grant said, and then he touched George’s arm lightly.  “Come on, Mr. Mayor.  Let’s see how well we can sell this.”

“Just watch me,” George said with a smile.  “If this is my part, I’m going to make the most of it.”

“Just don’t overdo it,” I said.

“No worries there,” George answered.  “Come on, Stephen, let’s go back outside before anyone gets suspicious about how long we’re staying in here.”

The two men left, and Jake looked at his watch.  “It shouldn’t be long, now.”

“Would you like a pill for the pain before we get started?” I asked him.

“No, I’d rather be a little uncomfortable and still have a clear head if it’s all the same to you,” Jake said, and I didn’t blame him a bit.  I had never been all that fond of taking medication myself. 

Twelve minutes later, as if on cue, we heard the first siren. 

It clearly wasn’t a police car, though.

Something nearby was obviously on fire.

At least that’s what we wanted Rusk to believe as our plan went into motion.

Chapter 21

The next thing I knew, there was a heavy pounding on the front door. 

When I opened it, George said loudly, “There’s a fire on the other side of town!  We hate to abandon you like this, but Officer Grant and I need to go right now!”  He was speaking a little too loud for my taste.  Would Rusk believe it?  This part was crucial to our plan.

“Go!  Don’t worry about us.  We’ll be fine.”

“Thanks,” George said as he winked at me.  Turning to Officer Grant, he said, “Let’s go.  We’re out of here!”

They both got into the patrol car parked in the driveway and sped off into the night, lights flashing and siren wailing.  All that was left out in front of the cottage was my Jeep.  I took a few steps out onto the porch and looked around.  The funny thing was that I didn’t even have to pretend to be frightened.  I was shaking in my shoes, worrying about what might happen next.

If Rusk
was
watching, that should have been all of the invitation that he needed.

Now all we had to do was wait to see if our trap actually worked.

Chapter 22

“Did I lock the bedroom window upstairs?” I asked Jake.  “I opened it this morning to let in some fresh air, and now I swear I can’t remember if I locked it back.”

“Take it easy.  I’m sure that you’ve just got a case of the nerves.  You checked it, and I’m sure that Terry made sure that it was locked, too.”

“I know that you’re probably right, but I have to go upstairs and see for myself,” I said, feeling a compulsion to make sure that the cottage was as secure as we could make it.  “It will just take a second.”

“Suzanne, we really need to stay together.”

“I understand that, Jake, but I
have
to do this.”  While a part of me knew that I was acting irrationally, I couldn’t seem to help myself.

“Go then, but be quick about it, okay?” Jake asked.

“I will,” I said, and before I headed upstairs, I kissed Jake quickly.  “I’ll be back in two shakes.”

I hurried up the steps, and as I got to the top, I was already regretting my decision to leave his side.  Jake had been right.  I knew that window was locked, but I had to make doubly sure.

The odd thing was, my bedroom door was closed when I got to the second floor landing.

I
never
closed it unless I was sleeping or napping.  Terry must have done it when he’d come back to the cottage half an hour before Jake and I had returned.  I didn’t know where the state police inspector was hiding, that was part of the plan, but just knowing that he was somewhere in the house made me feel safer.

When I opened the bedroom door, though, all of that went away.

“You must be Suzanne.  I’m pleased to finally meet you in person.  Do me a favor and get in here, would you?  You should know that if you make the slightest sound, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your very short life.”

I’d seen the flyer with his sketch earlier, so I immediately recognized the man the second I saw him.  Rusk was holding a bloodstained knife delicately in his hand as he stood near the doorway into my room.

Looking past him, I saw State Police Inspector Terry Hanlan trussed up and lying on my bed.

Terry had clearly been bleeding, and his eyes were closed when I looked at him.  I couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive, but there was nothing that I could do for him at the moment.

I instantly knew what I had to do. 

I had to warn Jake, no matter what the consequences might be.  Nothing that this lunatic could threaten me with would be worse than what would happen to the love of my life if Rusk had his way.

“Jake!  He’s up here!” I shouted as I tried to slam the door in the killer’s face.  Rusk was too quick for me, though.  He made a grab for my arm with his free arm, and I couldn’t get away.

“I told you to shut up,” he hissed.

“Terry is hurt!” I shouted in response.

I saw the knife go up in the air, and I had the worst feeling in that split second than I’d ever had in my life.  I knew that I was about to die, and there was nothing that I could do about it.  As the stained blade moved closer and closer to my chest, I struggled to move, to fight back, to at least make this man suffer for what he was about to do to me. 

All thoughts of running away were now gone.

If I was about to die, I was going to go down fighting.

As the knife neared my chest, I let my legs go out from under me, straining Rusk’s grip on me.  He tried to adjust the trajectory of the knife, but he wasn’t quick enough.