Fudge-Laced Felonies (12 page)

“The band will start up after the fireworks. Do you want to stay? I’ve heard they’re pretty good.” Nate tilted a bottle of water and drained it without stopping for air.

He wiped his forearm across his mouth. “It’s hot.”

I unfolded my legs and bent them in front of me, crossed my arms, and rested my chin on them. “Sure. Why not?”

“Something wrong, Summer?”

I forced a smile to my face. “No. I’m just resting.”

“We don’t have to stay. Not if you’re too tired. I know you were on your feet all day.”

I wished he’d shut up. How could I tell this man beside me that my heart still yearned for someone else? Nate grabbed another water bottle from the nearby cooler and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The fireworks exploded over our heads with a glorious array of color as Nate leaned in to kiss me. Over his shoulder, I noticed Ethan watching us. Somehow feeling as if I were betraying him, I closed my eyes.

Nine

I jerked back, my face flaming as shrieks rose above the boom of the fireworks. Ruby and Mabel stood nose to nose trying to shout over the other.

“They’re mine!” Ruby’s thin frame shook.

“Well, I found them! That makes them mine.” Mabel folded her arms across her nonexistent bosom.

“You ain’t nothing but a thief, Mabel. Admit it.” Ruby stomped her foot.

“I’m not admitting any such thing, you old bird.”

“Why you—”

Joe rose from the faded quilt he shared with April and approached the two women. He spoke in quiet tones until they stepped apart and went their separate ways, glaring over their shoulders at each other.

I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d found that belonged to one and was claimed by the other. Nate’s stare alternated between the two elderly women as they stalked to opposite sides of the darkened field. He continued watching until they passed from sight.

He must have felt my gaze on him, because he turned and smiled. “Interesting pair.”

We remained silent as the fireworks built to their finale. Beneath the rainbow-colored fire in the sky, I pondered how I felt about Nate’s kiss.

Pleasant, but not quite the wave-crashing kiss I expected from a man I was attracted to. There wasn’t any passion. I licked my lips, tasting Nate’s soda, and shrugged.

Fireworks over, I gathered up the threadbare blanket and tucked it under my arm. I no longer had any desire to stay. Standing, I surveyed the drowsy business of families preparing to leave. Babies slept on dads’ shoulders. Toddlers whined, clutching at the shirts of mothers. My heart lurched as I spotted Joe bending to plant a tender kiss on April’s lips. Her eyes closed, and she leaned into him. I sighed.

“You okay?” Nate took the blanket from my arm. “Yes. Just tired.” And confused, sad, lonely—take your pick.

“Let’s get you home.” He placed an arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the parked cars. I glanced behind us. Ethan stood watching. I tossed a wave and smiled, my heart lightened as he returned it before walking away. He thrust his hands into his pockets and, with hunched shoulders, disappeared into the shadows.

Nate and I caught up with Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy. “I’ll ride home with them, Nate. No reason for you to make the trip out of town.”

“I don’t mind, Summer.” I couldn’t read his face in the dark, but his voice sounded hurt, rejected.

“I know.” I planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “I had a wonderful time.” I retook the blanket and squeezed into the front of Uncle Roy’s truck between him and my aunt. Through the rearview mirror, as we pulled away, I could make out Nate’s form standing in the parking lot.

Aunt Eunice placed a hand on my knee. “Why didn’t you let Nate bring you home, honey?”

I put my hand over hers. Why indeed? “Do you know of anything belonging to Ruby that Mabel may have claimed?”

A raised eyebrow told me she’d caught my ruse at changing the subject. “Can’t say as I do. Roy, what about you?”

“Nope. But those two old hens always got something to bicker about. They’re the best of friends, you know.” He slowed and honked the truck’s horn in greeting as we passed Duane on his nightly walk. The man whistled a tune I didn’t recognize; then the sound was gone. Lost in the wind as we passed by.

“How can you say that?” I studied my uncle’s profile. “All they do is fight.”

“And they love every minute of it.” Uncle Roy steered the truck into the drive. He turned to face me. “Mabel and Ruby have been friends since they were in school together. One wouldn’t know what to do without the other. They need the bickering as much as they need the air they breathe.”

“Hmm.”

“Sweetie?” Aunt Eunice squeezed my leg. “What’s up with you and that Nate fellow? You like the boy?”

I smiled at my aunt calling Nate a boy. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ve liked Ethan for so long I’m not sure I’m ready for someone to step in and take his place in my heart. But I’m tired of waiting around for Ethan to make a move.”

“God has someone for each of us. Don’t rush ahead without asking Him what His plan for your life is.” Aunt Eunice patted my knee. There she went again, telling me to wait for God’s plan. Why did I find that so difficult to do?

Uncle Roy frowned and leaned forward, peering through the front window of the truck. “What in God’s green earth?” He shoved the driver’s side door open and bolted outside. “Summer, you might want to see this.”

Rather than wait for Aunt Eunice to climb from the truck, I slid out Uncle Roy’s door. The truck headlights bathed my rose garden. Or what was left of it anyway.

Someone had dug up every bush and tossed it aside like yesterday’s leftovers. Tears wasted no time in welling and running down my cheeks. I dropped the blanket and ran to my slaughtered babies.

The garden resembled a forgotten graveyard. A cemetery for discarded dreams. I’d never have a rose worthy of competition now. Who would do such a thing? I turned to my aunt and uncle. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Aunt Eunice replied. They stepped beside me, placing their arms around me.

“I do. Someone is looking for something. Whoever left the diamonds left something else. We haven’t found what that is yet.” My voice trembled with my anger.

I knelt beside my battered Midnight Blue rosebush and grasped the stalk. Placing the bush back in the hole, I scooped and patted the soil around its base then moved on to the next one. Without a word, my aunt and uncle knelt and performed the same administrations with the other rosebushes. “Wait. We need to let Joe see this.”

Only time would tell whether the bushes would take root and survive the evening’s brutal attack. I rose and, placing hands on my hips, popped the kinks from my back. My babies were back in their beds, for what it was worth. My knees were stiff from the caked mud, and I was glad for the darkness to cover the stains.

Wanting to ask God why this happened came to me first. But I knew. Someone was afraid I was getting too close. If only I knew as much as this person thought I did. Maybe the time had come to read some more in the Dolt book. I sighed and entered the house behind my aunt and uncle.

The stairs loomed in front of me. With heavy steps, I dragged myself up them and into my room. I shrieked.

Pillows without their stuffing lay strewed. White batting gave the effect of lumpy snow. Someone had slashed the mattress and pulled out wads of stuffing. Scattered books covered the floor. Drawers hung open with bits of my underwear hanging from them. I clenched my fists at my sides.

Uncle Roy thundered up the stairs, trusty rifle in his hands. He stopped and gaped at the mess. “Whoa. Girl, you got somebody running scared.”

“You think?” Biting off the words, I set a hand on his shoulder before stepping inside the carnage. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” A sob caught in my throat. I wanted to break down and cry. I squared my shoulders, calling on God to give me strength. “Did you call Joe?”

Uncle Roy nodded. “Outside. He’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”

I sighed.

“While I’m at it, I’ll suggest he pack his bags and move in. He’s been here enough lately.” Uncle Roy took one more look around and left.

I took one step farther and whipped my gaze from one side to the other. “Where’s Truly?” This time the sob escaped me, and I fell to my knees. Crawling through the debris in my room, I continued to cry her name.

No answer.

I jumped to my feet and bolted from the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. “Truly!”

Swiping a hand across my streaming eyes, I cleared my vision and stumbled down the porch steps, banging my shin on a flowerpot. Pain radiated up my leg, and I clutched the hurt spot. That would definitely leave a mark. “Truly!”

Aunt Eunice joined me on the front lawn.

“I can’t find Truly. When she didn’t meet us when we got home, I figured she was sleeping in my room. She isn’t there.” I clutched my aunt’s shoulders. “If something happened to her—”

“Settle down.” Aunt Eunice removed my hands and turned a slow circle. “Let’s try the shed. She could be locked in there.”

“But why isn’t she barking?” I feared the answer and sprinted for the shed.

Whimpers came through the dark yawning door of the shed. Faint, barely discernible, but there. “Truly.” I reached for the chain to switch on the light. Nothing.

Stumbling, running into unseen obstacles, I searched with my hands held in front of me. The whines came from my right, and I turned. There. My hands encountered her squirming body, and using my fingers, I pulled the muzzle from her mouth and started to work on the bindings around her legs.

Truly whimpered louder. Her squirms made it difficult for my fingers to untie the knots. I scooped her into my arms. “I found her.”

“Is she all right?”

I nodded. “I think so. I can’t get the ties off. She’s squirming too much.”

Once in the house, I laid the yelping dog on the kitchen table, against my aunt’s protests that it wasn’t a place for animals. I held my hand out, palm up. “Scissors, please.”

The zip ties snipped quickly. As I worked, Truly whined. My heart ached with each whimper.

Once I had the dog free, Truly leaped for my face, covering me with kisses. I giggled and pushed her down. “What’s this?” I lowered my head for a closer look.

A slip of paper stuck out from under Truly’s collar. I pulled the paper free and read: I want the rest of my money. I’ll be in contact. Cooperate, and no one gets hurt.

The blood drained from my face. “But I don’t have any money.” I handed the paper to Aunt Eunice. “I told you someone thinks there’s something else here.”

My aunt’s eyes widened as she read. “What do we do if we can’t find it? If this person,” she waved the paper, “can’t find something they hid themselves, how are we supposed to find it?”

I placed the dog on the floor. “I’d like to know how this person knows what we gave the police.”

“Joe will be here in a few minutes.” Uncle Roy walked into the room and bent to pet the jumping dog. “What are y’all doing?”

“First we needed to find the dog. Then we found a note tied around her collar demanding money.” Aunt Eunice folded her arms across her chest. “Where have you been?”

“The dog was missing?” Uncle Roy straightened. “I was checking the other rooms of the house. We must have surprised the intruder, ’cause Summer’s room is the only one destroyed. What money?”

I handed him the note. “Where have we not looked?

Is it possible someone else knew the money was here and took it?”

“It’s possible. They at least knew the diamonds were beneath a rosebush.”

Gravel crunched in the driveway out front, and Uncle Roy moved to open the door. By the time Aunt Eunice and I had sat at the table, Joe entered the room, followed by Uncle Roy and another officer.

“More excitement, Summer? I’m supposed to be watching a movie at April’s. Can’t you let me have one night without you getting into trouble?” Joe stood with legs apart. The other officer carried a pad of paper. “Officer White will take notes.”

I leaned my elbow on the table and rested my weary head in the palm of my hand. “Someone broke into our house, tied up the dog in the shed with a note around her collar, and trashed my room. How’s that for excitement?”

“A note?”

I handed him the slip of paper.

“You touched it? Please tell me you didn’t.”

“How else would I read the note?”

Joe’s mouth set in a firm line. A muscle ticked in his jaw. His face remained impassive as he read it. “This sounds serious, Summer. You’ve managed to make an enemy.”

“Who has an enemy?” Ethan stepped into the room, and I straightened in my chair. He came. Because he’d heard we had more trouble? Dare I hope?

I used my hand, attempting to smooth my hair. I glanced at my clothes. Horror. I hadn’t had time to change and still wore dirt-covered shorts and a T-shirt. Why can’t I ever look nice around Ethan?

“You might as well read it, too. Everyone else has touched and read it.” Joe handed the note to Ethan.

A muscle clenched in Ethan’s jaw as he clamped his lips together. His look hardened. “This is getting serious. Any idea who this could be?”

Joe shook his head. “I considered Nate, being as he’s the newcomer and all, but he was at the picnic the whole time. I can attest to the fact. Can you think of anyone who wasn’t there? I’m thinking our diamond culprit has an accomplice.”

“Most of the church was there. Maybe a few more.” Aunt Eunice popped up from her seat. “I’ll make coffee. Looks like this is going to be a long night. Joe, can you take a look at Summer’s room while the coffee’s brewing?”

“Someone was in your room?” Ethan turned his gaze on me.

“Tore. It. Up.” Uncle Roy lowered his bulk into the chair my aunt had vacated. “Pillows, mattress, everything. Gone. Worthless. De—”

“They get it, Uncle Roy.” Boy, how that man could go on. “Someone thinks I’ve got something that belongs to them. They’ll figure out I don’t, and that’ll be the end of that.”

“Don’t be flippant about this, Summer. This is getting dangerous.” Ethan slapped a hand on the table. “Just like I said it would.”