Murder by Mushroom (21 page)

His lungs emptied as he watched the killer advance toward Jackie.

“You admit you killed Mrs. Farmer?”

Her eyes still locked on Laura’s, Jackie spoke as loudly as she dared. Was Conner’s window down? Was Dennis listening?

“She was a meddling old woman. She would have gotten Richard sent to prison.”

“You mean because she caught him stealing from the bank?”

Laura took another step. “The bank never missed the money. It’s not like he stole from a person or anything.”

The glass in Jackie’s hand quivered like a hula doll. “Stealing is wrong no matter who it comes from.”

Laura’s laugh came out in a short blast. “You don’t understand. Mrs. Farmer didn’t understand, either. I tried to talk to her, tried to explain that we give a lot to charity. We’ve built houses for poor people in Appalachia, people who would live in horrible poverty if not for Richard. I gave her a chance before I put those mushrooms in her food, but she refused to listen to me.”

“And Samantha? You tried to kill an innocent teenager to cover up your crime.”

Laura shrugged. “Samantha’s no dummy. She would have figured it out sooner or later.”

“And what about me?” Jackie’s throat convulsed as she forced the question out. “Were you trying to frame me?”

“Oh, Jackie, don’t be so dramatic. Your casserole happened to be on the top shelf of Mrs. Farmer’s refrigerator. And I really didn’t plan to use your car at all. I parked outside the Carlsons’ house late Friday night, just looking at the place and trying to figure out what to do about Samantha. That’s when I saw her sneak out through a window.” She shook her head. “Teenagers. She gave me the perfect opportunity, but of course I couldn’t do it with my own car. I knew she’d have to come home eventually, and that’s when I remembered where you hid your spare key. So it really was just convenient timing. Nothing personal.”

“Nothing personal?” Anger flared, and Jackie felt a drop of sweat trickle between her shoulder blades.

“I just couldn’t let anyone discover Richard’s secret. If anything happens to him, I’ll be left with nothing.” Laura looked down at her feet. When she raised her face, her eyes were hard. “I grew up in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, number eight of twelve children. Do you know what it’s like to never have enough? To wear clothes worn by four older sisters before you got them? To live in a rundown shack you’re embarrassed of?”

Laura paused to draw a shuddering breath. “I can’t go back there, Jackie. I won’t. Richard took me away from that, and I’ll never go back.”

Her right hand moved slowly toward her left side, where her purse dangled from her shoulder.

What was she doing? Jackie’s heart threatened to pound through her chest. Did Laura have a gun in her purse?

“She’s going for a weapon!”

Jackie was in danger! Dennis reacted blindly. Pulse racing, he jerked upright in the seat and threw open the door. As he tumbled out of the car, he unsnapped his holster and drew the weapon in one smooth motion. When his feet hit the pavement, he dashed around the rear of the sedan, elbows locked, both hands clutching the grips straight in front of him.

Dimly aware of Conner close on his heels, he ran toward the two women, shouting.

“Police! Move an inch and you’re dead!”

Relief wilted Jackie’s muscles as Dennis dashed forward and thrust himself between her and Laura. She stared at his uniformed back, her heart pounding in her ears. He had come to her rescue. Dennis put himself between her and a murderer to protect her.

Stunned, Laura’s hand froze halfway out of her purse holding…

A tissue.

“Both hands up, ma’am,” said Detective Conner. His level tone restored a sense of calm to the situation. “I’ll take the purse.”

Laura calmly blotted a bead of sweat from her forehead before complying. As he lifted the purse strap over her raised arm, a sneer twisted her stylishly lipsticked mouth. “I guess the gossips at church will have plenty to talk about now.”

Jackie’s knees wobbled as Conner took the handcuffs from Dennis’s belt and cuffed Laura’s hands behind her back. Only when she had been secured did Dennis lower his gun and whirl to look at Jackie.

“Are you okay?”

Jackie looked up into his eyes and felt a fluttering tickle in her stomach. A smile tugged at her mouth. The emotion she saw in those gray depths told her that, yes, she was definitely going to be okay.

Before Conner led the handcuffed Laura toward his car, he peered first into Jackie’s face and then into Dennis’s. A knowing grin stole across his lips.

“I told you she was trouble, Walsh. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

C
lutching the back of the pew in front of her, Jackie kept her eyes squeezed shut as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Pastor Palmer’s sermon had been as good as ever, but once again she couldn’t seem to concentrate. She forced herself not to fidget as his prayer droned on and on. For goodness’ sake, she would have to ask Margaret to speak to him about this habit of recapping the entire sermon during the closing prayer. Would he never say
Amen?

Three pews ahead, she heard a loud sigh and a quickly repressed giggle. As though the noise reminded their devout pastor that an entire congregation was eager to get home to their Sunday dinners, he intoned the words she longed to hear.

“In the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.” She bit back a sigh of her own as his smile swept the congregation. “We are so happy to have Samantha Carlson back with us this morning. I know you’ll all want to speak with her before you leave.”

Jackie turned and looked across the aisle to the place, two rows back, where Samantha stood propped on crutches. The swelling in her face was nearly gone, though the yellowish remnants of that nasty bruise still stained her youthful skin and her hair had not yet grown enough to cover the terrible scar on her scalp. Standing on one side of her was a dark-haired teenager, presumably a friend from school. And on the other side, Samantha’s parents stood with clasped hands. Jackie caught Sharon’s eye and they exchanged a grin.

At the front of the sanctuary, Pastor Palmer raised his hand, palm toward the congregation as he delivered the morning’s benediction. The center aisle filled immediately. Thank goodness they sat near the rear of the church, so they could get out quickly. She’d skipped breakfast, and she was starving.

As she pushed her way into the press of worshippers to carve an exit path toward the back door, she heard a shout carry over the noise of the crowd.

“Jackie! Jackie Hoffner, hold up a minute!”

With a grin, she stepped into the narthex to wait for Margaret. Of course her nosy friend would want to speak with her before she left. Especially today. Jackie had brought something much better than a casserole to church. She glanced up at the handsome man standing beside her, her stomach giving a giddy flip-flop when he smiled down at her. If only Aunt Betty had lived to see this day!

Moments later, when Margaret finally managed to dart through the horde, she rushed up to them as though afraid they might have left without speaking to her. Not a chance of that happening. Empty stomach or not, Jackie would stand here all morning to let everyone get a gander at the man on her arm.

“Trooper Walsh,” Margaret gushed, “we’re so glad to have you with us today.”

Jackie rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Margaret was staring at Dennis with such a wide grin it was embarrassing. As though she was personally responsible for his presence here today.

“Thank you, Mrs. Palmer. Please call me Dennis. I’ve meant to visit before, but this is the first Sunday I’ve had off in weeks.”

“I’m sure you’ve been busy wrapping up all the loose ends of the murder case.”

“And other cases besides.” Jackie beamed with pride. “Detective Conner was so impressed with his handling of the murder investigation, he requested Dennis as his permanent partner.”

Dennis laughed. “I don’t know how impressed he was. He said he’d rather have me close by, so he can keep an eye on me.”

“Congratulations!” Margaret grew serious. “I saw in the paper that charges have been filed against Richard for embezzlement. Have you worked on that, as well?”

“Yes, ma’am. Turns out Mr. Watson and a partner in the bank’s loan audit department have been stealing money in increasing amounts for several years and hiding them as bad loans. Since Mrs. Farmer was a stockholder, she noticed the increase in the amount of bad debt on the bank’s annual report.”

A questioning look marred Margaret’s forehead. “Wouldn’t someone else have noticed it, too?”

“Oh, they did,” Jackie said. “Dennis found out that a federal investigation has been quietly underway for months now.”

Dennis nodded. “We’ve been working with the feds to piece everything together.”

Margaret shook her head. “Poor Laura. She committed murder to protect someone who would have been caught anyway.”

“Poor Laura? How can you say that? She’s a vicious killer.” Jackie shook her head. “I just don’t understand how a Christian could commit such a terrible crime.”

Margaret laid a warm hand on Jackie’s arm. “She’s a member of the church. Unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a Christian, Jackie. Being a Christian is all about having a relationship with a personal Savior, not a membership card.”

“That’s right,” Dennis agreed. “We need to pray for her. Maybe the Lord will be able to use this to bring her to her knees and draw her to Him.”

Jackie looked up at Dennis, her heart full. Was she blessed to have such a guy, or what?

Clearly impressed, Margaret eyed the young man with delight. At that moment, a pair of young women came through the sanctuary door. One spoke to Jackie as they headed toward the exit.

“See you tomorrow night?”

Jackie nodded. “You bet. Seven o’clock. I’ll bring the Dr Pepper.” Jackie answered the question in Margaret’s face as the girls disappeared through the exit. “Some of us are going over to her place to see who gets voted off this week.”

“I didn’t know you watched that show.”

Jackie shrugged a shoulder. She still thought reality shows were stupid, but when she’d been invited to join them last week, she’d jumped at the chance. And actually, she could sort of see what the craze was about. Besides, it gave her something to talk about in the break room on Tuesdays.

“So what are you two young people up to this afternoon?” Margaret gestured toward the sunlight streaming through the glass doors. “It’s a beautiful day out there.”

Jackie smiled shyly at Dennis. “Dennis is taking me home to meet his parents.”

His arm stole around her waist as he looked down at her. “They’re going to love her.”

Her face warm, Jackie returned his grin. Was that really love she saw shining in those gray eyes?
Thank You, Lord!

“But first,” Dennis said, “I’m taking her to my favorite pizza restaurant for lunch. You and Pastor Palmer are welcome to join us, if you’re free.”

“But only if you like my kind of pizza,” Jackie added. “I’m quite particular, you know.”

“Oh, really?” Margaret asked. “What toppings do you like on your pizza, Jackie?”

She turned a mischievous grin on her friend. “Mushrooms, of course!”