A Fatal Slip (24 page)

The foot traffic was thinning out, and I was almost ready to make my move. I had to stall him for a few more minutes, then I’d be ready to take my shot at wrecking the car. I had my seat belt on, but from the way Nate was kneeling against the back of my seat, I knew he wasn’t belted in. If I could throw him through the windshield, I might be able to get away, and if he died in the process, I would try not to lose any sleep over it.

“I didn’t know your wife, but I heard she had a good heart. Would she have wanted you to commit murder, for any reason?”

“Don’t talk about Winnie,” he said, drawing fresh blood. “You’re not worthy.”

“Sorry,” I said.

It was time. I glanced in my rearview mirror, and though nobody was following us, I said, “There’s the sheriff. He’s right behind us. What do you want me to do?”

Nate looked over his shoulder, and the pressure eased off my neck for just a moment. Against every instinct I had, I jerked the car into a telephone pole and hit it square on.

The air bag deployed in my face, and I felt a thud behind me. As the bag collapsed, I reached for my seat belt and stumbled out of the Intrigue, straight into Butch’s arms.

“Are you all right?” he asked me. “You’re bleeding. You must have cut yourself.”

“He did that,” I said as I tried to look into the back of the car. There was blood on the backseat window, and I realized that I’d probably killed Nate in the collision.

Butch yanked the door open, and the coffee shop owner tumbled out onto the ground.

“Is he dead?” I asked.

Butch checked for a pulse, but judging by the blood on Nate’s face, I didn’t expect he would find one.

Butch grinned at me instead. “His heartbeat is strong. Nate’s going to have a whale of a headache when he comes to, but my guess is that he’s going to be fine.”

I couldn’t believe it. “But what about all that blood?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say that you broke his nose, and maybe another bone or two, but he’ll survive.”

There was a faint siren in the background. “Did you call the sheriff?”

Butch grinned. “He wasn’t happy about it, but I finally got him on board.”

“How did you know where to find me?” My head was spinning, and I wanted to lean against something, so I backed up against the car. Bill had ordered that Intrigue for me special, and now I’d wrecked it. Even if it could be repaired, I didn’t ever want to drive it again. I’d never be able to sit in the driver’s seat without remembering the bite of that knife on my neck.

“I was looking for you at Fire at Will and I saw you drive by. Nate was crouched down, but I could see that someone was behind you. I nearly broke my arm getting into my car. I was about to ram you myself when you wrecked. That was a nice bit of driving, by the way.”

“I don’t know about that. I was just happy to have a seat belt and an air bag.”

Butch nudged Nate with a toe, and he groaned slightly. “I’m just as glad he didn’t.”

Hodges pulled up, and Butch and I quickly brought him up-to-date. There was no scolding in the man’s voice as he said, “An ambulance is right behind me.”

“Butch said he isn’t hurt too much,” I said, looking down at Nate.

“It’s for you. Did you even realize you were bleeding?”

I put my hand to my neck and saw quite a bit more blood than I’d expected. For some odd reason, the sight of it made me woozy. “I’m all right.”

Butch shook his head. “We’ve got an iron woman on our hands.”

The ambulance arrived, and the techs started for Nate.

The sheriff said, “He can wait. See to her first.”

One of them obliged, while the other started ministering to Nate. I was led to the back of the ambulance, and in a minute the wounds were cleaned and bandages applied. “Thanks,” I said.

“You still need to go to the ER,” the EMT said, “but that should hold you for now.”

Sandy drove up, with Bill in the passenger seat. As soon as he got out of the car, I collapsed into his arms, but all I could say was, “I wrecked that beautiful car you gave me.”

Bill stroked my hair gently. “That doesn’t matter. We can have it fixed good as new.”

“I don’t want it. Not now. Not ever.”

“Fine. Whatever you say. I’m just happy you’re all right.”

“Me, too.”

I looked over and saw that they were loading Nate onto a stretcher. He was coming around, but he wasn’t making that much sense. “Is it worse than we thought?” I asked.

Hodges said, “No, but they like to take precautions. Do you want to ride to the hospital with us?” he said as he pointed to the ambulance.

“We’ll see that she gets there,” Butch said.

The sheriff didn’t challenge it, and we followed the ambulance in Butch’s car, with Sandy right behind us.

Bill asked softly, “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I tried, but you must have been working in your shop.”

“I’ll never forgive myself that I wasn’t there for you,” Bill said.

Butch shook his head. “There wasn’t anything anybody could do. Carolyn handled it.”

“By destroying my beautiful car,” I said. My neck was getting sore, whether from the knife pricks or the impact of the wreck, I couldn’t say.

“Enough about the Intrigue. It’s metal and plastic, and it can be replaced in a heartbeat. I can’t believe Nate tried to kill you.”

“I don’t think he’s in his right mind,” I said. “Killing Charlie pushed him over the edge, and I don’t know how he held it together as long as he did. I owe a few folks around town an apology,” I added.

“They’ll understand, once they hear what really happened. By the way, what really happened?”

I grinned in spite of my pain. “It’s a long story, and it looks like we’re here.”

Butch pulled into the ER entrance, and a husky young male nurse was waiting for me with a wheelchair.

“I can walk,” I said.

“Ma’am, please take a seat. I have my orders.”

There must have been some fire left in my eyes, because Butch said, “I’d rethink that if I were you.”

He started to say something when Bill chimed in. “Just sit in the chair, Carolyn. Don’t be such a stubborn mule about it.”

I thought about chiding my husband, but I just didn’t feel up to it. I plopped down in the chair, then turned to the nurse and said, “I’m Carolyn, and if I hear one more ‘ma’am’ out of you, you’re going to be the one who needs a ride.”

Bill laughed, then said, “She’s going to be fine.”

Butch added, “There was never any doubt in my mind.”

 

I didn’t need stitches, a good thing, since I’d hated needles since childhood. But my joy was cut short when I found out I had to get a tetanus booster shot because of the knife wounds.

As we were leaving, Sheriff Hodges approached. “Do you have a second?”

“There’s no need to apologize, Sheriff,” I said.

He looked startled by my comment. “Apologize? You nearly got yourself killed meddling in police business, and you actually thought I came over to say I’m sorry?”

I touched his shoulder lightly. “There’s no need to gush. You’re forgiven, and you’re most welcome, too.”

“For what?” I honestly thought his head was about to explode.

“For solving two crimes in a single day. Charlie Cobb ran down Winnie Walker, and Nate killed Charlie for it fifteen years later. Now if you’ll excuse me, the pain pills they gave me are kicking in, and I’ve got to go home so I can get some rest.”

I left him standing in the hallway of the emergency room, his mouth wide open.

That sight was almost worth the pain of getting stabbed and the price of wrecking my car.

Chapter 14

Two weeks later, Fire at Will was having a private party, and I was surprised to find that I was the guest of honor. The entire Firing Squad was there, along with Hannah and her son, though David was an honorary member now. Bill was lumbering around in the background, trying not to hover, and failing miserably at it, while my two sons had made a special trip home to celebrate with us.

I picked up one of the frogs in the display window and said to David, “I love these little guys, and I was right. They’re selling really well.”

“You should see the next line I have in mind,” he said, his eyes positively alight. “I’m thinking about doing mythological creatures. Wouldn’t you just love to see a dragon?”

“As long as it’s in miniature,” I said with a laugh. My neck was mostly healed, but I’d have a small scar there for the rest of my life. It was a small enough price to pay for what I’d been through.

Hannah touched my shoulder. “How are you doing, Carolyn?”

“The nightmares are easing up, so that’s something.” I’d had a recurring dream in which Nate was holding a knife to my neck as I shopped for groceries, stood in line at the post office, and even weeded my garden. It was as though his image had been burned into every memory I had. The one good thing was that none of the dreams had taken place at the pottery shop, and for that I was forever thankful.

“That’s good to hear.” She nodded as she gestured toward my husband. “Bill’s keeping pretty close tabs on you.”

“I know, and as sweet as it is, it’s driving me crazy. He hasn’t built a single piece of furniture in two weeks.” I smiled as I added, “He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m sending him back to his shop tomorrow. Enough is enough.”

David asked, “Any word on Nate?”

“David,” Hannah said sharply.

“It’s all right. The sheriff told me that he’s cooperating fully, and that he’s not going to put up a fight. Evidently he can live with what he’s done, though I don’t see how that’s possible.”

“So, what happens to the coffee shop?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it. Why, do you want to buy it?”

“Me?” she asked as she laughed. “I don’t think so.”

I smiled. “Come on, I’ll be your silent partner.”

Hannah smiled. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. You’ve never been silent in your life.”

“There’s always that,” I said just as I noticed someone hovering outside the shop.

Hannah noticed my gaze. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s Rose,” I said as I started for the door.

Bill found my hand before I could reach it. He snapped, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m letting Rose in,” I said. “At least I am if you’ll move that hairy mitt of yours.”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “You stay right here. I’ll go get her.”

“Bill Emerson, you’re driving me crazy with this hovering. I love you with all my heart, but give me some space to breathe.”

“Sorry. I was just trying to look out for you,” he said.

I’d clearly hurt his feelings, so I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “That’s all right. I know you mean well. I forgive you.”

Rose neared the door, and Bill—to his eternal credit—got out of my way so I could open it.

She stood outside and said, “I don’t want to interrupt your party, but I just wanted to come by to tell you I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Come on in and join us,” I said.

“No, I don’t want to interrupt. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Does that mean you’re back?” I asked. The last time I’d seen her, she’d threatened to leave forever.

Rose shrugged. “What can I say? This is home, for better or for worse.”

I hugged her. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

After she was gone, I turned to look as if my family and friends. My sons were studying the kilns like they were part of a science project. Butch and Jenna were in deep conversation, while Sandy and Martha were studying the small animals David had been making. I had a feeling that we’d be having a Firing Squad meeting to make them soon, and I couldn’t wait.

I’d gone through a lot to make Fire at Will my own, and there was no place in the world that I’d rather be, among everyone I cared about.

Clay-Crafting Tips

Using Slip to Make Sculpted Animals

Slip is nothing more than a combination of water and the clay you’re using, and I like to use it when I’m making little sculpted animals as David does in the book. Polymer sculpting clay is well suited for this project. You don’t need a potter’s kiln for this material; you can bake it in a toaster oven or a regular oven. The sculpting clay is readily available at craft stores, comes in lots of colors, and when baked, becomes extremely hard.

To make the frog that David makes, take enough green polymer clay—the Sculpey brand, for example—and knead it into a ball a little bigger than a quarter in diameter. Once you’ve got a ball, it’s time to add details. To make the eyes, use white clay to form two smaller balls the size of the pad of your little finger, then score the backs of each ball with crisscrossing lines that barely scrape the surfaces. Score the body as well in the location where you’re going to mount the eyes, then take a dab of water on your fingertip and rub the clay until there’s a wet sheen on the scored areas. Believe it or not, you’ve just made your own slip. Press the eyes firmly onto the body, then form up the green clay behind them until the backs of the white balls are covered and molded to the body. Using black clay, make small balls to act as the pupils, then flatten them and attach them by scoring and creating slip with water on both surfaces. There should be areas of the white exposed, with a good covering of black.