Assault and Batter (19 page)

“You can never make too much lasagna,” Grace said with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’m glad you feel that way, because I’m sending some home with you tonight.”

“You don’t have to twist my arm,” Grace said.

“There’ll still be enough for us to have leftovers though, right?” I asked.

Momma patted my shoulder. “Never fear, Suzanne. Our freezer is full as it is.”

“But not with lasagna,” I said. “Did you make cheddar-chive loaf, too?” I asked as I spotted the dark brown loaves on the cooling rack. Momma had taken a basic recipe and modified it to yield the most savory bread imaginable, filled with sharp cheddar cheese, fresh green scallions, and just the right amount of thyme and other spices. It was great fresh out of the oven with butter melting into the crevasses of the bread, but it was at its best after it had cooled and was toasted, at least in my opinion.

“I made it this morning,” Momma said. “I’ll toast a batch of it as soon as the lasagna is nearly ready.”

“Is there anything that we can do?” Grace asked.

“Thanks, but I’ve got it covered. We’ve got twenty minutes before the lasagna is ready, so if you two would like to sit out on the porch and enjoy this glorious weather we’re having, that’s fine by me.”

“Thanks, Momma,” I said as I kissed her cheek. Grace buzzed the other one, and Momma smiled.

“Off with you now,” she said playfully, and Grace and I took her advice and retreated to the porch.

“We are going to feast like royalty tonight,” Grace said once she was situated on the porch swing.

“We do most nights around here,” I admitted as I grabbed one of the rocking chairs. That was what I loved about our porch. It was wide enough to hold a party on and always offered protection from the elements. As a child, I could remember curling up on the swing wrapped in a blanket and watching it snow.

“So, what’s our plan of attack with our remaining suspects?” Grace asked me.

“We can’t just keep questioning them and hope that somebody breaks,” I said after some thought. “That’s not going to work anymore.”

“What else did you have in mind?”

“Grace, you know I hate to do it because it can be scary-dangerous, but I don’t think we have any other options left. We have to set a trap for our killer.”

Grace took that in, and then she asked, “I can see your point, but what are we going to use as bait?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? I don’t really want to use anybody else if we can help it. It’s not fair to ask someone else to assume a risk that we’re not willing to take ourselves.”

Grace breathed heavily, and then said, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

“We both will,” I said. “I just wish that Jake was here to back us up. It’s not going to do us any good if we trap the killer and they turn the tables on us.”

“We can’t exactly ask the police for help,” Grace said.

“No, my relationship with the Chief Martin is good, but it’s not that good. If he finds out what we’re planning to do, he’ll shut us down in a heartbeat. There’s only one option as far as I can see.”

As I reached for my cellphone, Grace asked, “Who are you going to call?”

“I think it would be neighborly if we invited the mayor over for dinner, don’t you? You heard Momma. She made more than she knows what to do with, and besides, she likes George.”

“Are we really going to drag him into this?” Grace asked me.

“Drag? Are you kidding? He’s been dying to get involved again. Besides, we really don’t have any other options left.”

“I wouldn’t mention that particular fact to him when he comes,” Grace said.

“I wasn’t planning to,” I said as I dialed the mayor’s number.

“George, what are your dinner plans tonight?” I asked as he answered my call.

“I thought I’d drift over to the Boxcar a little later,” he said. “Make me a better offer, and I’m there.”

“Don’t you like Trish’s cooking anymore?” I asked playfully.

“I love it, but it does tend to run to type, doesn’t it? I’d just about kill for a homemade meal.”

“Well, homicide isn’t on the menu, but Momma just made lasagna, and you’re welcome to join us. Can you make it in twenty minutes?”

“I’ll be there in two,” he said as he hung up.

I stood. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To tell Momma that we’re having more company.”

I made it back to the front porch fast enough, but George was already there. “What did you do, strap on a jetpack and fly over here?” I asked.

“I was in the neighborhood,” he said. “Thanks for the invitation.”

“You’re most welcome. Momma was delighted to hear that you’d be joining us.”

George started to stand. “You didn’t ask her first? Suzanne, I can’t stay under those circumstances.”

“Sit back down, your honor,” I said with a grin. “This isn’t entirely a neighborly invitation. Grace and I need your help in our investigation.”

The mayor sat back down with a broad smile on his face. “All I can say is that it’s about time. Now tell me, who are we going to go after?”

“There are three of them, as a matter of fact,” I said.

“It’s going to be a trap, is it?” George asked. “I’m happy to be the bait.”

“Actually, we were hoping that you could be our enforcer. Once the trap is sprung, we need you to be there to keep us from ending up like Jude Williams.”

“I can do that,” George said with a frown.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“I’d rather be the one in danger, truth be told,” he said.

I patted his arm. “We appreciate that, but it won’t work that way. The killer has to think that Grace and I have information about him or her that we’re going to turn over to the police. Since you haven’t been involved in the case all along, they won’t buy that you’ve got it.” I paused, and then I added, “If you’re not comfortable doing it, we can ask someone else. We just thought you’d like to be involved.” He was honestly our last option, but I didn’t want to let him know that.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll do it. When are we going to spring this trap?” he asked eagerly.

“We haven’t decided yet,” I said.

“Well, if you want my opinion, the sooner the better,” George said. “If we wait too long, we could end up missing out altogether.”

“My, you’re eager to get started, aren’t you?” Grace asked him lightly.

“Yes, but I’ve got another motivation as well,” the mayor said. “Polly’s coming back home tomorrow, and I’m not sure that she’d approve of me being your muscle. If we could manage it tonight, that would be great.”

“It’s short notice, but I think we can do it,” I said. “What do you say, Grace?”

“It’s not a bad idea. How exactly are we going to set the trap?”

After a few moments of thought, I said, “How about this? We tell all three suspects that a witness is coming by the donut shop at five AM with some critical new information, and then we wait. I’ll send Emma home early on some pretext after we finish the donuts. Grace, George, if you both want to be in this, I’m afraid that you’re going to have to get up pretty early.”

“It’s not a problem for me,” the mayor said. “I’m usually up around four anyway.”

“Really?” Grace asked him incredulously.

“The older I get, the less sleep I seem to need,” George said.

“Well, it’s going to be a sacrifice for me, but I’ll manage somehow,” Grace said.

“Good. Now all that’s left is contacting our suspects,” I said, just as Momma came out onto the porch.

“Contacting them about what?” she asked.

“It’s not important,” I said, hoping that Momma would let it slide.

To my delight, she did. As she extended a hand to George, she said, “So lovely to have you, Mr. Mayor.”

“Thank you,” George said. “Sorry to be sprung on you at the last second.”

“Nonsense. I should have thought of it myself. If you are all ready, dinner is served.”

After a lovely meal, Momma said, “I hate to dash off, but I promised Phillip a plate tonight.”

“Go. We’d be delighted to do the dishes,” Grace said.

“It’s the least we can do,” I added.

“And I’ll supervise to make sure the job’s done right,” George finished as he winked at my mother. The mayor was certainly in a good mood, no doubt because he was back on our investigative team, albeit briefly.

“I trust that you’ll watch out for my girls,” Momma said to him in a serious manner.

“I’ll guard them with my life,” he said in all earnestness.

“I know you will,” she said as she patted his cheek. “I’m sure you know that if anything were to happen to them, there is no describing the level of my wrath.”

“I’m well aware of it,” George said.

Momma smiled brightly. “Then I’m off.”

After she was gone, I told George, “She knows what we’re up to.”

“She called me one of her girls,” Grace said proudly.

“Of course you are,” George said. “And Suzanne, your mother is a brilliant woman. I’m sure it wasn’t that tough figuring out what we were up to.”

“Then let’s get these dishes done and get started,” I said. “We have a busy night ahead of us.”

As we washed and dried the dishes, we finalized our plans.

“Okay, here’s the finished plan,” I said. “Tell me if either one of you spot any flaws in it. Grace, you and I are going to visit each suspect—in one case, two in one house—and we’re going to apologize for the trouble we’ve caused in our investigation. Then we’re going to drop the bomb that there is an eyewitness who won’t talk to the police without us. We don’t even know who it is yet; they left me a note at the donut shop. They will be meeting us at the diner at five, and the police are coming at six. We don’t know the details yet, but we’re in it up to our eyebrows.”

“What am I supposed to do while all of this is going on?” George asked.

“You’re going to be tailing us to make sure none of our suspects decide to jump the gun. Are you armed right now?”

“I don’t usually carry a weapon to dinner,” George said.

“Then we’ll wait until you can go home and get one,” I said. Honestly, I felt better knowing that George would be watching us from the shadows. He’d been a good cop before he’d retired, and I knew that he was a man we could count on. “What do you think? Have I missed anything?”

“It’s a simple plan, but it should be effective,” George said.

“It sounds good to me, except for the part about us being the cheese in the trap,” Grace said.

I took her soapy hands in mine. “Grace, this will work just as well if I’m the only bait we use.”

“No, thanks. I’m going to be right there with you, Suzanne. If anything happens to you, it’s going to happen to me, too.”

George said, “Ladies, while you’re under my protection, nothing is going to happen to either one of you. I promise you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Grace said.

“You don’t doubt me, do you?” George asked with a hint of hurt in his voice.

She put a hand on his shoulder. “George, I trust you with my life.”

“Good. Then let’s finish these dishes so that we can get started,” he said.

Before I rang the doorbell at Lisa and Frank’s house, I looked around behind me. There was no sign of our escort. “George, are you there?” I whispered.

“I’m here,” he said so softly that I almost missed him.

“Shh. Someone’s already coming to the door,” Grace said as she tugged on my arm.

I knocked before they could open it, so when they did, it wouldn’t appear as though they’d caught us doing something that we shouldn’t have been doing.

So I hoped.

Lisa opened the door slightly as she said, “Go away.”

“Is your husband at home?” I asked her.

Suspicion quickly crossed her face. “What do you want with Frank?”

“Who’s there?” I heard him ask from inside.

“It’s nobody,” Lisa said.

“It’s Suzanne and Grace,” I said loud enough to be sure that he heard.

“Now you’ve done it,” Lisa hissed at me.

I wasn’t going to let that deter me. “I’m sorry, but I need to speak with both of you.”

She was still frowning at us when Frank came into view. The look of anger and disgust on his face was palpable, and I was suddenly glad that we’d brought George with us. “I don’t know what it’s going to take to get my message across, but words obviously aren’t enough.” He started to roll up his sleeves as he came toward us, and I heard movement behind us. I had to end this before George was exposed and our plans were blown.

“There’s no need to be upset. We came to apologize,” I said quickly.

The movement behind us stopped as Frank halted his forward progress. “Go on. We’re listening,” he said.

“We never should have bothered you in the first place, and we’re very sorry about it. Grace and I just wanted to come say that in person.”

“We accept your apology,” Lisa said quickly as she tried to pull her husband back inside, no doubt so they could slam the door in our faces.

“Not so fast,” he said as he jerked his arm free. Turning back to me, he asked, “Why the sudden change of heart, Suzanne?”

That was the question I’d been hoping for. “We actually just got a break in the case.”

“What happened?” he asked.

“Someone spotted the killer right after they hit Jude Williams with that iron bar,” I said. “They’ve been afraid to come forward up until now, but they’re coming by the donut shop at five tomorrow morning to tell the police everything.”

“How does this involve you?”

“Whoever witnessed the murder won’t say a word unless we’re right there with them,” I said.

“So you don’t even know who it is?” he asked.

“Not yet, but that’s going to be resolved soon enough,” Grace replied. “We truly are sorry for inconveniencing you with all of our questions.”

“You’ve made your apologies,” Lisa said. Was she that afraid? If it wasn’t her husband who had spooked her, someone else had done a pretty good job of it. “Thanks for stopping by.”

This time Frank allowed himself to be pulled back inside. There was an odd look on his face, as though he was still mulling over what we’d just told him. Neither one of them had done anything overt to make them look guilty, but neither did they act innocent.