Corpse in the Crystal Ball (27 page)

Mitch
.

I heard a sickening thud, and Ted’s body crumpled forward, smothering me. I let out a little squeal and the body was yanked away immediately.

“Sunny, are you okay?” said a masculine voice.

I sucked in some much needed air and blinked my eyes open in relief and gratitude and …shock.

Kevin stood there with a mass of smashed flowers in his hands, holding his cast at an odd angle and wincing as though in pain.

I scrambled to my feet. “Oh my Lord, you hit him with your cast, didn’t you? That must have hurt.”

“You’re worth it.” He smiled tenderly.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “So much.” I blew out a breath. “If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I don’t know what would have happened.”

“I ran into Granny, and she pointed out I was acting like a child by not calling you back yesterday.” He looked chagrined. “I agreed. So I picked up some flowers and came over to apologize.” He handed me the bouquet. “They’re kind of ruined.”

I took them. “They’re perfect.”

“You’re perfect. And I really am sorry for being a jerk, by the way.”

“You’re forgiven.” I smiled.

“Well, all right, then.” He smiled back.

Ted stirred, and Kevin sprang into action. “Do you have something to tie him up with until we can get the police here? I don’t think I can pull off a second surprise attack, and no telling what he’s capable of in the state that he’s in.”

“Good thinking.” I ran into the mudroom and pulled out a roll of duct tape, then dashed back to the living room. “Will this do?”

“It’s perfect.” He winked, then took the tape. “Um, actually you might have to help me.” He held up his cast again, looking helpless, and handsome, I had to admit, feeling guilty for the roller-coaster ride I’d put him through lately.

Morty chose that moment to appear again.

“There you are. Some watch cat you are. You took off the second things got scary, buster.” I rubbed his head, but he ignored me and went straight to Kevin, rubbing up against him and nuzzling his cast with his nose. “Traitor,” I said laughingly.

“He knows a good thing when he sees it.” Kevin smiled and pulled away from Morty to prop Ted up. Kevin pulled off Ted’s jacket so I could tape his hands behind his back.

Ted woke up just seconds after I finished. “Wh-what’s going on?”

“You tried to kill me. Now
you’re
the one who’s going to pay.”

“Wow.” Kevin let out a long low whistle. “Well, this explains a lot.”

I looked at Kevin as he pulled out all sorts of bags of drugs from Ted’s coat pocket. Marijuana and an assortment of pills. My jaw fell open wide. That had to have cost a fortune. Where did he get the money to pay for all that?

Ted looked from Kevin to myself, and seemed to sober up miraculously. “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m telling you those aren’t mine.”

“Right. Your eyes are naturally dilated and pink instead of white,” I said sarcastically. “I heard people will do just about anything for drug money. Even murder.”

“Someone is setting me up. I haven’t touched alcohol or drugs in a year,” he slurred, then kept rambling. “I was upset over my sister dying, and this bottle of liquor was in my hotel room. I needed it.”

“I can see that,” I spat.

He frowned. “I think someone laced it with drugs,” he slurred on. “My head’s fuzzy. It’s like you said. Maybe Abigail or Chuck wanted to pay me back by getting me wasted. They knew I’d confront you. Then they planted stuff to make me look guilty. I’m telling you I’m innocent. You have to believe me.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” I growled.

I grabbed his jacket and heard a clunk when the other pocket hit the hardwood floor. I checked the contents of the other pocket out of curiosity. A long cord-like wire with handles attached to the ends fell out, and I gasped.

Oh my God, he was the killer!

“Like hell you’re innocent,” I muttered. “Can I use your phone?” I asked Kevin. “He cut my landline, and I can’t find my cell.”

“My pleasure,” Kevin said, shaking his head at Ted in disgust and handing me his cell in exchange for all the drugs and wire thingy. “Even if he did happen to be innocent—which I can’t possibly see how—I’d say jail time’s a given with all these drugs he had on him. I’ll put this evidence on your kitchen table until the cops get here. Anything I can do to help put this scumbag away for good works for me.”

“I’m fine, Granny. I promise you. Ted didn’t have a chance to squeeze my neck before Kevin yanked him off me.”

“I’m just so glad I ran into that young man and sent him over. What a hero he is. I hope now you’ll come to your senses and give him a real chance this time.”

“I agree he’s a keeper, but the jury’s still out on whether or not he will be
my
keeper. We’ll see.” I adored Kevin, but I was pretty sure I loved Mitch. And a heart couldn’t choose the person it loved, whether it was good for them or not.

“In the meantime, let’s see about getting you some breakfast,” Granny stated as she tied on her apron and bustled about the kitchen.

“Granny, I’m going to weigh a ton with you living here. Any news from Mom?”

Her eyes fluttered as fast as cards being shuffled in a tarot deck. “Oh dear, well I, um …how about eggs Benedict?”

I reduced my eyes to slits. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.” She rolled her eyes. “You worry too much. Go get dressed, and I’ll have a delicious breakfast for you when you’re finished. You almost died, Sunny. You need to be pampered.”

“Okay, Gran,” I acquiesced, too tired to do anything else. “See you soon.”

She waggled her fingers, but the smile she had pasted on her face looked almost guilty.
Guilty of what
was the question of the day.

Twenty minutes later, I wandered downstairs to hushed voices in the kitchen. Oh, no! This couldn’t be happening to me. Not now. I rounded the corner and froze.

“Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?”

“Well,” Vivian Meadows said in her hoity-toity voice while crossing her arms over her expensive traveling suit. “I certainly brought you up with better manners than that.” She held her head regally, with not a hair of her golden blond chicly styled do out of place.

Morty pranced into the kitchen, wearing a most ridiculous purple paisley bow tie. Mom screeched and hid behind Dad. Morty let out a hiss, then turned his back on them and walked out of the room as though they weren’t worthy of his presence.

“You really need an exterminator,” Mom said, shud-dering.

“Is Granny’s basement fixed? Are you here to take her home?” I asked suspiciously, ignoring my mother’s negative comments, praying for a short stay, but fearing the worst.

Mom looked to Dad and raised a brow. Dad sighed, tugging down the edge of his own expensive suit.

“Among other things,” Donald Meadows said in his booming, authoritative voice. His gray-streaked, perfectly coiffed brown Ken doll hair sat lacquered to his head.

“Other things?” I looked from them to Granny Gert. “What other things, Granny? Why are you looking so weird?”

“Your parents think it best if you come home with us, too, dear. We’re all worried about you living here alone. You almost died,” she said gently.

“I’m safe now. Ted Baxter is behind bars and charged for the murders of Isabel Gonzales and Roz Sanderson. It’s over.”

“All the more reason to leave before something else happens,” Dad pointed out.

“I’m not going anywhere. This is my home.”

“I don’t know why you always have to be so difficult.” Mom sniffed sharply.

“So now
I’m
the difficult one?” I chuckled. “That’s funny right there.”

“There’s nothing funny about it, Sylvia,” Dad boomed again. “You will come home with us this time. Your outlandish shenanigans have gone on long enough.”

“Oh, so now these murders are my fault? That’s rich.”

“Trouble does seem to follow you, especially when you’re left on your own,” Mom pointed out.

“I’m not alone. I have friends.”

“And boyfriends, dear.” Granny beamed. “Don’t forget about them. Such nice boys.”

“Them?” Dad frowned.

“Boys?” Mom’s face puckered like a pickle.

I just groaned.

The doorbell rang, and relief swamped through me. Saved by the bell. I yanked the door open without even looking. My relief was short-lived.

“Detective Stone?”

“Oh, look, here’s one of them now.” Granny clapped her hands, and I looked at her strangely. She was acting so bizarre today.

“Are you okay, Sunny?” He grabbed my hands.

I looked down at our entwined fingers and thought maybe he really did care.

“Earth to Tink, you in there?”

I snapped my head up. “Yes, sure, I’m fine.” I pasted on a reassuring smile.

“Well, invite the boy in, Sunny,” Granny said from the kitchen entryway.

I stepped back and Mitch entered, closing the door behind him. He followed me to the kitchen and looked surprised when he saw my parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Meadows. It’s nice to see you both again.”

“Detective Stone,” Dad said stiffly. “It is detective once more, is it not?”

“That it is, thanks to your daughter.” Mitch winked at me, knowing my father never gave me credit for anything. I could have kissed him right then and there in front of the world. Oh, who was I kidding? I would have kissed him anywhere anytime, but still, I was grateful to him for standing up for me.

“She wouldn’t have been in any danger if she had stayed out of this case in the first place,” Mom said, staring Mitch down accusingly.

He held up his hands. “I had nothing to do with that, and frankly, I agree. She had no business being involved in the case and putting herself in danger. But you know your daughter. Once she gets something stuck in that stubborn mind of hers, there’s no stopping her.”

Okay, my grateful thoughts vanished like one of my visions, replaced by ones of annoyance and irritation. “You’re welcome,” I said sarcastically.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to have my badge back,” Mitch backpedaled. “I’m just saying you took chances, and you almost paid the ultimate price.” He put his hands on my shoulders and made me look at him. “Do you know what that would have done to me?”

I wanted to yell at him, but once again he’d confused me by adding that last sentence. “I—”

The doorbell rang again.

“I’ve got it,” Granny singsonged. She bustled over to the door, peeked out the window, and clapped her hands again. “Oh, yay. Here’s the other one.”

“The other one?” Mitch asked.

Granny opened the door and Kevin walked inside, holding a box of chocolates this time. Mitch stiffened and didn’t say a word. Kevin looked in our direction, his gaze landing on Mitch, and his smile slipped.

“Well, don’t just stand there, boy,” Dad boomed once more. “Come in and introduce yourself.”

“Pardon me.” Kevin walked to the kitchen, handed me the chocolates, and held out his good hand to my father.
“Forgive my rudeness. My name is Kevin Brown. Dr. Meadows, isn’t it? Your daughter has told me so much about you and your world-renowned cardiology practice.”

Dad puffed out his chest and shook Kevin’s hand firmly.

Kevin turned to my mother. “Mrs. Meadows, so nice to meet such a prestigious lawyer as yourself. Your reputation precedes you. And I must say your picture doesn’t do you justice. You’re even lovelier in person.” He kissed her hand.

My mother giggled. She actually giggled like a school-girl.

Mitch grunted and rolled his eyes.

“Thank you again, Kevin, for saving my life,” I jumped in, drawing Kevin’s attention to me. “I should be the one giving you chocolates. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there.”

“What exactly were you doing there?” Mitch asked, his jealously clearly evident in his tone. “And what are you doing here now? Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I took today off. I’m just so glad that
someone
was there for Sunny in her time of need,” Kevin said, glaring at Mitch, and then taking my hand in his own. “Are you sure you’re okay? If you need anything at all, I’m here for you.”

“Seems to me I got here first,” Mitch countered, squaring his shoulders and taking a step toward him.

“You got here first today. I got here first yesterday—when it mattered the most.” Kevin stood straighter and took a step toward Mitch as well. “I win.”

“Okay, boys, play nice in the sandbox,” I mumbled, gently pulling my hand from Kevin’s.

“Excuse me?” Mitch asked, coming out of his haze of jealously and looking at me strangely.

“Um, I just said I could go for some iced tea on the rocks,” I said, trying to think of anything that rhymed with sandbox. “I have a wicked headache,” I added. At least that was the truth.

“I’ll get it,” Kevin chimed in enthusiastically.

“Easy there, loverboy, I know where she keeps the tea,” Mitch grumbled.

“Too late.” Granny pranced into the room with more energy in her step than a fully charged crystal ball. “I brought some for everyone, but not iced. It’s too cold for that, silly. Now, who’s ready for some fun?”

If this was any indication, today was going to be one doozy of a day.