Haunted Renovation Mystery 1 - Flip That Haunted House (26 page)
Read Haunted Renovation Mystery 1 - Flip That Haunted House Online
Authors: Rose Pressey
Tags: #paranormal mystery cozy mystery women sleuths paranormal romance romantic mystery paranormal
“It wasn’t easy,” I said. “I did some
snooping in Payne’s office.” I looked at Reed and blushed. At least
now, Sheriff Bass knew I hadn’t been at the sperm bank. He probably
already suspected as much, though.
“I didn’t see any obvious clues, but I
didn’t leave empty handed, either. On my way out the door, I
grabbed the first thing I saw. The pad of paper I snatched
ultimately led me straight to you.” I smiled at Carolyn. “Nothing
was written on the pad except,
Call M
., which meant nothing
to me. But today when I saw the paper in the sunlight, I noticed
indentions from a previous note. I guess the pen had been pressed
so hard that the writing was visible on the next page, even though
the original note was gone.” All eyes were on me as I conveyed my
account. “Payne had a meeting with Jim Richmond, the date and time
of which was written on the pad. Their get-together was scheduled
for the approximate time Payne had been murdered. I knew then Jim
had to be the killer. So, I took a chance and came to find
you.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it. That’s amazing.
The powers of the universe were looking out for us,” Carolyn said.
“And the fact that you’re one smart cookie.”
Reed smiled and I blushed again.
“How did you know I was here at his cabin?”
Carolyn asked.
“The page had Jim’s address written on it,
as well. I’d never heard of this place, so I called Suzie and asked
her about it. Of course, she knew it was Jim’s cabin. She knows all
gossip in town. Don’t ask me how I was able to recognize it, call
it fate maybe. I knew right away that had to be where you
were.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough,”
Carolyn said. “But making sure Reed gets plenty of work around that
house of yours would be a start.” She winked.
“What I did was a stupid risk, but it had a
happy ending.”
“All right, now two more questions,” Mama
interrupted. “First, how the heck did Reed know where to find
us?”
“I left him a note.” I smiled.
“And I came to save the day.” He puffed out
his chest and we all laughed.
“I’m surprised you showed up.”
“I was looking for you,” he said.
I stared at him, but didn’t ask for more
explanation.
“All right, second question, are you and
this good-lucking hunk of man dating?”
“Mama!”
“Well, I want to know.”
I couldn’t look at Reed. It was like being
in sixth grade again when my mother called Billie Vincent and asked
him to the dance for me.
I cleared my throat. “Changing the
subject…,” I continued, “when Jim told me he was going on a
vacation with his wife, it was a lie. But I sure am glad I found
you Carolyn.”
Commotion caught my attention and I looked
up. Reporters descended on the area, marching down the drive.
“Looks like you have some questions to
answer.” Reed gestured toward the reporters with a tilt of his
head.
“Someone hide me,” I said, as I took a deep
breath, preparing for the barrage of questions.
“And you have your best outfit on.” He
chuckled.
“I was almost murdered, I have an
excuse.”
“Ms. Hargrove can you tell us what
happened?” The brunette reporter asked. She frowned, waiting for an
answer. She focus on me didn’t budge. I looked to Reed and he
shrugged.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Who was holding you hostage?” she
pressed.
“Maybe the police could better answer your
questions.” I looked around for help. I would even welcome Sheriff
Bass at that moment.
“It was Jim Richmond and he murdered Payne
Cooper,” Mama blurted out.
I wanted to beat her with my sequined
cap.
“You discovered a diary in your house
solving a murder, is that correct?” the reporter looked to me and
asked.
“Mama, shut up,” I mouthed. “No comment,” I
said to the reporter.
“It’s not a reality show. This is real
life,” I whispered.
My mother rolled her eyes.
A couple of officers discovered the
intrusion and banished the reporters to the other side of the crime
tape.
I looked over to my mother. “Are you all
right, Mama?”
“I’m fine, sugar.” She rubbed her head.
Sheriff Bass wandered back over after
speaking with another officer.
“We’ll need statements from all of you. Does
anyone need medical attention? Carolyn, you all right?”
“I’m fine, Chester. I just want to see
Frank.”
“He’s on his way,” Reed said.
“We’ll be a while here. I’ll call on y’all
soon.” Sheriff Bass sauntered away. His smirk had faded.
“I guess I should head home to your father.
I’ve had enough excitement for the day and I’m exhausted.” Mama
held her chest.
I squeezed my arms around her. “I love you,
Mama.” Tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m so sorry I almost got you
killed.”
“Everything’s fine now, sugar, don’t cry.”
She wiped my tears. “But don’t ever do anything like that
again.”
I wiped the rest of the tears off my face
with my camouflaged arm. “You have my word. Call me later,” I
said.
Did I really tell her to call me? I guess
life and death situations brought out the softer side in
people.
Chapter Forty-Six
Mama hopped in the truck. It sputtered to
life and she pulled away. Growing up I avoided making friends. I
didn’t want to explain my mother’s crazy antics. Now I’d come to
realize she’s just eccentric. Nothing wrong with that. So what if
she didn’t fit the mold of what everyone else expected a mother to
be. She had crazy taste in clothing, and she loved being dramatic.
There were far worse things. In fact, as much as I didn’t want to
admit it, I was like her in a lot of ways.
I worried about my mother. I’d never put her
in a situation like this one again. Of course, I prayed I’d never
be in a predicament like this again. As soon as she got home, she’d
probably call all of her friends and give an animated play by play
of the events. She’d recount her brush with death and how she’d
captured a murderer.
I followed Reed and Carolyn to his truck.
Reed opened the door. “I like sitting by the window,” Carolyn
said.
I cast a suspicious glance her way. She
grinned. I crawled in the Dodge and slid to the middle of the seat.
Reed jumped in beside me. His leg touched mine. Heat rushed through
my body. He steered the truck off the path and I let out a pent-up
breath. It felt good to be away from that place. Was everything
right in my world now? All I’d have to concentrate on was the
house—and Reed.
Sunshine splashed across my face from the
windshield as we moved along the road. As we sat in silence, for
the first time since buying the house Maple Hill Road, I was truly
excited. No ghosts to scare away potential homebuyers. But what
about Nick Patterson, I still didn’t know why he’d followed me. Was
he the one in the strange car or Jim?
I looked at Reed and studied his profile—his
strong jaw and sexy full lips. What would have happened to us if he
hadn’t gotten there in time? I knew what would have happened—all
three of us would have been toast.
I broke the silence. “So, Carolyn, you have
to tell us how did he kidnap you?”
Carolyn sat, shuffled in the seat, and wiped
her forehead.
“I was at the cabin just lounging around,
reading a book, when I heard a knock at the door. It startled me
because it was early. I peeked out the window and saw Jim Richmond,
who I recognized right away. Although, I had no idea why he’d be
there to see me. I answered the door, and the next thing I knew, he
was putting a rag over my face. I blacked out and woke up tied to
the damn chair, listening to his foolish talk. He’d gone off the
deep end.”
“Wish I could’ve kicked his ass sooner. That
must have been horrible, Aunt Carolyn. I can only imagine how
scared you were.” Reed raked a hand through his hair as he steered
with the other. I felt his tension as he listened to her story.
“I just kept thinking about Frank. I would
alternate between positive and negative thoughts. One minute I’d
have hope and think he would surely find me, then the next, I’d
feel completely hopeless. Little did I know y’all would save me. I
should have known, though. You got a lot of spunk.” She laughed and
poked me in my side.
“Spunk, huh? I’m not sure that’s what
everyone else would call it.”
“It’d call it spunk.” Reed winked and
smiled.
My heart beat faster.
“Well, thank God we found you and you’re
safe now.” Reed added.
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for
saving my life.” She patted my leg.
“Reed had a little something to do with it,
as well.”
“A little.” She laughed. “But he needs your
help. You’re the brains of the outfit.”
Ugh. She had to mention outfit. I couldn’t
wait to change. Sadly, I’d left my clothing in Mama’s truck.
We turned onto Maple Hill Road. Reed glanced
at me.
He laughed and said, “I guess the apple
really doesn’t fall far from the tree. You dress up like your mama
often?”
“No,” I said dryly.
“Sure looks like you do,” he snorted and
looked at my clothes.
“She forced me!”
“Sure she did.” He turned into the
driveway.
“She started crying.”
“Whatever you say, Bama.”
“I’m serious! I had no choice.”
Reed moved around to the passenger door and
opened it. Carolyn stepped down, then he took my hand and helped me
down. No sooner had he shut the door when Frank’s car screeched to
a halt behind us.
“I didn’t know where to find you.” He ran to
Carolyn. “I went to the police station and you weren’t there.” He
held her tightly, then realized the strength of his grip and
released. He looked her up and down. “You all right?”
“I’m fine.”
He grabbed her arm, led her to the car, and
eased her down on the seat. Carolyn did look great considering what
had happened. Disheveled, but no cuts or bruises to speak of.
“I can’t thank you all enough for everything
you did.” Frank said.
“Carolyn would have done the same for me,” I
said.
“You come by for dinner anytime. You’re
family now.” He closed the door and climbed behind the wheel.
They waved and pulled away.
“I guess he wasn’t taking any chances, huh?”
I asked.
“I’m sure he just wants her safe and at
home,” Reed said.
I nodded.
“How are your wrists?”
“Sore, but I’ll be all right.” I plopped
down on the porch step. “I found a diary in the house.”
“I heard.” Reed stood on the path in front
of me. He smiled a quick boyish grin.
“Is anything a secret in this town?” I
asked.
“Some things are.” He sat beside me.
What did he mean by that?
“I think the ghosts are gone. Although, I
know you never believed the place was haunted.”
“Hey, I told you I heard footsteps. And I
saw the other stuff. I believe you.”
“Good to know.”
“Maybe that’s why I didn’t buy the house. I
was too afraid of ghosts.” He gave a lopsided grin.
“Somehow I don’t believe that.”
“You’re brave, Alabama. Braver than me.”
I just looked at him, not sure of what to
say.
“Someone was killed in the house?” he asked
after a long pause.
“Yes, right there, actually.” I pointed in
front of us next to the stone path.
“So, let me get this straight, you solved
two murders, and a kidnapping? Sounds like you should be a
detective instead of flipping houses.”
I grinned. We sat silent. I watched a few
leaves swirl along the path as the wind picked up.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Why’d you leave?” I didn’t look at him. My
heart pounded. I was afraid of his answer.
“We have a business relationship. I
overstepped my boundaries. I need to keep things professional. It
was obvious you just want me to do the work and get out.”
“It was obvious?”
He stood and stepped onto the porch.
“I don’t want to get in the way of your
dream.” He shrugged. “You know, fixing this place up. I know how it
feels to want to bring something back to life.” He paced, stopped,
and leaned against the column.
I stood, then moved up the steps. Reed
turned to look at me and I moved in front of him.
I leaned in to his body and looked him
straight in the eyes. “Reed, you are cocky, stubborn and a
know-it-all, but adorable.”
I pressed my lips on his. I kissed Reed and
he let me.
I pulled back and grinned.
He smiled and asked. “So, you think I’m
adorable?”
Did I ever.
Chapter Forty-Seven
The next day, Reed was on the roof and I
painted the kitchen cabinets a pretty cream color. I set my brush
down when someone knocked on the door. I stood, stretched, and made
my way across the house. As I scurried through the foyer, toward
the front door, I couldn’t help but glance over toward the basement
door. No ghost stood there that time—just a darkened hallway. I was
glad he’d found closure and crossed over.
Sheriff Bass stood with his back facing me
when I opened the door. He turned and took a draw of his
cigarette.
“Ms. Hargrove.” He tipped his hat and gave a
tired grin. His softer side finally made an appearance—a brief
appearance—but an appearance nonetheless.
“I just wanted to stop by and thank you for
everything you did for the investigation. And to say, I’m sor…” He
paused. “I’m sor…”
“Spit it out.” I hadn’t meant to say that
aloud. But if I hadn’t spoken up, we would’ve stood there forever
waiting for him to sputter out those two little words.
He furrowed his brow.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
His expression was almost apologetic.
Almost. Did he actually say he was sorry? Did he really utter those
words?