Muffins & Murder (Sweet Bites Book 3) (Sweet Bites Mysteries) (27 page)

The music from the dance floor turned to a loud, heavy beat, loud enough the neighbors were bound to complain. Loud enough to cover any noises I might make, even if I could scream.

“Cole couldn’t let it go either,” Ben continued, “and you know where he ended up. He had the gall to tell everyone that they were an item when she wouldn’t give him the time of day. She belonged to me.”

Jack or Honey were bound to realize I didn’t come back and start looking for me soon if I could stay alive that long. “He was harmless.” So the words came out more like muttered babble, but he seemed to understand me and I wanted to keep him talking.

“The dweeb figured out it was me,” Ben said. “He was always getting in the way when I tried to talk to Francine and he confronted me about her. I had to get rid of him before he went to the cops.” He gave my arm a shake in emphasis and I cried out in pain.

“Shut up.” His hand left my face to punch me in my already-sore ribs, making me double over. I cried out, though I didn’t think it was loud enough to get anyone’s attention. The bass pounded with the music only twenty feet away.

“I should have just found a chance to get you alone before. Taking you out in person is so much simpler, and more rewarding.” He held out a piece of wire where I could see it. “I can’t wait to wrap this around your neck.”

I felt my eyes widen and the breath evaporated from my lungs. I couldn’t let him kill me, no matter what, so I screamed again, much louder than before, even if I couldn’t fight back without excruciating pain. I raked his leg with my foot, stomping on his toes with the sharp point of my heel.

He yelped and twisted my arm some more. “Shut up.” He swore several times and I heard a voice calling my name.

“Tess!” It was Shawn.

“Over here!”

Ben punched my side again.

Shawn came around the corner of the bushes to find us standing there. “What’s going on?” He reached out to grab me, but Ben moved me away.

Ben wrapped his extra arm around my stomach as if we were snuggling or something; how he intended to pull that off with the pain and fear on my face, I had no idea. “This is between my lady and me. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Wrong. She’s my lady, and you better let go of her.” Shawn had a gun in his hand in an instant. I hadn’t seen him draw it and I couldn’t see a holster. I gasped in a breath, hope spiking back through me as Ben’s grip on my twisted arm loosened slightly, relieving the pain.

Ben froze in place behind me, but he didn’t let go, using me as a shield. “What are you, some kind of cop?”

“Yeah, I am. Are you going to let my girl go, or am I going to show you how good my aim is?” His face was granite-hard and there wasn’t a twitch giving away that he might not be serious.

I knew he wouldn’t pull the trigger unless he had a clear shot, but I couldn’t help being terrified that I would catch the bullet instead. It sure seemed to be my MO.

“Correction.” Jack’s voice came from behind me.

Ben’s grip shuddered slightly and the stretch on my shoulder grew almost unbearable, making me scream, but then I was free. I stumbled away, falling to my knees in the grass and scrambling to where Shawn had been standing. He jumped at Ben as soon as I was free. I looked behind me to where the voice had come from, and saw Jack shaking his hand as if it hurt. Ben was on the ground. Jack had just decked Ben! “She’s
our
girl.” He looked at me and his head tipped. “That sounds wrong.”

Shawn kneeled on Ben’s back, pulling his arms behind him to put on cuffs and reading him his rights. Technically he didn’t belong to the local police department—yet—but I didn’t foresee the department complaining about the assist.

I stumbled toward Jack, who met me halfway, putting an arm around my waist and pulling me against him. “Are you okay?” he asked. He held me tight for a long moment, then loosened his grip to look me over. “Are you hurt anywhere? Any blood?”

“I don’t need an IV,” I said flatly, making him smile, even if it was fleeting.

“That’s what you always say, even when you do need one.”

“This time I don’t. I’m fine. I think.” I moved my shoulder in circles, wincing at the discomfort, but it moved, so I didn’t see any reason for a trip to the ER. “I thought he was going to dislocate my shoulder, but I guess not.”

“Good.” He wrapped me in his strong arms again and I set my head on his shoulder, tears brimming in my eyes. The adrenaline in my system had me shaky and weak.

“Is this Ben?” Shawn asked as he hauled the guy to his feet. “Are you sure he’s the killer?”

 “He did it.” I looked at Shawn, who was studying me. “He confessed.”

“I know you have the paramedic there, but do you need to see a doctor?” he asked.

“Heaven forbid.” I went into full dramatics. “I might not even have a bruise.” Except for on my ribs where Ben hit me, but I didn’t think he’d broken anything there, either. I didn’t want either of the men to know about that until the adrenalin stopped pounding through them or I might end up talking to a doctor anyway.

Shawn yanked Ben toward the front of the property. The music came to an end and the crowd cheered. I wondered what I was missing as Jack led me out of the bushes.

Tingey pulled up in his patrol car and motioned Shawn to load Ben into the back. “I was checking Ben’s place when Shawn called me. Are you all okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” I felt like I was turning into a broken record. Maybe I needed to learn how to say that in a few other languages so I could change it up. I pulled out of Jack’s arms and tried to juggle my thoughts into place. A few party-goers walked past and stared at our group. It reminded me that I had some responsibilities still.

I turned to Tingey. “Please, can I see the bride and groom off? I don’t want them to know anything’s wrong—at least not tonight. If you can get him out of here, I’ll come down to the station to give my statement.” I felt emotional and still shaky, like a good bursting-into-tears session would be helpful, but I had to keep it together for a little longer.

Tingey gave me a hard look, but nodded.

“I’ll come with you,” Shawn told him. “I saw quite a bit of it.” He yanked the man up and pulled him toward the car, making him stumble. “Jack, can you bring her down after?”

“Yes. And hey, Shawn,” Jack called out. He waited for Shawn to turn around. “Thanks.”

Shawn nodded and opened the back door of the black and white.

Jack continued, “But so you know, I don’t intend to share her for long.”

The light of competition entered Shawn’s gaze. “You got that right.”

I almost told them both where they could go right then, but was too rattled to do so. I decided that later on I’d give them what-for. I was not some prize for them to fight over.

Tingey flipped off his lights and headed back down the street.

Honey came around the corner of the house. “There you are. They’re about to toss the bouquet, and you’re back here smooching in the bushes. Get over there.”

I looked at Jack, who hadn’t kissed me once all day. He tipped his head toward the celebration in silent invitation. I nodded in agreement. There would be time to explain it all to Honey later.

When I caught the bouquet, Honey shot me a knowing smirk, but I ignored her and joined the queue to toss rice at the departing couple.

A dozen or more hugs later, Lenny and Kat drove away with smiles on their faces. I turned back to see a bevy of friends and neighbors already helping to disassemble everything and cleanup the back yard. My shoulder ached and I really wished I could have a few minutes to lie down somewhere dark and quiet. I was exhausted.

Jack found me again, leaning in to smell the bride’s bouquet of gerbera daisies and white roses, which I held. “They aren’t very fragrant,” he declared.

“No, but they’re pretty. And stronger than they look.”

“Kind of like you.” He pulled me in for another hug. “I can’t believe I almost lost you. When I saw that guy hurting you, I swear my heart nearly stopped beating.”

I held him for a long moment, appreciating his strength—someone to lean on was a big bonus. Smiling, I brushed my cheek against his jacket again.

“All right, break it up. We have work to do, and you have things to tell me,” Honey said. “You have grass stains on your skirt.” She wiggled her brows and headed out again.

“Crud.” I checked the bottom of my dress and saw the stain from when I tripped on the grass. “She’s going to be so disappointed when she finds out we weren’t really making out in the bushes.”

He chuckled. “Let me give you a hand with things. Then maybe after a trip to the bushes I can take you to the station.”

I shot him a dirty look. I set the bouquet on the kitchen counter, hoping no one would move it, and limped my way back to the clean-up crew. Did I want to be the next person in our group married? Yeah. But I wasn’t going to rush it.

I was really glad we were closed on Sunday, since I needed the day to recuperate after the hectic week. I got things around my place in order, made dessert to take over to Honey’s when I joined them for dinner, and relaxed on the sofa, not wanting to think about the coming week without Lenny to cover some of the slack. I really should have gotten a temp to help out, but didn’t want to hassle with training anyone. At least Honey would be by to help on Wednesday.

When the doorbell rang, I knew it would be Shawn—he’d called ahead to make sure I’d be around when he was getting ready to head home. It was the main reason I wasn’t still in my pajamas, but had taken a few minutes to change into a blouse and jeans, and to mess with my hair and makeup.

I opened the door and smiled—he looked as good as always. “Hey, glad you could stop by.”

“Like I would leave without talking to you first.” He entered when I opened the door the rest of the way for him. “How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but I’ll manage. Compared to some of my other adventures, I’m doing quite well.”

He chuckled and pulled me into a hug, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “I should have been watching you closer last night. I’m sorry he got within twenty feet of you.”

“It’s not your fault, I should have grabbed you or Jack to go out with me.” I pressed my cheek to his chest, absorbing his hug for a moment before stepping away, taking his hand. “So, back to Nogales to pack. Do you have to sell your place there, or were you renting?”

“I was renting, so that’s fine. I’ll find a place out here eventually. Maybe you can help me pick something out.”

Nerves stuttered in my chest. “Are you planning to move into something by Christmas?”

“No,” Shawn said. “I’m not in a hurry. I figure I have time to see where things go with you, and Gramps needs me to stay with him for a while, anyway.”

My brow furrowed. “What’s going on with your grandpa?”

“He’s been sick for a while. He has home health checking on him, but he needs more care, someone who can be there or pop in several times a day. Even if I’m on duty I could pop in for a few minutes here or there. He forgets things and can’t keep up with things around the house. We’re worried something will happen to him and no one will know until home health shows up twelve or fifteen hours later.” He took my hand in his, studying them instead of looking at me while we talked.

“Is that the real reason you’re moving back?”

He pursed his lips for a moment. “He’s a big part of it. Probably the biggest part of it, though certainly not the only reason. Things in Nogales were… hard. I’ve been thinking about getting out for a while.” His eyes flicked to mine. “And then there was you. No other woman has been able to keep my attention for long since I met you again last spring.”

Hope and excitement fluttered inside me. “You’re a smooth one.”

“I’m not being smooth. I’m serious. There’s something about you that draws me, and I want to find out what it is. I just wish I didn’t have to desert the field for a few weeks and let Jack have all of your time while I’m gone.”

“He can’t have
all
of my time.” I shot him a considering look. “I do have a business to run, you know. And I hope you’re going to call sometimes.”

“You better believe it. Promise not to make a decision before I get back here? At least not one that will shut me out.”

“Promise.” I squeezed Shawn’s fingers. “Now, what about this K-9 you’ll be working with, how does Gramps like the idea of living with a dog?”

He ended the misconception that the dog would live inside and explained that K-9s had to be kept away from people most of the time. I settled in for a fascinating discussion.