Murder in the Milk Case (19 page)

Detective Scott stood. “I think I’ve more than fulfilled my side of the bargain. Now promise me you’ll stay out of trouble.”

“Okay.” I got up from the sofa, my muscles protesting mightily. Then I walked him to the front door. Truthfully, I would have agreed even if he hadn’t answered any of my questions. He was right. I had a baby inside me to think about. A miracle.

After Detective Scott left, I went nuts trying to find my steno pad. I had to add the information I’d found out. I ransacked my bedroom and the kitchen drawers, then I pulled the cushions off the couch. Now I was looking underneath a stack of magazines. I’d begun to pick through them one at a time when I heard steps behind me. I turned to see Max standing in the doorway.

“When did you get home?” I asked.

“Just a minute ago. Are you looking for this?” He was holding my notebook. “Karen found it last night and gave it to me.”

She was still trying to get me in trouble. He leaned against the door frame. His black jeans and red shirt made him look breathtakingly handsome, but I didn’t let that deter me from my quest.

“Good. I didn’t want to have to start over—” I stopped. My mouth opened and shut like a bass. I had just confessed that I was still looking into the mystery.

“You’re supposed to be resting,” he said softly. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Yes.” I met his gaze, which gave nothing away.

“Stubborn.”

“Yes.” At least he wasn’t frowning.

“Persistent.”

“That, too. But Detective Scott told me some stuff I want to add to it.”

Max cocked his head and frowned. “When?”

“He came by while you were gone and—”

“You talked to him without a lawyer?” Max demanded.

“Well, it wasn’t a big deal. He just wanted me to sign my statement. Then he told me to stay out of trouble and take care of my baby.”

Max relaxed a fraction. “What was on the statement?”

“Just my observations from last night.” I took a step toward him. “It’s okay. I didn’t need my snooty lawyer. Please stop bossing me around.”

“I just don’t know. . . ,” he said.

“I’m not a child, Max.” I walked over to him and held my hand out for my list. I was salivating to write down everything I’d learned. “Give it to me, please.” I stood on my tiptoes and tried to snatch it from him.

With little effort, he kept it out of my reach. “First, I have a surprise for you.”

A surprise? I put my arm down and stared at him. I love surprises, especially from my husband. “What is it?”

“How about a deal, and then I give it to you?”

“A deal?” The second one of the day.

He nodded.

“Okay, what is it?” I was enjoying myself immensely.

He grinned. “The surprise and the notebook in exchange for your promise not to run around and ask questions.”

I narrowed my eyes and pretended to consider his request, although doing that wouldn’t be hard since I’d already promised Detective Scott the same thing. Then it occurred to me that Max must know what I suspected. “So you don’t believe the killer has been found, either?”

He now held the notebook at his side. I could easily have snatched it, but I didn’t. The fear and concern that tightened his face and filled his eyes made me want to hug him and tell him everything would be okay.

He shook his head. “Figures you’d figure that out. Eric never came out and said as much, but he did caution me to watch out for you.”

“Okay, then.” I crossed my arms. “I’ll play your game, Mr. Tough Negotiator. But I won’t agree to anything without knowing what my surprise is.”

He pulled a sheaf of folded papers from his back pocket and handed it to me, along with the notebook.

I dropped that on the sofa and glanced through the papers. Itineraries for cruises. I looked up at him. “For us? Just you and me?”

“Yes.” The sparkling eagerness in his eyes made him look like a little boy. “These are the trips the travel agent said were available in the next few months. I discussed them with the kids today. Karen wouldn’t join in, of course, but the rest did. You’ll notice stars on some of the pages—those are the ones they thought were the best. Honey, I want us to go away together alone for a week. Soon. I’ve already talked to our parents and made arrangements for the kids. Now all that’s left is for you to choose one.”

A week alone with Max on a ship. I could think of nothing more fun. I had two concerns. The first was Karen’s reaction. This would only fuel her jealousy. I had to think of a way to counteract that. Maybe Max could take her for a day to her favorite amusement park. The second was my brother. I still had no idea if he was guilty of causing Lindsey’s death.

“Don’t worry about that,” Max said softly.

“What?” I looked up at him.

“The thing with Russ won’t affect our trip either way, okay?”

He’d read my mind. “Okay. You have a deal.” I put my hand out.

He shook it, even while he narrowed his eyes. “That was too easy. What are you up to?”

“Nothing, Max. Absolutely nothing. I’m going to be avoid trouble. I’m going to cook, clean, work, and take care of my family. That’s all.”

And I meant it. I was going to do everything in my power to keep my part of the deal. I had a baby to think about. Besides, I wanted to take this cruise with Max more than anything in the world.

Chapter Nineteen

Gail worked behind the counter as I walked through the door of Doris’s Doughnuts. My mother was nowhere in sight. The scent of coffee permeated the air. I inhaled it, thinking resignedly that I had at least a year before I could drink it again. I slowly made my way to the counter, nervous about being here. I’d talked to Daddy earlier, and he’d encouraged me to come here to tell my mother about the baby. He said she’d be happy to find out with her friends. Yeah, she’d be happy to have some drama in front of her friends. I was going to do what he asked, but after her comment about my having plenty of kids already, I wasn’t sure how she would react.

“Well, if it isn’t the local champion of justice.” Gail banged a dish.

I wasn’t sure if she meant it or not.

“Doris!” she yelled. “Your daughter has arrived.”

Ma came bustling from the back, followed by April May. “Well, I guess your stomach is feeling better now”—Ma sniffed—“since you finally saw fit to come and see me.”

I leaned against the counter. “It’s not a problem. The nausea is nothing that the obstetrician can’t take care of.”

“Kids. Well, you know what I say. . .” She stopped midsentence. Very slowly, she and the two bobbleheads turned to stare at me.

“Obstetrician?” my mother whispered. She and Gail exchanged glances.

“My, my, you’ve certainly been busy,” Gail announced as though she were a loudspeaker. “Solving crimes and getting knocked up.”

My face turned bright red. I knew I should have waited until my mother was at home to tell her.

“Wow!” April May clapped her hands together. “Well, you know, if I had a husband who looked like Max, I’d be pregnant all the time.”

Better yet, I should have sent a telegram announcing the news.

My mother slapped April May’s arm, but I could tell she was pleased. “This calls for a celebration. Free coffee for everyone.” She looked pointedly at me. “Except you, missy. You’ll have a decaf mocha latte with whole milk.”

She beamed as she worked and said nothing. I’d have to mark this down on my calendar as the day my mother was momentarily speechless and pleased with me at the same time.

“Guess it’s all solved, then,” Gail said, eyeing me. “You cornered that strumpet and got her arrested.”

Funny how things got exaggerated in the telling. “I didn’t exactly corner her. It was more like she cornered me—”

“Now Four Oaks will once again be safe,” she said. “We can sleep tight knowing we won’t be murdered in our beds. What with fingerprints on that knife that was stuck in Jim Bob, they should be able to nail her.”

I wasn’t even going to try to dissuade her from her opinion that all was well, even though I knew it wasn’t.

Ma handed me my latte, still beaming. “Well, I’m sure that police detective is grateful for my daughter’s help. Why, just yesterday I was at Shopper’s Super Saver getting some sirloin ground when Daryl walked by. I told him he was lucky Trish was on the case. What with his physical injuries and all, I’m sure they were ready to blame him. I mean, what about all those stitches? I’ll tell you what. I always knew one day Trish’s stubbornness would pay off.”

That was news to me, or maybe I had amnesia. I only remembered the times she’d told me my stubborness would be the death of her.

Ma put her hands on her hips and stared at me. “Why don’t all of you come over to dinner tonight? We can celebrate. You have to eat well now. You’re too thin.”

I guess too thin is better than holding water and looking puffy. “Thanks, Ma, but I’ll have to check with Max. He’s with his dad, looking over the new storage facility site outside of Baltimore. Then they were going to meet with some people at the county offices. I don’t know

when he’ll be home.”

“Well, you and the kids come on without him,” she said, as if I’d already replied in the affirmative. “We’ll send dinner home for him.”

At least we’d eat well. I headed to a table to sit down. I really wished she’d stop talking about me to people. Daryl might still be guilty. In fact, knowing that Sybil-Stefanie had been married to Peter-Carey would certainly give Daryl some motivation. Jealousy.

I sipped my drink and watched April May wipe tables. When she got to me, she stopped and sat down. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“I’m glad some people’s marriages are working out. So many around here aren’t. Besides Stefanie and Jim Bob, I mean. That was doomed from the start because they were both bad people.”

April had a succinct way of putting things. I nodded in agreement, although I knew Jim Bob and Stefanie hadn’t really been married.

“I have a new boyfriend.” She smiled at me shyly with shiny eyes. “I think maybe he’s the one.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said.

“He worked at the landfill under Norm.” She leaned toward me. “But he began to suspect things weren’t right there. You know, the out-of-state trash being hauled in.”

I nodded.

“He went over to work at the Shopper’s Super Saver. He’s a night manager and might be offered the assistant-manager position.”

She looked proud, and though I was pleased, I wondered what that meant for Daryl. He was the assistant manager. Had he been arrested or something?

She shook her head. “Isn’t it amazing? I mean, this is a small town and all this stuff is happening. Can you believe Frank?”

“He always seemed so good,” I murmured, still thinking about Daryl.

“Yes. He was in here the other day. Your mother thinks he’s guilty as sin.” April waved her sponge in the air. “Your mother reminded him that you were helping the police. Then Gail said her granddaughter talked to you and told her all about it.”

I wanted to groan.

“I’m sure you know this, but the cops have been all over him like June bugs on a porch light. He’s living with his parents, but pretty soon, I reckon he’ll be living in jail for stealing. It’s only a matter of time. His poor kids.” She stood. “Not only did he lose his wife, but he lost his fancy car, and he doesn’t have a job.” She smiled at me. “You’re really lucky, Trish. Your mother keeps telling all of us how she’s so glad her kids never did nothing really bad.”

As usual, my mother was representing things to people the way she wanted them to be. For all our sakes, I hoped Russ wasn’t guilty. My mother would definitely suffer. She might have to close her shop from the humiliation.

That afternoon, Karen didn’t come home from school, and she didn’t answer her cell phone. I called Tommy at work.

“Hey, Mom, what’s up?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you bring Karen home?”

He breathed hard into the phone. “She told me you were picking her up.”

That wasn’t good news. “She isn’t here. Did you talk to her any other time today?”

“I saw her between classes. She was upset because Julie left or something like that.”

“Tommy, when we ask you to do something, we expect you to do it.” Even as I snapped at him, I knew I was overreacting.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” He spoke so fast I knew he felt guilty. “I’ll ask around, okay?”

I tried to reach Lee Ann. She wasn’t at work or at home. Then I called Max. Fortunately, he had his phone turned on.

“Hi, baby.” He sounded so relaxed and happy I hated to tell him that his elder daughter was missing.

“Have you heard from Karen?” I asked.

“No.” His voice tightened. “Is something wrong?”

“She didn’t come home from school. Tommy said Julie was absent and that upset Karen.”

Max inhaled. “I hope they haven’t run away together. Listen, I’ll call the police, then I’ll extricate myself from things here. I’ll be home in about an hour and a half, if I don’t get caught in traffic. Rush hour starts around this time. Let me know if you hear from her.”

Five horrible minutes later, during which I prayed out loud as I paced the hall, the family room, the kitchen, the living room, and Max’s office, the phone rang. Karen’s cell phone number appeared on caller ID.

I was furious, yanking the receiver up like I was going to choke it. “Karen?”

“I need a ride home.” Her voice sounded belligerent.

I didn’t understand how she could be so disaffected. I’d be scared if I knew I’d be facing Max after something like this. “Why didn’t you get a ride with Tommy? We’ve been looking all over for you. Your father is calling the police. Why didn’t you come home?”

“Why did he call the police?” She sighed. “I know he’s really mad. I’m sorry. Can you pick me up at the library?”

“Yes. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Be waiting for me.” I phoned Max. “Karen’s at the library. You can cancel the cops. Sammie and I will run over and get her. We’ll be here when you get home.”

“Yes. Good.” He sounded as mad as I felt.

Vehicles filled the library parking lot. I drove around several times and didn’t see Karen, nor did I find a space in which to park. Finally, I left the SUV along the side of the road that ran between the library and the woods.

“Come on,” I said to Sammie. “Let’s go inside.”

I didn’t find Karen there, either. Over in the children’s section, a gray-haired woman read to a group of children gathered on the floor around her feet, her soothing voice a direct contrast to my racing heart.

“Mommy, can I listen?” Sammie whispered.

Having her entertained would help me a lot. “Yes. I have to find Karen. You stay here. I’ll be right back, okay?” She settled on the floor with the other kids.

Karen was nowhere in the building. I even peered into the men’s room. At the desk, I got the immediate attention of a librarian, even though there was a line. Pounding on the counter has that effect on people.

“I’m looking for my daughter. She’s supposed to be here.” My voice sounded high-pitched and tight. “She’s taller than you, with long, blond, curly hair.”

The woman nodded. “Yes, she was here awhile ago. She used the bathroom and then left.”

I ran outside, scanning the parking lot, trying to control my panic. No sign of her. Maybe she’d seen my SUV and was waiting for us next to it. I ran over to where I’d parked and noticed a big, wood-trimmed station wagon parked in front of my vehicle, but Karen wasn’t there. Something wasn’t right.

“Mom?”

At the sound of her voice, my breath gushed out in relief. “Karen?” I turned. She stood on the edge of the woods.

“Where have you been?” I snapped as I walked toward her. “You are so grounded. You might not ever have a life. I can’t believe—”

“Mom. . .” Her voice squeaked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“What?” I asked, as I got closer.

That’s when I noticed someone standing behind her.

Lee Ann. She reached around and held a knife to Karen’s throat.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” she said.

I reached into my purse for my cell phone and miraculously found it.

“Drop your purse and the phone,” Lee Ann growled, “or I’ll kill her right now.”

I did what she said.