Fudge-Laced Felonies (6 page)

“What about dinner?” I yelled.

“Not hungry!” Aunt Eunice called down.

That didn’t go well, and my stomach growled. I opened the refrigerator and stared into the food-packed recesses. My aunt, the queen of stockpiling. If she didn’t visit the grocery store for a month, we still wouldn’t go hungry. It didn’t take long for me to pull out the makings for a meal.

I soon sat back at the table with a cold diet cola and a sandwich. I frowned and took a bite of my ham and Swiss dinner.

It didn’t look like I’d be getting much help from Aunt Eunice. I really hadn’t been aware she had such a tight friendship with Mabel and Ruby. Shrugging, I took another bite. Counting the Ruperts, I had six suspects. I’d need to do some in-depth detective work tomorrow night.

Truly growled and bounded for the kitchen door. She scratched at it and let out a bark. The hair on my neck rose, and my skin prickled. I got to my feet and whipped around to stare out the window. The wind had increased, blowing dirt and small debris across the yard, but I couldn’t see a reason for the dog’s fuss. Tree branches slapped at the darkening sky. Thick clouds turned the early evening almost dark.

I reached for the door handle then stopped, remembering all the silly B horror movies where the heroine walks straight into danger. I withdrew my hand and wished Aunt Eunice hadn’t gone upstairs. Maybe it was Uncle Roy returning from the nursery. I shook my head. I hadn’t heard the rumble of his truck coming into the driveway.

“Truly. Come.” I inched my way from the kitchen and into the hall then bounded up the stairs. “Aunt Eunice!”

She shrieked as I burst into her room. “Land sakes, child! Are you trying to kill me? You know storms make me nervous.”

“There’s someone outside.” I parted the curtains and peered out. “Call 911.”

“Did you lock the front door?” Aunt Eunice sat up from where she’d been lounging against her bed pillows. “No. Didn’t you?”

“I was busy telling you about that missing boy.” She clutched a pillow to her chest. “Besides, it wasn’t dark then. Go on.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “What?”

“You’ll have to lock the door, Summer.”

“Can’t I just stay in here with you?” Going downstairs alone did not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. “We could lock ourselves in.”

“There’s no phone. Do you have your cell phone?”

“Downstairs.” I glanced around for something to use as a weapon and grabbed one of Aunt Eunice’s mud boots. “Okay. If I’m not back in five—”

“Good grief, Summer. What do you plan on doing with that boot?”

“Throw it at anyone who jumps out at me. Cause a distraction.” Nervous giggles escaped. “I didn’t see anything else.”

Aunt Eunice nodded. “Good luck.”

I nudged the dog aside with my foot and left her with Aunt Eunice. Never did the hall seem to stretch so far or appear so dark. Clichés from a half-dozen slash-and-gore movies ran through my mind. This is real, Summer. I clutched the boot tight against me.

I worked my way downstairs, my heart beating in time with each step. Tree branches scraped against the house, and I froze. Not hearing anything else, I kept going. Now would be a good time to pray.

Lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the lights went out. Stifling a scream, I plastered myself against the wall. “God, keep me safe. Please.”

I scooted to the living room.

Footsteps pounded from the front porch. I rushed forward.

Threw the dead bolt on the door. Then the chain.

The knob turned.

I fled to the kitchen. Where was Uncle Roy and his trusty gun when you needed them? Did he really have to work late at the nursery unloading the pallet of fertilizer? “Now I lay me down to sleep—” No, definitely not that prayer. Wait. They changed the words. How did it go now? Never mind. Something else. “Our Father, who art in heaven—”

Lightning skittered across the sky again. In the brief flash, I spotted the outline of a figure. The back door!

I ran through the dark kitchen yelping with pain when my foot slammed into the leg of a chair. I slipped and landed with a thump on my backside. The door creaked open. I aimed as a head appeared around the door frame.

“Summer!”

“Ethan?” He caught the boot in one hand.

I struggled to my feet and limped into his arms. “Someone’s outside.”

“I know. I came back to get my house keys. I think I left them on the foyer table.” He untangled my arms from around his neck and pushed inside. “When I pulled up, someone jumped from the front porch and disappeared into the woods behind the house. I tried following but lost sight of him.” He held me at arm’s length. “Are you all right? Where’s Eunice and Roy?”

“I’m fine. Aunt Eunice is upstairs, hiding beneath the covers. Uncle Roy hasn’t returned from work. I told my aunt to call the police.” I slumped into a kitchen chair. “So, it wasn’t my imagination.”

“No, Summer, it wasn’t.” Ethan parted the curtains and peered out. “Your uncle told me about last night. Someone is looking for something, and I don’t want you in the way.”

Looking for what? More diamonds? My heart lodged in my throat.

“What have you stirred up?” Ethan turned and crossed his arms.

“Nothing. I haven’t even spoken to anyone yet.” Despite my having won the prize for being a scaredy-cat, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. I’d definitely be digging beneath some rosebushes tomorrow.

The silky softness of the chocolate invited my fingers to linger. I tested the temperature. Pouring the melted dark liquid onto the chilled marble relaxed me. Lazy letters swirled through the chocolate as I worked. Enough. Daydreaming wouldn’t put candy on the counter.

I lined the dark cups for nut clusters in neat rows, mixed the crushed cashews with the cooled candy, then allowed my mind to return to its wandering. The events of the past couple of days ran through my mind the same way my fingers moved through the chocolate.

“You seem miles away.” Aunt Eunice dropped an unmelted chunk of chocolate into the pot sitting in front of me.

“What could the prowler be looking for? Joe has the diamonds and the cash.” I’d so wanted to stay home and do some hunting.

Aunt Eunice shrugged. “Don’t come in tomorrow. I can handle things here. You go search around.” She smiled and winked. “And don’t worry about a thing tonight on your big date.”

“It’s not a date.” I wanted to strangle April the next time I saw her. If she had twisted Ethan’s arm in order for him to ask me to the dance, I’d be mortified. A mischievous plot formed in my head. Surely April had convinced Ethan to ask me. Now I’d get Joe to take her. I knew she had a new dress. She’d planned to tag along with me and her brother.

“I can investigate after work.” I scraped the now lumpy, cooled mix from my hands. “Would you unlock the door and let the customers in? I need to make a phone call.”

Aunt Eunice would probably lecture me on staying out of other people’s business if she knew what I planned, so I ducked into the restroom and dialed my cell phone.

“Joe? It’s me.”

“Hello.” A yawn followed.

“Did I wake you?” I glanced at my watch. Eight thirty. Definitely time for him to be up.

“Yes. I worked late last night, and I’m not scheduled for today. What do you want?”

“Do you have a date for the ball tonight?” I chewed the cuticle of my thumb.

“No, why? You want to go with me?”

“No. Eww. We’re cousins. And not kissing cousins. I happen to know someone who’s dying for you to take her.”

“Who?” His voice perked up.

“April Banning.”

“April? Wants to go with me? I don’t know, Summer. I can’t dance. Especially fancy twirling.”

“She can teach you. It’d be better than her going alone. And, so far, that’s her only option.”

“So you’re telling me I’m better than nothing.”

“Well, yeah.” Duh. “Will you take her or not?”

“Sure. What time do I pick her up?”

“Seven forty-five. At my house. We’re getting ready together. And, Joe, our prowler visited again last night.” I braced myself for what would come next.

“What? Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“I told Aunt Eunice to call you, but she wouldn’t leave her bedroom. I meant to later, after I got downstairs, but Ethan showed up. He scared them off. Have you been able to find out anything about the diamonds?”

Joe’s sigh vibrated through the phone. “Nothing. No fingerprints. No filed reports. Nothing. And, if I did know anything, it’d be classified.”

“Hmm. Okay. Gotta go. Chocolate is waiting. See you tonight.”

I pushed the button to disconnect the call and leaned against the toilet tank. Obviously, I couldn’t rely on the police to find out anything. If I didn’t solve the case, who would?

I pushed the door open and rejoined my aunt who looked at me in obvious puzzlement. Giving her a sheepish smile, I slid my cell phone into my pocket. I could feel her eyes burning into my back as I washed my hands.

“What’s on your mind, Aunt Eunice?”

“Do you always take the phone into the bathroom?”

“The police don’t have any clues on who buried the diamonds or who’s been skulking around the house.” I turned, drying my hands on a white cotton towel.

“And you plan on solving it for them?”

I resumed my perch on the stool. I could do it. I grew up on Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew and avidly read today’s mystery writers. All I had to do was follow the clues, right? “Aren’t you curious?”

“Yes. But not enough to make Roy angry with me. You shouldn’t, either. This person could be dangerous.” She lifted the filled tray of cashew clusters and walked to the refrigerator.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Right.” Aunt Eunice snorted.

“You look beautiful,” I told April. She stood clothed in a sherbet pink gown that floated around her ankles as she moved.

The two of us made a pretty picture, and I smiled. My sky blue dress with a tight bodice and layers of sheer gauze flowed to midcalf. I looked like a princess. Aunt Eunice had outdone herself when she made our ball gowns. We both wore our hair in French twists and kept the makeup subtle. I wanted Ethan to see me. Not my makeup.

The doorbell rang, and Aunt Eunice yelled for us to hurry. I smirked at April’s reflection. “By the way, you’re going to the dance with Joe. He’s picking you up here.” I spun, twirling my dress, and headed downstairs.

“What? Wait!” April ran after me. Catching hold of my arm, she whirled me around. “Stop. What’re you talking about? What do you mean Joe’s taking me to the dance?”

“You like him, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“You had Ethan ask me, and I set you up with Joe. Now we’re even.” I pulled my arm free.

“Summer, I didn’t tell Ethan to ask you. He did that himself.” She shook her head and brushed past, leaving me feeling like an idiot.

Ethan and Joe stood at the bottom of the stairs, corsages in hand, looking absolutely divine in navy suits. Of course, my blond knight looked the best. April hadn’t coerced Ethan to invite me. Could he possibly have romantic feelings toward me? I floated down the stairs. I doubt my stilettos touched the carpet runner.

“Pick Joe’s brain about the case once he’s relaxed,” I whispered in April’s ear. She nodded and linked her arm with the red-faced, off-duty police officer.

Ethan slid from the car and opened the door for me. Tucking my hand through my date’s proffered arm, I felt odd, like a girl going to the prom. Like a nervous sixteen-year-old the high school quarterback asked to the dance.

Holding the door wide, Ethan ushered me inside the dimly lit hall where dancers whirled and twirled across a parquet floor. April and I handed our purses to an elderly man designated as the coat-check person.

The community center glowed with clear twinkle lights both inside and out. They’d polished the wooden floor to a high sheen, and women glided by in gowns of every imaginable color. Since a professional dancer had moved to Mountain Shadows and taught ballroom dancing, a summer ball had become a much-anticipated annual event. Excitement surged through the air with laughter and music.

After a couple of promenades, I remembered why we were there. I scanned the room so often my hair threatened to come loose from its pins. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. No one appeared threatening. I chewed the inside of my lip.

Who is that couple? What about that man over there? Or the woman serving cake?

“I’m right here, Summer.”

“Huh?”

“Me. Ethan Banning. Your date. Your attention is everywhere but where it should be, and even I know that during the fox-trot you’re supposed to be smiling over my right shoulder.”

My face grew warm. “I’m trying to see who all’s here.”

Since he wanted my attention, now would be the perfect time to apologize for lying to him. God, give me the words, please. “Ethan, the other day at the store, I—” A woman so beautiful and so artificial-looking that

I automatically disliked her glided into the room. Her scarlet gown caught the twinkling lights like flames. Her raven hair hung down her back, brushing to where the low-cut gown stopped.

I suddenly felt like I was back in high school, competing against Terri Lee for homecoming queen. I’d lost and childishly still nursed a grudge. I hadn’t forgiven her for telling the principal she’d seen me passed out at an after-game party. She’d gone so far as to blackmail witnesses into backing up her story. I’d withdrawn from the competition in shame, not bothering to clear my name.

Glancing up, I noticed Ethan’s wide-eyed stare and promptly swerved us away from her.

“I’m supposed to lead, Summer.”

“Oh. Right.” I swiveled to see. Where had the vampiress disappeared to? Great. She glided in our direction. “Ethan Banning?” Her voice poured over us like melted butter, complete with a soft Southern drawl.

Nothing nasal about this woman.

“Terri Lee?” Ethan stopped, dropping his hand from my waist. “You’ve grown up.”

“Yes, I have.” Suddenly, her eyes were on me. “How are you, Summer? Living the dream?” Her lips turned up a smirk.

“Yes, actually. I own Summer Confections. The place to buy the finest handmade chocolates.” I kept my hand tight on Ethan’s arm. Forgive me for being catty, Lord, but I’m not going to beat this woman in the looks department.