A midsummer nights fudge, p.7
A Midsummer Night's Fudge, page 7
“You mean if the bullets match to the same gun,” I concluded.
“Yes, that’s what took us so long. We had real trouble finding the bullet. She had a clear exit wound and we had hoped to match bullets. My next thought is maybe she was killed somewhere else and dumped in that bush.”
“But you found the bullet?”
“No,” he said. “But we won’t stop looking. Shane is taking the evidence we have back to the lab in St. Ignace to see if we can connect the two murders or we have two murderers on the island.”
“I hate to say it, but I sure hope it’s only one murderer. They have to be someone local,” I said. “This feels like someone was mad about the festival and a fudgy wouldn’t have any reason to be mad.”
“Right now, the festival is the only connection between the two,” he agreed. “Patricia really didn’t witness anything that could lead us to the killer. So, for now, we’re going to treat it like they are two separate cases.”
“Still, now I’m really worried for Carol, Michelle, and Amy. Especially after Carol got that threat.”
“We’ll have patrol watching over everyone,” he tried to reassure me.
“Okay,” I said. “I guess I need to accept that.”
“Please do,” he said. “I don’t want you to get hurt trying to find the killer.”
“I won’t get hurt,” I said with my fingers crossed behind my back.
“Does that mean you won’t investigate?”
“You know I can’t promise you that,” I said. “I have connections. The seniors might know something.”
Rex blew out a long breath and rubbed his hand across his face in resignation. “Just be careful. If you think you’ve found the killer, please come to me first before you go trying to find hard proof.”
“But you can’t do anything without hard proof, right? We don’t want to jeopardize your case or have you called out for harassment.”
“But I can’t have you putting your life in danger,” he said.
“I won’t,” I said.
“Allie ...”
“Well, I’ll try really hard not to.”
He sighed. “I guess that’s all I can ask at this point.” Then he reached over and squeezed my hand. “You and Mal can go home now. I won’t be over for dinner; there’s just too much paperwork to do.”
“And a killer to catch,” I said and stood.
“Yes,” he said and stood as well. He gave me a soft, fast kiss and shepherded me through the bullpen to the front door.
“What can I tell Liz?”
He looked thoughtful. “You can tell her anything,” he said. “Except how Patricia was killed. Let’s keep that between us for now. Okay?”
“Okay.” I kissed him again for good measure and Mal and I stepped out into the late afternoon. Rex didn’t want me to investigate, but he also knew that I was going to do it anyway. I liked that he knows I’m my own person and can make my own decisions. Now all I had to do is figure out who would want both women dead and why. Two killers was not reasonable. At least that’s what I hoped.
Chapter 14
The next morning was spent making fudge. Madison had agreed to come for a second training day, forfeiting her days off. I showed her how to help me with my ten o’clock demonstration and how to work the cash register. She picked up on things very quickly and was a lot of fun to work with.
“I’m going to leave you on your own,” I said and moved out of the fudge shop. “Frances is here if you have any questions.”
“Got it,” Madison said.
After I showered and changed, I came down to see Frances. “I’m going to go see Carol,” I said to Frances as she worked the registration desk. The next wedding party started to come in today for the Friday-night festivities and Jenn was running around with last-minute touches. But my mind was on the committee members.
“Be safe,” Frances said. “You were gone a long time yesterday.”
“I’m hoping Carol can help me figure out the who and the why of this situation. The killer has to be someone she knows.”
“But if she’s a target, you could get hurt along with her,” Frances pointed out. “So be careful.”
“I will,” I said and left through the back door. I’d left Mal with Frances. If I was going to do some sleuthing, I didn’t want my pup to get hurt, no matter how good her nose was at finding clues.
“Allie, wait up!”
I turned to see Amy coming toward me with a wave. “Hi, Amy. How are you?”
“I was looking for you and Frances said you were on your way to Carol’s house?”
“Yes, to check on her, and check on you as well. Carol got a threatening note under her door the other day and I’m worried the killer is after the entire committee.”
“Oh dear, a threatening note? That’s terrible,” she said.
“It threatened the ladies of the festival committee and then I found Patricia dead and now I’m really worried.”
“Well, don’t worry about me, I’m fit as a fiddle,” Amy said. “But I was wondering if I could buy you a coffee. I have something I need your help with.”
“Sure,” I said.
She walked with me to the Beanery, but it was hopping at lunchtime, so we got our coffees and found a bench near the marina.
“What can I help you with?” I asked.
“This is terrible to ask, but I was wondering if you could do some sleuthing for me,” she said. “Everyone knows how good you are at sniffing out bad behaviors.”
“Sleuthing for what? Has someone else been murdered?”
“Not yet, but he’s going to be,” she said. “It’s my husband. I think he’s having an affair and I was wondering if you would help me find out if it’s true or not. I know it’s not what you do, but I’m really desperate here. He’s gone three nights a week and tells me he’s working overtime, but I’m not sure I believe him.” Tears came to her eyes.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry,” I said and gave her a hug. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Mackinac is a small place. If he’s having an affair, someone’s going to know about it.”
“That’s why I thought of you. You have connections to people that might be able to help.”
“I tell you what,” I said. “I’ll ask around for you and see what I can come up with and I’ll be discreet.”
“Thank you so much,” she said. “It will be a relief to find out the truth.”
“Have you asked him? I know that sounds simplistic, but sometimes confronting people with the question gets you a true answer.”
“I’ve asked him,” she said. “He said he was working late.”
“Where does he work?”
“He works at the stables,” she answered. “He’s a blacksmith part-time and then he works the ferries part-time as a driver.”
“Well, you can be sure he’s at work if he’s working the ferries,” I said. “But blacksmithing might be where he’s not exactly telling the truth. When does he work late next?”
“Wednesday,” she said. “He’ll go straight from the ferry docks to the stable.”
“We can do a stakeout,” I suggested. “You know, follow him and see what he does.”
“You would do that for me?”
“I would,” I said. “But the thing is, there’s a killer out there who may be targeting the festival committee, so please stay home and stay safe in the meantime. Okay? Promise me you’ll not venture out on your own before then.”
“I promise.” She hugged me. “Thank you, I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’ll ask around, too. Someone might know something.” I stood. “I’m going to go check on Carol and Michelle.”
“I saw Michelle at the administration building,” Amy said. “She looked fine to me.”
“Great, if you see her again, can you tell her about the threat and ask her to notify the police if she wants someone to go by her house at night.”
“I’ll tell her,” Amy said.
I walked off toward Carol’s house thinking about Amy’s request. I’d never sleuthed out a cheating spouse before and I certainly hoped Amy was ready for whatever we found out.
Salted Caramel White Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients:
3 cups of white chocolate chips
1 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
4 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: 1 cup of chopped pecans
1 cup of room temperature caramel sauce (The kind you
might put on ice cream.)
1 teaspoon coarse grain sea salt
Directions:
Line an 8x8-inch pan with buttered parchment paper. In a microwave safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir. Repeat until the chips are nearly all melted. Stir until smooth. Add butter and vanilla and combine until smooth. Add nuts if desired. Pour into pan. Then place the room temperature caramel in a decorating bag. Make crisscrossed lines over the fudge. Use a knife to swirl the caramel into the fudge. Add a sprinkling of salt. Cool in the refrigerator. Cut into one-inch slices. Makes 64. Enjoy!
Chapter 15
The walk to Carol’s house was breezy and warmer than the night before. My light sweater was all I needed.
“Allie,” Irma Gooseman called after me. “Yoo-hoo, Allie!”
I stopped and turned around and watched as the older woman rushed to catch up with me. She wore an exercise outfit and running shoes, so it didn’t take her long. “Hello, Irma.”
“How are you, Allie? I understand you found Patricia dead yesterday. It must have been quite a shock.”
“It was,” I said. “Have you talked to Carol?”
“About that dreadful note? I certainly have,” Irma said with a shake of her head. “I heard they have a policeman coming by her place every hour or so to make sure she is safe. Do you think the two things are connected?”
“Well,” I said and walked up the hill toward Carol’s home. “I don’t think there’s such a thing as coincidence. I’m guessing that the festival committee is being targeted, starting with the chair and vice chairs.”
“Oh, dear, I’m suddenly glad I didn’t volunteer for this committee. You see, I was visiting my daughter the first two weeks the committee started making plans. Not exactly a good time to be on a committee.”
“No, I suppose it’s not,” I said. “Have you seen Carol? Do you know how she’s holding up?”
“I was headed that way when I saw you,” Irma said. “I missed her on her daily walk, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to drop in for a cup of coffee.”
“I was thinking the same,” I said. We approached Carol’s bungalow. I climbed the three short steps and walked onto the white porch with the ceiling painted sky blue. Irma hurried behind me and reached out to knock on the door.
“Carol, are you home, dear?”
I saw the curtains in the front room move and then Carol opened the door. “Hi, ladies,” Carol said. “Please come in.”
We stepped inside. I took off my shoes and left them by the door and followed the two senior ladies through the front parlor, dining area, and into the kitchen in the back.
“I hope you have some coffee cake,” Irma said as she sat down. “All this running has really worked up an appetite.”
“I made one this morning,” Carol said. “Allie, honey, sit down. There are four chairs. I’ve got coffee ready.”
I sat and watched Carol pull out three thick mugs and pour in the richly scented brew.
“I know Irma and I take ours with sugar and cream. What do you like in your coffee, Allie?”
“I like cream,” I said.
She put the three mugs on the table and then rummaged through the cupboards until she found a sugar bowl and creamer. She filled the creamer with milk and put them both on the table.
“Carol, you still don’t have any of the pink packets?” Irma asked.
“Sugar is good for the body,” Carol said. “You don’t need all that artificial stuff.” Then she pulled a cake stand off the counter, opened the metal top to display a sweet cinnamon ring of cake with blueberries embedded inside.
“Can I help you with the cake?” I asked.
“Sit down, Allie, it’s no trouble at all,” Carol said. Within minutes she had cake slices cut and served and sat with us stirring sugar and cream in her coffee. “I’m sure you’re both here to check up on me after Patricia’s death.”
“Allie found her,” Irma said. “Allie, how was she killed? Just like Winona?”
“I shouldn’t say how she was killed,” I said. “Just that she was and that Mal and I found her in the lilac bushes across from the school.”
“But we’re sure that the killer is bumping off members of the committee and that means you’re in danger, Carol,” Irma said.
“The police have been by the house nearly every hour,” Carol said. “I’m fine. I have my doors and windows locked. Besides, now that Allie is on the committee, she’s in as much danger as I am.”
“But it sounds like you are a prisoner in your own home,” I said. “I don’t like it. We need to find out who is killing members of the committee and why.”
“Well, we know why,” Irma said. “They’re mad because Natasha didn’t win the queen title.”
“I’m not sure,” I hedged. “What if someone wants us to believe that?”
“It’s the Alpines,” Irma concluded. “They think the sun rises and sets with that Natasha. Did you see how horrified they were when she was disqualified?”
“It would seem if it were the Alpines, they would be mad at the auditors who audited the ballots and the information,” I said. “By the way, how did they come to discover the lapse in community service hours? I mean, weren’t they all signed for and verified before the end of the pageant?”
“No,” Carol said. “There was a delay because Percy Miners was out sick. They only got the results the night of the announcement.”
“I don’t think that the Alpines would just murder people because they’re mad,” I said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Yes, well, you don’t know them like we do,” Irma said. “If anyone is capable of murder, it’s them.”
“We went and talked to Helen,” I pointed out. “It would be stupid of them to murder again, knowing that Carol and I both went to the house and offered a truce.”
“A truce?” Irma said.
“Yes,” I went on. “We figured that they were mad because Natasha needed a sponsor for the Miss Mackinac Island pageant, and I offered to have the McMurphy sponsor her.”
“And Helen turned us down flat,” Carol said. “She said that they didn’t need our pity sponsorship ... or something along those lines.”
“Well,” Irma said and sat back. “Well, if it’s not the Alpines, who is it? According to everyone, the festival was a huge success. Why kill committee members now?”
“Maybe it’s not festival related,” I posited.
“It’s true,” Carol said. “Only my note mentions the pageant. What else were Winona and Patricia working on?”
“We need to really dive into both women’s lives and see where they connect,” I said.
“Irma and I will gather information from the seniors,” Carol said. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to talk to the Chamber of Commerce and see what other festival ideas were running through Winona and Patricia’s heads and what other committees they were on.”
“Sounds good,” Carol said. “We’ll meet back here in two days.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I’ve got one more question. Have you heard anything about Amy’s husband Rick having an affair? Mackinac is a small island and I thought someone might have said something.”
“No,” Carol said. “I haven’t. Have you, Irma?”
“Not a thing,” Irma said. “As far as I know he and Amy are happily married.”
“Okay, well, if you hear anything, would you let me know?”
“Certainly,” they both agreed.
“Good, I’ve got some work to do at the McMurphy so it might take me some time to gather data about Winona and Patricia. But I’ll head out to check on Michelle and then hit up the Chamber of Commerce from there.” I stood. “Thanks for the coffee and cake.”
“You didn’t eat near enough. I’ll cut you off a chunk to take back for your gang at the McMurphy. I know at the very least Rex could use some fattening up.”
“I think he looks pretty good as he is now,” Irma said and winked at me. “Wish I was about thirty years younger.”
I shook my head. “No comments on my love life, okay?” “I wasn’t commenting on your love life,” Irma said and raised her hands in surrender. “I was talking about Officer Manning’s fine physique.”
“Don’t mind her,” Carol said and handed me a plate full of the rich cake. “Take this back to the McMurphy. It’s too much for me alone.”
“Thanks,” I said and left the house through the back door. Carol didn’t have a fenced yard. Probably because she had an indoor cat and didn’t need to fence her yard. I stepped out of the yard and to the street when I saw Charles ride by on his bike. He nodded at me and I waved back as best I could with a platter full of cake in my hand. At least they were looking out for Carol. If the festival was the reason for the killer to attack, it was best if Carol was looked after.
Chapter 16
After I dropped the cake off with a hungry Douglas and smiling Frances, I went straight to Michelle’s house. She lived in a large Victorian cottage with gorgeous gardens of flowers spilling over into a green lawn. I knocked on the door and she answered. “Allie, what brings you here?”
“I came to check on you,” I said. “Wow, your home is beautiful. Is it your family home?”
There was a curved wraparound porch and a bright white turret with blue and green accents.
“Yes, it’s been in my family over one hundred years. Please,” she said. “Come in. Can I get you anything?”
“Oh, I’m good,” I said as I stepped into the large, paneled foyer painted an airy white. “How long has your family lived on the island?”
