Chapter 13

The interview concluded. Conrad let Maggie go without making an arrest, just as he'd let Abigail go. He didn't even issue a sternly worded warning.

"Spill and don't leave a thing out," Jane demanded as soon as they were alone. "Why didn't you lob those same accusations at Abigail? She might have confessed?"

"Ms. Johnson will ask her about everything I said, and Waynes-Kirkland will wonder the same thing. She'll doubt her friend and be the first to break."

So smart. "Tell me the rest."

"After I was taken to Pinetum, my deputies spoke with the neighbors. As you know, Christopher saw Miss Waynes-Kirkland arrive at Mr. Thacker's home. He said he was concealed in the shadows of the porch, considering his relationship with Maggie when Waynes-Kirkland parked inside Thacker's garage."

"Abigail's actions speak of extended familiarity. Did she have a key to Jacob's home and let herself in? Or did he help her hide her vehicle from prying eyes?"

"I believe he let her in and yes, to hide her vehicle. Christopher also said he was gathering his stuff while Ms. Johnson slept because he decided to break up with her in the morning, and that's when he discovered the manuscript."

Okay, so maybe Christopher was innocent of murder and only guilty of being a fickle boyfriend. "I was right all along. Abigail was involved from the beginning." But. "Why didn't you mention the manuscript immediately? And why not arrest Abigail and Maggie?" And why did Jane have a niggle? Even though her suspicions were being substantiated right before her eyes.

"I wanted to surprise you. And both women can prove they weren't at the Treasure Room during Hannah's murder. Christopher provided an alibi for Ms. Johnson at the time of Thacker's death, and I'm unsure when Miss Waynes-Kirkland departed from Thacker's home. On top of that, I don't yet know if the mayor's son killed Hannah or if he—they—hired someone else. I need to speak with Lucy before I slap cuffs on the pair."

"I like how you're warming up to my hitman angle." So he had a few strings to tie before he made any arrests. Got it. "Are you certain the ladies spearheaded this whole thing?"

"Yes." He heaved a sigh. "And no."

Yeah. Her shoulders rolled in. "I agree. I haven't shed the feeling we're missing something."

"As far as cat-and-mouse games go, this one is lacking."

"Or it's more nuanced than we realize, because we aren't seeing all the pieces." She heaved a sigh, too. "Why did they try to kill you?" To stop his investigation? Instead, they invigorated Jane's.

"For all they knew, someone in a mask would open the card. Deputy Poteet shouldn't have released the card on site. The goal could've been a simple desire to aim our focus in another direction by pretending to want to add to the body count."

A knock interrupted the conversation. Conrad smiled and stood, saying, "Fiona called me earlier and alerted me that she'd arranged for you and the rest of your wedding party to spend the day at the spa of my choice." He opened the door, revealing Fiona, Tiffany, June and Beau. "Go relax with your friends and enjoy being pampered."

Jane pressed a hand over her now thumping heart. "I like you as much as I love you," she said, rushing over to hug her fiancé, certain of a startling fact. The real family curse was being too afraid to give yourself wholeheartedly to the one you loved. But the curse had lost its hold on her big time.

"I love and like you, too." He pressed the sweetest kiss into her lips.

"We love and like you both," Fiona said, grinning the world's biggest and most wonderful grin. "I'm so glad you two found each other."

The others nodded their agreement.

"Considering I'm your maid of honor, I obviously love and like you more than most." Beau's dry tone drew a snicker from Conrad.

"What about me?" her fiancé asked with an exaggerated pout. "Where's my declaration?"

Beau hiked his shoulders. "You're okay, I guess."

Conrad acted as if he'd received a first-place ribbon at the county fair pie-eating contest, and Jane chuckled. Their bromance was so special.

June sniffled and dabbed at her eyes. "This is so beautiful. You're all so kind to each other, so thoughtful, while I don't have any friends, and I'm so cranky sometimes, Momma calls it Honey Badger June, and right now I'm hungry for waffles and I want a cuddle and to be left alone all at the same time."

Conrad snickered behind his hand. Even Jane had to hide a smile, rolling her lips between her teeth.

She gave the love of her life one more kiss before leaving with her wedding party. And oh, wow, she'd never thought to use those two words in conjunction with herself, but here she was, engaged to the most perfect man ever born.

Beau drove the entire group in Trick's SUV. A quick trip. Jane tried to participate in the chatter, she really did, but her mind continually strayed to the case. What was she missing?

They parked at the Gilded Scissors, exited and made their way to the door. She stopped with her hand on the knob, looked over her shoulder, and focused on the closed down Treasure Room. A piece of yellow crime scene tape billowed in the wind. Her gaze glided over the other shops. At the end of the street was the Golden Food Market, where Christopher had first spotted Abigail.

Had Abigail played the role of Treasure Room lookout from here and signaled the killer at the perfect time to strike?

What if Abigail had worked with Christopher? Was he the missing ingredient? He certainly fit Lucy's description. Again, if Lucy's description was accurate. But how could he be in two places at once?

And what of Donnie?

As a pre-best selling author, Jane should be able to plot this out. Okay. So. Could Christopher have run into Abigail at the store, realized she'd be the perfect alibi, then made the short journey to the Treasure Room without his fellow firemen knowing, killed Hannah, hit Jane, then backtracked? Or maybe one of the other firefighters he'd shopped with had done the deed? By being the first people to reach the crime scene, their prints and DNA covered the site for a legitimate reason. But why would Christopher or another fireman kill Hannah and play games with Jane, if not a gesture of love to Maggie by securing the Treasure Room for her?

But why risk breaking up with Maggie in the middle of a case, if she could spill his darkest secrets?

Speaking of Maggie, the mechanic walked down the sidewalk with a paper coffee cup in hand. She spotted Jane, narrowed her eyes, and jaywalked to the other side before disappearing around a corner.

Jane's thoughts rolled on. What if Christopher had a secret fling going with Abigail? That gave him a reason to kill Jacob–as a romantic rival. And Hannah, too, ensuring Abigail was free to siphon off all of her mark's money. It also explained his breakup with Maggie.

If Christopher loved the socialite, he might do anything she requested.

"Are you not wanting your hair and nails done, Janie?" Beau asked.

Something about his tone… A grin spread over her face. "We aren't really here for beauty treatments, are we?" Conrad picked this salon for a purpose, hadn't he?

"You and I aren't, no."

"You aren't?" Tiffany groaned. "I should have known."

June's brow knitted in confusion. "What are they doing then?"

"Investigating," everyone else said in unison.

As Fiona, Tiffany and June entered the shop, Jane and Beau veered from the group to travel to the rear of the grocery store.

"What are we doing back here?" Jane inquired, wrinkling her nose at the scent of spoiled food coming from the trash dumpster.

"We're scouting all the exits."

Good thinking. Next, they timed a walk to and from the Treasure Room.

Then they timed a jog.

Finally, a full-on run.

Jane stared at her watch in surprise. "A round trip can be done in three minutes. One of the shopping firefighters totally could've run to the Treasure Room, committed the murder, incapacitated me and returned in less than ten minutes without the others noticing his absence."

How long was the killer in the shop? Had any of the firemen stepped away from shopping to, say, go to the bathroom?

Beau nodded, only to shrug. "But did they?"

Yeah, something still felt off.

Jane focused on Beau. "Has Holden found any sign of where Lucy might be staying?"

"Every time he discovers one of her hidey-holes, she's packed up and gone before he arrives."

Argh! Holden was an experienced tracker. Lucy wasn't an expert fugitive. How was the loan officer able to conceal herself so well? Unless someone was helping hide her. Like a partner. Did Jane trust her? Did she trust Christopher? What if the two were working together? A modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. But why target Jane for a game?

Or perhaps Lucy had set up several fake hidey-holes. A means of keeping the tracker busy while she maintained her current, and sole, base.

Hmm. Yeah. That one. Jane would bet her last dollar. Well, maybe not her last dollar. But a few nickels and dimes she found on the street, sure.

During the final trip to the store, she noticed a familiar truck being parked in the lot. Her stomach fluttered with nerves as Christopher emerged. What a perfect chance to question him. But why had he chosen this exact moment to shop? What were the odds? Because no, Jane hadn't started believing coincidences were real. Unless Maggie had called him and mentioned seeing Jane in town, seizing any excuse to reach out to her ex? But why would Christopher want to bump into Jane now? To glean her case findings?

"Do we avoid or confront?" Beau muttered.

"Do you even know me?" she asked, then tsked.

"Jane and Beau," the fireman called, smiling and waving as they approached. "We go a couple years and barely see each other and now we're running into each other left and right."

Did he seem a little too bright and happy, as if he were putting on a show? Of course, she could be noticing strain from his morning break up and discovering his ex-girlfriend might be a killer.

"I'm glad we've been able to catch up," she replied, walking with him into the store. "Why, I was just considering telling Beau I hoped we got to see you today, wasn't I, Beau?"

"Yep." The one word response, uttered in a clipped tone, left Christopher blinking with confusion.

"How's Sheriff Ryan?" the fireman asked as they selected carts.

"He's recovering." An idea popped inside her mind. "I should bake him a casserole. Yes, yes. That's one of the reasons we're here, now that I consider it. There are ingredients to gather."

Christopher unveiled a smile tinged with sadness. "After months staying with Maggie at her place, I moved back into my apartment this morning and realized I had no food."

So maybe he had a decent excuse for being in the right place at the right time. Either way, perfect segue! "Oh? You and Maggie broke up?" she asked, as if she didn't know. Their group of three headed for aisle one.

"Did the sheriff not tell you? I found the manuscript she was co-writing with Abigail and Jacob. You were right to distrust them. They've each kept secrets within secrets. Plotted everything out." He shuddered. "It's horrifying."

"Yes. Learning anyone is capable of anything is always tough." Secrets within secrets.

The phrasing echoed inside her head again and again until a light bulb switched on. Jane stopped short with a gasp. "I just thought of something else I must do." Heart thumping, she released the cart and grabbed hold of Beau, intending to speed away.

"Wait," Christopher said, stopping her. "Did you know teeth are the only part of the human body that can't heal itself? It's because they're coated in enamel, which isn't a living tissue."

"I didn't, but I do now. Bye, Christopher." With a little wave, Jane turned on her heel, finally leading Beau away. "Guide me back to the Treasure Room while I text Conrad."

"What's going on?" Beau asked.

"I think I know where Lucy is." She whipped out her phone and fired off a text to her fiancé.

Jane: Is the Treasure Room cleared for visitors? Either way, meet me there. And hurry! My brilliance will blow your mind.

Agent Spice: Since it's clear your magnificent brain has stumbled upon something significant, I will be there in five minutes.

She and Beau reached the destination first, but they didn't have to wait long. Conrad arrived and shifted the crime scene tape to allow them through the door.

"What are we looking for?" the lawman asked.

"You'll see." Jane went straight to the secret room and scanned the space. "Move the table from the rug." She pointed to the round, solid oak antique atop a square of hand stitched wool with a floral design.

The boys obeyed without question, careful of any markers the police had left behind. Biceps strained, and she fanned her cheeks.

"I should ask you guys to move the furnishings in the cottage because wow. This is the show of a lifetime."

Both snorted, though their timbres were quite different.

"Now move the rug," she instructed.

They tried and failed. Frowning, Conrad looked things over. "There's a hook that connects it to the wood."

"That's not normal," Beau stated, freeing the rug from the hindrance, allowing them to move the fabric without problem.

Well, the hook made total sense if she was right. Jane examined the wood floor and clapped. A faint grouping of lines. She rushed over to feel for some sort of latch—yes! She lifted a bundle of slats, revealing a doorway to a well-lit set of steps.

"A secret room inside a secret room," she boasted, all ta da.

"How did I not think to look for this?" A frowning Conrad unsheathed his weapon. "I should punch myself."

A scowling Beau eased Jane backward, saying, "You aren't the only one."

The two descended first, and she followed, entering a sprawling underground chamber complete with living space, a comfortable-looking bed and efficient kitchenette.

A woman sat on a pillow-covered couch, headphones on her ears, jamming out as she read over a stack of papers. She didn't appear to be crunching numbers for tax season.

Noticing her audience, she jumped to her feet with a gasp, knocking over a metal mid-century lamp. The headphones tumbled to the floor. Clad in leggings, oversized sweatshirt and cozy slippers, their "hostess" obviously planned to be here for the long haul.

"Stay where you are and put your hands in the air," Conrad commanded.

Jane smiled and waved with her fingers. "Hello, Lucy."