CHAPTER 26

C HAPTER 26

"Believe her to be deceived, by all means.

You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer."

—Elizabeth Bennet, in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

"I can't let you do this on your own," I said. "It's not safe. I'm going with you. I'll sneak into Rick's room." She started to argue. I lifted a finger to quiet her. "You'll distract him and your mother."

After we finished cleaning up the shop and dousing the lights, I packed Darcy into his crate, got into my Ford Transit, and followed Tegan to the Blue Lantern. I left the cat in the van, window rolled halfway down.

Guests were in the parlor enjoying dessert when Tegan and I entered. Helga was clearing empty dishes from the various tables.

Tegan approached her. "Helga, where are Mom and Rick?"

"They are sitting in the backyard, enjoying the night air. Would you like me to announce you?"

"No," Tegan said. "Thanks." She turned to me and whispered, "They're still outside. Perfect. You'll need a key to his room. Unlike you, we still lock our doors at the inn." She beckoned me to follow her to the front desk, where she tapped a code into the security panel of the key cabinet. She swung the door open and located the duplicate key on a fob for Rick's room. "Mom hasn't advanced to the twenty-first century. No magnetized door keys yet," she confided. "You have to return this. If she finds it missing, I'll be in hot water. Only Helga, Vanna, and I know the code to this key cabinet."

"Which is?"

"Four-three-zero-zero."

Tegan fetched a cup of tea from the parlor and, shaking tension from her neck and shoulders, proceeded to the rear porch. I tiptoed up the stairs.

Rick's room was at the end of the hallway. Like Tegan's, it faced the backyard. I sneaked inside, not surprised that the layout was also similar to Tegan's. The hurricane lamp and lantern-motif light were on. The bed had been turned down. A wrapped Godiva chocolate sat on each pillow. Through the break in the drapes, I spied lanterns hanging from shepherds' hooks in the yard. They created a magical ambience. I dared to step closer to see if Rick, Noeline, or Tegan might be sitting on a bench where they could have an angle to view inside his room. They weren't, and I breathed easier.

Swinging around, I studied the space. Where would Rick have hidden a couple of keys? I scoped out the bureau and rifled through the drawers. I inspected the nightstand. I checked beneath the coffee table. Nada.

I spotted Rick's briefcase on the couch. I rummaged through the outer pocket, but didn't find any keys. I peered into the interior and paused when I spotted an envelope embossed with Bramblewood Savings and Loan poking from the computer slot. I gingerly plucked it out. It had been sealed at one time but was now open and empty. Was this the envelope that had held Marigold's one hundred thousand dollar withdrawal? Would Rick have been brazen enough to deposit the money in his personal account, or was the money in the room somewhere ?

Perhaps hidden between the mattresses or in the closet? I went to peek in the latter, but froze when I heard Tegan say loudly, "Allie went home." It sounded as if she was projecting to the last row of a theater. Was she trying to warn me? Had Rick caught sight of me in his room? Maybe Helga had stepped outside and asked my whereabouts.

"Yes," Tegan went on. "She was here because she wanted to make sure I got home safely. I've been so frazzled since Auntie died, and with Winston hounding me . . ." Her voice drifted off.

I tiptoed to the drapes and peeked out. Rick had moved from the shadows and was standing beside one of the lanterns, but he wasn't looking in the direction of the inn. He was staring up at the stars.

Quickly I snapped a picture of the bank envelope with my cell phone and reinserted the envelope into the briefcase. I slipped out of Rick's room, returned the room key to the key cabinet, as instructed, and hustled to the van. Darcy let out a low rumble. I shushed him, flicked on the ignition, and sped down the drive while peering into the rearview mirror. I didn't see Rick or Noeline come into view. I was in the clear.

Minutes later, as I was doing triple duty—transmitting the image of the envelope to Zach, while rounding the corner to my street and unzipping Darcy's carry crate so he knew freedom was seconds away—my Apple Watch buzzed my wrist. On the screen blinked a security company notification that an alarm was going off at Dream Cuisine. Someone had breached the rear door. It was probably a false alarm, but if I didn't clear the problem, the police would come, and I'd be charged a fee. I made a U-turn and told Darcy to hunker down.

I arrived at Dream Cuisine in under three minutes and parked in the alley behind the building. I slung my tote over my shoulder and lifted Darcy in his crate. The rear door wasn't ajar, but it was unlocked, which gave me pause. I always bolted it. Always.

Glancing right and left, not seeing anyone lying in wait for me, I eased the door open. I didn't detect movement, but that didn't mean anything. I wouldn't be able to hear someone creeping about with the alarm system blaring. A prowler could be hiding. Darcy didn't make a peep, however, which calmed me. I flipped on a light that illuminated the area—I was alone—and tapped in the four-digit code. Miraculously, the alarm switched off on the first try.

I made a tour of the site, hoping nothing had been stolen. Everything appeared in order, but I wanted to count items, in case I needed to file an insurance claim. My cell phone jangled. The security company was calling. I answered and told the woman the passcode: "I love books." I apologized for the mistake. She told me it was no problem. Things happened. The police would not be dispatched.

I closed the door and bolted it, tossed my keys onto the desk, and placed Darcy's crate on the floor. He poked his head out. I petted his ears and cooed that it was all right. He could get out if he liked. I wasn't going to be baking. He mewed his relief and scrambled out. In a couple of sprightly leaps, he landed at the top of a set of shelves affixed to a wall and nestled down. I fetched a clipboard and a pen and retraced my steps, counting the pans hanging from hooks and the knives on the magnetic rack.

Something went creak.

Darcy caterwauled. I whirled around, my tote swinging wildly, and saw the door to the pantry opening.

Rick O'Sheedy emerged with a Beretta aimed in my direction. He was twirling a ring of keys in his other hand—quick-release keys like mine—and I wilted. He'd swiped a duplicate key from my key ring. When? I wondered, until it dawned on me. It had to have been the other night when the shutter clacked and thumped the side of the house. Seconds later, the front door blew open. Rick must have raced in, swiped the key, and darted out before I could grab the fire poker and catch him in the act.

"Why are you here?" I asked, doing my best not to sound scared spitless. "Didn't Helga offer you dessert?"

"I saw you sneaking out of the inn. I followed you the moment you left."

If only I'd checked the rearview mirror.

"You continued toward home," he continued, "giving me just enough time to come here, trip the alarm, and slip inside the pantry." He smirked. "You're smart, but you're too curious for your own good, young lady."

Darcy hissed.

"My cat hates when anybody calls me a ‘lady,' " I quipped.

Rick's mouth curled up in a sneer. "Ha-ha." He wagged the gun. "Walk into the refrigerator."

"I forgot to wear my anorak. I'll pass."

"I said go."

"Actually, you said ‘walk.' "

"Don't make me shoot you," he growled.

I sized up what weapons I had at my disposal. A kitchen was full of them, like knives and sauté pans. But he'd shoot me before I could grab one of them. Then I remembered my tote. It was as heavy as an anvil, I reasoned. Ask my mother.

"Marigold hired a detective to investigate you," I said.

"So I heard."

"You read the PDF?"

"What PDF?"

He didn't know about that? Then how had he learned about the probe? I flashed on his Dates and Places profile and wanted to palm slap my forehead a second time. Before being a sales rep, he'd worked in banking telecommunications. Had he bugged the bookstore, perhaps setting up the surveillance when he was supposedly using the bathroom in the stockroom? Had he listened to Tegan and me discussing our next move? For that matter, had he tapped my cell phone and eavesdropped on my conversation with Frank Fitzwilliam? I hadn't thought to look for reconnaissance equipment in his room at the inn.

"Move."

"The police will figure out you used to sell pharmaceuticals. They'll realize you're savvy enough to have poisoned Marigold."

"With you gone, I doubt it."

"One question."

"Shoot." He snickered. "Oh, gee, you can't." He waggled the Beretta. "I've got the gun."

"Why did you trigger the alarm here?" I took a small step toward the refrigerator while getting a firm grip on the strap of my tote. "Why not kidnap me at my house? You felt comfortable stealing in the other night."

"Aha. You figured that out. Clever girl."

Darcy yowled.

"My cat doesn't like when someone calls me ‘girl,' either," I said.

"To answer your question, why did I come here? I thought it would be easier to contain you. The space is limited, and let's face it, sealing you in the refrigerator is, in a word, brilliant. When someone finds you days from now, they'll think how careless you were to let the door close. Keep moving."

Rick had to know there was a safety lock on the inside. He wasn't just going to put me into the refrigerator. He intended to knock me out. I'd freeze before I roused.

I took another baby step. Had Zach seen the text I'd sent him with the image of the empty bank envelope? Would he realize what it signified? I said, "Marigold offered you a hundred K to walk out of Noeline's life, didn't she? "

Rick didn't respond, meaning yes.

"Why didn't you take it and go?" I pressed.

"Because I fell in love with Noeline."

"As if."

"It's true. I decided to stick around."

"How long do you think you can hide the truth?"

"A long, long time."

"Tell me this," I said, rounding the granite island, judging the distance between us. I'd only get one chance to swing my tote. "Did you also take Marigold's ring?"

"What ring?"

"A diamond-and-ruby target ring, circa 1920, value seventy-nine thousand dollars."

Rick whistled. "Alas, no, that evaded me. Oh, well. C'mon, now, don't dally any longer. I told Noeline I was going out for coffee. I need to pick it up before I return."

I made eye contact with Darcy. He was standing on the shelving, ears pricked, tail bristled and stiff. Good boy, I tried to transmit via ESP. I took one small step and then, giving the command like I would for a game of Pounce, I raised my chin and nodded.

Darcy leaped to the floor . The action startled Rick.

At the same time, I whacked Rick in the arm with my tote. He dropped the Beretta. I kicked it away and hit him again. The tote connected with his ear. He groaned and fell to his knees.

I whooped. Let's hear it for recipe cards, books, e-readers, and to-do lists.

Darcy leaped onto Rick's neck and clawed. Rick let out a shriek.

Someone pounded on the rear door. Remembering I'd locked it, I raced to it, threw the latch, and swung it open.

Zach was standing there with Bates. Zach's gun was aimed .

Gratitude and relief caught in my throat. "How did you—"

"The security alerts filter through the station. Yours rang for quite a while. After seeing your text with the photo of the bank envelope, I decided to check this place out, even though you used the proper code to disarm the system. Are you all right?"

"I am now."