Trash To Treasure Crafting 1 - Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel (22 page)

“I know her. She’s just as mean as her
mama.”

Bless Claire Ann for being able to keep a
sense of humor at a time like this. I held my hand over my mouth to
stifle my giggle.

“Don’t just sit there. Get up,” Judy ordered
Claire Ann.

Claire Ann bit her lip to keep from spewing a
snarky comment at Judy as she stumbled up from the floor. Judy and
Maggie both scowled.

“I said, get up!” Her sneering look grew.

“She’s trying,” I said.

“Shut up or I’ll blow your head off,” Judy
snapped.

Maggie looked over at me with what might be
described as remorse in her eyes. Why was I getting the brunt of
the abuse? As far as I could tell, there was no way for us to get
out of this situation. No one knew what was going on behind the
walls of Judy’s innocent-looking house. Judy was full of putrid
evil.

Judy pulled two more chairs from the hallway
into the center of the room; all the while Maggie pointed the gun
at us. “Sit.”

I moved over, but my gaze never left Judy.
Claire Ann sat in one chair and I eased into the other. What the
heck was she going to do to us? Judy was distracted with Maggie
again, so I took the opportunity to talk.

“She’s going to kill us,” Claire Ann
whispered.

“You don’t know that. We’ve got to keep
positive thoughts. You have to remain strong,” I said.

“That’s almost impossible given our current
situation.”

Claire Ann looked as if she was on the verse
of freak-out mode.

Chapter Thirty-One

“Do you have any suggestions to get us out of
this?” Claire Ann snapped.

“No, but I’m not about to let her kill
us.”

“You got us into this mess. I told you not to
come over here.” A panic had settled in her voice.

“You didn’t have to follow me, you know,” I
said.

Claire Ann snorted. “Someone has to save your
ass.”

“Now you’re a tough girl again? I thought
that façade faded when the cat jumped from the shed?”

“Well, you thought wrong,” she huffed.

“You know this woman better than I do. Do you
have any suggestions on how to get her to let us go?”

“Just because I know her doesn’t mean I know
the inner workings of her mind.” Claire Ann let out a deep sigh. “I
doubt anyone could figure out that mess.”

We sat in silence, waiting for their next
move. My leg twitched and Claire Ann fiddled with her thumbs. Judy
paced around the room, mumbling under her breath, then chewing on
her nails. Her scarlet face twisted with anger. Sweat broke out on
her forehead like dew.

Claire Ann looked at me. “What’s with her
outfit?” Judy wore camouflage pants and T-shirt.

“Maybe she’s going hunting. How should I
know? We have to think of something to get out of here.”

“Maybe she’s hunting for us. You said you
called Kent earlier?” she asked.

“Yes, but I just left a message. Who knows if
he even got it.”

Claire Ann let out another deep breath.

“Shut up, you hussies.” Judy screeched out
the vehement command. Her mouth twisted as she stuck her wrinkled
face close to mine. Maggie cocked the gun from her post in the
corner of the room.

Without a doubt, Judy had something to do
with the murder of Nancy and that realization took my fear to a
whole new level. My heart pounded harder.

“You know, there is a way for you to escape
here alive.” She smiled, trying to sound sweet.

I didn’t answer. Whatever she had in mind
couldn’t be good.

Without waiting for my response, she
continued, “Basically you give me the house. Simple enough, huh? It
was supposed to be mine, anyway. Oh, and pay me, too. Yeah, I’m
going to need some funds also.” She smirked. “Just like Mrs.
Mathers and Nancy paid me. They were stupid bitches just like you
two.” She pointed at Claire Ann, then to me. “Nosing around where
they didn’t belong. They paid me money and I didn’t kill them.
Simple as that.”

The lump in my throat grew. She was more
disgusting than I’d imagined… and that was bad. Taking money from
an old woman.

Judy paced across the floor, delivering her
ultimatum. “So what do you say? We got a deal?”

“Give her the house. Let’s just get out of
here.” Claire Ann certainly was a hard nut to crack.

I glared at Claire Ann, then focused my
attention on our captor. “I don’t have money, Judy.” Maybe I
shouldn’t have admitted that. With the gun pointed in my direction,
I shouldn’t have pushed my luck by talking too much.

Claire Ann groaned.

I’d gotten us into a pickle and I needed a
plan. My mind raced and my thoughts were muddled. Panic and shock
consumed me.

Even worse, fear covered Claire Ann’s face.
I’d never hassle her again if we got out of this mess. She could
possibly lose her life because of me. If Judy didn’t kill me,
Claire Ann might for getting her into this mess. Thinking of
puppies and babies wasn’t helping to calm my nerves. Nothing I
thought of helped ease the apprehension running through my
body.

Claire Ann sat perfectly still, hiding her
fear. She was always so brave, but I knew it wouldn’t last for much
longer. I felt the energy buzzing off her and she’d probably freak
out at any minute. The guilt for dragging her into this situation
mounted. It was my fault she was in this mess.

A sneer of disgust covered Judy’s face. “I
wanted what was rightfully mine. I talked to the old bag and baked
her cookies and she left you the house! That Nancy bitch had been
poking around over there, too. Probably trying to befriend the old
woman. She got too nosey and discovered the shed over here. You saw
what happened to her.” She paced in front of me, wringing her
hands.

“It doesn’t have to be this way, Judy.” Yeah,
what could I tell her to get out of this? She knew we’d rat her out
to the police the first chance we got.

“That’s enough talking. The drone of your
voice gets on my last nerve.” Her tone grew darker. “I’m tired of
dealing with you bitches.”

She ticked me off calling us bitches. “You
won’t get away with this, you know?”

Judy chortled. “Why not? I got away with the
first one. What’s two more?”

“Even if you kill us, you still won’t get the
house,” I said.

“Maybe. But… I have to kill you. Y’all know I
killed Nancy. And I doubt y’all will keep your fat traps shut.
That’s the last thing I need is you talking all over town. And I
know that one likes to talk.” She pointed to Claire Ann.

Judy wasn’t about to loosen her grip on the
weapon. It would be hard to fight her considering she had a gun.
Silence surrounded us. Only a few birds chirped outside the
window.

“I still don’t know why you took the
candlestick from my house.” Oops. I shouldn’t have reminded her
that it was my house now. Not at this moment. Talk about bad
timing.

She chuckled. “What are you stupid? I’m
framing you for her murder. God, you’re so dumb. No wonder your
husband left you. Everyone in town hates you now. Not that they
ever really liked you.” She chuckled. “So how about you shut up
before I hush you up permanently? You’re giving me a headache.”

She really was bonkers.

I watched, my heart pounding, as Judy paced
across the floor, from the old pine kitchen table to the worn-out
brown leather sofa at the edge of the living room.

“Don’t you think the sheriff will be
suspicious of you? Do you think you’re smarter than the police?” I
asked.

She stopped in her tracks, then whirled
around to face me. “Shut up, I said! I can’t concentrate on my
plan.”

Did she have a plan? It looked more like she
was winging it. Sweat beaded on my forehead. Things were not
looking good.

“I don’t think it’s my talking that makes it
hard for her to concentrate,” I whispered.

My eyes wide, I glanced over at Claire Ann.
Despite our fear, we had to stifle a laugh. Judy moved closer,
flashing a wicked grin as she pointed the gun back and forth
between us. My face hurt from where she’d hit me. I said a silent
prayer—it was my only hope of escaping the crazy woman.

Claire Ann sat without making a peep. I
turned to look at her.

“Will you ever forgive me? I’m so sorry,” I
whispered, “I just wanted to get to the bottom of things. My plan
wasn’t very well thought-out, as usual.”

“You seriously need to stop reading those
mystery books, you know.”

I stared at her.

“In real life normal people don’t solve
crimes,” she added.

“I’m not sure I believe that. The police
aren’t the only smart ones. What about private investigators?”

“They’re professionals.”

Maybe I shouldn’t confront Claire Ann at that
moment, but since we were about to die, I’d get everything off my
chest.

“Why did you tell the mayor’s wife about my
idea with the buildings?” I asked.

“I really didn’t. You need to trust me, you
know. I wouldn’t lie to you. What reason would I have to talk with
her? She doesn’t like me either.”

I stared at her. “I just thought maybe you’d
interviewed her or something. I’m sorry.”

“You can’t build up a wall and leave it there
forever. Ross is history and not everyone will lie to you,” she
said.

Claire Ann was one hundred percent correct.
I’d been keeping my distance from Kent because of the wall I built
around me, too. Maybe it was time for that to change. Just because
he had been friends with Ross didn’t mean I couldn’t trust Kent.
They were completely different people.

“You’re right.” I nodded. “My guest did
overhear my conversation. Maybe it was him. Heck, for all I know,
she may have the house bugged. Maybe she’s listening to phone
calls. She’s crazy enough to try it.”

“Better chance of it being your guest than
me, don’t you think? Honest, I didn’t tell her.” Claire Ann paused,
then continued, “She was in the store when I was talking with my
uncle. Maybe she overheard me talking to him about your idea.”

“Claire Ann, I’m so sorry. Sometimes I can be
a pain in the ass. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

“You can be a pain in the ass.” She nodded
with a smile. “It’s okay. You’ve been under a lot of stress—”

Judy moved and she stopped talking. Judy had
been distracted by the conversation with her daughter again. She
stood near our chairs and stared out the window. A loud rattling
knock at the front door made all of us look up. Judy glanced at
Maggie. Another knock at the door rang out.

Maggie shrugged her shoulders and mouthed, “I
don’t know who it is.”

“Just be quiet,” Judy whispered as she moved
closer to the wall. I prayed whoever was at the door would look in
the window and see us. Maybe they’d come to the back door and see
Maggie with the old shotgun pointed at us. I knew in spite of
praying, Kent wouldn’t know we were here, though. That fantasy was
out the window.

“Judy, I know you’re in there,” the male
voice called out.

Another deafening pound.

“You owe me money and I’ll get it one way or
another. You remember what I did to Don.”

“Damn,” Judy cursed.

“Mom, what are we going to do? It’s Dwight.
He’ll come in here and hurt us.”

“I’ll take care of him. You watch these two.”
Judy disappeared down the hall. The front door creaked as she
opened it.

“You got the stuff?” the man asked before I
assumed Judy shut the door on their conversation.

This was our chance. The only one we’d get.
Commandeering the gun from Maggie was the only way out. Claire
Ann’s gaze met mine. I motioned my head toward Maggie and a look of
recognition flashed in her eyes.

“Maggie, weren’t you dating Cliff
Skaggs?”

A small smiled crossed Maggie’s lips and she
nodded.

“Well, I just saw him at the fair with Vicky
Harwood. They were like this.” She crossed her index and middle
finger.

Claire Ann was obviously crazy. Making Maggie
angrier was not what I had in mind.

“What?” Maggie yelled.

“Uh-huh. You might want to ask him what the
hell he’s doing.”

Where was Claire Ann going with this plan? I
looked at Maggie and she lowered the gun. Her stance relaxed. Did
Claire Ann know what her reaction would be?

Maggie moved closer to Claire Ann. “Exactly
what were they doing?” The gun was still in her grasp, but she
barely had a hold on it.

Chapter Thirty-Two

As Claire Ann explained the situation—I
wasn’t even sure she’d seen Cliff Skaggs—I eased from my chair.
Maggie was engrossed in the conversation so I inched my way across
the room, slipping up behind her. I had to hurry because Judy would
be back any moment. I should have taken some kind of self-defense
class; I’d always thought about, but thinking and doing were two
different things.

How was I going to fight this woman? If only
I had something to clobber her with. I glanced around and the only
thing I spotted was an old leather boot—just one boot. It wasn’t
much of a weapon, but at least it was something. I grabbed it and
with all my strength hit Maggie over the head. She yelped and
dropped the gun, then clutched her head. Claire Ann pounced and
grabbed the gun, pointing it at Maggie. She let out a gasp when she
saw it pointed in her direction.

I hurried over beside Claire Ann. “What do we
do now?”

Before she could answer, Judy bounded back
into the room. She stopped in her tracks. “What in the hell is
going on in here?”

“Mom, I’m sorry.” Her bottom lip
quivered.

Judy’s eyes widened as she stared down the
barrel of her own gun. “Nice try, but it’s not loaded.”

“Oh, yeah?” Claire Ann pulled the trigger and
blasted a hole in the wall opposite Judy.

I stumbled backward. Talk about when the
going gets tough. I hadn’t known Claire Ann had it in her. Maggie
shuffled over to her mother’s side.