Trash To Treasure Crafting 1 - Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel (23 page)

“You bitches will pay for this. I’ll finish
you off just like I did Nancy.”

“Oh, shut your trap,” Claire Ann snapped.

“Were you responsible for dragging me into
the woods?” I asked.

Judy didn’t answer but Maggie looked
down.

“That was you? I thought it was a man.” Wow,
she was strong.

Maggie scowled.

“You really did kill Nancy, didn’t you? You
took the candlestick from my house to make it look like I did it,
didn’t you? I can’t believe you’re so evil. Were you planning on
killing me too?” I asked.

She smiled, but didn’t answer. “You shouldn’t
leave your doors unlocked. You never know if your neighbor might be
a killer.” She cackled and Maggie joined in. “Sure, I slipped into
your house looking for a weapon. I knew Nancy was going to be at my
home soon. I lured her over to your yard and finished her off.” Her
callous words made my stomach turn. “The stupid naïve look on her
face made it too easy to kill her. She threatened to go to the
police. If our drug network was discovered and they found out it
was because of me, I’d be dead. So she had to go before I did.”

Judy was a cold and evil monster. Just
looking at her made my stomach turn.

“You’ll never get away with it now,” I
said.

Judy scoffed. “I wouldn’t be so sure if I
were you. You may have the upper hand now, but I have ways of
getting revenge.”

My stomach twisted again. I thought of poor
Nancy and how the monster in front of me had taken her life so
heartlessly. A chill ran up my spine when I realized how devoid
Judy was of compassion. She would probably get a huge thrill out of
killing us. I had no doubt that she would hold a grudge, especially
for something as big as this. Claire Ann stood still and confident,
though. In spite of Judy’s threat, she didn’t falter.

Judy continued. “When you least expect it.
That’s when I’ll get you.” She laughed. “I’ve met some stupid
people before, but you really take the cake.”

“Claire Ann?” Kent’s voice sounded from the
hall. My eyes widened when I looked at Claire Ann. I couldn’t
believe he’d found us. “We’re coming in. We need you to put the gun
down. Judy and Maggie aren’t going anywhere.”

The next couple of minutes went by in a blur.
We were escorted to my yard by a couple of officers while police
emerged with Judy and her daughter in handcuffs.

“I deserved that house!” she hissed as they
walked by.

They loaded them into the back of a cruiser.
I wondered what would happen to her house. I hoped she didn’t have
any other daughters to take it over. Living next door to one nutjob
was enough.

Claire Ann and I sat on my back porch
watching the chaos as men in hazmat suits cleared the shed.

“So you think you’ll come back to work at the
store?” Claire Ann asked.

“You don’t waste any time, do you? What makes
you think he’ll want me?”

“Charlie said so, remember.” Claire Ann
lifted the bag of ice from her swollen ankle.

“If things changed and settled down,” I
said.

“Things will change now.” She pointed to the
police cruiser where Judy and Maggie sat.

“I hope you’re right. But you know, I don’t
know if I can go back. I want to work on making the hotel a success
and the newspaper column and the buildings. Things will be tight,
and if I can’t make it, I’ll certainly consider it if offered, but
for now…”

“You’ll make it. If anyone can, you can.”

I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank
you.”

“Stop with the mushy stuff. Enough. Go talk
to Kent. I think he needs to talk to you.” She winked.

“I’m not liking your devilish smile.”

“Just go.” She gestured her hands.

“If he needs me, he knows where to find me.
By the way, how did you know Maggie would react like that when you
told her about Cliff Skaggs?”

“That would be almost any woman’s
reaction.”

“I guess so.” I shrugged.

***

I had another guest the next morning—this one
non-paying, but at least I knew she’d eat my continental breakfast.
Neither one of us had wanted to be alone after what had happened.
The house next door was a crime scene and I wasn’t sure what would
happen to it, but I was sure of what would happen to Judy. I was
glad justice would be served for Nancy.

I was pulling the freshly baked muffins from
the oven when the shuffle of feet caught my attention.

“Hey there,” Claire Ann said.

“Good morning. How’d you sleep?” I asked
while pouring a glass of orange juice.

“Like a baby.” She plopped down at the
breakfast nook table.

“How’s the ankle?” I pointed toward her
foot.

“Much better.” She took a sip from her
glass.

“The other guest didn’t disturb you?”

“I didn’t hear a peep out of him. Thanks for
letting me borrow the pajamas and slippers.”

“Not a problem.”

“You’re a fine hostess. I was just too
creeped out to go home to my dark house.” She chuckled
nervously.

“I know what you mean. I’m definitely getting
a guard dog, and not a little one, either. Here, have a muffin.” I
shoved the basket full of warm muffins in front of her and took the
seat across from her. After letting out another deep sigh, I said,
“Thank goodness all of this is over. I’ve had enough action in the
past few days to last a lifetime.”

“What about the buildings?” Claire Ann
asked.

“I’m waiting on a call back to see if they
qualify for historic status, but from what I read, I think they do.
I’m not holding out much hope on whether the owner will go for it
though.” I pinched off a piece of muffin. “When are you going to
tell me who the mystery date was? You’ve been avoiding the
question.”

“I guess I can’t avoid it any longer, huh?”
She looked up at me through her thick lashes.

“No, you can’t.” I grinned.

“I’m dating Charlie.” Her words rushed
out.

My mouth fell open. “Charlie? Our boss? Well,
my former boss and your current boss?”

“Yelp, that’s the one.” She took another bite
of muffin.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I wasn’t sure how you’d react. We didn’t
tell anyone. Heck, I wasn’t sure the relationship would go
anywhere, but I really like him and I think he likes me.”

“How long has this been going on?” I
asked.

“Not long.” She picked at the top of her
muffin.

“You two weren’t together when he was… you
know?” I lowered my voice. A habit I’d learned since living in
Honeysuckle. Someone was always listening—never mind I was in my
house.

“Oh, no. Married? No, way. I’d never do
that.” She waved her hands.

I smiled and nodded. “I think you’ll make a
cute couple.” I brushed the crumbs from my hands.

She smiled. “When do you think you’ll call
Kent?” She popped another piece of muffin in her mouth.

“He’s kind of busy wrapping up a crime scene,
you know. Unless he has more questions, he doesn’t need to talk to
me.”

“I have a feeling he’ll have more questions.”
She winked. “By the way he looked at you yesterday...” She shook
her head. “He’s got it bad.”

A part of me wondered if Claire Ann was
right—a part of me wanted her to be right. Even though I still
thought men were a pain in the butt.

“Oh stop—” A knock on the door cut me
off.

Chapter Thirty-Three

We stared at each other for a second. My
nerves were still on edge. “I’d better get that.” I trailed down
the hall and Claire Ann followed close behind. That tough girl
façade sure had a way of coming and going.

“Who is it?” I asked, almost afraid of the
answer.

“Sheriff Kent.”

“Ha. What did I tell ya?” She wiggled her
finger at me.

I motioned for her to shut up. “Hush.” I
brushed down my frazzled hair with the palm of my hand and opened
the door.

As I stepped aside to allow Kent to enter,
Mr. Littlefield stormed down the stairs like an angry bull with his
luggage in hand. My guess was that his stay with me was over.

“Thanks to you, the deal is off,” he said as
he dropped his suitcases to the floor and stood as if in a showdown
across from me. “I just got off the phone with the owner of those
decrepit buildings. He’s not selling.”

“I’m sorry?” I had no idea what he was
ranting about now.

“He says he’s making them a part of the
historic register. Apparently someone at the historic society
offered to buy the buildings. They told him they’d make it
impossible for any gas station to ever go up there.”

My mouth hung open. “I had no idea.”

“Don’t play stupid with me.” He clenched his
fists. “You knew who I was, and I overheard you on the phone.
Stupid hick town.”

“I think it’s time you checked out of the
Honeysuckle Hotel.” Kent placed his hand on his gun holster.

“Not much for subtlety, are you Sheriff
Kent?” I smiled.

“You won’t get a good review from me.” Mr.
Littlefield pointed, then grabbed his luggage. He yanked the door
open and stormed out onto the porch.

Kent slammed the door in Mr. Littlefield’s
wake. I looked from Kent to Claire Ann. She burst into a fit of
giggling. Kent and I followed in laughter.

When I finally caught my breath, I said,
“That review is going to be so bad. Why am I laughing?”

“Oh, forget him. Even if he does leave you a
bad review, people will just think he’s nuts,” Claire Ann said.
“Speaking of nuts, I have to go to work. I’m getting dressed and
out of your hair.”

Did she have to go so soon? My stomach danced
around like a three-year old on a sugar high.

She turned before heading up the stairs.
“Guess we know now that my uncle was able to get the buildings
declared historical.”

I smiled. “I owe you. So I guess the road
won’t be coming through town after all.”

“You’d better do something with those
buildings.” She wiggled her finger in warning.

“Yeah, well, I need to find out who bought
them.”

Claire Ann winked, then bounded up the stairs
leaving me with Kent.

“I have a confession,” Kent said as Claire
Ann disappeared around the corner.

Oh dear. Was he going to confess that he
liked to wear women’s underwear?

“I’m buying the buildings.”

“You’re buying them?” My mouth hung open.

“Yes, ma’am. I’d been thinking of it for some
time. I know they need a lot of work, but I hate to see all that
the history torn down.”

“I think it’s wonderful.”

“Claire Ann’s right, you’d better help me do
something with those buildings.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, or at least maybe.”

“Okay, maybe. It’s a lot to think about. I
mean, of course, I’ll help you, it’s just… I’m not sure you’ll want
my help. Maybe you should wait until I’ve had at least one happy
hotel guest.”

“Fair enough, fair enough. You’re lucky you
didn’t walk into a booby trap yesterday, you know?” Kent asked.

“I know. I shouldn’t have taken the chance.
Will you forgive me?” I asked.

He nodded. “You’re forgiven.”

“Just like that? That was easy. So what
exactly was Judy doing over there?” I crossed my arms in front of
my chest. I didn’t know what else to do with myself. I wished I’d
had a chance to comb my hair before he showed up looking
gorgeous.

“She had a box lab. It’s just the apparatus
and chemicals used to manufacture the methamphetamine. She was
storing it and they’d take it somewhere else to make. I guess they
think they won’t get caught that way.”

“Well, thank goodness for small favors, I
guess.”

He smiled. “I think because Judy was right
here in town and just storing the devices and not actually
producing the drug, she felt safe.”

“I’m lucky Claire Ann and I didn’t end up
like poor Nancy. And to think she’d been bullying Mrs. Mathers.” I
shook my head. I’d never understand how some people could be so
evil.

“Yeah, and she thought she’d get the house in
the end, too,” he said.

Silence hung in the air. What else was there
to say?

“Can I get you a muffin?” I was terrible at
small talk. But someone needed to eat all those muffins.

“No, thanks. I need to get back to work.” He
gestured over his shoulder. “Things are crazy with everything
that’s happened.”

“I can imagine.” I looked down and shuffled
my foot. “So, if you’re not here to arrest me, what other reason is
there?”

His cheeks turned red and heat rushed to
mine. “I think you know why I’m here.”

“To chase away my unfriendly guests?” I
grinned.

“I let you go once and Ross got you. I won’t
let that happen again. I don’t really know how to say this, so I
guess I’ll just come right out and say it. Raelynn, will you come
to dinner with me?”

“Yes!” Claire Ann yelled from the top of the
stairs.

I shook my head and Kent frowned. “No, you
won’t?”

“What!” Claire Ann ran halfway down the
steps.

“I was shaking my head at my crazy best
friend.” I gestured her way. “Yes, I’d love to come to dinner with
you.” I smiled.

“Never mind me, I’m invisible.” Claire Ann
tried to slip back up the squeaky stairs quietly.

About Rose Pressey

Rose Pressey enjoys writing quirky and fun
novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured
her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained
fascinates her.

When she's not writing about werewolves,
vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating
cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and
listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She
can't help myself.

Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of
Kentucky with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas.

Visit her online at:

http://www.rosepressey.com