Deadly Holiday (Georgia Rae Winston Mysteries Book 2) Read online

  Cal waited outside the tiny room. I opened the safe and inspected the contents while Gus sat at my feet. My wad of emergency cash was in place, and so was my birth certificate, passport, and other important papers. I secured the door and came out.

  “Everything’s here, but I’m not surprised since they obviously didn’t have time to make it down here.” I shook my head as we tromped back upstairs. “Why would they take my laptop but not the other electronics?”

  I entered my office, which contained the worst of the mess. Papers from my filing cabinets blanketed the floor, and Gus walked around, nudging them with his nose. It’d take me weeks to reorganize my farm files, and my tax prep would be even more arduous than normal. The dog finished sniffing the room, dropped down in the doorway, and kept guard.

  Cal ran his hand through his hair. “A laptop is easy to carry away.”

  “Yeah. And fairly new.” I’d bought it about two years ago. I shifted and pointed to the upended drawers. “It’s like they were looking for something in particular.”

  “Such as?”

  I sighed. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but with that stolen SUV tailgating me the other night, it’s like Zach’s killer thinks I know something—or have evidence of some kind. Except I don’t.”

  “Because word’s gotten out that he spoke to you before he died.”

  “Yeah. Which is my own fault since I went around asking questions and telling people he said anchor.” I held up my hands in surrender. “But Jimsonweed can cause hallucinations, so he was probably babbling about nothing.”

  “That’s very likely.”

  I crossed my arms. “They’d really know I didn’t have anything if they got a look at my chalkboard in the dining room.” My mind whirred with all the details I’d learned. “There’s one good bit of news.”

  “What?” Cal furrowed his brow.

  “We can eliminate Doug as a suspect since he and his wife were with us at the bowling alley.”

  “Maybe. Unless he’s part of a conspiracy.” He glanced at the mess. “But you’re probably right. How about I help you secure your back door and straighten this up, and then you can tell me if there’s anything else missing.”

  “Thanks.” I batted my eyes—just a little. “You’re the best.”

  Saturday morning, Ashley, Brandi, and I met at Latte Conspiracies for breakfast. The chatter from the Saturday morning crowd echoed against the exposed ceilings, and since I got my food first, I claimed an empty booth in the corner before someone beat me to it.

  While I waited for my friends to get to the table, I picked at a blueberry scone. I wasn’t looking forward to bringing up the break-in at my house because I didn’t want a safety lecture—though they’d mean well.

  “I’m sorry for how I acted the other night during our stakeout.” Ashley set an oversized coffee mug and a plate with a cranberry orange muffin on the table and sank into the booth.

  “You’re forgiven,” I said.

  “Holding a plate with a cherry Danish, Brandi slid in next to me. “We all have off days. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” Ashley dug into her handbag, withdrew two boxes wrapped in red-striped paper, and slid them across the table. “Peace offering.”

  Brandi and I exchanged glances before we opened the gifts and giggled. “Mistletoe.” I held up the artificial sprigs adorned with white berries and a red bow.

  Ashley’s brown eyes gleamed. “Make sure you hang that right where Cal will walk.”

  “You can bet I will.” Even after helping me straighten my office the night before, he still hadn’t kissed me, but to be fair, the mood hadn’t exactly been romantic. “Thanks.” I stashed the box in my purse before anyone else saw us and started telling everything they knew.

  “I’m thinking the opening between your foyer and living room,” Brandi said. “Hang it low, so he doesn’t miss it.”

  “Good call.” Ashley winked and turned to Brandi. “Where are you planning on putting yours, hon?”

  “It’ll be perfect between my dining room and kitchen.” She rested a hand on Ashley’s arm. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Anything you want to tell us about your love life?”

  Brandi bit a hangnail and looked at me. “I went on a date last night with Jon.”

  I leaned forward. “How’d it go?” Though I hadn’t hit it off with Jon Nordmeyer, I suspected he might have more in common with my friend and had suggested they get to know each other.

  “He took me to dinner at Salvador’s,” Brandi said. “He’s a nice guy, and we had a lot to talk about.”

  “Will there be a second date?” Ashley asked.

  “If he asks, I’ll go again since we had fun. He has a lot of great qualities.”

  That wasn’t a glowing endorsement, and her tone indicated she was trying to convince herself, but it was progress from not dating at all. “I’m glad he didn’t scare you away.”

  “Me too.” Brandi popped a bit of Danish in her mouth.

  I took a drink of coffee and debated bringing up the break-in.

  Ashley peeled the wrapper off her muffin. “So, heads up. I have to cancel Bible study tomorrow.”

  “What’s going on?” Brandi asked.

  Ashley pinched off a ladylike bite and shook her head. “Something came up.”

  Brandi’s forehead creased. “Do you want me to host? I’d be happy to.”

  I was glad Brandi had stepped up and taken that hint. Though I took my turn on a regular basis, hospitality wasn’t exactly my gift. Not to mention I didn’t feel like embarking on a last-minute cleaning frenzy when I still had files to put in order.

  Ashley swallowed. “If you want.” She dabbed her lips with her napkin.

  Brandi picked up her phone. “If you’re sure, I’ll text everyone now.”

  “Whatev.” Ashley shrugged. “It’s totally up to you.”

  The glimmer of Normal Ashley had vanished. “Will you be able to come to Brandi’s?”

  “Maybe. No promises.” She drank her coffee.

  “You know you can tell us if something’s going on.” Brandi looked up from her phone.

  “Absolutely.” I took a bite of scone.

  A flash of pain flickered in her eyes. “Thanks.” Ashley eyed me over the rim of her coffee mug. “Have you figured out what to get Cal for Christmas?”

  I swallowed. “Nope. I’ll think of something.” In spite of the lack of kissing, I was feeling more confident about our relationship in general since he’d opened up to me about his family.

  “You could get a tandem bike.” Ashley smirked. “I’ll bet Austin and Preston would be thrilled to help you pick it out.”

  Brandi giggled.

  “Real funny.” But I laughed anyway. “Since I don’t want you hearing it from someone else, you should know my house was broken into last night while Cal and I were bowling.”

  Brandi set her coffee mug on the table, and Ashley’s eyes widened as I filled them in on the details.

  “The only thing missing was your computer?” Ashley asked when I finished.

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you need help cleaning up?” Brandi asked.

  “No—but thank you. I have to reorganize my files.”

  Brandi patted her purse. “If you need help buying a gun, I know a guy.”

  Considering a security system and a dog hadn’t discouraged robbers, purchasing a firearm might not be a bad idea, so I needed to get over my negative feelings about guns. Still, I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of toting one around. “I’ll think about it.”

  Saturday afternoon, armed with a red, glitter-covered poinsettia, I paid a visit to Beverly Alspaugh, who lived down the road from me. As soon as I rang the doorbell, a yippy bark responded. The front door swung open, and Beverly’s face lit up. Instead of the curly gray wig she wore in public, a scarf covered her head.

  “Good to see you, dearie.”

  “Do you feel like company?”

 
“Absolutely.” She stepped aside, and her dog, a black Schnauzer named Miss Peacock, sniffed my leg as I entered. No doubt she got a good whiff of Gus. “I didn’t sleep well last night, but I got some extra rest this morning. I’ve been feeling better lately.”

  “That’s wonderful.” I handed her the flower.

  “How pretty. Thank you!” She set it on the credenza near the door. “Come have a seat.”

  We entered the living room, and her dog sat at her feet. A ceramic Christmas tree with multicolored lights rested on top of her old-fashioned cabinet TV. A nativity scene on the mantle completed Beverly’s decorations.

  “I just got some good news. My cancer’s in remission.” She tugged her cardigan closed, as if to stave off a chill in the toasty room. “Only the Lord knows how long, but I’ll take it.”

  “Beverly, that’s wonderful. Thank the Lord!”

  She rocked back and forth in her recliner. “How are things with my great-nephew?”

  “Progressing.” I wasn’t sure how much to say. It’d been Beverly’s idea for Cal and me to meet, though we’d encountered each other before she’d had a chance to fix us up.

  “You’d like them to progress more quickly?”

  “Not necessarily.” I folded my hands and rested them in my lap. “It’s just that…I wish I knew him better, so I’d know what to get him for Christmas. I asked what he wanted, and he said he didn’t need anything. I want it to be special, but not too special. We haven’t been dating that long, and I don’t want to set the bar too high or seem too serious or have my gift inadvertently put pressure on him—”

  “Relax, Georgia.”

  Even Miss Peacock lifted her head and panted, as if to reassure me. Though she was probably trying to cool herself because the house was at least eighty degrees. I pushed up my sweater sleeves. “I’m sorry for babbling.”

  She chuckled. “It’s okay.” Beverly rocked some more. “Perhaps you shouldn’t worry about what to buy, since gifts aren’t all that important to him. Try to figure out how he wants to be loved and go from there.”

  How he wanted to be loved. That would definitely take some more digging.

  Sunday night at Brandi’s house, I slathered icing on a bell-shaped cookie and dumped red and green sprinkles on it before taking a bite. She’d set up a decorate-your-own-cookie bar in her kitchen, and our Bible study group huddled around her island putting festive touches on the homemade sugar cookies. Tonight’s gathering included J.T., Brandi, Evan, and engaged couple Dave and Heather.

  Ashley had failed to give a reason for her absence.

  “How many more days of school until break?” I asked Evan as I broke the top off my cookie and popped it in my mouth.

  “Thirteen.” He squirted some yellow icing on a star. “Cal still wouldn’t come with you?” He placed his cookie on a napkin and headed for Brandi’s living room.

  I followed, giving the mistletoe hanging from the opening a wide berth. “No.”

  I didn’t want to get into it. I’d invited him, but once again, he’d had an excuse. A while ago, Cal had told me small groups weren’t his thing, but these people were a huge support system for me, and it was hard not to take it personally that he didn’t want to get to know my friends. Still, I told myself to respect his decision and give him time to come around.

  As we sat on the couch, concern filled Evan’s handsome face, and I could tell he was about five seconds away from launching into high school guidance counselor mode.

  Not gonna happen, dude. “Have you heard from Kelsey? I emailed her a few days ago but haven’t heard back.”

  “She’s getting settled,” he said. “Dealing with culture shock, but she loves the adventure.”

  Kelsey and Evan had agreed to pray about continuing their relationship while she worked as a nurse in a clinic in Ethiopia. Would she ever come back, or would God ask her to stay overseas? “Have you ever felt called to serve as a missionary?” I stuffed the rest of the cookie in my mouth and wadded my napkin.

  Evan scrubbed his hand over his stubbly chin. “The public school is my mission field.”

  There was no mistaking the pain that flashed in his hazel eyes, and my heart hurt for him. He truly loved Kelsey, which ruined Ashley’s theory about me missing the boat with Evan.

  “I heard a rumor that you’ve been looking into Zach’s case since you were the one who found him,” he said.

  I wasn’t the only one good at subject changing. “Where’d you hear that?”

  He grinned. “The school secretary’s a great source when she gets her coffee fix at Latte Conspiracies.”

  Oh, the joys of living in a small town. “It’s true.”

  “What have you figured out?”

  I told Evan about Zach’s last word and the poisoned tea. “Do you know anything about a teenager dying from Jimsonweed poisoning this past summer?”

  He shook his head. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “Well, it’s a weird coincidence. I mean, anyone who wanted to grow the flowers could buy the seeds online—except in certain states—but I’d bet the average person doesn’t know how poisonous they are. Unless they garden or are a plant expert.”

  “Yeah. It’s like someone who knew the teens got the idea from them. Other kids, maybe?”

  “Exactly.” Had Zach ticked off one of the teens he worked with enough that they’d killed him? “Except…” I hadn’t planned to bring up the break-in.

  “What?”

  “I think this situation is bigger than a teenager with a beef against a youth minister.” I told him about the SUV following me and the break-in, and when the horror grew in his expression, I wondered if Ashley was right after all.

  No. Not going there. He cares about me as a friend and maybe not even that. It wasn’t like he’d checked on me after hearing that I’d found Zach.

  “The people who broke in were looking for something in particular.” I studied Brandi’s Christmas tree. Every year she rotated themes, and this year she’d used her basketball, soccer, baseball, football, golf, and tennis ornaments.

  “Something they thought was on your computer.”

  I gaped at him as a strange look settled over his expression.

  “Yeah.” I leaned forward. “Do you know something? Because if you do—”

  “Nope.” He shoved half a Santa cookie in his mouth, wadded up his napkin, and shot off the couch.

  Yeah. Right. Evan had always been a terrible liar, and he obviously hadn’t improved. I shrugged as I headed back to the kitchen for another cookie. I’d figure it out eventually.

  I arrived at WSCC early Monday morning armed with the newest beverage from Latte Conspiracies—the Loch Ness Latte. There were plenty of finishing touches to add to the set before the Christmas program this weekend, and Ruby had made it clear she expected my presence.

  As soon as I entered the greenroom, Ruby waved. “Good morning. Go out on stage and ask Doug what he needs you to do.”

  “Okay.” I found Doug standing on a lift in the auditorium, hanging stars from the ceiling.

  “Good morning!” I yelled.

  “Hey, Georgia.” Doug looked down at me. “We could use some help painting the time machine.” He motioned upstage to an old-fashioned sleigh. “The outside needs a coat of black, and the time-travel dashboard needs detail work.”

  I moved closer to examine it. Someone had fastened a wood panel with buttons and knobs in front of the bench. Perfect for navigating back in time.

  Thank goodness I’d worn an old long-sleeved T-shirt leftover from my college days and a pair of jeans from the same era. I took a little bit of pride that I could still fit into them in spite of my thighs being bigger than I’d like.

  I glanced around the stage and saw brushes, a drop cloth, and some rags. “Where’s the paint?”

  Doug slapped his palm to his forehead. “I knew I forgot something in the storage barn this morning.” He pressed a button on the lift, and it came down with a buzz.
<
br />   “I’ll get it.”

  He lifted his finger off the button. “That’d be a big help. Ruby wants these stars done ASAP, and I have a lot more to go.” He pointed to the glittery pile at his feet.

  “Do we need any other colors?”

  “Yep. Brown for the inn. Ebony for the sleigh, and there’s a multi-colored set for all of those buttons and knobs on the dashboard—but you may want to let Ruby handle that part since it’s her vision.”

  I chuckled. “Yeah, you don’t want me anywhere near the detail work.” The last time I’d had to take art had been in middle school, and the only thing that had saved me from getting a C—and missing the honor roll—was my ability to memorize facts about artists and regurgitate that information on tests.

  Doug unhooked a key ring from the carabiner on his belt loop, knelt down, and dropped them into my outstretched hand. “The barn key has a seven on it. Paint’s on the shelf in the back.”

  I retrieved my coat from a chair, exited the church, and hoofed it across the parking lot to the large pole barn on the edge of the property. I was halfway there when my phone rang. I rolled my eyes when I saw who was calling.

  “What’s going on, Austin?” I stepped onto the gravel path.

  “I’m fine. Except that you haven’t needed my sidekick services, and that’s been killing me.”

  I rolled my eyes as I approached the side door. “Sorry.”

  He heaved a sigh. “You could at least try to sound sincere after everything Presty and I did for you.”

  His tone reminded me of a mother doling out a first-class guilt trip to her wayward child. “Anyway, Preston and I bought a bike for Jill and Dad. We found a top-of-the-line model on sale down in Indy.”

  “Great.” I slipped the key into the lock. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Don’t you want to see it first?”

  “I’m sure whatever you’ve bought is perfect.” Especially if it was top-of-the-line. I opened the barn door, and a mixture of gasoline fumes and mildew filtered out.

  “I’ve got a couple looking at a house in Wildcat Springs this afternoon, so I’ll stop by your farm for show and tell.”