Candy-Coated Secrets (19 page)

“It’s a rental. You can get anything if you know where to look. Cars are easy.”

She handed the bottle to me to open. “I’m renting a convertible one of these days. Driving to California. Coasting up and down Highway 1. Seeing the giant redwoods.”

I popped the cork. Obviously I was also April’s handmaiden. When she had to perform duties as my maid-of-honor I’d have her so busy, she wouldn’t have time to think. I chugged my first glass of cider, sputtering on the carbonation.

“Maybe for your honeymoon,” Ethan tossed over his shoulder.

April squealed, sloshing her drink across my lap. Great. Wonderful. I dabbed at the spot with a nearby napkin.

“Do you know something I don’t?” April clutched the back of Ethan’s seat.

My gaze met Ethan’s wide-eyed one in the rearview mirror. He’d said too much.

“Uh, no. Just speculating.”

Unfortunately, our smooth ride didn’t last long. Driving a mile takes mere minutes, and before I’d gulped my second drink, Ethan pulled our chariot behind a white tent erected for the evening’s ceremony.

In a trailer behind the tent, twelve nervous young women giggled and fussed. They jostled for space before mirrors just big enough to reflect their faces. April gave a short speech of what the new queen’s duties would be. Her words were intended to calm the trembling herd. Instead, a couple of girls gasped. Another shrieked, and one fanned a hand at shining eyes. I ducked out of the trailer, not wanting any more to do with impending hysterics.

I turned and bumped into Mr. Rick Foreman. “Excuse me.”

He twirled his mustache. His eyes focused over my shoulder. “Perfectly all right. The girls doing okay? Wonderful. Gotta go.” The man practically ran to get away from me. Did his distraction have anything to do with the fact that he was short a lot of money?

Shivering from the dampness of my apple cider-soaked dress, I stepped through the back entrance of the tent. Almost every seat was occupied. Fathers, brothers, and lovers clutched tons of flower bouquets. Mountain Shadows took pride in their young women, and tonight it showed.

I scooted around the edges of the room and took a seat in the back. My gaze studied every person who walked in and out, those sitting in hard plastic chairs, and the few men who chose to stand in the rear. Somewhere on this ten-acre plot of land walked a thief and a murderer. Someone knew who killed Laid Back Millie, who had Lacey Love, and who stole from Mr. Foreman.

Another picture of Lacey’s face plastered beseechingly against the car window brought back the memory of my mother’s sad face as she waved good-bye at my stubborn five-year-old self. Aunt Eunice would ask why I dwelled on something that happened twenty-five years ago. I wouldn’t have an answer.

My parents’ death was my fault. If they had left before my temper tantrum, as planned, they wouldn’t have met the drunk driver. Was it my reasoning and not the need to prove myself that was driving me to want to solve this case? What did I hope to accomplish? Nothing would bring back my parents.

The accident wasn’t your fault, child.

God’s whisper in my ear brought tears to my eyes. If only I could stop this feeling of guilt.

Seven o’clock drew near and a dull rumbling from the spectators filled the tent. Time for the pageant finalists to step onto the makeshift wooden stage. An elderly, balding man dressed in a shiny polyester leisure suit stepped before the microphone as the evening’s emcee.

He welcomed the crowd, recounted the evening’s schedule, and moved aside to sing in an amazingly good baritone as the entrants sashayed on stage. A roar rose from the crowd with redneck yells and whistles as favorites stepped into place. The contestants resembled a vibrant rainbow.

My gaze roamed over the crowd. None of the carnies were in attendance, thus not my gorilla friend. At least not in costume. I tapped my foot in impatience, waiting for the winner to be announced and crowned. I didn’t think I’d find the embezzler beneath this white canopy.

Joe stepped beside me, a white poster board in his hand. Sweat beaded on his brow, and he wiped his face with a damp handkerchief. He glanced at me. “Warm in here, isn’t it?”

“Not really. We’re standing beside the open flap, in the evening, in September.” I studied his flushed face. “Are you sick?”

He shook his head and took a deep shuddering breath then collapsed in the empty seat next to me. “Nervous.”

“About what? Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

April stepped to the microphone, stopping any answer Joe may have given. Her beautiful face glowed as she opened the gold envelope she held and called out a name. A weeping brunette in an emerald-colored gown darted forward. A young boy raced on stage. The crowd erupted in laughter at his haste. The boy held a plush velvet cushion in both hands on which sat a new, sparkling crown.

With a smile, April lifted the crown and placed it on the new queen’s head. The girl stepped lively to center stage as roses were tossed at her feet.

Joe bolted to his feet and held his poster over his head. April’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the words, then her shriek rivaled the new winner’s. I craned my neck to read the words, “April, will you marry me?”

Not that I thought it cool for my cousin to steal the new queen’s thunder, but you couldn’t beat his theatrics. The crowd burst into applause as April screamed, “Yes!” Happiness for my best friend welled in me, starting my tears anew.

Ethan slid behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He planted a tender kiss on the back of my neck.

“You did know,” I challenged as I folded my hands over his.

“Yes. Almost spoiled the whole surprise. Joe thought it would be a dead giveaway if he drove the Hummer, so I volunteered. He wanted tonight to be special.”

April leaped from the stage and, holding the hem of her dress in one hand, raced toward Joe. He stepped into the aisle and braced himself as she threw herself into his arms.

People crowded around the new queen, who clapped her hands in glee at the romance, while others gathered around April and Joe.

Ethan took my hand and led me from the tent. “Joe told me about the papers you discovered.”

I wrapped my arms around Ethan’s neck and snuggled against the chill in the air. “I didn’t do anything illegal; well, not too much.”

“He also told me that Lacey, the woman you saw, is officially missing.”

What was he getting at? “Yes.”

Ethan tugged on his left ear. “I know I’ve said this a million times, but—”

“I know. Be careful.”

“People are dying. Money is a big motivator for murder.”

“Not something I possess a lot of.”

“No, but you’re a born snoop. It makes people nervous.”

April slammed into us from behind, almost bursting my eardrums with her elation. “He did it! He finally did it!”

Finally, did it? They’d only been dating since the summer. A few weeks longer than Ethan and me. Of course, we’d known each other since we were kids. “You’d better not get married before me.”

I grabbed her hand to gawk at the rock on her finger. A beautiful, simple princess cut. Perfect for April. I grinned at Joe. “Good taste, cousin. How’s that nervousness now?”

“Moved on to terrified.”

April punched his arm. “Oh, stop. Marriage to me won’t be that bad. It’s Ethan that needs to look out.”

I was really getting tired of being the brunt of jokes. Over Ethan’s shoulder, I spied my gorilla friend lurking in the shadows between food booths. “Look.”

Ethan clapped a hand on Joe’s arm. “Ready to give chase?”

“I’m not in uniform.” He patted his jacket. “I don’t have my weapon.”

With fists planted on my hips, I stood before him. “What? You can’t chase down a suspect without your trusty gun? You’re going to let someone who broke into my house get away? Besides, I never carry a weapon. That doesn’t stop me.”

“Fine.” In true Scooby Doo fashion, me resembling Velma and April a fine Daphne, the four of us sprinted after the suspect, who left us in his dust. He disappeared among the outbuildings.

“Wait.” April let the train of her gown fall, and she collapsed against the shabby siding of the women’s restroom. “I can’t go another step in this dress.”

Joe and Ethan faded into the shadows. To our right, a dark figure turned a corner.

“Stay here, April. I’ll be right back.” With caution in each slow step, I followed. All the way around the building, I saw no one. Not even April where I’d left her.

Apprehension rose in me, choking and stifling. I’d been so nasty to her earlier, out of my own jealousy and ill feelings. Doing the only thing I could think of, I sprinted around the building and sobbed her name. It didn’t take long to dash a circle around the small restroom. Still no April or a sign of the gorilla. So I ran again, wildly, around the same building, finally collapsing, winded against the wall April had leaned against earlier.

A sob blocked my throat. Where was she? Had she been kidnapped? I bent over, hands balanced on my knees, and gasped for breath. Tears landed on the top of my hands.

A shadow fell over me. I glanced up. Dismay completed the process of strangling me. Towering over me stood the gorilla.

It’s amazing what fear can drive someone to do. Or anger. I dove at the person, wrapped my arms around his waist, and took him to the ground. A spurt of satisfaction ran through me. I may be tiny, but I was mighty. Like a super hero. And I did this for my best friend.

The gorilla moved to shove me away, and I clutched at the costume. I rolled, coming away with the head. I screamed, holding the furry face. Grizzly Bob glared down at me. His wiry hair stuck out in all directions. He snatched the costume head from my hands, whirled, and dashed out of sight.

April stepped from the restroom and stared at me. I lay on the dirt-packed surface and avoided her glare. Instead, I gazed at the stars overhead. Pleasure as warm as the chocolate I covered candies with washed over me. I’d taken down a full-grown man. Granted, he hadn’t stayed down, but I wouldn’t let a little detail like that steal my happiness.

Nothing made sense. Here I lay, right beneath the gorilla’s clutches. Instead, he had grabbed his head and run. Did the gorilla have nothing to do with Millie’s death or Lacey’s disappearance? Was it not related to the disappearing funds?

“Summer?” April’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you okay? Why are you lying in the dirt?”

“I went looking for you.”

“I went to the restroom.”

“I see that now.” I propped myself on one elbow and glared at her. “I ran around this building like a chicken with my head cut off. When I couldn’t find you, I figured Grizzly Bob did.”

She held out a hand to help me to my feet. “Who’s Grizzly Bob?”

“The gorilla.”

“I’m confused.”

“Welcome to my world.”

Feet pounded in our direction. I threw myself across April and plastered us both to the side of the building. She shoved me away. “What is wrong with you? It’s only Joe and Ethan.”

I must look a sight, but better than April. Her hair had come loose from the pins and stuck up in all directions, causing her to look remarkably like the bride of Frankenstein. I had used a really strong mousse on her hair. A rip from the ground to her knee marred the beautiful gown. As rapidly as if I were swatting at stinging mosquitoes, I slapped at the dirt on my dress.

Joe and Ethan stopped about ten feet from us and gawked. My cousin clamped his lips together. Probably to keep from swearing at us. Once upon a time he’d used language rivaling a pirate captain’s, but since coming to Christ, he’d sworn off curse words. Difficult, with me as his cousin.

“What in this green earth happened here?”

I held up a hand to signal April that I’d do the talking. The words flowed. If anyone could make sense of the babble spewing forth, then good for him. My sentences and thoughts tumbled over each other like a creek rapidly rising over rocks.

“You ripped off someone’s head?” Joe would pick out just that one part, wouldn’t he?

“Grizzly Bob’s. Or rather, the gorilla’s.”

“After he attacked you.”

“Well, maybe he didn’t attack me. It was more the other way around.” I glanced at Ethan. He gnawed the corner of his mouth in an attempt not to laugh.

Joe rubbed both hands vigorously over his face. “And where was April?”

She stepped forward. “In the restroom. I had no part of any of this. I came out and Summer was lying in the dirt, staring into the sky with absolutely no sense.”

“Sounds like her.” Joe pulled April close before transferring his attention back to me. “To make a long story short, you tussled with the man in the gorilla suit, who turned out to be a guy named Grizzly Bob. You tackled him to the ground, ripped off his head, and he gets up, takes his head back, and disappears.”

I crossed my arms. “That’s about it.”

“Great. Let’s go to dinner.” Joe steered April toward the waiting Hummer.

Ethan slung an arm around my shoulders. “You beat all, Summer. I would’ve loved to have seen you tackle someone.”

“I was brilliant. Y’all didn’t see anything?”