Candy-Coated Secrets Read online

  “Fine.” I crossed my legs. “After you disappeared, I went into the livestock building to look for you. The biggest pig I’ve ever seen charged at me. A carny gave me a test ride on the Ferris wheel. Only he went to the restroom and never came back.” Someone handed me a bottle of water. My bladder screamed.

  Joe’s lip curled. “He said someone locked him in.”

  Mabel ran to me, a microphone clutched in one hand, while Ruby continued to blind me with flashbulbs. I held up a hand to shield my face.

  “Why did you try to kill yourself?” Mabel barked. “How close to jumping were you?”

  Joe pushed away from the car. “She wasn’t going to jump, Mabel. She was on the ride, unbeknownst to anyone else, and they turned it off. It’s that simple.”

  “Well, that isn’t news.” Mabel frowned and clicked off the microphone. “That’s just Summer getting into trouble.” She turned to Ruby. “Come on, Ruby. We have all we need for the paper. I’ll make something up. Summer won’t mind.”

  Actually, I would, but I had more important things to talk about. Once Mountain Shadows’s nosiest were out of hearing range, I turned back to Joe. “Two men were talking about Millie’s death. How they’d bungled making it look like a suicide, and how they needed to get rid of that nosy Summer Meadows. How’s that for sleuthing?”

  “Not much considering you could’ve been killed. But not bad, either. Did you see their faces? Would you recognize their voices?”

  “No to both. They were kind of filtered through the sides of the Tilt-A-Whirl. Plus, I had my hands over my ears for part of the conversation.” I gulped some more water.

  “Why did you? Oh, never mind.” Joe turned to Aunt Eunice. “Can you get her home in one piece?”

  My aunt nodded. “I’ll tie her up if I have to.”

  “Doesn’t either of you care about what I heard?”

  “Yes, Summer. I care. And I’ll check into it.” Joe rubbed a hand across his buzz cut. “It’s kind of difficult to do an investigation when I have to keep saving you. Man, I’ll be glad when Ethan gets home.”

  I agreed with his thoughts of Ethan getting home. If I lived that long.

  Chapter Seven

  The picture of me dangling from the Ferris wheel graced the front page of the newspaper. My rear end looked huge. Not a good angle. I skimmed the article. Without coming right out and saying so, Mabel alluded to the fact that, although unconfirmed, it appeared I had a death wish. She quoted my cousin as agreeing.

  Like it or not, this case concerned me. I couldn’t hide in a closet just because someone was out to hurt me. God tells His children not to fear, and I didn’t intend to. I may be taking the words out of context, but regardless, it helped calm me.

  My Dolt book lay open on the table in front of me. My newest acquisition, The Handy Dandy Guide to Spying, lay next to it. Last night, burrowed under the warm blankets of my bed, I had skimmed through the contents, searching for something that would help.

  The fair officially opened tonight, and first on my list for the day was a trip to the closest electronics store to buy a wireless camera to stash in my rented space. No more surprises in the refrigerator. I had the perfect duffel bag in which to hide the camera. No one would suspect a thing.

  “Don’t tell me you’re reading that again?” Aunt Eunice joined me at the table.

  “I need some tips on grilling the carnies for information.”

  Aunt Eunice grabbed a slice of toast from a nearby plate. “We could crash the masquerade party after the fair tonight.”

  “Masquerade party?” I straightened so quickly, I spilled coffee on a place mat and grabbed a napkin to dab at the spreading stain.

  “Yeah, I heard some of the vendors talking. They do it opening night everywhere they go.” Aunt Eunice spread butter across the warm bread. “Of course, since we’re vendors, it wouldn’t exactly be crashing, but that makes it sound more fun.”

  “If we want to hear anything of value, we’ll need really good costumes. We can’t be recognized.” The idea definitely had merit. I wonder if Aunt Eunice could hear my wheels spinning.

  “I’ve always wanted to be a giant Hershey’s Kiss.” Aunt Eunice stood and modeled for me. “I’ve already got the right shape.” She cackled with glee.

  Leaning back in my chair, I gnawed my lower lip. If we drove twenty miles, we’d be able to visit a costume shop. What disguise could I wear to make myself unidentifiable? I’d just need to keep my mouth shut long enough to listen and not be heard. It would be tough, but I had faith I could do it.

  I slapped the table and jumped up. “Let’s drive to the Costume Corner. That should leave us time to stop by work and pack candy boxes.”

  “I’ll get my purse.”

  I grabbed my own from the counter, slung it over my shoulder, then dashed out the door to my car. Not wanting to spend a half hour having every bone in my body jarred from riding in my aunt’s 1952 Chevy truck, it was imperative I be behind the wheel of my Sonata with the engine running.

  Aunt Eunice frowned as she opened the passenger door. “You know I like to drive.”

  “My car gets better gas mileage. We need to do our part to save the environment. Go green.” I turned the wheel in a circle, drove onto the highway, and headed east.

  “Since when do you care about the environment?”

  “It’s never too late to start.”

  “Hogwash.” Aunt Eunice crossed her arms and pouted. “You can think about saving the earth in silence. I’m not speaking to you until we get there.”

  Thank God for small favors. I turned up the volume on my radio. Worship music filled the car. Sometimes I felt older than my aunt.

  She perked up when the costume store came in sight. She opened her door before I’d turned off the car.

  “We should find costumes that go together.” Aunt Eunice grinned like a child. “This’ll be fun.”

  I could only imagine what she’d come up with.

  Only a few patrons inhabited the store, and we made a beeline for the adult sizes. Aunt Eunice grabbed a white square of fabric. “Look at this. I could go as a bar of soap, and you could go as a shower.” She held up something else. “Or a roll of toilet paper and a toilet.”

  No way. I shook my head.

  “Well, we can’t go as something ordinary. Where’s the fun in that?” She slammed the costumes back on the rack. “I suppose we could go as a donkey. I’d be the head and you’d be the—”

  “Stop right there! I will not go as a donkey’s behind. Aunt Eunice, get real.” I riffled through the hangers. “Why don’t you go as a queen, and I’ll be a ninja. Your royal bodyguard.”

  “Not very original.”

  “Maybe not, but the ninja costume will hide my face.”

  Thirty minutes later, we weren’t speaking again. Who would have thought finding a costume would be so stressful? There had to be an easier way to eavesdrop. If Aunt Eunice didn’t become more cooperative, I’d have to think about getting another sidekick. Did Nancy Drew have this much trouble? I could go solo like Miss Marple.

  “We could go as geisha girls. There’d be a lot of makeup.” Aunt Eunice broke the silence.

  I giggled. My aunt would look hilarious.

  “Or I could be a madame, and you could be one of my ‘girls.’ ” She guffawed.

  “How did you find out about that?” Joe most likely. For an officer of the law, the man had loose lips.

  “Big Sally mentioned it. Wouldn’t Ethan be fit to be tied?”

  “Definitely.” In my mind, I could envision the muscle ticking in his jaw as he clenched his teeth. “Maybe we could just go as clowns. We’d blend in.”

  “Boring, but all right.”

  The full pants of my costume, held wide by an expandable hoop, made maneuvering through the door of the huge tent difficult. I tripped and landed on my knees. Not exactly an unobtrusive entrance. Face flaming beneath my makeup, I pushed to my feet. Aunt Eunice’s brightly striped, baggy, one-piece sui
t looked easier. She ditched me right away.

  Lights twinkled from the ceiling. Costumes of every variety added color. Several ninjas and many clowns mingled with kings, queens, and, one misshapen horse. Hands lifted in greeting as I made my way through the crowd. I congratulated myself on the choice of costume. No one would guess my identity.

  Aunt Eunice laughed from beside the buffet table with Washington Bean dressed as a mime. I’d recognize his lanky frame anywhere. There were also three gorillas. One stood over six feet with broad shoulders. The other two looked the right build. I veered away from them. They’d have to move to where I could overhear their conversation and stay hidden at the same time.

  Eddy Foreman carried a whip and wore a top hat. Apparently he fancied himself a lion tamer. Next to him, dressed as a sultry lion, stood the platinum-haired woman I’d noticed a couple of days ago.

  Country music blared from speakers, and a small crowd danced the latest craze in a Western line dance. Obviously several of them had already visited the beer keg in the corner. They leaned heavily on their partners. Joe and another police officer watched with stern faces from the sidelines. Talk about party crashers. They hadn’t even bothered with costumes.

  Big Sally sat in a high-backed chair draped with colorful fabric. A tin crown rested on her head, and she held a scepter in her hand. The queen of the fair. I sidled closer, pretending to watch the dancers.

  A diminutive woman climbed into a chair next to the large woman. “Why so sad, Sally?”

  “Just doesn’t seem right to hold this party. Not so soon after Millie’s death.”

  “So tragic for someone so young.” The woman’s voice sounded like a child’s. I hovered near them to hear more.

  “She was unhappy. More so the last few weeks. But no more than me, I suppose. But I’ve got my eye set on the person responsible for my distress. When I can catch her unaware—” Sally noticed me and waved me over. “Be a sweetie, would you, and get me a drink?”

  I nodded and headed for the buffet table. She hadn’t seemed to recognize me. Only a willing servant to fetch her majesty something to quench her thirst. My steps faltered at the sight of two gorillas. I switched direction and headed around the other side of the table.

  “Do you think she heard anything?”

  “I don’t think so. If she did, what could she have heard? We didn’t mention names, did we?”

  “We said hers.”

  “You worry too much. If I’d known she was on that Ferris wheel, I’d have left it running all night. Would’ve made her sicker than a dog. You’re too nice.”

  “Not my fault they found her hanging there. You weren’t even very convincing.”

  “No, but you had to go and wave around that cord. If Foreman would’ve found her like—”

  I gasped and switched direction again. Sally would have to get her own drink. I spotted a nearby potted plant and tried to duck behind the large green leaves. No way would the foliage hide all of me. Maybe the two conspirators would think I occupied myself by watching the dancing.

  Crossing my arms, I tried to act nonchalant. I leaned against the wall. The hoop of my pants flew up in the front and smacked me in the face. I choked off a groan and lifted a hand to check for blood. I smeared my makeup and knocked off my foam clown nose.

  “Opening night went well, didn’t it? We made a bundle off those new wristbands you came up with.”

  “Yeah, I stole the idea from another fair I worked for. We’re going to make a killing off this town. The last night, we’ll grab the cash and split. Only thing we got to worry about is getting rid of Super Sleuth.”

  A hand clamped on my arm. I stifled a gasp and allowed my gaze to travel up the arm. The blue fabric of a police uniform stopped at the wrist.

  “Joe.”

  He pulled me away. “What. Are. You. Doing?”

  “Eavesdropping. Those two gorillas are planning to do away with me.” I yanked my arm free. “Do something?”

  “On what grounds?”

  “I told you. They want to kill me.”

  Joe peered around me. “What two gorillas?”

  They were gone. I scanned the crowd. “They aren’t here. How could they have disappeared so quickly?”

  “Come on.” He grabbed my arm again and dragged me after him. Joe split the partyers as effectively as Moses had the Red Sea. Several curious glances were sent our way, obviously accustomed to the picture of a clown dragged away by an officer of the law. Nothing seemed to surprise these people.

  Once we stood outside, he turned to face me. “What else did you hear?”

  “They plan to steal from the town. ‘Make a killing’ were their exact words. They’re using some kind of wristbands.”

  Joe folded his arms. “The wristbands are legit. So are the fair’s prices. Did they say any more about Millie’s death?”

  “No, but they know I heard them talking. And Big Sally spoke to some woman about how sad Millie had been the last few weeks.”

  “Uh-huh. I’ve heard the same thing. Sounds to me like she may have heard something she wasn’t supposed to. There’s something fishy about this place.” He glared at me. “Be careful, and stay out of trouble. No more looking for it. Who’s head of the fair committee this year?”

  I chewed my lip. “Mabel or Ruby, I think. Mrs. Hodge is in the group, too. Why?”

  “I need to check on this. This isn’t the same company we used for the fair the last few years. I want to know where they were before. Do a background check. I doubt Mabel or Ruby did. I’m sure they just booked the lowest bidder.”

  He stalked back inside, leaving me to dwell on the fact that, once again, I’d managed to make myself a target. And I’d promised Ethan no more detective work. Well, I didn’t ask for it. Trouble just seemed to find me. It was like a gift. One I wanted to return.

  I moved to follow Joe, and froze. Watching from the murky shadows stood two gorillas. One raised his hand and waved.

  Chapter Eight

  I sat on the porch swing the next day writing my suspect list while I waited for Ethan. So far, it consisted of two unknown male gorillas and the carnies I’d come into contact with. I lifted my pen and chewed the end. During the summer, I had at least five names. All people I was familiar with. This time, I didn’t think I’d find any names of folks who attended the same church I did.

  Okay, Lord, this case is going to be harder. And my life’s in danger a lot sooner, too. I could use guidance.

  Ethan’s truck pulled into the driveway. Before he could close his door, I flew off the porch and into his arms. His legs buckled, and we fell to the grass. I covered his face with kisses until he rolled to his side and leaned over me. His blue eyes twinkled, and a dimple winked from the corner of his mouth.

  “If that’s the kind of reception I’ll get, I need to make a habit of leaving more often.”

  “I missed you.” I lifted a hand to caress the rough stubble on his cheek.

  “Ditto.” He lowered his head and planted one of his searing kisses on me. When he’d left me completely breathless, he pushed to his feet and pulled me with him.

  “You’ve been busy, though, haven’t you?”

  “Does Joe tell you everything?” Maybe I could get April to tell him to stop. Ever since I’d introduced my cousin to Ethan’s sister, Joe had been putty in her hands.

  Ethan led me to the porch swing where he sat and drew me under the curve of his arm. He felt wonderful, solid, and safe. I rested my head on his chest.

  “I did ask Joe to watch out for you, given your skill of getting into trouble. Seems like a good thing I did.”

  “You saw the paper?”

  “Yep.” His hand stroked my hair, lulling me into a peaceful place full of light instead of gorillas hiding in shadows. “Someone stalking you?”

  What a horrible way to be thrust back into the present. “They seem to be. Last night at the masquerade party, two people dressed in gorilla costumes talked about ‘doing away’ with the nos
y Summer Meadows.” I sat up and stared at Ethan. “I’m getting somewhere on this. I may have stumbled onto this murder accidentally, but someone thinks I know more than I do, or that I’ll find out.”

  His gaze locked on mine before he cupped his hands around my face. “There’s no way I can convince you to go away, is there?”

  “Where would I go? This is my home.” Hope sprang in my chest. “Unless you want me to go somewhere with you?”

  Ethan kissed my forehead. “On our honeymoon. You’re too tempting to be alone with while we’re unmarried.”

  Had God ever made a more perfect man? I didn’t deserve him.

  “So, since I can’t be with you around the clock, make sure you’re with your aunt, uncle, or cousin. April will do in a pinch, but I don’t want my sister involved in your gumshoeing.”

  And my delusions were shot down at his demanding tone. “They haven’t tried to hurt me.”

  “They set a hog on you.”

  “Could’ve been an accident.” Right. “Someone could have left the pen unlatched.”

  “The Ferris wheel?”

  “Was an accident.” Unless you counted the pulled power cord. Or the fact I’d climbed in it in the first place. Okay, maybe it wasn’t an accident, but I hadn’t planned on getting stuck.

  “The conversation about doing away with you? Them following you? Laid Back Millie swinging from her shower? Any of this ring a bell?” Ethan stood, his back straight, his chin stubborn and like chiseled marble. “This is not negotiable. I know I can’t keep you from going to the fair. You have your booth. I also know you need to work the booth. Eunice can’t, and shouldn’t, have to cover it alone for the entire week. I’m just saying, don’t go anywhere alone.” He held both my hands in his. “Is it awful for me to love you so much that I worry about you?”

  Ethan could shoot back to the top of my list of perfect people with three spoken words, a kiss, or a steamy look. This time, I got all three.

  “Okay. I’ll either be with Aunt Eunice or you.” He could have the moon if he wanted.

  “Great. And God can take care of all of you.”