Twenty-Five

I hurried across the bridge, staying in the middle, as I crossed to the other side of the lake where Katina was murdered. The spot was far enough away from the town square that none of the crew putting together the booths would’ve seen or heard anything. The construction noises would’ve covered everything up, and Katrina might’ve been dead when she was left near the lake. An easy place for her to be discovered.

Was Vernon still in custody? They couldn’t have let him off that easily especially if he had ties to Katrina. The woman couldn’t have murdered herself—unless the police discovered evidence that Katina had killed herself knowing she killed Luna. What if only Chief Quinn was there? Would she believe me? Arrest him? She had to know the other work he did for the film besides being a security guard. Or was she working with her cousin?

I pulled out my phone and called Paul. It was better someone knew where I was going. He answered on the second ring and I rushed out what I had figured out.

Paul drew in a deep breath. “That theory makes sense with Marie asking about you a few weeks ago. She said Luna was having trouble finding the perfect crafting expert for the Christmas movie and wondered if you’d be interested in applying. Mentioned your Christmassy name fit right in. She knew that wasn’t your birth name. Marie probably figured your birth parents might have originally had a birth certificate with your real name on it, but once they left you, your parents named you Merry.”

“My parents said nothing was left with me. No note even saying the day I was really born. But we know it’s not me,” I said, in a way desperate for it not to be true. I hadn’t ever given much thought in finding them and now with it implanted into my head, I didn’t want to know that my birth mother was now dead, especially knowing the end of my adoptive mother’s life was approaching. Tears pricked my eyes. I couldn’t deal with it.

But did it matter? I had a great mother. Gloria Winters loved me with everything she had, gave her all for me just like my adopted dad had. I had a wonderful childhood with people who treated me with nothing but love and acceptance. They couldn’t have loved me anymore even if they had been my birth parents. I knew that for sure.

“Then who does it leave?” Paul asked.

“Anne.” The name rushed out of me.

“Anne?”

“Luna had a reason for everyone she hired. Why hire Anne, an actress with little lead role experience, for the role? It fits with the other hiring decisions Luna made and since Edward knew about the letter, I bet he went along with it. Anne was thrown into the lake. What if the daughter was the one who wrote the note and wanted the truth out? The only person that leaves who didn’t want it known was the father.”

“Would this guy really kill his daughter?’

Sadness welled up in me. “He tried before.”

“Let me check the copies I made of Marie’s binders and the papers that were in the box you retrieved from the sheriff.”

“You took them with you?”

“I didn’t want them left in the RV…with you.” There was rustling in the background.

He was protecting me.

“All I see is a copy of a script with notes,” Paul said.

“Why would Marie make notes about the script? She wasn’t Luna’s real assistant and wouldn’t have been annotating the script for Luna, especially since Luna wrote it. Wait, Marie said she was taking Luna’s autobiography to the attorney for a read through. What if the script and the notes on it were the draft of the manuscript? I never found one.”

Luna’s dialogue changed the day of her murder. Why? Luna did nothing without a reason. Who had seemed the most affected by Luna’s off-script comments? Garrison. Edward. Vernon.

“Merry, I get worried when you’re quiet.”

“The one consistent thing everyone said about Luna is she didn’t make random decisions. There was a reason for everything she did, and her decisions were driven by self-preservation. Luna went off script. She wrote the script and was ad-libbing the scene the day she was killed.”

“Then no one knew about the change. How could that have set the murderer off?”

I started to speak then stopped. Paul was right. “Maybe Luna was worried she was next on the list and was leaving us a clue.”

“Why not just tell someone?”

All of the players possibly involved ran through my head: Sheriff Rhodes, Vernon, Chief Quinn, Katrina, Olivia, me, and even her own son Garrison. Was the father there as well? The secret was likely to harm two people: Luna and the birth father.

“Maybe she didn’t know who to trust,” I said. “Why bring the possible daughters and not the father, the one person Luna could point at as the real culprit for abandoning a baby in an unsafe place.”

“Something that could ruin him.”

“Someone like an attorney,” I said. “Luna filed for divorce after Edward showed her the letter about exposing the truth about the baby. What if Luna hadn’t known the baby was thrown away?”

“But she abandoned her child anyway.”

“Yes, but she had meant for the baby to be in a safe place. Like my birth parents had done for me. Luna didn’t want ties to Vernon.”

“But why keep him around?”

“Because she was waiting for the perfect time to tell everyone the truth.”

“She was going to do it during that scene.”

“Yes. Vernon insisted I stand near him. Said he had news about Katrina. I bet he wanted an alibi.”

“Don’t do anything until I get there. I’m grabbing all the evidence and I’ll meet you near the police department.”

“Anne could be in danger,” I said.

“She’s on the set.”

“That didn’t help Luna.”

  

A strong instinct was rising up in me, telling me something was wrong. I wasn’t sure the feeling was about my choice in listening to Paul and heading for the police station instead of checking on Anne or my conclusion was wrong. Vernon made sense. Everything fit. Opportunity. Motive. And the fact his cousin was the police chief. He likely thought she wouldn’t see him as the murderer. She’d protect him.

Yet something was throwing me off. It felt like bugs were crawling up and down my arms and my scalp. There was this heavy anxiousness in my stomach weighing me down. Almost begging me to slow down and reconsider. But reconsider what was the main issue. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong.

I slipped my phone from my pocket and clutched it tightly. It was becoming my security blanket. I didn’t leave without it on my person or in my hand. The humid air wrapped around me, nearly stealing my breath. Even with night approaching the heat was unbearable. Laughter and loud music came from the diner across the pond. The place was ablaze with lights from the ones shining through the window and the Christmas lights strung across the top roof, giving it the effect of a runway for Santa’s sleigh. Some of the lights dripped down the sides of the building. It was a huge beacon.

Was that why someone—Vernon—picked the grassy area right off the bridge to leave Katrina’s body? He knew someone on their way would spot it. Or was it a rash act? He needed a suspect for Luna’s and Marie’s death, and she was the perfect person. The only wrench in his plans was Anne and he tried getting rid of her.

There was a small side street, barely big enough for a car, splitting the area between the convenience store and the police station. Even though the streets were empty, I still paused and looked both ways before jogging across the street. There was a movement at the end of the street. I strained my gaze, peering down the street. A shadow slunk its way behind the police station. I leaned forward and narrowed my gaze, straining to make out the shadow again. Was I wrong?

Nope. There it was again, a slow movement, low to the ground. Not a large shadow but enough to show movement and confirm something or someone was back there.

I ran for the station, scanning the area and looking over my shoulder. Everything in me said Luna’s accident wasn’t a simple mistake of an allergen getting into her food. It was deliberate. The sheriff’s cruiser wasn’t parked out front. He either returned to Harmony to work on the case or was tying up loose ends. Had he taken Vernon with him or left him in Chief Quinn’s custody? Either way, Anne was safe as along as Vernon was still in custody.

I tugged open the door and hurried inside. There were two officers hovering over the calendar marking something on it. Both looked over at me and frowned. Quinn was stalking around her office, arms waving wildly as she glared at her cousin who was sitting with his back ramrod straight. With his back toward me, I couldn’t read his expression, but Chief Quinn was livid.

It was hard to make out every word, but a few leaked out. I caught the words “what” and “thinking,” along with “Katrina,” and “withholding information.”

The younger of the two male officers placed a steaming cup of coffee on the desk then dropped into a chair. It groaned under his weight and the back shifted, nearly toppling him onto the floor. He scooted closer to the desk and turned on the computer monitor.

The older officer hitched up his utility belt and walked over to me. “How can I help you, ma’am?”

“I saw some movement behind the station, like someone crawling.”

“Stay here with Officer Albertson.” He tapped on the desk. “Let the chief know I’m checking out something behind the building.”

Quinn braced the back of her legs against the desk and leaned forward, placing a hand on Vernon’s shoulder. Her gaze flickered toward us, head tilting to the side for a moment before focusing on Vernon. She spoke something quietly, squeezing his shoulder tightly.

“I have some information about the murders.”

“Do you now?” The officer finished typing and with a flourish, turned off the monitor.

“Yes, and I don’t think the chief will like it. Is the sheriff returning? I know their cases are overlapping.”

A clattering and a crash came from the back of the building. There was a shout. More banging and clattering. A curse. The officer shot to his feet. I rose from the chair.

“Stay put.” He rapped on the chief’s window and pointed toward the back of the building, hand resting on the butt of his holstered gun.

The chief rushed out of her office, a fierce look on her face. I wasn’t sure if it was about what had been going on in her office or what was now happening out here.

“There was a noise outside. Like fighting. Your officers went out there.”

“Keep an eye on him.” Chief Quinn jerked her heard toward Vernon who was hunched over, rocking himself back and forth.

Watch him? A criminal. A possible murderer. Though the man didn’t look like a criminal who was caught but a man who just lost the love of his life, and I doubted the chief would leave me alone with a known murderer. In case I was wrong, I hung out by the door. A few shuddering sobs escaped him and then he drew in a deep breath. Sitting up, he squared his shoulders and stood.

My gaze scattered around the main room of the police station, searching for anything to stop him in case he attempted an escape. Besides standing, he hadn’t moved. His arms hung limply at his sides; head lowered. Despair rolled off of him. My heart went out to him.

“I love…loved…her.” His voice broke.

“I know.” That didn’t stop people from killing, sometimes it was the reason why. “Who’s Desiree Young?”

“Who?” His features twisted in confusion.

“Desiree Young. Another potential daughter of Luna’s.” If he hadn’t known about her then who else did? Who else could’ve found out the information?

“Do you think this woman killed Luna?” Slowly, he turned, his gaze burned with grief and hatred.

“No.”

He fisted his hands. “I’ll find who killed Luna, and then I’m going to kill them.”

“That’s interesting, because every piece of evidence I’ve found, says it’s you.” The male voice behind me was filled with as much hatred as Vernon’s.

Slowly, I turned. Sheriff Rhodes had his gun drawn, aimed at Vernon’s heart. With his other hand, he reached back and locked the front door.

“Merry, why don’t you go outside?” Vernon’s gaze was fixed on Rhodes.

“She has caused just as many of my problems as you. Both of you stay right there.”

“She was just trying to make sure Marie’s murder wasn’t covered up.” Vernon stepped away from me. “Not her fault you weren’t doing a good job.”

“I was doing my job. Following the clues. I didn’t miss anything.”

No, but I had. The clues. The cup. I described it to the sheriff. The one I found outside and later showed up in Marie’s room was smooth. It wasn’t a Yeti. I hadn’t told the sheriff the brand. The Yeti brand name was raised on the base of the cup toward the bottom and the other tumbler was smooth. He had wanted a tumbler found near Luna’s house because he took the one that had residue of the sleep aid and disposed of it.

The sheriff narrowed his eyes on me.

Sirens whirled from outside, heading into town.

“Sounds like something’s going on, Sheriff,” I said. “You should head over and help.”

“Likely a fire. I can’t do any good there. Such a shame the chief and her officers ran off leaving a criminal alone with a defenseless woman. Such a bad mistake.” Rhodes raised his arm, the barrel now aimed at Vernon’s head.

A chill ran though me. He knew I figured it out. The sheriff was the companion who dumped an infant in the trash.

Vernon lightly touched my shoulder, tapping me to move out of the way. “If you think I killed Luna and want to kill me, go right ahead. You have no reason for hurting this woman.”

“You’re correct. I don’t. But you do.”

“I’m not hurting her.”

“Sure, you are. Because she figured out you were setting Katrina up for the murder. A dead woman.” He pointed the barrel at us and gestured toward the main office area. “She was escaping, and you killed her. Move over there. Now.”

I complied. There was nothing close enough I could snag as a weapon where I was near the chief’s office. I hoped the new location gave me something.

“Be smart like the lady. Move it, O’Neal.”

“I’m staying put.” He crossed his arms. “Shoot me here.”

“I can shoot her first and then you. Doesn’t make a difference how I do it.” Rhodes grinned. “Then again, she’ll scream and that’ll add a nice detail. One of the officers outside will hear it. Might be a better choice just in case the coroner could figure out the difference between the couple of seconds it’ll take to shoot one of you first.”

Through the window behind the sheriff, I saw the chief looking at us, a large orange cat held in her arms. I didn’t know how to tip her off. She reached for the door. I watched the doorknob twist slightly. I cast my gaze in the direction of the sheriff, hoping she’d notice him and see the gun.

“I’ll move,” Vernon said. “How about you kill me, and she’ll tell everyone you saved her? Right, Merry. You heard me confess.”

The back door rattled. The sheriff’s finger twitched. I stepped back, bumping into the desk. Liquid sloshed from a coffee mug. Hot coffee.

“I’ll even write a note confessing to the murders. Tell me how you did it. I’ll just get—” Vernon reached for a pen.

The sheriff aimed the gun at Vernon. “Don’t move.”

Carefully, I tugged the mug closer. I needed the sheriff looking at me.

“Let her go. She has nothing to do with this. How about I turn around and you can cuff me? Haul me to the sheriff’s department. Lock me up. You’ll have my written confession.”

Rhodes let out a bitter laugh. “Right. So you can talk your way out of it? I’m sure your cousin is already covering things up for you. It’s what she has done her whole life. Clean up your messes.”

Messes. Katrina wasn’t the only one who gathered Luna’s stuff from the floor. So did the sheriff. There was one way to get his attention and save us both. I just hoped I didn’t get killed before I put my plan in action. Grab the mug and throw the hot coffee in the sheriff’s face.

“You helped me and Katrina pick up the items on the floor.” I spoke loudly, with a slight hysterical twinge, I hoped the sheriff bought the act and the chief heard me. “You could’ve replaced Luna’s EpiPen with an expired one. Just like you said Katrina did. And the cup. You planted it on the premise once I mentioned it to you. There won’t be traces of the sleep aid in it because it’s a different cup.”

“That would be difficult to prove…if it was true.” Rhodes roved his gaze from me to Vernon who he still pointed the gun at.

“Luna said a companion took the baby and placed the infant in a safe place. You were the companion. Luna hadn’t known you threw the baby away until she started searching. She was going to tell the world.”

The sheriff trained the gun on me. Before I gripped the handle of the mug, I was thrown onto the ground. A body pressing me down. There was a loud crack. The window exploded. Another crack. Sheriff Rhodes fell onto the floor a few feet away from me.

  

The police department was crowded with people. Deputy Paugh, who was likely now the new sheriff, separated those he needed to interview from those who were just plain nosy. The chief was sequestered in her private office while the officers and the deputy figured out how to handle the matter. After speaking with the State Police, I was stationed in a corner with Paul hovering near acting as my bodyguard. Paugh didn’t want anyone talking with me until he spoke with me again. The sheriff’s cat, Hercules, was wandering around the front room, rubbing his body against legs and meowing.

The chief killing the sheriff—a murderer—wasn’t something anyone ever dealt with before and no one knew the proper, legal way of handling the matter. The only thing they agreed on was the chief shouldn’t question anyone and it was better Vernon was transferred to the sheriff’s department until it was certain what his role, if any, was in any of the deaths. From what I overheard, it was likely the State Police were taking over the case.

Paugh walked back over and handed me a bottle of water. “You’re free to go. I have no more questions. The security tapes back up what you, Vernon, and the chief stated.”

“The police department has security cameras.” I reached down and rubbed Hercules behind his ears.

Paugh nodded. “Something Rhodes wasn’t aware of.”

“He’s the one who switched out the EpiPens,” I said.

Paugh nodded. “We searched Luna’s car and found it plus a cup in the glove compartment. The plan was crushing the car, with the evidence in it, then carting it off for scrap metal. The sheriff had access into and out of the house and had free reign since he was investigating Marie’s death. He replaced the olive oil with peanut oil. His prints were on the bottle.”

“Which could’ve been explained away by him taking it as evidence.”

“Correct.”

“Why did he murder Marie and Katrina?” I asked.

Paugh heaved out a sigh. “From what I’m piecing together, it looks like Katrina was after the proof that she wasn’t Luna’s daughter so she could destroy it. Rhodes thought that like Marie, Katrina was close to figuring out he was the one who threw the baby away. Since Katrina fled that night and she had access to Luna’s vanity, he could pin the murders on her. Case solved. He was scared because if the lost daughter wasn’t found—”

“That meant the baby had died and he was a murderer,” I broke in.

“But I’m not dead.” Anne stepped into view. Garrison and Edward were behind her. “The officer said we could come in. Was he…” she trailed off, gaze fixed on the red stain where Rhodes had fallen.

Garrison wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“No,” I said. “Though he and Luna had been friends…”

“Lovers,” Garrison corrected.

Hercules trotted over and weaved himself first around Anne’s leg then moving onto Garrison and then Edward. It was almost like the critter was testing everyone out.

“We don’t know that,” I said. “Your mom said companion, not father of the baby.”

“Then who?” Tears filled Anne’s eyes. “I never should’ve sent that stupid letter.”

“You sent it?” Paugh asked.

Tears dripped down her face and she stepped away from Garrison. “My family is all gone. When my mother passed away, I inherited her diaries. I hadn’t known she kept one. It told the real story about how I came into her life. My parents had always told me my mother placed me up for adoption through an agency. She was too young to be a mom and gave me the greatest gift by placing me for adoption. Then I read my Mom’s diary about being thrown in a trash, my parents being my foster parents and then later adopting me. I was too young to remember any of it. I was furious. They lied to me. I wanted the truth and dug for it. Now I have it and I don’t want it.” She scrubbed her arm across her face.

“You have me,” Garrison said. “No matter who your father is, you’re my sister.”

“I know.” She tried smiling but it trembled, seeming more like a grimace. “But who’s my father. Does he want me? Why did he—”

“It’s Edward,” Vernon blurted. “Luna told me. It’s why she was divorcing me.”

I frowned. “Because you weren’t the father. That doesn’t make sense.” Garrison had said Luna told him that Edward wasn’t the baby’s father. Had Luna lied—or was Vernon?

Anne’s eyes widened. Edward beamed. Hercules meowed loudly and stretched up, placing his paws on Edward’s leg.

“No, because I told her I didn’t want that guy in my house. She lied about him. Said they had only been friends.”

I studied Vernon. He looked away. The man was lying.

Anne and Garrison swapped phones and were talking with each, and Edward stood between his children looking from one to the other as the spoke, Hercules cradled in his arms. They were in their own world. Thrilled with this truth—that I had a feeling wasn’t the real one.

I pulled Vernon aside. “You lied. You’re her—”

“I’m old. Too old to change who I am. Let it be what it is now. It’s best for the girl. Luna and I are peas from the same pod. Neither of us cared about children. It’s why I don’t have any. Don’t want any. I’m not healthy. My lungs and heart are bad. The girl wants a family. Let her have it.”

“What about you? You really don’t want to know her.”

“I don’t deserve it.”

“It’s not about deserving. Everyone can always use more family. Being connected. What about your cousin? She might like knowing her niece.”

“It would be the best thing I ever did for her.” Vernon’s gaze settled on Edward and his children. “But no one needs someone like me in their family tree.”

“Shouldn’t they decide for themselves? Family is the people you choose to love and claim as being part of your life. I include my former stepdaughter and her grandmother as part of my family. Heck, I even include my late ex-husbands wife who I hadn’t liked originally as my family. Edward and Garrison are nice guys, I bet they’ll include you if you want to get to know Anne. Your family is as big or small as you choose. Choose big. Choose more.”

“Maybe.” He headed for the office where his cousin was sitting and staring at a wall.

“It’s time to head home.” Paul held open the door. I slipped out.

The sun was rising. I held back a yawn. Even though I was exhausted I was ready to leave. Go home. See my family. My children. My mom. My former stepdaughter. The friends I now considered my family.

“I’m ready for home,” I said. “And I need away from here. I plan on driving for an hour and stopping at a rest stop for a few hours. I’ll call you when I’m at home.” How I longed for Season’s Greetings and all that was familiar.

“I was thinking about following you back. We can stop and eat lunch or dinner together. Kind of keep each other company.”

“That’ll be nice.” I smiled at him.

He smiled back. “I liked what you said about family. I’m wondering if there will ever be a spot for me.”

I reached out and took hold of Paul’s hand. “There’s always room for one more.”