SCREWED DOWN MURDER (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 2) (11 page)

She even missed them a little, living out in the country. Greg had insisted that he wanted a country home. He wanted a place the boys could fish and climb trees. Neither of the boys had wanted to do that, but Greg had not budged once they’d been settled in the house for a few years. It would be nice for Kate to have a neighbor she could invite over for coffee. One that was just over the back fence.

Instead, Kate had gotten involved in the community by way of the center and by volunteering at the kids’ school. By the time middle school rolled around for Jason and Jared, Kate was a little bored with the stay-at-home mom thing.

That’s when she thought about creating her current business when her father, also a handyman, retired. It was about the same time Greg had disappeared and her dream became a necessity.

Jessica was taking her time for someone who had wanted to see Kate so badly this morning. Kate rang the doorbell again. She waited then tried the knob. The door was locked, of course. Kate glanced in the sidelight, but that didn’t yield any information.

Kate found this odd. After wanting to see her so badly, why had Jessica stood her up?

She dialed her phone. Kate could hear it ringing inside the house. Even odder.

She contemplated what to do then chose to go see Scott. She parked by the police station and was let in like a relative.

Scott was on the phone and held up a finger for her to wait. She leaned on the doorjamb, her arms crossed. She really wanted to talk to him. He finally hung up.

“Come in, Kate. You look worried.”

She sat. “I got a call from Jessica Stuart this morning.”

“And?”

“She wanted to see me. She found something in Dudley’s office that she wanted me to see.”

“The case is probably closed, Kate.”

“That’s what I said. I did my first job of the day then I went over there. I knew it wasn’t a rush. When I got there, she wasn’t home.”

“Maybe she ran out to the grocery store.”

“No, she was insistent that I see her and that I text her before I came over. I did and she was waiting for me. When I got there she was gone.”

“Did you call her?”

“I did. Her phone rang inside the house. I rang the doorbell twice. She didn’t answer. I’m worried, Scott.”

“Maybe she remembered a meeting she had, but forgot her phone so she couldn’t call you.”

“Sounds reasonable except that she was insistent that I come over today.”

Scott shrugged. “She’s a grown woman, Kate. I can’t do anything until she’s gone for twenty-four hours.”

Kate frowned. She understood what he was saying.

“I get it. I’ll see if I can find her car in town.”

“Don’t you have better things to do than keep track of her? Maybe Dean knows where she is.”

Kate knew it hurt Scott to even mention Dean. “I’ll try now.”

She dialed Dean’s number, but it went right to voicemail. She left a message that she was looking for Jessica. “Where does Dean live?”

“You think I know that?” Scott said.

“No, I guess you don’t. Let me see what I can figure out.”

“I think you should leave it alone. Maybe she’s off having a nooner with Dean.”

Kate hadn’t thought of that. How embarrassing would that be if that was the reason Jessica had stood her up. And if she went searching and found them…well, no way. She didn’t want to be involved in that.

“The thought hadn’t entered my mind. I was sure she was lost because of something bad.”

“You do remember those heady days in the beginning of a relationship when you can’t get enough of each other?”

Kate probably blushed. Scott was thinking about them in high school. They had been all over each other that summer before he went to college. Young love and lust.

“On that note, I’m leaving. You have a good rest of the day.”

He smiled as if knowing that he’d gotten her thinking about the old days. Those days were gone. Simpler times, for sure. She didn’t think about them very often. She had too much going on in the present.

Kate pondered what she was going to do next. While she was here, she could return the book on home repair to the library. It had served her well and she’d learned a lot. Then Scott text her.

I have a job for you to do, but not until tomorrow.

Okay.

Can you come by in the morning?

Yes, can I have a clue?

Bring wooden boards.

Okay.

That didn’t narrow it down, but she’d bring wooden boards.

***

The next day, Kate appeared at Scott’s house first thing in the morning. He smiled when he opened the door. “You are a lovely sight first thing in the morning.”

“What’s broken?”

“My garbage disposer. I don’t know how old it is, so if I need a new one, go ahead.”

She walked into the kitchen then went right to the sink. She smelled coffee. She’d had her first cup at home, but her body was calling for the second cup. Her mouth watered as she examined his disposal. “The house isn’t that old. I can’t imagine you need a new one.”

She eyed the pot.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” he said.

She was about to say she’d kill for a cup of coffee, but she didn’t think that was appropriate on any level. “Yes, I’d love a cup of coffee.”

“You still take it black?”

“Yes.” She turned on the disposal and it made a dying cat noise. “That doesn’t sound good. You don’t have anything stuck in it?”

“Not that I know of.”

He set a cup of coffee on the counter and she immediately reached for it. “I’m going to take it off to look at it. Do you need to get to work?”

“Not yet.”

He poured himself another cup, then leaned against the counter next to where she was working.

“Let me get some tools.”

She returned. Scott hadn’t moved. She removed the disposal, changed a few parts then put it back on. It worked.

“You’re a genius,” he said.

“Not really.” She wrote up her bill then handed it to him.

He wrote her a check.

“What else do you have going on today?” he said.

“I’m going to check in with Jessica since I’m here and see if I can start her jobs. See if she has any priorities.”

“Well, then enjoy your day.”

“Go catch some bad guys,” she said as she walked out of his house.

“Not so many in Rock Ridge, but I’m not complaining.”

Kate didn’t bother moving her truck since she’d parked it on the street.

She walked over to Jessica’s house in the humidity, wishing for some relief from it. She’d bet she could get her truck’s air conditioning looked at soon. Two newspapers were on the doorstep. Kate picked them up then rang the doorbell.

Dean had never gotten in touch. Had the two gone away together and were out of cell phone range? No one answered as Kate stood in the heat.

When was Jessica going to let her start? Where was the woman who had so desperately needed to see her yesterday? The situation seemed odd to Kate. By now, Jessica must have remembered that she’d called Kate.

Kate punched the digits for Jessica’s phone. She once again heard it ring inside. Should she try to get in? Could Jessica have fallen? Maybe she was injured.

Kate stormed back over to Scott’s house. He was just leaving for work.

“I’m concerned. Jessica didn’t pick up her paper this morning. Her cell is still in her house. What if something happened to her?”

“I’ll have patrol do a well-being check this morning.”

“I want to see if I can get in,” Kate said.

She had a bad feeling about all of this. Jessica had never been this flighty. Kate had always found the woman to be responsible. Not that she owed Kate any explanations.

“Don’t break in, Kate. I’ll call dispatch now.” He did then hung up. “They are sending a car over right now.”

“I’ll wait then,” she said.

“I’ll wait with you.”

Her phone rang. “It’s Dean. I called him yesterday.”

“Kate?” Dean said.

“Yes.”

“Sorry, I didn’t call you back. My phone died and I didn’t have my charger with me, so I didn’t see that you called. I can’t get ahold of Jessica. She isn’t answering her phone.”

“Her cell phone is inside her house, but she isn’t answering the door.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“The cops are doing a well-being check. I’ll be here,” Kate said.

They disconnected. “Dean is on his way,” she told Scott who grimaced. “You can’t keep him away.”

“I know. He has more of a right to Jessica’s house than I do. Maybe he has a key.”

“I know where their hide-a-key is. Although if we have to break in, at least I can fix it.”

Scott chuckled. A patrol car parked in front of Jessica’s house. Scott went to greet them. Kate tagged along. She helped them look into the windows, but no one saw anything.

“We can’t break in, Kate. She’s a grown woman.”

Kate saw Dean’s truck pull into the driveway. “Did you find her?”

“No, we haven’t. Would you have a key?” Kate said.

“No, I don’t. I’ve never met Jessica here. She’s been staying with me since Dudley died.”

Kate didn’t comment. She didn’t blame Jessica. Why not stay with the man who loves you. “The fact that you don’t know where she is concerns me.”

“Still, I don’t think we can legally break in, Kate.”

“I’ll do it,” Dean said. “I doubt she’d press charges against me.”

He wasn’t wrong. He turned to Kate. “I don’t have any tools with me. You have a hammer?”

“Hold on.” She walked to the hiding spot and breathed a sigh of relief when she found the hide-a-key. She returned with it and handed it to Dean, who then used it to unlock the front door.

“Stay out here, Kate,” Scott said.

Kate glared at him, but waited on the driveway. They came out looking grim about a half an hour later. She’d paced a trail in the driveway while waiting for them.

“She isn’t inside,” Scott said. “There are coffee cups on the counter as if she left in a hurry.” He looked at Dean. “Can you come to the station to fill out a missing persons report?”

“I can and I will. I’m worried now.”

“Did she say she was meeting anyone?” Kate asked.

“Kate,” Scott warned.

She glared at him again. “Just asking.”

“I’ll have to think about it,” Dean said. “I know she was meeting someone, but I cannot remember who. Wasn’t significant to me.”

“I was supposed to meet her yesterday. Could it have been me?” Kate said.

“No, it was someone else. It’ll come to me.”

Kate’s phone rang. Carly. “Hello?”

“Hey, Kate. I have a small emergency. Can you come fix something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“It’s some shelves I had in the storeroom.”

“Okay. I’ll be there in ten,” Kate said. “I have to go, but keep me updated please?”

Dean nodded.

Chapter Twelve

When Kate arrived at Carly’s shop, her mother, Celia, was there. The tension was palpable while Celia chattered away.

“Oh, hello, Kate,” Celia said.

Kate was eager to escape to the storeroom so she could do her repair then get back to looking for Jessica. She knew the woman had to be in trouble. She had to find her. Someone had to find her. “Hello, everyone. I’ll just get to those shelves.”

“Coffee?” Carly said.

She clearly didn’t want to be alone with her mother for any longer. Kate briefly considered setting Carly up with Larry. Maybe then the older woman would leave her daughter alone.

“Uh, okay, but I’m going to bring it back with me.”

Carly glared at her, but Kate had to get to work. She had to make a living, and looking for Jessica had taken enough of her time today.

Kate took her mug back to the storeroom. Carly appeared in the doorway. “Save me,” she whispered.

“She’s your mother.”

Kate didn’t have much sympathy. She wished her own mother were here. There were so many times when the boys were younger that she could have used her advice.

“Kate?” Celia said behind Carly.

“Yes?” Kate said.

Carly escaped, but Celia didn’t bother Kate the way she bothered her own daughter.

“Did you know that Beth from the newspaper and Jessica were friends?”

“I didn’t know that. Why do you think that?”

“I saw them driving out of town yesterday in Jessica’s car,” Celia said.

Kate gave the woman her full attention. “When?”

“Oh, in the morning. Say nine or so.”

That would have been right after Jessica had called her. Could Beth have been the female in Dudley’s office?

“I’ve been looking for Jessica. Now I know where she is or at least who she is with.” Kate walked out to the front of the shop. “Carly, I’ll be back.”

She left them with their mouths open. Kate called Scott.

“Kate?”

“I just talked to Celia. She saw Beth from the newspaper and Jessica driving out of town yesterday. In Jessica’s car.”

“Hold on. Dean’s here. Let me put you on speaker.”

“Celia said she saw them?” Dean asked. “Dudley had a hunting cabin outside of town.”

“That could be where they were going,” Kate said. “Let’s go find them. Beth could be your mystery woman.”

“Kate,” Scott said in a stern voice. “You stay put. I’ll go out there with a patrol car and alert the state troopers.”

“Sure.” Like that was going to happen. “How will you get in? I have tools.”

Dean spoke up. “I have a key. It’s where Jessica and I used to meet.”

Kate didn’t know what to say to that. “Okay. Fine. You don’t need me.”

She disconnected then waited until she saw Dean’s truck go by. She followed him out of town and into a hillier region. Her little truck was no match for his large one, but she kept him in sight. She hoped that Scott wouldn’t catch up before they arrived.

The log cabin was set back from the road by almost a mile. Kate’s truck bounced her around as it went over the rutted, dirt road. She stopped a little before the clearing and pulled her truck off to the side. Scott would see it but she didn’t care.

Beth hadn’t killed Dudley with a gun. Besides, Kate outweighed her. She could take her.