Authors: Amanda M. Lee
Tags: #Suspense, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Mystery, #Ghost, #Supernatural, #Thriller, #Witch, #Wizard, #Humor
Wicked Brew (9 page)
“Nothing,” Denham said. “They’re framing me.”
“There were two sets of tracks out at the accident scene,” Chief Terry said. “It appears that someone drove directly at Belinda’s vehicle and tried to force it off the road, even clipping the front bumper to force her off into the ravine.”
“Well, my rental car is out in the parking lot,” Denham said. “You can check it. There’s no damage.”
“We already checked it,” Landon said.
Denham smiled triumphantly.
“The problem is, you secured that rental car yesterday afternoon,” Landon said. “The car you rented six days ago in Traverse City is another story. We contacted the owner of that facility – and he wasn’t thrilled to be woken up in the middle of the night, let me tell you – and he said the car you turned in two days ago had some front-end damage.
“The owner said you claimed someone backed into the car when it was parked and you had no idea who did it,” Landon continued. “Can you explain that?”
“I … I have no idea what happened to that car,” Denham said. “Someone hit it and ran.”
“And, can you explain what you were doing in this area before then?” Landon asked, his face serious.
“I was here on vacation.”
“Why did you tell us you were at the mall by your mother’s house?” Chief Terry asked.
They were tag-teaming him, and it was a sight to behold.
“I … you’re trying to frame me,” Denham said.
“Did he hurt my mommy?” Annie asked, her lower lip trembling.
“Of course he didn’t,” Arlene said. “Your mommy is the bad one.”
“Stop telling her that,” I snapped.
“Even if you take my son into custody, that doesn’t mean I’m guilty,” Arlene said, straightening.
“Mom?” Denham was worried.
“I’m still this girl’s only relative who is capable of taking care of her.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Aunt Tillie said, appearing in Belinda’s doorway. She wasn’t alone. The woman standing behind her, who only an hour ago looked like she was minutes from death, now appeared like she was ready for action. Well, kind of. She was still pale, and she looked confused.
“I’m capable of taking care of her,” Belinda said, leaning against the doorway for support as she cradled her ribs.
“Mommy!” Annie jumped off of Marcus’ lap and raced toward her mother.
Bay stilled her approach worriedly. “Your mommy is sore. Be gentle with her.”
Annie nodded solemnly as she carefully gave Belinda a desperate hug.
“I was so worried about you,” Belinda said, petting her daughter’s head. “I woke up in the car and you were gone. I couldn’t get out.”
“She found us,” I explained. “I’m sorry it took us so long to find you.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Belinda said, her eyes swimming with tears. “You saved my baby.” She glanced up, her gaze landing on Denham for the first time. “What is he doing here?”
“He’s being taken into custody,” Chief Terry said. “We’re going to need to talk to you, too. I need to know what you remember about the accident.”
“I don’t know what I can tell you,” Belinda said. “I just know that a black car was heading right at us and I tried to swerve to avoid it. I blacked out, and when I woke up, Annie was missing. I tried to get out of the car, but I kept passing out.”
“Yes, well, it just so happens that Mr. Denham rented a black car when he arrived in the area almost a week ago,” Chief Terry said. “He’s being taken into custody on attempted murder charges. Do you know why he would try to kill you?”
“I was going after child support,” Belinda said. “I left him off the birth certificate because I didn’t want anything to do with him, but he kept showing up. I figured, if he was going to keep hounding us, I should get the money he owed us.
“When I filed the paperwork, he started threatening me,” she continued. “I realized what I’d done, and I decided to run. He was being … scary.”
Chief Terry nodded. “Did he threaten you?”
“Yes. He kept saying he was going to kill me and take Annie.”
“Did you know he was in the area?” Landon asked.
“No,” Belinda said. “I thought we were safe. I had no idea he’d come here. I don’t even know how he found me.”
“That will be a question he has to answer down at the station,” Chief Terry said, pulling his handcuffs from his belt.
“Mom!” Denham was panicked.
“You’re such a stupid moron,” Arlene grumbled. “I have no idea how I raised such an idiot.”
“It must be karma,” Aunt Tillie said.
Arlene wasn’t done yet. “That woman is not fit enough to take care of a child,” she said. “It’s going to be weeks before she’s recovered. How is she going to take care of Annie?”
“She won’t be alone,” Winnie said, appearing from the other side of the nurse’s station. I hadn’t even realized she was over there and listening to everything. “She’ll be staying at The Overlook while she convalesces. That will allow her to rest, and have plenty of free childcare.”
Annie looked excited at the prospect. “Does that mean I can help Aunt Tillie in her garden?”
“No,” Landon said.
Annie frowned. “But I want to learn more about the oregano.”
Landon wagged his finger in Annie’s face. “No, you don’t. You can help Thistle in the store, though.”
“And you can come with me to the stables,” Marcus said.
“Can I ride a horse?” Annie asked, excited.
“You can ride ten of them,” Marcus said.
“But what about the oregano? It needs to be cut back so it won’t be all seeds.”
Landon scowled.
“Don’t worry,” Aunt Tillie said. “We still have our wine business.”
“No, you don’t,” Landon said.
“You’re starting to test the limits of my endurance,” Aunt Tillie said.
“Wait a second. You can’t just hand my granddaughter over to these people,” Arlene said. “I brought a lawyer.”
“Yeah, well we brought a judge,” Marnie said as she joined the crowd. I couldn’t help but notice that a tired looking Judge Crawford was with her. He still had pie crumbs on his face.
“I’ve been made aware of the situation,” he said. “Since the mother is on her way to recovery, and the Winchesters have graciously opened up their home to her, I see no reason to remove this child from her mother’s custody.”
“Except that Belinda can’t hold down a job,” Arlene said.
Belinda’s face colored under the accusation. “That’s because you called every one of my employers and told them lies about me.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” Winnie said. “We’ve been considering adding another person at the inn to help with the day-to-day operations. I think Belinda will fit right in.” She smiled at Annie. “And that will give us the opportunity to see Annie as often as we want.”
Annie clapped her hands together excitedly.
“You can’t do this,” Arlene said. “I … this isn’t what I want.”
“Oh, honey, we don’t give a flying fart what you want,” Aunt Tillie said, holding her hand out to Annie. “Come on, Basil. I think some breakfast is in order.”
Belinda furrowed her brow. “Basil?”
I sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“With a happy ending,” Annie said, laughing delightedly. She held out her other hand to me. “Are you coming? You’re going to need a big breakfast if you want to sell wine with me and Aunt Tillie this afternoon.”
“That’s right,” Aunt Tillie said. “We need to teach her to dance, don’t we?”
Annie giggled.
I took Annie’s hand. “I’m not dancing.”
“You have to,” Annie said. “That’s how you sell stuff. We need to get a new plow for Aunt Tillie, missy.”
I gave in. “Fine.”
“What new plow?” Landon asked.
Everyone ignored him.
“I’d better not come back out to that inn and find any selling going on,” Landon barked at our backs.
No one listened.
“Sometimes I feel like I talk and everyone just pretends my lips aren’t moving,” he grumbled.
“That’s because you’re full of hot air,” Annie said.
Landon narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that?”
“Oh, we all told her that,” Aunt Tillie said, chortling as she dragged Annie and me down the hall. “We all told her that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a happy ending for everyone, after all. Well, except for Landon.
“Don’t worry,” Aunt Tillie said, reading my mind. “He’ll be fine.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I put a little something extra in the wine bottle I left in his truck,” she said. “He’s going to be thanking me for weeks after he drinks it.”
“Why? Does it taste like bacon?”
Aunt Tillie’s eyes were sparkling. “You’ll have to wait to find out.”
I wanted to question her further, but I let it go. I was too tired to put up a fight. It had been a long few days, and a job well done. I was going to leave Aunt Tillie to her fun.
“Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about you,” Aunt Tillie said. “Your punishment starts tomorrow.”
And, then again, the woman is evil
i
ncarnate. “Oh, come on!”
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that..
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Donna Rich for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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