Кэти Дэйли - The Case Of The Cupid Caper

“So why involve me? Why set the fire during a time when I was expected to show up for a meeting with the guy?”

“I’m not sure. Mark didn’t say. Maybe it just worked out that way, or maybe they realized that you would provide an alibi of sorts for Lissa.”

“So Mark must have helped her start the fire and then left. She stayed behind to meet with me and play the role of the terrified girlfriend.” I realized for the first time that Lissa hadn’t had a car when I’d met her at the house.

Cass nodded.

“And Frank?”

“Mark said that Frank had been trying to buy the entire block where he has his hunting and fishing store. He refused to sell, as did most of the others, but then Frank messed up Walter’s deal to sell to the couple from Aurora, and he used that as leverage to get the hairdresser on board. With the option on her property, he controlled half the block. I guess Frank threatened to shut down Mark’s business while he conducted a comprehensive audit to determine if he’d been selling illegal guns. He hadn’t been, but he knew that White would drag his feet, and he’d be out of business even if he eventually passed the audit, so he went to his home to speak to him. Mark said he only intended to talk to the man, but then, as with his conversation with Dale, his conversation with Frank got heated, and he shot the guy.”

“It sounds like Mark is the sort who shoots first and asks questions later,” I said.

“So it appears. Personally, after speaking to Mark, I don’t think that either shooting was premeditated, but I do think the man has a trigger finger, and when riled, I think he acts before having a chance to think things through. My job is to make the arrest, which I plan to do as soon as I can catch up with the man. It will be up to the court to figure out the rest.”

“So, both fires were Lissa’s idea?” I asked.

“According to Mark, once he confessed to the shootings, she suggested the fires. I guess this isn’t the first time the siblings have covered up a murder with fire.”

I raised a brow. “Their parents?” I gasped.

He nodded. “Mark said that Lissa got into an argument with her father when she was twelve and ended up shooting him with his own gun. Their mother was going to call the police even though the father had been abusing Lissa, and the shooting was somewhat justified, so Mark shot her to protect his sister. Lissa came up with the idea of making it appear as if the couple had died in a fire.”

I was pretty sure I was going to be sick. Both of the siblings were crazy. I supposed I should be grateful that all Mark did was to tie Cass up. Based on his prior behavior, it could have been a whole lot worse.”

Chapter 19

Friday 2/14

“It looks like Ms. Cupid has another success story under her belt,” I said to Gracie as I watched Gabe and Gabby dancing cheek to cheek.

“They do look happy,” she admitted. “And I do think they make a good match.”

Speaking of good matches. “So, what happened to Tom? I know I saw him earlier.

“We came together, but he headed to the bar as soon as we walked in the door,” Gracie shared. “I don’t think red and white balloons, colorful lights that twinkle, and slow dancing are really his sort of thing.”

“Yeah, I guess I’m not surprised. At least you have Hawaii to look forward to.”

She grinned. “Ten days and counting. I wasn’t sure about your idea at first, but I have to say that I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so excited about anything.”

“You deserve this break. Tom does too. I hope you both have a wonderful time.”

“Are you sure you can handle things with Paisley on your own?” Gracie asked as the music changed to a waltz.

“I’m sure. I spoke to a woman from the cleaning service and arranged for a team to go in twice a week and clean, so Paisley won’t have to worry about that. I also spoke to Anna’s mother, and she’s fine with helping out after school if needed, and she is going to rally some of the other mothers from school to drop off casseroles Paisley and her grandmother can just heat and serve. And I promise to check in with both Paisley and Ethel every single day. It will be fine. You just need to have a wonderful time and not worry about a thing.”

“Okay.” She visibly relaxed. “I guess I’ll take your advice. I suspect that there will come a time when we’ll need to have a serious conversation about Paisley’s care with Ethel, but maybe with the extra help you’ve arranged, that conversation can wait a bit.” She looked toward the bar. “I think I’m going to go and join Tom for a drink.”

“Sounds like a wonderful idea.”

She looked around the room. “Wasn’t Cass supposed to meet you here?”

“He’ll be here. I guess he had some paperwork to finish up.”

“I heard Mark Nixon decided to turn himself in,” Gracie said.

I nodded. “I think he thought that by doing so, Lissa would be off the hook and would be released, but, of course, that isn’t at all how it worked out. Both siblings are going to prison, but the duration of their stays is unknown at this time.”

“The whole thing is just so tragic.”

“I agree. It sounds like Mark and Lissa’s father was a monster. If not for the abuse they had to endure as children, who knows how they would have turned out. They both might have grown to live happy and productive lives.”

“Maybe the court will take that into consideration when it comes time to dole out the sentences,” Gracie suggested.

“Perhaps.”

After Gracie left, I headed toward Hope and Naomi, who were chatting near the buffet. “Are you both here alone?”

“Unfortunately, we are,” Hope answered. “How about you? I figured Cass would come with you.”

“He’s supposed to meet me here, but he got tied up after Mark Nixon turned himself in. Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?”

“Absolutely,” Hope said.

“I’m really excited about working on your project with you,” Naomi added. “Hope and I have been discussing it, and we both think we can come up with a new angle if we work together as a team.”

“I don’t suppose your Navy Intelligence boyfriend will be around to help out?” I asked Naomi.

“He may or may not pop in. You know that I never know what he is going to do or when he is going to do it.”

“I’m sure Cass will help out where he can,” Hope added.

“He said he would,” I confirmed. “I know that finding even a single clue that hasn’t already been found is a longshot, but it would really be great if we did dig something up.”

I chatted with Hope and Naomi for a while longer before circulating to get the photos for the paper I was here to take. I wasn’t sure what sort of a turnout I’d been expecting, but it seemed, based on my initial observation, that half the town had shown up for the dance. Dex had loved my story about the origin of the dance as told to me by Lettie, and I really wanted to turn in something as entertaining this week, so once I had my photos, I began to circulate and ask those in attendance about specific memories from past Sweetheart Dances. I found folks who had met here, others who’d gotten engaged on the dance floor, and still others who had stories to tell that had been passed down by parents and grandparents.

“Would you care to dance?”

I turned and smiled at Cass, who’d walked up behind me as I was storing my notepad and pen in my camera bag. “I’d love to. I love the suit. I was expecting you to arrive in your uniform.”

“I had to run out to the lake to take Milo home, so I changed. You look beautiful in your red dress.”

“Thank you. You look handsome in your black suit. We’ll have to get a photo before the end of the evening.” Cass pulled me into his arms and began to sway to the slow song that was playing. I was hyper-aware of his hand on my bare back, but I tried to act nonchalant and unaffected. “So, did you get all your paperwork done?” I hoped he didn’t notice how shaky my voice had suddenly become.