Frosted on the Ferris Wheel (6 page)

She straightened up, taking on an air of authority. Inside, she floundered with what to say next. He must’ve seen her doubt and desperation.

He leaned in closer. “You’d better not be playing games with me. I’ve done everything as instructed. When I get paid, I’ll take care of the rest.”

“The rest?” Holly knew she was taking a risk by asking. “I was told to check up on you. I don’t know everything either. Do you remember the rest?” she tested.

He jerked away. His gaze bore into her, traveling up and down her body before settling on her face, her eyes. His expression changed from suspicion to anger. “You. And that cop last night.” Holly could see the gears working in his brain, placing her and the cop in a relationship. He narrowed his eyes, his lips twisting into an ugly, mocking grin. “One thing I remember clearly. I was told to take care of any liars, anyone trying to get in on this deal. I’ve got my eye on you.” With that threat, he stalked away.

Holly sank against the side of the gazebo, trembling. He might not have revealed everything, but if he didn’t want the cops involved, then that meant something illegal. Possibly murder.

But what was his connection to the Schillings? One way to find out. Spy on Judy and Joel tonight on their innocent dinner together.
 

Holly just didn’t know which restaurant.

Holly spent the afternoon brooding, reading, and sleeping. Sometimes escape was the best way to avoid thinking. When she awoke, afternoon shadows cast their light across her living room. She jumped to her feet. Tonight was a big undercover night and she had to be ready. With a glance at her kitchen and her unfinished strawberry cheesecake smoothie recipe, she headed for the shower.

An hour later, she stood in front of the mirror. “How do I look, Muffins?
 
Ready to blend in with the crowds?” Her plan was to dress plainly, almost camouflaged so no one would notice her, so Judy Schilling and Joel Atherton wouldn’t give her a second glance. And if they did? They’d pass her over as a lonely single out to have dinner by herself.

She fiddled with makeup and last minute touch-ups. She pulled out her mega purse from the back of the closet and filled it with a small notebook, pens, and a granola bar—for Charlene’s sake. Before leaving, she placed her purse on the floor. “Okay, in you go.”

Muffins barked, hopefully in approval, and climbed into her purse as if he knew the seriousness of tonight’s mission.
 

The only problem was that Holly didn’t know where Judy and Joel were dining, and she didn’t know what car they’d be driving. Her plans that night were laughable. She started her car and stayed in the small lot attached to her apartment building. She thought about Joel, and the charming snake Ann claimed him to be. Where would a guy like that take a date? A date he wanted to impress, to flatter, so she would spill information?

She crossed out
Oodles
. Not expensive enough. She crossed out any restaurants that lacked character and depth even if the food was tasty. The
Fairview
Bar and Grille
, even though often packed, offered lots of character. She didn’t want to return there not after last night but it seemed a good choice. Casual. Comfortable. A good place to draw information from an unsuspecting, grieving widow.
 

With Muffins hidden safely in her bag—who said she was dateless?—she entered and took a corner table. On a sudden impulse, she ordered a glass of wine, something to sit and sip. When that was gone, she ordered an appetizer of mozzarella sticks. Eventually, they turned cold. The waitress subtly asked her if that was all, after glancing at the throngs of people waiting for a table.

Holly ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Still no sign of Judy and Joel. Had Holly been wrong? She was just about to give up and check out a different restaurant when the waitress guided a couple over to the table directly behind Holly. Her heart sank, doubts flooding.

Millicent giggled, her hand on Trent’s arm as they scooted into their seats.

Trent and Millicent? Had he lost interest in Holly that fast? Thank God for the high-backed bench seats, which offered privacy, and kept her hidden. Should she stay and listen? Or leave for her own sanity?

Muffins poked his nose out of the bag, and she fed him a piece of cheeseburger. Of course she would stay.
 

“Trent, you must be so exhausted just thinking about the upcoming festival while in the middle of a big murder case.” Millicent sounded more like a dove cooing.
 

“Oh, it’s part and parcel with the job. This time of summer, my job, with tourists and crowd management, is always busy.”

At the sound of Trent’s familiar voice, Muffins yipped. Holly glanced around and fed him another piece of her dinner. Thankfully, the noise level in the restaurant had covered his bark.
 

Holly whispered, “Shh. I know you hear a familiar voice. But not now.” That same familiar voice made Holly sad too.

“And how are you dealing with your big bad bossy wossy?”

Holly grimaced picturing Millicent stroking Trent’s hand or tracing her knuckles down his cheek. Again, she felt uncomfortable, at the rage, simmering.
 

He chuckled. “It’s not that bad. She’s just doing her job. It’s a lot of stress to enter a new job in a small town which should be fairly quiet and then get hit with not one but two murders.”

“Well, yes,” Millicent purred. “But don’t you think a strong, intelligent man who has lived in this town for years should be the one in charge?”
 

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m still at the bottom of the totem pole so to speak.”

She giggled. “Who said I was talking about you?”
 

Trent stammered, then said, “Okay, you got me. Guess I need to check in that ego of mine.”

“Trent, sweetie.” She laughed. “Just kidding. Of course I was talking about you.” She switched directions, her voice dream-like. “Remember that time the summer before our senior year? By the lake?”

“How could I forget?” Trent asked.
 

Millicent sighed. “We made so many dreams and promises that night. Do you think they’ll come true?”

“Yes, I do. Some of them already have.”

A part of Holly died inside. They sounded so comfortable with one another, the flirting and serious conversations all flowing together. She couldn’t miss the nostalgia in both their voices. They had a past together, a history that Holly was beginning to feel she couldn’t compete against. Then she thought about Charlene. Maybe Charlene had been avoiding her because she knew Trent didn’t want to date anymore? And Charlene wanted to avoid the awkward conversation?

Muffins nipped at her hand. She fed him the last of the burger. She chewed on a cold fry. It tasted like cardboard.

Her waitress showed up. “Will that be at all?”

Holly nodded. She’d taken up enough time. She’d tip the waitress extra. Right now, she was ready to leave. Forget finding Judy and Joel. As she waited for the bill, Holly tried to block out Trent and Millicent’s trip down memory lane.

“Do you mind if I ask you a possibly sensitive question?” Millicent asked.

Holly perked up. She sensed the change in Millicent’s voice. It went from flirty to focused. The tone a reporter would take.
 

“How much do we really know about Holly?”

“Holly Hart?” Trent sounded surprised.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about it.”

“What about Holly?” Trent pressed, playing into Millicent’s hands.

“Don’t you find it odd that she’s so obsessed with murders? How much do we really know about her?”

Hot tears burned Holly’s eyes. Trent wouldn’t be able to answer that question because over the past few months, she had avoided talking about her past. She didn’t want lie to him, but she hadn’t been ready to share about her family, her past, and the ongoing investigation into her parents’ company and business partner.

“Well—” Trent stopped talking as if he realized how little he knew about her past.

Millicent gasped. “You mean you don’t know anything about her either?”

“Of course I know her,” he said. But even Holly heard the waver in his voice.

“I’m sorry. Why don’t we talk about something else.”

Holly breathed slow and deep, fighting off the crushing heartbreak and the rising rage. Millicent had played Trent, leading him to this point in the conversation like a master. She walked him to the brink of the cliff and left him to doubt Holly and his relationship with her.

Muffins looked up at her, questioning, growling.

“What a brilliant idea, Muffins.” Holly plucked him out of her large bag. “You know I don’t normally condone this sort of behavior but you know what to do.”

He barked in response just loud enough that several of the patrons looked over. Her waitress, behind the bar looked too, her gaze narrowing in on the dog.

“Now or never.” Without regret, Holly gently tossed him over the top of her seat.

She heard Millicent’s gasp and cry. She heard the clatter and shatter of glasses as they rolled to the floor. She heard Muffins growl.

“He’s going to attack me!” Millicent cried.
 

The waitress rushed over, the manager right behind her. Holly stood as they reached the scene. She stifled a giggle and the stain of purple on Millicent’s sleeveless white blouse, then said, gushing, “Oh, I’m so sorry. My dog must’ve smelled your food. Normally, he’s so obedient. He usually likes everyone.”

The waitress eyed her. “You brought in a dog?”

Holly made sure her mouth dropped open in innocent surprise. “You mean dogs aren’t allowed? I’m so sorry. I’m used to bringing him with me everywhere. I had no idea. And such a mess.” She turned her innocence onto Millicent. “What a beautiful blouse. Let me pay for it.”

“Stay away from me!” Millicent practically leaped across the table into Trent’s arms. “She tried to kill me.”

The manager spoke over the chaos. He sounded nervous. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. Dinner’s on the house.” When that didn’t earn a response from Millicent, he added. “And free meals the rest of the summer.”

“I guess so,” Millicent said.

The manager turned to Holly, a storm crossing his face, his lips trembling with rage. “And you. Out. Now.”

Holly plucked Muffins from the mess. “I’m terribly sorry.” Without looking at Trent, not wanting to see his frown and disappointment, she left the restaurant, pride barely intact.
 

Later that evening, the dinner hour almost over, Holly strolled down Main Street. After the excitement of Trent and Millicent’s sabotaged date, Holly had left Muffins snoozing on his doggie bed. She didn’t regret her earlier actions; the look of horror on Millicent’s face was priceless, but she felt bad for the manager and the waitress. She felt bad for lowering herself to Millicent’s level—sabotaging a date.
 

And finally, she had to admit they were on a date. It hadn’t been her intention when disrupting their dinner, but she’d thought he’d storm after her and chase her down with his sirens wailing.

But nothing.

He hadn’t called or texted or shown up, even now, an hour later.

Holly let out a sigh. Time to call it quits for the night and possibly, maybe, work on that smoothie recipe. She was running out of time.

At the Fairview Inn and Restaurant, Holly turned to head back to her apartment. A sleek yellow convertible pulled up to the side of the road.
 

Joel Atherton and Judy Schilling.

Holly did a double take.
 

Right in front of her was the couple she’d been chasing down all night. And now, after a night of disaster, they just appeared.
 

Frozen on the sidewalk, she watched Joel climb from the driver’s seat of his sweet ride and walk over to open the door for Judy. He held out his hand, his smile dashing and debonair. She accepted it with grace, and together, looking like old friends, they headed toward the Inn.
 

The promised dinner date. Where Joel would comfort and walk Judy through anything she needed done.