Glazed Ham Murder (The Darling Deli Series Book 20) Read online

  Moira edged toward her daughter as the two young women spoke, more concerned about getting between Candice and the dirty and sharp-looking pitchfork than what they were saying.

  “So, is it true? You’re the one that stole my car? Why would you do something like that?”

  “Your life was so perfect. I wanted to mess things up for you. I thought if I drove around in your car, with that blonde wig—I picked it up at some second-hand shop in town one of the days you were working—and did a bunch of stupid stuff, you might get in trouble with the law, or at least get a bad reputation.”

  “You killed someone,” Candice said, aghast. “You murdered someone, just to make me look bad?”

  For the first time, Caroline began to look uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to do that. When I took your car, I planned on just doing some dumb stuff, you know, smash a few mailboxes, do donuts in a parking lot where the security cameras would pick it up. I tossed a bunch of beer bottles in the back to make it look like you had been drinking, and was going to leave it behind the candy shop so the locals would see it in the morning. That guy, though, he just walked out of nowhere. I wasn’t paying attention, and then he was right there, and I couldn’t stop. I hit him, and I panicked, and I… I just kept going. I told myself he would be okay. I thought I’d just clipped him. I didn’t know I killed him until I heard about it from you.”

  The pitchfork was shaking now. Careful not to make any sudden movements, Moira approached her slowly and pushed the tip down to the ground. Caroline tensed for a moment as she reached for the tool, then relaxed and let go of it. Still holding the weapon, the deli owner stepped toward one of the stalls. One of the cows sniffed her curiously.

  “I seriously didn’t mean to kill him. You believe me, right?” the young woman said, looking first at Candice, then at Moira. “I know I do stupid stuff sometimes, but I’ve never hurt someone that bad before.”

  “I know,” Moira said, because it seemed like the right thing to say. “Come on, let’s figure all of this out somewhere without twenty cows staring at us.”

  EPILOGUE

  * * *

  “Are you okay?” Moira asked her daughter. Candice was sitting on the wooden porch swing with her arms around her knees, gazing blankly toward the flashing lights of the police cars.

  The past hour had been a chaotic mess. David and Eli had returned with Alexa just as the three women left the dairy barn. Caroline had tried to run away during the momentary distraction while they greeted each other, but with the private investigator, Eli, and Moira all on her tail, she hadn’t managed to get far. After that, they had been at a loss at how to restrain the women, until Eli had had the bright idea to put them in his car. With Caroline in the front seat and Alexa in the back, and Eli, David, Moira, and Candice standing guard at each of the doors, it had proved an effective makeshift prison until the police arrived.

  Then had come the whole mess of trying to explain to Detective Jefferson and the pair of officers that had tagged along what exactly had happened. Jefferson had questioned each of them individually, snapped a few pictures of the mess Alexa had made of the car, and had promised to contact Eli with instructions on how to go about getting a restraining order if he wanted one.

  “I suggest getting one against her for both you and Candice,” he had told the young man. “You have grounds and no shortage of witnesses; that way, if she comes near either of you again, she’ll face some heavy charges. We’re going to take her in right now for harassment, attempted assault, and destruction of property. Her family has enough money for a decent lawyer, so we probably won’t be able to hold her for long. I’d get that restraining order as soon as possible.”

  Caroline, on the other hand, was looking at a much longer time behind bars. Moira was glad to know that the young woman would be seeing the justice she deserved for her crimes, but her sense of victory was tempered by the knowledge of how her daughter must be feeling just then.

  “I don’t really want to talk about it yet,” Candice said. “It’s just too much to really think about right now. But hey, you were right.” She gave her mother a weak smile to show that she was joking.

  “Well, I wish I had been wrong,” Moira said. “I hope you know I’m here for you, if you need anything. I really am sorry, Candice.”

  “I know. You’re a good person, Mom. I’m sorry I put you through so much when I was younger.”

  “We got through the tough times together, that’s what matters.” She bent down to kiss the top of her daughter’s head, then straightened up and looked toward the cars. One of the police vehicles was pulling away down the driveway, and the other followed soon after. David and Eli began the walk toward the house. She waved at her husband, and he waved back, giving her a tired smile that she recognized even from this distance. It had been a long and difficult day for all of them, but now it was over, and they were all together. As far as she was concerned, as long as her family was okay, things were all right.