Finding a Killer Read online

  “Uncle Albert, please, it’s Mary Holland. I’m not your enemy,” Mary pleaded with Albert and resorted back to claiming that Eric Dalton was the real killer, hoping to buy more time. “We caught the real killer. The real killer is Eric Dalton,” Mary explained. “Eric Dalton is handcuffed to the guard down in the kitchen. You can go see for yourself.”

  “Oh, what’s the point?” Sheriff Whitfield told Mary, “he’s not going to believe us.”

  Mary looked at Sheriff Whitfield, read his eyes, and then played along. “But we’re telling the truth,” she insisted.

  Albert shifted his eyes from Mary to Sheriff Whitfield, examining the sheriff’s face and then focusing back on Mary. In a deep part of his mind he heard a rational voice say: Go see if they’re telling the truth. “I’ll go and check the kitchen,” he said, forcing control over his voice. “While I do, you two will remain here, locked in this cell. Now get in.”

  Mary began to object but then she saw a shadowy figure appear behind Uncle Albert. The figure was slowly easing forward on scared legs. Sheriff Whitfield spotted the figure, too, threw his eyes at Mary, and then nodded his head. “Come on, Mary, let’s do as Mr. Malone wants,” he said and began walking toward the cell.

  Mary bit down on her lower lip and followed Sheriff Whitfield. “Inside,” Albert told Sheriff Whitfield in a firm tone.

  “I’m going, I’m going,” Sheriff Whitfield said and stepped into the small cell.

  “Now you,” Albert ordered Mary.

  Mary nodded her head. “I’m going,” she promised and stepped in the cell behind Sheriff Whitfield.

  Albert moved in front of the cell door, pointed his gun at Mary, and said: “If you are lying to me, I’ll come back and kill you. If you are not lying to me…it doesn’t matter. I still have to leave you locked in this cell to…die. I’m very sorry…but all of my enemies must be destroyed.”

  “I’m sorry, too, Uncle Albert.” Betty’s voice floated into Albert’s ears like the voice of a broken rose. He spun around, saw a woman staring at him with tears falling from her eyes, and then saw a hard hand swing a wooden rolling pin at his head. The last thing Albert Malone remembered before being knocked silly was what a bad joke his enemies had played on him.

  “Please forgive me, Uncle Albert,” Betty cried. She threw down the wooden rolling pin and ran into Mary’s arms. “I didn’t mean to hurt him…honest.”

  Mary wrapped her arms around Betty. “I know, honey,” she said, fighting back her own tears. “My goodness, what a day.”

  Sheriff Whitfield patted Mary and Betty on their shoulders, stepped out of the tiny cell, picked up Albert’s gun, and looked down at the floor. “What a day,” he agreed in a tired voice. “What a day.”

  10

  Ellie loved Mary’s home. What she loved most of all was the kitchen. “More coffee, Ellie?” Mary asked.

  “Oh no, dear,” Ellie said with a smile, “I’ve had quite enough. I think I’m going to go take my morning walk.”

  Mary smiled. She loved having Ellie living with her. “It’s supposed to rain later,” she told Ellie, sitting down at the kitchen table. “Don’t be too long.”

  Ellie looked at Mary with love in her eyes. The beautiful young woman looked so lovely in the white and yellow dress she was wearing; the colors brought out every single detail of her beauty. It was very clear to Ellie why John had fallen in love with Mary and why people in Pineville loved her as well. “I won’t be long, dear,” she promised.

  Mary sipped at her coffee. “I was hoping we could go to the market together,” she said, admiring the simple blue dress Ellie was wearing.

  Ellie smiled. “I would like that.” She took a bite of warm, delicious pancake. “We do need more flour and sugar. I’m afraid I have been baking up a storm.”

  “Don’t stop,” Mary giggled, “my tummy is very happy.”

  Ellie glanced around the warm kitchen. “Dear, are you sure your husband will—”

  “John will love having you live here,” Mary promised Ellie.

  Ellie knew Mary was speaking the truth, but also knew it was time to speak a hard truth. “Dear,” she said, feeling her smile fade, “you have been so kind to me…and I do want to make you my family and live with you…and I intend to…but—”

  “You want to go home to Germany,” Mary said. She gently reached across the table and patted Ellie’s hands. “I know.”

  “You’re…not upset?” Ellie asked in a shocked voice. “Every time I mentioned my desire to see Germany, my daughter and husband would yell at me.”

  “I’m not upset,” Mary assured Ellie. “When the war is over, you’ll visit your home. As a matter of fact, I’ve even put money aside for your trip.”

  “You have?” Ellie asked.

  Mary nodded her head. “I have.” She beamed and took another sip of coffee.

  Ellie sat in disbelief as the warm smell of coffee, pancakes, and toast filled her nose. “But dear, the cost to travel to the old country is very costly.”

  “There’s no price on the heart,” Mary told Ellie in a soft voice and put her coffee cup down onto the table. “You turned the stolen gold over to the authorities, Ellie. You could have kept that gold for yourself. You could have betrayed everyone. Instead, you remained faithful, loving…brave, and so very kind. Now it’s your turn to be rewarded with love and care.”

  Ellie felt tears swell up in her eyes. “Dear, I—”

  Mary held up a loving hand. “Ellie, Uncle Albert is in a good institution getting the help he needs. I…wish I could say he will find light in all the darkness he’s trapped in…and maybe in time he will…but it will take time.” Mary looked at the back door. “Eric Dalton and his mother are behind bars. Sam is behind bars. Your nightmare is over.” Mary walked her eyes back to Ellie. “Now it’s time to finally have peace, Ellie…real peace…peace you deserve.”

  Before Ellie could say a word, someone knocked on the back door. “Come in.”

  Betty popped her head through the back door, smiled at Ellie, and quickly hurried into the kitchen carrying a box wrapped in pink and white wrapping paper. “Surprise,” she told Ellie and quickly kissed the sweet woman on her cheek.

  “What is this?” Ellie asked in a shocked voice.

  Betty handed Ellie the gift-wrapped box and then moved over to Mary. Mary looked up at Betty, grimaced at the dark orange dress her best friend was wearing, and then simply smiled. “Good morning, honey.”

  “It is a good morning,” Betty told Mary. “I ran into William when I stopped in at the paper.”

  “This early?” Mary asked. “My, you are an early bird.”

  Betty blushed. “Mother never lets me sleep late,” she explained. “Mother likes to have her coffee bright and early.”

  Mary looked up at Betty with love in her eyes. Betty was a very special woman, even if she did faint all the time. “How is your mother this morning?”

  “Oh, fine,” Betty said and focused on Ellie. “Open your gift…please and pretty please,” she begged.

  Ellie smiled. “This is a very special morning,” she said and happily opened the box and looked inside. “Oh, how beautiful,” she exclaimed and carefully pulled out a hand-knitted green and white blanket with the words “Home Is Where the Heart Is” sewn in the middle.

  “I know you miss Germany,” Betty explained, “and with the war taking place it might be a while before you can go home…and I was hoping…you could make Pineville home…please and pretty please.”

  Ellie looked up into Betty’s loving face and then took her eyes over to Mary. She saw the sweetest love her eyes had ever witnessed. Yes, she missed Germany, but as she sat staring at two sweet babies, she knew her heart had found a new home. “Pineville will become my home,” she promised Betty in a voice that brought peace to her heart.

  Mary smiled from ear to ear. What had turned out to be another tragic trip ended up being a blessing in disguise. Well, John, she thought, feeling hope enter her heart, we have a ne
w addition to our family. Her name is Ellie, and I know you’re going to love her because I sure do. Ellie is our new heart.

  Far away in England, a man raised his head off his bunk and looked around a gray room. He felt a strange, warm feeling enter his heart, and he smiled. “What are you up to Mary?” John Holland asked and then slowly dozed off into a nap.

  As he dozed, a man named Old Jim strolled into Pineville on tired legs and began making his way toward Mary’s home, whistling an old song that drifted off over the peaceful countryside.

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  About the Author

  Wendy Meadows is the USA Today bestselling author of many novels and novellas, from cozy mysteries to clean, sweet romances. Check out her popular cozy mystery series Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy and Sweet Peach Bakery, just to name a few.

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  Get in touch with Wendy

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  Read more by Wendy

  Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Series

  Nether Edge Mystery Series

  Chocolate Cozy Mystery Series

  Alaska Cozy Mystery Series

  Sweet Peach Bakery Cozy Series

  Sweetfern Harbor Mystery Series

  Candy Shop Mysteries

  Pineville Gazette Mystery Series

  Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Meadows

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  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.