Telling Tails

Chapter 21

And just like that, it was over. Michelle arrived right behind the first squad car.

I was standing by the front door. She walked over to me. “Are you all okay?” she asked, searching my face.

I nodded. “We’re fine.” I cleared my throat. “Nicole Cameron killed her brother and faked his wife’s suicide.”

She looked around me into the living room. The mixing bowl was upside down on the floor. The box with the candlesticks was on its side on the coffee table. Nicole was sitting up, looking dazed, while a paramedic checked her head, her arms still bound with Steven Tyler’s scarf.

Michelle’s gaze came back to me. “So you decided to apprehend her with a mixing bowl, a set of candlesticks and a scarf?”

I laughed, partly because I was relieved that Rose was all right and partly because I realized how crazy this all must look to her. “I’m sorry,” I said. “The candlesticks were just an excuse so I could come take a look at how Nicole parked her car. And then I was going to call you.”

“Oh, well, that explains it all,” Michelle said. She sighed. “Don’t move. I’m going inside for a few minutes and talk to the first responding officer. Then I’m coming back out and you’re going to start at the beginning and tell me everything.”

I nodded.

It was lunchtime before we got back to the shop. We told everyone the short version of the story and Mr. P. was hailed as a hero, which in my book he was.

“We’re not drinking because it’s the middle of the workday,” I said. “But I’m going up to put the kettle on so we can have a pot of tea and toast Alfred properly.”

I put the kettle on and slumped against the counter, closing my eyes for a moment and rubbing my temples. I looked up to find Mac standing in the doorway.

“Are you really all right?” he asked, walking over to me.

I nodded. “I thought she was going to kill Rose, and then when I saw Mr. P. coming with that big glass bowl, I was afraid she’d turn around and see him and that would be it.”

Mac smiled. “Alfred is pretty resourceful. And from what he just told me, he had some help.” He looked at me for a long moment. Then he leaned down and kissed my left cheek. “Go get off your feet. I’ve got this,” he said.

I nodded again without speaking and headed for the stairs.

It was Thursday night and the only real way to celebrate on a Thursday night in North Harbor, Maine, was at the jam. So that’s what we did. Rose got up and danced with Sam to “Honky Tonk Woman,” and as they like to say, the crowd went wild. Even Nick joined us. Sam had an extra guitar and managed to lure Nick onstage for “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Everyone was on their feet, singing along with the chorus. Liz put her arm around my shoulders, tipped her head to one side and grinned at me.

“What are you grinning about?” I asked.

She made a sweeping gesture with one hand, taking in everyone from Rose, still dancing with Sam, to Jess beside me. “The fact that all of these people are your family.” Then she turned, kissed my cheek and laughed. “And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it!”