Sirens blared.
Chris Russell took a step in my direction, but Baby wasn’t allowing anyone else to get in between the two of us. He growled, and I felt the power as he prepared to lunge.
Footsteps raced through the door.
“Drop the weapon.”
Chris Russell placed the gun on the counter and held up his hands.
Trooper Bob glanced around. “You okay?”
I tried to drag my eyes away from the gun lying on the counter, but they wouldn’t move.
Trooper Bob took a step in my direction. “Maddy?”
Baby growled, barked once.
I could feel that he was ready to spring. From the corner of my eye, I saw the two patrolmen, their weapons drawn and pointed at Baby. That brought me back to earth.
“Baby, stop,” I ordered.
Michael pushed through the patrolmen and rushed to my side. “Maddy. Oh God. Are you hurt?”
I threw my arms around his neck and collapsed.
When I woke up, Michael was holding me, shining a light in my eyes.
He dropped the light and kissed me long and hard.
Trooper Bob cleared his throat loudly. “Doctor, I don’t want to interfere in the treatment of your patient, but I need to get a statement.”
“Are you up to answering questions?” Michael asked.
I nodded. “Wait.” I glanced around. “What about Baby?”
Michael gave a bashful glance. “I checked him out first. He’s got some scratches from busting out of your car and breaking through the back door, but he’ll be fine. I gave him a tranquilizer and—”
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him. “I love you.”
“Good Lord, let’s not start that again,” Trooper Bob mumbled.
Michael must have carried me to the demonstration area. I sat up and tried to ignore the stretcher that was wheeling out a body.
“Now, what the hell happened?” Trooper Bob asked.
I shared what I’d learned from my dad and how Abernathy surprised me.
Trooper Bob asked a few clarifying questions, but didn’t press me too much. “So, Mayor Abernathy killed Clayton Davenport and Sybil Castleton to hide the fact that he was a traitor.” He turned to the corner where Chris Russell sat. “And where do you come in?”
“I was next door. I came to see Candy . . . ah, Mrs. Rivers. I’d been there earlier having a conversation with the mayor and Mr. Lawrence—”
“Why?” I asked.
“Why what?”
“Why were you two meeting with Tyler?”
“We hoped to convince him to join the town council. We need younger blood. Tyler’s a smart young man, and Candy thinks very highly of him.”
“He never mentioned it.” I exchanged a glance with Michael.
“We asked him not to say anything until we had a chance to discuss it with the other council members. If he turned us down, we didn’t want the next person we asked to think . . . well, that they were second fiddle.”
Trooper Bob tapped his pen on his notepad. “Great. Now, back to the shooting.”
“Like I said, I was upstairs visiting with Candy when Baby started barking.” He shook his head. “I’ve never seen him act like that before. Candy said something had to be wrong. She called the police and I came over through the secret passage.”
“What secret passage?” Trooper Bob asked.
“Candy discovered a tunnel or passage that led between the two buildings. She discovered it during the renovations. I made her stay upstairs where it was safe. Then, I snuck down. I was just about to come through the door when I heard Jackson talking.” He shook his head. “I realized immediately that Maddy was in danger.”
Trooper Bob held up the weapon. “Do you have a license for this gun?”
“I most certainly do.” He reached in his pocket, but Trooper Bob waved it away.
I tried to think of the reasons why a respectable lawyer and member of the town council needed to carry a concealed weapon, but I don’t suppose he needed a reason.
Trooper Bob smiled. “It’s a good thing you had it. Miss Montgomery might have been a goner if you hadn’t been around to rescue her.”
“I didn’t need rescuing. Baby and I had things under control. In fact, Jackson Abernathy denied killing Clayton Davenport and Sybil Castleton. There might have been someone else involved. Now, we’ll never know.” I glanced around and couldn’t help noticing the You poor pitiful deluded fool glance Trooper Bob exchanged with Chris Russell.
“They always deny it,” Trooper Bob said. “The prisons are full of killers who are still proclaiming their innocence.”
“I’m afraid that’s true.” Chris Russell shook his head. “Just like Brad Ellison. He denied pushing your Aunt Octavia down those stairs, but …” He held his hand up and shrugged.
“It’s over. Now, you’ve been through a lot and you’ve got adrenaline rushing through your body from all of the excitement, but trust me. It’s over,” Trooper Bob said.
I wanted to argue. I wanted to wipe those smug looks off both Chris Russell and Trooper Bob’s faces, but Mayor Abernathy was a traitor and a liar. Plus, only a monster would try to kill a poor, defenseless puppy. He tried to kill Baby. He would have killed him today if he could. Jackson Abernathy was a monster. Maybe they were right. Maybe, I was hyped up on adrenaline and two or three red eyes. Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
April rushed in. “Maddy, are you okay?” She flung her arms around my neck.
“I’m fine.”
She glanced around. “Baby?”
“We’re both fine. Michael said it’s just lacerations, but nothing serious.”
She released a heavy breath. I didn’t know if it was for me or Baby. Either way, it was nice to have my friends nearby.
“I’d better go and check on him,” Michael said. “He was snoring like a sailor when I put him in the back of my truck.” He kissed my head and gave my hand a squeeze. “I’ll call you as soon as I have him patched up.”
He left, and April took his place next to me.
“I was so worried when I heard on the police radio that there was a shooting at Baby Cakes Bakery.” She shivered. “I kept thinking not again. Then, I got here and saw your car.” She turned to face me. “Good Lord, what happened to your car?”
“Baby.”
“Oh . . . I’m so sorry, but I don’t think you’ll be able to fix that.”
“It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that Baby and I are safe.”
“The streets of New Bison are safe now that a murderer is off the street,” Chris Russell said.
“Does this mean April gets her job back?” I said eagerly. “Full-time?”
“I can’t wait to get out of this crazy town,” Trooper Bob mumbled.
April gave a big smile. “I guess this means you can let Leroy out of jail.”
Trooper Bob rubbed the back of his neck. “Just as soon as I get back to the precinct.”
Chris Russell stood. “Great. I’ll go with you and help expedite the paperwork.”
