“You slept with Chip.” Bobbie’s voice breaks as she says it. “He didn’t destroy me. You did.”
“He wanted to destroy you,” Lacey bellows, and the gun in her hand shakes wildly. “In order to secure him where we needed him, I plotted with him to kill you.”
Bobbie’s eyes flash with horror.
“That’s right.” Lacey’s chest depresses with a dull laugh. “He thought we were luring you out there. Heck, that’s probably the plan I should have gone with to begin with. I’d have him and the money—from your life insurance policy.”
A roar comes from Bobbie as she lunges at the woman and sends Lacey staggering back.
“Now!” I shout, and both Fish and Sherlock go on the attack, right along with Gizmo. Sugar lets out a sharp roar and leaps right onto Lacey’s chest.
Both women sway on their heels as they struggle for the gun, and I inch my way over and use my leg to swipe them right off their feet.
Lacey lets out a shrill of a cry as the gun slips from her, and I dive over it with my body.
“You should have stayed out of this, Bizzy,” she grunts in my ear just as she fishes the gun out from under me.
Sherlock and Gizmo glom onto her arm with their teeth while Fish and Sugar run up her back and do their best to clamp themselves over her head. The gun drops from her grasp, and I snatch it up before it ever hits the ground.
A pair of headlights shines brightly over us, as a truck comes to an abrupt stop.
“Freeze!” Jasper shouts as he runs this way.
“She did it.” I crawl off of Lacey and quickly jump to my feet. “She and Bobbie conspired to kill Chip, and they did it. They confessed,” I pant as my eyes do a quick search for the second suspect in question.
“Leo,” Jasper shouts as he restrains Lacey’s hands behind her back with a pair of shiny silver cuffs. “Watch her.” He bounces up. “Where’s Bobbie?”
Sherlock and Gizmo take off for the parking lot, and Jasper follows suit.
It takes less than thirty seconds for Jasper to come back, restraining Bobbie by the hands, before Leo takes over and cuffs her.
Within moments I’m in Jasper Wilder’s arms, safe, and exactly where I want to be forever.
“Are you okay?” He pulls back and quickly inspects me.
“I’m fine. It all happened so fast. And then Bobbie tried to run and things just got out of hand. I never meant to do that without you.”
“It’s okay. You’re safe.” He pulls me in again and lands a kiss to my cheek. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Bizzy.”
A smile curves on my lips as I look up at my handsome husband. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jasper.”
Chapter 18
The Seaview Sheriff’s Department showed up in its entirety, or at least it felt that way.
Jasper had both Bobbie and Lacey sent to the precinct ahead of him, and he let the arresting deputies know he’d be there in a little while.
I changed into my wonky quilt dress, and Jasper and I headed back to the inn along with our furry friends—Sugar and Gizmo included. Sherlock has on the doggie tuxedo he wore for our wedding and looks just as dapper as he did that afternoon. Suffice it to say, Gizmo was more than impressed.
But poor Sugar. She’s so shaken and confused by everything that’s happened, Jasper held her the entire time I was doing a quick change.
“You’ll be fine,” I whisper to her as we weave our way through the thick crowd that’s gathered at the mouth of the inn. “And you’ll be safe.”
Thank you, she mewls weakly just as we come upon a familiar woman with short platinum hair.
“Gizmo!” Diane cries out as she scoops him into her arms. “You scared the living daylights out of me. I thought you took off for good. Oh, that gunshot—it was all so terrible.” She buries her face in his fur. “I’m sorry.” She looks my way. “I had no idea those women were so wicked. I watched as they took them away. An arresting deputy filled me in on what happened. I still can’t believe it.”
“I don’t think anyone can grasp it right now,” I say as I give Gizmo a quick scratch on his back. “Please, don’t be strangers. I meant what I said earlier. You’re welcome here.”
She nods through tears before her attention floats down to the sweet kitten I’m holding.
“Oh no! Poor Sugar.” She gently plucks her right out of my hands. “Bizzy, if it’s all right with you, I’d love to give her a home. She and Gizmo get along perfectly. I think it’s right.” She nestles the tiny kitten next to her cheek.
“What do you think, Sugar?” I whisper as I give her forehead a quick pat.
I think it’s right, too, Bizzy.
Something Gizmo said to me the night of the murder comes back to mind.
“Diane, you came out here with a gun the night of the murder. Why was that?”
Her eyes expand for a moment.
“I did.” She shudders. “I came out looking for Bobbie, and I heard yelling. Then Gizmo needed to use the bathroom, and I felt vulnerable. I’ve carried a gun with me for years now. Thank goodness I’ve never had to fire it anywhere but the range. I wanted to protect us.” She sighs hard. “I wish I could have protected Chip from what happened next.”
“It’s okay,” Jasper says. “You’re safe, and the killers have been caught. You’re not in any trouble.”
“Thank you.” She holds her fur babies tightly.
