Bloody Good Marmalade Read online

  Tabby stepped outside and walked around the house to look at the windows. Surprisingly, they were all still intact and would nicely show the light-up ghosts looking out at who was walking up to the house from the corn maze. As she was counting the number of windows, loud voices could be heard coming across the field behind the farmhouse. She squinted her eyes in the sun and could make out Anthony and Finn arguing next to a tractor pulling a wagon full of pumpkins.

  Tabby could see other small groups of people standing next to cars a few feet away from the pumpkin wagon. They were listening to the argument between the farmer and his employee. The next words Tabby heard very clearly were “you’re fired” and Finn stormed off screaming at Anthony as he left.

  “That didn’t last long,” Tabby thought, hoping Finn didn’t see her car as he passed the farmhouse. He flew by where she was standing, too mad to pay attention to anything around him. Relieved, she went back to counting windows. She locked up the farmhouse and stood next to her car watching Anthony load pumpkins into the various cars that had been parked around the full wagon.

  “He must be donating them,” she thought, as she recognized one of the women driving by with a car full of pumpkins as a local elementary school teacher.

  Emotions suddenly overcame her and she slid into the front seat of her car crying. Tabby and Jenny had always worked on committees together. She should be here with Tabby checking out this location and not at home under Alex’s thumb. Why didn’t she realize what was going on sooner with Jenny’s relationship and maybe things wouldn’t have gotten this bad? Jenny should be here, laughing and telling stupid Halloween jokes with Tabby instead of being under lock and key, sick, and afraid to speak.

  In two more days, her best friend would be out of harm’s way. She would be safely hidden away with her mother and start her recuperation process. Hopefully, then, Tabby would see her old friend reappear; strong, funny and most important of all, a loving daughter. Once Jenny wasn’t afraid anymore, everyone would find out what was really going on behind closed doors.

  She dried her tears and started the car. Anthony waved as he drove past her leaving for his trip to Boston. Tabby pulled out right behind him as she didn’t want any kind of run-in with Isabella without Anthony around. She didn’t seem like the reasonable type to deal with.

  Tabby returned to her shop as Thelma was leaving for the day.

  “Don’t forget; I won’t be here on Friday,” Thelma reminded her.

  “I got you covered,” Tabby said, waving goodbye. “See you tomorrow.”

  “You look like crap,” Janice said, honestly. “Have you been crying?”

  “Yes, I must admit that I’m worried about Jenny,” Tabby answered. “She looked so sick yesterday and I haven’t been able to talk to her to see what’s going on.”

  “What do you mean you can’t talk to her? She’s your best friend,” Janice asked.

  “Things have changed for Jenny; things she can’t control. Sheriff Puckett is trying to figure out what is going on and who her new boyfriend is,” Tabby said, careful not to reveal anything about their plan for Friday.

  “I’m sorry, let me know if I can help with anything,” Janice commented.

  “On a lighter note, I checked out the Pelton farmhouse and it would be perfect for our haunted house; the furniture is even still in it. I also met Anthony’s wife, Isabella. She’s not very friendly,” Tabby stated.

  “Word is she’s from somewhere south of Boston and her family has ties to the Mob. She was yelling in Italian at poor Mr. MacAvey in front of all the customers in his store. He couldn’t help her because he couldn’t understand what she was saying.”

  “That’s weird. She spoke English in front of me. So, what happened?” Tabby asked.

  “She threw her groceries back into the cart and stormed out of the store,” Janice answered. “She pulled the same kind of fit at the pharmacy when her prescriptions weren’t ready.”

  “Isabella is making friends all over town, isn’t she?” Tabby noted.

  “Let’s hope she never comes in here to shop,” Janice chuckled. “I’m out of here. Do you need anything done before I go?”

  “No, I think I’m good. Have a good day off tomorrow and I’ll see you Friday.”

  Tabby stocked the jelly and straightened up the store. A big brown truck pulled into the back alley to unload deliveries through the back door. She had ordered Halloween decorations and some bridal supplies online and they had finally arrived. Eleven boxes were set inside the back door by the driver.

  She ignored the bridal stock and went straight for the boxes of Halloween supplies. This year she was going to beat her mother for the best Halloween window display on Main Street.

  She opened the five boxes from Halloweenz Town and had things spread all over the back room when Greg walked through the front door.

  “Are you going to close any time today?” Greg asked, poking his face through the curtains. “It’s six-thirty and I’m starving.”

  “Seriously? I haven’t had a customer all afternoon and I lost track of time; sorry,” Tabby explained. “Let me go get the open flag and lock the front door.”

  “The flag is already in,” Greg stated.

  Tabby locked up, fed the cats, and they left for supper at the diner. Bea was their waitress as usual and as she served them their supper they firmed up the plan that was to go into effect starting on Thursday. Bea would quietly leave on the bus the following morning before her shift was to begin at the diner so she would be long gone before anyone realized she was missing.

  Greg passed her a note tucked inside her tip with the motel information that she was to stay at in Larsen. He would pick her up between twelve-thirty and one to bring both her and her daughter to his house on Friday. He would drop off groceries at the house on Thursday before leaving the flower shop van at the car rental place.

  They left Bea feeling much better than she had in months. Greg walked Tabby home and then he left for his own house. Tabby fell asleep running the rescue plan over again in her head confident that every base had been covered and nothing could go wrong.

  CHAPTER 6

  * * *

  Thursday morning Bea climbed on the early bus to Larsen without anyone seeing her. Tabby stayed put in her shop while Greg drove to Larsen with the van to pick up the rental car. Everything was going according to plan.

  Tabby stood outside her shop, eating her lunch, watching to make sure Alex was still going to the bank at noon. At two minutes past twelve, he exited the book store to go to the bank. Sheriff Puckett met him as he came out of the bank and walked across the street with him back to the bookstore. The sheriff checked on Jenny every day and then reported back to Tabby.

  She returned to her shop awaiting the sheriff’s daily visit for coffee and the update on Jenny. Thelma was busy telling some young couple the best places to eat while they stayed in Whipper Will Junction on their honeymoon. Tabby got to work stocking the shelves with the wedding inventory she had received the day before. She had one eye on the invoice and one eye on the door waiting for the sheriff’s arrival.

  Thelma took her break leaving Tabby in the store by herself. The sheriff ambled in for his usual cup of coffee not saying a word to Tabby. She followed him into the back room.

  “Well?” she asked impatiently. “How is Jenny doing?”

  “She looked a little better today. When I talked to her, she said she was feeling stronger and would probably be back at work by this weekend,” he answered. “I personally don’t think she was telling the truth. I think that is what Alex told her to say as he stood right next to her with his hand on her shoulder.”

  “Was she still in bed?” Tabby inquired.

  “No, she was sitting up in a chair watching television.”

  “Do you think she’s getting better?”

  “I don’t know. There is something that I just can’t put my finger on; something that I don’t understand,” he answered.

  “What don
’t you understand?”

  “Doc wanted Jenny to go to the hospital for an IV for dehydration and she refused. No matter what Doc said, she would not leave the bookstore. Every time leaving was suggested, she would look at Alex and you could see the fear in her eyes. He has threatened her in some way; a way that he has complete control over her and I can’t figure out what it is,” the sheriff admitted.

  “What can we do?” Tabby asked, knowing full well that Jenny would not be there after tomorrow.

  “Nothing, that’s the problem. She’s over eighteen and even her mother can’t make a decision for her. Our hands are tired and it’s so darn frustrating,” he replied, filling up his coffee cup again.

  “Are you telling me there is nothing that can be legally done to protect Jenny?”

  “That’s what I am saying,” he mumbled.

  Thelma returned from her break with grocery bags in hand.

  “I picked up some blood oranges so you can try out your new recipe. Mac was just putting out the first shipment of the season,” Thelma stated, plopping the full bags of fruit on the counter in front of her boss. “Hello, Stan. How are things at the sheriff’s office?”

  “Just dandy, Thelma, just dandy,” he answered, giving the elderly lady a kiss on her cheek.

  “You couldn’t lie when you were little and you still can’t lie now,” Thelma insisted. “I hope things get better.”

  “She’s a piece of work,” the sheriff whispered to Tabby as Thelma strolled over to the bathroom.

  “I heard that,” Thelma yelled as the bathroom door closed.

  He chuckled. “I have to run. I promised Bea I would give her an update as soon as I checked on Jenny.”

  “Say hi for me,” Tabby said, covering up for the fact that she knew Bea wasn’t there.

  It was a busy afternoon in the jelly shop. Labor Day Weekend was almost upon them and it was the last hurrah for families and their children before classes began for the new school year. The leaves were starting to adorn their autumn attire, showing off their beautiful hues of reds, oranges, and yellows which also brought in the tourists. Apple picking was popular in the area as Whipper Will Junction had two local orchards and four more in the surrounding towns.

  Thelma left at her usual time, leaving Tabby to man the register and run the store by herself. Greg visited at three o’clock to tell her everything was ready for tomorrow. He parked the rental car behind the bookstore. It blended in with all the other tourist driven cars as it had out of state plates on it.

  He informed her that she would be on her own for dinner tonight as he had to stay late at the flower shop and finish wedding flowers for an early morning Saturday pick-up. Margaret had gone away for the long weekend and he had to do the order himself. Greg would be in Larsen a good portion of Friday so he had to make sure the flowers were done tonight.

  He gave her a hug and a kiss and reassured her everything would go as planned. Greg would be waiting behind the bookstore for Tabby so she could unlock the back door to the upstairs apartment when she saw Alex leave for the bank. They had a small window of time to complete what had to get done. He told her he would check in with her as soon as he returned from Larsen and Bea and Jenny were safely tucked away. Greg gave Ghost a scratch behind the ears and left.

  Tabby didn’t sleep much that night. She tossed and turned worrying that their plan would be screwed up somehow and Alex would find out what they were doing. She was worried about her best friend and this “kidnapping” was the only way Tabby could think of to help Jenny. It had to work; it just had to. Otherwise, Tabby feared Jenny would be dead before too much more time passed.

  Tabby opened the shop at eight. Janice arrived at nine to see all the Halloween decorations spread out around the back room. The front windows couldn’t be decorated until September first as per the contest rules. Tabby was waiting on some special items that would help her to win the Main Street window display contest. She was going all out to beat her mother this year and become the Halloween Queen.

  “Seriously? It’s not even October,” Janice moaned.

  “Hey, the interior of the pharmacy has been decorated for over a week already,” Tabby informed her employee.

  “I guess. What needs to be done?” Janice asked.

  “Nothing, really. I stocked this morning so I guess it will be a kind of a hangout by the register day. I will need to go out for a few minutes around noon time to meet up with Mrs. Piper, the town librarian, so she can give me the keys to the basement of the building before she leaves for the long weekend. The farmhouse is bigger than the house that burnt down so we may need to purchase some more items,” Tabby said, fabricating an excuse for why she would be leaving.

  “Cool,” Janice said, plunking down on the stool behind the register and taking out her cell phone.

  Tabby kept an eye on the clock. At eleven-thirty her stomach started to do flip-flops as she agonized over the thought that Alex might not go to the bank and that would destroy the whole plan. Ten minutes before twelve she was standing out front drinking coffee and chatting with some tourists. She saw Greg disappear into the alley beside the bookstore.

  Several minutes later Alex came out the front door of the bookstore. Tabby ran to the door and yelled to Janice she’d be right back. She ducked into the alley adjacent to her shop and ran through the adjoining parking lots behind the stores. Greg was waiting for her and they ran up the back stairs to Jenny’s apartment. She unlocked the door and entered calling out Jenny’s name. They heard a quiet moan coming from the couch in the living room.

  Tabby grabbed a blanket and Greg wrapped Jenny in it. They relocked the door, hurried down the stairs, and had her in the back seat of the rental in all of four minutes. Greg put on a ball cap and sunglasses and drove off before Alex even came back out of the bank. Tabby walked quickly back to her store. She was only gone five minutes.

  Janice was attempting to create a bridal bouquet at the wedding table. Tabby manned the register checking out the customers. The front door flew open and smashed against the wall with a loud bang. Alex Keyes stormed up to the counter and shoved the customers aside that were standing at the register.

  Tabby picked up the phone to call the sheriff. Alex grabbed it out of her hand and pulled the base off the wall. The customers ran out of the store afraid of what was happening.

  “Where is she?” Alex screamed.

  “Where is who? What are you talking about?” Tabby demanded.

  “Jenny; where is Jenny?”

  “The last I knew you had her locked up in the bookstore not able to talk to anyone,” Tabby replied, coming out from behind the counter.

  “She’s gone. I was only at the bank for ten minutes and I came back and she was gone. She couldn’t have gone anywhere by herself; she had to have help,” Alex insisted, getting in Tabby’s face.

  “Back off, Alex. I don’t like people busting into my store and scaring away my customers,” Tabby said, pushing him in the shoulder.

  He raised his fist to hit her as the sheriff was coming through the door.

  “Alex Keyes, back it up, NOW!” the sheriff ordered. “What is going on here?”

  “He busted in here yelling about Jenny being missing and scared all my customers away,” Tabby stated. “He was going to assault me.”

  “You’re the only one who could have helped her get away,” Alex claimed.

  “Get away? What a strange choice of words, Mr. Keyes,” the sheriff commented. “Jenny is missing?”

  “I checked on her before I went to the bank and when I got back ten minutes later she was gone,” Alex said, giving Tabby dirty looks.

  “Do you know what he is talking about?” the sheriff asked Tabby.

  “I don’t have a clue. I’ve been here at the store all day covering Thelma’s shift,” Tabby answered.

  “You never left the store?”

  “She’s been here all day,” Janice piped up, giving her two cents worth. “We were busy until he came in and scared
everyone away.”

  “I’ll get to the bottom of this,” Alex threatened. “And when I do…watch out.”

  “Are you making a threat towards Miss Moon?” the sheriff asked. “We don’t take kindly to threats around here.”

  “Not a threat…a fact. I’ll be seeing you again, Tabby, and soon,” Alex growled as he headed for the door.

  “Stay away from Tabby or you’ll have me to deal with,” the sheriff yelled.

  They watched Alex storm out, banging into Gladys on the way, who was standing in the doorway listening to all that was being said. She hurried off, rubbing the shoulder that had been slammed into the door frame when she was hit.

  The sheriff turned to Tabby and cocked an eyebrow.

  “Do you have something to tell me?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Tabby insisted. “Maybe Jenny has wandered off and we need to be out there looking for her.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think so. I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but I am glad you did,” he admitted, smiling. “You just be really careful. Alex is dangerous and I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself. By the way, where is Greg?”

  “He’s either at the shop or in Larsen. On Fridays, he goes to the flower outlet and picks up fresh flowers for the coming week,” Tabby answered truthfully. “Check to see if his van is in the parking lot behind his store.”

  “You just don’t seem very upset that your best friend is missing,” the sheriff reasoned. “Did you happen to know that Bea has disappeared too? She never showed up for work today; first time in thirty-five years.”

  “There’s your answer, Sheriff. Bea must have taken her somewhere and I’m real glad she did,” Tabby stated. “A mother will go to any lengths to keep her child safe, you know.”

  “Yeah, so will a best friend,” he commented, shaking his head. “I’m going to grab a cup of coffee and head out.”