Christmas Chocolate Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 9)
Author: Meadows, Wendy
Date: 2017-06-24
Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
Rights: Copyright 2017 Wendy Meadows. All rights reserved.

Christmas Chocolate Murder

A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery #9

Wendy Meadows

Copyright © 2017 by Wendy Meadows

All rights reserved.

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.

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Thanks for reading

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About the Author

Also by Wendy Meadows

Chapter One

It was a beautiful day in Maple Hills. The snow was falling gently as the townspeople bustled around preparing for Christmas. Nikki was in her chocolate shop preparing another batch of peppermint bark for the holiday orders. Her assistants, Lidia and Tori, were taking care of customers at the counter.

“Do you want your fudge wrapped for Christmas?” Tori asked Mrs. Jones.

“Yes, please,” Mrs. Jones replied. “Another five gifts checked off my holiday shopping list.”

Tori took the boxes to the back. “At this rate, we’ll be out of candy by noon,” she said to Nikki with a frantic look in her eye.

Nikki smiled. “I’ve already made a few more trays of peppermint bark. I’ll also have some gingerbread fudge and vanilla cream candies ready soon. We have enough of everything else right now,” Nikki reassured her frazzled employee. It was the time of year when customers were happy, but short-tempered. Nikki told Tori to take a break. “I’ll wrap those and give them to Mrs. Jones.” Tori thanked her and sat down. The poor girl had been on her feet since the store had opened that morning.

Nikki took the boxes to the front of the shop. It was full of customers trying to get their Christmas shopping done. Some had placed their orders earlier in the week, which was helpful to Nikki. The shop was decorated like a gingerbread house. Large candy canes stood guard at the door. Hawk had helped Nikki with the décor. As always, she was thankful that he was around and willing to help her.

Just then the door opened, and Hawk walked in. He looked around at the crowded shop and whistled.

“You haven’t sold out of your chocolate yet?”

Nikki smiled, happy to see him. “No, but I could use some help with these boxes.”

Hawk helped with the heavy lifting. Afterwards, Nikki told him to go in the back and get a peppermint stick as his reward.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Hawk replied as he hurried towards the back.

“While you’re back there, could you bring some of the trays out that Tori is preparing?”

Hawk grinned and laughed. “I knew there was a catch.”

Nikki smiled. She was glad Hawk had shown up when he did. The customers were wearing them out today. She looked over at Lidia who was looking a bit peaked. Nikki told her to go in the back and rest for a bit with Tori.

“I’m okay,” Lidia assured Nikki while ringing up a customer’s order. “Please come back and see us again, soon!” she called to Mrs. Jones who was just leaving the shop.

Mrs. Jones smiled and waved to Lidia and Nikki. “Thank you for the lovely chocolates!” she called back.

The snow was still falling, and the cloud cover made it feel like early evening. Nikki checked her watch. Lidia saw her and jokingly told her it was just ten minutes since the last time she had checked it. Nikki smiled and turned to help the next customer.

I hope he gets here before the snow piles up, she thought thinking about Seth, her son. He was coming home from college for Christmas break. She smiled and passed out some more chocolates. Nikki checked her inventory and turned around to go to the kitchen.

“Oops!” Nikki cried. She nearly ran into Hawk, but he sidestepped just in time. He’d avoided a chocolate catastrophe. “Good reflexes,” Nikki laughed.

“I need them out on the street,” Hawk said as he placed the chocolates on the counter. Hawk was the local detective and Nikki’s crime-solving partner. Nikki watched as he deftly avoided Lidia and the returning Tori. At 5’ 11’’ Hawk was one tall glass of water, but he deftly worked his way around to Nikki.

“Do you have time to break for lunch?” he asked.

Before Nikki could protest, Tori and Lidia said yes, and pushed her out from behind the counter. Nikki shrugged and told Hawk that her schedule just cleared up. She looked around the bustling shop and decided she could use some lunch and a much-needed break. She went into the back of the chocolate shop and found the hat and scarf Hawk had given her last week. It was a warm addition to her short, white winter coat. In Atlanta the winters had been milder, and she hadn’t needed all the winter accessories a Vermont winter required. She pulled on her gloves and grabbed her purse.

“I’m ready to go if you are,” she called to Hawk. Hawk appeared and opened the back door. He offered her his arm, and she took it willingly. Nikki was still getting used to the ice that hid beneath the snow. She shuffled beside Hawk as they carefully made their way to the diner down the street.

“Good afternoon,” Gus, the owner, greeted them. Gus was a sweet father of four. He had lived with his wife in Maple Hills his entire life. Gus had taken over the diner from his father, who could still be found in a booth drinking coffee and chatting with his friends.

“Where’s your dad?” Hawk asked.

Gus pointed to a booth in the back. Nikki and Hawk went over to say hello. An older gentleman sat in the booth, sipping at his coffee. He greeted them and shook their hands warmly. Nikki and Hawk found a nearby booth and settled in. The waitress came, and they placed their orders.

“Anything happening?” Frank, a gentleman seated in a nearby booth, asked Hawk. Frank was always hoping for some excitement whenever he saw Hawk and Nikki together. Nikki ducked her head. Hawk put his hand on hers and she relaxed. Some of the townspeople were a little wary about Nikki. She couldn’t blame them. Ever since she had moved to Maple Hills it seemed that trouble seemed to follow her.

“Nothing today,” Hawk answered, thanking their waitress for the coffee.

“I saw your dad this morning,” Frank said. “He said the same thing.”

“Then it must be true,” replied Hawk. Hawk’s father was the local sheriff. He was a friend to Nikki. He understood that Nikki did not bring any trouble with her. In fact, she helped solve the problems.

“What time is Seth getting here?” Hawk asked.

“Well, his flight should have landed by now. I figure he should be here in about an hour or so.”

Hawk’s eyes twinkled. Nikki was very happy that he and Seth got along. Seth needed a good male role model in his life. His father had left them high and dry in Atlanta before they moved to Vermont. Nikki was looking forward to sharing her Christmas traditions with her son and Hawk this year.

“Why are you smiling like that? You look like a cat that’s swallowed a canary.”

Hawk did not reply, but smiled into his coffee cup.

“Here is your food,” the server said, setting plates in front of them.

Nikki looked up at the sound of the male voice and gasped. Seth stood over her holding her lunch. He smiled and put the plate down in front of her. She got up and hugged him.

“How did you pull that off?” she demanded. Seth’s roommate put the other plate down by Hawk.“You must be Brian,” Nikki suggested as she held out her hand.

“Yes ma’am,” Brian replied, shaking her hand firmly.

“Why don’t you two sit on down?” Hawk replied. He moved Nikki’s plate beside him. She moved and sat next to him. The boys sat across the booth. The waitress brought them their own plates of food.

“How did you get here so early?” Nikki asked.

“Well, I called Hawk last week and told him we’d be driving instead. I told him not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise.” Seth grinned from ear-to-ear. “It is not easy pulling something over on you,” he said.

Nikki agreed and looked at Brian. He was a clean-cut, blond, young man. He ducked his head while he ate his cheeseburger. Seth warned her that Brian was shy, so she left him alone. His parents were in Europe, and he would have been alone for Christmas, but Nikki had told Seth to bring him home.

“Did you come by cab?” Nikki asked.

“No,” said Seth between bites of his sandwich. “Brian drove us.”

Nikki looked concerned, but Seth reassured her. “Brian lives in New York; he’s used to driving in this weather.”

“I don’t care how long I stay here. I don’t think I will ever get used to driving on snow,” said Nikki. “Thank you for bringing him home safely.”

“You’re welcome,” Brian smiled shyly. “I don’t mind the drive.”

Nikki glanced at her watch. “Oh, no! I’ve been here for an hour. Tori and Lidia must be swamped.” She stood up and told the boys to come to the store. “I can give you some dessert.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Seth laughed. Brian thanked Nikki and reached for his wallet.

“What are you doing?” Nikki demanded.

“I thought I would pay for lunch,” Brian stuttered.

“You are our guest. I will take care of this,” Nikki huffed. She took out her wallet and laid some money on the table. Hawk put some in for his share and the tip. Then, they all walked back to the chocolate shop.

“Look who I found,” cried Nikki as she opened the front door. Lidia looked up and waved to Seth. Tori looked up and almost dropped the box of chocolates she was holding.

“You’re early,” she gently chided Seth. Seth walked over to Tori and kissed her cheek. Nikki smiled, satisfied. Tori was a sweet young girl. She was perfect for Seth. They had been texting and talking ever since Thanksgiving. Nikki was glad to see that some romance was blooming.

“This is Brian,” Seth introduced his roommate to Lidia and Tori. “He is a senior this year. He was going to stay back at the dorm and study, but I convinced him to come down to Maple Hills. His parents are in Europe, so I told him to spend Christmas with us.”

“Hi, Brian,” Lidia and Tori said. Brian pushed back his hair and waved sheepishly.

“I have an idea,” said Nikki, breaking the awkward silence. “Why don’t you come to dinner, Tori? You’re welcome to join us too, Lidia.”

Tori thanked her and said she would be happy to join them. She smiled at Seth as she said this. They both turned a little red. Lidia thanked Nikki and asked if she could bring anything. “Nope. I’m covered,” Nikki told her. Nikki then turned to greet the customer who had just walked in.

“Would you like to try our white peppermint sticks? They are only around until Christmas.”

Chapter Two

Nikki set the table as Hawk pulled out the biscuits. She wanted to have a good, hearty meal to make up for the cold weather. Hawk enjoyed cooking, but Nikki said she would make her famous biscuits and gravy with some ham and greens. Hawk’s mouth had watered as she had talked about it.

“Don’t drool on those biscuits,” Nikki chided Hawk.

“I won’t, but can I taste one?”

“Not until we eat.”

Tori and Seth were sitting in the living room with Brian. Nikki looked over and saw Seth holding Tori’s hand. She smiled and continued setting the table. Lidia was helping her, and she caught Nikki’s gaze.

“You must be so happy,” Lidia said. “I know it’s been tough for Seth. Tori is a good girl. It’s almost as if they were made for one another.” Lidia put the last plate down.

“Sit down, Lidia. I’ll get the food from the kitchen,” Nikki called as she left the dining room with a grin. The biscuits were cooked just right, and the gravy was ready. Hawk was taking the ham out to the table. Tori poked her head in, and Nikki handed her a bowl of greens. Seth came in for the biscuits, and Nikki followed him into the dining room with the gravy. They sat down and dug in.

“Brian, you need to eat more. There is plenty of food,” Nikki reassured him.

“I will in a minute. I have to take a breather between courses,” Brian replied as he rubbed his stomach. “I haven’t eaten this well in months.”

“Yeah, the food at the university is awful,” Seth agreed. “I sure am glad to be home with your cooking,” he praised Nikki.

“It can’t be that bad,” Nikki scolded him.

“It’s not as good as this,” he reassured her.

Nikki looked around the table. It was good to relax with family and friends this close to the holidays. The shop had been busy non-stop, and preparing for Christmas was wearing Nikki down. Times like this helped her keep her spirits and strength up. She passed around some more food. The pies were warming in the oven, and the smell of pecan wafted through the room. After dessert, Nikki was looking forward to sitting and talking to Seth. She hadn’t seen him since Thanksgiving, and she was hoping he was doing well in college. She worried about him being so far away, but he seemed to be adjusting well and loving his classes.

As they were talking, there was a knock on the front door. Hawk raised an eyebrow and looked at Nikki.

“Were you expecting someone?” he asked as the knocking got louder.

“No,” said Nikki, getting up from the table. “Stay here, everyone. I’ll be right back.”

Hawk got up with her. She appreciated him having her back. They went to the front door. Nikki looked out and saw a young woman. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. She looked to have been crying and was shivering on the porch. She had her purse and a backpack. She was dressed for the weather but looked worn out. Nikki opened the door quickly.

“Hi,” said the young woman, shivering, “I’m . . .” she did not get any farther.

“Susan!”

Nikki heard Seth and turned around. He was walking quickly from the dining room. He was smiling but looked concerned. Nikki looked at him quizzically, but he did not see her. He just saw Susan.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his face full of concern.

“You know this young woman?” Nikki asked her son.

“Yes, sorry, mom, this is Susan; Susan this is my mom.”

“Oh thank God. I was hoping this was the right house,” Susan said. Nikki stepped aside, welcoming her in.

Susan looked about the house and over her shoulder. She shivered once more. She seemed skittish and frantic. Her hands were shaking. Her breath was shallow.

“Susan, what is wrong, honey?” Nikki asked. Susan looked like a trapped rabbit. Nikki took her coat and told her to sit by the fire. Susan sat down and put her backpack on the floor near her feet. Seth sat next to her and started rubbing her hands.

“Bring us some hot tea,” Nikki instructed Hawk.

“I’m on it,” he replied, stepping toward the kitchen.

Tori had wandered in and saw Seth and Susan on the couch. She threw Nikki a look and Nikki shrugged. Seth was rubbing Susan’s shoulder, and Susan looked like she was in shock. Seth glanced up and saw Tori.

“Tori, this is Susan, my friend from college. You remember me telling you about her.”

Tori visibly relaxed and walked over to the sofa.

“Yes, it’s nice to finally put a face to the name,” she said as she sat in a chair on Susan’s other side.

Nikki was still confused, but was happy that Tori knew about Susan. Seth was a good kid, and Nikki was sure he would not cheat on his girlfriend, but once in a while she worried about his father’s influence. It seemed his father was not that influential. Nikki glanced over to the kitchen and saw Hawk preparing the tea. Brian was sitting at the table talking to Lidia. He had told her she reminded him of his grandmother, and she had taken to him immediately. Nikki was glad that he had someone he could talk to that reminded him of his family.

Nikki turned her attention to Susan, Seth, and Tori. She sat on the loveseat across from them.

“What brings you out in this nasty weather?” Nikki asked.

Hawk appeared with a tray, teapot, and five cups. He put the tray down and took a seat beside Nikki.

Seth poured Susan and Tori some tea, and Susan relaxed a slight bit.

“I am sorry to barge in on your family dinner,” Susan said. She seemed like she was about to cry. Tori took her hand.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Nikki gently responded. She looked at Susan and asked, “What is going on?”

Susan took a deep breath and said, “I think someone is trying to hurt me.”

Seth and Tori gasped and looked shocked. Nikki shifted slightly in her seat and took Hawk’s hand. Hawk cleared his throat.

“What makes you think that?” Hawk asked.

“Well, it started a few weeks ago at college. I wouldn’t tell you this, but Seth has told me over and over what a great detective you are.”

“Thank you,” said Hawk.

Susan blushed. “Actually I was talking about Seth’s mom.”

Nikki laughed, and Hawk turned a bit red.

“Thank you, dear,” Nikki said. “But Hawk is the detective. I just happen to be able to piece things together.”

Just then Lidia and Brian walked in.

“Susan! What are you doing here?” Brian asked.

“Hi, Brian,” Susan said.

“Susan was just telling us about a problem she has been having at school,” Nikki carefully told Lidia and Brian.

“It’s okay,” said Susan. “I don’t mind them being here.”

Hawk brought some chairs in from the kitchen and two more tea cups, and everyone sat down, anxious to hear Susan’s story.

“Like I was saying, it started a few weeks ago. I received a weird letter in the mail. It was threatening. I thought it was just a college prank, but I got another one the day I left for Christmas break. I’ve also gotten some strange phone calls. The person doesn’t say anything, just breaths. I was on my way to my aunt’s house in Upper New York. I was driving along and suddenly my brakes went out. Luckily I wasn’t driving too fast, and I was able to steer the car into a snow bank. I got out and called a tow truck. They took me to the nearest town, which was here. I remembered Seth saying that he lives here and the tow truck driver knew you and him. He brought me up here from town. Seth has told me how you have helped people before. I was hoping you might be able to help me.” She looked at Nikki.

“Do you have any of the threatening letters?” Nikki asked.

“Have you called the police?” Hawk interjected.

“Yes, I have the letters. And, no, I haven’t contacted the police. I wasn’t sure what to tell them. Like I said, I thought it was some kind of prank.” Her voice was rising, and Nikki sensed a panic attack coming on.

“It’s okay, Susan. Hawk is a detective, and I would be happy to take a look at what you have. Seth, why don’t you, Tori, and Brian clear off the kitchen table. Make a plate up for Susan, and we will sit there.”

Susan started to object.

“Look, honey, after the day you’ve had, you need some nice warm food. Come into the dining room and bring the letters.”

Susan seemed to relax a bit more. She got up and carried her purse into the dining room. She sat down and pulled out a couple of notes. The paper was ripped on one side, and there were letters cut out and taped onto the paper. It read:

Leave college now, or leave in a hearse.

The other note said:

If you don’t want to die, drop out.

Susan’s hands shook as she laid the notes out. Nikki and Hawk looked at the notes. They knew better than to touch them. It looked like someone cut out letters from magazines and books to form the words. Nikki raised her eyebrows at Hawk. Hawk’s mouth was set in a grimace.

“Where are your parents?” Nikki asked Susan.

Susan teared up again. “They died when I was young. My aunt raised me, and I live in her house when I’m not in school.”

Nikki looked at her. “You need to stay here tonight. It is too cold and snowy for you to drive to your aunt’s place.”

Susan started to object, but Tori spoke up. “You can stay with me. That way you can have a bed. I have a guest room at my place.”

“Thank you both, but I really should be on my way,” Susan insisted.

Hawk cleared his throat. “Actually, I think you should stay. It will be safer. I’d like you to come down to the station and report this officially.”

Susan hesitated. She looked nervous. Nikki turned to Hawk. “Could you let her get some sleep first? This poor girl has been through enough today.”

Hawk agreed but said he wanted to take the letters to the precinct. He retrieved some kitchen tongs and put the letters in separate zip lock bags. He told Nikki he would take the letters to the lab tonight and have them analyzed. He thanked her for the delicious dinner and said he would see her in the morning. She smiled and thanked him for waiting to question Susan.

“It can wait until morning, but bring her by the station first thing,” he instructed Tori.

“Will do, boss,” she replied with a mock salute. Everyone laughed. It was good to break up the tension in the room.

Hawk left with a promise to keep Nikki posted on anything the lab found out about the letters. Susan called her aunt and let her know her car had broken down and she’d be spending the night with her friends. When Nikki asked if she had told her aunt about the letters, Susan shook her head.

“I don’t want to worry her anymore. She is concerned about me driving tomorrow, but I told her I would lease a rental car and be in New York by dinner.”

“I understand. You can give the police your statement tomorrow. You should be on the way home by lunch time,” Nikki reassured her.

Tori grabbed her purse, and Susan grabbed her backpack and purse. Nikki and Seth told them goodnight. Tori and Seth made plans to get together the next day. He also offered to help Nikki in the chocolate shop. She quickly agreed. The more hands this close to Christmas, the better.

Seth and Brian washed the dishes, and Nikki sat with a glass of wine watching the snow fall.

“What an exciting first night back,” said Seth.

Nikki looked out the window at the snowy landscape and thought, I hope we can have a relaxing Christmas. The feeling in her gut said otherwise, but she chose to ignore it and relax with the boys for the night. She pulled an afghan around her and laid her head on the back of the sofa. Seth and Brian sat by the fire, and Seth told her about his semester.

Chapter Three

The next morning was bright, but cold. There was a brisk wind blowing, and it blew through the layers that Nikki wore. I have to get some thermal underwear, soon, she thought. She shivered and turned the corner to the police station. Tori and Susan were on the way to meet her there. Nikki did not like leaving Lidia in the shop during this busy time, but Seth had volunteered to help. Brian had said he would help, too, if they wanted him to. Nikki took the boys up on their offer. She set Brian up in the back of the shop dipping pretzels into the chocolate. Seth had helped her before, and Lidia knew her way around the shop and the kitchen in back. Nikki checked her watch and picked up her pace. She entered the front door and saw an older man with graying hair.

“Hello, Chief Daily. How are you this morning?”

The man turned around and smiled at Nikki.

“I am fine. Are you keeping my son in line?”

“You know Hawk. No one can keep him in line.”

They laughed, and Chief Daily gave her a hug.

“Did Hawk fill you in on Seth’s friend?” Nikki asked.

“Yes. He called me last night and told me about it. Poor girl. Is she on the way?”

“Yes, she should be here any minute,” Nikki reassured him. “She stayed at Tori’s place last night.”

“Who is manning the shop?” the chief asked concernedly.

“I have Lidia there. Seth and his friend from college, Brian, are helping out, too. I think they can hold down the fort until I get back. They wanted to come over and support Susan, but I told them it would be better if they gave her some room.”

The chief nodded appreciatively. He was always glad when Nikki helped out with cases. She had had some problems in this town, but the chief was grateful that she was there. His son was happy. The chief hadn’t seen him this happy in a long time. He turned to the lieutenant at the desk.

“Tell my son that Nikki is here, please.”

The lieutenant called Hawk. He appeared a few minutes later. His eyes were shaded, and he seemed deep in thought. He saw Nikki, and his face cleared up. He walked over and gave her a hug.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Good morning. What were you just thinking about?”

“Well, after I left your place I went to the lab and dropped off the letters. We should have the results in a few hours. After that, I thought I would take a look at Susan’s car. I asked Larry to check out the car at his shop. After he had looked it over, he said it looked like someone had messed with the brake line. Susan’s accident was not an accident.”

Nikki was stunned. She looked up in time to see Tori and Susan walking in. They were smiling and laughing like old friends. Tori had a way about her, and Nikki was grateful that she had hired her. Susan looked at Hawk and stopped smiling.

“What’s wrong?” she asked the detective.

“I’ll tell you after you make your statement. Everything is fine, but I just want you to talk to someone first so what I say does not tarnish the report,” Hawk explained.

Susan shrugged her shoulders and agreed. Hawk introduced her to his father.

“He will be taking your statement. He was not at the house, so you will be talking to fresh ears.”

Susan nodded and asked if Nikki could come with them. She really wanted another person she knew in the room. She told Hawk and the chief she was very nervous.

“That is perfectly understandable,” Nikki told her reassuringly. “I cannot come with you, but I will be here when you get out.”

“But what about the shop?” Susan asked.

“The shop is being taken care of. You just get this over with and take care of yourself.”

The chief led Susan away.

Nikki looked at Hawk. “I’m worried about her.”

“I am, too,” he replied.

* * *

There was a worn wooden table and some books on a shelf. There were no mirrors or other things Susan expected to see.

“Are you looking for the two-way glass?”

Susan nodded, and the chief chuckled. “Television has ruined policing for some people. This is our break room. I thought it might be a more comfortable place to talk. Linda, our stenographer, will be in shortly. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Thank you,” Susan replied with a smile. She seemed to be relaxing, and the chief was happy. He got the coffee, and Linda came in with her equipment.

“Okay, let’s get started.”

After Susan had stated her name, age, and other pertinent information, the chief started asking her questions.

“When did you receive the first note?”

Susan explained that the first note had arrived in her dorm mail. There was no return address on the envelope. When she opened the letter and read it she thought it was a prank. She was going to throw it away, but something told her to hold onto it for a while.

“Did you tell anyone else about the letter?”

“No, I thought they would laugh at me. I kept it to myself.”

“What else happened?”

“I received a couple of phone calls that were from a private line. No one spoke, they just breathed into the phone. I thought it was another prank.”

“When did you start to become scared?”

“When I was getting ready to leave, the next note appeared in my mail. I thought I should tell someone, but everyone was leaving. I walked over to Seth’s dorm, but he had already left. I knew he was going home, so I didn’t want to interrupt him. I didn’t get any more calls, but I just had a bad feeling. I packed up my car and put the notes together in my purse. I started driving home when the brakes gave out.”

Susan went on to tell the chief about steering herself into the snow drift. The roads around Maple Hills were winding and steep. The chief told her she was lucky to have found a drift to steer into. Susan told him she had called her roadside service and they had sent a tow truck. Larry had taken her back to the shop. When she found out where she was, she asked about Nikki. Larry had been surprised, but he had agreed to take her to Nikki’s house. That was how she ended up here.

“Is there anyone you can think of that would want to hurt you?”

Susan looked shocked, but she thought about it.

“Not that I know of,” she replied.

The chief asked her a few more questions to clarify some things. Susan sipped her coffee and answered them as thoroughly as possible. When they were through, the chief walked her to Hawk’s office. Nikki and Hawk were waiting there.

“How did it go?” Nikki asked Susan.

“It was fine. I was glad to get this off my chest. Detective Daily, what did you want to tell me before?”

Hawk hesitated, but the chief gave him a look that said tell her. Hawk looked at Susan and said, “I’m afraid someone may have tampered with your car.”

Susan turned pale. Nikki helped her into a chair.

“Are you saying someone tried to kill me?” Susan asked, shocked.

“We’re not absolutely sure, but right now it looks that way,” said Nikki.

“Because this is now a crime, we need to take your car in as evidence. Do you have anything in it that you need? You’ll need to get those belongings and take them to Tori’s house. She will be happy to let you stay for a few more days, I’m sure,” Hawk said.

Susan looked a bit green. Then she shook her head and said, “Well, there’s not much I can do about this person who is after me. I’d really like to go to my aunt’s today. I told her I would be home for dinner.”

Nikki started to object, but Hawk put his hand on her shoulder. “I understand, Susan. Can we take you for some lunch first?”

Susan agreed. Nikki said she wanted to check in on the shop first. They all walked over, and Nikki opened the door. The shop was steady, but Tori and the others were on top of everything. Nikki smiled watching Seth give a child a penny bag of candy. The little boy thanked him and ran to show his mother. He was such a caring boy. She was very proud of the young man he had become.

Seth saw them and waved. Susan was given a quick tour. Nikki said she would make a gift box for her aunt. Susan thanked her, and they grabbed Seth and Brian and went to lunch.

Gus greeted them at the door, and they found a comfy booth to sit in. After ordering, Susan thanked Nikki and Hawk.

“I appreciate your concern, and I understand. I just want to get back to my aunt’s house.”

When Seth asked what they were talking about, Susan filled him in. Seth grew concerned. “You can’t drive to your aunt’s house by yourself. What if something else happens to you?”

“I can’t stay here. It’s too close to Christmas. I need to get back home,” Susan replied.

“I have an idea,” said Brian. Everyone looked at him. “Why don’t you use my car? You can take it to your aunt’s house and then pick us up on the way back to school.”

Susan started to say no, but Seth cut her off. “I think it’s a great idea,” he said. Brian’s car is good in the snow, and you won’t have to chance things with a rental car.”

Nikki thought it was a good idea. It was obvious that Susan was not going to stay in Maple Hills, and this way she had a reliable vehicle. Hawk was still hesitant.

“But what about the person who threatened you?” he asked.

“Well, I haven’t gotten any more phone calls. I’m safe here with you, and I’ll be safe at my aunt’s house.”

Hawk agreed, but asked her to stay one more day until the lab work got back. He reassured her that he had put a rush on the results and that they would have some answers first thing in the morning. Susan agreed, and Brian and Seth took her to the chocolate shop to check in with Tori. Tori was fine with Susan staying one more night. Susan said she wanted to get an early start and had some errands to run. She needed to pick up her luggage and wanted to give her aunt a call. She decided to just tell her she wanted to stay one more night. She promised Hawk she would fill her aunt in on all the details when she got to New York. Brian gave her his keys, and they all said goodbye as Susan hurried off to take care of her small list of errands. Nikki was still a little anxious, but she realized as young as they looked, these young adults were just that: adults. They were capable of looking out for themselves.

After Susan left, Nikki said, “Hey, do you guys want to look at the town lights? They should be lighting them up soon.”

Seth and Brian agreed, and they walked around the downtown with Hawk and Nikki. All of the business owners had decorated their shops with Christmas lights. Gus had a Rudolf display outside of his shop. The white fake reindeer seemed to be nodding, appreciating the snow and attention. Nikki’s shop looked beautiful all lit up. She was glad Hawk had helped her with the decorating. She could feel herself starting to relax. Hawk took Nikki’s hand and held it as they walked. She loved walking around her small town. It started snowing lightly and gave the impression of walking through a snow globe. Nikki relaxed and enjoyed the time with Hawk and the boys.

Chapter Four

Nikki was making the boys some breakfast before going to the shop. Christmas was fast approaching, and she wanted to be sure her inventory was enough for the last minute shopping rush. She thought about tripling the white chocolate peppermint sticks and doubling all of her other candies. With Seth there to help, it would not be a problem. She hummed to herself while she made up the pancake batter. The boys wandered in. Nikki offered them coffee. They thanked her and sat down by the kitchen counter.

“So, what do you have planned today?” Nikki asked Seth.

“I thought I would help you in the shop. I know it’s a busy time of year. I’m sure you could use the extra hands.”

“It is a busy time. Any other reason you might want to help out in the shop?”

Seth turned red and sipped his coffee. Nikki laughed and tousled his hair. He is growing up too fast. The boys sipped their coffee and relaxed in their pajamas.

“Pancakes are ready. How many do you want?”

Nikki started piling them on the boys’ plates. Brian stopped her at three, but Seth told her to keep them coming. They all laughed. There was a knock on the door. Seth got up, but Nikki told him to sit and eat. She took off her apron and put it on the back of her chair.

As soon as she opened the door, her smile faded. Hawk was there. He looked grim. She had seen this look on his face before, so she braced herself.

“Can I come in?” he asked. Nikki stepped back from the door.

“What is it?” she asked. Hawk hesitated and then asked where the boys were.

“They’re in the kitchen eating. Do you want me to get them?”

Hawk thought for a moment and then said yes. Nikki called the boys in. They came in carrying their coffee mugs.

“Good morning, Hawk,” Seth said and then stopped. “What’s the matter?”

“I need everyone to sit down, please. I have some news.”

They all sat down, and Hawk went on.

“I got a call this morning from Gus. He gets to his diner early every morning. This morning he saw a car in his lot. Usually it’s abandoned, so he went to check it out. Brian, it was your car.” Brian looked at Hawk quizzically.

“I thought Susan was taking my car home to New York this morning – what was it doing in the lot?”

“Here’s the thing,” said Hawk, taking Nikki’s hand. “Susan was in the car. She was dead when Gus found her.”

Seth dropped his coffee mug. It hit the carpet and bounced, sending coffee flying everywhere. Nikki jumped up and pulled him into a hug. Brian looked shocked. Hawk patted Brian’s shoulder and offered him what comfort he could.

After a while, Seth calmed down. Nikki sent the boys back into the kitchen for more coffee. While wiping up the spilled coffee, Nikki asked Hawk if they knew what had happened to Susan.

“We’re not sure, but we think it might have been carbon monoxide poisoning. There is no trace of the gas in the car, but other evidence points that way.”

“Well, I am going to come down to the station to help you. I need to know what happened to this girl. She was a friend of Seth’s, and he is a wreck.”

Hawk agreed. Nikki went into the kitchen to let Seth and Brian know she was going to ride to town with Hawk.

“I want to come too,” Seth insisted. Nikki felt for him, but she told him no. She did not want his last memory of Susan to be a bad one. She told him she would have Tori come over and hang out with them. Seth reluctantly agreed.

“What about the shop?”

“Lidia can hold down the fort. She can explain why we are a little backed up. I’m sure my customers will understand.” At least the nice ones should, she thought. She called Tori and explained what had happened. Before she could ask, Tori said she would be right there.

Nikki gave Seth a hug and told him to stay put. “As soon as we know anything, I will call you,” she reassured him.

Seth relented and went to sit in the kitchen with Brian.

Nikki turned to Hawk.

“You ready to do this?” she asked.

“After you,” he replied, opening the door.

On the doorstep were two police officers. Hawk stepped back and asked why they were there.

“Is this Nikki’s house?” one of them asked.

“Yes it is, officer. What can I do for you?” Nikki answered coming to the door.

“We would like to step inside,” he replied.

“What is this about? Hawk asked.

“Please. It would be better if we were inside with you,” the officer replied. Hawk looked at Nikki and she moved aside shrugging.

“Nikki,” the first officer said, “Chief Daily sent us out here.”

“Why?” asked Nikki.

“The lab results have come back,” he started.

“Oh, good,” Nikki said. “Did you come out here to tell Hawk and me the results?”

The officer looked at the ground. “Well, actually, you will hear the results, but not as a message.”

“Well, what is going on?” Nikki demanded.

“Ma’am, we need to bring your son and his friend in for questioning.”

“What are you talking about?” Nikki asked, not understanding.

“Usually we don’t say, but the chief said we could share this with you.”

Seth and Brian had stepped in from the kitchen. They asked what was happening.

“It seems both Seth’s and Brian’s fingerprints were on the notes that were used to threaten Susan,” the officer said shortly.

Seth turned pale, “I never touched those notes. I didn’t know about them and never saw them before the other night. How could my fingerprints be on them? “

Brian did not say anything, but he did not look good. He sat on a chair near the door and put his head in his hands.

Nikki’s head spun. How could the boys’ fingerprints be on the paper? What was going on? She looked at Hawk.

“They were with me all night,” Nikki said. “Why do they need to go see the chief?”

“He probably just needs it in writing. We know they didn’t do it, but legally he has to dot the I’s and cross the t’s.”

Nikki agreed, but she was not happy. She and Hawk reassured Seth and Brian that they would be at the station the whole time. They told them since they were at Nikki’s it should not be a problem. Hawk told the officers they would be right behind them with the boys. The officers thanked him and left. Seth and Brian got changed. They all piled into Hawk’s car and went down to the station.

While they boys were being questioned, Nikki asked Hawk if she could see Susan’s backpack. He took her to his office and brought her the backpack.

“Be careful, it’s heavy,” he said thunking it on the desk.

“Why is it so heavy?” Nikki wondered.

She opened the small front pocket and found some pens, pencils and a jump drive. She looked at Hawk.

“We already checked it out. It is just a bunch of papers and other work she was doing.”

Nikki put it back and opened the main compartment. “No wonder it’s so heavy,” she exclaimed. “She has a lot of books in here.” Nikki dumped the bag carefully on the desk. There were science books, math books, and history books.

“I thought she was on break,” Hawk said. “I wonder how many books she would have when school is in session.”

Nikki thought about it. “Actually, she probably only had a few on a day to day basis. I know Seth would carry more towards finals week when he wanted to have everything at his fingertips. I guess she just didn’t empty her backpack out when she left campus.”

The chief stuck his head in the office. “Susan’s aunt is here. I thought you might want to meet her,” he addressed Nikki.

Nikki thanked him and carefully replaced the books. Hawk put the backpack back and led Nikki towards a room down the hall. There was an older woman sitting at the table. It looked like she had been crying for awhile.

“Hello, you must be Susan’s aunt. I’m Nikki.”

“Hello, dear,” Susan’s aunt sniffed.

“I am so sorry for your loss,” said Nikki, putting her hand on Susan’s aunt’s hand. “Can we do anything for you?”

“Are you Seth’s mother?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Please, tell him I said thank you. He was such a good friend to Susan. She was studying hard, and he helped her out. She said he was like the brother she never had.” She started weeping again. Nikki handed her a box of tissues. An officer brought her some water, and Susan’s aunt continued.

“Susan was such a nice girl. She had many friends and a sparkling personality. She was a senior this year and was in the running for class valedictorian. Everyone loved her. She was looking forward to her future. She had already received several job offers. She was coming home to study and make sure she kept her grades up this final semester. She always carried home a bunch of books. I would tease her and say she was always studying.” She broke off and started weeping a bit. “She said she wanted to make me proud. I told her I was already proud of her. I’m glad I got to tell her that.”

Nikki asked if anyone disliked Susan.

“I don’t think so,” her aunt replied. “She was liked by everyone who met her.”

Nikki did not mention the threats to Susan’s life or the brakes. She did not want to trouble Susan’s aunt further.

Nikki and Hawk excused themselves.

“I feel sorry for her,” Nikki said. “It is hard losing a child.”

Hawk gave her a hug and told her Seth and Brian should be done with the questioning. He led her down the hallway to the lobby. Both boys were there. They looked wiped out. Tori was there, too. Nikki asked if she had been by the shop. Tori said she had and told Nikki she and Lidia would be staying late tonight making more chocolates. Nikki thanked her. Seth offered to go to the shop to help, but Nikki wanted him home, safe with her. She looked over at a television set predicting the weather. There was a storm blowing in. Nikki looked back and saw Seth standing by the window.

“Susan’s aunt was very nice,” she said.

“I never met her,” Seth replied.

“How well did you know Susan?”

“She was a friend and study partner. We would sometimes eat lunch or dinner together.”

“Did Brian tag along?”

“Once in awhile, but not too often. Susan was more my friend than his.”

Nikki gave Seth a hug and then asked Hawk if he would take the boys back to her house. She would go to the shop and help out with the chocolates. Hawk agreed, but only if Nikki would let him take her home early that night. She agreed. She did not want to be stuck in the store if a blizzard hit.

Chapter Five

The next morning, Nikki looked outside. The whole yard was covered in snow. The blizzard was there and wasn’t going anywhere. The boys were relaxing in the den. She noticed that Brian was reading a textbook. Seth was watching television and munching popcorn.

“Did you make enough for me?” she asked, startling him.

She laughed and decided it was time to set up the tree. She and Hawk had cut one the day before Seth had arrived. It was outside, so she asked Seth to bring it in. Nikki loved the tradition of decorating the tree together. She popped some more popcorn. When Seth tried to eat it, she slapped his hand and teased, “This is for the tree. Get me a needle and thread.”

Seth got her the sewing kit. Nikki asked Brian to help her get some of the Christmas decorations. He said he did not want to intrude, but Nikki insisted.

“You are a part of this family. I want you to feel like you’re at home.”

Brian thanked her. She showed him where the boxes were. He carried them over by the tree. Seth gave him a needle and thread, and they started threading the popcorn. Nikki got some cranberries out, and she started threading them. An hour went by in relaxing silence, broken occasionally by someone saying, ‘ouch’ when a needle missed its mark. When they were done, the boys helped Nikki trim the tree. They put lights on and added the popcorn and cranberries. Nikki opened the box of ornaments and started to hang them on the tree. Most of them were homemade ornaments from down south.

“There sure are a lot of peaches in this box,” Brian teased.

“Well, we moved up from the peach state,” Nikki explained. “I like having a bit of the south in the north.”

“My family has a fake tree. It’s usually decorated by the time I’m back from school. I can’t remember the last time I decorated a tree,” sighed Brian.

Nikki felt bad for him. One of the best traditions she kept going was the decorating of the tree. She would never dream of doing it without Seth. Although, she realized she was not sure what his plans were after he graduated. She cherished these times with him. She hoped he would have fond memories for the rest of his life.

“Hey, Mom, I remember making this one,” Seth said.

He was holding up a white ornament he had made. It was a project for chemistry class. It had been one of his favorite classes, and the teacher had loved him. Nikki realized how lucky she was to have such a smart young man. She smiled as Seth placed it on the tree. Brian put up some more, and soon they were done. Nikki checked her laptop and saw that she had a message from Hawk. She skyped him and showed him the tree.

He whistled. “That looks great,” he said. “Can you keep the laptop by you in case I need you for anything?”

“Sure thing. We were just about to make some eggnog.” Hawk’s eyebrows raised. “Non-alcoholic, thank you,” Nikki replied to his silent query, laughing.

“Okay, good. I need your head in the game. Who is manning the shop?”

“I told Tori and Lidia to close the shop today. I don’t want any of our customers out in this weather.”

“That makes sense,” Hawk said, and as if on cue, Nikki’s phone rang. “Go ahead and get that, we can talk later.”

Nikki said goodbye to Hawk and answered the phone. It was one of her customers, Mrs. Quigly. She was frantic. “I need my chocolates by Christmas,” she demanded. Nikki soothed her ruffled feathers and reassured her that the store would be open and the chocolates would be ready to be picked up before Christmas. Mrs. Quigly huffed, but realized there was nothing else to be said. She thanked Nikki and hung up.

Nikki decided to make some hot chocolate before making the eggnog. She warmed up the milk on the stove and warmed up the chocolate in a double boiler. As she was stirring the chocolate, she looked over to the den. The boys were relaxing, and Brian was talking about his family’s trip. Seth was listening and sitting by the tree.

There was a knock at the front door. “I’ll get it,” said Seth, bouncing up.

Seth usually was not so keen to get up to answer the door, but when Nikki stepped out of the kitchen she realized why he was so energetic. Tori was stepping in and taking off her boots. Seth helped her out of her coat and pulled off her hat. He held it out of reach and laughed as Tori tried to get it. Tori tickled him, and it ended in a kiss. Nikki looked away, but she smiled. It’s about time he has found some happiness. Nikki wondered if Brian had a girlfriend. As if reading her mind, Brian said, “I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m studying too much.”

Nikki had not heard him come up behind her. She turned around.

“I think they make a great couple,” Brian said.

“So do I,” Nikki agreed.

Nikki poured the hot chocolate and gave Tori the recipe for the eggnog. She asked Tori and Seth to get that started and said that she would bake some cookies.

“Are we putting rum in this batch?” Seth asked.

“Nope. No rum for you,” replied Nikki, laughing. Seth pouted, and she pointed at the stove. “Start mixing, Mister.”

Seth and Tori started on the eggnog, and Nikki started mixing some batter. She heard her laptop beep and went into the next room. Hawk was trying to skype, so she logged in.

“Hi, how are you?” she asked.

“You have something on your nose,” he replied, grinning.

“Aack, what is on my nose?”

“A little flour.” Hawk was laughing now.

Nikki wiped her nose and asked why he had messaged her.

“I wanted your opinion on something. Did Susan’s aunt say she was running for valedictorian?” Just then Brian poked his head into the room. Nikki put down the screen and asked if he needed anything.

“Seth wanted you to know that the eggnog is ready,” he replied.

“Thank you, Brian. Let them know I’ll be right in. Go ahead and help yourselves.”

Brian gave her a thumbs up and left for the kitchen.

“So, eggnog, huh?” Hawk asked.

“Yes, but not the adult kind.”

“Okay,” said Hawk with a grin.

“Now, what were you asking me?”

“I was wondering if Susan’s aunt had told you she was in the running for valedictorian?”

“Yes. That is why her bag was full of books,” Nikki said.

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Is that why you called? To ask me something you already knew?” Nikki questioned.

“Well, obviously you needed someone to tell you about the flour on your nose,” Hawk smiled.

“Hmmm . . . well, thank you,” Nikki said smiling. She put the screen down and went in to have some eggnog. She could smell cookies.

“Who finished my cookie dough?” she asked.

“I did,” said Seth.

“Thank you; they smell wonderful,” Nikki replied.

A little while later the laptop beeped again. This time Hawk asked Nikki to take the laptop into her bedroom, “So we won’t have any interruptions.”

Nikki would have replied with a smart aleck remark, but she could tell Hawk was serious. She went into her bedroom and locked the door. “Okay, what did you want me to see?”

Hawk held up a picture of Susan’s body. The body was tinged pink. “This was taken yesterday. A pink tinge to the body is a sign of carbon-monoxide poisoning.”

“Okay, but how did the gas get in her car?” Nikki asked. Usually a person would die of carbon monoxide poisoning when they were in their garage or another small space with a running motor. Susan’s car had been found in an outdoor parking lot.

“We’re still not sure, but we do know the cause of death.”

“Okay. Was there anything else?”

“Well, we have been doing some digging at the college. We requested a list of candidates for valedictorian. We got the list back, and Brian’s name is on it.”

“No wonder he was studying earlier. He seemed a bit intense. He told me he does not have time for a girlfriend because he is studying so much,” Nikki said.

“Okay, that makes sense. Let’s keep this between us for now,” Hawk suggested.

“Absolutely. The kids are having a good time. I do not want to ruin it by bringing up Susan,” Nikki agreed.

She signed off with Hawk and went into the kitchen. She looked out the window and saw the snow piling up. Nikki helped herself to some eggnog and cookies and went into the living room with Seth, Tori, and Brian.

Later, Hawk braved the weather and stopped by with some groceries. He whipped up a delicious stew for dinner. Nikki was glad to have everyone safe at her house. Hawk complemented her on the tree and offered to help with outdoor lights. Nikki asked for a rain check and explained that she was a bit tired from the day.

Hawk and Tori left shortly after dinner so that Nikki could get a good night’s sleep before work the next day. She went to bed leaving Seth watching television and Brian reading a book.

Chapter Six

The next morning Nikki got up early. She put on the coffee and made some scrambled eggs and toast. Seth woke up and met her in the kitchen.

“What time are you going into work?” he asked quietly. Brian had been up most of the night reading. He had finally fallen asleep, so Seth and Nikki did not want to disturb him.

“I’ll be going in shortly. Why?”

“Well, I would like to come in and help, if you don’t mind.”

Nikki gave him a hug. “Thank you. We need all the help we can get.”

Nikki poured some coffee, and they sat down at the kitchen table. The snow had stopped, but there were drifts over six feet high in the area. Hawk was going to come over and drive them to town. Nikki was grateful for Hawk. She loved to drive, but not in snow this deep. In fact, not in snow, period. It rarely snowed in Atlanta, and when it did the whole city shut down. Up here, it would take a blizzard like last night for folks to even consider staying at home.

“So, Brian said he doesn’t have a girlfriend because he studies so much.”

Seth laughed. “Yeah, he is Mr. Bookworm.”

“Is he in the running for valedictorian?” Nikki wanted to step lightly around Seth. He was smart. She did not want him to suspect his friend. She and Hawk weren’t sure of anything. Brian’s name was one of a dozen on the list.

Seth thought about it while he sipped his coffee. “No. Well, I’m not sure. He never talked about it, why?”

Nikki had to think on her feet. If she said ‘no reason’ Seth would get suspicious. So, she said, “Well, as much as he studies, I thought he would be.”

Seth laughed and shook his head. “Probably, but it doesn’t seem that important to him.”

Nikki laughed, but she had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach like something wasn’t sitting well. She was actually glad that Brian would be staying at the house. That way she and Hawk could investigate Susan’s death without him hanging around.

The phone rang, and Seth got it. “Hawk said he is on the way.”

“Okay, I’ll get a thermos of coffee to go for him. Would you like one?”

“No thank you, Mom. I’ll have more in the shop.”

Nikki and Seth got their things together and waited for Hawk to get to the house. When he got there, he took them down the windy snowy road to town.

* * *

Nikki opened the front door and went into the shop. Tori and Lidia appeared a few minutes later. Seth had seen them at the diner and had gone over to say good morning. Seth held the door open and gave Tori’s hand a squeeze when she walked by. Nikki opened the safe and put the money in the register.

“Thank you for making the deposit the other day, Tori. My head is spinning trying to keep up with things.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad to help.”

I could not ask for better employees, Nikki thought while turning the Open sign around. The sun was shining brightly, but the snow was not going anywhere. Even with the sunshine, the outside temperature was bitter cold. Nikki cranked up the heat in the shop and went into the kitchen. Tori, Lidia, and Seth were in there starting on the chocolates.

“Thank you for coming in early,” Nikki said to Tori and Lidia. “Being closed yesterday has put us behind.”

“Not as much as you would think,” replied Lidia, opening the refrigerator. There were boxes and boxes of candy inside including a double batch of the white chocolate peppermint sticks. “We didn’t have too many customers when the storm was announced, so Tori and I got our butts in gear and completed the orders for the next few days.”

Nikki was in shock. Her jaw hung open looking at the chocolates. She had been so worried about Seth, she had felt neglectful to her customers. Thank goodness for Tori and Lidia. She hugged them with tears in her eyes.

“What can I do to repay you?” she asked.

“Find out what happened to Susan,” said Tori. “And then we can all get back into the holiday spirit.”

“I will try my best,” said Nikki, looking at Tori. She had grown into a very responsible young woman.

Just then the front bell rang as someone entered the shop. Nikki looked out and saw Hawk. “We’re in the back,” she called. He came over and explained to Nikki that he was going to take another look at the crime scene.

“Would you like to ride along?”

“Absolutely,” said Nikki. “Let’s take a look.”

Nikki left the shop a lot less worried about her customers. Time to get down to business, she thought.

Nikki and Hawk got to the parking lot. So much snow had fallen since the crime, Nikki was worried that there would not be any evidence. They got out of Hawk’s car and ducked under the crime scene tape.

“Gus is hoping the tape can be removed, soon. He says it’s bad for business,” Hawk mentioned to Nikki with a grimace. “I like Gus, but I don’t think he realizes how callous he can sound.”

“I don’t think he is callous; he is just worried about feeding his family. I understand that,” said Nikki, shivering.

Hawk nodded in response. “Okay, let’s take a careful look around.”

Nikki and Hawk walked in a single line. They disturbed as little as possible, but they did brush some of the snow out of the way. There was nothing suspicious. And they could not find a reason for the carbon monoxide poisoning. Nikki was leaning around the end of the car when she told Hawk to come over. She looked at the bushes, and carefully wiped the snow away. Some of the bushes were bent over from the weight of the snow, but there were some that were broken.

“Look, Hawk. Doesn’t the broken pattern look like someone walked through here?” Nikki put words to her thoughts.

Hawk looked where she was pointing. “Did you just brush that snow off?”

“Yes,” said Nikki excitedly. “See how some of the bushes are bent from the snow . . .”

“And the others are broken where someone probably walked,” said Hawk, finishing her sentence.

Nikki smiled. It was their first possible lead. It wasn’t much, but it was something. There were more broken bushes a little ways off. Hawk took some pictures and they made their way carefully back to the car. “Can we go to the station?” Nikki asked. “I would like to check Susan’s backpack again.”

“Sure,” said Hawk. “Would you like to swing by the shop first and see how everyone is doing?”

“No need,” said Nikki, and Hawk looked at her. “Really,” she assured him. “The shop is in good hands.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Hawk replied with a grin. He was glad Nikki felt good about leaving the shop. He had been concerned when Seth was stuck in the middle of another investigation, but Nikki seemed to be handling this well. He should not be surprised after everything they had been through together. Nikki was one tough lady. He admired that about her.

Hawk started up the car, and they went to the station.

Hawk put Nikki in a room with a large table. He gave her the backpack and some gloves. He wanted to let the chief know about the bushes, so he left Nikki to sort through the backpack. She started with the small compartment. There was nothing new. She pulled out the books one by one and flipped through them. Some papers fell out, but they were just notes and quizzes from her classes. Nikki picked up a notebook and looked through it. There were mainly notes from class and some notes about Susan’s job offers. Nikki made a mental note to ask if Hawk had followed up on those. The next notebook was the same. The final notebook was a bit different. Nikki had noticed that Susan did not rip her pages out. She carefully creased them and tore them along the edge. Near the back of this notebook there were several pages that had been torn out. The edges were left in the notebook. Nikki thought about this and ran to Hawk’s office.

“Hawk, can I see the notes that Susan received?”

Hawk got up and went to the evidence room. He pulled out the notes and handed them to Nikki. He knew better than to ask ‘why’ when she was excited. Nikki took the notes and held them up to the torn pages in the notebook. She could not tell through the plastic, but they seemed like they would match.

“I will get this notebook and these pages to the lab right away and see what they come up with,” Hawk exclaimed excitedly.

“I’m concerned, Hawk,” Nikki said halting Hawk in his tracks.

He turned and looked at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked putting his hand on her shoulder. Nikki’s mouth had gone down into a frown.

“Seth and Susan would study together. This does not look good for him.”

“But we know Seth didn’t do this,” Hawk reassured her.

“I know it, you know it, and I am pretty sure the chief knows it, but it still does not look good.”

“Also, Brian would sometimes study with them. Seth did not know he was running for valedictorian. Did I tell you that?” Nikki asked.

“No, that is weird,” said Hawk.

“We have more questions than answers,” sighed Nikki dejectedly.

“What would you like me to do?” asked Hawk.

“Well, that needs to go to the lab. I think it’s time I have a talk with Brian,” replied Nikki with a determined set to her mouth.

“Let me go with you,” suggested Hawk.

“No. I don’t want to scare him. If you go along he might suspect something. Let me go and talk to him, and I will let you know what I find out,” said Nikki.

Hawk knew she was right, but he was not happy. “Keep your phone with you and call me if you need me,” he demanded.

“Okay,” Nikki kissed his cheek. “I will be fine. Now get that notebook to the lab.”

“Fine. I will drop you off at your house and pick you up in an hour. Is that a deal?”

“Yes,” said Nikki, glad to have him watching her back. “That should be plenty of time for me to talk to Brian. I’ll tell him I came home to make him some lunch.” Nikki hated that she suspected Seth’s friend, but something just did not feel right. She thought about stopping by the shop, but she did not want to delay talking to Brian. The sooner she talked to him, the more she would learn.

Chapter Seven

Hawk pulled up to Nikki’s driveway. He touched her hand and made sure she was okay. Nikki gave him a reassuring look and got out of the car.

“Thank you for the lift,” she called to him as she walked to her front door. Hank waved and drove away. He was determined to get to the lab quickly so he could be back to Nikki’s house as soon as possible.

* * *

Nikki opened her front door. Her heart was beating rapidly, but she maintained a calm demeanor. She did not want Brian to suspect anything. She went into the kitchen and heard the television. After she put her purse and keys down, she went into the den. Brian was sitting there watching television. He got up when he heard her and turned it off.

“You don’t have to turn that off on my account,” Nikki said.

“I really should get back to my reading,” replied Brian, turning a bit red.

“All work and no play . . . Would you like me to make you some lunch?”

“Thank you, I would appreciate that.” Brian followed Nikki back into the kitchen. He sat by the counter, and she pulled out the makings for some sandwiches.

“Turkey? Ham? Which would you like?” Nikki asked.

“Turkey, please.”

“White or wheat bread?”

“Wheat, please.”

“Good choice. That’s so much healthier than white bread.”

“When I was growing up we didn’t have white bread in our house,” Brian said.

Nikki felt the ice cracking between them. “Really? Seth loved white bread as a child. That is one of the staples of the south.”

“Yeah. My parents are kind of health freaks,” said Brian, grinning a side grin.

“Do they eat granola?”

“Not only do they eat it, they make their own. They only eat organic food. They get fresh vegetables from a nearby farm and have fruit flown in when it’s in season. My mom is a vegetarian, but my father eats meat. Only the best filets for him,” explained Brian with wide eyes.

“Pork barbecue was a staple in Seth’s childhood. He loved it with coleslaw and corn on the cob.”

Nikki smiled. She could talk about food all day, but she needed to steer this conversation back to the important issue; Susan’s death.

“So, your parents are in Europe?” Nikki asked while putting some mayonnaise on their sandwiches.

“Yes, they’re travelling for the holidays. They invited me along, but I did not want to miss classes.”

“Wow. If someone asked me to Europe, I would not care if I missed classes,” joked Nikki. “What do your parents do for a living?”

“My dad is a financial investor, and my mother is a writer.”

That sounds normal, thought Nikki, maybe my feelings are off on this case.

“My mother wanted to go to Europe so she could experience things first hand. That way, when she wrote about them, she could get the details correct. She is a serious writer. She spends a good portion of her day organizing her plots and ideas.”

“What does your mother write?”

“She has written some fiction and some travel blogs. She writes a little of this and a little of that. She has been published, but she is not a bestseller. She’s waiting for her big break. That’s why she’s touring Europe. She wants to base her next romance there. She thinks if she experiences the culture it will reflect in her writing.”

“So, your parents must have been worried when you said you weren’t coming along.”

“My mom was disappointed, but my father reminded her that it was my senior year and that I had to keep my grades up. My mom promised me a trip to England after I graduate.”

“That sounds wonderful,” said Nikki wishing she could do something like that for Seth.

“Yeah, I can’t wait. I have been looking forward to going back there for a couple of years.”

“You’ve been there before?” Nikki asked.

“Yes. For a month after I graduated from high school I backpacked through Europe. It was fantastic.”

“That sounds amazing.”

“Yeah. I told Seth he should do it sometime. It really is an experience.”

Nikki handed him his sandwich, and they ate quietly. Nikki watched Brian eat. He seemed like a nice young man. He was well travelled, and his parents were well-off. He did not come across as snobbish, and he was content being in Nikki’s house. He seemed quiet and fairly happy. Nikki was conflicted. How could he have murdered Susan? He doesn’t seem like the type. She chastised herself. If all criminals looked the type, we would not need detectives.

After they were done eating, Brian cleared up the plates.

“So, how are your classes going?” Nikki asked him.

Brian’s face turned dark for a moment, but he smiled and said, “I’m still maintaining my A average.”

“Wow, that is impressive,” coaxed Nikki.

“It is hard, but I am championing through.”

“Is that why you’re reading a lot here on vacation?” Nikki asked.

“Yes. I have to stay ahead to keep up my grades. I don’t get to hang out with my friends much, but that’s why I’m so glad Seth is my roommate. When he thinks I have been studying too much, he will make me leave the room and hang out with him. Actually, that’s how I met Susan.” Brian flinched a little and looked pained. He went on, “They were studying together and they invited me along a couple of times. I liked Susan, but she and Seth were really close. They included me in the conversation, and sometimes I would study with them. We got along really well. I am sorry she’s gone.” He sighed and sat down. Nikki put her hand on his shoulder, but she wasn’t happy about it.

He has to think I do not suspect him, she reminded herself.

“We ate lunch together the last day of school,” Brian choked. He was almost crying. Nikki patted his shoulder.

“Do you and Hawk have any leads?” he asked with tears in his eyes.

“We are working on the case together, but we haven’t solved it yet,” said Nikki evasively.

“I really liked her. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you solve this case.”

Nikki forced a smile and told him she would let him know. You don’t know how much you have already helped. Nikki looked at the clock.

“Hawk will be back any minute to take me back to town. Would you like to join us? You could hang around the shop with Seth if you like.”

“No, thank you. I think I’ll stay here. I have some science I need to work on.”

Nikki told him that was fine. In fact, she was glad he was going to stay at the house. It would give her time to talk to Hawk on the ride back to town. She put the lunch dishes away and gathered her things. She braced herself for the cold and stepped outside as Hawk was pulling up the driveway.

“You are early,” Nikki exclaimed.

“Are you okay?” Hawk asked anxiously.

“Yes,” she reassured him. “I am fine. In fact, I had quite a productive lunch,” she added as she climbed into his truck. He looked at her and shook his head.

“Are you going to fill me in?”

“Not yet. Let’s start driving back to town. It’s just a hunch, but I will fill you in on the way.”

Hawk pulled the truck out of the driveway. They did not see Brian staring at them out of the downstairs window. He wiped a tear from his eye and went back to his books.

Chapter Eight

Nikki repeated what Brian had told her at lunch. Hawk listened. “Well,” he said, “it sounds fine.”

“Yes, but you didn’t see his face when I mentioned his grades,” replied Nikki. “It was like a dark cloud came over him. His eyes were holding back anger. He said he has straight A’s but if he does, why would talking about his grades upset him so much?”

“That is a good question,” said Hawk, turning into the parking lot of the police station.

“I think we should try to talk to some of his professors. Maybe they can help us. Maybe he and Susan had some professors in common?”

Hawk agreed and said he would get to work on looking up the professors. He would start by calling the university. Nikki said she was going to check on the store. She asked him to call her when he found anything out. Hawk reassured her that he would. She started walking slowly and carefully toward the store. The snow had stopped, but there were icy patches on some of the sidewalks. It seemed you could shovel the snow, but you might just uncover some ice while doing so. She looked across at Gus who was trying to salt the sidewalks to encourage the ice to melt. As she turned the corner she noticed her sidewalk had been shoveled. She opened the front door and looked in.

Tori and Seth were behind the counter. They were laughing and joking, helping the customers. There were Christmas carols playing over the speakers, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Lidia came out of the back with another tray of the white chocolate peppermint sticks. Those had been Lidia’s idea, and they were a hit. Some customers brought them and melted them into their hot chocolate so the shop smelled like peppermint and chocolate. Nikki would definitely make the peppermint sticks again next Christmas. For once she could say ‘next Christmas.’ For awhile she was not sure if she would stay in Maple Hills. Her past came back to haunt her a few times, but with Hawks help, they had managed to keep it at bay. While she was upset that Susan had died, she was grateful to be able to help Hawk with the investigation.

Seth waved her over to the counter. She went back and said hello, kissing him on the cheek. Nikki went to the back and took off her coat. There were chocolates covering all the flat surfaces. From peppermint sticks to gingerbread spoons, chocolate caramels, and chocolate covered strawberries –everywhere she looked there was chocolate. She stuck her purse under her desk and went out front and told Seth and Tori to take a break. She and Lidia could watch the shop. She reminded them to come back soon so that Lidia could eat lunch. They promised they would be quick and walked out the door hand-in-hand. Nikki smiled and turned to the next customer. It was a young girl and boy.

“Can I help you?” Nikki asked.

“We would like to buy our mother some Christmas chocolates,” the little boy replied.

“We have been saving our allowance. We wanted her to have the best gift in Maple Hills - your chocolates,” the girl proudly beamed.

Nikki asked what kind they wanted, and they spent fifteen minutes picking out the perfect box. When Nikki rang up the total, they put their dollars and change on the counter and slowly counted it. They came up a couple of dollars short, but the woman behind them offered to pay the difference.

They looked at her with bright eyes and thanked her. Lidia offered to gift-wrap the box. Nikki thanked the woman, and she said it was fine. She appreciated the time Nikki took with the children.

“It is not often, especially during the holidays, you find someone willing to slow down and take the time to help a couple of kids.”

“I am happy to help all of my customers no matter how slow, fast, old, or young. They are my customers, and I treat them all with the same respect and dignity.”

“That is why I love living in a small town,” replied the woman.

“You have a Merry Christmas,” Nikki told her.

“You, too,” called the woman as she left the shop. Nikki looked over and saw the children looking at Lidia wide-eyed as she wrapped the present.

“That is the biggest bow I have ever seen!” exclaimed the little boy. His sister nudged him, and he got quiet.

Nikki walked over. “Can I tell you a secret?” she asked the children quietly. They nodded their heads. “That’s the biggest bow I’ve ever seen Miss Lidia make. You are very lucky.”

The boy and girl beamed and accepted the present from Lidia.

“By the way, these are for you,” said Nikki handing them each a peppermint stick. They looked at her, grinning, and thanked her for the candy. They ran out of the shop.

“Watch your step,” cried Nikki and laughed as they scooted around the corner.

Nikki and Lidia helped a few more customers. Nikki heard her phone ringing and went to the back to answer it. Hawk was on the other end.

“I found out the name of Brian’s professors. The college was hesitant to disclose the information, but once they heard I was investigating Susan’s murder, they gave me a list of professors’ names and addresses. I looked them up and one of them lives about an hour away. I was thinking of taking a ride over to talk with him. Would you like to come along?”

“I would love to. Seth and Tori should be back at the shop, soon. I will call you when they get here.”

“I’ll just come over in a few minutes,” Hawk said.

“You just want some chocolate,” Nikki teased.

“You read my mind,” he laughingly replied.

Nikki went back to the front of the shop. She helped out some other customers, and a few minutes later Hawk showed up. Tori and Seth walked in after him. Nikki told them that she and Hawk were going to follow up on something regarding Susan’s case. She told them that Brian was at the house studying for the afternoon.

“Oh, he called a little while ago,” Seth said, interrupting her. “He asked if I could come and get him and bring him into town. Tori said I could use her car, so I was just about to go and get him.”

“No,” said Nikki a bit sharply.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” asked Seth, a bit hurt by her response.

“Nothing. It’s just that there was some ice on the road and I do not want you hurting yourself or Tori’s car driving to the house.”

“I have to learn to drive on snow, sometime,” Seth pleaded.

“You’re right, but not today.”

“I can run up and get him,” offered Hawk. “That way Lidia can get some lunch and Tori and Seth will not be stuck in the shop by themselves for too long.”

“Thank you, that sounds great,” answered Nikki relieved.

* * *

Hawk left and got into his truck. He started the engine and thought about Nikki. She sure is a strong woman. After everything she had been through, she was still willing to take life by the horns. He admired her, and if he let himself think about it, he was growing quite fond of her. He turned on the radio and started the truck. A country Christmas song came on, and he waved as the mayor’s wife crossed the street in front of him. She smiled and waved back. It is nice to live in a small town.

Hawk arrived at Nikki’s house a few minutes later and saw Brian waiting outside. He seemed surprised to see Hawk.

“I thought Seth was picking me up,” Brian said, getting into the truck.

“Nikki didn’t want him driving on the icy roads,” Hawk told him. “Buckle up.”

Brian put on his seat belt. He had tossed his backpack into the back seat.

“So, what are you studying?” asked Hawk, looking at the backpack.

“I love science, but my father wanted me to major in business. I decided to pursue a biology minor and a business major.”

“That sounds like a lot of work,” replied Hawk.

“It is, but it’ll be worth it. With that degree I have a few more opportunities when I graduate. My father wants me to come work with him. I probably will for a while, but then I want to be able to go out on my own.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Hawk replied. “Where is your father’s company, in New York City?”

“No, it’s located in upper state New York. Dad wanted to be out of the rush of the city, so we have a house in the country.”

“That is a beautiful area,” said Hawk, “especially in the fall.”

“Yeah, that’s what my father said. My parents love it there.”

Hawk did not say anything, but he remembered that Susan was also from upper New York. He made a mental note to check Seth’s address. They drove the rest of the way listening to the radio.

* * *

Tori and Seth manned the front of the store. Nikki went into the back to check on some orders. I’m glad Hawk stepped up. I do not want Seth being alone with Brian in a car. She still did not have any evidence to support her hunch, but she did not want to put Seth’s life in danger. And, it was true that there was ice on the road. One wrong acceleration, and Seth could end up driving off the side of the road and over a guardrail. Nikki shuddered thinking about it. She made a mental note to ask Hawk to help Seth learn to drive in snow while he was home on break. That would be a skill that would come in handy living here. In fact, I should ask him to give me some lessons, too. It was nice of Hawk and the others to give her rides to the shop, but she was an independent woman, and she was getting uncomfortable relying on them so much.

Seth called her from the front of the store. “Hawk and Brian are here.”

Nikki put a smile on her face and walked into the shop.

“We won’t be too long, and we should be home in time for dinner,” Nikki said.

“We can take care of dinner,” Tori and Seth offered. Nikki thanked them and said she would take them up on their offer, but only if they were not too tired from working in the shop.

“They’re young, they can handle it,” Hawk teased.

Nikki thanked them and she and Hawk left the shop. As if he could sense her nervousness, Hawk took her hand.

“Don’t worry, they will be fine. We will be back just as the shop is closing, so Brian will be with them in a public place all day.”

Nikki smiled and thanked him. She squeezed his hand and jumped into the truck. She thought about Seth and hoped he was okay. He had talked with her a bit about Susan, and Tori reassured her that they were talking about Susan a lot when they were together. It helped to have someone you could talk to when things were out of your control. She was glad Hawk was there for her and was a good role model for Seth.

“Hey,” she said to Hawk. “Do you think you could teach Seth to drive in the snow when this is all over?”

“Sure, I would be happy to,” replied Hawk. He smiled to himself. The radio came on and started to play an upbeat country song. Hawk hummed along and glanced at Nikki. She was looking out the widow, lost in her thoughts. Hawk let her sit and think. He knew that was how she came up with solutions to the hardest problems.

After awhile, Nikki asked the professor’s name.

“His name is Dr. Steven. He’s a business professor that taught both Brian and Susan.”

Nikki turned to look at him. “Brian said he wasn’t in any of Susan’s classes.”

“He was not. They had the same professor for different classes. I thought it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about his star students.”

They pulled up to Dr. Steven’s driveway. His house was a nice sized ranch. It was in a small suburban area, but with a lot of space between the houses. A dog was loping down to greet them and wagged its tail as Hawk got out of the truck. Nikki hesitated, but the dog let Hawk pet it. Nikki got out, and the dog came over and sniffed her. She was a beautiful golden retriever. She was friendly and led them to the front door. They knocked on the door, and Dr. Steven answered. He was an older gentleman with graying hair. He asked who they were. Hawk told him he was a detective and showed the professor his badge. He told the professor that Nikki was helping with the case. Dr. Steven let them in and offered them some coffee.

“No, thank you,” Hawk said. “We have a long ride back.”

Dr. Steven showed them to the kitchen and told them to make themselves comfortable. Hawk and Nikki sat down, and Dr. Steven sat across from them.

“So, are you here about Susan’s death?” the professor asked. When Hawk looked at him quizzically, Dr. Steven explained that the college had sent a notice out the other day. It was common practice for the college to keep the professors informed. That way if students had any questions their professors could supply them with the information they needed. Hawk and Nikki were impressed. Dr. Steven was visibly shaken. He was drinking his coffee, and his hands shook.

“I wanted you to know that it has been officially classified as murder,” Hawk informed Dr. Steven.

Dr. Steven turned pale. He asked if there was anything he could do to help with the investigation. Hawk told him he could answer a few questions. Before he could begin, Nikki asked Dr. Steven if he knew Seth.

“Yes, I do. Susan brought him by my class one day. He is a very bright young man. He’s your son? I can see it in your eyes. I think he will go far in college. I look forward to teaching him someday.”

Nikki glowed inwardly. It was always nice to hear about your child’s accomplishments and potential. She was always proud of Seth and it made her heart sing to hear a professor compliment him.

“What did you think of Susan?” Hawk asked.

“Oh, Susan,” the professor glowed. “Susan was the student every professor dreamed of. She would ask questions, do her homework, and do extra research if she was unsure of a topic being discussed in class. She would stop by my office and show me the books she was reading. It was a wide variety. It showed her open-mindedness and charm. She had many friends and was in the running for valedictorian, although I am sure you are aware of that.” Hawk nodded and encouraged the professor to go on.

“Susan did not miss classes or make excuses. I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but I will admit she was one of my favorite students. She studied hard and was sane. Some students cannot handle the pressure of academia, but Susan showed strength of mind and character. I loved having her in my class.” Dr. Steven fell silent for a minute. He looked out the window and cleared his throat.

“You also had a student named Brian; he is Seth’s roommate,” Nikki said.

Dr. Steven’s brow furrowed. “I am sorry, but I cannot talk about current students. It is against government regulations.”

“I understand, professor,” replied Hawk. “However, this is now a murder investigation. It trumps all confidentiality clauses.”

Dr. Stevens thought for a minute. “You are right, of course. I just enjoy talking about Susan more. Brian is one of those students who felt life owed them something. He studied for my class, but missed classes and failed an exam. He did not come to my office to talk and when he was in class he would sit there and brood. This course work did not come easy to him, and unlike Susan he was not willing to go the extra mile to try to comprehend what I was teaching. He was failing my class. I took him aside before finals and apprised him of the situation. Brian threatened me. He got very angry and yelled. He kicked my garbage can and said he would have my job. He told me his father was rich and gave a huge donation to the college, but I was not swayed. He stormed out of my office. I am not sure how he managed it, but he squeaked by with a low C. It was enough to pass him, but he was still upset. He told my department head about the situation and my department head held firm. I explained that Brian had earned a C and he should be happy he got that. I know this because Brian stopped by after his meeting and threatened me again.”

“Did you call the police?” asked Hawk.

“I did, but they brushed it aside. They told me it was just an angry student venting. I protested, but they said he had not committed a crime, so there was nothing they could do. They told me not to worry, and they did not even file a report. They chalked it up to student angst at the end of the semester.”

Nikki’s jaw had grown wider with the professor’s account. “Seth never told me this,” she exclaimed.

“He might not have known about it,” Hawk replied.

“I asked around and I found out that Brian had done similar things to professors in my and other departments,” Dr. Steven continued. “He had the reputation for being a hot head. Some of my colleagues had tried to file reports, but they were also turned down. There was nothing the police could do. It is a small college town, and Brian’s parents had money invested all over the place. They have influence and money and sometimes, unfortunately, that speaks louder than common sense.”

“Did Brian know that Susan was running for valedictorian?”

“I think so. She was definitely his biggest competitor. She had something most students lack. She could hear something and comprehend it. She would study, but she also had time to hang out with friends. I would hear her and Seth laughing down the hall before they got to my office. Brian was withdrawn and kept to himself. He studied hard, but he was not gifted with the same brain that Susan had. He did not have too many friends. I am sure it did not help the situation when Susan would get better grades than Brian. Susan wanted to earn the title of valedictorian through hard work. She would never cheat or do anything to harm another student’s chance to succeed.”

“And Brian?” Hawk asked.

“To be honest, I am not sure. He could be loud, but I never heard about him getting physical with anyone. I would not put it past him, though.”

Nikki had turned pale. Dr. Steven looked at her. “If it helps, Brian always has kind words for Seth. He really seems to like him. They are certainly friends.”

Nikki and Hawk thanked the professor for his time. They walked back out to the truck and got in. Nikki called Seth, but his phone went to voice mail.

“What if something has happened?” Nikki asked Hawk. “I will never forgive myself for leaving Seth and Tori with Brian.”

“I am sure everything is fine,” Hawk said reassuringly.

“How can you be sure?” Nikki demanded.

“Well, we know more about Brian, but he does not know what we know. As far as he is concerned everything is fine and break is going well. I bet when we get back we will find Tori and Seth making candies in the back of the shop. You know how involved you can get when you’re creating your chocolates. I am sure that’s what’s going on.”

“Okay, I believe you,” said Nikki, “but could you drive a little faster to get home?”

“Sure,” said Hawk, accelerating gently. He understood Nikki’s concern, and he shared it. He just hoped what he said was true and that they found the kids working at the shop.

Chapter Nine

When they arrived back in Maple Hills, the Christmas lights were being turned on. It was a beautiful warmth in the cold weather. Some shop owners were putting the finishing touches on their light displays. There was a contest each year for best-decorated shop. The owner got a plaque to hang on her wall and bragging rights for the year. Nikki was not thinking about that, though. Hawk pulled up to the shop and Nikki got out. She saw Tori and Seth closing up inside. She opened the door and asked why Seth had not answered her voicemail. Tori and Lidia came to his rescue. They explained that they had had a big rush right before closing. They did not hear any phones ringing. Seth apologized, and Nikki hugged him.

“Please make sure to check your phone next time,” she admonished him.

“I will,” he reassured her.

“Hey, where is Brian?” Nikki asked.

“He told us he was taking a walk. Tori and I were going to go look for him and then start dinner,” Seth said.

Hawk and Nikki looked at each other.

“I have an idea. Why don’t Hawk and I go looking for him? You two have been working all day. Tori, could you take Seth home? Hawk and I will pick up take-out and bring it back after we find Brian. It is the least we can do after all the work you have done.”

Seth and Tori smiled. “Actually,” Seth said, “Tori and I were thinking of going to a movie after dinner. We’ll just go out to eat and go to the movie from there, if that’s alright with you.” He looked at Nikki.

“That is fine. You two go on and enjoy yourselves. Eat some popcorn for me.” She smiled and shooed them away. Seth and Tori walked to her car holding hands. They looked precious together.

Well, what is Brian up to, thought Nikki. She looked around the street to see if she could see him, but he was nowhere nearby. “Thank you for coming with me to look for him,” she said to Hawk. They got back into Hawk’s truck and started to drive around slowly. Nikki looked on the street and in the shops that were still open. She did not see anyone fitting Brian’s description, but she received a few waves from some of her neighbors.

“Hawk, I’m concerned,” she said.

“I know,” he said putting his hand on her knee. “But remember, we do not have any real evidence against Brian.”

“I know, but I still do not want to be alone with him in the house tonight.”

“I understand,” reassured Hawk. “It’s a good thing I was planning to sleep on your sofa then.”

Nikki looked at him and smiled. She was strong and tough, but she appreciated Hawk’s help. She thanked him and squeezed his hand.

“Where do you think he is?” she asked Hawk.

“I am not sure, but let’s go drive down this street.”

Hawk turned down the street by Gus’s diner. Nikki saw a figure up ahead. They pulled up and saw Brian in Hawk’s headlights. Brian shaded his eyes but did not move. Nikki and Hawk got out of the car.

“Hey, Brian, it’s us,” said Nikki. “Tori and Seth told us you were going for a walk. We decided to find you before you got too cold.”

“Thank you,” said Brian.

“May I ask why you ended up here?” asked Hawk.

Brian looked at the police tape. He was standing near the parking lot where Susan’s body had been found.

“I just wanted to see where she had died,” he answered. His voice was rising a bit.

Nikki put her arm around his shoulder. Right at this moment he seemed like a lost little boy. His red nose was sniffling, and he was crying. His breath came out in huffs of white steam against the dark sky. I would like to thank the academy for this award for best dramatic actor, Nikki thought. Humor always helped to calm her down.

“Just so you know, you really should not be here. This is still an active crime scene,” Hawk said.

Brian looked at Hawk and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I understand, sir.”

“Okay, let’s get back in the car, and I will drive you back to Nikki’s,” Hawk said to Brian. Nikki squeezed Brian’s shoulder, and he got into the truck Hawk steered the car towards home.

As he turned a corner, Hawk said, “Oh shoot. I forgot something.” Nikki raised her eyebrows.

“I forgot some paperwork at the station. Do you mind if we stop there first before I take you two home?”

“That would be fine,” said Nikki. She looked in the rearview mirror, but Brian was staring out the window.

Hawk pulled into the station and kept the truck running. “I will be out in a minute or two. Stay in the truck where it’s warm.” He glanced to the right. Nikki followed his eyes and saw two police officers standing outside talking.

“Okay,” she said, and she watched Hawk walk over towards them.

* * *

“Hey guys,” Hawk waved to the officers.

“Hey, Hawk. Late night?”

“No, I just have to check in with my dad. Is he here?” Hawk asked.

“Yes, he is in his office.”

“Thanks. Are you going to be out here long?” he asked.

“A few minutes; we’re waiting for Bill to get out so we can start our shift.”

“Do you mind keeping an eye on my truck? I have some precious cargo in there.”

They turned and looked and saw Nikki. They waved and she waved back.

“Sure thing, Hawk.”

“Thank you.”

Hawk continued into the station and went to his father’s office. His father was sitting at his desk looking at some papers.

“Hey, Hawk,” he said, getting up and shaking his son’s hand. “How did the talk with the professor go?”

“That is why I am here,” Hawk said.

“Take a seat,” said the chief, sitting back down.

“I can’t. Nikki is out in the car.”

The chief lowered his brow. Usually Nikki came into the station with Hawk.

“Tell me what is going on, son,” he said.

Hawk took a moment and relayed what the professor had told him and Nikki about Brian. The captain whistled.

“I just wanted to fill you in on the situation. I will be staying with Nikki at her place tonight so she does not have to be alone with Brian.”

“That makes sense. Call me if you need me. I’ll keep the phone by my side all night.”

“Thank you. I don’t think it will come to that, but I appreciate the backup,” Hawk replied.

He shook his father’s hand and went back out into the cold night.

* * *

When they returned home, Nikki started to prepare for dinner. Her hands were shaking badly. Hawk came up behind her and took the knife out of her hand.

“Let me do the cooking,” he offered, rubbing Nikki’s shoulders. Nikki leaned back into Hawk for a moment. This feels nice, she thought.

“Okay, you win,” she said, grabbing her coffee mug. “I am going to bake some cookies, though.”

Brian came in, and Nikki looked up.

“I’m going to be in my room studying.”

“Okay. I will let you know when dinner is ready,” Nikki replied, shivering. “I am going to stoke the fire; it’s chilly in here.”

Nikki watched as Brian picked up his backpack. He swung it over his shoulder and went to his room. Nikki put another log on the fire and went back into the kitchen.

She pulled out her flour, sugar, baking soda, and chocolate chips. She got the eggs out of the refrigerator and started stirring the ingredients together. While she was stirring, a thought occurred to her. She looked at Hawk.

“I want to get a look inside Brian’s backpack,” she said. He frowned.

“Didn’t he take that into his room while he studies?”

“Yes, but I have an idea. How about after dinner you take Brian into the woods to get some wood for the fireplace. That should give me time to look inside his backpack. I can do it while the chocolate chip cookies bake after dinner,” she said while spooning the batter onto a pan.

“I don’t know,” said Hawk hesitantly. “I could just have a search warrant drawn up for the backpack.”

“But we don’t have substantial evidence,” Nikki said. “This could help you get some.”

“Okay, fine,” he finally agreed. “As long as you keep your phone with you.”

Nikki agreed, and Hawk put the finishing touches on his casserole. He stuck it into the oven and set the timer for twenty minutes.

“What do you want to do until dinner is ready?” he asked Nikki.

“I want to stand by the window with you and look outside at the beautiful night sky,” she said, taking his hand. He followed her to the window and put his arm around her waist as they looked at the stars together.

Twenty minutes later the timer beeped. Nikki called Brian, and he came out of his room. She noticed he left his backpack behind. He came down the stairs, smiling and told them that he had finally finished a book he had been reading over break. It was a science book, and Brian looked happy. Nikki shivered. They sat down and started to eat. Brian complemented Nikki on her food, and she thanked him. She said it was her mother’s recipe. Nikki then mentioned that they were running low on wood in the den. There was some more outside, but they needed to restock the pile with fresh logs.

“After dinner, could you help me chop some wood?” Hawk asked Brian.

“I don’t know much about chopping wood,” he replied, chuckling.

“That’s okay. I can chop, and you can help me haul it back.”

“We are running low in the den. Do you mind?” asked Nikki.

“Sure, I would be happy to help,” answered Brian.

“Thank you,” said Nikki.

They ate dinner and talked about Christmas in Maple Hills. Nikki asked Hawk who he thought would win the decorating contest. He claimed it was Nikki’s to win, but she talked about Gus’ reindeer. Hawk said they were not that cute. Nikki laughed. She teased him and said that he only wanted her to win because he helped her decorate.

“Probably,” he admitted. “It wasn’t easy hauling those candy canes around.”

Nikki laughed. “If I win, you get to share in the bragging rights.”

“Deal,” said Hawk.

Hawk knew how to make Nikki relax. Inside she was freaking out. Susan’s killer could be sitting right next to me. While outside she was all smiles and Christmas. She knew she had to play along so she could prove whether or not Brian had killed Susan. They needed some hard evidence, fast.

After dinner Hawk and Brian cleared the plates. They were going to wash them, but Nikki told them to go ahead and get the wood. They could clean them after dessert. Hawk and Brian got dressed in their warm coats, boots, and gloves, and went out to chop some wood. Nikki put the cookies in the oven and looked out the kitchen window. She saw Hawk and Brian disappear into the woods. She made sure everything was set in the kitchen and went to check out Brian’s backpack.

Chapter Ten

After Nikki put the cookies in the oven, she put on a pair of gloves and grabbed some zip lock bags. She went up the stairs and turned the corner to her guest room.

When she opened the door the curtains were closed, and the light was on. Good, she thought, I do not need a flashlight. She went over to the bed and saw Brian’s backpack. She lifted it up onto the bed. It was heavy, and she saw it was full of books. There were books about business, science, and math. This could have been Susan’s backpack, Nikki thought with a shudder. Nikki opened the small flap in the front. She found pens, pencils, erasers, a stapler, and other assorted tools every college student carries.

Next, she opened the large section of the bag. She carefully pulled out one book at a time, keeping them in the same order. She looked through the books and saw some notes jotted down in the margins. They were class notes, so she went on to the notebooks. They were filled with more detailed class notes. She realized that Brian had to write almost everything down in order to remember it. On one page she found a list of names. She took her phone out and took a picture of the list. She put the notebook away and pulled out another book. While she was flipping through the pages, she came across a blank piece of notebook paper. It was folded, and it looked like it had been ripped out of a notebook. Nikki gasped. She got out one of her zip lock bags and put the notebook paper inside the bag. She sealed it and looked through the rest of the book. There was nothing else in that book or the rest of the backpack. Nothing caught her eye, so she replaced the items she had taken out. She put the backpack beside Brian’s bed in the same position it had been and went back down the stairs carrying the zip lock bag. She stopped on the staircase and listened. She did not hear any movement downstairs. She tiptoed the rest of the way and looked around the corner. The kitchen and den were empty. She took off her gloves and put them back in the drawer. She tucked the zip lock bag into Hawk’s overnight bag. She looked out the kitchen window and saw Hawk and Brian coming back. She waved, and Hawk waved back.

Nikki pulled out the cookies while Hawk and Brian stacked the wood in the den. Nikki thanked them and told them the cookies would be ready soon. Brian asked if they could have some hot chocolate.

“It was really cold out there. Hot chocolate should warm me up,” he smiled and stamped his feet to warm them.

“Sure,” said Nikki, setting up the hot chocolate. “Could you put another log on the fire, Brian?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Brian replied, hopping into the den.

Nikki looked at Hawk and asked him to take the cookies out of the oven. Hawk looked at Nikki, and she nodded. She tilted her head towards his overnight bag. Hawk nodded back, and Brian came back into the room. He was carrying a board game.

“Who would like to play Scrabble?” he asked. “I love playing board games.”

Nikki grimaced at the stove but braced herself. She had to be strong to get through this.

“Sure. Hawk loves to play. Sometimes I even let him win.” Nikki laughed and brought the cookies and hot chocolate over to the dining room table. “Let’s play in here where it’s warm.” She wanted to be as far away from Hank’s bag as she could. She was worried that she would keep glancing at it all night, and she didn’t want to draw any attention to it. Hawk and Brian sat down and Nikki joined them.

They played a few rounds of Scrabble and some other board games. The night moved on and Brian seemed to be growing tired. I will not let him manipulate me anymore, thought Nikki. He may look like a sweet kid, but I am convinced he is our killer. She excused herself and went to her bedroom. Nikki called Seth, and he answered on the second ring. The movie had just let out, and he and Tori were about to come back to Nikki’s house. Nikki looked outside and saw that it was starting to snow again. It was coming down pretty heavy. “Why don’t you just stay at Tori’s tonight if that’s okay with her. I don’t want you two to get stuck in the snow coming back here.” She heard Seth talking to Tori.

“She said I could stay. We will see you in the shop tomorrow. Good night!”

“Good night, Seth. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

Nikki hung up the phone. She sat on her bed and thought it was good that it was snowing. She knew Seth would be safe at Tori’s, and Hawk was here with her. She took a deep breath and went back downstairs. Brian and Hawk were cleaning the dishes.

“Thank you, Brian, but if you’re tired you can go on up to bed. I will finish these.”

“I thought I would wait for Seth,” Brian said.

“Oh, I just called him. Because of the snow he is going to stay with Tori tonight.”

“Okay. Well, goodnight then,” Brian said.

“Goodnight, Brian,” Nikki and Hawk said together.

Brian went up to his room, and Nikki and Hawk continued to wash and dry the dishes. After that they sat by the fire, reading. Nikki could not concentrate, and when she looked up she saw Hawk looking at her. He crooked his neck toward his bag. She and Hawk went over and she showed him the notebook paper. She also showed him the list of names. She texted it to him.

“I will get this into evidence tomorrow morning,” Hawk promised.

Nikki hugged him and then got the sofa ready.

“Everything will be alright,” Hawk whispered into her ear.

Nikki started to tear up and then took a deep breath. “I know,” she whispered back. Hawk pulled her into another hug and then sent her up to her bed.

Chapter Eleven

Nikki woke up and looked out the window. The snow had stopped. She got out of bed. Soon. We should be able to put all of this behind us soon. It was becoming her new mantra. She pulled her shoulders back, put a grin on her face, and went downstairs. She smelled coffee before she got to the kitchen. When she went in, she saw Hawk by the coffee maker and Brian at the table.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” teased Hawk.

“What time is it?” asked Nikki rubbing her eyes.

“It’s about 6:15,” Brian told her. “I actually got a good night’s sleep last night. I’m glad to be getting up early.”

Nikki was not surprised to see Hawk up. Other nights he had stayed on her couch she could always count on coffee the next morning. Brian being awake was another thing altogether. What does he mean by a good night’s sleep, she wondered. She shrugged to herself and wrapped her robe tighter. It was chilly, but the coffee was warm. Brian asked if he could get a ride into town.

“No studying today?” Nikki asked.

“Actually, I wanted to check out the library I passed the other day. It is small, but it seems like a good place to study.”

Hawk said he would be happy to drive him in. Brian went upstairs to get dressed. Nikki finished her coffee and went to her room. Her phone was blinking. There was a message from Seth. “We are eating at Tori’s – we will see you at the shop soon.” Nikki appreciated Seth’s checking in with her. She got dressed and went back downstairs. Hawk was pulling the sheets off the sofa, and she held out her hands.

“Give those to me, and I will take them to the laundry room,” she said.

“I can carry them.”

“I insist. It is the least I can do after the wonderful coffee this morning.”

Hawk acquiesced and gave Nikki the sheets. She put them in the laundry room. When she got back, Brian was downstairs. The men were putting on their jackets.

“Let me get my phone,” she said.

Nikki ran back upstairs and grabbed her purse and phone. She hopped back down, threw on her coat, and started for the truck.

“Hat!” Hawk yelled at her.

She smiled and turned around to get her hat. What would I do without him? Nikki jumped in the truck and Hawk headed into town.

When they got to the shop, Hawk dropped Nikki and Brian off.

“I have to go to the station. I will see you at lunch time,” Hawk reassured Nikki.

“Okay, I will see you then,” she answered. She turned around. Tori, Lidia, Seth, and Brian were in the shop. As she opened the door she overheard their conversation.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t be too long,” Brian was talking to Seth.

“Okay, just remember to get your head out of the books every once in a while,” Seth replied. “I’ll wander over around lunch time and rescue you from yourself.”

Everyone chuckled, and Brian turned a bit red. He nodded and walked past Nikki out the door. He smiled, and she said goodbye.

The shop was busy and Nikki really needed to have her head in the game. She was distracted, though. Between customer orders and Seth, she was having a hard time concentrating. Lidia noticed and took her aside. She sat Nikki down and asked her what was wrong.

“And don’t tell me nothing because I can tell something is bothering you,” chided Lidia.

“I am okay. I’m just worried because we have not figured out who murdered Susan.”

“I understand. Remember, though, between you and Hawk we have the best minds on the case. I am sure between the two of you the case will be solved in no time.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” said Nikki.

“I have enough for both of us,” Lidia responded with a wink. Nikki thanked her and got up to go to the front of the store. On the way there, she noticed some wet prints by the door.

“Seth, could you get the mop and clean this up before someone falls?”

“Right away, Mom.”

Nikki stopped suddenly. A customer almost ran into her. Nikki’s jaw suddenly dropped.

“Tori, can I borrow your car?” Nikki asked suddenly.

“Really? Can I drive you somewhere?” Tori asked.

“No thank you, but could I borrow your car?” Nikki repeated.

“Of course,” said Tori and she fished the keys out of her purse.

“I have to run an errand. I will be back in a little bit.”

“Take your time and watch the ice,” Lidia warned.

“I’ll be safe, I promise. Please just keep the customers happy.”

“We will,” Tori and Lidia reassured her.

Nikki went out to Tori’s car. She got in and buckled the seat belt. It was not until she was half way home that she started to feel nervous. The road was steep in places, but she took her time and made it to the house. That a girl, she thought, grinning from ear to ear as she got out of Tori’s car. Nikki bypassed her front door. She went around back and looked under the kitchen window. There was some snow, but other than that the ground was clear. She checked by the den window and saw the same thing. Next she looked under the guest bedroom. She drew in her breath and gave herself a mental pat on the back. She took out her camera and took a few pictures of the ground. She took a few shots from different angles. That should be enough to convince Hawk. Nikki got back into the car and slowly drove towards town. When she got back to town she stopped by the police department. After tracking down Hawk she showed him the pictures. He took a look. There were footprints under the guest bedroom. Some of them were facing out toward the forest, and some were facing the house. Hawk looked at Nikki and smiled.

“Let’s get a team out there so they can take molds of the prints.”

Nikki beamed. She finally found some solid evidence for Hawk. He smiled at her and told her to go back to the shop.

“Now more than ever, it is important that Brian does not suspect anything. I will meet you there, later,” he said.

“Okay, but keep me filled in.”

Nikki drove Tori’s car back to her shop. She was still distracted, but she went in smiling.

“Look at the woman who can drive in snow!” said Tori approvingly.

“I told you I could do it,” Nikki beamed.

“Why did you leave?” asked Seth.

“I thought I had left the coffee pot on,” Nikki lied.

“Did you?”

“Nope. The house was still standing when I got there.”

Nikki took off her jacket and helped answer a customer’s questions. She also made some more chocolate, and before she knew it, Seth was telling her it was lunch time.

“I am going to get Brian from the library,” Seth said.

“Okay,” said Nikki distractedly. She wondered if Hawk was done with the footprints. She went into the front of the store to help Lidia. A few minutes later, Seth came back wearing a puzzled expression.

“Brian isn’t there.”

“What do you mean?” asked Tori. “Did he go to the diner?”

“I looked there too but I didn’t see him. I looked around the library, but his backpack and laptop weren’t there.”

Nikki turned pale. She turned around, but not before Seth saw her face.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I am just a bit tired.”

“Mom, please stop lying to me. I can tell when something is bothering you. What is going on?” Seth questioned

Maybe it was because she really was tired. Maybe it was her maternal instinct kicking in. Whatever the reason, Nikki got up and closed the shop. She put the sign up and locked the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I am answering your questions.”

She told everyone to sit down. She started at the beginning with Sarah’s autopsy. She told them about going to visit Dr. Steven. Nikki brought up the notebooks from Susan’s backpack, and it was Seth’s turn to look pale. Tori took his hand, and Nikki kept talking. She told them about the broken bush by the car and the footprints under her window. When she was done she looked around. Everyone was quiet. Seth looked like he was going to pass out. Tori held his hand.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” Seth demanded.

Nikki had been waiting for this response. It did not make it any easier. She knew she had betrayed him, but she was worried about him. How could she adequately explain this to her son?

Just then there was a knock at the door. Everyone jumped. Lidia ran over and looked out the window. She opened the door. It was Hawk.

“What is going on in here?” he asked. Nikki told him that Brian was not at the library where he was supposed to be. She told Hawk she had filled the others in.

“That’s fine. I was going to anyway. I have enough evidence to arrest Brian. I was hoping he would be here. Now, we just have to find him,” Hawk said.

Tori and Lidia looked nervous. Nikki thought for a moment. “Wait. Seth does this mean anything to you?” She showed Seth the list she had found in Brian’s bag. He looked at it and looked in his phone. He said he recognized a few names. He thought they might be Brian’s classmates. He knew that some of them had been friends with Susan.

Hawk called his father. He asked him to send an unmarked car over to Nikki’s shop to keep an eye out. Then he got the number for the college and called the admissions office. He talked to the head of admissions and after a few minutes he hung up. He got the addresses for most of the names on Seth’s list.

“Thank you, ma’am, I appreciate that information.”

Hawk hung up and looked at Nikki.

“The next student on the list lives in Smithtown; her name is Jill.” Smithtown was the next town over from Maple Hills.

“I am going to go over there and see if she is okay,” Hawk said.

“I am going with you,” Nikki said. Hawk knew he couldn’t stop her, so he agreed. He told the others to stay in the shop. Nikki paused. She called the local taxi company and they confirmed they took a young man to that address awhile ago. She looked at Seth and he gave her a hug.

“I understand,” Seth told her. “Just go get him.”

“What are we supposed to do?” asked Lidia.

“You can go ahead and open the store. I am sure there will be plenty of customers to distract you. We will keep you posted,” Hawk promised. Lidia protested, but Nikki said that Hawk was right. She told them it would be one less thing she had to think about. She hugged Lidia and reassured her that she would be okay. Tori hugged Nikki and told her to go get Brian. Nikki could tell Seth would be in good hands while she was gone. She hugged Tori back and said goodbye to everyone.

Tori opened the door and sure enough, there were customers waiting on the sidewalk.

“It’s about time,” said Mrs. Smith. “I have been waiting over twenty minutes.”

“I am sure it will be worth the wait,” said Hawk over his shoulder as he and Nikki left the store.

Hawk and Nikki raced to his car. Once there, Hawk put his lights on and tore out of town. He radioed ahead to ask for backup. The dispatch said they would see what they could do. There had been a break-in at the town hardware store and all units were tied up there. Hawk swore under his breath and thanked the dispatcher. As Hawk got closer to the next town he turned off his lights. He parked a half-block away from the house. Close enough to observe, but not close enough to be seen. Nikki looked and saw Brian talking to someone in the front room.

“I’m going in there,” declared Nikki as she started to take off her seat belt.

“Now wait,” said Hawk. “We do not know the situation. Right now the student is safe. If we go barging in there, who knows what will happen?”

Nikki was anxious, but she agreed with Hawk. She sat back down.

“Keep an eye on the window and let me know if Brian moves,” Hawk said.

“Okay.”

Hawk got out of his truck and walked carefully toward the house. He ducked under the bushes by the front window. Hawk went to the front door and rang the bell. Nikki had been watching Brian and Jill. They seemed to be talking in a calm manner. When Hawk rang the bell Jill stood up. As she turned to answer the door, Brian stood up, too. Nikki flashed the lights on the truck once. Hawk saw and nodded. She wasn’t sure if Brian was going to try anything, but she wanted Hawk ready if he did. Jill looked out the window and saw Hawk. She looked surprised.

“Can I help you?” the young woman asked when she answered the door.

“Yes, are you Jill? My name is detective Daily. I am looking for Brian. Is he here with you?”

“Yes, he is.” She opened the door and let Hawk in. He did not see Brian in the living room. He turned to Jill.

“He went to the kitchen for a drink,” she explained. She pointed the way and Hawk moved quickly and quietly. He opened the kitchen door, but no one was there. He noticed the back door was opened. He moved cautiously and quickly. He looked out the door and around the corner. No one was there. Just then he heard his truck start up. He ran down the driveway just in time to see his truck take off with Nikki driving and Brian in the front seat.

Chapter Twelve

Hawk panicked. Usually he was the calm, collected one, but not when Nikki was involved. He did not want that kid in the same state as Nikki let alone the same truck. If he hurts her... He called his father and told him what happened. His father reassured him that it was not his fault. Hawk paced up and down the road. He felt lost and scared.

“I am the one who told her to wait in the car,” Hawk said.

“Quit beating yourself up. It won’t do anyone any good.”

Hawk knew his father was right. He took a deep breath. Think.

“Chief, can you call the local dispatch and get them to bring me a car? When I called they didn’t take me seriously,” Hawk said.

“Absolutely, now you’re thinking. I trained the chief in Smithtown. He owes me a few favors. I’ll give him your location, and he should have a car there in no time.”

“Thank you, Chief. I have another call coming in. I will talk to you later.”

“Okay,” said the chief. “We will get this guy and bring Nikki home safe.”

* * *

Nikki drove the car. Her mind was racing, but she was too scared to have any coherent thoughts. Calm down. The only way you will make it out of this is if you keep your head on straight. She took a breath.

“Drive faster,” Brian demanded.

“No. You know I cannot drive in snow. Do you want us to wreck?” she asked Brian.

“Fine, but drive a bit faster. If your boyfriend catches up with us, I will kill him.”

“Where am I driving?”

“Back to your place. I have work to finish.”

Nikki shuddered. “What do you mean?”

“Seth. He knows too much. So does his girlfriend. They will die in each other’s arms. Isn’t that sweet?” he leered as he put the knife close to Nikki’s throat. She recalled her phone was sitting on the top of her purse, and Hawk was on speed dial. She pushed the button and sat upright. Brian was too busy glancing back to see if Hawk was pursuing them on foot to notice.

Nikki thought about Hawk as she drove. She had asked Brian when he knew they were on to him. Brian had told her he figured out they were on to him when he saw Hawk at the front door. He knew he would be caught, but he thought he would take his chances and run. He had seen the truck and hopped in. He seemed to consider it a bonus to have a driver included with the truck. “Good thing I stole this knife from the hardware store,” Brian said. “Seems like it’s keeping the cops busy.”

Nikki thought about Seth and was glad she had told him to stay at the store. She could only imagine the scene if he had come along. He had her level head, but this was a different situation. He had not been taught how to stay calm under pressure. It was one of the things she had been taught at the F.B.I. training facility. She knew if she kept her head on straight, she would come up with a solution where no one would be killed. One thing that was clear to Nikki was that she did not want Brian anywhere near Seth or any of the other people she loved.

He will not get to Seth. This was Nikki’s new mantra. Brian insisted he would not kill her, but Nikki did not believe him. He needed her to drive to her house but after that? What would he do when he found out Seth and Tori weren’t there? Would he try to stab her? Nikki was sure that was his only weapon, but she did not want to gamble her life on that assumption. She knew her best chance to survive was to keep him talking so she could figure out what to do.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Brian asked. Nikki had slowed the car down again.

“I thought I saw a patch of ice. I didn’t want to swerve with that knife by my throat.”

“Look, you just keep driving, and you won’t have to worry about the knife,” retorted Brian. They drove for a bit, and Nikki could feel herself start to panic. She decided to keep Brian talking.

“How did you do it?”

“Do what? Kill Susan, you mean?” Nikki nodded carefully, and Brian went on with his speech.

“I snuck out of my window in your house. I opened the window and closed it most of the way before I dropped down. I walked into town and went to Tori’s house.”

“You walked all the way to town?” Nikki asked, surprised considering that it was about two miles from her house. Not a far distance, but not one she would want to walk in the middle of a cold, snowy night.

“Yes, remember, I grew up in New York. I am used to this weather. Anyway, I got to Tori’s house and knocked on Susan’s window. She was surprised to see me. I convinced her that I needed someone to talk to. I made up some sad story about my abusive father and neglectful mother. She reacted just the way I thought she would. She felt sorry for me. I convinced her to come outside and asked her to drive to the parking lot so we could talk. I told her I was too cold to drive. She was so naïve. She looked really worried. It was all I could do to not laugh in her face. She drove to the lot with the heater blasting, and I told her to turn off the car. I explained that I thought I had heard something near the tire. I told her I thought we might have run over some glass or something. I offered to check the tire, and I told her to wait in the car. She waited, good little lamb that she was, and I got out of the car. I walked to the back and pretended to check the tire, but all the while I was packing the exhaust full of heavy snow. I packed the exhaust and mounded snow around the outside. I got back in the car and told her the tire was fine. I told her to start up the car so we could stay warm while we talked. We talked for a while. I told her lies about my parents, and she told me how sorry she was and how hard it must be for me. Soon she told me she was feeling sleepy. I knew why, but I also knew I was still okay. She was doing most of the talking and sucking up most of the carbon monoxide. I watched as her words started to slur. When I started to feel sleepy, I opened my door and shut it quickly. I took gulps of fresh air, and I walked to the back of the car. I stepped in the bushes to get more snow. I packed the exhaust pipe again and walked back to the front of the car. By then she was passed out. I stayed for about half an hour to make sure she was not waking up. She died peacefully, if you care. She just fell asleep and never woke up. I walked back to your house. I climbed up the side gutter, opened the window, and crawled into bed. It was easy.”

What a psycho. While Brian was talking, Nikki was no closer to figuring out what to do. She thought about the last time she spoke with Seth. He was nearly grown and had a good girlfriend. If anything happened to Nikki he would be devastated, but he would get over it. He would live his life and become a wonderful husband and father. This thought gave Nikki heart. She was no longer afraid.

* * *

Hawk listened to his phone. He could not believe what he was hearing. Nikki had gotten Brian to confess. As Hawk had been running after his truck his phone rang. It had been Nikki’s call. She had somehow managed to call him. Hawk had started recording the call. He now had Brian’s confession on tape. He also knew where they were headed. Where is my backup?

Hawk opened another line and called the chief. “Chief, they are headed toward Maple Hills. I have Brian’s confession on my phone.”

“Do you know which road they are taking?” the chief asked. He did not have to ask how Hawk had Brian’s confession. The man knew Nikki’s background and was not surprised she had managed to call Hawk.

“Well, I came here on Simms Street. That is the way the taxi would have taken Brian to get here. Nikki will probably drive that way,” Hawk said.

“Okay, I am going to set up a roadblock.”

“Is that a good idea? It sounds like he has a knife to her throat. If he sees you, he may kill her.”

“He won’t kill his driver,” his dad sounded confident. Hawk wished he was feeling as confident as the chief was. He signed off and turned the conversation in the car back on. It was surreal listening to Nikki talk to Brian. Hawk could tell she was delaying and buying time. He just hoped she had enough time to come up with a plan. Just then a police car pulled up.

“Are you Hawk?” the officer asked. Hawk said he was. The officer told him to jump in. Hawk thanked him and got in the car. He told him to head for Simms Street. The officer put on his lights and raced off after Nikki and Brian.

* * *

Nikki was getting closer to town. Her mind was racing. Where is Hawk?

“So, why did you kill Susan?” she asked Brian. “You seem like a nice young man. What turned you into a killer?”

Brian moved a little in his seat. He turned to face her when he answered.

He spat out his words. “It is all my father’s fault.”

He waited for Nikki’s reaction. She just kept driving with her eyes on the road trying not to think about the knife.

Brian went on. “I was never good enough for him. He told me so many times. No matter what I did, I was too slow or too stupid. I made A’s in high school, but it wasn’t enough. Why didn’t you take up fencing? he would ask. Why aren’t you going to Yale?” Brian laughed a mirthless laugh. “Even this trip they are on. I wanted to go. I begged to go. But do you know what he said?” He paused and looked at Nikki. She kept on driving. “He told me I needed to stay home and study. He told me I was not good enough to be class valedictorian. He told me I was going to lose to a girl. He said if I lost to her he would disown me. What else was I supposed to do? With her out of the way, the prize was mine. I would be the class valedictorian and my father wouldn’t disown me.”

“Why were you going to kill the girl you were with today?” Nikki asked.

Brian looked at Nikki and laughed. He practically howled. Nikki moved her head back as far as it could go so he would not accidently cut her.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“We were coming to save the student.”

“I wasn’t going to kill her.”

It was Nikki’s turn to be shocked. She tried to turn her head, but he held the knife closer.“You weren’t trying to kill her? What were you doing there, then?” Nikki asked.

“I was asking her about her GPA. I wanted to make sure I was far enough ahead of her. She was close, but I figured out she was not a threat. Really. I had this in the bag until you and Hawk showed up.”

Nikki was stunned. She was glad the student was not going to be hurt, but she thought for sure Brian was going to kill her.

“Now, don’t get me wrong, if she had passed me an accident would have had to be arranged,” Brian said.

Ah, there he is, thought Nikki.

“And, sorry to say, Seth will have to go. He knows too much, and so do you. It won’t be easy for me. I liked him. He was the one who introduced me to Susan. I’m not sure how I would have approached her if it wasn’t for him. All those times we had lunch together and studied. It was easy to grab Susan’s notebook and rip out a few pages. I knew Seth’s fingerprints would be on the notebook paper, so I thought I would be able to frame him. Or, at least, he would be involved in the investigation. I did not know that you would stick your nose into this. I thought Susan would have died in a car accident on the way to her aunts. I must not have cut the brake line enough. I did not even expect you to be in this car. I was going to steal it and drive back to town to kill Seth and Tori. I won’t hurt you, though. Not right now, at least. I still need you.”

As Brian was talking, Nikki noticed something down the road. She thought she saw flashes of red and white. She thought about slowing the car down, but then it hit her. She sped up.

“Hey, why are you going so fast all of a sudden?” Brian asked.

“I just want to get home,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“You want to hug your baby one more time?” Brian leered.

“Something like that,” she said as she sped up and got over the hill. Brian’s eyes opened wide. It was his turn to be shocked. There were about twenty cop cars blocking the road with their lights flashing.

“Slow down, or I’ll cut your throat,” Brian threatened, but there was a tremor in his voice.

“Try it, you punk! I have dealt with stronger, meaner men my whole life. Be ready to die because I can’t drive in snow!”

Brian lunged for the wheel, but Nikki was faster. Nikki spun the truck quickly. It skidded sideways for a moment and then momentum won, and the truck tipped and rolled. It rolled again and shot sparks as it slid along the road. It came to a halt about twenty feet from the cop cars. The chief was already running. He got to the truck and yelled for paramedics. EMT’s were there in a hurry. There was a lot of blood. The windshield was smashed. Suddenly another cop car arrived sirens blazing. Hawk jumped out of the car and ran to the truck. He looked in. Nikki opened her eyes. “It’s about time you got here,” she said before passing out.

Chapter Thirteen

The snow gently dropped from the sky. The trees had been coated with white fairy dust. A cardinal hopped from branch to branch looking for something to eat. Nikki saw all this through her front window. Hawk came up behind her.

“Enjoying the view?” he asked while very gently touching her shoulder.

“Yes,” Nikki answered, holding his hand.

They stayed there for a little while They watched the snow blow in circles as it descended to the earth. I am glad to be home for Christmas. Seth called them to eat from the other room. Nikki stood up, and Hawk walked her to her seat in the dining room. Seth, Tori, and Lidia and her husband were all there. They feasted on some southern delights that Seth and Tori had prepared for them.

“I wanted everyone to know that Brian is in jail and will be there for a very long time,” Hawk announced to the table.

“That is where he belongs,” said Seth, giving Nikki’s hand a squeeze.

“Yes,” agreed Lidia and Tori.

“So, are you going back to college in a couple of weeks? If you want to take the semester off, I am sure your professors would understand,” reassured Nikki.

“No, I want to go back. What happened to Susan and Brian has made me more determined to get my degree. I want to be able to walk across that stage with all of you watching,” said Seth with a smile.

“I like that idea,” replied Lidia.

“Well . . . we would have to close the store,” pondered Nikki and then she grinned.

Everyone laughed. Nikki was glad to hear real heartfelt laughter in the house once again. All of a sudden Nikki heard something. There was a knock on the door.

Hawk told Nikki to stay sitting and that he would answer the door. Nikki sat at the table and listened. She heard Hawk say “thank you, she’s right in here.” Her interest was piqued, and she tried to look down the hall. Hawk came back followed by a bunch of children.

“What is going on?” asked Nikki. She looked at the children and recognized the boy and girl that had been in her shop buying chocolates for their mother for Christmas. Another customer had helped them pay and had complimented Nikki on her patience.

“Look what the snow blew in,” exclaimed Hawk.

The group of children were shivering and wet from the snow. There was a woman with them that Nikki recognized from the shop. The woman looked at the children and lined them up. She lifted her hand up in a sweeping motion and then brought it back down. The children started singing “Away in a Manger.” Hawk leaned over to Nikki and explained “They were caroling, and the two youngest children insisted they needed to carol at your house. When they heard you were here, they wanted to come inside. Besides, it is cold out there.” Nikki smiled. This is beautiful. I could have gotten up, but Hawk is very protective. He hasn’t let me out of his sight since the accident. Nikki squeezed Hawk’s hand. The children sang “Little Drummer Boy,” and Nikki laughed. They were very enthusiastic about the “Rump a pa pum’s.” Then they sang “Silent Night,” and a tear ran down Nikki’s cheek. Hawk looked over and gently put his arm around her shoulder. Nikki had walked away from the accident after passing out with a dislocated shoulder. The doctor insisted she wear a sling for a couple of weeks, but she would not need surgery. Brian had knocked his head on the glass and had received a mild concussion. He was led away from the car in handcuffs. Nikki focused on the children. When the song ended, the little girl and boy came over to see Nikki.

“We made these for you. You made our mom really happy.”

The little boy handed Nikki a couple of homemade ornaments. They were beaded Christmas candy canes. Nikki smiled and thanked the children. She asked Hawk to show them the Christmas tree and help them hang the ornaments.

There were oohs and ahhs when the children saw the tree, and Hawk boosted them up to put the candy canes near the top. The children thanked him, and he led them back to the kitchen. Lidia and Tori distributed some freshly baked cookies, and the children thanked everyone.

“Thank you!” Nikki said enthusiastically. This had helped bring the spirit of Christmas back into her home. The children left, and Hawk cleaned up the wet snow from their boots with some help from Seth and Tori.

Everyone sat down, and Nikki asked Seth, “What will you do after you graduate? Are you going to move to Boston or New York?” Seth had mentioned both as possibilities at one time or the other. He had also contemplated moving back to Atlanta.

“Actually, I would rather move back here to Maple Hills,” he replied to the delight of Nikki and Tori. Tori kissed his cheek. “I cannot think of any other place I would rather be than right here with my two favorite ladies,” he added.

Nikki smiled. She wanted Seth to have the life he wanted, but she was secretly glad he wanted to be in Maple Hills.

Hawk cleared his throat a bit, and Nikki looked at him.

“You know, I would love to be a part of this family, too,” he said.

Nikki took his hands in hers and said, “You already are.” Hawk kissed her, and they watched the snow continue to fall and cover the world around them.

Dear Reader,

Hi there. Thank you for reading.

I hope you’ll leave a review and/or rating at the retail website where you purchased it, I appreciate you and your feedback.

Thanks again,

Wendy Meadows

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About the Author

Wendy Meadows is an emerging author of cozy mysteries. She lives in “The Granite State” with her husband, two sons, two cats and lovable Labradoodle.

When she isn’t working on her stories she likes to tend to her flower garden, relax with adult coloring and play video games with her family.

Get in Touch with Wendy

www.wendymeadows.com
wendy@wendymeadows.com

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