Manicures & Mischief (A Cozy Spa Mystery Book 6) Read online

  “What? We don’t have time for this. I need to get this case wrapped up before I get married… if I get married.”

  My dad reaches over and pats my leg. “You’re getting married tomorrow. I’m sure of it and we’ll solve this case, but we have to be smart about this, Autumn. You’ve put your life in danger one too many times in the past year and a half. The Rivers’ men aren’t people to mess with. You have to promise me you’ll leave this alone until morning.” He parks the car in the driveway then says, “I’ll make some calls. We’ll have the back-up we need to question the Rivers’ family without having to go through the captain. Okay?”

  I nod and get out of the car. So much for solving this case tonight. The house is dark except for the porch light, which means my mom and Cat have gone to bed. I drag myself into the house and down the hall. Exhaustion is starting to hit me and I’m kind of relieved I’m not questioning the Rivers’ right now. A good night sleep will help clear my head and hopefully put all the pieces in place.

  I shower and check my phone one last time to see if there’s anything from Josh. Nothing. There’s a text from Regina giving me an update on Travis. Basically, letting me know he’s resting well and is still remembering everything. That’s something to be thankful for today. I sigh and rest my head back on the pillow. Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll get the answers I need to solve this case and get married.

  20

  “Autumn, you look beautiful,” my mother exclaims fixing my veil.

  I smile and squeeze her hand. My heart’s racing like a racehorse in my chest. It’s almost time for the ceremony and there’s still no sign of Josh. I can’t believe I let my mother talk me into getting ready for a wedding that likely isn’t going to happen. She keeps reassuring me that Josh will show, but as the morning has now turned into the afternoon, I’m not so sure.

  “Knock, knock,” Bernita says, waltzing into the room with the rest of the Crafty Crew behind her. “Oh, you look lovely dear.” She clasps her hands together at her bosom. “Doesn’t she look stunning, girls?”

  The Crafty Crew all nod and oh and ah over my strapless mermaid style lace gown.

  I smile and thank them before commenting, “I hear you ladies made up and are ready to sing.”

  “Oh yes, dear. It’s dust under the rug so to speak,” Bernita says, waving a hand in front of her face. “We just wanted to check on our blushing bride before we take our places.”

  The ladies blow kisses and file out one by one.

  “Thank you,” I call after them.

  “Oh, Autumn you have a little eyeliner right here.” Bernita approaches me and uses a tissue to wipe off the smudge.

  I open my mouth to thank her and smell something familiar. “What’s that smell?”

  “What?” Bernita steps back and smells her armpits. “I put deodorant on this morning.”

  “No, not that. It’s something sweet. Almost like baked goods mixed with flowers.”

  Bernita grins. “I’ve been baking up a storm lately and my new perfume seems to follow me wherever I go.”

  I quirk an eyebrow at her choice of words. “It certainly does. Say Bernita, where did you go after you got your manicure the other day?”

  “Oh, um, you know. Ran some errands then went back to the inn. Why?”

  “Do you still carry around your late husband’s old revolver? The one he gave you for your anniversary?”

  Her face loses all color. “No, my brother told me to quit for fear I would shoot myself.”

  “Or someone else?” I pin her with a knowing stare. “How is your brother? Did the ghost ever come out to apologize?”

  She chuckles. “He’s so silly. I’ve been baking all week for our guests. Flour has been everywhere so I’m sure he was just seeing things. The doctor thinks he had a mini stroke, fell and hit his head. He’s a lucky old goat. It could have been worse. I’m so glad you and your father were there to help him. I’ve been here practicing with the girls so I haven’t been at the inn as much as I’d like to be.” she toys with her purse clasp then huffs out a breath and says, “Well I better get back to the girls. We want to warm up before the guests start to arrive.” She dashes for the door and is pretty fast for an old gal.

  I hike up my dress and chase after her. “I know you threw some banana bread at your brother and hit him in the head with a rolling pin,” I yell after her, but she doesn’t stop.

  “Autumn! Where are you going?” My mother calls after me, her heels clapping against the tile floor as she runs after us.

  “Bernita, stop. I know you killed Wyatt too,” I call after her as I turn the corner and run into Regina helping Travis into the church.

  “Autumn, what in the world?” She reaches out to steady Travis, who is walking with a cane then turns her attention back to me. “Oh, you look gorgeous dear. Doesn’t she, Travis?”

  Travis gulps then nods before whispering, “Beautiful.” He clears this throat and shakes his head then inquires, “Did I just hear you accuse Bernita of killing Wyatt?”

  I peek around them and spot Bernita making her way at a fast pace up the aisle toward the Crafty Crew. “Yes, that sweet smell. It was banana bread mixed with her perfume. It’s what I smelled along with a rancid smell from rotten sunflower seeds. She and Devin Rivers are in on this whole thing… well part of it anyway. We have to stop her.” I move to dart around Travis and Regina as my mother tugs on my arm.

  “Autumn, guests are arriving. It’s bad luck for them to see the bride before the wedding.”

  I turn and pat her hand. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding and Josh isn’t here so I’m good.”

  Someone clears their throat behind me.

  I spin around and come face to face with my groom.

  His eyes soften as he takes me in. “Autumn, you’re stunning.”

  I blink back tears and swallow the lump in my throat. “You came,” I choke out.

  Josh furrows his brow. “Of course, I did.” He takes my hands and squeezes them. “I’m sorry I left. I was hurt and angry. Seeing you and Travis together brought back old feelings of jealousy. I guess I got insecure and started questioning everything. As opposed to talking to you, I shut down. My dad knew I needed to clear my head and to decide if this… us… you, are what I really want and I do. I choose you. Every day. All day. For the rest of my life.”

  Tears are streaming down my cheeks at his words, so I’m only able to croak out, “I choose you too.” He leans in to kiss me when I spot Bernita scurrying toward the exit. “Stop her!” I point at her and Josh whips his head around.

  “Who?”

  “Bernita. She shot Wyatt and the Rivers are in on it somehow.”

  “Excuse me,” Captain Rivers hisses coming up to stand next to Travis. “Are you accusing my family of something?”

  “Yes. Now stop Bernita before she gets away.”

  The captain shoots me a glare then yells at Bernita to stop. He even draws his gun, which I think startles the old gal and she freezes before her hand can touch the door. He leads her over to me and demands answers, “Autumn, why are you accusing Mrs. Gailcrest of killing Wyatt?”

  “When we found Wyatt’s body, there was a sweet smell mixed with a rancid one. Travis smelled it again when we were all kidnapped.”

  “Detective Mills was in a coma, Miss Fisher. Or have you forgotten?” Captain Rivers pins me with an annoyed glare.

  “It’s true, Captain. I told Autumn about smelling it.”

  Regina pipes up, “They do say coma patients have heightened senses so it’s plausible.”

  “Go on,” Captain Rivers grits out with annoyance.

  “The gun. Did you run it for prints?”

  Captain Rivers narrows his eyes at me. “The only prints on it were Allison’s and the serial number had been scratched off, but I guess you know that already.” His glare shoots to Josh. “Which means there’s no way to trace it.”

  I turn to Bernita. “Your late husband, God rest his
soul, had a bunch of unregistered guns, didn’t he? Collectable ones, right?”

  Bernita fidgets back and forth before clearing her throat and declaring, “Yes, but I don’t know what that has to do with anything.”

  “He showed them to me once when I was at the inn. He was really proud of them. This gun in particular, I remember because he told me he was giving it to you as an anniversary gift so you would always be safe. It was a petite looking gun, black with silver on it, right?”

  The captain eyebrows shoot up in surprise as he studies Bernita. “That’s exactly what it looks like. I didn’t realize you even carried a gun. You have to register your weapons, Mrs. Gailcrest.”

  She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “My Arthur said it was just a way for law enforcement to control you. He never deemed it necessary and neither do I.”

  “But you ‘deemed’ it necessary to use it on Wyatt Beck?” He throws back at her.

  Her face flushes and she screams, causing everyone to jump and look her way, “He wouldn’t buy our property. My brother and I are old. We can’t run the inn anymore. We need that money to retire.”

  “So, you shot him?”

  “He was ignoring me while he was talking to that River’s boy about all the weed he’s been growing out at the seed company. Wanted him to get rid of it before the sale went through. I got the gun out to get his attention. It went off… it was an accident.” Her eyes well up with tears.

  “And clocking your brother with a rolling pin?” I inquire, raising an eyebrow.

  “The old coot overheard me talking to Devin and was going to out me to the police. I covered myself in flour, made ghost noises, threw the bread at him and then hit him with the rolling pin. That way everyone would think he’d gone mad and wouldn’t believe a word he said to them.”

  The captain blinks like he’s still trying to take it all in. He finally snaps out of it and asks, “Why did you run? Why did Devin run? Why not just call us and tell us what happened?”

  “We were scared. Devin said something about us going away for life and started to panic so I dropped the gun and we hightailed it out of there.” She sniffles and wipes her nose.

  “Why did you kidnap Travis, Cat, Allison and me?”

  “That was all Devin’s idea. He was going on about using the detective, Cat, Allison and you for leverage. I think the boy’s off his rocker if you ask me. Probably smoking too much of his merchandise to keep a straight head, but I went along with it so he wouldn’t rat me out.”

  “So, Devin put Detective Mills in a coma?” Captain Rivers asks with a horrified expression on his face.

  “Oh, no.” She waves a hand in front of her face. “We didn’t do that, but I think that’s where he got the idea for the kidnapping when Allison went missing.”

  Captain Rivers rubs the back of his neck as Mr. Rivers and Devin walk into the church.

  “What’s going on, brother?” Mr. Rivers asks, taking in our circle. “Did we already miss the wedding?”

  The captain ignores his brother and focuses on his nephew. “Is all of this true? Did you witness Mrs. Gailcrest shoot Mr. Beck and then kidnap a detective and civilians? Not to mention growing illegal plants on your dad’s farm.”

  Devin shifts his eyes back and forth like he’s trying to come up with a story. “I-I,” he stammers before spinning around and racing toward the door.

  “Stop him!” Captain Rivers yells to two officers making their way into the church.

  They grab Devin’s arms and drag him back over to the group.

  “Cuff him and her then take them down to the station.” He runs a hand over his bald head. “And let Ms. Cole go.”

  “But Captain,” one of the officer’s protests.

  “Just do it,” he hisses.

  “What’s going on here? Why are you arresting my son? Your nephew?” Mr. Rivers demands.

  “I’ll explain it all down at the station.” The captain slaps his brother on the back and starts to lead him out of the church when he pauses and turns back to me. “So, who hit Travis over the head, kidnapped Allison the first time and shot Mr. Holliday?”

  “Oh, right.” I perk up as the culprit walks through the door. “Captain, you know Jean Cole? Allison’s mother, right?”

  “Yes.” He turns to Jean. “How are you Mrs. Cole?”

  “Just fine, Captain and you?”

  “A little confused at the moment,” he admits, scratching his head.

  “And why is that?” she fluffs her bob with the palm of her hand before focusing on me. “Did I miss the wedding? Chase told me to meet him here. Did he give me the wrong time?”

  “No, Mrs. Cole, you’re right on time.”

  “Well good. Is Chase here?”

  “You mean your son-in-law that you shot?”

  She staggers back as if I shot her in the arm. “Why I would never. Chase is like a son to me.”

  “But Travis isn’t, which is why you had no qualms about knocking him over the head and ‘kidnapping’ your daughter. Am I right?”

  Jean scoffs. “This is absurd, I would never do such a thing.”

  “Ok, maybe you didn’t, but he did.” I point to her bodyguard behind her.

  He grunts then barrels toward the door.

  This time Captain Rivers gets to him before he escapes and cuffs him. “Her too,” he barks to an officer standing next to Jean. “You two have a lot of explaining to do.”

  21

  “How do you do it, Autumn?” Travis shakes his head at me after we all watch Jean try to talk her way out of this mess as an officer escorts her out of the church.

  I shrug and smile then realize something. “Oh my gosh! Josh, you saw me before the wedding. It’s bad luck.” I race down the hall and slam the door to the bridal suite then plop down on the sofa. Tears spill down my cheeks as I break down into sobs. I should be happy. I solved the case before the wedding and Josh still wants to marry me. Am I really going to let an old superstition dictate whether or not I get married today?

  Someone knocks on the door.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s me, Autumn. Please let me in,” Josh whispers.

  “Uh-huh. No way. Our luck is already bad enough without you seeing me again.”

  “Autumn, we make our own luck. You know that.” He pauses as if waiting for me to open the door, but when I don’t he continues, “I’m going to go stand up at the altar as long as it takes for you to come out of this room and marry me. I’ll wait all night if I have to, but I hope you won’t make me wait a second longer because I really want to make you my wife.”

  Tears continue to fall down my cheeks. I try to blink them back so I don’t ruin anymore of my mascara, but it’s no use.

  “I’ll be the guy at the end of the aisle. Okay?”

  I nod even though he can’t see me. Footsteps fade down the hall as I drag myself off the couch and over to the mirror.

  There’s another knock at the door. “Autumn, it’s Dad. Can I come in?”

  “Sure.” I swipe at my eyes with a tissue and reach for my eyeliner.

  He steps in and smiles. “There’s an eager guy out there ready to marry you. Are you still planning to marry him today?”

  I finish fixing my make-up then turn around and sigh with relief before declaring, “Absolutely.”

  “Good.” He eyes the door for a moment. “I told your mother about the plans for Daysville.”

  I gasp. “What did she say?”

  “At first, she got angry and threatened me within an inch of my life if I changed anything about this town for her future grandbabies then she came around when I showed her the model.” He takes my hands in his. “I don’t want to create a town where you or my grandchildren feel unsafe. If I didn’t do this someone with bad intentions would have and I couldn’t let that happen. I hope you understand that and will support me in this venture. I could use your expertise.”

  I laugh and squeeze his hands. “I doubt that, but I’ll keep an open
mind.”

  “Thank you.” He kisses my hand before tucking my arm in his and asking, “Are you ready to become Mrs. Parker?”

  I grin up at him and wipe the tear falling down his cheek. “I am.”

  We step out into the hallway and my mother fusses over me before we make our way to the end of the aisle.

  My mother kisses my cheek and sashays up the aisle, taking her seat on the bride’s side.

  Josh is standing next to Preacher John wearing a dark suit and blue tie that brings out his eyes. He smiles his cheesy smile when he sees me and meets us halfway as if he can’t wait to make me his wife.

  I can’t wait to be his wife either.

  The service is short and sweet with the best part being when Preacher John pronounces us man and wife. Of course, there’s the bonus of getting to kiss my husband.

  My husband.

  I’m married.

  Good-bye, Miss Autumn Fisher.

  Hello, Mrs. Autumn Parker.

  Josh kisses my hand then tucks my arm in his as we make our way back down the aisle as husband and wife.

  “Shall we, Mrs. Parker?”

  “Absolutely, Mr. Parker.”

  He grins at me before opening the door so we can head over to the town hall for the reception.

  “Autumn! Josh! Did I miss the wedding?” Allison pants, rushing up to us.

  I give her a sympathetic smile. “Unfortunately, yes. How did things go at the station?”

  People file out around us, shaking Josh’s hand and giving me hugs. I squeeze Josh’s hand and whisper, “I’m going to talk to Allison. I’ll be right back, husband.”

  He kisses my cheek and says, “I’ll be waiting, wife.”

  I can’t contain my grin. Yes, we’re officially that cheesy couple, but I don’t even care. Newlywedded bless is totally a thing.

  Allison skips along beside me gushing about my dress as we turn the corner of the church to give us some more privacy.

  “So, what happened at the station?”

  She blows out an exasperated breath. “It’s total chaos down there. I can’t believe Bernita shot Wyatt. Of course, she’s saying it was an accident, but Devin’s telling a different story, saying she shot him point blank. Then she hit her brother with a rolling pin and tried to make him think he was crazy. I think she’s a little loco.”