Facials & Fugitives (A Cozy Spa Mystery Book 4) Page 4

  7

  “Travis!” I cry out and point in the direction of the figure.

  He frowns and holds up his index finger as if to tell me to wait a minute.

  We don't have a minute. We’re going to lose them. I take off running. These boots are not made to run in and this person, whoever they are, is fast. I try to keep up, but trip and fall just outside the old mayor’s gate. The person disappears into the woods. Shoot.

  “Autumn, are you OK?” Travis hovers above me.

  “I’m fine. Go! Go after them. They may be the killer.”

  Travis gives me one last once-over and orders, “Get in my car and lock the doors. Tell the other deputies where I went.”

  I nod. “Go!” I shoo him toward the woods then pick my clumsy self up off the ground and slowly walk back toward Travis’s SUV. My knees and hands are stinging, and my head is starting to hurt more. I probably should go to the hospital. This year has been a tough one on my checkbook. Thank goodness for insurance. I’m pretty sure my deductible's paid.

  When I reach the SUV, I notice the smoke coming from the hood of the deceased’s car has increased. Are those flames underneath the hood? At first, I just thought the radiator was busted, but now I’m wondering if something more serious is going on.

  Should I move the body? I know it’s a big no-no, but what if the car blows up?

  I debate with myself for another minute when a couple of deputies pull up. I quickly relay what’s going on, and one deputy takes off in the direction Travis went, and the other goes over to inspect the car.

  Before I know it, he’s unbuckling the deceased and yanking him from the car. What happened to protocol and collecting evidence? He’s rushing toward me and says something I don't hear because I’m so focused on him tainting the crime scene. “What?”

  “Move! Get down! The car's going to blow.”

  I barely take two steps, and the car explodes. The force knocks me down, but I’m able to protect my head. I cover it with my hands to try and avoid any flying car parts. Someone groans next to me, and I turn my head.

  The deputy is lying on his back. He has the deceased tucked underneath his arm, but he’s holding his head. Blood is gushing from a large wound in his forehead where a piece of metal's embedded in it.

  I cringe. Blood and I don’t mix. That’s why I became a massage therapist and not a nurse. I hear sirens in the distance. Hopefully, it’s an ambulance. I look around for something to press to the deputy's wound but come up empty. I wish I would have grabbed my jacket.

  Maybe Travis has something in his SUV. I scramble to my feet and sway slightly. My stomach clenches and I feel like I might be sick. Isn’t that a sign of a concussion? I force down my nausea and move slowly to Travis’s SUV. Surely, he keeps an extra set of clothes or a first aid kit in his vehicle. Then I remember I have a first aid kit in my Jeep.

  I spin around and almost pass out. Slow movements, Autumn. When I catch my bearings, I take a deep breath and start toward my Jeep. I gasp. My Jeep! My baby. It’s on fire. Like there’s nothing left. Flames from the explosion have engulfed it.

  My purse. Thankfully, I have my phone, and I don't keep much in my Jeep, but replacing the contents in my purse is going to be a nightmare.

  I have to get it. I take another step toward the Jeep when someone practically tackles me and drags me away just as my Jeep explodes. I bury my face in their shirt. A mix of spice and musk fill my senses, and I know Travis is the one who grabbed me.

  I peek over his shoulder at the remains of my Jeep. A tear falls from my eye followed by another one. They keep flowing until I’m bawling like a baby. Travis holds me while I cry, gently stroking my back and whispering something I can’t make out because I’m wailing. It’s just a Jeep. It can be replaced, along with my purse and contents, but I’ve had that Jeep since high school. It was my first car. My parents paid for half, and I paid for the other half and my insurance. We grew up together. There are a lot of memories and miles attached to that baby, and now…she’s gone.

  When my cries turn to sniffles, Travis guides me over to the passenger side of his SUV and settles me inside. I’m exhausted and can barely keep my eyes open. Before I close them for good, I check to be sure the deputy is alive. He’s in the back of an ambulance being bandaged up, and the police are handling the body. Now I can sleep, but only for a minute. I have to find out who killed Roger Gallahan and my Jeep.

  8

  He’s chasing me. I can’t see his face as I trip over another tree branch. A house is in the distance if I can make it before he-

  “Autumn, wake-up.”

  I jolt upright in bed and take a swing at the person responsible for chasing me.

  “Whoa! Hold on there, slugger.” He grasps my wrist with his hands. “You were dreaming. It must have been a bad one for you to try and punch me.” His green eyes filled with concern.

  “Sorry.” I feel my face flush and can feel sweat beads pooling at my temple. I pull back my hands and swipe them away then place a hand over my racing heart. It was like I was running from someone, but who?

  “Are you OK? You were thrashing around in your bed. It almost looked like you were trying to get away from someone.”

  I inhale and hold my breath for a moment. “It was just a bad dream.” I sigh and exhale then glance around the room. “I’m in bed.” I peek down at my outfit. I’m still in last night’s dirty clothes. I smell of smoke. Why do I smell smoke? Then it hits me. The accident, someone running in the woods, the dead body, the explosions. “My Jeep,” I groan.

  Travis gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Autumn. I know how much you loved it.”

  My head starts to throb, and I place a hand to it as if to stop the hurt. A large goose egg is sitting just above my eye. When my fingers graze it, I flinch.

  “Dr. Gregory says you have a concussion. I’ve been trying to ice it, but you keep flinging it off when you sleep. Have you always been such a wild sleeper?”

  I ignore his comments and ask, “Why am I here and not at the hospital?”

  Travis runs a hand over the back of his neck. “You kind of passed out on me last night. I took you to the hospital, but it was a busy night, and we would have been waiting for hours. So, I brought you to your house and called Dr. Gregory. He came by and checked you out. Gave me some instructions and indicated he’d be by later to check on you.”

  I nod, but quickly realize it was a bad idea. My skull feels like it’s going to explode. Explode. My Jeep. Tears well up in my eyes, so I lie back down on my pillow and let them fall.

  “Josh came by earlier. He wanted me to let you know he was going out of town for a few days.”

  I pop up in bed, and my jaw drops. “What?” The room spins, and I tap down the urge to vomit.

  Travis gives me a sheepish look. “Something’s off with him. Are you guys OK?”

  I shrug.

  “I watched him with Hailey last night. It’s like he’s under some sort of spell.”

  “I knew it,” I murmur.

  “I was joking, Autumn.” He smirks.

  I glare at him. “I’m not. He’s been acting strange ever since Hailey waltzed into the spa. Josh never leaves town. He’s a homebody. Did he say where’s he’s going?”

  Travis shakes his head. “Maybe he needs to get away. Clear his head. I had to.”

  I cock an eyebrow at him.

  His face matches his hair. “Over the summer while you were busy working with Eddie on his mother’s case, I went up to the cabin in Colorado for a week. I take it you didn’t notice I was gone.”

  It was my turn to blush. I’d been so wrapped up in solving Laura’s murder, I’d thought of little or anyone else. Something I regret since it hurt Travis’s and Josh’s feelings. At least Josh told me he was feeling abandoned. Travis went out and found himself a girlfriend. I take a deep breath to tap down my resentment and own up to my part in all of it. “I’m sorry, Travis. I should have told you.”

  He shakes his
head. “It’s water under the bridge. I’m glad Eddie was able to get closure.”

  I smile and notice he’s mulling over something with the far-off expression on his face. My guess is it’s about his parents. It couldn’t have been easy to find out his aunt was protecting the man who was responsible for so much pain and betrayal.

  Regina’s been apologizing and cooking Travis’s favorite meals nonstop. Her guilt is eating her up even though Travis assures her he’s no longer upset. The poor lady can’t forgive herself. I place my hand over Travis’s and squeeze it. “You should go home. I bet Regina has a nice meal for you.” I glance at the clock and gasp. “It’s almost one o’clock…in the afternoon! I slept the morning away. I never do that.”

  Travis smiles and nods. “I checked to make sure you were still breathing, but otherwise Dr. Gregory told me just to let you sleep.”

  “Really? I don’t remember him even stopping by.” I pick at a non-existent piece of lint on my white comforter. “You didn’t have to stay.”

  He rolls his eyes. “I was under strict orders not to let you out of my sight.”

  “By who? Josh?”

  Travis frowns and looks away. “No. Your dad.”

  “Oh.” Josh never leaves my side when I’m sick or hurt, and now, he’s left town. Something is up with him, and I’m one hundred percent sure it has to do with Miss Hailey Marshall…or maybe he got tired of waiting around for me to make up my mind about us.

  Travis squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry about Josh.”

  I blink back tears and shake my head. The lump forming in my throat is preventing me from saying anything.

  “You should tell him how you feel…before it’s too late.”

  “I don’t know how I feel,” I choke out. “Josh has been my best friend since forever. It’s wasn’t until…” Why am I telling this to Travis?

  “It’s fine, Autumn. I’m with Allison now. We’re good. Not like you and I were in high school, but it works. Besides, life changes from high school, right?”

  I frown. “I guess so, but is 'it works' enough for you?”

  He shrugs.

  I narrow my eyes at him. “You deserve more than that, Travis.”

  He opens his mouth to say something when his phone rings. “It’s the station. I’ll be right back.”

  I watch him walk from the room, wondering what else he was going to say and if they found out how Roger died and if they have any leads on who killed him. Hopefully, those clues don't point to Maggie. I sigh and toss back the covers. I really should get up and shower. I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

  I've already missed church and have several things I need to get done today. The first thing on my list is a shower and a fresh change of clothes. Then I need to find out why Josh just up and left. Is he mad at me? Did I do something? Maybe Caleb's comment about me never making up my mind about him got him thinking, and he decided he didn't want to wait around on me anymore. Surely, he wouldn't just leave without talking to me, right?

  I rush through a shower and throw on some black yoga pants and a light blue sweater. My hair is still damp, so I braid one side and twist it into a messy bun. Thoughts about tomorrow are running through my mind. It's Monday. One of our busiest days at the spa. Plus, I’m sure by now, everyone in town has heard about me finding the body, so I'll have lots of curious non-customers stopping in. There's no way I can run the spa by myself. Not with Maggie gone and now, Josh.

  Anxiety starts to creep in and my heart rate increases. I'm sitting on my bed, tugging on a pair of high ankle boots and am on the verge of spiraling when Travis comes in with his face the color of my comforter. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Josh. There’s been an accident.”

  9

  I can’t even see out the window of Travis’s SUV. The rain is coming down in sheets as we make our way to the University Hospital in Brachstown. It’s a good two hours from Daysville, and the rain is keeping us from getting there any faster.

  No one knows anything. The hospital won’t release any details since we’re not family. Josh’s parents are his emergency contacts, but they’re on a cruise. Travis has someone trying to get in touch with them, but it’s proving to be difficult.

  There’s also no word on Hailey. Travis was able to talk with a buddy of his on the force in Brachstown, and he indicated Josh was alone in the vehicle. A blue van going way too fast ran a red light and T-boned Josh as he was making a left turn then drove away. There were no witnesses, just street cams. The cop told Travis that Josh was unconscious when they pulled him from his car. He has a head wound and probably some broken limbs, but the cop wasn’t sure. A medic told the cop they thought Josh had some internal bleeding, but I pray that isn’t the case.

  Travis skids to a stop outside the ER doors and gestures for me to get out. “I’ll park and meet you in there.”

  I’m out of the car in a flash and rush up to the nurse’s station. “Josh Parker’s room, please.”

  “Are you a relative?” A petite blond nurse named Shannon asks.

  At this moment, I have a choice. Lie and be with Josh or tell the truth and start biting my nails, waiting for answers. “I’m his wife.” The words roll off my tongue naturally, and they don’t even feel like a lie.

  “Come with me.” She leads me down the hall.

  The smell of cleaning products fills my nose, and I fight back the urge to gag. I sway slightly and force myself not to pass out. The goose egg on my head has gone down some due to Travis keeping ice on it, but it still throbs occasionally. I take a deep breath and think about Josh. He’s always been there for me, and now it’s my turn to show up and be there for him.

  Shannon stops in front of the ICU. “I want to warn you. He won't look like himself. He's badly banged up.”

  I gulp and nod, trying to blink back tears.

  She pushes open the door and walks toward a room beside the nurse’s station. A plump, gray-haired nurse named Betty lifts an eyebrow and Shannon mouths, “Wife.”

  Betty eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t blow my cover.

  I didn’t think about the fact 'his wife' isn't listed as his emergency contact. Wouldn’t she be listed? Duh, Autumn. I’ll have to cover my bases somehow. Right now, I need to see Josh.

  Shannon stops short in front of Josh’s room then opens the door for me.

  When I see him, I burst into tears and rush to his side. His face's swollen, and there’s a bandage around his head. Bruises and scratches cover his face and arms. His left arm is in a cast, and there’s a brace around his neck. The monitors beep beside him, and I watch his chest rise and fall to ensure he’s breathing then I bury my face into his chest and sob.

  How could this happen? Josh's young. He’s so full of life. I can’t lose him. He’s my person. He's my best friend. My confidant. My-

  A hand on my back has me lifting my head and stopping my downward spiral.

  Travis.

  He opens his arms, and I rush into them. “He’ll be fine, Autumn. It’s Josh. He’s resilient.”

  I smile and nod into his chest then step back. It feels wrong to have Travis comforting me. Why? I don’t know, but it does. I wipe my eyes and ask, “How did you get back here?”

  He glances over his shoulder at Nurse Betty. She’s watching us like a manager watches a shoplifter. It’s not like we’re going to steal Josh from his bed. “I told her I was Josh’s brother, so go with it. How did you get in?”

  “I told them I was his wife.”

  Travis frowns but doesn’t say anything.

  I turn back to Josh and take his right hand, still scraped and bruised from his fight with Gil and maybe from the accident. “Did they tell you anything about his condition?”

  “Not much. A few broken ribs, a broken arm, the contusion on his forehead, and as you can see, he’s unconscious. No internal bleeding, but they’re keeping a close eye on him.”

  “Any word on Hailey or the driver of the van?”

  “Nothing y
et. I called in a favor, and the police have made this the top priority,” Travis pauses then says, “If you’re alright here, I’m going to go over and see what more I can find out. They think this may have been a kidnapping.”

  I spin around, then slap a hand to my forehead to stop the spots forming in my eyes. I have to stop moving so fast. “Hailey? They think someone kidnapped Hailey? Why? For that matter, why were they even here? Josh would never come here.”

  “My buddy says there was evidence of pumpkins and gourds in the trunk. There was a fall festival in town this weekend, so we suspect they were coming from the festival. Maybe someone at the festival saw Hailey and…”

  “And decided to kidnap her? That seems a little extreme, doesn’t it?”

  “Autumn, I know you hate watching or reading the news, but you have to know women get kidnapped every day.”

  I scowl. “Of course, I know that but why Hailey and why slam into the car to kidnap her? Why not just wait until they stopped at a restaurant or shop? It doesn’t make sense.” Then something occurs to me. “Do you think this has to do with Roger and Maggie?”

  Travis furrows his brow. “No. Why?”

  “Maybe Hailey is in on the jewel theft. Did you hear what she talked to Maggie about?”

  “Um, no.” Travis runs a hand over the back of his neck.

  “Why not? Isn’t the interrogation room bugged?”

  “The system wasn’t working when they were talking.”

  I cock an eyebrow. “What do mean it wasn’t working?”

  “The audio became scratchy and jumbled. By the time the tech fixed it, they were done talking.”

  “You’re saying Hailey goes into the interrogation room where the audio is working fine beforehand, and then suddenly there’s an issue?”

  Travis scowls. “Hailey isn’t a witch, Autumn.”

  “How else do you explain it?”

  “Technical difficulties.”