Murder by Yew (An Edna Davies Mystery #1)(66)

Edna didn’t know if Zach resented Dee taking the attention away from him or if he thought she was beginning to talk too much, but at that moment, he seemed to lose his patience. Still, he didn’t spin the small wheel on his lighter. Instead, he momentarily removed the cigarette from his mouth and said, “That’s enough. Why don’t you go see what’s keeping Shoes.”

Sulkily, Dee pushed away from the back of the sofa she had been leaning against. Zach, having returned the cigarette to his mouth, flicked the lighter, and pandemonium broke loose.

In one bound, Hank leaped up and landed on Zach’s chest. As the big man fell backwards with the dog on top of him, Mary lunged for the gun. Grabbing the barrel, she twisted it upwards and out of his hand. Edna, who had been keeping an eye on Dee, saw her start to lunge at Mary. Edna spun in the same direction Dee was headed, clasped Danny to her, and lashed out with her foot, catching Dee’s ankle and sending her sprawling headfirst onto the floor. When Dee hit the ground, a distinct snap and a piercing scream told Edna the woman had broken at least one wrist.

Standing with her arms out straight and both hands clutching the pistol’s grip, Mary shouted, “All right, everyone freeze.”

“Police. Everybody freeze.” An echo of Mary’s command came from somewhere beyond the fireplace, as Charlie Rogers burst through the door, gun in hand, followed closely by Peggy King. Bringing up the rear were two uniformed officers, one of whom was holding onto Shoes.

“We’ve got it, Mary,” Charlie said, reaching to take the gun from her rigid hands.

Peggy helped Dee to her feet while the larger of the policemen pulled Hank off Zach, got the man out of the chair, and cuffed his hands behind his back. Dee howled in pain when Peggy tried the same with her.

“She broke my wrist,” Dee howled.

Behind her prisoner’s back, Peggy gave Edna a wink and a smile.

Edna laughed, feeling giddy with relief that help had arrived. “Who called the cavalry?” she said from the hearth where she had retreated with Danny. The warmth from the embers felt wonderful on the backs of her legs.

Charlie came to stand in front of her, briefly glancing down at Danny before he spoke. “Actually, we got a radio call that Zach Linden was headed this way. One of our officers spotted his car turning into this place and called it in but then had to respond to an emergency down the road. When Peggy and I got here and saw Mary’s Jeep, we didn’t know what was going on, so we called for backup. By the time we moved in closer, that one,” he said gesturing toward Shoes, “was opening one of the garage doors.” He chuckled. “Imagine my surprise when I saw your car in the same garage. Led to some interesting questions.” His good humor turned to a scowl as he barked, “Get ‘em out of here.”

Once the officers had removed the prisoners, Charlie hunkered down in front of Danny, who was holding tightly to Edna’s thigh. “Well, young man, would you like to go home?”

Danny looked at the detective with wide eyes before nodding, but he didn’t release his hold on Edna’s leg.

“I’ll take him back to his mother,” Mary volunteered. “Hank and I will take him home.”

“That’s a good idea.” Charlie sounded weary. “I’ll drive Edna back in her car, but first we’ll follow you, make sure you get there safely.”

Unwinding his arm from her leg, Danny looked up at Edna as he slid his hand into hers. “Mif Davy tak’ me ‘ome,” he said, looking at her questioningly.

Knowing that Nancy needed to hear the story from someone else first, Edna leaned down. Taking the boy’s face in her two hands, she kissed his cheek. “You go with Mary, now. I’ll come visit you very soon.”

Twenty-Three

On the way home, Edna explained to Charlie what she had learned about Dee Tolkheim.

“So all this time, Danny was trying to say ‘Daisy.’” Charlie shook his head, then laughed aloud. “And you’ve cracked the burglary case, too.” He looked over at her, his eyes twinkling.

She smiled at him before leaning her head against the back of the seat. “It’s been quite an adventure, Detective, but I think I’ll leave the police work to you from now on.”

He chuckled and drove the rest of the way in silence, probably realizing how exhausted she was. When they reached Edna’s house, the police cruiser he’d called for was waiting to take him to the station. First, though, he walked her to the door, promising to stop by and check on her after his debriefing at the department.

Weary, but too keyed up even to nap, Edna took a hot shower and changed into a warm sweater and slacks. In the kitchen, she put the kettle on to boil, noticing as she did so that the rain had stopped. The ground was saturated, and water dripped off tree branches, but the sky was clearing.

She was pouring hot water into the china pot over her own blend of chamomile and lemon balm when she heard a knock at the back door. She hurried through the mudroom and opened the door to see it was Mary.

“Hello,” Mary responded to Edna’s greeting, entering the room in a swirl of camouflage rain cape with Hank at her heels. Edna looked at the dog, then up at Mary in surprise, but before she could ask, Mary said, “He’s staying with me for now, maybe forever.” She was smiling broadly as she bent to stroke the Lab’s head. At that moment, Benjamin appeared from behind Edna, and the two animals briefly touched noses before the cat turned and strolled nonchalantly back toward the kitchen.