Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Great Easter Bunny Heist--Part 4 by Leann Harris




“Is that your thief?”

Ellie looked over his shoulder. “Yes.” The bunny head sat on the sofa and Ellie recognized the man’s face. “That’s Mrs. Candy’s nephew.”

“You knew him?”

“J.J. Hopper. Mrs. Candy introduced him to me last month. She said he was her sister’s boy, who’d come to town to recuperate from some operation he had. She never said what kind of operation, but—“

Richard looked at her. “But what, Ellie?”

It was hard to explain. “Well, Mrs. Candy was so helpful, working with all the different organizations in town, the women’s relief society, the knitting club, the garden society. She helped everywhere. But when J.J. got here, she started missing meetings, but she always had a good excuse. No one ever thought about it. We thought she was helping her nephew with his problem.”

“You stay here. I want to look through the house.” He left her beside the body.

“Uh, Richard, shouldn’t you call the local police?”

He looked over his shoulder and put his finger to his lips. He walked through the dining room and disappeared into the kitchen. Ellie looked down at poor J.J. Why he had robbed her? If Mrs. Candy wanted the egg back, Ellie would’ve sold it back to her. Why did her nephew want to steal it?

Suddenly, Ellie heard a noise from the kitchen. A gun went off, then something fell. Instantly, she ran toward the kitchen. “Richard,” she cried as she ran through the formal dining room. What sounded like the back door slamming made her veer into the table. When she regained her balance, she barreled into the kitchen.
Richard lay on the floor. She knelt by his side. “Richard, Richard.”

He moaned.

“Are you hurt?” That was a stupid question. Of course he was hurt. She tried to see if he was bleeding, but she couldn’t see any injuries. No blood. That was good.

Richard rolled to his side. “Only my pride.” He sat up. He looked at the bullet hole in the ceiling. “Someone hit me in the head as I walked into the room.”
They heard the roar of an engine. Ellie ran to the window and looked out. Mrs. Candy’s car raced out of the driveway.

“Did you see who it was?” Richard asked as he staggered to his feet.

Ellie didn’t know quite how to tell him. “I did.” She turned to face him.

“Well, who was it?”

“Mrs. Candy.”

9 comments:

Margaret Daley said...

Mrs. Candy got the best of Richard??? Or was someone else in the car? Great, Leann.

Lynette Eason said...

Great job, Leann! Can't wait to see what happens next. Is Mrs. Candy being blackmailed? Or is the poor woman being threatened to cooperate? Or is she just plain crooked? So many questions!

Lisa Mondello said...

Hmm, is Mrs. Candy being held at gunpoint by someone else or was Mrs. Candy in on it. Why would she off her beloved nephew? I need to know what happens next.

Lenora said...

Mrs. Candy doesn't seem so sweet now! Wow. Poor JJ. He definitely didn't get the prize egg.

Pamela Tracy said...

That Mrs. Candy is feisty!

Mystery and Mayhem said...

I saw NCIS the other day, and I say someone was wearing one of those sin masks, playing Mrs. Candy.

Leann Harris said...

I had idea that maybe Mrs. Candy isn't an old lady. Have they looked in the bathroom?

Dana Mentink said...

That mysterious Mrs. Candy!

Debby Giusti said...

Leann, what's in the bathroom? Do tell.

That Mrs. Candy! Why I thought she was loved by all.