Fat hen farm 03- Fowl play at the fair Read online

  Sheila’s face twitched. “I didn’t think of that.”

  Kitty smiled to herself. There will be something in those papers that someone isn’t going to like. I’ll make sure of that.

  ***

  Back at her house, Kitty had three cal s to make.

  “Harry? . . . I’ve thought about those papers. Come to my house at five and you can take a look at them.” Harry replied. “I’l be there.”

  “Sheila? . . . Can you bring Nicole here around five fifteen? . . . Great. See you both then.” Kitty had some work to do before the show started and she would need Tina and Frank’s help too.

  First, to doctor up the papers. “Tina? . . . I’m stopping by your office.”

  “Here are the papers from the recipe box. Can you add some information and print them out for me? They can’t have todays date on them though.”

  “Give me what you want and I’l figure it out.”

  “This page with Harry’s information needs more. Add in, Harry is having an affair with Nicole which I will expose if he continues to investigate the missing money from our partnership. The ledger with these papers shows who took the money and where the money is. I plan to dissolve our partnership and retain the majority of the customers. Harry will agree not to start another business in the same state. In addition, Harry will admit to forging documents that were given to Kitty Wilson (maiden name Watson) to scam her out of a percentage of her farm. If something happens to me, Blake Weaver, whoever finds these papers can use this information as needed.”

  “That should do it. Harry wants to know what Blake knew and now he’l find out.”

  “Is this true?” Tina asked.

  “We’l find out who blinks first. Someone is lying. They are al pointing fingers at each other.”

  “I’m coming over after work.”

  “See you then. Bring Aaron. I’m expecting we’l be celebrating.”

  Kitty cal ed Frank as she walked out of Tina’s office with the doctored paperwork.

  “Frank? . . . meet me at the police station . . . I’l explain everything to you there.” Kitty had to get Herb up to speed with al that was happening. If everything went as she expected, al this should be over final y and she wanted Herb to be there to arrest someone.

  Frank pul ed up right behind Kitty at the police station.

  “What’s your plan this time?”

  “Flushing out the murderer. Want to put your money on one of them?”

  “No. They al have motives and I don’t know who to believe.” Frank said as they climbed the stairs into the station.

  Herb watched Kitty and Frank enter the police station. “I’m not sure I like that look on your face Kitty. You’ve got something up your sleeve. I hope you’re here to get my help. I don’t like it when you try to solve these mysteries yourself. You put yourself in danger doing it alone.” Kitty looked around at the other people in the main room of the police station. “Don’t worry. Is there someplace we can talk?”

  “Fol ow me to my office.” Herb closed the door and turned to Kitty. “Okay. Fil me in.”

  “I’ve invited some people to my house around five o’clock. I’m sure you’ve talked to al of them over the course of your investigation but I think I uncovered some information that they probably forgot to mention to you.” Kitty chuckled.

  “So what’s your plan? I have to hide in the background?” Herb frowned.

  “Of course. You don’t want to scare them off do you?”

  “Who wil be there?”

  “Harry Parsons, Nicole Flemming and Sheila Weaver.”

  “I’l be there in the background. Be sure you have your phone to give me a cal when it’s time to swoop in.”

  ***

  Harry drove up at five on the dot just as Kitty expected. He was anxious to find out what Blake knew or at least what Blake put in the folder.

  “Glad you changed your mind Kitty.” Harry walked in without waiting for an invitation. “Where are the papers?”

  “Over here in the kitchen. This is everything I found.”

  Harry picked up the few papers, shuffling until he found what he was looking for. The paper about him.

  “I knew it. He did steal money from the business.”

  “Harry. Did Blake send you a text the day he was murdered to meet him behind the chicken barn?”

  “How do you know that?”

  Kitty held up a phone. “It’s right here, on his cel phone.”

  “Listen. I did get that text and Nicole got the same text. I thought Blake was going to final y tel me where he hid the money. When I went behind the barn, he was already dead. He didn’t have his phone. I looked for it, knowing that text would look bad. Nicole was there with me too. Did Frank kil Blake? I know they didn’t get along at al .”

  Harry turned at the sound of the door opening.

  Nicole’s eyes darted from Harry to Sheila. “What are you doing here Harry? Sheila, you told me Kitty had some information she needed to talk to me about”.

  Kitty glared at each one standing in her kitchen. “Come on in. It’s about time you al stop lying and we get to the bottom of this mess.”

  “What do you mean Kitty? I told you the truth?” Sheila stammered as she pul ed Maddie close to her side.

  “What truth was that? Read this Sheila.” Harry shoved the paper at her.

  Skimming quickly, her jaw dropped. She went white as a sheet. “Where did you find this? This isn’t the paper I hid in the recipe box.”

  “You cleaned up Blake’s papers didn’t you Sheila? You didn’t want Blake to give the money back.

  “He was too honest. He hated me for the scheme to get part of your farm and when he found I was manipulating the books, he lost it. He was going to leave me. And you Nicole. What a traitor. How could you turn on me for that weasel Harry? Come on Maddie. You’re my insurance to get out of here.”

  Maddie screamed. “Mommy. I want to stay here with Kitty. I want to see Henry.” Sheila started to pul the screaming girl toward the door. “Sorry honey. You’l never see Kitty or that stupid pony again.” Max charged across the room leaping at Sheila and knocking her down just as Sam walked in. Maddie made a beeline for Kitty.

  “Kitty. What the devil is going on here? Mia texted me that there was a problem.”

  “Cal Frank and Herb. Tel them to get here ASAP.” They al heard sirens before Sam even had a chance to get his phone out.

  “I’m a step ahead of you Sam.” Mia was leaning on her crutches, grinning from ear to ear. “I cal ed them after I sent you that message. I couldn’t let anything happen to Maddie. Or Kitty.”

  Herb cuffed Sheila and had his officer escort her to the back of the police car. Herb looked at Harry and Nicole stil standing in the kitchen “What about the two of you?”

  “What about us?” Harry indignantly asked. “It looks like you have your murderer now.”

  “There is the smal matter of some forged documents don’t you think Kitty?” Nicole sputtered. “That was al Sheila’s idea.”

  “Let’s get a statement about that so Kitty can sleep peaceful y knowing no one is trying to steal her farm.” Herb winked at Kitty and led them out to his car.

  Tina and Aaron rushed in al out of breath. “Did we miss anything?”

  Kitty laughed. “Everything but the celebration. I’l fil you in. But first, who wants to celebrate with me?” Al hands went up. Kitty got out glasses and poured wine. She gave Maddie cranberry juice in her glass.

  “Here’s to another mystery solved.”

  Frank asked Kitty, “How did you know?”

  “I didn’t. I knew it was one of them. With the extra paper Tina created for me, I was hoping to flush out the guilty person. And it worked. When Harry read it, he immediately suspected Sheila. He didn’t act nervous that the evidence pointed to him. When Sheila read it, she got defensive and assumed she was the target. I was just letting human nature take care of the details. Guilt solved the mystery.”

  “Bril ian
t. Again.” Glasses clinked as everyone settled down to relax.

  Chapter 13

  “What wil happen now?” Kitty asked Frank as they watched Corey take Maddie for a ride on Henry.

  “I’l get custody.” Frank turned toward Kitty. “I’l need help.” His eyes asking what his words didn’t reveal.

  “I’d love to help you. I can’t replace her mother but I can be her friend. And she has Henry. Look at her. She’l be okay.”

  “Daddy. Look at me.” Maddie did look happy as she bounced up and down in the saddle.

  “Maddie. When you’re done riding, come into the barn. I have a surprise for you.” Kitty said looking at Frank and seeing his puzzled look.

  “What is it? What is it?” Maddie slid off of Henry’s back and ran to the barn.

  Frank fol owed Maddie, just as curious as his daughter.

  Kitty pointed to a smal basket with a pink blanket and a tiny kitten. “Do you remember when I saw you and your mom at the vet with that little kitten?”

  Maddie’s eyes got as big as saucers. “Is she mine?” She whispered.

  “She’s al yours Maddie. You can keep her here if your dad can’t have her at his house.”

  “Daddy?” Maddie’s pleading eyes pierced into Frank’s heart.

  “Of course you can bring her to our house. What wil her name be?”

  “How about Tigger?” Maddie cradled the kitten like it was a baby.

  “Tigger it is.” Frank put his arm around Kitty. “You’ve done it again. You know the way to that little girl’s heart.” He paused. “And mine.”

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 13