The sound of sirens marked the coming of the cavalry as Kimberly worked on the chains that bound Agnes and Eleanor together. She jumped back when Eleanor’s eyes popped open.
“It’s about time, girl.”
“Is Agnes d-dead?”
“No,” Agnes groaned. “It’s hard to breath with the smell. I don’t know what happened. I expected we’d be covered with garbage and breathing our last by now.”
“No. Beth Bentley’s father showed up first.”
The sirens drew closer and Daniel walked over to test the chains. “We’ll need a key to unlock these chains.”
“Where did you come from?” Eleanor asked.
“Pete pulled in front of me and traveling at a high rate of speed. There’s only one house on this road, so I came to check it out. When I heard him blow through the gate to the dump, I knew something was wrong. I pulled Pete off the dozer before he was able to kill you ladies.”
“I-I appreciate that,” Agnes choked out.
Deputy Danworth raced over and pulled out his portable radio to call dispatch to get the owners of the dump here fast.
“Relax, ladies,” Danworth said. “Someone is coming with the key. What happened here?”
Agnes explained the best she could with the limited oxygen she had left thanks to the stench. She didn’t want to know what they might be lying on.
“We really thought someone at the church killed Milly,” Eleanor said. “That’s not how it worked out at all.”
Agnes struggled to see when she heard a woman screaming. “I’ll have to take a video of this,” Kimberly said as she raced away.
All Agnes could hear was “Ouch!” and “Stop! … Stop hitting me with that purse.
“Who’s here?” Agnes asked.
“I’m not exactly sure, but the sheriff’s mother, Mrs. Barry, is clobbering Pete something fierce with her purse. I suppose I should stop it … in about five minutes.” Danworth smiled.
A man ran over and released the lock and helped Danworth unwind the chains. The paramedics whisked them to the hospital.
Agnes felt where the chains had bitten into her skin, but that was about it as an oxygen mask was put over her nose and mouth. She was beyond thinking.
Andrew glanced down at his wife Agnes and smiled when she opened her eyes to meet his. “It’s about time you woke up.”
“All I can smell is garbage.”
“You went through quite an ordeal, but it’s all over now. Pete’s being charged with murdering Milly Clark and the attempted murder of you and Eleanor.”
Agnes’ eyes widened. “Is Eleanor okay?”
“Yes, she’s better than you. Daniel is a hero in my book. If he hadn’t gotten there when he had, both you and Eleanor would be dead.”
“What about Kimberly?”
“She arrived later. And poor Pete wasn’t only beaten by Daniel. Mrs. Barry clubbed him with her purse. I believe she had a few full beer cans in her purse at the time.” Andrew laughed.
“Where is Kimberly?”
“Home recuperating thanks to her husband Jeremy. He flew home when he heard what happened.”
“I’m glad to hear that. We’ve had quite an investigation. We actually believed someone from the First Baptist Church killed Milly.”
“What? That we should go to church on Sunday.”
“I suppose that couldn’t hurt, but is there anything else we could do for them?”
“They’ve been fundraising for a college fund, but they haven’t raised very much money from my understanding.”
“I’ll give them good-sized donation. And I know a few groups that would be happy to help out as well.”
“Am I bothering you?” Daniel asked from the doorway.
Agnes smiled. “Please come here. I want to give you a hug.”
“If your husband doesn’t mind.”
“Go ahead. I think you deserve a hug from me too for saving the life of both Agnes and Eleanor.”
Agnes hugged Daniel hard and when she pulled away she noticed his bruised knuckles.
“Compliments of Pete’s face,” he explained.
“From what I’ve witnessed,” Andrew began, “Pete will be in the hospital a few days before he goes to jail. I believe Mrs. Barry gave him a concussion.”
“I’m just glad you made it through this ordeal. I’m happy to report that my daughter Beth reunited with Clark. She felt bad when she learned that her husband had never strayed at all. We’re watching the children so they can go to Paris for their anniversary.”
“I’m really happy to hear that. I hope it’s a lesson for all of us. Gossip isn’t always accurate and can be quite harmful.”
“Do you know if Meadow was really responsible for the robbery of the Pit Stop?”
“Oh it was a robbery,” Deputy Danworth said as he strolled into the room. “But nobody robbed the place, Meadow took the money.”
“And she tried to cover it up,” Agnes said. “And she intentionally didn’t drop money as she was supposed to do, so she netted more than the fifty that should have been in the register.”
“I’m glad to see you awake,” Danworth said. “Maybe next time you come to Redwater it won’t be so eventful.”
“Obviously you don’t know my wife, deputy,” Andrew smirked.
About the Author
Although sleep-deprived from working third shift, Madison Johns knew if she put what she had learned while caring for senior citizens to good use, it would result in something quite unique. The Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths mystery series has forever changed Madison's life, with each of the books making it onto the Amazon bestseller's list for cozy mystery and humor.
Madison is now able to do what she loves best and work from home as a full-time writer. She has two children and animals galore that keep her company while she churns out more cozy mysteries. She also writes western historical romances as Clara Kincaid.
Other Books by This Author
An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery Series
Armed and Outrageous
Grannies, Guns & Ghosts
Senior Snoops
Trouble in Tawas
Treasure in Tawas
High Seas Honeymoon
Outrageous Vegas Vacation
Birds of a Feather
Undercover Inmates
Camping Caper
Hawaiian Hangover
Scandal in Tawas
An Agnes Barton Paranormal Mystery Series
Haunted Hijinks
Ghostly Hijinks
Spooky Hijinks
Hair-Raising Hijinks
Ghastly Hijinks
An Agnes Barton Holiday Mystery
The Great Turkey Caper
The Great Christmas Caper
Lucky Strike
Kimberly Steele Sweet Romance
Pretty and Pregnant
Pretty and Pregnant Again
An Agnes Barton/Kimberly Steele Romance
Pretty, Hip & Dead
Petty, Hip & Hoodwinked
A Cajun Cooking Mystery
Target of Death
Lake Forest Witches
Meows, Magic & Murder
Meows, Magic & Manslaughter
Meows, Magic, & Mayhem
Meows, Magic, & Wands
Kelly Gray Sweet Romance
Redneck Romance
Paranormal Romance
Clan of the Werebear
Clan of the Werebear, the Complete Series
Shadow Creek Shifters
Katlyn: Shadow Creek Shifters
Taken: Shadow Creek Shifters
Tessa, Shadow Creek Shifters
Llama and the Lady
Nevada Brides Series
McKenna
Cadence
Kayla
Abigail
Penelope
Brides for the Bart Gang
&n
bsp; Nevada Sunrise
Nevada Sunshine
Johanna, Bride of Michigan, is 26th in the unprecedented 50-book, American Mail-Order Brides series
Johanna: Bride of Michigan