Chapter Twenty-Two. Maggie shot me an angry look

Maggie shot me an angry look. "Oh, you are so not going to do that."

I stared at her for a moment. "Is that a double negative?" I asked curiously, trying not to grin while she glared at me. I was getting used to that expression. I rather looked forward to it now, in some perverse way.

"Steve should be here. He's the sheriff," Hannah said.

"No. If Allison sees Steve, she won't cooperate."

"And you think she'll cooperate seeing you?" Maggie asked.

"I hope so," I said. "Maggie, I'm planning on getting into your aunt's and uncle's house. I'm thinking Steve would frown upon breaking and entering."

"Kate, this is no game. Do you realize how many times you've been hurt this weekend? First, someone throws you through the door, then you're almost killed in the fire. I think you are accident-prone. I will not have you hurt anymore, that's it. If you go through with this hare-brained scheme, then I go with you," Maggie finished firmly with a challenging look.

"Me, too!" Hannah announced.

I glanced at Doc who stood and put on his coat. "I'm leaving. I feel the Winfield stubbornness coming. I'll be at the clinic if anyone needs me or if anything happens." He looked at me. "I don't want to see you there again." He kissed Hannah and Maggie then left.

I'm used to being on my own...no ties, no worries. I live a simple, easy life and I hate complications. I looked at the object of my complication and shook my head.

"Maggie, do you understand that I don't want you or anyone involved or getting hurt?" I asked, trying to make her understand.

"Kate, do you understand that I am involved, and I don't want you or anyone to get hurt anymore?" she asked with equal simplicity and determination.

I had to admit...good point. I hate when that happens.

"Jesus, you're stubborn," I said, ignoring my own stubbornness. "Why don't we announce it over a P.A. system as we pull into your aunt's driveway?"

"There's no reason to be sarcastic," Maggie said.

"Oh, I beg to differ," I snapped back. Inwardly, I was beginning to enjoy the strolls down Sarcasm Lane with this feisty woman.

I was about to continue our debate when the doorbell rang. Maggie was still glaring at me as she walked away. I could hear Allison's dulcet tones all the way in the den.

"God, sweetie, you look awful," we heard Allison say. "We need to talk."

"We need to talk to you, too, Al," Maggie said as they came into the den.

Allison was shocked to see me "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Allison, we need your help," I said quickly.

She sneered at me. "You need my help? I doubt that."

"Al, please, sit down," Maggie said. Allison sat on the couch as Maggie sat on the ottoman facing her.

"Allison, we know you told Aunt Sarah about the glove and the possible DNA testing," Maggie started.

"What makes you think I told her that?" she asked.

"Because you knew about it all," I said. "Sarah didn't. You knew about the glove, Sarah didn't. You knew about the possibility of reopening the case, she didn't. When she talked to me about it all, I realized there was only one way she could have known and that's from you," I said evenly.

"All of this started happening when you got here," Allison yelled at me. "You ran Maggie over, you're the only one who saw the intruder, you were with Maggie when she got thrown from the horse. Maggie might think you're charming..."

"Oh, charming my ass!" I said vehemently. Charming? "You told Sarah, right or wrong?" I asked, not looking at Maggie.

"Yes, I told Sarah, she's onto you as well." Allison now stood over me.

I tried to get up, but Maggie stepped between us.

"Allison, you told Sarah? Why?" Hannah asked.

Allison said nothing, but her shoulders sagged. She looked at Maggie and she softened, but still she said nothing.

I knew why. I said quietly, "Because Allison cares a great deal for Maggie and Sarah used Allison to find out what I knew. She told Allison I was the cause for all this and I shouldn't be trusted. Allison seized the opportunity to protect Maggie and get me out of the way, any way she could. So she listened to Sarah, thinking she was doing the right thing."

I looked at Allison, who sat down and stared at the ceiling. "That's absolutely right," was all she said.

Maggie sat back on the ottoman and took Allison's hands and held them. Allison looked at Maggie with tears in her eyes.

"Someone tried to kill Kate," Maggie said. "They broke into my house. They killed Bedford. Al, what do you know? We need your help."

"I thought I was protecting you," Allison said in a small voice.

I felt bad for her. She had no clue what she had done.

"I know. Now you can help. Tell us what you know," Maggie pleaded with her.

Allison took a deep breath. "Sarah asked me to stay close, and if I overheard anything, I was to tell her. She said she was trying to figure this thing out as well, and we shouldn't trust a stranger. So I agreed. That's all. She never confided in me. Although..." She trailed off.

"Although, what?" Maggie asked. "Please, Allison."

I said nothing, letting Maggie handle this one.

"Sarah told me that if I helped her solve this, she would make sure I was compensated," Allison said and stopped.

Okay, Maggie, please ask her...

"How would Aunt Sarah compensate you, Al?"

I could see the color rise in Allison's beautiful long neck. "Money. She promised to help me with my antique shop. Y-you know I'm having difficulties."

"Al, you could have come to me. I would have helped you," Maggie said and I heard the sincerity in her voice.

"Mags, we're not seeing each other anymore. How can I ask you for money?" Allison questioned in a quiet voice.

"Aunt Sarah, I'm afraid, is somehow involved in all this, Al," Maggie said. "We found a notebook in Bedford's apartment that really implicates her. We need your help now, to determine how deeply she's involved. It could even be that Uncle Nathan is involved as well."

Allison's head shot up at the statement. She looked from me to Maggie. "How can that be?"

Maggie looked over at me.

"There's a great deal going on here, Allison," I said. "Too much to go into now. You'll have to trust Maggie, and help her, not for me, but for Maggie's sake. Someone is trying to kill her."

"Allison, dear. For the sake of all of us and for all the years we've known each other, please listen to Kate," Hannah implored.

Allison sat back against the cushions of the couch and stared at nothing in particular. "What do you want me to do?"

"I need you to get Sarah out of her house for at least an hour this afternoon," I said.

Allison gave me a curious look. "Okay, I can call her and take her to lunch."

"Tell her Maggie told you that I found more evidence. That should do it," I said confidently. "Look, Allison, I know you and I got off on the wrong foot, but do you believe what we've said?" I asked.

"Yes, Kate I do. I-I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I can't believe I've been so blind," she looked at Maggie and smiled sadly.

"I would suggest that you go on as normally as possible. Tell Sarah what you think she needs to hear, but please be careful. One person is dead, and three others have been tossed around. So, please, don't take any chances with her. If she says or does anything strange, tell Maggie or Steve right away."

Allison agreed and took out her phone.

With Allison gone to get Sarah out of the way, we planned our mission. Mac and Teri returned from town. Steve had the evidence in the evidence locker at the police station.

"Well, let's put together a plan of attack," I said. "We'll get to the house and then, Hannah, you lead us to the right closets. We check out the rooms and we're gone. That's it. In and out as quick as we can." I looked at Hannah. "Right?"

She nodded. "R-right."

We all gave her a suspicious look. "Hannah, right?" I asked.

"Yes, yes. I said it would be fine. Don't make me nervous."

"Crap, this is going to be a nightmare. Okay, let's go. I suggest we walk, just in case."

The day was dark, gloomy and depressing. Although it had stopped raining, the thunder still rolled in the distance.

"Okay, please, let's all be careful not to disrupt anything. In and out," I urged as we walked down the path. I tried not to feel like as if I was leading a funeral procession.

They all agreed.

"No worries, we'll be fine. As long as they don't come back early," Mac said and I nodded.

We came to the clearing as Allison's car pulled away...perfect timing. We slowly walked up to the house and Hannah pulled out her keys. She turned with a gleeful smile.

"I feel like I'm, what is it called? Breaking and entering?"

"Don't kid yourself, that's exactly what we're doing. Even though you have the keys, Aunt Sarah would be highly aggravated right now if she saw us," Maggie said dryly. "So Aunt Hannah, please just let us in."

"Heavens, which key is it?" Hannah sighed and fumbled with the keys.

I felt ridiculous as the five of us stood crammed at the door.

"Hannah, may I?" I asked and took the keys from her. She pointed to the right key.

We slowly walked in and looked around. "Okay, Hannah, which room is Sarah's and Nathan's?" I asked.

Hannah looked up the stairs and hesitated. "Well, I think..." she started.

"You think? Aunt Hannah, don't you know?"

Hannah rang her hands. "Well, I thought I did. Don't make me nervous, Margaret," she said.

I rubbed my forehead. "Okay, okay, let's split up. Mac and Teri take the closets on the first floor. We'll go upstairs."

Teri and Mac nodded and went to the closet in the foyer. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms. "Okay, we each take one. Be careful," I said.

As we split up, Hannah and I started for the same bedroom, nearly bumping into each other. I gave her a helpless look.

"Sorry, dear," she mumbled and headed for the next room.

I quickly checked out the closet, searching every article of clothing. There were men's clothes but no jackets or coats. Actually, it looked like a spare room that wasn't actually used. There was a bed and dresser but nothing else of a personal nature.

From the hall, I heard Hannah exclaim. I dashed out to see her holding a silk scarf.

"I knew I gave this to Sarah!" she announced triumphantly.

I hung my head and Maggie patted my shoulder.

"Aunt Hannah, dear, please, we don't have time," Maggie said. "Now put that back exactly where you found it."

Hannah gave me a sheepish smile, which I acknowledged with a patient smile. She turned back into the room.

Maggie laughed and walked back to her room.

In a few minutes, Maggie called me. This better not be a borrowed pair of earrings.

Maggie held a man's jacket. I was exhilarated. Mac and Teri came up the stairs. Maggie was staring at us, amazed. Hannah came in behind us.

On the front of the double-breasted jacket were two rows of gold buttons; the top button, however, was missing. I was shocked. I hadn't expected to find anything.

"Where did you find this jacket?" I asked Maggie.

"It was thrown on the chair in the corner. I just picked it up," she said, stupefied.

I took the jacket and checked the pockets, then checked the lining. There were initials embroidered on the lining of the inside breast pocket: NAW in script.

"Nathan Alexander," Hannah supplied. "Oh, dear."

"Well, that answers that," I said.

"Okay, let's get out of here," Maggie said, shivering.

"We'll have to tell Steve. Leave the jacket; let's put it back the way you found it," I said and handed the jacket back to Maggie. " Exactly as you found it."

"Can't we take the jacket?" Teri asked.

"No. If we take it, they'll know we were here. We need an advantage and if they think they still have the upper hand, that's our advantage."