Criminal Crumbs by Jessica Beck

the rest of us.”
    “But Celia’s eliminated as a suspect, isn’t she?” she said, brightening a little. “Why would she set a trap that might just as easily have gotten her as me?”
    “Sorry, but her name has to stay on our list,” I said. “She was yawning well before I started, and yet she’s still at the lodge. That makes me think that it’s possible that she set this trap for you herself and then waited for you to fall for it. As far as I’m concerned, she has to still be a suspect.”
    “I don’t know what to do,” Nicole said.
    “Watch your back at all times, and try not to take too many chances,” I said.
    “I wish I could stay with you and Grace tonight,” she said.
    “There’s barely room for the two of us, but if you’d like, I’m sure we can work something out.”
    Nicole seemed to consider that, but then she shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ll do what I’d planned to all along. I’d look like an idiot if I changed things at the last second.”
    “Don’t be too hasty. The more I think about you staying with us, the more I believe that it might be the best thing that you could do,” I said. “We might not get any real sleep tonight, but at least no one will be able to come after you without going through Grace and me first.”
    “Let me think about it,” Nicole said.
    “Fine, but I have a feeling that once Grace hears what just happened, she’s not going to let it rest.”
    Nicole put her hands in mine for a moment. “Suzanne, do we really have to tell anybody else about what just happened?”
    “Why should we keep it a secret?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe it will throw the killer off if we don’t even react to it.”
    I supposed that it was possible, and honestly, what could it hurt? “Okay, on one condition. I get to tell Grace once I see her again.”
    “Does she really have to know?” Nicole asked.
    “It’s the only way I’ll agree to the plan,” I answered.
    “Fine. But wait until she comes back to your room tonight. Would you at least do that for me?”
    “I suppose I can concede that point.” I picked up my flashlight, took the small piece of wood I’d chosen for a weapon, and then I said, “Grab your computer, and let’s go back to the lodge.”
    “Are you coming back, too?”
    “Just as far as the front door,” I said. “I’m going to make sure you make it okay, and then I’m going back to Hemlock.”
    “You don’t have to do that,” Nicole said as she hesitated at the chunk of wood someone had tried to use against her, and then she finally picked it up.
    “What are you going to do with that?” I asked her.
    “I’m putting it out on the porch. The sight of it gives me the creeps.” She did as she promised, and then we left the cottage together, being sure to lock the door behind us this time.
    On a whim, when we approached Hemlock’s front door, I tested the handle and was relieved to see that it was still locked. Nicole didn’t comment on it, and we walked back to the lodge’s front door together.
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to go inside with you?” I asked her.
    “I’m positive. You mustn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
    “Okay, but like I said before, don’t take any chances. When Grace comes back to Hemlock, you go with her, no matter what else might happen. Will you promise me that much?”
    “I promise. I have no desire to walk down that gravel path alone and in the dark,” she said. “Thanks for looking out for me, Suzanne.”
    “My pleasure,” I said.
    After Nicole disappeared inside, I stood there debating whether I should rejoin them all despite how tired I was, but finally, I decided that it might not be the best idea. If I did something that counterintuitive, the killer might realize that I was in on Nicole’s plan to keep the attempt to harm her quiet, and that might make me a target as well. It wasn’t that I was afraid of getting a murderer’s attention; goodness knows that I’d done that enough