Up 2 No Good

Blink. Blink. Blink. Blink. That’s what the green light did, it blinked. In this small town there was only one traffic light and all it did was blink. Fred shook his head and moved on through the light. He got here a couple weeks ago to find an antique. Come to find out that antique was worth a lot. So he stuck around to see what other treasures he could find and so far he found nothing. What he needed was to get inside the barn, he was sure there are more goods hidden inside some where. After all that is where the original bull trinkets were found, he just didn’t know where. Fred stopped in the bakery often to try to get Maddie, the owner, to talk to him about the barn. So far though she wasn’t saying anything, maybe he thought he should try the fiancé Chase.

Chase watched as that man, Fred, drove through the green light. Chase didn’t trust him because Fred kept coming into the bakery asking questions and a couple nights ago Maddie caught him in the barn. Maddie didn’t have anything valuable in there and it was a giant open door but the man was still trespassing. Also Fred might have stolen something from Kay too but there wasn’t any proof, so Chase would keep an eye on him until he left.

“What cha doing?” Maddie asked Chase who stared blankly out the window.

“Just looking,” he replied turning to give her a hug and quick kiss.

“The pies are done but the diner doesn’t open for another thirty minutes, so what cha wanna do?” She said with a grin.

Emily opened the diner then sat down behind the cash register. Her feet were always sore and working at the diner being on her feet all day didn’t help. She was able to get put on the cash register and even got a chair. Her husband John didn’t like that she was still working but she liked to work and knew once the baby came it would become harder too. Emily always thought on the positive side though so she smiled and rubbed her belly thinking about the day she got to hold her baby girl. The door chimed a few seconds later and her twin brother Chase walked in delivering the pies from Nana’s Bakery.

“Whoa sis you look huge. Sure there aren’t twins in there?” He said chuckling.

“Don’t make me throw my shoe at you. But I do feel huge and my feet are killing me.” She replied.

“Then why not go home and rest. You deserve it.” He said putting the pies in the display case.

“I would, I mean John would like that I rest. But we are short staffed with everyone going on vacations and stuff.”

“Well why is everyone going on vacations now? Isn’t it busy season?”

“No busy season starts in a few weeks, but I will be on maternity leave then. So of course everyone decided to get their vacation time out the way now so they can cover for me. It’s no biggy though. Nikki will be back tomorrow and said she could help me as long as Maddie can handle the bakery.”

“I’m here too you know. Anytime you need me.” He said giving her a hug.

Maddie finished the morning baking and waiting for Fred to walk in. Every morning like clockwork he would come in, order something, then he would ask a bunch of questions about the barn. Maddie didn’t understand why he was so interested in the barn or where she found the bull that he bought at the auction. She wiped down the counter and put out the free cookie plate when the bell above the door dinged. Expecting Fred, Maddie put on a smile and turned towards the door.

“Hello… Oh you’re not…Welcome to Nana’s Place can I help you?” Maddie said to the stranger at the door.

“How do you know Fred?” He asked picking up a cookie and taking a bite.

“Fred? I don’t…”

“I know he comes in here!” He shouted and slammed his hands on the counter.

Maddie took a stepped back and calmly said, “Please calm down sir. I don’t know Fred he just comes in to buy pastries.”

“Yeah right! I know there is more going on, your donuts can’t be that good.” He said angrily.

Maddie was getting a little scared but she knew she couldn’t show it. So she stuck her chin out and held her head up and replied, “I assure you sir that is all he does. If you keep raising your voice at me I will call the police. Now can I help you with anything else?”

The door dinged again and Maddie breathed a sigh of relief until she realized it was Fred this time.

“What are you doing here Frank?” Fred asked.

“Just ordering some pastries Fred, what are you doing here?”

“Same. Maddie here makes the best baked goods around.”

“Yeah I bet,” Frank said walking towards Fred, “Let’s talk outside.”

Fred followed Frank outside and then led him to the alley between the two buildings.

“What are you really doing here Frank?”

“Checking on my old friend. What are you really doing here Fred?”

“Enjoying the nice little town and the nice people.”

“Let’s not play games, what scam are you playing?”

“No scam, just antiques.”

“I knew it. Those bulls you got are worth more and you are sticking around to see if you can find anything else. I want in.”

“I work alone.” Fred said walking away.

“I could tell everyone here who you really are and what you have done. We both already know about Kay and her accusations. We are both strangers to these people. So let’s work together so we can get the loot and get out of here.” Frank grinned.

“Fine. But I’m not splitting the money from the bulls.” Fred said then told Frank the story about the barn and how he was trying to get information from Maddie, the bakery owner.

“Ok well you tried talking to her. Let me.” Frank suggested.

“After what you pulled this morning I doubt she will let you in her bakery again. We need to come up with a plan to check out the barn.”

“How hard could it be to look through a barn.” Frank smirked.

“It has a security video system and not to mention it is the towns go to place for parties or whatever fun gathering. SO let’s make a plan.”

Chase walked down the street to the bakery like he did every day after work. Something felt different this time though; Maddie called him earlier and told him about the encounter with the strange man. Which made him more alert, he knew something was off with Fred and now another stranger comes into town. Chase didn’t like this one bit. He got the bakery and noticed the lights were all off. That is weird he thought, Maddie knew he was coming. He checked the door and it was locked but the closed sign wasn’t on the door. Maddie might of just forgot or something was wrong. Chase got out his key Maddie gave him and walked it. He smelled it first, something was burning. Chase ran into the kitchen and saw smoke coming from the ovens. He shut them off and looked around seeing what could of happened to Maddie. Chase found her mixing bowl knocked over and a trail of batter leading to the backdoor. Not good. He got out his phone to call his brother in law, the sheriff.

“Maddie is missing. There is evidence of a struggle at the bakery. John, I’m worried.” Chase said over the phone.

“I’m on my way.” John said hanging up.

A few seconds later John and Emily showed up and John looked around. “Are you sure she didn’t just leave?” John asked.

“She wouldn’t leave a mess.” Chase said.

“She wouldn’t leave something in the oven either.” Emily chimed in.

“I bet it was that guy that threatened her earlier. He was asking about Fred and the barn... Wait! Maybe that is where they took her.” Chase said walking out the door and towards his truck.

“Chase wait a minute. You don’t know for sure they took her and if they did how dangerous they can be. Or even if they are at the barn. Let me take Emily home and we can go together.”

“Fine but we need to hurry.”

Maddie looked around trying to focus on her surroundings. She was knocked on the head pretty hard so things were a little fuzzy. Her vision cleared and she realized she was at the barn. She heard arguing and tried to stand up but couldn’t she was tied to one of the stall posts. Maddie looked around trying to find a way out when Fred and Frank stood in front of her.

“Just tell us what we want to know and you can go” Frank snarled.

“What do you want?” Maddie replied.

“Where is the rest of the loot?”

“Loot?” Maddie said confused.

“Don’t act dumb with me. You found those prized bulls in this barn and we want to know where the rest of the good stuff is.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this and just leave.” Fred suggested and Frank gave him a dirty look.

“I don’t know what good stuff you are talking about. Besides I don’t know where the bulls were found, Chase found them not me.” Maddie said noticing movement behind them outside.

“See I told ya. We should of left her alone!” Fred yelled.

“Alright you stay here with her and I will go find the boy.”

“No need I’m right here.” Chase said walking through the barn door. He looked over and saw Maddie tied up with a big gash on her head. He started to walk towards her when Frank cut him off.

“Show us the goods and you can have ya girl back.” Frank snarled.

“I can show you where I found them but I don’t know if anything else is there.” Chase said walking closer to Maddie which Maddie thought was odd because the hidden storm cellar was the other way. Then she saw them, John and his team were closing in around them. In a blink of an eye Chase covered her body while John come in the door, Frank held up his gun, which she didn’t know he had, and Fred surrendered laying on the floor with his arms out. John didn’t shoot Frank but told him to lower his weapon. Frank realized he was out numbered and dropped his gun. John got his men to cuff him and called the medic for Maddie. Chase untied her and gave her a hug.

“You okay?” He asked embracing her.

“Yeah just a little dizzy. Thanks for showing up,” She smiled.

“Always,” He said giving her a kiss.

The medics showed up and put a bandage on her wound and told her to get checked out at the hospital. Chase drove Maddie after they gave their statements to John.

“Maybe we should go through the rest of the boxes in the bunker. Who knows what’s in there.” Maddie said getting in the truck.

“Yeah we just been busy lately and we still have a wedding to plan.”

“Let’s just get married. I don’t need anything fancy. I love you and you love me, that’s all that matters.”

“What about family and friends?”

“My family is already here,” she said pointing to her heart, “And Nikki will be back tomorrow. As for friends they live in this town anyway and you know how fast things get around here.”

“Well ok then. How does this weekend sound?” He said grinning. Maddie smiled back and they headed to the hospital.