by Diane Capri
I tossed the business card on the table, not one hundred percent sure I wanted to risk it. I took another sniff of the flowers and sighed. They were beautiful, whoever sent them.
Another knock at my door. Ginny walked in, fully glammed up. She had the best eyeliner skills. I could never get it right. I always ended up looking like an Egyptian at Halloween.
“Ready to go?” she asked.
“Um, go where?”
“To the bar. It’s our girls’ night out, remember?”
“Ginny, I—”
She spotted the flowers and grinned. “Oh my God, who sent you these?” She smelled them, then grabbed the little notecard and read it. “A secret admirer?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe Daniel?”
I shrugged, not wanting her to know how much I wanted the sender to be Daniel. “Maybe.”
“Sheriff Jackson?”
I frowned. “Why on earth would the sheriff send me flowers?”
She made a face. “I don’t know. I’m just tossing out the names of the men in your life. It’s a pretty short list.” She snorted out a laugh in her adorable way.
“The sheriff would most definitely not send me flowers. Not even if I was laid up in the hospital. Probably not even to my funeral.”
“Well, whoever it was spent a pretty penny. Arrangements like these are not cheap.” She smelled the flowers again and then regarded me. “You don’t look like you’re ready to go out.”
“I’m not sure—”
“You’re going. Period. There is no argument you can make, Counselor, that would deter me from forcing you to come to the bar with me for a few drinks.”
I looked at her eager face and relented. “Fine.”
“Yay!” She clapped her hands. “So, let’s get you ready.”
I glanced down at the simple slacks and blouse I was wearing. “What’s wrong with what I have on?”
“We don’t have that kind of time. So, I’ll just help you out.” She went up the steps to my bedroom and opened the wardrobe. She pulled out a cute, short, flowered dress that I was saving for a special occasion. “This will do.”
A half hour later, I was expertly made up. My makeup was understated but did amazing things to my eyes and cheekbones. Ginny had twisted my hair into a messy bun, with a few tendrils framing my face. She said the look was like catnip to guys who would want desperately to tuck those stray hairs behind my ears. No wonder she had so many dates. She had flirtation down to a science.
Chapter 10
We walked down to the village. It wasn’t far, maybe fifteen minutes. Ginny wanted to go to the Swan Song, which was at the far end of Main Street. She claimed there was “better clientele” there than at the Victoria, which was across the street from Daisy’s place. What she really meant was there were younger men at the Swan. The median age at the Victoria was likely around fifty. It didn’t matter to me, as I had no intention of flirting with anyone.
The walk down Main was always pleasant. It was a great place to people watch—this was where most of the tourists congregated—and an opportunity to window shop. Now that my bank account was slightly healthier, I wanted to buy some new shoes. The last three pair were ruined by circumstances beyond my control. My body did a little quiver just thinking about the last one. Watching a screaming woman I barely knew give birth was not my idea of a good time.
I stopped at several boutiques along the way, ignoring Ginny’s urgency to get to the Swan. First stop was Envy, which was a high-end dress shop. It’s where I had sent a mother of the bride-to-be recently when she had ruined her dress. They had some great dresses and cute shoes, but nothing jumped out at me. Next up was Color Me Red. There were a lot of flowy, gauzy blouses and shifts on the racks. Jasmine incense burned on the front counter, filling up the shop with a light, flowery scent. I had a feeling Ginny shopped here often. When we walked in, both clerks screamed her name and gave her a hug. All I found on the shoe racks were platforms and ballet flats, neither of which would work very well for a concierge who spends her days on her feet.
The final store was called Blossom Boutique. The décor was Victorian and rustic. Lots of pink and frills on the walls and tables. Along one wall were shelves of shoes, and I found the perfect pair of strappy white sandals. Snagged my size, bought them. It was the first extravagant purchase I’d made in a long time. It felt good to have the cash to pay for it. I was starting to feel like my old self again. Strong and independent.
With my new purchase in a cute pink paper bag, I followed Ginny into the Swan. I’d been here once before, nosing around…well, asking about a potential witness and whether she had worked here or not. So I really didn’t get a chance to absorb the full experience. It was definitely lively, lots of happy people jammed together in two small rooms. We pushed our way slowly to the bar because Ginny got stopped now and then by different patrons, and ordered drinks. A Guinness for Ginny and a lemon drop martini garnished with a tiny yellow rose for me.
Drinks in hand, we made our way to the far side of the bar where Ginny spied a table in the corner. We sat, clinked glasses, and took a much-needed sip of our respective drinks. I actually sighed.
“You see,” Ginny said, “you needed this.”
“I did. Thank you.” I took another sip, relishing the warmth that spread over my limbs. It had been a long while since I’d enjoyed a nice quiet drink, and I worried—a little—that the alcohol would hit me hard. But right now, I didn’t care. I just wanted to relax and savor this moment with my best friend.
We chatted about everything and anything. It was nice to not have to think about my legal issues, my job problems, or how I’d just happened to come across another dead body in such a short span of time. Ginny made me laugh, and by the time I finished my martini, I was feeling light and floaty.
“Should we have another?” Ginny asked, already getting to her feet to walk over to the bar.
“Why not?”
Two full glasses—one a beer and the other a martini—were suddenly plunked down onto our table. I looked up to see Clinton, one of the guys who had installed a new patio door for me when someone had thrown a rock through the glass. This was during the first murder scandal.
“Here you go, ladies,” he said cheerfully.
Ginny’s grin was huge. “Clinton! I didn’t know you’d be here.”
But I suspected that wasn’t true and she’d known exactly when Clinton would be there. That’s why she’d insisted on this pub, at this time. I should have known.
But I didn’t mind. Ginny positively glowed as she chatted with him. Who was I to interfere with that? She deserved to find love. In the past, she’d had a bad run with men. They never seemed to treat her very well. It made me sad when she always blamed herself for the failing relationships when she simply had an unfortunate talent for choosing the wrong men.
I happily sipped on my second martini as Ginny flirted with Clinton. I loved that he made her giggle and she’d lightly touch his arm. I had a feeling that I was going to be walking back to the hotel alone.
A man slid into the chair beside me, and I turned to see Karl Neumann, brother to Dr. Neumann, making himself comfortable on my left. “It’s Andi, right?”
“It is. And you’re Karl.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Did you get your place all fixed?”
“I did.” He laughed. “Thanks for remembering.”
“Kind of hard to forget.” It seemed like only yesterday—I’d witnessed him during a fistfight that had damaged his apartment and ended in a parking lot.
“Can I buy you another drink to thank you for stopping Nathan from pounding the ever-loving snot out of me?”
I laughed and pointed toward my nearly full martini. “No, but thanks. Two’s my limit. I’m good.”
“Some other time, maybe?”
“Maybe.”
He tipped his head to me then headed to the bar, sliding onto a stool next to a pretty brunette in short shorts and a tank to
p. I thought I recognized her but couldn’t put my finger on exactly where I’d seen her before. Must have been the alcohol clouding my brain. Which meant it was time to get some sleep.
I grabbed Ginny’s hand. “I’m going home.”
“No, stay for one more.”
“I’ve had enough. I’ve got to work tomorrow, you know.” I glanced at Clinton; he only had eyes for Ginny. “You two enjoy yourselves.”
“I can come with you.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine to walk back on my own. It’s not even that dark out.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I am.” Standing, I bent down and kissed her forehead. “Be safe.”
“You, too.”
I grabbed my shoe bag and made my way outside. I took in a deep breath and smiled. I would never get tired of that refreshing lake scent. It filled me with a joy I hadn’t even realized I was missing.
Wrapping my arms around myself to ward off a little chill, I started the walk back to the hotel. The streets were still hopping with locals and tourists. There were several restaurants and entertainment establishments along Main Street that were filled to the brim. The sounds of music and laughter spilled out onto the street.
I was just past the Frontenac Island Bubbles Soap Company when my cell phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my purse and looked at the caller ID. Unknown. I answered anyway. Two lemon drop martinis, and I was already throwing caution to the wind.
“Hello?”
At first, I thought the caller had hung up. All I heard was dead air. But then the faint exhalation of breath caught my ear, and I took a wild guess at the nature of the call.
“Seriously?” I said. “Do desperate man-boys still make obscene phone calls nowadays?”
“Been thinking about you, Andi.”
Then he disconnected.
I froze on the sidewalk and looked around. Was I being watched? The call unnerved me, and I thought about turning down the next street and going to the sheriff’s station. But I shook that thought away. It was nothing. Just some dude being a jerk. I wasn’t in any danger.
Or maybe I was lying to myself.
As I walked quickly up the road, my gaze darted into the creeping shadows along the buildings and back alleys as a precaution. I had no idea what I’d do if someone attacked me.
Chapter 11
“Good morning,” I said to the twentysomething brunette woman in big, dark sunglasses leaning on the concierge desk. “How may I help you today?”
“Well,” she took off her sunglasses and smiled. Her eyes were a bit glassy. She’d obviously had a wild evening. “I’m getting married.”
“Congratulations, Miss…?”
“Melanie Lawson.”
I did some fast typing into my computer and found her room number. I narrowed my eyes at her. I recognized her from the pub last night. She had been seated at the bar alone for a while until Karl Neumann slid onto the stool beside her.
I also recognized her from when she checked in with three other young women yesterday. They were on some kind of after-college party, they’d said. I didn’t remember any mention of a wedding, and her parents were VIPs at the Park. Because of their stature, I was sure I’d have heard a lot more about her wedding long before now. “When is the big day?”
“That’s where you come in,” she said.
I stared at her, wide-eyed in anticipation, waiting for the punchline because I knew there was going to be one.
“I want to get married tonight.”
And there it was.
“I see.” I smiled, stalling. “And you want to get married here. At the hotel.”
She nodded. “Yeah, in the maze.”
I tried to keep my eyebrows from rising with concern, but they had a mind of their own and sometimes acted independently. My voice clicked up an octave. “In the hedge maze in our garden?”
She nodded again, even more enthusiastically this time. “It will be so cool. I’ll come in from one end, and he’ll come in from the other, and we’ll meet in the middle at the gazebo and say our vows. It’s totally going to be video recorded, and I’ll post it on my Instagram.” She leaned further over the counter as if she wanted to share a secret with me. “I have over one hundred thousand followers. I’m kind of a big deal.”
“I’m sure you are.” I didn’t let my smile waver, especially since Samuel was hovering around nearby. I didn’t see him, but I could sense his presence. A VIP’s daughter wanted a flash wedding at the Park. It was the kind of thing Samuel would demand to be informed about. “So, I imagine you’ll be needing a dress? And bridesmaid dresses?”
“Yes, and they need to be old-timey.”
“Old-timey?”
“Yeah, like from the 1800s or something like that.”
“Is that a personal preference, or is there some significance I should know?”
“My man is totally into old stuff. He’s like some historian or something. Real smart-like.”
It was all starting to dawn on me, and I didn’t like where this was going. “What is your fiancé’s name?”
“Karl Neumann. Do you know him?”
I clenched my jaw, trying not to let my mouth fall open in disbelief. “Yes, I know Karl.”
“He’s awesome, isn’t he?”
How should I respond to that? I cleared my throat to avoid choking. “Oh yes, he’s something all right.”
“So, can this all happen, or what? You can charge everything to the room. My parents will pay.”
“I will certainly do my best for you, Miss Lawson.” I glanced up to see Samuel openly watching me now from twenty feet away so he could hear the conversation as well. I slid a pen and pad of paper over to her. “If you could just give me your cell phone number and tell me your size, and how many bridesmaids and their sizes. I’m sure I can find you some exquisite dresses for the wedding.”
She eagerly jotted down the information. “Oh my God, you are totally the best. I’m going to leave you a huge tip when I check out.”
Once I had all the information I needed, I sent her on her way with a promise to call her once I had the dresses and the wedding nuptials organized. I also needed to call a justice of the peace and book the garden maze for a few hours.
As soon as she left, Samuel approached my desk. “What was that all about?”
“Melanie Lawson. She’s getting married here. Tonight, she says.”
He gave me the usual stink eye. “Where are her parents?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. They haven’t checked in, have they?”
He turned on his heel and left without another word.
I was definitely going to need help with this one. For more than one reason.
First, I called Ginny. “I need to see you ASAP.”
Ten minutes later, she crossed the busy lobby from the offices and came up to the desk. “What’s up?”
“I need to plan a wedding. To take place in seven hours.”
“For who?”
“One of the guests. Melanie Lawson.”
Her eyes went wide. “No way-ay! I know the Lawson family. They come here often. They are, like, uber rich. Why didn’t they let us know? A Lawson wedding will be big, big news here and everywhere. Who is she marrying?”
“Karl Neumann.”
Now her jaw dropped open. Gaping mouth, wide eyes, the whole bit. She didn’t say anything for a second or two, then the delayed response fairly leapt from her mouth. “What? You’re kidding!”
“Nope, that’s what she told me.”
“No way. Karl is not engaged. That news would’ve been the talk of the town.”
I made a face. “I think maybe they just met last night.”
“What?!” Her voice went up a few octaves. “Oh, my God!”
People turned to look at us. Lane at the front reception desk frowned, as did Samuel, who was standing nearby with a cell phone held to his ear. He was probably calling the Lawsons right that very minute.
I ju
st knew he was still lurking.
“Keep your voice down,” I said.
“Sorry. It’s just…what the hell?”
“I saw her last night at the bar, and I saw Karl hit on her. You were talking to Clinton.”
“Unbelievable. There is no way her parents are going to agree to this.” She shook her head. “What are you going to do? Are you going to plan the wedding?”
“Well, she’s legally an adult, old enough to make her own decisions. And she is a guest and I am the concierge, and according to your grandpa, I should do everything in my power to help the guests no matter what.”
“Andi…if this backfires and the Lawsons cause a stink, which they will, you’re done here. Samuel will be livid. Lois, too, for that matter. You know that, right?”
“Why does everything blow back on me? I was just standing here, minding my own business, when Melanie Lawson dropped this bomb in my lap. How is that my fault?” I gave her a look. But she was genuinely horrified about the wedding, so I knocked my indignation down a couple of notches. “What do you take me for? Of course I’m going to go into town and have a little chat with Karl, on the pretense of finding Melanie and her bridesmaids the perfect old-timey dresses.”
She practically sighed with relief and patted my arm. “I knew you would do the right thing.”
“So, how was your last night?”
Ginny blushed. “Good.”
“How good?” She blushed harder, and I shook my head.
She cleared her throat. “Did you get back okay?”
“Yeah, the walk was pleasant and uneventful.” I kept the anonymous creepy phone call to myself. I didn’t want to worry her. Also, I didn’t want to admit that I had almost jogged all the way back to the hotel. Or that I had dead-bolted the lock on my door and made sure my patio door was secure. And certainly not that I had slept with all the lights on all night.
Chapter 12
An hour later, I was heading down to the village—to the historical society, specifically. I hoped I could find Karl and find out exactly what the heck was going on. When I reached the old stone building, I saw that the door was shut, and there was a sign that read: Be back in ten minutes. I tried the handle and found it was locked up tight. I went around back to the stairs that led up to Karl’s apartment, which was on the second floor.