by Sarah Fox
I was glad he’d come up with a succinct answer. I wasn’t sure what Ambrose would think if I’d given him the full explanation. He might have found it odd that we’d chosen to sit around in the cold on the off chance we could catch a thief.
Maybe it was odd. It wasn’t something Brett would have done on his own. He’d likely decided to humor me, not wanting me to go by myself and knowing I’d have trouble settling if I didn’t at least try to catch the thief.
“Any news about the murder investigation?” I asked, getting to the reason why I’d stopped to talk to Ambrose.
“Not really,” he said. “I called Rita yesterday to see how she was holding up. The police have been giving her a hard time.”
“Do they think she killed Kevin?” Brett asked.
Ambrose shrugged. “They sure asked her a lot of questions.”
“That might just be routine,” I said.
“They have to look at the family members,” Brett added.
Ambrose frowned. “I get that, but they’re wasting their time.”
“You think she’s innocent?” I surmised.
“I think others are far more likely to be guilty.”
“Such as?” I hoped he’d say more.
“Harvey,” Ambrose said. “Remember what Lily told us about him?”
“He argued with Kevin,” Brett said.
Ambrose nodded. “Exactly. And I’ve heard a rumor that he was seen outside in the middle of the night.”
“That’s true,” I said, wondering how he’d found out about that. “It was me who saw him. I looked out the window just after two. He was out on snowshoes.”
Ambrose shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Sounds suspicious to me.”
“How well do you know Harvey?” I asked, remembering that Ambrose had been to Holly Lodge several times. “Do you really think he could be a killer?”
“I don’t know him very well. I’ve seen him around every time I’ve stayed at the lodge, but he mostly keeps to himself. It seems weird that he was out on snowshoes in the middle of the night.”
“Maybe he couldn’t sleep,” I suggested. “Just like Lily.”
“Lily wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Ambrose said quickly, jumping to her defense.
“I wasn’t suggesting that she would.” I didn’t add that I hadn’t discounted the idea entirely. I wasn’t surprised that Ambrose believed in her innocence, though. “I heard you were hoping to hold writing retreats at the lodge.”
Ambrose frowned. “That’s not likely to happen now. Unless it’s a really small one.”
“Rita didn’t share Kevin’s intention to expand the lodge?” Brett asked.
“She was against it from the start,” Ambrose replied.
I wondered if I should ask if him if he knew what Rita might have been talking to Wilson about shortly before Brett and I had left Holly Lodge. He didn’t give me the chance.
“Sorry. I’ve got to get moving. It’s too cold to stand around.”
“It is,” I agreed. “Sorry to keep you. Will you be at the town light up tomorrow night?”
“No, that’s not my kind of thing. I don’t like crowds.” He was already turning away from us.
“Enjoy your time at the beach,” I said.
Ambrose mumbled his thanks and then strode off down the road. A moment later he flicked on a flashlight and turned onto a pathway that would take him to the beach.
Brett and I wasted no time getting back into the truck. It was cold in the cab again, but not as cold as outside. This time, we drove home without stopping. We left the icy air behind when we got into the house, but I wasn’t able to do the same with all my questions about Kevin’s death.
Chapter Fifteen
Before any customers arrived at The Flip Side the next morning, I parked myself at the desk in the office and did a quick Internet search on Wilson Gerrard. I’d dreamed about him during the night, although I wished I hadn’t. All I could remember from the dream was Wilson laughing maniacally while looming over Lily, who was trying—without much success—to write a book despite the distraction of the unnerving laughter. I didn’t know if the dream had any deep meaning, but it left me thinking about the unpleasant man and I wanted to find out more about him.
Both Lily and Ambrose had said that the plans for Holly Lodge’s expansion had died along with Kevin. Maybe they believed that to be true, but I couldn’t shake the memory of Rita’s discussion with Wilson in the lodge’s dining room. It had sounded like it was business-related, like they were working on a deal of some sort, and I wasn’t yet completely convinced that Rita hadn’t changed her mind about expanding. It was also possible that she wanted to sell Holly Lodge now that Kevin was gone.
Rita certainly seemed like the one with the most to gain from Kevin’s death. Whether she kept the lodge, enjoying full control over it, or sold it for what would probably be a good price, she had a motive for wanting her husband out of the way, especially since they’d had their troubles. Wilson also had a motive, though. Kevin had refused to sell the lodge to him. Whether it was true or not, maybe the real estate developer believed he’d have a better chance of buying Holly Lodge with Kevin dead.
It was easy to find Wilson’s website as well as several other mentions of him online. None of what I read gave me much insight into his character or the likelihood that he could be a killer. I scoured the Internet for more information, but all I really learned was that he already owned a couple of chalets up in the mountains, which he rented out to people on vacation.
I gave up, fighting back a sense of frustration at how little progress I’d made toward figuring out who’d killed Kevin. In theory, I could have minded my own business and left the crime-solving to Sheriff Walczyk. Anyone who knew me would have laughed at that idea, though. It was pointless for me to try to forget about an unsolved mystery.
I had to push Kevin’s murder to the back of my mind for the time being, however. The pancake house was packed during the breakfast rush, so I helped out Leigh and Sienna with serving customers.
I was happy to see that many diners had ordered the newest menu items that had been added on a seasonal basis. The gingerbread muffins, pumpkin scones, and cinnamon pancakes received great reviews and I had to promise several people that I’d pass on their praise to Ivan and Tommy. The compliments got a grin out of Tommy and a slightly eased scowl out of Ivan.
“Hey,” I said to Sienna when our paths crossed in the kitchen, “how’s Lily’s book?”
She set a load of dirty dishes on the counter. “I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I forgot I had a book to read for English class. It’s almost five hundred pages!” She made a face. “And I have to write an essay on it for next Friday. I probably won’t get a chance to read Lily’s book till then.”
If we hadn’t been so busy, I would have asked which book she had to read for class. Even without knowing, I sympathized with her. I’d always been an avid reader, but I hadn’t always enjoyed the books I’d had to read in school.
The breakfast rush finally slowed around midmorning, shortly before Chloe showed up. I’d texted her the night before, asking if she could meet up with me today. I hoped she wouldn’t mind too much when I asked her about Kyle.
“It’s chilly out there,” Chloe said as she shrugged out of her jacket when we reached the office.
I figured it was better to chat in there, out of earshot of anyone else.
“Let’s get you something to warm you up.” I hung her jacket on the coat stand in the corner. “Coffee?”
“Please.” She rubbed her hands together.
“What about food?”
She considered the question for a second. “Those cinnamon pancakes I had a couple of weeks ago were amazing.”
I took a step toward the door, intending to head for the kitchen.
“But,” Chloe c
ontinued, “the pumpkin scones are incredible too. How do I decide?”
“I think I have a solution,” I said with a smile.
I left her there in the office and made a quick trip to the kitchen. When I returned, I was carrying a mug of hot coffee with added cream and sugar for Chloe, a cup of tea for myself, and a small paper bag. Once I’d set my tea on the desk, I handed the coffee and the bag to Chloe.
“Two pumpkin scones to go. Ivan’s cooking the pancakes as I speak.”
A smile lit up her face. “You’re the best, Marley.”
“I hope your opinion’s not about to change.” I sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk and invited Chloe to take the other.
“Uh oh. What does that mean?” she asked, eyeing me with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
I decided not to beat around the bush. “I saw you and Kyle together at the Santa Shack last night.”
Understanding dawned on her face. “I see. And now you want all the juicy details.”
I was glad to see she was smiling, her eyes bright. “Guilty as charged.”
“But why didn’t you say hi?”
“I didn’t want to interrupt you guys. You looked very…cozy.”
A hint of pink showed on Chloe’s cheeks. “That’s not a bad way to describe it.” She blew on her coffee before taking a sip.
“You know I’m dying here, right?” I said.
She gave me a wicked smile before taking another sip of coffee. “It was our third date,” she said at last.
Words tumbled out of my mouth. “When was the first? How did this even happen? Have there always been sparks between you?”
Chloe laughed again. “Don’t hold back with the questions or anything, Marley.”
“Sorry,” I said, only slightly contrite. “You know I can’t help myself. I’m nosy by nature.”
“To be fair, I’d be doing the same to you if our positions were reversed.”
My gaze strayed to the door. “As much as I want to hear the answers to my questions, I’d better go check on our pancakes first.”
I hurried to the kitchen, eager to get back to my conversation with Chloe. Within a couple of minutes, I’d returned to the office with a plate of cinnamon pancakes for each of us.
We immediately dug in. Chloe cut off a piece of pancake and sighed with happiness as she bit into it. I savored the first bite of my own pancakes, trying to be patient.
“To answer your questions,” Chloe said finally, “we had our first date two weeks ago. I ended up on the side of the highway with a flat tire on my way home from work one day. Kyle was patrolling the area and stopped to help. He changed the tire for me and he called me later that day to make sure I’d made it home without any further mishaps.”
“That was nice of him. Is that when he asked you out?” I considered another possibility. “Or did you ask him out?”
“He asked. And yes, it was during the phone call. It took me by surprise a bit, but I didn’t hesitate when I said yes. To be honest, I’d never really thought about him in that way before.”
“But now that you do…?”
Her cheeks turned pink again. “I don’t want to jinx things, but so far things have been great.”
I jumped up from my chair and gave her a one-armed hug while trying to keep my pancakes from sliding off the plate.
“I’m so happy for you.”
Chloe hadn’t always had the best relationships in the past, so I was glad she was seeing Kyle, who I knew was a really good guy. Chloe was one of the nicest people I’d ever met. She deserved someone who appreciated her.
“Don’t get too carried away,” she warned. “We’ve only had three dates.”
“I know.” I sat down again. “But I like that you’re happy.”
“So do I.” She eyed me over her coffee cup as she took another sip. “I’m guessing Brett saw me with Kyle too.”
“He didn’t, but he knows that I did.”
“He’s not going to go all big brother on me, is he?” she asked with apprehension.
“I think I talked him out of that.”
“Thank you,” she said, relieved. “I love him, but I don’t need him getting all overprotective.”
I bit down on my lower lip. “Do you mind that we know?”
“Not at all. It’s impossible to keep a secret for long in this town. And it’s not like Kyle and I want to keep it a secret. We just wanted a chance to spend some time with each other before the whole town started gossiping about us.”
“I understand completely. I’ll keep my lips sealed.” I pretended to zip them shut.
“You probably don’t need to. If you saw me with Kyle, someone else who knows me probably did too. I’ll tell my parents tonight. I’m sure they’d rather hear it from me than through the grapevine.”
“They like Kyle, right?”
“I think so. They don’t have any reason not to. They get along well with his parents too.” She cut another piece off her stack of pancakes. “But enough about me. Have you solved the murder yet?”
“Not even close.” I remembered something. “You said you know Rita’s daughter, Zahra.”
“Mmhmm,” Chloe confirmed as she enjoyed a bite of pancake.
“Have you been in touch with her since Kevin’s death?”
“Only to express my condolences, but I was planning to check in on her this weekend.” She gave me a knowing look. “You’re wondering if she knows anything about her stepfather’s murder.”
I gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m really predictable, aren’t I?”
Laughter shone in her blue eyes. “When it comes to mysteries, anyway.”
“So, do you think it’s possible?” I asked after I finished off my tea. “I know she doesn’t live at Holly Lodge full-time, and she arrived after we found Kevin’s body, but could there still be a chance that she’d know something?”
Chloe thought for a second. “I guess she might know if Kevin had any trouble with someone.”
“How did Zahra get along with Kevin?”
Chloe’s gaze sharpened. “You don’t think she could have killed him, do you? Zahra’s not a killer, and you said yourself that she didn’t arrive at Holly Lodge until after Kevin was dead.”
“That’s true.” I hesitated, wondering if I should voice my thoughts. In the end, I went ahead. “I’m not saying Zahra did kill Kevin, but I saw her arrive at Holly Lodge, and she was acting like she didn’t want anyone to see her.”
Chloe set her empty plate on the desk and held her coffee mug in both hands. “I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation. Besides, why would she not want to be seen arriving at the lodge after Kevin’s death if she killed him? Wouldn’t she want people to notice, so she’d look innocent?”
“Good point,” I conceded.
Chloe was most likely right that Zahra had nothing to do with the murder, but I still couldn’t help wondering why she’d acted sneaky when she arrived at Holly Lodge. I knew I might never find out, though. I tried not to let that irk me too much. I wasn’t always good at letting go of unanswered questions.
“Do you have any plans to see Zahra soon?” I asked.
“Let me guess, you’d like a chance to talk to her.”
“Not to accuse her of anything,” I said quickly. “Just to see if she knows anything helpful. But I wouldn’t want to upset her in any way.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” Chloe said. “I think if we were straight with her, and told her you have a knack for solving mysteries, she’d probably be happy to talk to you.”
“Really?” My hopes rose.
“I’ll get in touch with her this weekend,” Chloe promised. “Maybe she’ll be willing to come down to Wildwood Cove. But I’m going to be completely honest about why I’m asking.”
“That’s a good idea. And i
f she doesn’t want to talk to me, I totally understand.”
Chloe took one last sip of coffee before setting her mug on her plate. “I’ll text you as soon as I talk to her.” She stood up. “Thanks for the food, Marley, and the company.”
I got up and gave her a hug. “I’m glad you were able to come by. Any plans for the rest of the weekend?”
“Maybe,” she said with a smile.
“Another date?” I figured that was a good guess.
“Kyle and I are going to the Festival of Trees later this afternoon.” She paused for a second. “I guess that means I should go straight over to see my parents and tell them I’m dating him. Once we show up at the festival together, the whole town’s going to know.”
“That’s true. The cat will definitely be out of the bag. And I might see you there. I’m hoping to stop by later.”
I walked Chloe out and then returned to work, wondering if Zahra had some valuable information and if she’d be willing to share it.
Chapter Sixteen
After The Flip Side had closed for the day, I texted Brett to see if he was interested in going to the Festival of Trees with me. It was the first official day of the event, and although I’d already seen most of the trees, I still wanted to take in the holiday atmosphere and check out how everything had come together. Brett was working with Pedro’s crew again, but he responded to my message within an hour. He wanted to go with me, so we arranged to meet at home shortly after five.
That gave me some time to kill, but I didn’t mind. Bentley needed a walk, and I was craving some time on the beach. The weather was chilly once again, frost still visible in places, but I needed to breathe in some fresh air and listen to the waves breaking on shore. Sometimes I wondered how I’d managed to live so many years in the city, without spending time by the ocean on a daily basis. Living on the beach made me feel much more settled, more at peace. Of course, Brett and all the other great people in my life contributed to that as well. Moving to Wildwood Cove was the best thing I could have done. I’d never regretted the decision, not even for a second.
As soon as I got home, I let Bentley out the back door. He zoomed out onto the porch and down the steps to the yard, his tail wagging. Flapjack and I followed close behind him. Flapjack jumped up onto the porch railing and settled in to watch whatever birds might fly past. I tugged my hat down farther over my ears and zipped my jacket right up to the top. The tall, dry grass at the top of the beach bent and swayed in the cold breeze. Whitecaps topped the waves, although the ocean wasn’t as turbulent as it could get sometimes. I couldn’t see any boats out on the water. It wasn’t exactly good weather for a pleasure cruise.