Prologue to Murder

by Lauren Elliott

  “I kind of thought you may have been.” She leaned her elbows on the counter, cupping her chin in her hand, and toyed with his cap. “She said June forgot it at the library the night she disappeared, so Dorothy picked it up to return it to her when she saw her again.”

  “I need to go and get it from her. We want to check the call history.” His eyes watched her finger as it traced the bill of his cap. He cleared his throat. “I came in to tell you that I won’t be able to take you on the ghost walk tour tonight, after all.” He traced his finger down one of hers as he retrieved his cap. “I want to, but with the manhunt on for Dean . . . I’m sure you read about it this morning?”

  “Yeah, I . . .” But no words would squeak past her tight throat.

  “And now with the phone discovery . . .” He looked at his cap, which he was twisting in his hands, looked at a pile of books she’d yet to shelve, but didn’t make eye contact with her. “I’ll try to catch up with you later tonight, but can’t promise. I’ll text you though.” He turned to go and stopped, without turning around. “And the Lacey issue’s been resolved, too. There shouldn’t be any more Miss Newsy articles written.” He straightened his shoulders and walked out the door, the chimes ringing behind him.

  Addie slid onto a stool and took a deep breath.

  “Here are the books Dorothy wanted.” Paige dropped them on the counter. “Is she coming back for them?”

  Addie looked blankly at her, and then shook her head. “I think she’ll be busy with the festival. Maybe you could run them over to the Smuggler’s Den, if you don’t mind?”

  “Sure. I’ll see if I can borrow Mom’s car.”

  “No, take mine. I know you’re trying to avoid her.”

  “Not anymore.” She beamed. “She finally cornered me last night at the park, and we had a long talk. Everything’s good now. She even said Emma and I could move into her house. She’s there alone now since all us kids have moved out. There’s lots of room, and she seems lonely, so . . .” She shrugged. “I guess all’s well.”

  “I’m so happy for you. I know it’s been hard. And if, for some reason, it doesn’t work out . . . I was thinking . . . that I have a two-bedroom suite above my garage. It hasn’t been lived in for years, by the looks of it, but it’s in good condition, and, well, with a good cleaning, you could move in there if you wanted to. Rent free. I’d love to have some company on that property.”

  “Thanks.” Paige smiled at her. “It makes it easier knowing I have a backup plan in case it doesn’t work out. You know my mother.” She laughed.

  “Yup, a plan B is always good to have.” She winked. “My keys are in my purse on the back desk.”

  “Okay, be back soon.” Paige put the books in a paper sack and waved as she left.

  Addie started straightening bookshelves. The door chimes rang behind her, and she spun around. “Simon,” she said with a grin, walking toward him, and then frowned. “Have you had any sleep? Want a cup of coffee?”

  “No, thanks. Carolyn’s out front. She’s off duty now and is going to drive me to your place to pick up my car. Then I need to go back to the inn and try and get at least a few hours of sleep.”

  “Did you work all night?”

  “Yeah,” he yawned. “Feel like I’m back in my residency days. Think I’m getting too old to pull an all-nighter in the operating room. My feet are killing me.”

  “Was it Steven?”

  He nodded. “He’s pretty smashed up—shattered orbital bone, ruptured spleen. It was touch-and-go for a while, but he’s stable now, I think.”

  “It said on the news that an area-wide manhunt is on for Dean. Did you hear that?”

  “No, haven’t heard the news all day.” He leaned against a bookcase. “If it was him, he sure did some serious damage. There was a lot of rage in those blows.”

  “His fists?”

  “Fists, probably a shovel, too.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded, yawning again.

  “Is Jeanie still there?”

  “Yeah, she was in the intensive care waiting room with Mildred when I left.”

  “No Dorothy?”

  “Nope.” He stretched out his arms and shoulders. “I haven’t seen her at all.”

  “Interesting. I’ll get your keys.”

  “That would be great.” His dark, hollowed-out eyes attempted a crinkled smile, but even that seemed to take too much effort. When she returned, she found him slumped onto a stool, his hand propping up his chin.

  “Here.” She dangled the key ring in front of his closed eyes.

  He jerked awake and smiled sheepishly. Without a word, he stumbled out the door and into his sister’s awaiting Ford F-150.

  The day flew by. Addie and Paige were both kept busy taking orders for out-of-stock books and ringing in sales. At four o’clock, Addie flipped the door sign and pressed her back against the cool glass. “That’s it. We’re done.”

  “So early?” Paige looked at her from across the counter.

  “Yup, we’re sold out of the American Revolution, pilgrims, and anything to do with local history, and we have a festival to go to.”

  “Are you wearing a costume?”

  “I wasn’t aware it was a dress-up event.”

  Paige looked her. “Of course, it’s Founder’s Day, everyone dresses up.”

  “I never thought of that. What are you going as?”

  “I found the perfect Martha Washington dress, complete with bonnet, and then came across a child’s minuteman outfit and wig for Emma.”

  “That sounds so cute. I can’t wait to see it.”

  “I know Emma will fight me on wearing it. She’s at that stage. But I know I’ll eventually win.”

  “Well, if you have a two-year-old to wrestle, then you’d better head off now.”

  “I won’t argue.” She grabbed her purse from under the counter and scooted out the door.

  Addie stood in the window. A group of minutemen marched past her door, crossed the road, and headed into the park. She laughed, looking over the collection of costumed people on the street who were heading into the park. There was a combination of pirates, minutemen, and a few Paul Reveres, Martha Washingtons, and Betsy Rosses. Even a couple of brave souls dressed as redcoats. She mentally ran through her own closet at home. “I got nothing.”

  She closed out the cash register and walked to the back room, grabbed her purse and jacket, raised her arm to press the alarm on the panel, and stopped at the sound of a banging noise coming from the alley. She opened the door a crack, peered out, and gasped.

  “Lacey, let me in, damn it,” Dean yelled, his fist repeatedly smashing against the door.

  She ducked back in and then heard the sound of tires spinning on gravel. She peeked out through a narrow crack in time to see a silver sedan speed off toward Birch Road. Her hand shaking, she dialed Marc’s number.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  By the time Addie had turned off the lights, set the alarm, and stepped out onto the front street, the sound of sirens could already be heard heading down Birch Road. She locked the door and took a deep breath. The aroma of cooking food tickled at her nostrils. Following her nose, she traipsed across the street to the park.

  The fairy lights were breathtaking against the backdrop of the darkening sky. She made her way past a face-painting station and the haystack maze and started to make a beeline to the scents of fresh barbecue, but got momentarily distracted at the bake sale table. She withdrew a dollar from her wallet, purchased a giant chocolate chip cookie, and munched happily on it as she wove her way through the crowds of costumes.

  In front of the bobbing for cannonballs booth, she laughed when she saw a familiar redhead sputtering water, trying to catch one of the floating black plastic balls in her teeth. Carnival games of every kind blocked her passage to the food court, and even though her stomach growled in anticipation, she couldn’t help but smile at the antics of the revelers, and she noted a giant cannonball-toss tournament
in session. Squeals of laughter filled her ears as eager participants flung bowling balls in a testament to their strength. She stood on tiptoe, searching out her target. There it was: the food court.

  After several minutes of jostling and squeezing through a boisterous group of Minutemen, she sank her teeth into her hamburger. She was in the middle of a moan of appreciation when her hair was twisted into a ponytail and lightly tugged on. She spun around and came face-to-face with a smiling pirate wench who still held a lock of Addie’s hair gripped in her hand. Her friend’s own, still wet, hair was pulled up into a loose topknot.

  “I heard you laughing at me.” Serena crossed her arms and faked a frown.

  Addie laughed and glanced at the man standing beside her, who was also wearing a swashbuckling pirate costume.

  Serena’s face glowed as she latched onto her fellow pirate’s bicep. “Addie, this is my good friend Zach, and Zach, this is Addie, my best friend.”

  Addie shook his hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you. I was starting think you were a figment of her imagination.” She winked at Serena.

  Serena’s mouth dropped open. Zach chuckled and wrapped his arm around Serena, drawing her close into his side, and kissed the top of her head. “No, I’m very real.”

  Addie felt a tug at her heart as she watched the two of them, and she smiled.

  “Oh, oh, oh!” Serena jumped excitedly. “Did you hear?”

  “Hear what?”

  “About Lacey?”

  Addie shook her head.

  “You’re going to love this, then.” She leaned closer to Addie. “I went out to grab a pizza roll from Martha’s at noon, and when I got back there was a note from her saying she left for a job with a major television network in New York City.”

  Addie’s eyes widened. “No! You’re kidding, right?”

  “Scout’s honor and all that.”

  “Just like that?”

  Serena nodded.

  “But what about her mother? I thought she was”—Addie dropped her voice—“dying.”

  “Seems not. And actually Betty was shocked to hear the reason why everyone had been offering her sympathy looks and support. She said she did have a cold a while back but had recovered well. She had no idea how the rumor got started about her impending demise.”

  Addie heaved a deep breath. “So just like that, she was gone? She couldn’t even wait until you got back from picking up lunch to say goodbye?”

  “Nope, it’s just like last time, when she headed off to LA. One day she was here, the next day . . .” She shrugged.

  “Did she repay the money she took?”

  “Nope, didn’t even mention it. I’m not even sure how I’m going to pay this month’s bills.”

  Addie reached out and clasped Serena’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You know that I’ll help you with whatever you need. So don’t worry about it.”

  “But your shop doesn’t make any more than mine does most of the time.” Serena sniffed, her eyes clearly fighting back tears.

  “No, but I have the money in my personal accounts, so don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah but—”

  “No yeah buts. I don’t want to use my aunt’s inheritance to keep the doors of the bookstore open, but using some of it to help a friend in her time of need is different.”

  “Thanks, I promise I’ll pay you back.”

  “I know you will,” Addie said, patting Serena’s hand. “When you can, so don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”

  Serena pursed her lips tight and nodded. “You know. I just don’t get it. Lacey knows my shop only makes enough to survive on. How could she possibly have thought that she was entitled to that money? Did she think when she wormed her way into my business that she should be paid for it? I thought she was helping me out, as a friend?” Serena’s bottom lip quivered.

  “Oh no, Serena,” Addie cried, leaping to her feet, wrapping her friend in her arms. “She was probably in the beginning, but then something might have changed for her to do what she did.” Addie tightened her hug. The memory of seeing Lacey hand money to Dean and the fact that he was now on the run rushed back to Addie, and what Marc had said this morning about Lacey not being a problem anymore flashed through her mind, too.

  Serena nodded and pulled away, a forced smile on her lips. “Well,” she choked, taking a deep breath. “We’re off to watch the talent show before the ghost walk starts. You should join us when you’re done eating.”

  “I might do that, thanks.”

  “Okay, see you there.” Serena smiled, and when this one reached her eyes, Addie knew her friend would be all right.

  “Yup. See you soon.” She waved, took her seat and stuffed the last cold pieces of burger into her mouth, then gulped down her lukewarm coffee and dropped her trash in the can. When she turned toward the main aisle between the vendors, she spotted Dorothy talking to Ida beside the cannonball toss and made her way through the crowd toward them. By the time she got there, Dorothy was gone.

  “Hi, Ida.” She rested her hand on the petite woman’s shoulder.

  “Addie, nice to see you.”

  “Are you enjoying your evening?”

  She groaned. “I guess as much as anyone can who has a dictator for a boss.”

  Addie’s brow creased.

  “Dorothy seems to have taken over from Gloria as volunteer coordinator today and is barking orders at everyone.”

  “She’s probably just tired. I heard she was at the hospital all night with Jeanie after she left here.”

  Ida stared up at her. “No, I went at noon to give Mildred a break so she could eat. She told me that Jeanie called Dorothy last night, but she never showed up. Mildred’s been alone with her since they took Steven in.”

  Addie flinched. “My mistake, I guess.”

  “I’d better get back to work. We’re setting up for the talent show and best costume contest. They’ll be held before the ghost walk tour starts at around eleven. Are you coming?”

  “I’ll probably go on the tour, but think I’ll pass on the rest. There’s something I have to do first.”

  “Okay, see you down in the harbor. It starts at the museum parking lot.” She waved as she made her way through the crowd.

  Addie turned and darted through the crowds, the sounds of musicians tuning up for the talent show screeching through the air behind her. She had just swept past a family group when a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. “Hey, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  The force of the stop spun Addie right around, and she came face-to-face with sea-blue eyes. “Simon?”

  He looked questioningly at her. “What’s the rush?”

  “I have to find someone.”

  “Okay. But by the look on your flushed face, I’d say you better rest a minute.”

  “I’m fine, really. I have to go.”

  “Is something wrong?” Carolyn stepped up beside them, a wiggling three-year-old boy in tow.

  “I just have to find Marc. Do you know where he is, by any chance?”

  “I don’t, but I can check. I’ve got my police radio.” She flipped it open and turned up the scanner volume.

  Simon placed his hands on Addie’s shoulders. “What’s happened?”

  “Dean’s still in town, and Marc took off after him, and before that he was looking for Dorothy because I found out she has June’s cell phone, and Dorothy told me she was at the hospital all night with Jeanie but she wasn’t. I just saw her and—”

  “Slow down.” His fingers pressed into her shoulders. “Take a deep breath. You’re not making any sense.”

  Carolyn leaned toward them. “Marc’s combing the harbor in his patrol car. I’ll let him know that you’re looking for him.”

  “No.” Addie placed her hand over the radio. “I’ll find him, thanks.” She turned and stepped away.

  “Addie, wait, I’ll go with you,” Simon called.

  “Uncle Simon’s going to take me to the cannonball bobbing th
ingy,” giggled a curly-headed six-year-old girl, looking up at her with big blue eyes.

  Addie looked from Simon to Carolyn and sucked a breath in through her teeth. “No, you go and have fun with your family.”

  The little girl jumped up and down excitedly. “Come on, Uncle Simon.” She tugged on his hand. “I want to win a prize.”

  He shrugged in a helpless gesture.

  Addie smiled and dashed off toward the park entrance. She raced across the road, through her shop, and out the back door into her car. At the turn onto Birch Road, she headed down toward the harbor.

  She scanned every back alley and side street she passed but in the fading daylight, it was difficult to make much out. See did notice a large police presence in the area. Their cruisers weren’t hard to miss with the street lights reflecting off the roof-mounted blue and red light bars. Unfortunately, none of them was number 001. Addie pulled over to the side at the south end of Marine Drive. Her hands, white-knuckled, gripped the steering wheel. Was this all for nothing? Why was it so important for her to see Marc right now? She could just call him and tell him her suspicions about Dorothy, but the truth was . . . she missed him. She missed sharing her theories and having him refute them as just that. She missed their teasing banter, but most of all she missed how she felt when . . . Addie shook her head and pulled out onto the road.

  Marine Drive teemed with people making their way down the hill from Town Square. She glanced at her console clock. The festival in the park would be winding down soon, which meant the ghost walk tour would be shortly underway.

  She hesitated at the intersection that would keep her in the harbor, where she might be lucky enough to find a parking spot and go ahead on the tour with the others as planned, or follow the road straight out of town leading to Smuggler’s Den, where the finale would take place. She gripped the wheel and went straight.

  When Addie pulled into the parking lot, she was amazed to see the number of cars already there. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who had opted to take a shortcut to the refreshment part of the evening. She made her way to the front door and noted that strings of lights now hung along the pathway she and Paige had explored down to the beach. She guessed it was to allow safer access up from the beach for the ghost tour participants.