by Lyndsey Cole
“I know everything there is to know about the White family.” He pushed a small notebook across the table toward Hannah. “I had an artist at my paper make a sketch of what she might look like now and he was spot on. I even did a sketch at the restaurant but it must have gotten lost when everyone cleared out last night.”
Hannah recognized the sketch in Sean’s notebook—cleaner and more detail, but similar to the sketch she took from Sean’s table. “It doesn’t mean much to me. I never knew Jan. Why are you telling me all this anyway?”
“I need your help.”
Hannah was shocked. She couldn’t imagine how she could be of any help to Sean.
“Jan is a little skittish but if I bring you along it might help her relax. You know, talking to another woman. She doesn’t have a lot of trust with men.”
“I’m listening.” Hannah’s brain screeched watch out for this creep. Something sounded off but her curiosity won.
A group of teenage boys with trays of food lingered near Sean’s table.
Hannah stood up. “We can continue this conversation in my office.”
The short walk gave Hannah a chance to partially digest Sean’s story. What was the penalty for keeping Sally’s hiding place a secret? Was that what Jan was worried about? The other problem Hannah faced was what to do about Pam’s order to help find Jan. Pam would be more than furious if Hannah didn’t share this information with her.
Hannah made a quick decision before they sat down in her office. She would help Sean but she’d also use the information to help Pam. If the police were involved, even in the background, Hannah felt both Jan and Sally would be safer.
Sean laid out his plan. Together, he and Hannah would meet Jan at the Paradise Inn. Jan would text the room number when she was confident Sean hadn’t called the police. Simple.
“Will you tell her I’ll be there too?” Hannah asked.
“Yes. I don’t want to hit her with any surprises when I’m so close to getting this scoop.”
It sounded straightforward. What could go wrong?
As soon as Sean was out the door and headed to Cottage Four, Hannah saw Leah White approaching. Her eyes darted every which way and she clutched the strap of her shoulder bag with a death grip.
“You talked to my neighbor Essie Holmes?” Leah asked through the open office door.
“Yes. I bumped into her at the hospital. She sounded very worried about you and Sally.”
Leah’s shoulders sagged. “But not Matt?”
Hannah couldn’t lie so she avoided answering. “Why don’t you come in and sit for a minute, Leah?”
Leah hesitated, looked up and down the paths behind her before she made her decision. She entered and sat in Hannah’s office.
“Essie means well but she’s a terrible gossip. I’m afraid she’ll start some rumors about us. About Matt,” Leah managed to stutter out.
“What kind of rumors are you worried about, Leah?” Hannah pulled a chair closer to Leah and waited as patiently as possible.
“She’s never liked Matt very much. She had no problem telling me every chance she had that Matt treated Sally like a little kid; never letting her grow up and have a life.” Leah lifted her water-filled eyes. “Matt was so worried that something would happen to Sally. And his worst nightmare came true; she’s vanished into thin air.” Sally buried her face in her hands.
Hannah placed her hands on Leah’s knees. “I asked you this before—do you think Matt killed Gavin?”
“It don’t see how it would be possible,” she whispered. “He drove me all the way from The Chowder House and dropped me off. Would he have had enough time to get back before Gavin was killed?”
“Someone saw him sitting in his car out back of the restaurant. It’s less than ten minutes between the restaurant and my cottages, so yes it would be possible.”
“I don’t know. He won’t talk to me about where he went. And what about that chef? Something was off with the fish platter. That’s what got Matt all riled up about to begin with.”
“I never tasted it. Was it undercooked?”
Leah waved her hand. “No, it tasted, I don’t know, old. Like Gavin was pulling something fishy over his customers to save a buck. At least, that’s what Matt suspected.”
“Gavin blamed the problem on the chef and fired him on the spot.”
“Right. The chef was fired and humiliated. I heard it all before we left. Maybe he was angry enough to kill Gavin; but everyone seems to be focused on Matt as the murderer. I keep thinking, what about the chef?”
“You have a valid point. And Chef Belair was in custody. I don’t know the details, but I suppose the police didn’t have enough evidence to keep him locked up. I haven’t heard that he’s off the suspect list though.”
Leah stared into Hannah’s eyes. “Matt is not a killer. Yes, he’s angry. He’s been angry for a long time, but why would he kill Gavin Abbott now? After all these years?”
“Leah, I don’t have the answer. What happened all those years ago between Gavin and Matt? What was so bad that Matt could never let go of his anger? You know, don’t you?”
Leah’s head nodded ever so slightly. “Yes. I think it all boiled down to jealousy. Matt’s jealousy of Gavin’s family—their money, fancy education, easy life. When Gavin dated Jan, Matt lashed out at both of them. He said he never wanted to see either of them ever again.” Leah wiped her cheek. “Jan was scared and accused Gavin of rape. Since she was underage, it would have sent Gavin to jail. He paid her off to leave and drop the whole mess.”
“Was it true?”
“I don’t know. Matt believed it. I think he blamed his sister more than Gavin.”
Hannah hesitated before asking her next question. “Why did Sally ever even consider working at The Chowder House for Gavin? Didn’t she know it would drive her father crazy?”
“I shouldn’t tell you this but I’ve been holding it in for so long; I have to tell someone.” Leah stood up and paced across the small office. She stopped in front of the window. “Sally told me that Jan had been sending her text messages. Jan was desperate for contact with the family again. Supposedly. Sally decided, with the best intentions but full of naiveté, that if she worked for Gavin, she could be the go between to heal our family.”
Hannah couldn’t believe what she heard. This poor girl had the weight of her father’s problems on her shoulders. Completely unfair. Hannah was more determined than ever to go with Sean to meet Jan and try to help end this family’s nightmare.
“Does Matt know any of this?”
Leah shook her head vigorously. “No. I never dared say a word. The problem is, I don’t think he wants to forgive his sister. I don’t think he would know how to let go of the anger. He has to blame someone for all those lost years.”
“Here’s what you need to do,” Hannah said. “Keep an eye on Matt. Don’t let him out of your sight. I’ll meet up with you at the vigil tonight. With some luck, there will be more information by then.”
Hannah didn’t want to get Leah’s hopes up too high. What if Jan got spooked before the meeting and didn’t show up at the Paradise Inn? She couldn’t let that happen.
Chapter 13
Hannah almost forgot about her invitation to Cal’s boat for dinner.
But Samantha hadn’t forgotten.
Or Olivia.
When Cal knocked on Hannah’s office door at the end of the afternoon, she pushed her bills into a box and stretched her arms over her head.
“You didn’t forget, did you?” Cal asked with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Of course not,” she lied. “I needed to finish up this boring paperwork before the weekend.” And squeeze in a visit to the Paradise Inn with Sean Payne, she added to herself.
Cal crooked his finger for Hannah to join him at the window.
Olivia and Samantha sat cross-legged in the sand. Olivia, with her six-year-old knowledge, explained to the white haired Samantha the intricacies of exactly how to make a
sand castle.
“First, you fill the bucket with sand and pack it in. Tight. Tight. Tight. Like this.” Olivia smashed her little hand on the sand until it was packed.
“Next, you very carefully tip the bucket over and pull the bucket off.” She followed her own instructions perfectly. “See?” She looked up at Samantha. “Just like that. Now you try it.” Olivia handed the bucket to Samantha.
Samantha filled the bucket under the watchful eye of her young teacher. With Olivia’s hands helping, Samantha tipped it over and another sand cone stood next to Olivia’s.
Olivia screeched and clapped her hands together. “Good job, Samantha. I taught you everything I know.”
Cal smiled at Hannah. “Samantha stepped up to the plate and kept her eye on Olivia so Ruby could work in the snack bar. Those two are best buddies now.”
The echo of Pam’s warning about Samantha rang in her memory. Hannah had to find out what Samantha was up to before she wheedled her way too far into Olivia’s heart.
“You two are having a lot of fun,” Hannah said. “I think Samantha is an expert sand castle maker now.” Hannah squatted next to her niece. “Olivia, how about I walk you to your house so Samantha can get caught up with her own business?”
“Okay.” Olivia jumped up and brushed the sand off her shorts. “Are we going to Cal’s boat now? He promised.”
Hannah brushed her hand over Olivia’s French braid. “It’s a bit early. I’ll pick you up when it’s time to go.”
Hannah did a mental check of everything she needed to do before the vigil for Sally White started in less than three hours—shower; call Pam, maybe; go with Sean to meet Jan at the Paradise Inn; come back to pick up Olivia and Samantha for dinner on Cal’s boat. It was a full schedule but doable if nothing went wrong.
A hot shower, after dropping Olivia at home, relaxed her tense muscles. The pounding water dulled her senses and washed away all the drama of the day, for the next fifteen minutes, if she was lucky.
With clean jeans and an aqua blue t-shirt covered with a graphic of an ocean wave pattern, she checked her reflection in the mirror. Casual with a local flair.
Nellie woofed. The front door of her cottage squeaked. Hannah felt the small hairs on her neck stand up. “Who’s there?”
“Are you ready to go?” a voice called.
Sean was nervy to walk right into her cottage. Even though the office was attached to her living space, her cottage was private and he overstepped the boundary.
He caught her by surprise before she had time to call Pam to give her a heads up about this meeting with the elusive Jan. Too late now. She would find out as much information as possible and talk to Pam at the vigil. Maybe that was a better plan anyway. Keep a low profile so Jan didn’t get suspicious.
“I’ll be right out,” she answered.
Hannah checked that she had her phone in her bag before she looped it over her head and across her chest. She pulled her long braid free of the strap.
“All set.” She patted Nellie’s head and made a mental note to herself to be sure to lock her door in the future. Especially when she was taking a shower.
“How about you follow me? I don’t want anyone to see us together,” Sean said.
“Fine with me,” Hannah replied. She was more than happy to keep this little rendezvous off everyone’s radar. “I’ll meet you in the parking lot at the Paradise Inn, in about ten minutes.”
Sean shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t like that idea. Just follow me now.”
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes, hoping he understood she was annoyed. Although, even if he notice the eye roll, he probably didn’t care one iota about her feelings.
Hannah decided she would listen to the conversation between Jan and Sean, absorb the details of the interview, but say as little as possible. She followed Sean’s black Honda Civic into the curved driveway to the Paradise Inn. He found two empty spots next to each other so they could park together.
Sean waited at Hannah’s car door and pulled it open as soon as she turned her car off. This guy was keeping a close eye on her and she didn’t like it.
“Don’t say anything unless Jan asks you a question. I’ll do the talking. Got it?” His jaw was set in a tight clamp as he waited for Hannah’s reply. All his earlier friendliness vanished like the morning ocean fog.
“Got it.”
He took her elbow. His eyes darted around the parking lot. “Jan’s car isn’t here.”
Deputy Pam Larson’s cruiser slowly passed behind Hannah’s car.
“What’s she doing here?” Sean hissed as he tightened his grip on Hannah’s elbow. “That must be why Jan hasn’t texted me yet.”
Hannah pulled away from Sean’s hold. “Beats me. Maybe this wasn’t the smartest place to meet. Whose idea was it anyway?”
“I’ll have to wait for Jan to contact me with a different meeting place. If she contacts me.” He hopped into his car and left.
Hannah couldn’t believe what just happened.
Pam pulled into the spot vacated by Sean’s car. The window on the passenger side rolled down. Pam leaned across the seat. “You’re looking a tad confused, Ms. Holiday. Did your reporter friend just dump you?”
“What?” Hannah instinctively knew this conversation wasn’t going in a good direction. For her.
“Or should I say dupe you?”
“I need to talk to you,” Hannah said, ignoring Pam’s comment. “It’s about Jan. I think I know how to find her.
“Matt White’s sister?” Pam asked with her eyebrows raised.
Hannah nodded.
“Well, I sure am dying of curiosity about that subject. How about you follow me to the police station and we’ll have a little chat about what you think you know.”
Pam’s statement and the smirk on her face worried Hannah. Was Pam setting her up to walk into a trap? She had no choice but to follow the police cruiser and she could only hope that this unexpected chat didn’t throw her whole schedule out the window.
Hannah’s mind whirled in circles throughout the whole drive and she barely took in her surroundings. Was there ever really a meeting with Jan? What was Sean’s angle? The way he was treating Hannah had her on high alert and before she knew it, Hannah followed Pam’s cruiser right into the parking lot of the police station.
“So,” Pam began after they were seated in her small office. Hannah had the treat of a hard metal chair that could not possibly be more uncomfortable. Most likely the intention. “Before you tell me your plan to capture the elusive Janice Jones, how well do you know your reporter friend, Sean Payne?” Pam asked.
Hannah squirmed in her chair. These questions always ended in a bombshell she never saw coming. “First, he’s not my friend, he’s renting one of the cottages at Holiday Hideaway.”
“Convenient for working together.”
Hannah leaned forward, almost sliding off the slippery metal seat. “We aren’t working together. Why did you jump to that conclusion?”
Pam stared at Hannah.
She tapped her pen on her desk—click, click, click—like a ticking bomb.
“I did some research after you showed me Sean’s drawing of Janice Jones and made a, shall I say, interesting discovery. “ She paused her story but not her pen tapping.
Hannah wiggled on the hard seat. She wished Pam would just blurt out whatever it was she wanted to say instead of torturing her.
Click, click, click—Pam tilted her head and never took her eyes off Hannah’s face. “If you aren’t working with the reporter, why would you feed me information about a dead woman? Don’t tell me you’ve been conned by that skinny reporter?”
Hannah felt her jaw drop and hoped it didn’t hit the floor. “Jan is dead? Maybe that’s why she didn’t show at the Paradise Inn.”
Click, click, click—the pen counted the seconds. “Yes, that is an understandable reason.”
“Was she murdered?” Hannah asked, her voice a bare wisp of air.
“Oh no, nothing like that, Ms. Holiday. The real Janice Jones died a year and a half ago.” Pam paused another six steady clicks of her pen. “Who exactly is this woman you claim is Sally White’s aunt? Because, obviously, the woman you think is Jan, can’t be her.”
Hannah could barely make her vocal chords work. “I have no idea. Sean Payne told me he confronted her after Matt and Gavin argued at The Chowder House, and this morning when she called him, he leapt at the chance to interview her.”
“Why would Sean Payne invite you along to an exclusive interview?”
Hannah felt her cheeks get hot. Why indeed? “He said Jan was wary of men and he thought if I was with him, she’d be a little more comfortable talking.”
“It looks as though your reporter friend has either, one, also been duped by this imposter; or two, he’s working with her for some reason.”
“A juicier story. It has to be,” Hannah said.
“I think we’re on the same page. Now, about your other friend, Samantha Featherstone? Did you find out any more about her background like I suggested?” Pam tilted her head and waited for Hannah’s response.
Hannah’s face burned. How stupid could she be? First to be taken in by Samantha’s story of working for Jan, and then to let Sean entice her with his drawing and promise of an interview of Jan.
“The look on your face is all I need. You have discovered that Samantha Featherstone is not, in fact, a retired private investigator but only someone who likes to pretend to be one. And what I find remarkable is that Samantha Featherstone, Sean Payne, and Sally White’s parents are all staying in your cottages. How did that happen?”
“Just lucky?” Hannah replied, unable to come up with a better explanation.
“Exactly!” Pam sat forward in her chair. “I’m glad you see how convenient your situation is.”
“I’m not following your train of thought, Pam.” Hannah was afraid she put herself into a no-win situation and playing dumb seemed like the safest strategy.
Pam dropped her pen. “Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. You already appear to have some sort of bond started with Sean Payne. Find out as much as possible about this imposter Janice Jones. And as far as Samantha Featherstone is concerned, confront her with her lies and see how she reacts. Last, keep an eye on Matt White. I doubt he’ll talk to you, but maybe you can get some details from his wife. She’s desperate for a friend.”