by Неизвестный
“Thank you, both,” she said jerkily, her voice fraught with emotion.
“Who is blackmailing you?” Devin demanded.
“I don’t know. I get text messages on my cellphone, and though I’ve tried to trace them, I haven’t had much success.”
Luna asked, “What do they say?”
“They make the money demand and expect a delivery at the same place every time. I’m so nervous that I don’t wait around, but leave the cash where I’m told and hurry back home.”
The woman’s actions were so far from her usual dealings that Devin stared at her. Ida Gregory, a smart woman with guts, was now the target of a shrewd blackmailer who had instilled an insecurity in her that could be her ruination.
“I want to know every single detail about the drop. When you get the next text, call me. I’ll be there for it.”
Ida stared at him. “It might compromise my situation if you’re caught in the drop vicinity, Devin. I can’t take the chance,” she said, her voice trembling.
He blew air from between his lips and tried to stay calm. After a prolonged moment he said, “You can’t afford not to let me help you out. We’ve meant a lot to one another for so long. Why didn’t you come to me with this?”
“I thought I could handle it,” Ida admitted. “Then, when things escalated, I was too ashamed to confess to you. I’m sorry, Devin, it had nothing to do with you, just my own pride.”
Luna remained silent while Ida gathered the paperwork for Devin to study. He tucked everything into a large manila envelope and sealed the edge. They both read the text messages on Ida’s cellphone. Each one asked for a larger amount of cash than the previous one.
The drop-off point lay about a mile down the road, where a craggy cliff jutted out over a beach area. The rocky crest held a wide crack where Ida tucked the envelope of cash for the blackmailer to retrieve. Little to no hiding place was available since the crest faced open water and banked upward into the cliff. A small parking area lay between the cliff wall and the overhang. Luna had fallen in love with the spot when she’d first moved to Swanscott.
Nervous energy snapped through the tension filled room while Devin paced back and forth. Muscles in his jaw worked overtime, conveying his anger.
The two women watched him in silence, waiting for him to calm down.
Suddenly, he turned toward them. Marching to the sofa, he grabbed the stuffed envelope.
In a taut voice he said, “It’s time to leave.”
“B-but…” Luna stammered.
“No buts. Get going,” Devin ordered, his eyes sparkling with anger.
Ida rose. In a low voice, she thanked them for their visit. “I hope you’ll find the answers you seek in those papers, Devin. God knows I couldn’t.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Devin turned to her and his face softened. Placing a hand on her arm, he murmured softly, “Don’t worry. We’ll sort things out. If you get another text message, call me right away. Make sure nobody knows, or overhears you, all right?”
Nodding, Ida answered, “Y-yes, I’ll do that.”
Chapter 23
The return ride to the Junction was a quiet one. Luna opened her mouth and closed it with a snap. When it happened again, Devin glanced at her, a smirk on his lips.
“You may as well say whatever’s on your mind. I know it’s bugging you.”
“Well, you’re pretty angry, and I didn’t want to be the recipient of it,” she muttered.
“I’m not angry with you, or Ida. I’m angry with myself for not seeing Ida’s distress, and even angrier with the blackmailer. Ida and I have been so close all these years. I’m appalled that she didn’t come to me, or that I didn’t realize something was troubling her.”
“She’s private, though, isn’t she? Ida didn’t tell you about William and their connection, right? So, why would she tell you something as humiliating to her as being targeted by a blackmailer?”
He hesitated for a second. “You’re right. Ida has an unbelievable ego, and she probably thought she could handle this alone. Why wouldn’t she? She’s taken on deals with brilliant masterminds and beat them at the bargaining table.”
He parked in his usual spot outside Faerie Cake Junction and locked the Jeep before they went inside. Lights blazed throughout the building while Devin searched the premises. When he returned to the back door, Luna stood, impatient to get to the loft. He nodded and motioned her on her way.
He called after her, watching the swing of her sweet hips as she climbed the stairs, “As much as I’d like to join you in bed, I’m going to take at look at those papers.”
She stopped halfway up and turned. Grinning, she lifted her sweater, revealing her bare skin. “Too bad, I may not be awake later. Two o’clock comes fast, you know.” Luna chuckled and raced upward.
With a tsk, Devin watched her disappear into the loft, wishing he could join her, but duty called. He turned on his heel and went down the basement steps, flipping on the office lights. A faint smell of paint lingered in the furnished, tidy room. He pulled the chair out and settled in.
Several hours later, he sat engrossed in numbers when Luna skipped down the stairs and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Any idea whether or not inferior materials were used?” Luna asked, wrapping the gigantic apron around her slender figure.
“There are indications that false bills were issued, but I’ll have to speak with my buddy at the building supply center. He’ll be able to furnish the pertinent information. I can’t believe Ida allowed this type of billing, there are hardly any itemized invoices here.” Devin flicked a couple of sheets of paper with his fingertips.
“Huh, well, while you continue that, I’ll make the cupcakes. There’s fresh coffee in the galley, if you want some.”
He watched her from the doorway as she turned toward the frosting mixer. A beater came loose, splattering butter cream frosting over her face and neck. The front of her apron quickly filled with streaked globs of the mixture. With a shriek, Luna switched off the machine.
Whipped frosting dribble over Luna’s face, and Devin’s laughter filled the room. He stepped forward and leaned down, licking the frosting from her neck with the tip of his tongue.
He watched Luna sway at his touch. The sharp ring of the oven timer disturbed the moment and Luna stepped away from him, her face flushed with pleasure.
Pleased when she whispered with regret, “I have to finish the cupcakes,” Devin’s lascivious grin turned to a chuckle. He watched her stumble toward the oven. Her hands covered by large mitts to remove the scrumptious cakes and load the next batch for baking.
Leaving her to clear away the thick frosting, Devin ambled upstairs and poured two cups of coffee. He figured Luna could use one right about now. Unable to indulge in lovemaking, Devin would have his coffee with her.
Upon reaching the lower level, he noticed the frosting mixer was back on track. Frosted cupcakes covered the counter. Luna moved back and forth, dressing each one with colorful decorations. Nonpareils, silver and gold colored candy pearls, butterflies, roses, pansies and more.
His mouth watered as he viewed the finished little cakes. He reached out and snagged one off the counter as Luna turned toward the oven. When she glanced back, he licked his lips to swipe away the sweet, buttercreme frosting, and he snagged a second.
Laughter filled the room as she gazed at him. “If you keep eating them, you’ll look like Henry Tiddler.”
Holding his hand to his heart, Devin feigned pain while he chewed the last of the second cupcake. “You injure me.”
“I’m sure.” Luna chuckled. “Go upstairs, and let me finish these cupcakes. You’re way too distracting, faerie lord.”
He nodded, grinned and kissed her before he left the room.
Luna settled into her usual routine of glazing and decorating each batch of cupcakes while more baked and other varieties mixed in the mixer. By six o’clock, her work was finished, the room cleaned and Luna had settled into th
e office to look over Ida’s paperwork.
She ran a list of numbers against Devin’s to check the math. His findings were correct, and since she knew less than nothing about building materials, she stacked the papers in order and left them on the desk.
Devin rumbled down the basement steps as Luna headed up. Riddles raced past as she mounted the loft stairs, his feet hardly touching the surface. When Devin came abreast of Luna, he kissed her on the lips and said he would make fresh coffee if she wanted some. She nodded and headed toward the shower.
Her shower complete and dressed for the day, Luna scooted toward the kitchen. Popping her head around the corner of the galley, she watched Devin.
He pulled her to him when she entered the room. “This is nice,” Devin murmured. His arms tight around her waist. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her.
The rear door opened, and Annie strode into the corridor. She beamed at the couple, and gave a soft chuckle as she hung her light jacket on the hook in the closet.
“I’m not interrupting, am I?” Annie asked.
He kissed Luna again. “Not at all,” Devin assured Annie. With a grin, he poured three cups of brew and took his onto the porch.
Luna’s blush brought soft laughter from Annie as the woman regarded her. “Ah, the bloom of love sits on you well, Luna.”
“Right, it’s more like the bloom of not enough sleep,” Luna said and moved toward the door. “I’ll load the cupcakes into the dumbwaiter. You know the drill.” She headed into the basement.
Beautiful creations zoomed to the first floor as Luna loaded the dumbwaiter again and again. Her arms aching from the exertion, she realized the day would be a long one. Devin Radford was a sleep hazard that needed addressing.
Within half an hour, the dumbwaiter shut down. Luna went up the steps to load cupcakes into the refrigerated cases gleaming bright in sunlight streaming through the windows.
Luna worked on one case while Annie filled another. Tiered plate stands atop the cases held Luna’s loveliest creations. She stepped back to regard them with a critical eye.
Dilly arrived in time to begin the tea-making process. Within a short time the work was done, the room set up completely, and the shop opened for business.
Customers entered at a slow pace. Luna wondered if the death of her ex-husband had created an adverse affect on her business. With a worried glance at the amount of cupcakes she had to sell before the end of the day, Luna turned toward the gift shop and began straightening what didn’t need to be, just to stay busy.
Within the hour, a tour bus parked outside. Several carloads of women in brightly-feathered hats stopped out front, and business took on a new life. Luna smiled, sweeping her concern away as she greeted the well-dressed hat ladies.
She handled cupcake trays while Annie filled teapots and Dilly took orders. Outside, Devin strode around the porch hefting trays full of used teacups, saucers and teapots in through the rear door and depositing them onto the counter for loading into the dishwasher. He’d made four trips when a Mercedes Benz drew to a stop at the employee side of the parking lot.
When Devin stopped to stare at the car for moment, his hands full, William Kinney and Ida Gregory alighted from the vehicle and walked arm in arm toward the shop. Ida leaned close to William as they laughed and chatted. Luna headed down the corridor and met Devin as he hurried in through the rear door.
“Ida and William have just arrived. Let’s not say a word about last night in case she hasn’t mentioned her woes to him, all right?”
When Devin nodded, Luna left him and refilled a teapot for a customer. After she delivered it, she turned and smiled a hearty welcome to the lawyer and his sweetheart as they wandered through the door.
William pecked Luna on the cheek and led Ida to a table near the side window. After he pulled her chair out, he strode toward the cupcake counter to place their order. Luna watched Ida’s gaze follow his movements with reverence. The woman was as much in love as Luna. Smiling, Luna turned away to greet the incoming customers.
William returned with their order.
“Here we are, sweetheart,” William said. He slid the tea tray on the table.
Luna heard his words and smiled as Devin strode in through the back door, beckoning to her. Her gaze swept around the room. Assured all was well, she sauntered toward him. When she passed the galley door and reached the stairs, he grasped her arm. Devin drew her up a step to stand next to him.
“What are you doing?” Luna whispered.
“I just let Ida know what I’ve done so far. I wanted to tell you I’m taking the bills to the building center now. I’ll be back later, okay?”
“Sure, I’ll be here, even though I’m exhausted already,” Luna muttered. “What if the sheriff comes by with questions? What should I tell him?”
“Not a thing. He can find answers out on his own. He is the sheriff, after all. Didn’t he state that this investigation was his? Well, let the old dog do his own footwork while we do ours. I’m certain everything is connected in one way or another.” Devin headed to the basement to gather the paperwork.
Luna stepped into the galley to help Dilly prepare the next round of tea trays. When she glanced up, Devin gave her a salute and left by the back door. She sighed and continued working while Dilly stared at her.
Dilly leaned toward Luna and murmured, “Henry came for sup last night. He never mentioned a word about Thomas or the investigation. I’m so relieved he doesn’t know about the investment scam.” She blew out a sigh and placed a matching tea set on another tray.
“Glad to hear it, Dilly. Could you hand me that tea towel over there?” Luna asked, pointing to the pile of clean towels.
When Dilly handed the cloth to her, Luna turned away to end further conversation. Her gaze followed Dilly, who moved down the elongated galley counter, loading tray after tray with tea utensils.
“I’m heading back into the gift shop, Dilly. Annie is motioning to me. Keep an eye on the customers, won’t you?” Luna smiled and left the woman alone.
Three customers waited in line at the register while Luna rang sales, wrapped and bagged their gifts. She smiled, chatted in a friendly tone, and thanked the buyers for their business. After they wandered into the tearoom, she noticed a short man at the end of the aisle facing her. He stared at her and then stepped forward.
“Hi, can I help with anything, sir?” Luna asked.
“You could give me a statement for the local newspaper about the strange occurrences that have taken place around here lately,” he said, whipping a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket.
“What would those be?” Luna murmured in a low voice, her eyes flicking toward the tearoom lest anyone hear the conversation.
“The dead and drugged folks showing up here, and then there’s the faerie theory.” He scribbled on his pad even though Luna hadn’t uttered a sound.
“Well, Mister, uh, what did you say your name is?” Luna asked, her nerves taut with panic.
“Mr. Pensker. That’s my name. The first man found here was my brother.” His pen waggled up and down, and Luna began to sweat.
Annie stepped up to the counter, her attention on the man at the register.
“Wibbly Pensker, what do you want?” Luna was relieved when Annie drew the man away from the register and down the aisle, out of earshot of the customers but not Luna.
Annie gave him a frigid glare.
“This young woman needs to answer to someone for the abuse my brother took from being abandoned in this shop. Stole away, he was.” He smiled in defiance as Annie’s lips pursed with suppressed anger.
“He was dead, for God’s sake. He didn’t know where the heck he was, so why are you making a fuss?”
Pensker stuck his chin out defiantly as he said, “She’s rich.” He pointed to Luna who stared at him. “I read about it on the internet. She can afford to recompense my brother for taking advantage of him in his last stages.”
“His last stages were over when he arrive
d at the mortuary in the first place. You’ll not get a dime of this hard-working woman’s money, do you understand, you little beggar?” Annie grasped his arm and hustled him toward the side door.
His face contorted with pain and irritation, he glared at Annie’s angry expression. She loomed over him like a behemoth, drawing herself to her full height. He gulped and finally nodded before he left the gift shop.
Luna’s head reeled as she watched him scurry down the porch steps. He’d let her believe he was affiliated with the local newspaper, but all he really wanted was money. If he’d asked, she’d have gladly given it, but now, she hoped he wouldn’t return or try to sue her.
As if things couldn’t get worse, Sheriff Tiddler’s cruiser pulled into the lot and parked in front of the building. He hauled his girth from the car after he struggled against the steering wheel. He turned as Wibbly Pensker left the lot in a hurry and then focused on the shop.
Luna stepped away from the window and grabbed Annie by the arm. “I’m exhausted and need a break. Can you and Dilly handle the customers for a while?”
Annie nodded.
“If it gets busy again, just come up to the loft and get me,” Luna said. She escaped through the corridor toward the loft staircase.
She reached the room without incident and flopped onto the bed. Riddles curled up next to her and she listened to him purr with satisfaction. At least one of us is satisfied. I would give anything for this crap to end so I can get on with life. The increased hum of Riddles’ purring relaxed her, and Luna drifted to sleep.
A knock on the door and Annie’s voice woke her. She rose from the bed to stagger past the privacy screen.
“Are you awake, Luna?” Annie called. “The sheriff is about to leave and is anxious to speak with you.”
Luna wrenched the door open. “Dammit, I hoped to avoid him today.”
A smile tickled the corners of Annie’s mouth as she regarded the sleepy appearance of her boss. “Not much chance of that. He’s already eaten four cupcakes and started on another. At this rate, we won’t have any left by the end of the day. You’d better freshen up and come down. I’m sorry you only got a half-hour’s rest.”