“That’s it?”
“Yes.” He paused buttoning his coat. “But on my way out, her phone rang again, and I overheard her tell the caller, ‘That sounds perfect, see you then.’ ”
“But you don’t know who either caller was?”
He shook his head. “She never mentioned any names.”
“And you say you left at . . . ?”
“Just after eleven. Why is that important?”
“And you only had coffee with her, nothing stronger?”
“No. Why do I get the feeling I’m being interrogated?”
“Sorry, just trying to figure out why she had an elevated blood alcohol level in the morning. Was she a heavy drinker?”
“No more than most people. She liked a cocktail and maybe a glass of wine with lunch, but nothing more as far as I’m aware.” He gave her a crooked grin. “Is that all, Nancy Drew?”
“Yes, sorry. Drive safe.” She waved as they left.
Addie walked through the shop, blowing out candles as Paige tidied the front counter. A redhead appeared at the end of a bookcase and Addie jumped. “Serena, you nearly scared the life out of me.”
“Are you almost ready to go?”
“Yup, and you?”
“Yeah, I can’t wait until I can take a hot bath and finally warm up. My shop furnace is electric, that’s why I popped in here for a minute, to thaw out.” She shivered and rubbed her hands together. “Where’s your car? I didn’t see it out back?”
“Oh no,” Addie groaned. “I forgot. It’s still in the police station parking lot, where I left it this morning. I don’t think I’ll be able to get it out. Minis weren’t made for this weather.”
“I’ll give you a lift. At least my vehicle is made for this. What did I tell you about cute vehicles?” She grinned and playfully shoulder-bumped Addie.
“No, that’s okay. Your bath is waiting. Carolyn’s off tonight, and she has a pickup. I’ll see if she can give me a lift home.”
Serena shook her head. “Afraid not. Marc pulled her off desk sergeant duty and put her in the field tonight. She’s working storm patrol.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she was just in my shop giving me a weather and power update. Didn’t she come in here?”
“No, Marc came in.”
“Oooo, personal service by the chief.” Serena nudged her arm.
Addie’s chest constricted. Had she received preferential treatment? She shook it off. There’d been too many snide remarks to let her hopes take over her common sense now. Time to move forward and forget about the past.... She took a deep breath. “I’ll just lock up the back.” She checked the alley door and headed toward the front. “Paige, are there any more matches up here?”
“Yeah, I found three boxes under the counter. We got them for the Halloween displays.”
“Great, let’s each take one. We’ll need them at home. I’ll pick up more from the store tomorrow in case we still need the candles.”
Serena wrapped her scarf around her throat. “I told Paige we’d give her a lift, too.”
Addie pulled her gloves on and looked at Paige. “What about your mom? Does she need a ride?”
“No, she closed the bakery right after the power went out and went home. As I still had customers, I told her she didn’t have to wait for me.”
“Did she actually come in and ask you? I think that would be a first since I opened. You know, her crossing my threshold.”
“No, she tapped on the window and made me go out to talk to her.” Paige shrugged. “She can be a tough nut to crack sometimes.”
“I wonder if she’ll ever be able to accept me,” Addie chuckled.
“I think she’s slowly coming around. She just doesn’t like change, and you have brought a lot of changes to her sleepy little town.” Paige laughed.
Serena pulled the door open. A blast of whirling snow pushed her back. “Wow, it’s getting worse. Heads down, ladies.”
They dropped Paige off and headed up the hill toward Addie’s house. At the top of her driveway, Serena stopped. “Were you expecting a visitor?”
“No, why?” Addie wiped the condensation from her side of the window. “Tire tracks?”
“Well, it does make the drive in easier, but I’m not leaving until I know if it’s friend or foe.” The headlights bounced off a light-colored, older-model Lincoln. “Anyone you know?” Serena shifted the Jeep into park.
“No, I have no idea whose car that is.” Addie opened her door, flipped on her phone flashlight app, and shone it through the driver’s side window. “Patrick?”
Chapter 10
“Okay, what’s so important that you had to talk to me tonight?” Addie kept a wary eye on Patrick as she dug through her purse, produced the box of matches, and lit the candelabra on the foyer side table.
Patrick flicked snow from his jacket shoulders. “I was hoping to talk to you, alone.” He darted Serena a suspicious look.
“Not a chance that’s going to happen.” Serena crossed her arms and planted her feet. “As a matter of fact, I’m staying the night to ride out the storm with Addie.”
Addie glanced sideways at her. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Yes, that’s right. Anything you say to me, you also say to Serena.”
“Okay.” He stamped the snow from his dress shoes, sighing like a sulky child.
“We can at least get comfortable.” Addie picked up the candelabra and walked into the living room.
Serena waited and followed Patrick, then stood at the door, arms still folded. Addie had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Serena was the spitting image of her brother when he went all Robo-Cop on her.
Patrick eased onto the sofa and laid his gloves on the coffee table. “This is hard for me”—his eyes met Addie’s—“but I don’t know what else to do.”
“Just tell me what it is.” She took a seat on the chair opposite him.
He wrung his hands. “I wasn’t joking when I asked you today if you had another book you could donate to the auction.” Addie’s eyes flashed. He held up his hands as if deflecting a blow. “I know. It’s a lot to ask, but . . . I’m desperate.”
“I can’t. No, I won’t donate another book. I understand it’s for a worthy cause, but until we know what happened to A Christmas Carol, I won’t risk the chance that another rare book could get lost.” She ignored his tight white lips. “I hope you understand that until we know if Teresa’s death was an accident . . . or something else and locate the book, I just can’t.”
“It’s not like you don’t have others,” he snapped, gesturing toward the bookshelf. “They just take up space, anyway.”
“She’s already told you no.” Serena followed his gaze to the bookshelf. “And in case your desperation has given you any ideas, she also has a state-of-the-art security system.”
He leered at Serena. “Not much good in a power outage.”
Addie nonchalantly studied her cuticles. “It runs off the telephone lines and Wi-Fi, which are both still operational.”
A bulge moved inside his cheek. Addie shivered with the thought of his tongue touching anything. “Look, I need a book in its place because if I have to refund ticket money, it will bankrupt the foundation.”
“You may have to give those refunds, anyway, with the highways closed.” Addie tapped her fingers on the chair arm. “You’ll still have to postpone the event. But this storm won’t last forever, so pick another future date, and then contact the ticket purchasers. Offer them the choice of a ticket refund or attending on the new date.”
“What about the book auction?” Patrick squirmed in his seat. “As you pointed out today, many are coming just for that, and I still won’t have the book.”
“Perhaps by then we’ll find it and—”
“What if we don’t?”
Addie cocked her head and pierced him with a gaze. “What makes you think it won’t show up?” His hand scoured over his head, wilting under her gaze. “Look,
” she continued, “it might yet, and if it does, then nothing’s lost. But if it’s not found by early next week, then you’ll have to inform the out-of-town dealers that A Christmas Carol isn’t available at this time and offer them a ticket refund, anyway. Before they spend the time and money to get here and then end up suing you.”
“But I’ve paid out too much in invoices to do that.” He shot to his feet. “If I had another book of equal value, that would solve the problem.”
“No, it wouldn’t, because there’s still the matter of the roads and airports being closed, and no one from out of area, or state, for that matter, will be able to get here, anyway.”
“The long-range forecast is for this storm to pass by the end of the week, so that’s not an issue.”
“It could be if the forecast is wrong,” Serena interjected, grabbing a blanket from the back of the sofa and draping it over her shoulders. “After all, the storm hit a day before they thought it would. It’s probably better if you officially postpone the entire auction now and pick another date later when you know for certain about better weather conditions.”
“Postponing is out of the question because the Christmas decorations will be useless on another date. There’s no money to start over again.” His face took on a bright-red hue, and Addie feared he might explode. “And the only alternative would be to hold the auction closer to Christmas, but people are too busy to attend then and will want a refund, anyway.”
“What about planning it at or around New Year’s; that way you can still use the Christmas decorations, and most people can spare the time once Christmas Day’s over with?” Addie nabbed an extra blanket and cuddled inside it.
“But I still won’t have a book,” he barked.
“You seem awfully sure that the book won’t be found by then.”
“Never mind, I just thought you cared more about the charity work the foundation does, but I see I was wrong. You’re actually very heartless.” He grabbed his gloves from the table, brushed past Serena, and slammed the front door behind him.
“Am I heartless?” Addie toyed with the fringes on her blanket.
“Absolutely not.” Serena slumped onto the sofa. “I don’t blame you. How do we know that he didn’t steal the book and is looking at getting his hands on another one before he bolts out of town after the roads reopen?”
“I just can’t bring myself to donate another book until we know what happened to this one.”
“That doesn’t make you heartless it makes you . . . well, you.”
Addie snorted, stifling a laugh. “And what exactly does that mean?”
They jumped at the banging on the front door.
“Crap, he’s back for another go-around.” Serena seized a marble statue from the coffee table. “Grab that letter opener.” She pointed to the desk.
Addie peeked out the curtain and laughed. “Relax. It’s Carolyn, her truck’s out there.” She made her way to the foyer, Serena at her heels, carrying the candelabra. Addie swung the door open. “Simon? What are you doing here?”
He stepped in, brushing snow off his jacket. “I wanted to make sure you got home. I can’t even get my Tesla out of the alley behind my apartment, and Carolyn got called in to patrol and was kind enough to loan me her truck.” He removed his coat, snow falling to the floor in a mini-blizzard.
“That was nice of her,” Addie said, and hung his parka on the coat rack. “It’s probably only jeeps and trucks that are getting through tonight. My poor little car is still snowed in at the police station from this morning.”
“I know. I saw it there when I drove by and went in. Marc said he hadn’t seen you for hours. I got worried and thought I’d better check.” He rubbed his hands together. “I don’t suppose you have a Wi-Fi – operated coffeepot, do you?” He cackled, grinning, and headed for the living room. “I could kill for a coffee right now.”
“Long day?” Addie stood at the end of the sofa as he made himself comfortable.
“Mostly slips and falls, nothing horrific. People seem to be staying off the roads tonight, which is good.” He smiled up at her. “When I got to the top of your drive, I saw a car leaving. Did you have visitors, or was it someone turning around?”
“We had a visitor all right.” Serena slumped onto the far end of the sofa. “Patrick just left.”
“Patrick, Teresa’s assistant? What did he want bad enough to bring him out on a night like this?”
“He wanted her to donate another book for the auction.” Serena nearly spat the words.
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope.” Addie offered him a patchwork quilt that still smelled faintly of mothballs. “And he seems desperate. He says the foundation will go bankrupt if he has to refund ticket money.”
“Still, I hope you told him no.” Simon sniffed the edge of the quilt draped over his back.
“Of course she did. Addie’s smarter than that. Besides, I don’t trust him. He even tried to make her feel guilty when she said no.”
Simon shook his head. “I know the auction is for a good cause, but for heaven’s sake. A woman just died, and he’s worried about refunding ticket money?”
“Yeah, I’d say if anyone is heartless, it’s him.” Serena jutted her chin toward the outer walls of the house as if Patrick were still lurking outside in the storm.
“It’s done now. He knows my answer. Let me see if I can do something about that coffee.” Addie smiled at Simon. “Why don’t you build a fire, and I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Sounds mysterious. Are you going to work your magic on the electricity?” He laughed and swatted at her butt.
She zigzagged out of his reach. “Got to be quicker than that if you want to catch me,” she quipped with a sassy grin before grabbing a candle and sashaying from the room.
Minutes later, she returned bearing a coffeepot, juggling three mugs, the candlestick, and a kitchen towel draped over her shoulder.
“What on earth?” Serena took the candle from her hand.
“No electricity magic but maybe the next best thing.” She placed the cups on the table and held up the coffeepot. “I found this old camping percolator in the pantry and thought at the time that I’d better hang on to it in case of, well, this, I guess.”
“I’m glad you did.” Serena poked at the ancient contraption. “But how do we perk it?”
“Voilà.” Addie pulled a small, barbeque grilling pan from under her arm. “Let’s see if this works.” She slid the pan grate over the wrought-iron log holder in the fireplace, set the coffeepot on top, and sat back on her haunches. “Okay, fingers crossed.”
“Brilliant,” cried Simon. “You are amazing in a pinch, I must say.” He kissed the top of her head.
A loud knock came from the door. Simon squeezed Addie’s shoulder. “I’ll get it, just in case it’s Patrick not understanding what no means.” He grabbed the candlestick and headed to the foyer. Marc’s voice echoed into the living room, and Addie groaned. Simon poised himself behind Marc in the doorway, his arms crossed, his square jaw set.
“Evening, Serena, Addie.” Marc nodded. “I see you’re all safe. I saw Carolyn’s truck outside and wondered why she wasn’t out on patrol.” His cheek twitched. “Now I see why it’s here.” He spared Simon a glance.
“Are the roads still bad?” Serena sank into a chair in front to the fireplace. “It doesn’t look like the snow’s let up.”
He shook his head. “And, Addie, your car is nearly completely covered by now. It’s really coming down hard.”
She collapsed on the sofa. “I guess I’ll be digging out tomorrow.”
“Maybe not even then. They’re forecasting another couple of feet before tomorrow night. Don’t plan on going anywhere in the near future, and they’re not sure when electricity will be restored.”
“I guess I’d better text Paige and tell her the shop’s closed tomorrow.” She eyed her friend, snuggled so deep in a blanket that only her face poked out. “Serena, you should do the
same.”
“You are a wise one, Sherlock.” Serena buried her face in her blanket, sniffled, and then sneezed. “I will later. Right now, I just want to hibernate,” she said, pulling the blanket over her head.
Addie sniffed the air. “Ah, the smell of success. Marc, we’ve just put a pot of coffee on, would you like a cup before you head back out?”
“I’d love that. With the power out I haven’t had coffee all day.” Marc sat on the sofa, tossing his cap on the table. He looked at Simon looming in the doorway. “Aren’t you going to join us?”
Simon stiffened and slid past him, taking a seat beside Addie. She could hear him grinding his teeth. Good grief, men! An eye roll would only give her a headache, so she ignored them both.
“I’ll get another cup.” Serena’s gaze ping-ponged between the love triangle on the couch; she grabbed the candlestick and fled for the kitchen.
Simon edged closer to Addie and draped his arm over the sofa back, his fingers lightly resting against her shoulder. Addie curbed the smile that was forming on her lips and glanced past Simon to Marc. Simon’s arm placement apparently didn’t go unnoticed by him. Marc’s eyes narrowed and then fixed to the flickering flames in the fireplace.
Serena swept back into the room, set down the extra mug, and stared at the three silent statues. She took her seat back in the chair, drew her knees up, and looked from one to the other. “Well, this is cozy, isn’t it?” Marc grunted. Simon shifted in his seat. Addie stifled a giggle. “Or not,” Serena smirked.
The fire hissed. Addie jumped to her feet, whipped the kitchen towel from her shoulder, wrapped it around her hand, and snatched the bubbling coffeepot off the grate. “Ah, just what we all need, a cup of strong campfire coffee.”
The room settled into a more peaceful silence. Addie settled back into her spot and sipped her much-needed caffeine fix. She peered at Marc. “There’s something I want to ask you about the case.”
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