Slay in Character

by Lynn Cahoon

  He climbed into the car and looked back at her with sad eyes. “No, no, I’m not.”

  Cat watched him drive away, then walked down the sidewalk and headed home. She needed to talk to Uncle Pete. If Dante’s suspicions were valid, Jessi might be in danger. And if someone was targeting one of her retreat guests, they would have to come through her.

  She didn’t see Seth’s truck parked across the street. He sat in the driver’s seat and watched her leave Dante’s and head back to the house.

  CHAPTER 5

  Uncle Pete sat at the kitchen table when she arrived back at the house. Shauna had a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him along with orange juice and coffee. Cat knew her friend liked feeding people. It made her feel like she was helping. He wiped his mouth and pointed to a chair. “I’ve been waiting on you. I wanted to talk to you about Danielle.”

  Cat poured a cup of coffee and sat. “I really don’t know much.”

  “That’s not what I’m hearing.” He pulled out a notebook. “Three of your guests remember you and Jessi talking to Danielle at the photography shop on Sunday.”

  “I told you about that. She was hanging out with Jessi when we went in to get our picture done. They made me into a saloon girl.” Cat thought about the lighthearted conversation. “Danielle said she was covering Jessi’s shifts because she had student loans. But that’s about all I got out of the conversation. Danielle was a broke graduate student and Jessi’s costs were covered by family.”

  “I was afraid it was nothing.” He pushed his empty plate away. “The manager at Outlaw is saying the girl was killed by some crazed Covington student. Covington’s saying it must deal with Outlaw and their people. Of course, a lot of the staff at Outlaw are Covington graduates, so they could both be right. And I’ve got nothing.”

  “Seth told us there was a stalker at the college this year.” Shauna set a full plate in front of Cat and took the empty one from Uncle Pete to the sink. Then she filled her own cup and sat with the pair. “Is that true?”

  “We’ve had some incidents of what we used to call Peeping Toms, but I haven’t been able to pin that on anyone. I’m pretty sure it’s the boys from the frat houses. They seem to want to push the edge with their initiation rites every year.” He shook his head. “I’m getting too old for this petty crap.”

  Cat stared at the eggs on the plate in front of her. She took a couple of bites, then set her fork down. “Do you think Jessi’s in danger too?”

  “That’s kind of a leap. Yes, the girls were roommates, but I’m afraid the killer probably has more to do with Danielle’s life than anyone else’s. Why do you ask?” Her uncle leaned forward. “Did she say something to you that you’re not telling me?”

  “Yeah, Cat, why are you so concerned about Jessi all of a sudden?” Seth strolled into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

  “I was just wondering, that’s all.” Cat didn’t look up, afraid Seth would see the lie in her face. The guy could read her better than anyone she’d ever met, including the man she’d married.

  Seth took a chair and turned it around, sitting backward and leaning his arms across the back. “Is it just curiosity or did your discussion with Dante this morning lead you to that question?”

  “Dante’s in town?” Uncle Pete was glaring at her now too. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I am not Dante’s social secretary, and from what I know, he was in town this morning but he just left to go back to Boston a while ago.” She glared at Seth. “How did you know I talked to Dante? Were you following me?”

  “No, I was just driving back from my apartment when I saw you go into that house. I parked and waited for you to come back out. I’ve told you before, I don’t trust the guy.”

  Cat took her mostly uneaten breakfast and scraped it into the trash. She suddenly didn’t have an appetite. “You should trust me more.”

  “I trust you. I don’t trust him.” The intensity in their conversation seemed to have everyone else disappearing from view.

  “Stop fighting.” Shauna slapped her hand on the table. “It’s not worth it. People need to be kind to each other when they still can. So Cat, tell us what Dante wanted. I’ve never known the guy to show up without a piece of information.”

  Cat sipped her coffee and willed herself to calm down. Seth worried about her, especially when Dante was involved. And maybe he had a perfect right to do it. “Okay, I got a text asking me to meet him at his house this morning.”

  “So naturally, you just go right into the lion’s den.”

  “Seth, let her tell the story. You can nag her later.” Uncle Pete’s voice had an edge to it, and Cat thought Seth wouldn’t be the only one nagging her later.

  “Anyway, he thinks they may have mistaken Danielle for Jessi for some reason. And now he’s worried that Jessi will be next. I think he’s overreacting, but who knows?” Cat saw the look of concern that passed between the two men sitting at her kitchen table. “I’m more interested in the history of the Outlaw killer that Mrs. Rice was telling me about. Is it true that there have been two murders of young women dressed in a saloon girl costume is strangled in one of the rooms above the saloon?”

  “What? And you guys went there for a day of fun? What kind of place is this?” Shauna’s hand shook a little as she sipped her coffee.

  “Your neighbor is spreading old wives’ tales. We haven’t had a murder up there since the current owners turned the place from a true ghost town to a tourist attraction. More than likely, it was just an easy place to kill someone since it was deserted. No one used to go up there except kids to party where their folks couldn’t find them.” Uncle Pete patted Shauna’s hands. “Don’t worry, dear. This really isn’t the Old West with gunfights and short life spans. We’re civilized now.”

  “Except a girl was killed this week in the room above the saloon.” Cat decided she was going to start researching Outlaw’s history as soon as Uncle Pete left. There might be a connection, although a serial killer who waited a decade between killings didn’t seem like a logical conclusion. But it was a place to start. She glanced at the clock. “Ten to ten? Crap, Professor Turner should be here by now for the seminar.”

  “I restocked the dining room after breakfast, but I’ll refresh the coffeepots now. The guests are going to need caffeine to stay awake in his lecture. That man is in love with all the Hemingway lore.” Shauna stood and went to the coffee machine to start a new pot. “Pete? Do you want a cup to go? Or are you hanging around?”

  “I’ve got a crime to solve, I can’t just sit here jawing all day.” He stood as well and put his cup in the sink. “But I will take a cup of that coffee to go, if you don’t mind.”

  Seth glanced at his watch. “I’m doing a walk through the house every couple of hours when the doors are open, just to be safe. If you don’t see me in twenty minutes, call the cops, and stay out of the basement.”

  Cat paused at the door. “I feel like I’m living one of those slasher movies. The killer is always hiding in the basement.”

  As she walked through the lobby, she realized that most of the group was already in the dining room, getting refreshments for the session. She didn’t pause there but instead went right to the living room where Professor Turner stood, adjusting the podium. He glanced up as she entered the room.

  “There you are.” He glanced around the room. “I hope you don’t mind but I let myself in. I came in a little early to set up. Last month there was a set of chairs to the side where I’m sure people couldn’t see the slides very well.”

  Cat followed his gaze. He had moved the comfortable living room furniture that she and Shauna had set up in little conversation groups all around the room into a mini classroom. The couch served as the back row, and the other chairs were in rows in front of it. He had definitely made himself at home. “Let me grab the screen and projector for you. Sorry I’m a little late on getting you set up.”

  “No worries, Catherine. A good orator can work
under any conditions. Have I ever told you about the time I had to teach class in the middle of a blizzard? Only one poor student made it across campus to attend, but even when the audience is small, the show must go on.” He set his laptop on the podium and laid out the cords for Cat to hook to the projector. “Hemingway is a national treasure, and we must spread the gospel.”

  As she finished setting up the audiovisual equipment, she noticed Cora at the doorway. Her eyes went wide as she took in the rearranged room. “Come on in, we’re just finishing up.”

  “You all are serious about your seminars.” Cora had her Warm Springs Writers’ Retreat mug in one hand and a small laptop in another. “I’ll put this on a chair to save my spot and go back for a couple of cookies.”

  Cat paused by Professor Turner. “If you’re ready, I’ll go round up the troops. I think you’ll recognize one of our guests.”

  And as if that had been her stage cue, Jessi walked into the room. She ran up to Professor Turner and gave him a tight hug. “I’m so happy to see you. I haven’t seen anyone since classes released in May. What have you been doing?”

  As the professor went into what Cat knew would be a detailed outline of his whereabouts and actions since he’d last seen Jessi, Cat snuck out the door. Everyone, including Kelly, was in the dining room, getting ready for the seminar. The plates of cookies Shauna had put out earlier were almost empty. Cat snagged a peanut butter cookie as she walked into the room.

  “Everyone to the living room. Covington College’s expert on Hemingway and curator of the Hemingway papers at the library is ready to start.” She took a bite of the cookie, then after brushing crumbs off her shirt, she added, “Professor Turner is a little obsessed with Hemingway, so he’d love to field any questions after the formal lecture has concluded.”

  “So you’re saying that we should be nice to the guy and not make him uncomfortable,” Connie translated. “Check. I’m good at keeping a man’s pride façade intact.”

  The group moved out of the dining room and into the living room. Cat stayed behind. “Not quite what I said, but I guess they got the meaning.” She turned toward the door and stopped.

  Seth stood there, watching her.

  “Look, if you’re going to yell at me, let’s just hold off the fight until Sunday after the guests leave. I’d rather not air our dirty laundry in front of paying customers.” She pushed back the tears she knew would come if they really did fight. She hated fighting.

  To her surprise, he walked over and pulled her into a hug. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t be this jealous. I guess I’m reacting to the Michael thing.” He tilted her head up and kissed her. “Tell me I’m an idiot.”

  “You’re an idiot,” she repeated, then she kissed him. “And Dante’s nothing like Michael.”

  “No? He’s rich, successful, and can give you the world.” He didn’t break eye contact. “That day when you got married as I stood in the back of the church, all I wanted to do was trade places with him. I wanted to be the person you made those vows with. And I knew I’d screwed up big-time by losing you.”

  “I can’t change the past. I thought I was in love with Michael. He was all the things you weren’t.” Cat felt a stone in her throat. They’d never talked about this before.

  “Like Dante and his huge library.”

  “Maybe. Book smart, intelligent, working with ideas instead of his hands.” She saw a flash of pain in his eyes. “I thought that was what I wanted, but I was wrong. I want you. And if that means we can’t discuss high literature in the study over tea at night, so be it.”

  “I’d talk genre fiction over a few beers.” Seth grinned and squeezed her. “I’ll never freak out about you talking to Dante or anyone again.”

  “Yes, you will. You’re just that type of guy. But when you do, remember that I chose you. I chose us.”

  She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and realized Shauna was in the doorway, watching them.

  “You two are made for each other.” Shauna set down the tray of brownies and gathered up the empty plates. “Now, do you two lovebirds think you can pry yourselves apart long enough to help me restock in here while the guests are occupied? These women like their treats.”

  They set up the dining room and then converged in the kitchen. Cat kept an eye on the clock so she could go out and thank Professor Turner when the lecture ended. When she went out at eleven, he was already in the lobby areas and heading to the door.

  “Oh, I guess the time got away from me. I didn’t realize you were already done.” Cat glanced at the clock: 11:05. That had to be a record. Typically, Turner’s lectures went at least fifteen minutes over the hour he was contracted to teach.

  He didn’t even slow his pace. “Sorry, I’ve got an appointment back at the university. A reporter is coming in from Denver to interview me about the Hemingway collection. I’m so nervous, I can hardly think straight. Good afternoon, Catherine.”

  Seth stood beside her and watched Professor Turner’s hasty exit. “Man, he’s in a hurry.”

  “Yeah, and the weird thing was, he didn’t mention this at all when I talked to him before the session. He’s not the type to act all cool about something like this.” She narrowed her eyes and glanced toward the living room. “Let’s go see if the guests know anything about this interview.”

  When she went into the room, the chairs had all been moved back and the group huddled over near the fireplace. Cora looked up and poked Jessi.

  “Ouch, what was that for?” Jessi narrowed her eyes, then followed Cora’s gaze toward Cat and Seth. “Oh, hey, we were just making lunch plans.”

  For some reason, Cat doubted that was really what the women had been talking about, but she let it go. “When did Professor Turner find out about this interview?”

  Jessi’s face went bright red, and the other four pretended to be focusing on something else.

  “Jessi, do you have something you need to say?”

  She shrugged. “I snuck out and had one of my friends call and pretend they were a reporter. We used to do it all the time when we’d have a Friday-afternoon class with him. You would think he’d start to question it when no one shows up, but it’s worked more times than not.”

  “That wasn’t very nice. Maybe one of the other guests wanted to learn more about Hemingway.” She could hear Seth’s chuckle behind her.

  Cora spoke up. “Actually, since he didn’t write in our genre or in the time period we’re all passionate about, the rest of us were all just being nice to him.”

  Cat surrendered. “It’s your retreat. You can do what you want. So are you going to the Diner for lunch?”

  Jessi broke in. “Actually, no. I’ve called a car to come and get us. We’re going into Denver, so we’ll probably be late.”

  “Oh.” Cat glanced at Kelly. There was no way the woman would want to leave her work-in-progress that long. “Are you going too? Or do you want Shauna to make you a lunch?”

  “No, I’m tagging along. What is the saying, All work and no fun makes Jack a dull boy?” Kelly asked Cora.

  “Exactly right.” Cora glanced at Cat. “Kelly sometimes gets sayings mixed up.”

  Jessi’s phone beeped. “There’s our driver. Let’s go everyone.”

  Cat watched as the group dashed out of the living room. She heard footsteps running upstairs to grab a jacket or a purse. She straightened a chair and glanced at Seth when the women had left and the lobby area was quiet. “You buy that line she was selling?”

  “Not even a little. So where would our writers be going on a Tuesday that they didn’t want us to know about?”

  * * *

  Two hours later, she got the call from Uncle Pete. She set down the book she’d been reading and picked up the phone. “Hey. Are you calling to say you’ll come for dinner tonight? Shauna says we’re eating at six.”

  “No, that’s not why I’m calling. Will you send Seth and the car up to Outlaw to pick up your retreat guests?”

  “What a
re they doing in Outlaw? They said they were going to Denver.” She stood and paced through the conversation.

  “They keep saying they are here for research, but the place is supposed to be closed up tighter than a drum, and yet they were all sitting in the saloon, chatting when my deputy arrived. An alarm had gone off and alerted us that someone had broken in.” He lowered his voice. “I’m probably not going to get the manager to agree to charge them, especially with Jessi Ball as one of the gang, but I’d sure like to scare them a little.”

  “I’ll go find Seth. He’ll be up there as soon as possible.” She paused before asking the one question that made sense. “Were they looking into Danielle’s death?”

  “They deny it, but that’s the only reason I can come up with that they came here today. They all are sticking to their story, so I have to let them go.” He sighed. “Your guests are always challenging.”

  “Not always.” Cat corrected him. There had been at least a few retreats where nothing bad like this had happened. “I’ll talk to them when they get back about staying out of your investigation. Maybe they’ll listen to me.”

  “Or maybe not.” Her uncle hung up before she could ask what he meant.

  Seth was in the attic, on his laptop. When she came in, he leaned back in his chair and grinned. “I’m on top of the world, Ma.”

  “Your driving services are needed.” She sat down on a window seat next to the desk where he’d set up and told him about the phone call from Uncle Pete.

  “What are they looking for? Ghosts or killers?” He closed his laptop and stood, grabbing his keys from the table. “This group is going to be a handful, aren’t they?”

  “Maybe both. I just hope they don’t get themselves into trouble.” Cat shivered even though the room was warm. Dante’s warning about keeping Jessi safe echoed in her head. She didn’t want anything to happen to the bright, happy girl who was staying at the retreat.

  CHAPTER 6

  They were all in the living room, waiting for her. When Seth had dropped them at the front door, he’d told them to wait, as Cat wanted to talk to the group. Now, as she paused at the doorway, she wondered what she could say to keep them safe. She didn’t care if they wanted to investigate Danielle’s murder, but she didn’t want them to get hurt. Besides, Uncle Pete did care if they were messing up his investigation. And Dante didn’t think Jessi, at least, was safe. And Seth, he worried about everyone.