East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14

by Leona Fox

  “He certainly had a way with words. But why would he have been so against having lots of women after him? I thought that was the dream of every man.”

  “From what I can gather he was quite a romantic and only seemed to want to give himself to one person. It's quite interesting actually. He makes frequent mention of a paramour and writes with great affection about her but never actually names her, and I can't understand why.”

  “Let me see,” Kelly said, and Ellen handed over the journal, marking a few of the notable passages. Kelly read aloud.

  The first time I saw her it was as though I saw the sun shining for the first time. She was cast in an ethereal glow and I found I could not take my eyes off her. She was radiant and resplendent and my heart was seized in that one instance. I was a willing captive of her love. When I first heard her speak I was captured by the melodic tone of her voice, and as we parted it seemed all too soon. I have not been able to get her off my mind since. I want to give her the entire world but even that is less than she deserves. She is a goddess walking among mortals and I am wholly undeserving of her attention but I cannot be without her. I have not felt such an ardent desire before and I will not rest until she is in my arms and we are together.

  The rest of his writings about this mysterious woman were written in the same vein. They showed a man desperately in love, with an uncontrollable lust. Yet, from the way he wrote, there seemed to be something keeping them apart. He made frequent reference to their love being dangerous, and that they had to keep their feelings a secret. But nothing warmed the women's hearts more than when they read the first passage after he admitted his feelings to this woman.

  I went up to her. My heart was palpitating and my clothes were soaked with anxious sweat. I can't imagine what she must have thought of me in this state. Usually in business deals I was calm and composed and always had my opponents at a disadvantage but this time I was the weak one, completely at her mercy. I stammered out some nonsense and I only can thank the stars that she did not turn me away there and then. The more we spoke the more confident I grew, and when I revealed my feelings to her a strange countenance came upon her face. For a moment I was deathly worried I had misjudged the situation completely and ruined whatever chance I had with her, for I saw fear in her eyes. But she considered my admission for a few moments. Then her eyes locked with mine and it was as though a thunderbolt had struck me where I was standing. She took my hand and my body was filled with warmth and happiness and I knew nothing could challenge us.

  “It's so sad that he died. I hope they got to say goodbye at least, and got to spend a lot of time together,” Kelly said.

  “I just wish we knew who she was. If we could find out her name we surely could unlock the mystery, as this woman must be the mother of his child.”

  They scoured the records and discussed it over and over again but nothing was clicking in their minds and their search was fruitless once more. Ellen noticed that Kelly seemed distracted. Although when she inquired as to Kelly's state of mind, Kelly smiled and brushed it off.

  “Just a bit tense with everything that's going on. You know people aren't too fond of you right now because of what happened outside the cafe?”

  “I know,” Ellen sighed, “but what can I do?”

  “People are just mad at the moment. When they calm down, they'll see reason.”

  “I hope so, but it still isn't nice. I'm only trying to do what I think is best for the town,” Ellen said.

  “You're a hero Ellen, and they know that. I just hope it all gets sorted out soon. I don't like everyone being on edge like this.”

  “Have you had any luck with the interviews?”

  “Not yet. We've spoken to a lot of people and, while they all have a lot of stories, there's nobody who actually has come forward with any relevant information.”

  “Have any of them even spoken about van De Lay?”

  “Oh yeah, and it's surprising how many of them retell stories they were told about his generosity and good spirit. It makes me wish I had met the man, actually; he sounds like quite a figure.”

  “It's just a shame his life ended alone, with him buried in a cave. It must have been so sad for all the people who knew him, especially this girl he was in love with, whoever she was. She must have suffered so terribly, never knowing exactly what happened to him.”

  “I have been thinking about that, actually. I thought it would be nice, once this is all over, to have a memorial service for him, to mourn him in a way that the people of his time never could.”

  “That's a lovely idea. I suppose you expect me to give the eulogy?”

  “Well, you are the one who spent the most time with his journal,” she said, and Ellen could not argue with that.

  The hours spent at the library were arduous and Ellen was sick and tired of the scenery. There were shelves and stacks of books that all offered windows into another world and yet she only saw them as a prison. The soft rustling of pages as people read, the sharp coughs, the yawns, the whispers of people chatting individually were minor annoyances, but when coupled with Ellen's mood they created a simmering frustration within her and she had to escape. She left Kelly to it and went back home to collect Scampy, change, and go for a run. The dog managed to keep the pace as Ellen's feet pounded into the pavement. She smiled at the sweet reverberations that trembled through her body and the act of exercise already was freeing her mind. There had been much tension building up inside her, brought on by Charlotte, James, and the way the town felt about her. On top of that there was the fact she still had made no headway in finding out whether Charlotte's claim was valid. Whenever she faced a dead end to a mystery she always was intensely frustrated with herself.

  As she ran through East Pender she thought back to the days of Michael van De Lay. So much had happened in the world since he had been alive, and yet East Pender most likely still would be recognizable to him. The cobbled streets were still the same and it was likely she was taking the very steps he had taken when he had been alive. For a moment she stopped and looked around. The present faded away, leaving what came before visible, as though she was scratching through layers of paint. She saw people and horses, carriages, and smoke rising from the chimneys. She almost could smell the world as it was then, almost could see everyone going about their business. Even Michael van De Lay, as he went to see his beloved with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. This was what they were trying to preserve, what Charlotte and James just didn't understand.

  East Pender was encased in its own wistful bubble. For Charlotte especially, this was not something to denigrate and look down upon, as though being happy and having a quiet way of life was something to be ashamed of. But while the world moved inexorably forward, expanding and getting more and more advanced, it was nice to have a haven where people could take a step back and remind themselves of where they came from, of their heritage. People were so focused on the future they almost forgot about the past and how it shaped the world today. It wasn't something that needed to be disposed of or trampled on. It was something to be preserved and cherished. Ellen now had a renewed determination to follow through with Michael van De Lay's hopes for the town.

  While on her run, she spied Ray across the road. He saw her, too, and for a moment their eyes locked, but he quickly averted his gaze and continued walking. Ellen remembered his angry face outside the cafe and how he had incited the crowd. She always had thought of him as a level-headed person. Yet now she wasn't so sure, but she wanted to talk to him to try gauging his state of mind. She didn't want to let any hostilities linger between her and the people of the town. She jogged to catch up with him and with deep, heaving breaths she called out his name. He stopped, and slowly turned to face her. His face was ashen.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, suddenly concerned when she saw how pale he looked. He evidently hadn't been sleeping well for there were big bags under his eyes and his skin was sallow.

  “No...no, I'm not. Ellen, I w
ant to apologize for what happened the other night. I never intended it to get so out of hand. I only wanted to talk to them to try making them understand that what they're doing is wrong. They don't see us as people. They're trying to take our lives away but they don't understand what that actually means. They only think of us as resources to be culled, all for the sake of the bottom line.”

  His humility immediately made Ellen soften and she placed a hand on his shoulder, for she understood his pain. “I know, and I accept your apology. You have to understand, though, that's not the way we're going to stop them. We're working hard but we all have to be strong. We're in this together. None of us want the mill to shut or change hands and we certainly don't want you to lose your jobs.”

  “I know, and we acted rashly. It's just so...I feel so powerless. I've been working there my whole life. All of us are friends and we have our own little community and that mill has felt like ours. But now these people come in and they're trying to take it away from us and there's nothing we can do to stop them. It's not a good feeling, to feel like it's all out of our control. That's what the other night was about. I'm sorry for scaring you and making a disturbance outside your cafe. You've done so much for the people in this town and we know you're trying to help us again.”

  “I appreciate it Ray, and I know you're a good man, too. I can't imagine what I'd feel if somebody was trying to take my livelihood away but hopefully it won't happen. Charlotte and James have their plans but Andy's bringing in a friend to help us work through the legal matters.”

  “That's a relief to hear. It's all a bit beyond us, you know. We've just always done a hard day's work. Can you pass along my thanks to Andy and everyone else who is helping, but especially Andy? I know a lot of people were angry the other night and acted out of character.”

  “I will, and thank you for saying that. It means a lot,” Ellen said, and the two of them parted ways, both feeling a little better for their interaction.

  Ellen watched Ray walk down the street and felt pity for him. He had poured his heart and soul into that mill. In a way, he symbolized the spirit and philosophy of the town. So she did not want to see all that hard work be for naught. It would be difficult for Ray and many others to find new jobs. East Pender was a slow town at the best of times and many people with ambition needed to leave the town for the city. Those who were content with a humble life were able to find happiness in East Pender but it wasn't the home of an expanding economy. Therefore, if the mill happened to close there would be a lot of people in a dire situation. But the town had faced hardships before. If the worst came to pass, then Ellen was sure the people of East Pender would rally around each other.

  She resumed her run and then decided to stop by Andy's house on the way to pass along Ray's thanks. When she drew near she slowed for she saw Andy hugging a beautiful woman. Jealously flashed in her mind as she arrived, drenched in sweat and with hair matted to her face. In contrast, this woman was made up to look like a Hollywood starlet. She had thick blonde hair, full lips, and wide blue eyes. She and Andy turned to Ellen.

  “Ah, Ellen, this is who I was telling you about. This is Lisa,” he said, his cheeks flushing a deep shade of crimson.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you,” Ellen said with a thin smile, and held out her hand. Lisa took it and said hello, noticing the tension between them. There was an icy look in her eyes and her handshake was surprisingly strong.

  “Thanks, Andy and I have a lot of catching up to do,” she said, and promptly walked past Andy into the house. Ellen was shocked at the woman’s arrogance and she glared at Andy.

  “Did you want to come in, too?” Andy asked, his voice a little high-pitched.

  Ellen almost laughed at the incredulity. Now she realized why Andy had acted so strangely whenever he had mentioned his old friend.

  “No, I need to go and shower, but we will talk about this later. You have fun catching up with her,” she said, and spun on her heels as she walked away. Scampy seemed to notice Ellen's hostility and growled at Andy, who looked helpless, torn between the two women.

  Chapter 7

  Later on, Ellen felt bad for the way she had left things. It had been immature of her to act the way she did, storming off in a tantrum. Yet, the shock had been such that anger had flared inside her and, in a rare moment, she had let her emotions overwhelm her. She smiled at the irony, for it was a similar thing that had happened to the crowd outside her cafe. There must have been a rational explanation as to why Andy hadn't told her any specifics about Lisa. So after she had showered and calmed down she waited for him to come to her and explain, and indeed it did not take too long for him to arrive. When she heard his knock on the door she took a deep breath before she opened it, and when she did she saw Andy standing there with an apologetic look on his face.

  “Can I come in?” he asked.

  Ellen studied him for a moment, wondering how cold she should have been toward him, but seeing him in front of her brought forward the love they shared. She welcomed him in, making them both a hot beverage while he explained what happened.

  “I'm sorry for earlier. Okay, I know it was unexpected and you're probably wondering who she is and why I didn't tell you anything about her before.”

  “Among other things,” Ellen said, which made Andy pause as he realized he was treading on very dangerous ground.

  “Anyway,” he continued, “her name is Lisa and she specializes in this sort of thing. There's nobody I think could do a better job than her in helping us clear up this mess, which is why I brought her on in the first place when you asked me. But she's also my ex, hence my reluctance to bring her into the fold, and the reason why I didn't tell you about it all.”

  “But why? Why not just tell me? We all have our past and you know I don't like secrets, especially not when I get close to someone. After everything we've been through I thought you would have known better than that,” she said. She just about managed to keep the tone of her voice even, although she could not help the sound of disappointment coming through.

  “I know, and I'm sorry. I don't know why I didn't tell you the first time. I guess the thought of seeing her again was enough to deal with and I wasn't even sure if she was going to agree to come down. Then everything else happened and I never really got a chance. But I am sorry and I shouldn't have put you in a situation where it came as a surprise.”

  “Were you close?”

  “...Yes. Very close. In fact, she was one of the reasons why I left the city and came here,” he revealed. He leaned forward and clasped his hands together, bowing his head as he brought back memories of the past.

  “We were building a life together, but then everything with that case happened and it took its toll on us. She became frustrated with the way I was acting and I was getting more and more distant from her. Eventually she left me because I couldn't be in a relationship. We weren't connecting emotionally or physically and everything we had worked toward was left in ruins. So, obviously, getting her to come here was a significant request and it brought back a lot of things...things I thought had been left behind.”

  “Is there...is there still something between the two of you?” Ellen asked, almost daring not to believe it.

  Andy was quick in reaching out for her hand and reassuring her that there wasn't, that she was the only person he had eyes for and Ellen believed him. She didn't want to be insecure but this was her first relationship in a long time and she was afraid of it going awry. Opening one's heart to someone else was always risky and this kind of angst was part of the reason why she had stayed single for much of her life.

  The following day, intending to smooth things over, Ellen arranged to meet with Lisa to give her the details about the case. She wanted to get to know this woman because, for better or for worse, she had history with Andy and had helped shape the man that he had become. They met at the cafe. Lisa reminded Ellen of Charlotte in the way she acted superior to everyone around her. It left a bad taste in her mouth. Ellen be
gan by retelling the case from the beginning but she got the sense that Lisa was uninterested, seemingly distracted by everything going around her.

  “I'm sorry, I was under the impression you were here to help the case, did you not want to know about the background?”

  Lisa drew in her breath before she responded and placed her palms flat on the table. Her fingers were slender and she only wore one ring on her right hand. The left hand was bare.

  “Let me clear up something with you. I am here only as a personal favor to Andy and so far I've been unimpressed with your little town. He belongs back in the city. He belongs with me,” she said, and promptly rose from the table and stormed out of the cafe before Ellen had a chance to respond.

  The threat of a rival in love was the last thing Ellen needed and it was another violent slash against the way of life that people in East Pender championed. Her stomach churned with anxiety. She ran to Kelly to tell her of the latest developments, although Kelly wasn't half as worried as Ellen was.

  “I don't know why you're getting so worked up about it. Andy's made it quite clear you're the only woman for him. So this Lisa can harp on about her plans all she wants but it's not going to work. She can't just snap her fingers and whisk Andy away from you. He's built a life here and a career. Why would you ever think he wants to leave?”

  It was a good question and one that Ellen couldn't answer. Yet, the revelation still left her stunned. Even after talking to Kelly she remained unconvinced, but there was still the matter of the case at hand. The following day she, Andy, Kelly, and Lisa met with Charlotte and James to talk about their plans for the mill. Ray was present as well, as a representative for all the people who worked there. They met in the cafe, which Ellen had closed for business. However, word had spread and they had to close the blinds to stop passers-by from peeking in. Ray looked nervous and Andy seemed distracted, but everyone else was focused. The two parties were sitting at opposite ends of the table and the tension between them was palpable.