by Leona Fox
Ellen greeted her cheerily.
“I had to take a break. My back hasn't ached this much since I helped up my uncle in his garage when I was seventeen.”
“You like cars?” Ellen said.
“I used to, but my ex changed that. Found out I only liked a lot of things because of him and when that ended a whole new Maggie began. What's this?” she said when she saw the donation form. Ellen explained about Richard and everything he did for charity.
“We had a lot of folks like him back home, although mostly it was done through the church. They had a lot of bake sales and things. Never saw much point in it myself. Figure if you can spare some money for charity then you'd better give it, you shouldn't have to wait for someone to do things. But I guess I can spare a few dollars,” she said, and scribbled her name down on the paper.
“How are things going over there? If you'd like a hand I'd be happy to help, and I'm sure other people would as well. I remember when I opened there were quite a few who were helping me paint. That's how I met Kelly, actually. You'll meet her when she gets back from her honeymoon.”
“Thanks and all hon, but I think I'll be fine. I always was taught that if you can't do something yourself, then you shouldn't do it at all. I've planned everything out to the last detail and I'd like it to be just so. You know, I have this image in my head,” at this point she put her index fingers against her temples, as though she was accessing her thoughts, “and I want to bring that to reality. Besides, I'd also like people to be surprised when they come in for the first time. I want to blow their minds.”
“Sounds like you have everything planned out.”
“Oh yeah. I needed a project after everything that happened. Couldn't let myself get twisted up in regret and bitterness. I needed to see it as a beginning, not an end. So I threw myself into this.”
“I can't believe you just picked this place at random, though. Didn't you do any research? Just to make sure it was suitable?”
“I read up on the town a little bit but I trust in things. Sometimes you just have to let the current take you along and enjoy the ride. My old man, you know, by that I mean my husband not my pappy, I don't know what slang you guys have for it up here. Anyway, he always used to tell me what to do and what time we were gonna eat and all that kind of thing. When I was younger I said to myself, ‘Now, Maggie, he's the head of this household and you've gotta obey him even though it goes against your better instincts.’
I was always what my mom called a ‘tornado child’ because I was never easy to handle and whenever I turned up it meant trouble. I was like that all the way until I got married. I remember when she sat me down and said it was all well and good being that way when courting because the boys all got their heads turned by the scene-stealing girls, but marriage was a whole different prospect. Well, she and my daddy had been married a long time. I figured if anyone knew how to make marriage work, it'd be her. So I listened, but that was the worst mistake of my life. He started to get bored, and I lost myself. Tried to get myself back but it was too late for us. Got his head turned by, yep, you guessed it, a scene-stealing girl and that was all she wrote. Truth is, by that point I was happy it was over because I couldn't remember loving life. Sounds depressing when I say it now, but I wanted a fresh start and a way to rediscover who I was. I'm happy to say that it's happening. I imagine it was much the same for you when you came back here.”
“Yeah, I was lost in the city. Didn't know who I was or what my purpose in life was. I know I belong here, though.”
“I'm hoping I'll have a similar feeling. I just pray that the people take me into their hearts as much as they have you.”
“I'm sure they will. They appreciate honesty and, although I don't know you that well, I can tell you're an honest person.
“My mom wouldn't have me any other way,” Maggie said with a wide smile.
Talking with her, Ellen's doubts vanished. Maggie was so friendly and charming that it was easy to feel relaxed around her. Ellen fell in love with the singsong lilt of her voice. She listened intently as Maggie continued with stories from her past, when it was broken up by the phone ringing.
“I'm so sorry,” Ellen said, “but do you mind if I take this? It's Andy.”
“Say no more,” Maggie said, holding up her hands, “far be it from me to get in the way of a woman and her man. I will see you later,” winking as she left.
Ellen smiled and waved her out as she answered the call and felt a wave of joy swim through her when she heard Andy's deep, sonorous, loving voice.
“How's my favorite girl?” he asked. He sounded happy, she liked that.
“I'm okay, how are you? Tell me about the training,” she said, wanting to hear about what he was doing rather than boring him with things concerning East Pender.
“It's really fun, actually. I was a bit apprehensive when I arrived but everyone is lovely and they're all eager to learn. So far they've been taken in by what I've been saying. I'm having a good time. Well, apart from the fact that you're not here. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, but I'm glad it's everything you hoped.”
“How is everything back home? Is Jimmy coping okay?”
“Well...yes and no. I think he's growing into the role. He seems to doubt himself a lot but I've had a few words with him. Some have been wondering why you chose him specifically to take command in your absence.”
“He is the ranking officer. Anyway, he just needs experience and this is the only way he's going to get it. Just give him a chance. I'm glad he's got you there anyway, although you really should be taking it easy!”
“You know me, I just can't resist a case,” she said, half-joking.
“Is it a bad one?”
“Just a few burglaries.”
She thought about mentioning the mall, but decided against it. She still didn't know the full story and it didn't seem to be an entirely pressing matter. So it could wait until he returned.
“I've made a new friend, though,” she said. Andy seemed intrigued, and she told him all about Maggie.
“Well it sounds like she's a lively person.”
“Oh she's definitely going to bring some color to the town, that's for sure.”
“But...?” he asked, sensing there was something else bothering her.
“I don't know. Usually I can trust my instincts when it comes to people, at least I always used to be able to, but I'm not sure now. I'm worried she's actually going to be a rival. Should I be more worried that she's opening a cafe so close to me?”
“I guess you won't know that until she opens but as for your instincts, you only can go by what people say and do. From what you've told me she's been nothing but nice. So I don't think you should think any differently than that. If it does turn out that she's not being genuine, well, in a competition between you and her I would bet on you anytime. So would everyone else in the town, I'm sure of it. You're a hero to them, Ellen. I know you don't feel like it right now but they look up to you. They know you'll always be there to look out for them. Well, that is until we go on our little trip.”
His praise warmed her heart, and the promise of a trip sent an excited thrill through her.
“I love you,” she said, smiling.
He returned the gesture and somehow, even though they couldn't see each other’s faces, she could feel the smile in his words.
“Listen, I have to go. They run a pretty tight schedule here, but I'll call you again when I can. I'll see you soon,” he said, and hung up.
Ellen listened to the dial tone and lamented the fact that she didn't have him by her side, but talking to him renewed her spirit. She got up and felt more proactive than usual. So she returned to the scene of the most recent crime, just in case there were any clues left. The store owner mostly had returned order to the shop and nodded to Ellen as she entered.
Immediately her attention was caught, not by something, but by someone, someone she recognized from the Longthorne company website. Standi
ng in the middle of the store was the head of the company, Tom Longthorne. He was tall, and had that easy confidence of a wealthy man, a man who was used to being in charge. His presence was worrisome, though. Evidently he did not like being refused.
Chapter 5
Ellen ducked in behind a shelf to observe the elder Longthorne. He was browsing the store, and didn't do anything of note. He was a little shorter than she had imagined but he projected a certain aura that gave him strength. He wore a tailored suit and his shoes were shiny clean. His hair was neatly trimmed, as was a pencil mustache, something that was uncommon among men these days.
As she watched him she began formulating a theory that perhaps the Longthorne bid and the burglaries were connected. It was rare that a criminal would return to the scene of the crime, but Mr. Longthorne seemed to be a rare man. And, indeed, she doubted that he himself would have committed the crimes. But he certainly had the resources to pay someone to do that for him. This thought simmered in her mind, for she wasn't fully convinced of it herself, but Mr. Longthorne noticed her staring and came up to her.
“Hello there, may I help you with something? I couldn't help but notice you noticing me.”
He spoke with an easy charm but Ellen kept up her guard, and decided to play innocent.
“No, sorry, it's just that...I'm sure I recognize you? Have you been on TV or something?”
The best way to ingratiate yourself to someone was through flattery, and by the way Tom Longthorne puffed out his chest Ellen knew that it had worked.
“Well, possibly, I do own a very successful company and I have been to a few prominent events. I was actually at the Oscars this year.”
“Oh, yes. Did you see Paul Diamond? He came here, too. Seems we're getting quite the crowd of famous people here,” Ellen said.
Longthorne scowled at the mention of Diamond's name and Ellen chuckled to herself. The scowl was only brief, though, as Longthorne quickly remembered he was in the presence of a beautiful woman. He had been playing the game too long to make any amateur mistakes.
“Well, my dear,” he said, leaning an arm against the shelf so his aftershave wafted around her, and she had to stop herself from choking on it, “how would you like more to come?”
“What do you mean?” she replied, all wide-eyed.
“This town has a great deal of potential and it's such a shame to see it squandered. I could help to bring it into the modern age and it could be a place where people come from miles around, and more famous people than me, too.”
“You think you'd get all those people coming just for a mall?” Ellen said.
She straightened her back and dropped the faux-cherubic demeanor. Longthorne creased his brow and then scowled again. This time it didn't disappear quickly.
“I don't like it when people try tricking me,” he growled.
“I don't like it when big businesses try to rip out the heart and soul of this town,” Ellen said in a hushed whisper.
“Look, I don't know how you came to know of this or who you are but these plans are confidential. Keep to your own business.”
“This town is my business and I'm not going to stand by while you try forcing your way in here. We have a special way of living and we want to hold onto that. You might as well leave now because you're not going to see your mall built. We'll fight you every step of the way to preserve what we love about this town.”
“What you love is something that can be packaged and sold to bring more people in here. You are wasting this town’s potential. There's so much money to be made here and all you can think about is a precious heart. All I see around me is a place that's dying. You have the old mill and that's it. I'm talking about jobs, about a way for East Pender to grow and move into the twenty-first century.”
“There's more to life than money.”
“Cried the naive. You might think that, but deep down, people are greedy and they will do whatever it takes to get rich. And I think you know that, too.” He let the words sink in as he studied her for a moment.
“Yes, actually I think I do recognize you. You're that woman they wrote an article about. The one who always interferes in things that don't concern her. I see you are true to your reputation. I think that perhaps you have other things you should be worrying about. I am aware there is a new cafe opening.”
Ellen flinched. “How do you know that?”
Longthorne raised an eyebrow. “We all have our particular areas of interest. I'm surprised you're not more worried. In my experience people always will be intrigued by something new, and the old stuff is left to rot.”
“You obviously haven't experienced things in East Pender,” she said, now struggling to keep her voice under control. She glanced over at the clerk and urged Longthorne to go outside, which he obliged.
“I've experienced things in a lot of places and they all go down the same way. It's inevitable, Ellen. You can't stop progress. I suggest you run along and look at what your competitor is doing because she may offer things you cannot. If you don't do your best to keep up you're going to be left in the dust.”
“I'm not even worried about that. I'm here to talk to you about the mall, don't try changing the subject.”
“I told you. There's nothing to discuss. Whatever plans I have are between me and the mayor. You do not have a say in it.”
“I have a right to know when I'm working with the police and you're a suspect in a crime.”
She had expected more of a reaction from Longthorne but he merely continued staring at her.
“That's quite an accusation. I hope you can back it up with facts.”
Longthorne's tone was biting and the longer the conversation went on the more annoyed he became with Ellen, but she wasn't about to let him go so easily, not now when she had him in her sights.
“They will come in time, but right now I have a theory, a theory that I think makes quite a lot of sense. Since you're a man in the know I'm sure you've heard there have been some burglaries, including one in that very store. Now, if there were plans for a mall and you needed certain buildings out of the way there probably would be less opposition if those store owners were frightened out of their minds.”
“You have quite the imagination,” he said, smirking, his eyes belying no trace of his real thoughts.
“But I believe you are misguided this time. Shame though, I had heard much about your prowess when solving crimes. Perhaps it was all a myth and the chief of police is the real brains behind the operation. If you had done your research properly, which most people do before throwing around wild accusations, you would know I am an honorable businessman and I do not resort to such brutal tactics. I have no idea who broke into these stores and, quite frankly, I do not care. This town is going to change whether you like it or not, and the sooner the better.”
Ellen fumed and her cheeks reddened but she found herself unable to come up with an adequate reply. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see that Longthorne's son, Stephen, was joining them. He was the spitting image of his father, although his hair was not yet flecked with gray, and he did not exhibit the same polished dress sense as his father.
“We need to go, father. We've spent too much time here already,” Stephen said, glancing toward Ellen out of curiosity, but otherwise paying her no mind.
“Yes, yes, I am ready to leave. I was just involved in a discussion with a local. It seems that wherever we go people are resistant to change.”
“Small town, small minds,” Stephen said derisively and Ellen immediately took a dislike to him.
“Now, now, Stephen, remember what I said about being diplomatic,” Longthorne said as he escorted his son away.
“Remember what I said, Ellen. If you're not first you're last!” were his parting words as he disappeared down the road.
Ellen cursed and kicked the curb. She looked back at the store and shook her head. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to look for clues now. Longthorne had shaken her up. Had she miscalcula
ted in revealing her theory to him? Perhaps the burglaries and his company were unrelated.
Ellen staggered back to the cafe with much on her mind. It felt as though she was spiraling down and losing control of everything she held dear. This was the second person to warn her against Maggie and, although Longthorne wasn't a trustworthy source, she didn't know who to believe now. Ordinarily she would have had a firm idea of what was going on but now things were different. She didn't know if she even would be able to solve the case.
On her way back to the cafe she saw Maggie working hard, but this time she was not tempted to go in. How much did she really know about this woman? How she wished Kelly or Andy were there as a sounding board. It was strange, she mused, to be so dependent on other people when for so long she had been self-reliant. It was tempting to laugh as, for a long time, she never was close enough to people to feel the need to share things with them. Some would have seen it as a weakness, but she was glad for her friends. She only wished they were here when she needed them most.
That evening in the cafe her phone rang and her face lit up, thinking it might be Andy, but it was only Jimmy. He told her they finally had done an inventory of both stores, and none of the items stolen were the same.
“There's nothing remarkable about them at all, actually. They're just ordinary household items. I don't know why anyone would steal them. They're not rare, and it's not like they're going to bring a lot of money on the secondary market like electronics.”
“Maybe it was just a smokescreen,” Ellen said, still sticking to her theory that there was something more to these burglaries than meets the eye. “They may have stolen those things at random, because the point wasn't to get them, but to make everyone worried. It's part of a theory I'm working on.”
“Care to share?”
“Not yet, sorry. You'll understand why when I tell you. I just need to figure a few things out first. Call me if you need anything else,” she said, and hung up.
While she had been talking to Jimmy Ellen had received another call, and the code indicated it was from another country. She accessed her messages and listened as Kelly's loud, happy voice emerged.