Determined to have a productive remainder of the day, Katie returned to her office. She composed an email to the merchant partnership, including Moonbeam, instructing the partners to let Seth know if they were still interested in buying the abandoned warehouse. She reminded them that time was of the essence if they wanted to make an offer before another buyer swooped in and obtained the property.
Remembering Sue Sweeney’s hope that her niece could have a rent-free place to operate her business if the partnership bought the warehouse, she included a reminder that their buying the building would entail turning it into a profitable enterprise for all the partners. She requested their ideas and suggestions, and she copied Seth on the email before sending it.
Katie dropped her head into her hands, wondering for the hundredth—thousandth?—time how she always managed to get in over her head. She ran Artisans Alley. She was president of the Merchants Association. After making Artisans Alley a successful venture, she opened Tealicious with Margo. The tea shop was barely up and running when she encouraged a group of Victoria Square merchants to form a partnership and buy the vacant building that currently housed The Flower Child. And now the partnership had designs on another property—with Katie leading the charge.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she hadn’t just become not only a workaholic, but a megalomaniac. While work wasn’t the only thing of value in her life, it often took precedent over everything else. She considered her failed—disastrous—relationship with Andy and how only hours ago she’d quashed any thoughts of a relationship with Ray. Would she ever meet anyone with whom she’d want to share her life? Did she even want to? Maybe her businesses, her friends, and her cats were enough.
Either way, she had too much to think about to get lost in daydreams. No fairy godmother was going to come to turn the tea shop into the bustling establishment it once was. But if this Cinderella was willing to roll up her sleeves and work—and she certainly was—then perhaps the following evening would be the beginning of the reboot Tealicious so desperately needed.
She pushed away from her desk, deciding to go on home and choose her outfits for Jamie’s funeral the next day and the open house tomorrow that night. She packed up her things, locked the office door, and left through the back exit.
Walking across the Square toward her apartment, she became vaguely aware of a car slowing near her. She assumed the driver was searching for a parking spot until he shouted at her.
“Kelly! Kelly Ferrell!”
Turning in surprise, she recognized the driver. “Connor!” He’d been seated at her table at the poker tournament. If memory served, he didn’t do too badly. But now he was here…where she wasn’t Kelly Ferrell, but Katie Bonner. “Uh, uh…what brings you to Victoria Square?”
Her mind raced. She couldn’t go home now. Nor could she visit any of the other stores. Her ruse would be exposed. Her only option was to walk to Sassy Sally’s and hope Connor wasn’t planning to go to Wood U.
“—Gilda’s Gift Baskets,” he was saying. “I have a friend in the hospital who adores Gilda’s arrangements.”
“I’m sorry to hear your friend is ill,” Katie said.
“Thanks. Luckily, she’s expected to make a full recovery. What about you?”
Purposefully mistaking his meaning and using humor to deflect, she said, “Oh, I think I’ve nearly made a full recovery from last night.”
Connor laughed. “I mean, what are you doing here?”
“Just browsing at the moment.” She smiled. “I come here often. I find it charming.”
“It is charming. I should come here more often myself.”
“You should!” She mentally added not.
“I need to park and make a quick dash into Gilda’s,” he said. “I hate to cut our reunion short, but my friend is expecting me.”
“It was good seeing you.”
“Likewise. Will you be at Jamie’s funeral tomorrow?”
She tried to keep the dread she felt from being obvious. “Uh, yes.”
“We’ll talk more then.” He waved to her before driving on and pulling into a vacant space.
When she was certain Connor wasn’t looking, she ducked behind Nona Fiske’s quilt shop and furtively made her way to Sassy Sally’s. Maybe Nick, Don, and Margo could help her figure out how she was going to make it through Jamie’s funeral while juggling two personas.
Despite the cool weather, Katie was sweating when she got to Sassy Sally’s. Don was at the reception desk, but he came around to meet her, immediately picking up on her distress.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Nodding, she said, “I need a glass of water. Actually, I could go for something a lot stronger.”
“Of course. Come on.”
Katie followed Don into the kitchen, where he opened the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Black Velvet whisky. He then filled an old fashion glass with ice, measured a shot and a half of the amber liquid, and filled the glass with ginger ale. Between sips, Katie explained that Connor Davis had just spotted her on the Square.
“And Connor Davis is—?” he prompted.
“One of the men who played poker at my table last night.”
“Are you sure he saw you?”
“He pulled up alongside me as I was walking from Artisans Alley to Tealicious and asked what I was doing here. He was headed to Gilda’s shop and appeared to be in a hurry. I hope he doesn’t enter Wood U and see Ray.”
Don blew out a breath. “I hope so, too.”
“But the worst is, he’s going to Jamie’s funeral tomorrow and expects to see me there.”
Don groaned. “I knew this entire harebrained scheme was going to come back to bite us.”
Nick came into the kitchen. “Which harebrained scheme are we discussing?”
Don filled him in while Katie drained her glass of what Nick often teased her as whiskey pop and tried to will her hands not to tremble.
“We have to tell Seth,” Nick said.
“We can’t.” Katie shook her head. “He’ll be upset.”
“Why?” Don asked. “He’s the one who put you up to the ruse in the first place.”
She set down the glass and got up from her stool at the kitchen island. “This is a nightmare. How can I go to the funeral as both Katie Bonner and Kelly Ferrell? Plus, I can’t have Ray pose as my husband again. Not only would it make tongues wag on the Square, but after this morning, I’m not even sure Ray and I are friends anymore.”
“What?” Nick raised a hand to his throat. “What?”
Katie heaved a sigh. “I realized last night that he and I have an unhealthy, codependent relationship that needs to end,” she said. “I can’t go running to Ray every time I have a problem, and he can’t continue thinking we’ll ever be in an intimate relationship.”
“And you don’t think your friendship can survive?” Nick asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe we’ll get there someday, but it’s going to take me a while to get over last night. And last night is precisely why I wouldn’t trust him to do any more undercover work, either.” She ran her hands through her hair. “The only solution is for me to not attend Jamie’s funeral.”
“If that’s what you’re planning to do, you have to call Seth,” Nick said. “He’ll be so hurt if you miss the funeral with no explanation.”
“I agree. But a phone call won’t cut it. I have to tell him in person.”
Thirty minutes later, Katie was sitting beside Seth on the dark leather couch in his living room.
“You know how much I care about you and how much I cared for Jamie,” she said, before launching into the story of how one of the men who’d played poker with her the night before would be coming to the funeral. “And Connor isn’t the only one. I’m sure Phyllis will be there, too. Of course, Phyllis probably remembers me as Katie Bonner; and either she didn’t recognize me last night or she didn’t notice me because we didn’t speak.”
“I’d have loved having your su
pport at the funeral,” Seth said. “But I’m the reason you’re in this predicament, and I can’t have Jamie’s service disrupted by people demanding to know who you are. I’d appreciate your asking Ray to stay away as well.”
Katie considered asking Seth if he’d mind calling or texting Ray. Instead, she said, “Of course. I’ll explain the situation and ask him not to attend.” She’d send a text. That way, they wouldn’t have to talk.
“There is something you could do that might be beneficial,” Seth said.
“Of course. Anything.”
“Would you contact the woman who wanted to have lunch sometime—Gina, was it?—and see if she’s free tomorrow? It seems like she might have more to tell about the evening when Jamie won all that money.”
“I’ll do that,” Katie said. “If I can’t attend the service, I can at least help with the investigation. Maybe later we could visit the cemetery together.”
Seth offered her a wan smile and patted her hand. “I’d like that, and I think Jamie would approve, too.”
Katie hugged her pseudo big brother. It was the least she could do.
Chapter 20
On Friday morning, Katie slunk into Artisans Alley using the back entrance and hoping no one would disturb her. She’d texted Ray the evening before asking him not to attend Jamie’s funeral—along with an explanation of why she was making the request. He’d texted back, can we talk? She hadn’t replied. Instead, she made arrangements to meet Gina Solero for lunch at one of the swanky restaurants near the poker club in Rochester. Knowing she’d leave directly from Artisans Alley to meet Gina, Katie had taken extra time with her hair and makeup before coming into work so she’d look more like her Kelly Ferrell persona.
She managed to get a cup of coffee and hurried into her office without anyone accosting her. But while she waited for her computer to boot up, there came the dreaded tap on her door.
Rolling her eyes, she called, “Come in.”
It was Rose. She handed Katie a sheet of paper. “Vance said to give you this. It’s the placement arrangement for the vendors. He said to tell you they’d agreed to set everything up in their new spots after the close of business today.”
“Why didn’t he bring this to me himself?” Katie asked.
“He said he was going to work on the floor.” She tilted her head. “Wow, you look extra pretty today. Is that what you’re wearing to Jamie’s funeral?”
Katie felt self-conscious about her red silk blouse and black slacks. “I’m not going to be able to make it to the funeral.” She swallowed convulsively. “Seth needs me to run an errand for him instead.”
“That’s weird,” Rose said. “What kind of errand?”
“It’s…um…it’s personal.” She changed the subject. “Will you and Walter be at the open house at Tealicious tonight?”
“Is that tonight?” Rose adopted a crestfallen expression. “Shucks. Walter got us tickets to his lodge’s fall formal.”
“Couldn’t you swing by beforehand and show us all how beautiful you look?” Katie asked.
“Oh, sweetie, that’s all right—you’ll see the photos afterward.” She jerked her head toward the door. “I’d better get back to the cash desk. Good luck with that mysterious errand.”
Katie wished she could explain the entire situation to Rose; but she was half afraid that if she told her friend what she’d been up to, Rose would either want to get involved or would inadvertently strike the match that would set the gossip fires ablaze.
She picked up the placement assignment sheet, made sure Maddie Lyndel got the spot Katie had promised her, and skimmed the rest. There would be grumbling among the vendors, but they’d simply have to deal with their dissatisfaction. No one was thrilled with this floor situation. She crossed her fingers. Hopefully, everything could go back to normal soon.
Gina was already sipping a martini by the time Katie arrived at the restaurant. The hostess who’d escorted her to the table asked if she’d like one as well. Katie politely declined, instead asking for sparkling water with a twist of lime.
After hanging her purse on the back of the chair, she sat down on the cushioned seat and smiled at her dining companion. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.” Gina raised her glass and simpered. “But you’re making me drink alone.”
“I’m afraid so,” Katie said. “I need to have my wits about me when I return to work—I’m afraid no one else will have theirs.”
“Lots of idiots in the insurance world, huh?”
That had been the job Katie held in her cover story—insurance adjuster. “I’m afraid they’re not restricted to insurance.” She gave a rueful laugh.
“True,” Gina said. “So, was your husband ticked that you won and he lost?”
“Yes!” Katie saw the opportunity to interject a little honesty into the conversation. “He behaved like such a jerk. I’m still angry with him. And I even gave him back the money he lost out of my winnings.”
“Oooh.” Gina winced. “That probably wasn’t a good idea.”
“Really? Why not?”
“You rubbed his face in the fact that you won and he lost. Your giving him the money was akin to offering him a condescending pat on the head.” Gina shook her head. “Very emasculating.”
Katie frowned. “I hadn’t considered that. How about you? Was your husband angry after the game on Wednesday night?”
“Not terribly. He didn’t lose as much as I’d imagined,” she said.
“But he lost more the previous week?” Katie asked, struggling to find a way to bring up Jamie and who might’ve wanted him dead.
“He did. The only one who really cleaned up at that game was Jamie Seifert.”
Happy that the conversation was turning in the direction she wanted it to go, Katie opened her mouth to speak. But before she could do so, their waitress arrived with Katie’s water.
As soon as the server walked away, Katie asked, “So, how much did Jamie Seifert win last week?”
“I don’t remember the exact amount, but my husband Tony wasn’t the only one who went home in a rage that night.”
Katie sipped her water. “But why were they so angry? Did they think Jamie cheated or something?”
“Well…” Gina drew out the word. “We’re a pretty competitive group. None of us are good losers. But, yeah, there was some suspicion.”
Katie leaned forward. “Really? Did he have a partner or count cards or what?”
Gina polished off her martini. “Let’s just say the dealer at Jamie’s table that night has been banned.”
Katie gasped. “So, they were cheating?”
“Nothing that could be proven, but the event facilitators thought it would be best if the dealer didn’t return.”
Katie turned that development over in her mind. She couldn’t believe Jamie would cheat. “Who was the dealer?”
“His name was Robert or Roberts—could’ve been a last name. Why?” She managed a sly grin. “Are you hoping he can help you win big, too?”
“I’ve already managed to do that on my own,” Katie said, “Although the odds are typically against me.”
“They weren’t the other night,” Gina said.
“Trust me—that was a fluke. So, tell me what the other people who were at our table are like.”
Gina signaled the server for another martini and they gave their orders at the same time, with Katie opting for the restaurant’s version of the regional dish chicken French, while Gina ordered a small house salad, which wasn’t likely to mop up the alcohol she seemed determined to imbibe.
Once the waitress left them, Gina returned to the business at hand. “Who do you want to know about?”
“Let’s start with Connor Davis,” Katie said. “I saw him yesterday afternoon on Victoria Square in McKinlay Mill. He said he was shopping for a friend who was in the hospital.”
“I wonder who?” Gina’s brow probably would’ve furrowed, but Katie suspected the woman’s forehead h
ad been immobilized by Botox. “You must go to McKinlay Mill often. Didn’t you say you had lunch at that tea shop there a week or two ago?”
“I live in the area,” Katie said vaguely. “Have you ever been there?”
The waitress arrived with Gina’s martini and refilled Katie’s water glass. “Your food should be out soon, ladies,” she said, before sashaying away.
“McKinlay Mill? No, I haven’t been there.” Gina slid one of the queen olives off the frill pick and popped it into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “I’ll have to check it out one of these days.”
“You should,” Katie said. “I believe you’d enjoy it. But tell me more about Connor. I didn’t realize he and Jamie Seifert were friends.”
“Were they?” Gina asked.
“Apparently. He told me he was attending the man’s funeral today.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’d intended to go pay my respects, but work obligations took precedence.”
“Connor is nice enough, I guess. Tony thinks he’s gay because he works with flowers, but I told my husband he’s a Neanderthal.” She shook her head. “Tony grew up with some antiquated sexist beliefs passed on from his parents—such as men are doctors, scientists, and firefighters while women are nurses, secretaries, and homemakers. He never quite adjusted to modern thinking.”
Katie gave a knowing nod. “We all have our ingrained notions to overcome, I suppose. I was fortunate, though—I was taught that women should be fearless and that we can do anything.”
“Lucky you,” Gina said darkly. “Unfortunately, I had parents like Tony’s and was taught that a woman’s place is in the home. I finally pleased my folks by marrying rich, so I have a beautiful home to show off to one and all.” She paused and looked off into the distance with what seemed like disappointment. Then Gina shook herself. “Uh, who else do you want to know about?”
Their food arrived, but Gina only picked at her salad. By the time they finished, Katie had discovered that Connor Davis owned a flower shop and dated someone who worked at Rochester’s prestigious Lamberton Conservatory. Albert was an attorney. He’d been a brilliant criminal defense attorney at one time, but for some reason, he now mainly drew up wills and trusts. Gina had warned her not to let Hazel’s “sweet little old lady” guise fool her. Hazel had been a federal court clerk for years and knew the law better than most attorneys. As for Greg, he was an accountant—Gina didn’t know much about him other than that.
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