Serena leaned against the counter, shook her head, and took a deep breath. “She’s Martha’s youngest daughter.”
Addie felt the color drain from her face and slumped onto the stool beside Serena. “No, she never told me,” she whispered. “What do I do now? I hired her.”
“Well, the only good thing is, as rumor has it, she and Martha had a major falling-out a couple of years ago. Word was it was over an affair that Paige was having with one of her professors, and when they got caught, he was fired, and they moved to Boston. Gossip was then that she got pregnant, and he apparently had a bad gambling problem. I heard that Martha wouldn’t send her money. She said she didn’t pay for a fancy education just so she’d end up like Martha had, and . . . I don’t even know for sure if it’s all true. It was just what was going around in the town rumor mill. But I guarantee Martha’s behind her working here.” Serena huffed.
“And if it’s not true, maybe she’s embarrassed by the gossip, and that’s why she seemed to be hiding something.” Addie glanced down at the résumé. “She just seemed scared and alone. Not vicious or conniving.”
“Well, don’t trust her. She was probably sent here to work as a plant for Martha and her gang, to gather more fuel for that stupid petition. Look what it did to me.”
“I know, you poor dear.” Addie threw her arms around Serena and hugged her tight. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m fine, now that I’m not number one on the most-wanted list anymore.” She smiled. “Oh, I have something for you.” She reached into her large handbag.
“No, I should be giving you a gift. After all, you are the first jailbird I’ve ever known,” chuckled Addie.
Serena swatted her arm. “It’s not really a gift, but I figured you’d be hungry, so . . . voilà, lunch. I hope you like it.”
“I don’t even care what is. I’m starving,” Addie shrieked. “God, I could kiss you.”
A woman browsing through the curio cabinet behind her laughed, and a few other customers snickered. Addie turned bright red, then laughed and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s amazing what I’ll do for food.”
A man sporting a black, Boston baseball cap piped up. “I’ll have to remember that the next time I want a kiss.”
The shoppers howled. Addie was shocked when she realized how many people were actually in the store. She stood up and announced. “I hope no one minds, but a girl’s gotta eat,” which was met with cheers and encouragement. She took a bow and sat down.
Serena almost slipped off her stool, laughing as she handed Addie a homemade roast beef sandwich and then pulled out a plastic container. “And this,” she sputtered between giggles, “is dessert.”
“Ah, you are so thoughtful. I don’t know how to thank you.” Addie smiled and squeezed her hand. “You’re my rock.”
“Nonsense,” said Serena. “You’re mine, and I have to thank you for springing me out of the big house.” She pushed stray wisps of hair from her eyes. “Marc told me that if it hadn’t been for you, he’d never have found that door or room. Thank you.”
Addie’s cheeks warmed, and she cast her eyes down. “He would have eventually found it. I was just in the right place at the right time.” She shrugged. “Do you want half ?”
“No thanks, I ate before I came. You know, you can take more credit than you’re giving yourself for the discovery.”
Addie waved off her comment and bit into her sandwich.
Serena shook her head and eyed the shop. “It looks like business is good. That’s great, since you’ve only been open a week.”
“I couldn’t be happier—although it does help being the only bookshop in town.”
“How are sales for this stuff?” Serena motioned toward the curios.
“Not as good, but I’m still hoping. The oils sell well, and the candles, but the knickknacks—pfft. Not so well.”
“Yeah, there’s Mildred’s Emporium and Gifts over on Main. I think that’s where people are used to going.”
“I was in there, and she does have some nice things, but I can’t compete with her low prices.”
“They’re all knockoffs, you know, made-in-China stuff. Yours are the real deal.”
“I know, but her prices are so good.” Addie took another bite. “If that line doesn’t pick up, I might look for a distributor in Boston. I can’t let them go for the prices it would take to sway people in town my way.”
“Good idea. I’ve got some contacts there. Let me know if you’re ever interested.” A sly looked appeared on Serena’s face.
“What?” Addie opened the plastic container. “Oh, turnovers, yummy, thanks.” She smiled up at Serena, who still had a teasing look in her eye. “What? Do I have food stuck in my teeth?”
Serena laughed. “No, but speaking of ‘interested’ . . .”
“Yes?” Addie’s eyes narrowed.
“How are you and Marc doing—or should I say, what are you and Marc doing?” She smirked.
“What? Why? Did he say something to you?”
“Don’t worry, he’s very professional and all, but I know my brother. I’ve never known him to take such a keen interest in a case. I’m thinking that there’s something more happening between the two of you. Come on”—she leaned toward Addie, her arms propped up in her lap—“tell me everything.”
Addie felt the heat creep up her neck to her face. She brushed her cheek where his warm breath had caressed it last night and she touched her finger to her lips, but then she shook her head, remembering he thought her to be, in Brian’s words, “a complete ditz.” “There’s nothing to tell. I got broken into again, and he’s on the case, and you were charged with murder and—”
“This is strictly business and all professional-like, then?”
“Yes, it is. Besides”—she tossed her head back—“he thinks I’m a complete idiot and can’t take care of myself.”
“No, he doesn’t. Quite the opposite, I think.”
“What?”
“He’s always asking about you.” She grinned and slyly glanced at Addie out of the corner of her eye.
“He’s just keeping tabs on me. He thinks I’m involved with a crime syndicate or something.”
Serena’s eyebrows twitched. “I don’t think so.” She wagged her finger and broke into a grin.
“There’s nothing else to it. I’m just a case.” Addie’s lip quivered as she stared down at the last piece of turnover in her fingers and swallowed hard. She could feel Serena’s eyes burning into her.
“Okay, if you insist that’s your story and you’re sticking to it, but I’ll get it out of you somehow. I know there’s something going on between you and my brother. Just call it little-sister instinct. He likes you. I know he does.” She nudged Addie’s knee. “And you like him. I see it in your eyes.”
A cough rattled from behind Serena’s shoulder. Addie’s gaze shot up. Serena jumped and spun around on her stool.
“Well, speak of the devil.”
Marc rocked back on his heels, his face flushed. “Well, I see you two are catching up, so . . . so I’ll . . . I’ll just drop by later.” He fumbled with his cap as he retreated backward out the door.
Addie let out the breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding.
Serena erupted in laughter, and the man in the Boston ball cap smirked and winked at Addie.
Chapter Seventeen
“Look, I’m sorry, Addie. I had no idea he was standing behind me.”
Addie shot her a sidelong glance and proceeded to lock the front door, sliding past Serena, who was hovering beside her, and then made her way to the back room.
“So, that’s it.” Serena trailed after her. “You’re not going to say anything? Will you ever speak to me again?”
Addie stopped, folded her arms and studied Serena’s crumbling face. She felt a stab at her heart and huffed. “Serena, I’m just, just so . . .”
She pulled at her hair and spun away.
“. . . mortified.”
“I know. It was bad taste and timing on my part.” Serena tugged at her sleeve. “But we don’t know how much he overheard. Maybe he’d just walked in and didn’t know what we were talking about?”
“That might have been the case until you said ‘speak of the devil.’ Darn you. I’m so embarrassed—again.”
“Again? Why, what else happened?”
“Nothing,” she snapped.
“Okay.” Serena’s brow arched. “But if it helps,” she continued, a crooked smile crossing her lips, “I think he likes you, so it’s not all bad if he heard us talking about him. Is it? After all, it might help the two of you get—”
“Stop.” Addie’s hand shot up. “It matters because we’re just friends, and there’s going to be enough rumors spread by Martha and her posse.”
“Martha? What does she have to do with anything?”
“She saw him drop me off first thing this morning and let me know her thoughts about it.” She winced. “It’s just that I hate gossip.” Addie grabbed her purse from the countertop. “Let’s go eat.”
Serena’s face lit up. “So we’re still friends?”
“Of course we are.”
“Good.” Serena heaved a sigh. “After all,” she said, stepping back, “I’m thinking you’re going to be my sister-in-law soon, and—”
Addie jostled her with her shoulder. “Stop it. Marc and I are just friends and business partners.”
“But Marc doesn’t have business partners,” she snickered.
Addie locked the alley door behind them. “Just get in and drive.” She slid into Serena’s passenger seat.
Serena got into the car and looked at Addie sideways, arched an eyebrow, and gave her a wicked wink. “You do like him. Don’t you?”
“What? No, he’s the police chief, and your brother.”
“So?”
“So, nothing.” She straightened her shoulders, plonked her purse on her lap, and stared ahead through the window. “It’s strictly business.”
“Well, let’s just say, theoretically of course, if it were more than police business—”
“Yes?” Addie frowned, her eyes fixed forward.
“You’d have my blessing.”
“Let it go, Serena. I have enough on my plate right now. Besides . . . I’m not ready.”
“Okay.” She grinned. “But I’m just saying.” She shrugged and pulled out of the back parking spot and headed down the lane. “Where do you want to eat? Mario’s on Main?”
“I’d rather not, if that’s all right with you. I want to go someplace we can talk and catch up. There wasn’t much chance of that today in the store.”
“There’s the restaurant in your hotel?”
“No, it’s filled with tourists these days.”
“I know.” She bounced in her seat. “The Grey Gull Inn; it has great food.”
“I’ve heard about that place. In fact, I know someone who’s going to be staying there in a couple of weeks.”
“The restaurant’s probably packed though, since it’s Saturday night. But there’s a great rooftop patio that’d be perfect. They have heat lamps out there, and it should be quiet.”
“Sounds good.”
They drove in silence down the winding road toward the harbor. Addie marveled at all the shops and cafés that were scattered along Marine Drive, which overlooked the seawall. “I had no idea it was as booming down here as this.”
“You’ve never been down here before?” Serena glanced at her.
“No, I haven’t had time. Wow. It’s like its own little village. I love it.” She craned her neck, trying to take it all in. “Too bad everything’s closed for the night. I’d love to explore.”
“Tomorrow’s Sunday. Town Square’s closed, and so are you, but this area is hopping then. We should come back. You’d love some of the quirkier shops down here.” Serena pulled into the Grey Gull parking lot.
“I’d love to.” Addie unclipped her seat belt. “Oh, but I’ll have to see how it goes. I’m really behind on sorting the attic. It’s kind of been a lost week.”
They entered the foyer of the dining area and Addie’s heart sank. As Serena had feared, it was packed. The bench seating around the entrance way was filled, and a crowd stood waiting at the hostess station. “Should we try someplace else?”
“No, we’ll get in. Wait a minute.” Serena pushed through the crowd.
Addie followed, weaving her way to the front behind Serena. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” she repeated when she nudged too close to startled patrons. When she caught up to Serena, she was chatting with a pretty, young blond woman. Addie clutched her purse in front of her and leaned forward to hear their discussion. The man behind her edged closer and huffed in her ear, his hot breath gusting across the back of her head. She turned and flashed an apologetic smile, but he returned it with a fixed stare.
Addie shuddered and turned back to Serena. The hostess gathered two menus and asked them to follow her. Addie twisted around toward the man behind her.
His cheeks puffed out and his lips pursed until the hostess announced loudly, “We can turn on the heaters on the rooftop deck for you. It should be warm enough.” His taut features relaxed.
Addie smiled and nodded at him and trailed after Serena.
As they passed through the dining area, Addie scanned the large, beautiful room. The far wall was made of floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a perfect view of the harbor stretched out before it. Serena started up the steps leading to the upper deck. Addie took one more fleeting glance around the dining area and paused mid-step.
She grabbed Serena’s coattail and tugged. Serena’s foot wavered, and she started to tumble backward. Addie thrust her arms up to stop her friend’s downward spiral.
Serena turned to her, eyes wide. “What was that all about?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pull so hard.”
Serena squared her shoulders. “What’s so important?”
“See, over in the corner table?” Addie whispered. “Isn’t that Andrew Fielding?”
“Yes, so what?”
“Who’s the woman with the brown, tightly permed hair he’s with?”
“Elaine. Why?”
“No reason.” Addie gnawed her lip. “Just wondering.”
“That’s why you almost sent me tumbling down on top of you? Sheesh.” She shook her head and trotted up the stairs.
Addie’s hand lingered on the bottom of the railing. She couldn’t help but wonder why Andrew would dismiss Elaine and then have dinner with her just days later. She shrugged it off and took a step up, but her eyes remained fixed on their table. Her foot was hovering over the next step when Andrew reached inside his jacket pocket, pulled out an envelope, and slid it toward Elaine. She picked it up, slipped it under the table, peeked inside, nodded, and tucked it into her handbag. Addie’s breath caught at the back of her throat as Elaine got up and walked toward the door.
She swallowed hard and dashed up the stairs. Serena was seated at the only occupied table on the very chilly patio. A propane heater had been placed beside it, and she sat sipping a glass of water, browsing through the menu.
Addie plunged into the chair across from her. “You aren’t going to believe what I just saw.”
Serena flinched and dropped her menu.
“Andrew just paid Elaine off.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“He gave her an envelope, and I’m sure by the look on her face it was full of money, and then she got up and left.” Addie took a sip from her water glass.
“Oh, Addie, Addie, Addie.” Serena shook her head. “I think this week’s gotten to you. You’re seeing—”
“I know what I saw.”
“I’m sure you do, but how do you know it was some sort of payoff and not something completely innocent?”
“Like what?”
“Like a severance payment. Maybe he felt bad about dismissing her after fifteen years of working for Blain and wanted to make things r
ight. Who knows?” Serena leaned forward and patted Addie’s hand. “Now let’s order. I need some food.”
“Maybe you’re right.” She let out a heavy sigh. “But I have a feeling there’s more to it than that.” She propped her chin in her hand and gazed out over the harbor.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Serena closed her menu.
“How can I?” Her eyes softened when she looked into Serena’s drawn face. “I guess we’ve both been through a lot this week.”
“Yes, we have.” Serena’s head dropped.
“We just have to figure it out and get to the bottom of it all, and then we’ll both feel better and carry on with our normal lives.”
“You’re right,” sighed Serena. “I guess I just wanted to forget about it all for a few minutes.”
Addie picked up her menu. “I know that was selfish of me. I do tend to get too wrapped up in things sometimes, and this is supposed to be dinner to celebrate your freedom.”
Serena laughed and picked up her water glass for a toast, but then set it down and frowned. “We can’t really celebrate though, can we?”
“Why not? Umm . . . I think I’ll have the steak sandwich. What are you going to have? My treat, anything you want.”
“Thanks, but . . . I don’t think we can celebrate until the real killer’s caught and your break-ins come to an end. I can’t help but think they’re all related.”
Addie sighed and put her menu down. “I do, too, but there’s so many unanswered questions, and as hard as I’ve tried, I can’t get all the pieces to fit together yet. We’re missing a big one, as my dad would have said, and once we find that piece, the rest will fall into place.”
“Maybe we should tell Marc—”
“No. Don’t you dare.”
Serena cringed. “Not even about the envelope exchange you saw tonight?”
“Pfft.” She shook her head. “It’s too early. Besides, I don’t want to be made a fool of again by the police.” She set her water glass down. “Like you said, it could be something completely innocent. We need more proof that something else was behind it.”
“Okay.” Serena pursed her lips and looked questioningly at her. “If that’s how you feel, then . . . ?”
Murder by the Book Page 11