by Nan Sampson
The Chief made a face. “If I were you, once we have the crime scene boys check the place out, I’d call a professional company to come out and do the clean-up. I can give you some names.”
Ellie frowned. “How long will that take?”
“Can’t say for sure.”
Marg shook her head. “No. No, Ellie, you leave this in my hands. With that bandaged hand of yours, you shouldn’t be touching any of this stuff anyway. Liable to get an infection.”
“You can’t possibly clean up that place by yourself.”
“Who said I was going to do it alone? I have more cousins in this county than the Moughs have cows. We’ll get that place spic ‘n span in no time.”
“No, Marg, I couldn’t impose like that, and I don’t think I can afford to pay a bunch of people.”
Gruetzmacher laughed, and looked over Ellie’s head at Marg. “She doesn’t quite get small towns yet, does she?”
Marg chuckled. “No. But I’ll teach her.” She turned to Ellie. “Honey, you don’t worry about a thing. Well, except putting that menu together. Why don’t you go back over to the Inn, grab a table in the tea room and start firming up your ideas. I’m going to get on the horn and start recruiting some help. Bill, when do you think you can let my folks into the kitchen – and mind, it better not be days and days this time. We’re running out of them.”
“Let me check with Sam. I figure we can have the place printed – again – by the end of the day today.”
“Make it five o’clock. I’ll have my crew here at six. If your guys are still here then, I’ll put them to work.”
Gruetzmacher laughed. “You would too. Okay, I’ll do my best.” He touched Ellie’s arm lightly. “Do you have any idea who might have done this?”
She stared at him. “I’ve got a very clear idea. She threatened me just this morning.”
He frowned. “You think it was Louisa.”
“Well, don’t you?”
“My job is to NOT jump to conclusions. But I’ll have a talk with her, see if she’s got an alibi.”
“Alibi, schmalibi. See if her hands smell like cow poop.”
Gruetzmacher chuckled, then flipped his notebook closed. “Was the door locked when you got here?”
Ellie nodded. “Yes. Just like before.”
“And you didn’t see anyone lurking about?”
“No. Just like before.”
“Okay. Marg, take Ellie up to the Inn, have Arabella give her some tea. I’ll be in touch just as soon as we know something. I’ll do my best to see my boys are out of here at 5:00.” He gave Marg a glance. “When your crew is done here, maybe you could send them over to the Station. We could use some help cleaning up there, too.”
Marg linked arms with Ellie, and Ellie let her new employee lead her away from the shop. She still felt a little numb, and her anger was fading, replaced again by a sense of hopelessness.
Marg was chuckling, her mood unfettered by this new disaster. “Later, Bill.”
Patti Mough and Arabella were in the tea room when Ellie and Marg came in. One look at Ellie and they both jumped up and went into mother-mode. Ellie, still feeling dazed, sat down and let them fuss around her, while Marg gave them the low-down on the latest calamity.
Patti sat down next to her as Arabella pressed a cup of tea into her hands. “Oh, you poor thing. My lord, it’s just one thing after another with that shop, isn’t it? You’d think it was cursed.”
The more cynical of the two, Arabella gave a harsh laugh. “That or someone really doesn’t want you to open.”
An explanation which, to Ellie anyway, sounded eminently more reasonable.
Patti wasn’t having any of that. “But who would want that?”
The words slipped out before Ellie could censor them. “Louisa Cullen, that’s who.” And when she was confronted by startled looks, she continued. “She threatened me this morning, saying that I should leave town or bad things would happen. I guess we know now what ‘bad things’ meant.”
“Lu? You think Lu did this?” Patti shook her head. “I can’t believe that.”
Arabella, however, was slowly nodding her head. “When did this happen?”
“Earlier today. I was at the Police Station, seeing when I could get into the shop. She was waiting for me at my car when I came out. Accused me of taking a rather indiscreet photo of her and…” She thought for a second about how wise it was to reveal Louisa’s affair with Todd Hertz, then decided that, right or wrong, she trusted these women about as much as she trusted anybody. They might as well know the whole truth, no matter how unpleasant. “A photo of her and Todd Hertz. In a rather familiar position.”
Patti looked confused. “I don’t understand.”
Her friend gave her a look. “You know. A horizontal position?”
Understanding dawned. “Oh. Oh no. Oh, Bella, that’s not good. They’re—”
Arabella raised a hand. “Yes, I know.”
Ellie caught the almost panicked look the two exchanged. She wondered if they’d tell her what Marg already had. She glanced at Marg, who was decidedly mum. Well, she didn’t need to worry, Ellie wouldn’t give away that she’d told. “They’re what?”
Another look passed between them. “Nothing,” Arabella finally said. “They’re just not suited for each other. As I mentioned before, Todd’s mother wouldn’t find Louisa’s Goth tendencies at all endearing.”
Patti gave Ellie an earnest look. “Did you see this picture? Do you know for sure that it even exists?”
In for a penny, in for a pound, Ellie thought. “I not only saw it, she tore it up and threw it at me. It’s at the cabin.”
Again the looks. Arabella made a ‘humph’ sound. “Why did she think you took it?”
“Because… because I followed her the other day. She was in town, walking along, looking very secretive, kept checking behind her and around her, as though she expected someone to be watching her. I got curious and decided to follow her. I lost her when she turned down Third Street, then spotted her again, through a window of one of the houses. She and Todd were, well, embracing.”
“So that’s what you meant when you said you had seen them together.”
Ellie nodded. “Sorry I didn’t give you all the details. I didn’t want to go spreading rumors. I mean, who people sleep with is their own business.”
Arabella gave Patti one last look. “She deserves to know, Patti.”
Patti pressed her lips together. “But what about Todd? What about Jeanne?”
Arabella shook her head. “I think we can trust Ellie to keep a secret. She’s one of us now.” She squared her shoulders. “This isn’t the first time that Todd and Lu have been involved. When Lu was younger, they had a brief fling. When Lu’s mother found out about it, she sent Lu away to live with relatives for the summer, hoping that would put a stop to it.”
Patti jumped to Louisa’s defense. “And it did.”
Marg just raised her eyebrows. “Well, they appear to be back at it now.”
Ellie, always the outsider, was getting irritated. “I guess I don’t see the big deal. Maybe she was young the last time round, but they’re both consenting adults now. If they want to share some afternoon delight, who has a right to care about it? Bella, you said yourself that Todd is single and a nice young man, by all accounts. What difference does it make to anyone—” she held up a finger as Arabella opened her mouth to interject, “—other than Todd’s mother, who really needs to cut the umbilical cord as far as I can tell – who either of them chooses to see?”
Arabella sighed. “What you need to know, what you need to understand is that Todd is one of Artie’s by-blows. Todd doesn’t know. Jeanne wanted Todd to grow up believing that her husband was his father.”
“You’re kidding.” She hoped that sounded surprised. She glanced again at Marg, so the woman mouthed ‘thank you’ at her.
“I wish I was. I can’t believe they’re together again. She hasn’t even been in town more than a w
eek. And I’m surprised at Todd more than anything. I thought he had more sense than to get involved again with that girl.”
“You’re not being fair, Bella. Lu is a good girl at heart. Just confused.”
Arabella chuckled. “You’re too sweet, Patti. And more than a bit gullible, but it’s what makes you, you.”
Ellie frowned. “Then someone needs to tell them the truth. I mean, they’re brother and sister, but they don’t know they’re doing anything wrong unless someone –” and she gave the two women a stern look – “tells them so. Just trying to keep them apart is only going to make them, or at least Louisa, continue the relationship.”
Arabella set her jaw. “You’re right, of course. It should’ve been done years ago. I’ll talk to Jeanne tomorrow, although if someone was taking pictures, then she may already know.”
Ellie considered that. “Do you think Todd’s mother was the one who took the photographs?”
“Possibly. Jeanne always had a bit of a screw loose when it came to Todd dating. No one is ever good enough for him in her book. Just look what happened with him and Laura.”
“Bella! Jeanne had nothing to do with that.”
Arabella rolled her eyes. “At any rate, I wouldn’t put it past her, spying on Todd. Especially knowing that Lu was back in town. But I have a hard time believing she’d take pictures of them… in flagrante.”
“Then who?”
Arabella shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it was her. Maybe it was some other local busybody. Either way, it will all come to nothing. Lu is going back with Ingrid to New Mexico and Todd isn’t likely to uproot himself to follow her, no matter how good the sex is.”
“Bella!”
Arabella shrugged. “Now. What are we going to do about your shop?”
“Well, first, I’m going to take a long hot shower. Then…Gods, I don’t know how we’ll get that place clean enough to pass a health inspection.”
“No,” Marg said. “You’re going to take a hot shower and then work on the menus for next week. I told you I was going to take care of the cleanup.”
“I can’t ask you to do that. This is my mess. I’ll clean it up.”
“Bull hockey. I’m your employee, and this is something you can delegate. You’re going to have to learn how to do that, you know.” Her expression became more grave. “Seriously, Ellie, I’ve got the cleaning covered. You’ve got enough to think about.”
It was against her nature to accept help. She’d lived her life doing things on her own, and in her own way. Still, if there was a time to start accepting it, she supposed it was now. “Okay. But just so it’s on record, I suck at both asking for and accepting help. So if I’m a grouch about it, you’ll understand why.”
“Got it.” She gave Ellie a mock salute. “Permission to go muck out the kitchen now, sir.”
Ellie couldn’t help smiling back. “Granted. Don’t forget your wellies and your rubber gloves.”
“Is it really bad?” Patti asked.
Nodding, Ellie sighed. “It’ll be a miracle if we can get it clean enough.”
Marg negated that opinion. “Nonsense. You’ve never seen the Kemp cousins in action.” She glanced at her sister-in-law. “I recruited Sara and Silas.”
The other two women nodded vigorously. “That’s a great idea, Marg. S&S, as we call them, are Seth’s sister Gretchen’s twins,” Arabella explained. “They run a cleaning service out of Lonsdale, about ten miles north of here. They’re young, tireless, efficient, and very hard working.”
“And because I loaned them their start-up money, they owe me. Big time. I figure this is as good a time as any to call in that debt.”
“Great,” Ellie groaned. “They’re going to hate me before they’ve even met me.”
“Nah. They’ll love the challenge. They really ought to be Bella’s relatives. They’re just as much anal retentive neat freaks as Bella is.”
“I am NOT anal retentive.”
Both Patti and Marg gave her a look.
“Well. Okay, maybe a little. But I run an inn, for heaven’s sake. I have to be.”
Marg rolled her eyes, then looked at Ellie. “Go. Take a really long, hot shower. Then go fix yourself an espresso – cuz I’d be willing to bet you’re not really the tea type—” She pointed to the untouched cup on the table. “—and then work on those menu ideas like you said. I’ll meet you back here later on, and let you know how things are coming.”
Ellie still didn’t feel right about this. But Marg did have one thing right. She needed to learn how to delegate. “Okay. But you call me if you need an extra hand. Or anything else for that matter.”
“I will.”
Feeling out of control, and not liking it one bit, Ellie forcibly let go of the issue, made her goodbyes and trudged up to her room for a long, hot shower.
Chapter 24
Forty-five minutes later, after a luxurious shower and a good twenty minutes of meditation in the garden behind the Inn, Ellie sat down in a huge, overstuffed leather chair in the Inn’s library with her notebook, her day timer, and the folder of ideas she’d been dragging around with her for months. Using her cell phone, she confirmed the delivery of the Grand Opening banners the following day, then called her coffee bean supplier in Madison and made arrangements with them for a small supply of high priced Kona beans and the Fair Trade brand she’d finally settled on for those in town with a global conscience. She’d debated long and hard over the Kona. She had no idea what the local palette was like – and Kona was an acquired taste. In the end she’d decided it couldn’t hurt to have a little on hand.
Finally, she made one last call to a place she’d found on Michigan Avenue that had the best array of fine dark and milk chocolate bars and chocolate-covered coffee beans. Those would go in a display right by the register. The chocolate was an extravagance, but she was determined to think positively and ordering the chocolate, which was ridiculously expensive, was perhaps just the thing to get her subconscious mind moving along the right track.
Those things accomplished, she settled in, pouring over her notes, making choices about what would be the drinks of the day, the selection of baked goods she’d ask Marg to make vs. the food items she’d pre-ordered. She didn’t have any plans on becoming a lunch spot, but just like other chain coffee houses, she’d have a couple of lunch type items in the refrigerated case just to round out her offerings. If those really started to take off, then she’d have to reconsider her strategies. The Crock Pot, one of the local eateries, was just down the street, and she really didn’t want to go head to head with anyone over customer draw – and certainly not right off the bat.
By the time she looked up from her planning, the sky outside the windows was black, not even a hint of twilight left. A quick look at the clock told her it was just after nine. She blinked, realizing that someone must have come in to turn on the lamps in the room and she hadn’t even noticed.
Setting aside her stuff, she stood, stretched then walked to the French doors. The garden spread out beyond a small patio. Fireflies danced in the grass, and she could hear the chirp of crickets serenading one another. A lovely little gazebo, with Greek-inspired fluted wooden columns stood to one side and little faerie lights, strung around the cupola, twinkled among the ivy leaves that nearly covered the structure.
She felt a warm, delicate breeze, smelled night blooming jasmine, saw a brilliant swath of stars overhead.
And felt hope. Maybe the worst was over. Gruetzmacher would do whatever he needed to do about Louisa. Maybe after her father’s funeral the girl would simply go back to New Mexico and Ellie wouldn’t have to deal with her or her resentment any longer. Or maybe he’d throw her angry little ass in jail. Ellie didn’t much care, as long as the girl left her alone.
Better yet, maybe Marg and her cleaner cousins would really get the place inspection-proof.
The planet Venus was poised high enough above the horizon to be a bright light against the growing deep blue of the evening sky. E
ven though it wasn’t a star, Ellie made a wish that everything was going to work out. From her lips, she thought, to the Goddess’ ear.
With a sudden ache of longing, she wished her parents were here to see this. They would have loved this crazy idea of hers. The irony, she thought, was that without their deaths, and her subsequent inheritance, it never would have been possible.
She let the tears come, but refused to fall back into the despair that had gripped her for the better part of a year. She would go on. They would have wanted that for her. And she would succeed. Not just for them, but because she wanted it too.
Turning from the window, she scooped up all her papers and took them back up to her room. It past dinner time, and she was hungry. She’d stop by the Crock Pot if it was still open and pick up food for the cleaning crew. Surely they’d still be there.
Arabella was busy in the kitchen when she poked her head in to tell her where she was going.
“Are you sure you won’t eat here? I made acorn squash with wild rice stuffing and a spicy Mediterranean salad, and there’s plenty left.”
“It sounds delicious. But I should be a good boss and bring the troops something to eat. I’ll probably be late, so but don’t wait up for me. If they let me, I’m going to stay to give them a hand.”
Clearly preoccupied with her cooking, Arabella waved distractedly. “Okay. Good luck, dear.”
Ellie waved back and headed out the back door to her car.
Main Street was quiet, most of the shops having closed. She swung into a diagonal spot in front of the Crock Pot and jogged in, hoping to make it to her own shop while there was still some work to be done.
Despite the lateness of the hour, only three of the dozen or so tables were vacant – a good crowd for a Monday night. There were several people in line in front of her, but the woman behind the counter was making quick work of the order taking.
Ellie glanced around her, noting the cozy, old world décor, reminding her of some of the sidewalk cafes she’d been in, in Paris and Prague, but done in such a way as to not be off-putting to the locals. Ellie had designed something similar for her own shop – but with a kitschier feel to play up some of the local businesses she’d be getting supplies from.