A Fowl Feast

by Lyndsey Cole

  Hannah noticed that Joey slid the mermaid opener into his own pocket after he opened the second bottle. Either Rochelle didn’t notice or she didn’t care. Probably the second since Rochelle didn’t try to hide her dislike of Emma and Mack’s friendship.

  “How much for your rent?” Rochelle asked Joey.

  “An even thousand should do it.”

  Rochelle stepped close to Joey. He leaned back as far as possible. “I helped your father out enough times to know that your rent is only nine hundred dollars. What’s the extra hundred for?”

  “I gotta eat and put gas in the car.” A blush crept into his face at being caught trying to put one over on Rochelle.

  “I’ll give you the money,” Rochelle said.

  Joey smiled.

  “But here’s what you’re going to do for me.”

  The smile fell off his face and his eyes narrowed. He obviously thought he held all the cards with the sympathy factor but he underestimated his aunt. She had no intention of giving without getting.

  “You will come back to work in the barn. With Cal supervising. You’ll work until you’ve paid off this thousand dollars. Plus interest. After that, we’ll cut our ties or renegotiate.” She held out her hand. “Hannah’s our witness.”

  This wasn’t anything Hannah wanted to be a part of but before she could even think of a response, Joey shook his aunt’s hand.

  Rochelle held onto Joey’s hand. “I’ll also expect you to sign a receipt for this loan.”

  “Are you serious?” Joey blurted out before any self-control could kick in.

  Rochelle jabbed his chest with her finger. “You bet I am. Your father never taught you how to work, how to show respect, or how to take care of yourself. If you want my help, you get some life lessons along with the loan.” She turned around and got the dessert plates out, adding them to the tray.

  “My dad always said you were too high and mighty for your own good but I’ll show you real soon how well I’ve figured out how to take care of myself.”

  Rochelle slowly turned on her heel. “And how is that, Joey?”

  Joey smiled and left the kitchen.

  Rochelle picked up the tray. “I’ll have to keep an eye on that kid so he doesn’t get himself killed like his father.”

  The comment was said under her breath but Hannah had to respond. “What do you think his plan is?”

  Rochelle stopped in the hall outside the kitchen. “I imagine his father bragged about having money hidden somewhere. Al never had a filter on his mouth. Naturally, Joey thinks he’ll be able to find it but all he’ll find is Al’s angry ex-partner who also wants that money.” She shook her head. “What should I do?”

  “You’re in a tough position. When you gave Al his alibi, did he tell you where he stashed the money?”

  “You’d think I would have been smart enough to insist on that detail but, to be honest, when he showed up in such a panic, it didn’t occur to me. Mack and I had to make a quick decision. Get our stories straight. By the time we lied for Al, he laughed in my face when I said he needed to tell me where he’d hidden the money. I knew he would blow it, and I was right.”

  “Do you know what this Nate guy looks like?”

  “Unfortunately, I do. Al brought him here a few times way back when. But I don’t know if he has changed his looks. One thing he couldn’t change is the scar he’d have from his injury the night of the break-in. He gashed his face from his ear to his jaw. Unless he had plastic surgery, that scar will be with him forever.” Rochelle continued into the living room.

  Hannah was amazed at Rochelle’s ability to transition from one subject to another and one mood to her happy hostess persona.

  “Here we are with dessert. I’ll be right back with the coffee,” she announced cheerily to her dinner guests.

  Rochelle left and Mack followed. Hannah cut the pie but when she picked up the silver pie server, it slipped from her hand. “Oh, that was clumsy. I’ll wash this and be right back.”

  As Hannah walked toward the kitchen, she wondered what Mack and Rochelle would be talking about. At the sound of their hushed voices, she stopped outside the kitchen door.

  “—move the money.” Rochelle’s words drifted to Hannah’s ears.

  “Not now,” Mack said. “Just pay the kid and let him be. If he gets in trouble with Nate, so be it.”

  “Hannah is asking too many questions,” Rochelle said.

  Hannah froze. Were they talking about the money that Rochelle just said she didn’t know where Nate hid? She looked at the pie server in her hand and wiped it on her skirt. She didn’t dare enter the kitchen now. She hurried back to the living room.

  By the time Rochelle returned with the coffee, the pie was sitting on the dessert plates. Mack carried another tray with the cups, saucers, sugar, and cream.

  The fire embers glowed, forks clicked on plates, and the conversation turned to Hannah’s apple raspberry pie.

  “This is delicious,” Emma said. “Could you give me the recipe?”

  “Of course. I found it in one of my Great Aunt’s old cookbooks. I brought a copy for Rochelle, maybe she can copy it for you.” Hannah sipped her coffee.

  “Caroline?” Emma asked. “I remember having dinner here with her quite a few years ago. Remember that, Rochelle?”

  Rochelle nodded. She used her pinky to brush a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “Yes, it was a Thanksgiving dinner if I remember correctly.”

  “That’s right,” Emma said. “It was right after that botched robbery when Al’s friend got arrested.” She finished the last bite of her pie. “I wonder whatever happened to him.”

  “Dad’s friend?” Joey asked.

  “Yeah, Nate Allen,” Mack said. “A real piece of work. He just got out of jail.”

  The color drained from Joey’s face. Hannah noticed but no one else was looking at him. “Uh, Aunt Rochelle?” Joey raised his eyebrows. “Thanks for dinner. I’ve gotta run.”

  “Okay.” Rochelle made no move to hand over the money she’d promised him. She turned back to her conversation with Cal.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow,” Joey said as he walked past her. “Tomorrow. See you then.”

  “Yes, Joey. I’ll see you in the barn. Seven sharp.”

  “Seven? How about nine?”

  “Seven, and don’t be late.”

  Joey stomped out. Apparently he had a lot to learn about negotiating. Maybe that was another lesson Rochelle planned to teach him.

  Hannah set her cup and saucer on the tray. “Time for me to head home, too.” She patted her stomach. “I won’t need to eat for days after that delicious feast.”

  “Oh, about the apartment,” Rochelle said to Cal. “Emma’s going to finish up tomorrow so do you mind not moving in until then?”

  Cal smiled. “Not at all.”

  “And I guess I should let you know that I’ve hired Joey again, under your supervision. It wasn’t exactly my plan to have him back but he needs an income or he’ll be out on the street. I guess it’s the least I can do. All you have to do is make sure he cleans the stalls in a timely manner. Okay?”

  “Sure. I can lean on the shovel and watch him work.” Cal grinned.

  “And listen to him complain. About me,” Rochelle added. “Try not to get sucked into his tales about money. I think he inherited some schemes from his father.”

  Hannah gathered up her pie dish and basket while Mack retrieved her coat.

  “Delicious pie, Hannah. It felt like your Great Aunt Caroline was here with us. She was quite a lady.” Mack held Hannah’s coat for her to slip her arms into. “And how is Jack? He came to that dinner with Caroline if I remember correctly.”

  “Yes. He’s doing well. I’ll be sure to tell him you remembered him being here. He remembers the dinner, too. As a matter of fact, I had to promise to make him an apple raspberry pie. It’s his favorite.”

  “What did he say about the dinner?” Mack’s temple twitched slightly.

  Hannah
turned and placed her hand on Mack’s arm. “He said it was an interesting evening.”

  The door opened and a gust of cold air swirled inside. Cal held Hannah’s arm as they hustled to her car. “There was more to Mack’s question than what he actually said, wasn’t there?” he asked.

  “I think so. And the conversation I overheard between Rochelle and Mack when they went to the kitchen was even weirder. She said something about moving money and Mack said ‘not now.’” Hannah looked at Cal. “Do you think it’s the money that Al stole? The money that Nate expects us to find for him? The money that Joey thinks his father hid?”

  “Probably.”

  Fourteen

  Cal left before seven Friday morning in order to be at the horse barn when Joey arrived.

  While Hannah sat with a steaming cup of coffee and a toasted bagel, Nellie and Patches stretched out at her feet. Her view of the ocean and the early morning sun reflecting on the waves helped her relax until she heard steps on her porch. With her eyes closed, she breathed in and out five slow repetitions before she went to the door. Her peace and quiet was over for the day.

  “Come on in, Samantha. Kind of early for you, isn’t it?”

  “I waited until Cal left so I wouldn’t interrupt anything. Wasn’t that considerate?”

  Hannah ignored the comment.

  Samantha walked past Hannah without waiting for an invitation to come in. “Can I have this last bit of coffee?” She held up the carafe which held half a cup at most.

  “Sure. Help yourself to a bagel, too, if you want.” Hannah made herself comfy and waited for Samantha to share whatever news was desperate to bubble out.

  “I followed him last night,” she said after she sat in the chair next to Hannah.

  “Followed who?”

  “Who do you think? Nate Allen, of course. Our mystery man.” Her bagel popped up and she rose to get it. “I can’t believe he drives such a boring car.” She slathered cream cheese on her bagel.

  “Did you notice his license plate?” Hannah asked.

  “Of course. Do you think I’m blind? It doesn’t make sense. He drives the most inconspicuous boring car but has a vanity plate that says CHASEU. What’s up with that?”

  “I suppose he knows someone will notice it. Maybe it’s a message. Although, the first person I think would notice the message is now dead.”

  Samantha sank back into the chair. “Whatever. That’s not important. What was interesting, though . . .” She took a big bite of the bagel and had to swallow before finishing her thought. “Was where he went. Aren’t you curious?”

  “I’m curious, Samantha, and I’m getting impatient with all this build-up.”

  “He went to Al Hines’s house. Why go there? The guy is dead.”

  Hannah sat forward. “That is interesting. Maybe he’s keeping an eye on Al’s son, Joey. Joey thinks Nate is going to help him make a fortune from that money that everyone seems to be looking for.”

  “Well, I don’t know if he was looking for Joey or not, but he went inside and was in there for a long time. Joey was gone.”

  “Searching for something?”

  “Well, from the random times I could see him through the windows, it sure looked like that to me. He opened doors, pulled cushions off furniture, but he came out empty-handed.” Samantha pulled a notebook from her pocket and flipped it open. “He was inside for a good forty-five minutes.”

  “He must have known Joey wasn’t there if he knew he had all that time. I guess he’s not waiting for anyone to help him find the money, after all.” Hannah was relieved about that. Maybe he only wanted to intimidate her. “Are you sure he didn’t know you were tailing him?”

  Samantha put her hand on Hannah’s arm. “Come on. I’ve been doing this for years. I parked at the marina and walked on the opposite side of the street; stayed in the shadows. He didn’t see me.”

  “The marina? Isn’t it blocked off still?”

  “Not the parking lot, only the dock to Cal’s boat—yellow police tape blocking that off. You’ll have a roommate for a few more days.” Samantha grinned.

  “Actually, Cal will be staying at that new apartment he built for Rochelle Lowe in her barn.”

  “Why?”

  “His way of keeping some eyes on what’s happening over there.”

  “Smart.” Samantha nodded her head, clearly impressed. “So, what’s our next move?” She leaned back, crossed her ankles, and finished the last of her coffee.

  Hannah stood. “I’m taking the dogs for a walk. Seeing as you are dead set on following Nate, here’s a bit of information—he’s having lunch with Joey today. I don’t know where, but if you can eavesdrop on that conversation it could lead to what his next move is.”

  “Perfect. Time to pull my old identity out and dust off the cobwebs. He won’t be expecting anything odd when an old man named Sam shows up instead of charming Samantha.”

  “One piece of advice I have—don’t tail him in your blue Mini Cooper. That’s just much too obvious. Meg will be thrilled to chauffeur you around in her truck.” Hannah was delighted that someone besides herself would be tortured in Meg’s truck.

  “Are you kidding? That piece of rust stands out more than my cute little car, and Nate has seen Meg’s truck, too. He parked right next to it. Plus, it’s so loud he’ll hear us coming before he sees us.”

  “That’s true. Trade with Ruby. She’d love to have your car to drive around in for the day instead of her new, practical minivan, and Nate won’t associate her car with any of us.”

  “That settles it then, my dear. I’ll wait for our mysterious friend to leave and I’ll be ready as my alter ego, Sam Stone. This is so exciting.”

  Hannah pulled on her warm fleece, slid her feet into her flip-flops, and pulled her long braid to the outside of her jacket. She reached for the door with the two dogs tangled around her legs.

  “You can’t go out in those silly sandals, Hannah. Your feet will turn to blocks of ice, crack, and fall off your ankles.”

  Hannah checked her indoor-outdoor thermometer. “I don’t think that’s possible, but thanks for the concern. It’s in the mid-forties—balmy. I’ll be fine. I did wear boots to dinner last night but that was an emergency situation. Flip-flops didn’t pair well with my mid-calf skirt and silk blouse.”

  “Don’t go yet. You didn’t tell me all the details.”

  Hannah chuckled. “That’s because you were too busy with your news. I told you the important part. Joey was there and he’s having lunch with Nate. Focus on that for now and find out what you can. I’ll have Ruby’s car ready for you but you’ll have to walk over to get it so Nate doesn’t see it here.”

  “Gotcha. I’ll bring my disguise and change at Ruby’s house. I’ll be able to see when Nate leaves the parking lot and be ready for my mission.”

  “Your mission? Okaaay, Sam, be careful.” Hannah finally managed to get outside with the dogs and head down the path to the beach. She was concerned about Samantha’s excitement with this investigator role but she also knew how stubborn Samantha was and she would never be able to talk her out of doing it. She glanced toward Nate’s cottage, Something’s Fishy, and hoped he wasn’t going to leave before Samantha was ready.

  With her flip-flops swinging from her fingers, Hannah wiggled her toes into the cold sand. The coarseness felt good and distracted her from how her feet were going slightly numb. The dogs did there chasing routine. Hannah wondered what they would do if they actually got close enough to one of the seagulls to be a real threat. She laughed. The silly dogs would most likely stop in shock and wait for the bird to fly off.

  She wasn’t completely surprised when she recognized Nate approaching with his distinctive slow gait. She realized she was less surprised than nervous. He managed to activate her better-be-careful button.

  Nate smiled but it wasn’t the kind of smile that filled someone’s face to make you feel relaxed and comfortable, it was more a smile that only reached his lips while the re
st of his face stayed tight. His dark eyes bore into her, making her turn away.

  “Did you enjoy your little exclusive dinner last night?” Nate asked.

  The question jolted her.

  He added a laugh to his smile but it held a harsh quality which grated on Hannah’s nerves. “Yes, I know that Al’s cousin and a few friends got together for a delicious turkey meal. Was everyone appropriately upset about poor Al’s death?” Nate tilted his head as if his comment was sincere instead of sarcastic.

  “And Joey needs so much guidance. It’s a pity that his aunt doesn’t want to help him.” Nate reached down to scratch Nellie’s ear. She leaned right into him which annoyed Hannah. “See you around.”

  Before Hannah could think of any appropriate response, Nate saluted and walked past her.

  What just happened? Nate spied on Rochelle and Mack’s dinner the night before? He even knew what they ate? Somehow, Samantha missed that part of his evening in her tailing adventure.

  The dogs ran to the path through the boulders, expecting that Jack’s house would be next on their morning routine. He was outside. “How was your dinner?”

  “Interesting. Come with me to Ruby’s house and hear what happened.”

  “No coffee this morning?” Jack’s surprised look made Hannah laugh.

  “Come on. Samantha needs to borrow Ruby’s car. She has an undercover gig today.”

  Jack rolled his eyes. “Not her Sam Stone identity.”

  “Yup. She’s tailing our mysterious guest, Nate, to find out what his plan is with Joey Hines.” Hannah started walking toward Ruby’s house and the dogs dashed ahead. This change in plans would be fine with them since they could play with Maisy.

  Hannah continued. “So you have everything straight, Jack, Al’s old partner Nate, who just got out of jail, is now getting buddy-buddy with Al’s son.”

  “I can’t imagine anything good coming out of that for Joey.” Jack shook his head.