A woman wearing a pale gray snood over her head approached Kelly. The scarf was tucked into the neckline of her coordinating mid-length coat. Nanette’s round-shaped face peeked out of the scarf.
“Good morning, Kelly. It’s busy this morning.” Nanette glanced around the store.
“It is.”
“I have a long day ahead. Movers are coming to take out all the furniture from the house.” Nanette’s sadness was palpable. She probably was the only person who was truly mourning Diana. “I heard about the incident at the reception. Janine has a nasty streak. Sorry you experienced it.”
“I’m getting the feeling most of the women on the show have a very unpleasant side.”
“Guess you don’t make it onto television these days by being nice.”
Kelly couldn’t have agreed more. “She got upset when I mentioned that I saw you and her at the café the other day. I asked why you two met. She never answered.”
“No? It’s not a big deal. She offered me a job. Since Diana is dead, I’m technically out of work. I’ve worked for Mr. Delacourte before. I joked that Diana got custody of me in the separation.”
Kelly gave a little laugh. It was kind of funny. “You’d work for him again?”
“I know I said some not-so-nice things about him. But his money is as good as anyone else’s. Besides, the Delacourte house is stunning. I enjoyed living there.”
Kelly couldn’t argue with Nanette’s logic. She needed work, and the house was breathtaking. “Nanette, did anything strange happen right before Diana was murdered?”
A look of pain clouded Nanette’s blue eyes. There must’ve been a nice side to the woman for her to have instilled a deep sadness in Nanette.
“No. I can’t think of anything. Wait, there was something. A former member of the crew came to see Diana. She showed up a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Give me a moment to remember her name.”
“Patrice?”
She snapped her fingers. “Yes. Her.”
Funny how Patrice didn’t mention to Kelly that she’d seen Diana days before the murder. “Do you know why she wanted to see Diana?”
Nanette shook her head. “Diana took the meeting privately in her home office. She didn’t tell me what Patrice wanted. I need to get going. I have appraisers coming to the house in an hour. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.”
“You did great. Thank you.”
The person behind Kelly in line cleared his throat, prompting her to look back at the line she was in. She was up next to order. She placed her order, and a few minutes later she walked out of Doug’s with her breakfast and new unanswered questions. Why had Patrice come out to Lucky Cove to see Diana? What was so important that it required a face-to-face meeting? And was it only a coincidence that a few days later Diana was killed?
Those questions percolated in her brain all day long as she rang up sales, tidied merchandise, and vacuumed the boutique. She wasn’t sure how, but she felt Patrice was caught up in the murder.
Could she have been the person in black last night in the parking lot?
A chill skittered down her spine. But she wasn’t sure if it was the thought of last night’s frightening encounter or the boutique’s door opening and ushering in a swath of cold air. She finished refolding a V-neck, cable-knit sweater and hesitantly smiled at the man who’d entered her boutique.
Alarm bells went off in her brain, and she crept backward. She wanted to get to the sales counter, where her phone was.
“I’m looking for Kelly Quinn. Have I found her?” The man stopped between two circular racks of blouses and removed his brown leather gloves. Several inches taller than her and dressed in a leather bomber jacket and dark jeans, he didn’t look threatening. His thick, dark brown hair was mussed from the wind, and he had the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. They reminded her of coal. “I’m Barlow Childers, grandson of Marvin Childers.”
Kelly rested her hand over her heart and let out a relieved breath. “Thank goodness, you’re not a . . .” She stopped short of saying stalker.
“Have I come at a bad time?”
“No, not at all.” She lunged forward with her hand extended and shook Barlow’s hand. “I’m Kelly Quinn. How can I help you?”
Barlow’s grip was firm but not crushing, and their contact lingered for an extra moment. She slipped her hand from his and then laced her hands together.
“It seems I have an inheritance to collect. This boutique and building, I believe.” He smirked.
His words were like a punch to the gut. They knocked the wind out of her, and her knees wobbled.
“Whoa. Slow your roll. You can’t just come in here and think you can take my grandmother’s business. She left it and this building to me.” She hurried back to the sales counter. She needed to grip onto something to steady her shaking body. Who did Barlow Childers think he was to barge in and claim her grandmother’s legacy as his?
“Your grandmother was married to my grandfather at the time of her death—”
“That doesn’t automatically guarantee him Granny’s estate. I think you should go now.” She wouldn’t hand over the keys to the building without a fight. Her granny had left Kelly the business to bring her back to Lucky Cove and to rebuild her relationships with Caroline and Ariel. Old man Childers and his greedy grandson wouldn’t take it away from her. At least not without a fight.
Barlow pulled a business card from his coat’s breast pocket and placed it on the counter. “Call me when you’re ready to have a rational discussion.” He swiveled and swaggered out of the boutique.
Rational? She seethed with anger and frustration as she snatched up the card.
Barlow Childers, VP of Childers Enterprises.
VP. La-di-dah.
She propped her elbows on the counter and rested her head in her hands. This was bad. Really, really bad. She hadn’t considered Marvin having any family members who’d jump at the chance to get their hands on a prime piece of real estate in Lucky Cove.
What had she done?
She straightened up and squared her shoulders. She knew what she had to do. She needed legal advice, again.
She grimaced.
Caroline would lecture her about her impulsiveness. About jumping the gun. About leaping before looking. About going to her granny’s secret husband and reminding him his estranged wife had valuable property. While Kelly’s decision to keep the business left her land rich but money poor, selling the property would make Marvin and his heirs a nice amount of money.
So much for staying at the boutique all day. Barlow Childers’s unexpected visit turned Kelly’s plan for the day upside down. He thought he was so clever swooping in and blindsiding her with his news. What he didn’t know was she had a sister who was a top-notch attorney. Kelly sprinted to the entrance of the law firm. The strong wind gusts earlier in the day had upgraded to hurricane-force strength and bore down relentlessly on Long Island. Mother Nature definitely had her Spanx in a twist. Despite the struggle and her hood being blown off, Kelly made it to the polished oak door.
The law firm was located in a charming Cape Cod–style home in East Hampton and was exactly where Kelly had expected her sister to land after law school. A nice private practice with well-heeled clients who paid a steep price for their legal services. Caroline’s life was shaping up to be perfect.
Perfect job. Perfect home. Perfect fiancé.
The one thing that wasn’t perfect in her life was her sister.
Kelly had managed to fail to live up to Caroline’s expectations time and time again. Kelly would have liked to believe it all started with Ariel’s accident, but there were signs that Kelly wasn’t the perfect little sister well before that fateful night.
Caroline excelled at school and in sports, and she was a natural at dinner table conversation with family and guests. Kelly, on the other hand, did s
o-so with grades, sports weren’t her thing because they left her sweaty, and the adults in her life back then didn’t like talking about fashion or boys. Yeah, Kelly was a disappointment from early on.
Inside the bright and airy reception area, a middle-aged receptionist greeted Kelly. Seated at an organized desk, the dark-haired woman had a few gray roots showing and a pair of readers dangling on a crystal chain around her neck. The zebra-striped blouse she wore had one too many buttons undone for her stage in life. Kelly would have suggested buttoning up at least one more button and adding a chunky necklace for a fashion-forward, ageless vibe.
The receptionist instructed Kelly to have a seat and wait.
Kelly couldn’t balk at the receptionist’s terseness since she’d showed up without an appointment. Resisting the urge to sigh, she turned and walked to the comfortable seating area. She settled on the sofa and reached for a magazine. There was a spray of home and gardening magazines on the glass-topped coffee table. She opened the glossy publication, and her phone buzzed, alerting her to a new text message. She retrieved the phone from her tote bag and read the text from Liv.
Lulu Loves Long Island. OMG. You’re on the front page.
Kelly squeezed her eyes shut. Not again. She opened her eyes and swiped away the text message and navigated to the website.
Last night Lucky Cove retail merchant Kelly Quinn reported an attempted assault . . . Ms. Quinn is reportedly vying for a spot on the reality show Long Island Ladies and has been seen cozying up with the current stars of the show. . . . Can’t help wondering if last night’s incident was nothing more than a publicity stunt by the consignment shop owner.
Publicity stunt?
Kelly tossed the phone back into her tote bag and huffed.
The nerve of that woman!
“Ms. Quinn is ready for you now.”
Kelly’s head turned toward the voice. The receptionist waited by the entry to the hallway, where the offices were located. Kelly grabbed her tote and stood. She followed the receptionist, all the while her stomach somersaulting with worry about Barlow’s claim on her inheritance and now the stupid article on the stupid website.
The receptionist pushed open the office door, and Kelly entered.
“Thank you,” she said, and the receptionist returned to her desk. “Hey, sis.”
Caroline looked up from her leather agenda. There were strong physical similarities between the two sisters. Same height, same eye color, and same hair color, though Caroline’s blond hair was cropped short, giving her an edgier look.
“Come on in. Have a seat. What’s going on?” Her sister wasn’t big on small talk.
Kelly settled on one of the two chairs in front of the desk and set her bag on her lap. “I need legal advice.”
“Again?” Caroline’s voice had raised, and she offered an apologetic smile.
They both had agreed to make an effort to rebuild their relationship, and it appeared she was trying, but Kelly knew old habits were hard to break. She gestured for Kelly to continue with her story.
“I’m afraid so. It’s all a mess this time.”
“Then what do you call what happened last month? You needed three legal referrals, if I recall correctly.”
“I need only one now.” Of course, her sister wouldn’t see the bright side. “I’ve been packing up Granny’s belongings for storage, and while clearing out the hutch, I found this.” She pulled out the folded marriage certificate from her tote and handed it to her sister.
Caroline leaned back and reviewed the document. “Granny remarried? She never said anything. I wonder if Uncle Ralph knows. Who is Marvin Childers?”
“A retired illustrator who lives on Glendale Road. He seems to be a very nice man.”
Caroline looked up from the document. “You know him?”
“I met him the other day when I went to his house.”
“You what?”
Kelly swallowed. She’d suspected her sister would disapprove of her visit to Marvin. The best thing to do was to keep talking and get it all out. Then brace for the lecture.
“He confirmed he’d gone with Granny on a trip to Las Vegas sponsored by the Senior Center, and they married at a chapel.” Kelly pointed to the certificate.
“You’ve spoken to him about this?”
“Yes. It’s why his grandson showed up earlier today at the boutique claiming his grandfather is the rightful heir to Granny’s business and house. Caroline, I can’t lose the business or my apartment.”
Caroline took a deep breath, dropped the certificate on the desk, and took another deep breath. She stood and came around to the front of the desk. She wore a navy blue, tie-front sheath dress with elbow-length sleeves. Her flower-drop earrings added a little sparkle to her attorney-mode dress. She leaned against the desk and braced her hands on its edge.
“Why on earth did you talk to Mr. Childers before consulting me? I would’ve told you to not talk to him.”
“I didn’t think.”
“This is the problem, Kell. You don’t think before you act.” Caroline’s judgment-filled gaze lowered to the carpeted floor. “I don’t like lecturing you.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” Kelly’s response was quick and stupid, and right away she regretted it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You know I don’t like having to ask others for help or lean on people. I wanted to take care of this on my own.”
Caroline lifted her gaze, and she leaned forward and patted her sister on the knee. “It’ll all work out. How can the grandson be reached?” She pulled back and returned to her seat.
Kelly dug out Barlow’s business card and handed it to her sister. “When I talked to Marvin, he didn’t ask about Granny’s estate. I think it’s his grandson’s idea to pursue this.”
“Probably. He’s looking for a way to bolster his inheritance. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“No. I’ve told you everything. And you have the marriage certificate.”
“What about the incident last night?” Caroline leaned back and rested her hands on her lap. “Lulu Loves Long Island recapped it all. Are you really thinking about appearing on a reality show?”
“No! Never. Wait . . . Do you think it could have been Barlow last night?”
Caroline shrugged. “Killing you would be easier than a legal battle.” She smiled. Only a sister could get away with saying that, and she knew it.
“Not funny.” Kelly grabbed the handles of her tote and stood. “Not funny at all. I have to get back to the boutique, and you have to get back to work.” She’d told Pepper she had to make a quick visit to Caroline and remained vague as to why. To her credit, Pepper hadn’t pried and told her to take all the time she needed.
“Wait, Kelly. Are you okay? Someone set you up last night to possibly hurt you, and the other day a threatening note was left for you.”
Her sister had a lot of intel on Kelly, and she wondered who’d been sharing it with Caroline. Ariel, of course. She must’ve heard what happened last night and contacted Caroline. It was like high school all over again. Friends told friends what other friends did.
Yeah, high school.
“I’m fine. I promise. Let me get going back to the boutique. Please make sure I don’t lose it.”
“I’ll do my best. I’m not familiar with marriage licenses in Nevada. When I have news, I’ll call you.” Caroline pulled herself closer to her desk and returned to her work, while Kelly showed herself out of the office. Caroline had made no promises, but Kelly felt some measure of relief as she made her way to her Jeep. One dragon almost slain. Now, to find the murderer who was stalking her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kelly returned from her sister’s office with lunch for herself and Pepper. Over their meal, Pepper brought up the article on Lulu Loves Long Island, and without missing a beat, Kelly directed the conversation back
to business. She wanted to talk about something positive and fun, like the upcoming Holiday Edit. She’d gotten a peek at the marketing materials Breena designed and encouraged Kelly to move forward. Pepper offered to help get donations for the goody bags. While Kelly appreciated the offer, she didn’t want her friend to overexert herself.
When they finished their lunch, Pepper went to package the few items that had sold on the resale website and said she’d drop them off at the post office on her way in the next morning. Kelly stayed in the staff room and completed the plans for the Holiday Edit, then put the finishing touches on the holiday decorations. Displaying a few snowmen and hanging a wreath would make Pepper happy.
By the time the decorating was done, and she’d finished the article for Budget Chic, it was time to close out the register and lock up the boutique.
Upstairs in her apartment, Kelly changed into her comfy lounge pants and a cozy fleece top. Her number-one task for the evening was to finish emptying the hutch.
She’d fallen behind in her schedule of packing up the items she wanted to store away. What was left to clear out were the drawers, and then the monster piece of furniture would be ready to be wrapped securely and moved into the storage unit.
By the time Howard came looking for dinner, Kelly had gone through four drawers. She sorted out the silver-plated flatware, the stash of table linens, and an endless amount of tissue paper. She was thrilled to find the tissue paper because she could use it for the goody bags. A little extra savings made her smile.
She pulled out another drawer and placed it on the floor. She got down on the floor and sat cross-legged to do the sorting. Just one more drawer after this one, she told Howard, who was rubbing up against her.
He was definitely hungry. However, she didn’t understand why. He’d slept all day. How could he have worked up an appetite?
This drawer was filled with birthday cards, magazines, and Mass cards. This busy work kept her thoughts from Marvin and his greedy grandson. She tossed the magazines into a pile, one after another, and then she came to an envelope with her granny’s name written on it.
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