Midnight Paws

by Jessica Beck

  “Your vanity will be the death of you yet,” Marybeth told him, and then she turned to look at me. “Now, spill. When did you make a date to go out with my ex-boyfriend?”

  “Not so funny now, is it?” Lincoln asked her smugly.

  “I’ll talk to you in a minute,” she said. “Well? I’m listening, Christy.”

  “It’s not what you think,” I started to say, and then I saw Lincoln’s face fall. “Okay, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but it’s beside the point.” I looked into Lincoln’s eyes as I said, “We were going to leave it up in the air. That means that I’ll let you know when and if I’m ready. I’m not trying to back out of it,” I said quickly. “I’m just going to need more time.”

  He nodded. “I get that completely. I’m not here to pressure you. I ran into Marybeth at the bank, and she suggested that you needed a night out with friends. That’s all I’m offering you tonight, unless you want to ramp things up and leave her here.”

  “I don’t. At least not now,” I said. Why were my cheeks starting to warm up? Was I actually blushing? Before my roommate could get a wisecrack in, I looked at Marybeth and said slowly and deliberately, “Not One Word. Understood?”

  “Understood,” she said. “He’s right, you know. This is just a proposal that we get you out of the house tonight with some food and maybe even a few laughs. What do you say?”

  “As much as I appreciate the thought, I’m beat. I was counting on a long hot bath, a quick bite, and then bed.”

  Lincoln looked at me and grinned. “Actually, I might be able to help you with at least some of that.”

  Marybeth laughed as she playfully slugged his arm. “Good for you, Tiger. Don’t give up that easily. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “I’m not sure it’s all that good,” I said.

  “Come on, Christy. Grab a shower and change into something nice. This will be good for you,” Marybeth said. “And if you don’t agree this instant, you know that I’m going to keep hammering away at you until you agree, so you might as well save us both some grief.”

  I knew firsthand how relentless she could be. “Give me half an hour,” I said.

  “You’ve got twelve minutes,” Marybeth said. “Otherwise, this nice young lawyer is going to take me somewhere for dinner that I could never afford on my own.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You make more than I do,” Lincoln protested.

  “Maybe yes, maybe no, but we both know that you’re too much of a Southern gentleman to let me pay.”

  “Go ahead. Try me,” he said with a grin.

  “That settles it. Hurry up, Christy. I was just bluffing.”

  I hurried upstairs and took a quick shower. Maybe they were right. It could be fun going out to eat somewhere where I didn’t have to order into a clown’s mouth, and it might take my mind off of all that I’d lost all too recently.

  Chapter 9

  “Wow, are you sure you can afford this?” I asked after we were seated in a nice restaurant I’d only heard about from a few of our wealthier customers. It was called Umber, an elegant dining experience that served only the finest food and cocktails.

  “Relax and enjoy yourself tonight,” Lincoln said. “Don’t worry about what anything costs.”

  “We can split the bill if you’d like,” Marybeth said as she touched Lincoln’s hand.

  “No, that’s fine. I just won a big case, so I don’t think you’ll break me beyond repair. We can call this a celebration, if it will help.”

  “No offense, but I don’t feel like there’s all that much for me to be celebrate at the moment,” I said.

  Lincoln nodded. “I understand completely. How about this? When the wine comes, we toast Midnight’s memory. Would that ease your mind?”

  “Considerably, but Midnight hated wine.”

  “Milk, then,” Lincoln said.

  “He wasn’t a fan of that, either. His favorite drink was ginger ale, actually.”

  “Well, I don’t care if it offends his memory, I’m not going to toast him with ginger ale.”

  “He liked root beer, too,” Marybeth added.

  “Don’t either one of you know that it’s bad luck to toast with anything that’s not alcoholic?”

  “Who came up with that rule?” Marybeth asked.

  “Someone who really liked to drink, most likely,” Lincoln said.

  “Wine would be nice,” I said. “I’m sure that Midnight wouldn’t mind just this once.”

  “Then, wine it is,” Lincoln said.

  As he motioned to a nearby waiter, I spotted someone across the room. “What is Jim Hicks doing here?” I asked Marybeth.

  “I don’t know. He really has some kind of nerve, doesn’t he?”

  “You don’t have any idea who he is, do you?” I asked her with a smile.

  “Not a clue,” she said happily. “Why are we offended that he’s here?”

  “I’m not offended. I just didn’t realize he was well off enough to eat dinner here. He must have saved more money than I thought.” He’d shifted to a smaller bandage, but it was still pretty noticeable. That tree branch must have done a real number on him.

  “Who are we talking about?” Lincoln asked.

  “Jim Hicks,” I said as I looked again in his direction.

  “I understand that he’s made a great deal of money as a real estate agent,” Lincoln said. “I’ve handled a few closings for him, and I wouldn’t be breaking too many rules if I said that he’s extremely well off. How do you know him, Christy?”

  “He wants to buy Memories and Dreams and run it himself,” I explained. “He told me that he’s growing tired of real estate.”

  “You understand that you don’t have the authority to sell it, don’t you?” Lincoln asked, clearly puzzled by the news. “Unless…”

  “Unless what?” Marybeth asked, eager for a new tidbit.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to discuss that with you,” Lincoln said. “It’s a matter of attorney-client privilege.”

  “I waive it,” I said, and then I waved my hand in front of Lincoln’s face. “See? This is me waiving.”

  “We both know those are two different words,” Lincoln said.

  “I’ll waive whatever you’d like,” I said. “I’m authorizing you to speak freely in front of Marybeth.”

  “I’m sure that she appreciates the gesture,” Lincoln said with a frown, “but I’d have to advise against it. Including a third party, your confidentiality with me would be in jeopardy.”

  “That’s okay,” Marybeth said as she stood. “I need to powder my nose, anyway.”

  I started to get up to join her when she put a hand on my shoulder. “You stay here, Christy. Otherwise my gesture will have been in vain.”

  After she left the table, I asked, “Was that strictly necessary? I’m going to tell her everything you say later, you know that, don’t you?”

  “What you choose to do after we talk is none of my business,” he said.

  “Well, what’s the earth-shattering news now that we’ve gotten rid of Marybeth?”

  “There’s an option I haven’t discussed with you yet. You seemed overwhelmed the last time we spoke, so I didn’t want to put more on you than you could handle.”

  “I appreciate the thought, but you have to promise me that you’ll never do that again. My father was overprotective to the point of smothering me, and I won’t let any man treat me that way again. Do we understand each other?”

  “Loud and clear,” he said, obviously taken back a bit by my reaction.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that I’ve had enough men in my life trying to shield me than I care to think about.”

  “Understood,” he said in a gentler tone. “Christy, you have an escape clause if you really want to
exercise it,” Lincoln said.

  “What is it? Where do I have to sign?”

  Lincoln looked at me cryptically before he spoke. “You’d honestly give it all up, just like that?”

  “I guess that would depend on a few things. Would it mean that I’d have to give up everything?” I asked.

  “It would mean exactly that, but remember, if you get out now, I should warn you that it would mean that Cora’s cousins will get it all if you opt out early, and you’ll be left with nothing. The penalty is rather harsh.”

  I thought about what it would mean to walk away from Cora’s legacy. Could I do it, just sign my rights over to two women my boss and friend hadn’t even liked? What would happen to the shop in their hands? They wouldn’t run it. I knew that much just from what Cora had told me about them. No, they’d turn the sale over to a broker and get every last dime they could squeeze out of it. The basic premise of Memories and Dreams would die with Cora, and I couldn’t stand the thought of it. Then I realized that I’d also be turning my back on something that desperately needed to be done. If I didn’t have access to the shop, how would I ever solve what had happened to Cora and Midnight? “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll leave things the way they are right now.”

  “Good. I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that,” I said.

  “Is it safe for me to come back?” Marybeth asked from a distance. “If not, I can make another lap around the place.”

  “Come on,” I said as I patted her chair seat. “We’re all finished.”

  “With good results, I trust?” she asked.

  I nodded, and Marybeth smiled. “Excellent. Now, tell me more about the real estate man. While you two were talking, he looked at you as though you were a pork chop still on the bone, Christy. You’re not selling out to him, are you?”

  “Not a chance,” I said.

  “Super. Hang on. He’s coming over to our table.”

  I looked over to see Jim Hicks heading our way. Maybe, if we were lucky, he was just heading to the restroom.

  No such luck. “Christy, it’s good to see you getting out. I trust you’ve had some time to consider my proposal.”

  “She’s not interested,” Lincoln said.

  “It’s nice of you to speak for her, Counselor, but I’d rather hear it directly from her, if you don’t mind,” Jim Hicks said with a smile.

  “That’s entirely up to her, of course,” Lincoln said, “but she couldn’t sell you the space even if she wanted to. There are provisions in place barring it.”

  “As competent as I’ve heard that you are, I’m sure that we could work around any technicalities,” the real estate agent said.

  Lincoln smiled at him, but there was not the slightest hint of warmth in it. “You’re free to try.”

  “Well?” Jim Hicks asked me. “What do you say, Christy? Are you game?”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve decided to stay where I am and honor Cora’s last wishes,” I said simply.

  “Fair enough. I wish you nothing but the best, then.”

  “The man is persistent, I’ll have to give him that,” I said after Jim Hicks left the restaurant.

  “Don’t blame him. It’s his nature not to take no for an answer,” Lincoln said. “If he gives you any more trouble in spite of what he just said, let me know and I’ll deal with him.”

  “I don’t think he will, but if he does, I can handle things myself, as nice as your offer might be,” I said.

  “Understood,” Lincoln said as he picked up one of the menus our waiter had stealthily put in front of each of us. “Now, what looks good?”

  Marybeth and I exchanged glances, and then we shared smiles. It felt good being out among friends. Once again, her instincts had been dead on the money.

  I was still trying to decide between the salmon and the steak when Marybeth’s phone rang. As she started to answer, she said to us both, “I apologize, but my boss warned me that he might have to call tonight.”

  She stood as she said, “Hello,” and moved toward the bar, talking animatedly with her employer as she walked.

  “What was that all about?” Lincoln asked.

  “I don’t know. This is all news to me.”

  The waiter came over while Marybeth was still talking in the bar on her phone. “Are we ready to order?”

  “It will be another minute,” I said. “Our friend had to take a phone call.”

  “Of course,” he said and moved away, though he was clearly not pleased with Marybeth’s absence. It appeared that our server didn’t approve of cell phones, and I wasn’t sure that I didn’t agree with him.

  I laughed. “He’s not a fan of cell phones, is he?”

  “Clearly. He’s got a good point, though. I’m not all that fond of them myself,” Lincoln replied. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. How was your day today?”

  “Stressful,” I said.

  “Anything in particular that you’d care to talk about?”

  I considered telling him about Cora’s cryptic puzzles, but I wasn’t sure it was something I should discuss with anyone else just yet. “No, not really,” I said.

  It was obvious that Lincoln was disappointed by my decision not to share with him, but I didn’t know what else to do.

  Marybeth came back to the table, and Lincoln started to stand. Say what you will about Southern men, but most of them had learned their manners at their mothers’ knees. I never resisted the opportunity to have someone hold a door for me, or stand up in my presence. It made me feel special, and in the end, what exactly was so wrong with that? I’d had a few girlfriends from college who had come to North Carolina from up north, and they’d all been patently delighted by the unexpected show of respect and courtesy.

  “Sit,” she said as she hovered near the table. “I’m afraid that I’m going to have to bail out on you both. There’s a new district manager, and my boss is doing her best to finish a handful of reports that should have been done months ago. She’s volunteered me to help her, and I’m in no position to say no.”

  “We can always do this another night,” I said as I started to get up.

  “Are you kidding? I know how hard it was for you to agree to do this tonight. There’s no way I’m giving you a rain check. Besides, I’ve already called a taxi. Stay, and enjoy. I’ll see you later, Christy.”

  Marybeth was gone before we could protest further, and Lincoln looked at me with a grin once she had left. “Is it just me, or have we just been set up?”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind,” I said. “Marybeth thinks that we belong together. I didn’t have any idea how proactive she’d be trying to make it happen, though. This is pretty transparent. Do you want to go?”

  “Actually, I’m kind of hungry, and we both have to eat. Plus, if we indulge her this once, we can tell her that she’s not allowed to do any more matchmaking between us. How does that sound to you?”

  “Do you honestly think it will stop her?” I asked him. “You’ve known her longer than I have.”

  “That might be true, but there’s no doubt in my mind that you know her much better now.”

  I thought about it, and then I said, “You’re right. Well, truth be told, I’m kind of hungry myself. Let’s go ahead and eat.”

  Our waiter approached. “Is there going to be another delay?”

  “Actually, we’re ready to order,” I said. “It will just be the two of us after all.”

  “Excellent,” he said.

  After we both ordered, he left us to place our orders.

  “Christy, I hope you realize that you can trust me with whatever is on your mind. As your attorney, anything you say to me will be kept confidential.”

  “It’s not that I’m worried about you blabbing to anybody,” I said. “I just don’t want you to think that I’m an idiot.”

>   “That would be impossible,” he said.

  I doubted that would be true, especially if I ever decided to mention my ghost cat to him. Still, he might be of some help to me. “How are you at puzzles?” I asked.

  “Crossword or jigsaw?” he asked. “Not that it matters. I’m proud to say that I’m excellent at both varieties.”

  That was another thing that we had in common, but that hadn’t been what I was talking about. “I was thinking more like word games.”

  Lincoln smiled broadly, and I could see how Marybeth had fallen for him in high school. He was decently good looking, but when he smiled, it was as though a light had been triggered inside, and he absolutely radiated. “Just try me,” Lincoln said.

  I pulled out the note I’d found in Cora’s wooden box. “Let me read you something, and then you can tell me what you think.”

  I read the poem to him aloud, but I just about didn’t need the physical reminder of what Cora had written, I’d read it so much lately.

  The riches of the world are hidden away,

  Masked in the Devil’s Light.

  A chest of fire burns deep within,

  Hiding the heart of Midnight.

  “Does that mean anything to you?” I asked.

  “Where did you find it?” Lincoln asked as he reached for the poem. I didn’t see any reason not to give it to him. After all, I’d just asked him to help.

  “As a matter of fact, it was in the wooden box that I chose as one of my bequests from Cora.”

  “Then you knew this was there all along?” he asked as he waved it in the air. “I wondered why you’d choose something so commonplace.”

  Again, I couldn’t exactly tell him that I’d picked the box because of my ghost cat, but I had to say something. “Like I said before, it has sentimental value,” I said. “The note came as a surprise, but Cora was always leaving me puzzles and clues buried around the shop for me. It was a way to keep things interesting for both of us, and besides, I really got to know our inventory as I hunted for clues.”

  “The hidden riches of the world could refer to something of great value, or on a more esoteric note, it could be referring to something less concrete, like love. The second line could be interpreted a number of ways. The devil’s light. What an odd phrasing. Let’s consider this for a moment. What color is most associated with the devil? It has to be red, wouldn’t you agree? Tell me, are there any red lights anywhere in the shop?”