Good night Lara
I texted him back and told him good night too.
I had to get my head on straight, and I needed something productive to do for the next few days. Without purpose, I knew that I’d get myself into some sort of trouble. Either I’d form a friendship with Brody that would be painful to leave when I got out of Ash Road, or I’d find a way into those locked rooms. Those historical records were like catnip for me. It was exciting thinking about all of the archives stashed in those rooms.
Brody was trouble whether he was up to no good or not.
Brody, Brody, Brody...
Why did I keep thinking about him? I decided right then that I would be taking a field trip the next day. Sitting around the records building wasn’t a productive use of my time, and there was someone in town that I hadn’t met yet.
I decided to wait until the next morning to let Brody know that I’d be late. It was still early enough at the time that if I’d told him then, he could have called me and argued with my decision.
With that, I got ready for bed and turned in for the night. I pushed the image of Brody’s cobalt eyes and thick lips out of my mind as I drifted off. Having him be the last thing I thought about at the end of the day was not acceptable.
Ellie would be there in a few days and we’d get this case solved. Then I planned on putting Ash Road in my rearview mirror. It was possible that I’d keep in touch with Sylvie, but the rest of this town could stuff it.
Chapter Five
Lara
I felt better the next morning after a good night’s sleep. I woke up feeling refreshed and determined. It was still early and I had plenty of time before work. I could smell Becca cooking breakfast, and it was obviously something amazing. I was picking up the scent of warm vanilla and bacon too. My waistline was not going to survive Ash Road unless I took action.
Much to my delight, I had packed my running shoes and some shorts. An early morning jog seemed like a good way to explore the town. I’d never run there before so I had no idea where to go. I opened up my laptop and did a search for the address of the place I wanted to go after breakfast.
I found it on the map and planned out a route so that I could see where I was going in a couple of hours. It wasn’t far from the inn, but then again, not much was.
There were a couple of guests sitting in the parlor downstairs waiting for the breakfast room to open. They gave me a little wave and a smile as I made my way down the stairs.
Once I was outside, I walked up and down the block a couple of times to warm up and then made my way into the garden to stretch. The air was crisp and the humidity was low. It was a good day for a run for sure.
When I ran in the city, I’d always passed other runners and walkers, but in Ash Road, I was the only person out exercising. There were some older folks sitting on their wraparound porches watching me go by. Some of them looked at me like I was an exotic zoo animal, but others waved and smiled.
The end of my route was a cul-de-sac on the edge of town. On the far side of it stood the mayor’s house. It was a stately mansion that put every other house in town to shame.
I looked up at the brick exterior covered with vines and noticed movement in one of the front windows. At the time, I wasn’t ready to meet the occupant just yet, so I turned tail and ran back to the inn.
The aroma of vanilla and bacon hit me half a block away from the Magnolia and Willow. I picked up speed and sprinted the rest of the way because I wanted to shower and get down to the breakfast room while the food was fresh.
My shower was lightning fast, and I dressed in tailored black slacks and my favorite poppy-red tunic. I wanted to be comfortable when I met Gordon O’Malley, but after seeing his mansion I knew that I needed to look put together.
Then I thought Hmmm, O’Malley. Big mansion. Has to be a coincidence...
I’d know when I saw him if there was a resemblance. Up until then, I decided to assume it was a coincidence. Even though I didn’t believe in coincidences.
Down in the breakfast room, the sights and smells of the spread made my mouth water. I was extra hungry because of my morning run and I was almost buzzing with anticipation.
I grabbed a plate and filled it with two vanilla-orange muffins and a pile of bacon. As I sat down at a table to dig in, I promised myself that I’d eat plenty of vegetables at dinner in addition to the fruit I had packed in my lunch. Fortunately, I’d made my lunch the night before while I was winding down and I wouldn’t have to go out to eat. Part of me secretly hoped that Brody would invite me over and cook for me again, but I couldn’t count on that.
When I was done eating, I cleared my table. My stomach was so full that I thought I’d burst, but I figured the walk back over to the mayor’s house would help. I’d have time to digest and work off some of the calories.
Before I left the inn, I shot off a text to Brody telling him I’d be in later because I had a meeting with the mayor. As soon as I slipped my phone into my purse, I felt it vibrate. I figured it was Brody responding but I debated about whether to look or not.
In the end, I decided to look. My curiosity was too intense for me to ignore. I had to see how he’d reacted.
I don’t think that’s a good idea. Why do you need to work with the mayor?
That response had been about what I’d been expecting. I wasn’t going to get baited into a conversation with him. I’d deal with Brody after I met Gordon the Mayor. I was in Ash Road to solve a mystery and I was letting the locals get too close.
I still didn’t have a vehicle so I had to walk back to the mayor’s house. The agency that I used to find work told me that Mayor O’Malley had an office in the town hall but that he usually worked in his home office. I hoped that he’d be working at home that day because otherwise, I’d have to track him down at his workplace.
As I rang the doorbell, I found myself holding my breath. My chest expanded with air as the door opened, and I hoped that I wasn’t beet red. Normally, I wasn’t such a nervous person, but something about the house made me anxious. I didn’t know if it was because it was so ostentatious or if I was picking up a bad vibe.
“Can I help you?” An older woman with a pinched nose and gray hair pulled into a severe bun opened the door. She was dressed in a housekeeper’s uniform and thick, rubber-soled shoes.
“My name is Lara Tyler, and Mayor O’Malley hired me to verify that Francesca Horowitz has no next of kin. My agency informed me that he regularly works from his home office. I was hoping for a brief meeting with him. We haven’t met yet.”
“Gordon doesn’t take impromptu meetings. You’ll need to make an appointment through his secretary at the town hall,” she said curtly.
My shoulders slumped a little but I tried not to let my disappointment show too much. “Could you ask for me? I know that Mrs. Horowitz’s estate is valuable to the town. Perhaps he’ll make an exception.”
“One moment,” she huffed and half slammed the door in my face.
I didn’t have to wait long. The woman opened the door again. She had an annoyed look plastered across her wrinkled face, but she stepped back and beckoned me to enter.
“Gordon said he could fit you into his schedule in twenty minutes. I’m to show you to the parlor outside of his office,” she said as she walked away, and I quickly followed her.
When we got to the opulent sitting area outside of the mayor’s office, I understood why he worked at home. There was no way that his workspace at the town hall was as beautiful as his home setup.
I sat down on an antique French sofa. The woman, who still hadn’t introduced herself to me yet, stood watching me with her arms crossed across her chest. “I suppose I should offer you a drink,” she said flatly.
“I don’t want to be any bother,” I responded.
“You’re not from around here, but I get the feeling you still know that it’s rude to turn down hospitality when it’s offered.”
She was right. I knew better. “Thank you, I’ll
have some sweet tea if you’ve got it.”
The look on her face softened a bit. “Right away,” she said and quickly shuffled out of the room.
I stood when the woman, who I assumed ran the household, returned with a large glass of sweet tea. She signaled for me to sit down.
“I’m Agatha. I’m the head housekeeper for the O’Malley household, and as you can see, I also frequently handle the butler duties as well. Mr. O’Malley will be with you soon. Please let me know if I can do anything for you.”
I nodded and thanked her. Agatha stood in her spot, watching me for a moment, and I realized she was waiting for me to take a drink of my tea.
After taking a long draw of the refreshing, perfectly sweet tea, I raised my glass up a bit and said, “Thank you for the tea. It’s the best I’ve ever had.” It wasn’t a lie either.
Agatha let a satisfied grin spread across her stern face and I knew then that I’d made a new connection. She walked away, quietly humming a tune I almost recognized, and left me to wait for Gordon O’Malley.
I waited another thirteen minutes; I know because I kept checking my phone, and then Gordon O’Malley finally emerged from his office. He looked exactly as I’d imagined once I’d walked into his house. He was tall, over tanned, and his hair was perfectly slicked with not a strand out of place. When he smiled, I got a flash of his blinding white caps.
He walked through the door and extended his hand to me. “I’m Mayor O’Malley, and you must be Lara Tyler. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry you had to wait.”
“It’s good to meet you too,” I began. “The wait is no problem. I didn’t make an appointment so thank you for squeezing me in.”
“You’re most welcome. You’re doing important work for the town of Ash Road, Ms. Tyler. Please come into my office and have a seat,” he said, and I began to wonder if I was a fly being asked to have a seat in the spider’s web.
I settled into my chair and folded my hands in my lap with my ankles crossed. At the time, I was still trying to figure out the best way to rattle Gordon O’Malley’s cage, so I decided that I’d act demure while I sized him up. He struck me right away as the type of man who thought women had a place.
“I see that Agatha got you some sweet tea. Would you like another glass? Perhaps you’d care for a scone. She generally won’t make them for me. Aggie believes that true Southerners only eat biscuits with jam, but I convince her to make a batch of raspberry scones every now and again,” he said.
“I might take one to go if she’s around,” I said, hoping that would deflect the question without him thinking I was rude for turning him down. “I’ve still got plenty of tea, thank you,” I said as sweetly as I could muster.
I caught him sizing me up as he took his place behind the massive oak desk that dominated the center of the room. The mayor’s office chair looked to be made of expensive imported leather, and it smelled brand-new. I wondered how often the man bought himself a new chair.
“How is your research into Francesca Horowitz’s estate going? Ash Road and her residents are counting on you to resolve the matter quickly so we can put the money to good use for our town.”
I bristled at this. I wasn’t hired to secure the money for the mayor. I was employed to find the truth. “Well, I hope that you get the resolution you desire, but I’m still looking for the facts. That’s actually why I came here. I’ve been having trouble with the facts of the case. A great deal of Mrs. Horowitz’s information seems to be missing.”
“That’s probably my son’s fault. I don’t know that he’s the best fit for the position of town archivist, but I’m not sure that he’s capable of holding another job either.” Mayor O’Malley insulted his son matter-of-factly and confirmed his relation to Brody at the same time. “It’s a shame because he’s one of the people who stands to gain the most from the town getting the Horowitz estate.”
“How does Brody stand to gain from the money?” I asked as I pushed down my anger. At that point, I didn’t know if Brody and his father were in a scheme together, but I knew right away that I no longer trusted Brody at all.
“Well, a huge chunk of the money would be earmarked for expanding the archives. From what I understand, he’s close to having enough equipment to take in even more historical archives. He’d be able to apply for some sort of Federal status too. It would mean a big government salary and money to hire a staff.”
I found it interesting that Brody hadn’t shared any of that information with me.
I fumed on my walk back to work. One of my hands had a stranglehold on a brown paper bag with two scones in it. A confrontation was brewing and I’d thought that the walk would calm me down. I was wrong. All it did was give me more time to make myself even angrier.
By the time I swiped my badge over the sensor, I could feel the heat on my cheeks. My heart was hammering out of my chest, and my breaths were short and ragged.
I stomped down the hallways and stopped in front of Brody’s office. The door swung open as I raised my hand to knock.
“If you’d come into work, I was going to take you over to the town hall to look at records today,” Brody huffed.
That set me off even more. I didn’t work for him, and how dare he act like I punched the clock on his time. His father had treated me the same way. What was up with the O’Malley clan acting like I was there to do their bidding?
“I was meeting with the client who hired me. I don’t see how that’s outside of the scope of my work here. I also don’t understand how that’s any of your business. You’re not my boss,” I said.
“No, I’m not your boss. If I was, you’d probably be fired. You’re horrible to work with,” he said hotly. “I’ve never met someone who bothers me as much as you do.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you stand to gain the most from the town inheriting the Horowitz estate? What are you hiding from me?” I hissed.
“I’m not hiding anything from you. I didn’t see how that was any of your business, and besides, it doesn’t matter. I know you think I did something to the records that you say are missing, but you’re wrong,” he growled back.
“I never accused you of anything.”
“I can see it in your eyes. You think I’m a rake or a rat,” he said, and his shoulders fell.
Suddenly, I felt the overwhelming urge to comfort him. It’s not like I trusted him. Brody still seemed as though he was hiding something serious, but at the same time, I wanted to reach out and pull him into an embrace. I went with anger because I couldn’t handle the pull I felt toward him.
“Do you blame me? I barely know you, but what I do know is that you’ve hidden information from me. Why did you withhold from me?”
Brody opened his mouth to answer and then immediately snapped it shut again. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. I looked up at him to protest, and his mouth came down to meet mine.
For half of a moment, I put my hands against his chest and tried to push him away. But when Brody started to pull back, fear chilled my veins. I didn’t want the contact to break, so I melted into him.
His arms wrapped tighter around my waist, and I felt the light stubble on his chin brush against my cheek. It sent an electric shiver down my spine and heat pooled inside of my belly.
As soon as I started to believe that I’d never feel anything but Brody’s arms wrapped around me and his mouth covering mine, he pulled back. It almost felt as if all of the air had been sucked out of the room. My world felt instantly emptier when we parted.
Chapter Six
Lara
The next few days were a blur of Brody and me awkwardly avoiding each other at work. After the kiss, I’d turned bright red and ran away. We should probably have talked about what happened between us, but that would’ve required us to be in the same room with each other for more than a few uncomfortable moments at a time.
To make matters worse, I was five more days into my work on the Horowitz estate and I hadn’t made any progress. T
hankfully, Ellie was finally due to arrive.
She rolled into town around noon, driving a big, black SUV that she must have purchased to replace her red convertible. I thought it was funny because when she stepped out of the truck, her dark aviator sun glasses, fitted gray slacks, and black jacket made her look like some sort of Federal agent.
The last time I’d seen her, Ellie was rocking a California surfer chick vibe, and she never ceased to amaze me with her chameleon routine. Her long, beachy waves were replaced with a tight updo that was secured with a black mother-of-pearl comb.
“Jeez, Lara. I hope this case doesn’t take long,” she said as she scanned the town square. “I cannot handle all of this cliché. This place looks like something out of a movie about a quirky small-town romance from the 90’s.”
“It’s not so bad,” I countered.
She rolled her eyes at me and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t buy it. You love the city. I bet you’re dying here.”
“The inn is lovely. My room is beautiful and the breakfasts every day are almost guaranteed to ensure I leave Ash Road fat.”
Ellie turned around and looked in the direction of the Magnolia and Willow Inn. She held her hand over her brow to shield her eyes from the sun and squinted.
Without another word, Ellie turned around and opened the back door of her Escalade. She pulled two large, black suitcases out. “Okay, let’s see this place. You better be right about it or I’m driving the twenty minutes to the next town to stay at a real hotel.”
“Oh god. Please don’t leave me. I still don’t have my car,” I said as we walked to the inn.
“Fine, I’ll give it a chance, but this breakfast you’re selling had better be as good as you say it is,” she said with a cheerful smirk.
Ash Road had its charms, and my temporary home was even winning over Ellie. We walked inside the Magnolia and Willow, and Becca’s face lit up. You’d have thought that Ellie and I were old friends coming home.
Magic & Mystery Page 30