by Anne Hagan
When the customer was safely out the door, Mama said to me, “I just love her; such a friendly woman and she and her husband both do so much for this little community.”
I just smiled and nodded.
“Okay Dana, spill it! What’s got you all smiles and happy today?”
“Nothing. It’s just a good day, is all.”
“Right...”
Mama obviously didn’t believe me. “I’m just excited to be here working with you,” I told her.
“Child, now I know you’re fibbing. As soon as your dad and Jesse are back from that equipment auction, you’ll be charging on out of here. I know you!”
She eyed me up and down and then ventured, “Does this have anything to do with Mel?”
“Why do you ask that?” I tried to sound non-committal but I could feel myself blush a little and Mama latched on to it quickly.
“It is! So tell me, what’s going on? I’m all ears.”
“Of course you are and, knowing you, you probably had more than a little to do with it too.”
“With what? Is Mel planning something special for Valentine’s Day?”
“So you did have something to do with it!”
Mama clapped her hands together and grinned brightly. “So what’s she got planned?”
“I hate to let you down but nothing yet, not that I’m aware of anyway, but she left me a lovely note in the mailbox yesterday that said she loves me and that she’s trying to plan something very special for us. That’s the gist of it, anyway.” I couldn’t help but smile to myself again.
“Oh she did, did she? Well, that’s a start. I was hoping for a little more than that out of her though.”
“Mama, what did you do?”
“Nothing big, mind you. I just reminded her that Valentine’s Day was coming and that you two should do something special for this first one together is all.”
“That’s all? Well, that’s fine, I guess. Whatever you did worked Mama. Mel has literally become a poet of sorts overnight. Her note was wonderful.”
“I’ll take all the credit then but that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
“It was perfect. Don’t you go stirring her up anymore.”
My cell buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked the number. Whoops, Young International!
“Are you alright up here for a few minutes Mama? I need to take this.”
“Of course.”
I hustled into the back of the store, through the storeroom and out the connecting door into the space that was being remodeled as a nail salon for Mama as I answered.
“Hello; Dana speaking.”
“Please hold for Russ, Dana,” Rosita politely informed me.
“Dana?” Russ queried, coming on the line.
“Yes sir.” I responded after smiling first. I wanted him to know I was interested in whatever he was calling about.
“It’s fortuitous, in a manner of speaking, that you called the other day.”
“How so?”
“I’ve actually got a quick investigative job that’s local to you that came in out of the blue. It needs to be done fairly quickly. I don’t have anyone I can put on the ground that fast.”
“How local are we talking?”
“It’s a Morelville, Ohio address Dana.”
“Really? What are the odds?” I was dumbfounded.
“In this case, I’d say pretty good.” Russ Chuckled. “If you accept, you’ll be meeting with a Warren Brietland. Do you know him?”
“Not personally, but I know of him. He represents old Morelville and old money around here.”
“Well then, that falls in line with the job he wants done. He wants a potential family heiress, an Erin Voll, investigated.”
“I see.”
“Will you take the assignment?”
“Yes, of course; my pleasure.”
“I’ll put Rosita back on the line. She’ll want your fax number so she can send you over a contract and all the particulars.”
Chapter 8 – Meddling Mothers
Chloe Rossi
Late Wednesday Morning, February 11th
Morelville Ohio
“Where’s Dana, Chloe? Didn’t she come up to help you since the guys are gone?”
“Hi Faye. She stepped into the back for a minute...phone call.” I flipped a hand toward the back of the store. “Have you heard from Jesse?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But, honestly, when he goes to these equipment auctions he’s all eyes and ears for that stuff and nothing else. I can’t complain though, he’s gotten some great deals that have saved us a ton on the farm.”
“Well here’s hoping he’s a good influence on Marco then. I used to do auctions all the time looking for furniture but Marco never wanted to go.”
“He’ll be fine. The most trouble Jesse will let him get into at this one is buying a bunch of tools; not a bad thing when you’ve bought a fixer-upper house.” We both laughed but my own chuckle was more than a little uneasy. Marco and I went from owning a home that was just the way we wanted it in a Pittsburgh suburb, after years of hard work to a century old house out in the middle of nowhere that needed lots of updates. Marco was relishing the task. I’d have preferred something that just needed my decorator’s touch.
Mentally, I shook myself then I peeked toward the back of the store but there was no sign of Dana. “Faye,” I said, “while Dana’s out of earshot, I want to talk to you.”
“What about dear?”
“Mmm...I don’t really know how to put this, so I’ll just come right out with it: it’s about the state of the girls marriage.”
It was Faye’s turn to wave a dismissive hand in the air. “I hardly want to talk about that, no offense to Dana of course, but you know how I feel about it.”
“Whether you like it or not Faye, the girls are married in the eyes of the law. I wish you would open your mind just a little hon. It would mean so much to Mel for you to be more accepting.”
“I love my daughter. I love Dana too. I just don’t get this whole thing.”
“And our girls love each other,” I said firmly. “We both know though how tough the first year or so of marriage can be especially when someone has as demanding a career as Mel does. I just feel like they’re drifting apart and, if something isn't done soon, they’ll end up separated. I just can't imagine anything worse than that for them.”
“Yes, they love each other a lot. I’m not blind. I can see that. But, every couple has to find their own way. Jesse and I did and you and Marco did.”
I peeked down the aisle way toward the back again. “All I’m saying is, things are tough right now. You see the news. All of that stuff that’s been going on in Zanesville has had Mel hopping. They aren’t getting any time together at all right now. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could just take even a night off and forget all of that for the evening? Just one night?”
“I suppose. I guess I could talk to Mel and see if she could free herself up for dinner or something.”
“That would be a great start. Maybe even tonight?”
The door from the storeroom swung open and Dana stepped into view. I smiled down the main aisle way at her. “Everything okay dear?”
“Just fine Mama.” Her tone seemed distracted.
I shot Faye a look and, just then, a thought came to me. “Hey Faye, you should go back through and take a look at the pedicure chair Marco just finished installing yesterday. It’s a doozy.”
Faye raised her eyebrows. “A pedicure chair? Do you think people around here will really go for that sort of thing?”
Dana answered her, “Oh heavens yes! The women around her may live in boots in the fall and winter but all spring and summer all I saw were flip flops and sandals unless they were actually working with livestock. They’ll love it. Come on back, I’ll show it to you.”
“No, no,” I jumped in quickly. “I just saw the bakery truck turn the corner. I’m going to need your help up here but you go on ah
ead back Faye. Feel free to sit in it and fondle the controls.” I grinned at her with my best devious, up to something smile and hoped she took the hint.
“Mel? It’s mom.”
“I know; Holly told me.”
“Listen, I only have a minute.”
“Me too.”
“How are things going with you and Dana?”
“Okay...I guess.”
“You don’t sound so sure.”
“I’m, uh, surprised at your interest, I guess.”
“I’m trying Mel. I really am.”
“I know Mom.”
“It seems like you two are struggling a little bit for time since you took the Sheriff job on. I was dead set against that too if you remember. I’m working on a lot of things here Mel.”
“I know and I appreciate it. And, it’s obvious that you’ve been talking to Chloe. She’s said something to me about us not having any time together too. In all honesty, I just don’t really have the time to plan anything but I’ve been trying to...how can I say this...woo, I guess is the word, Dana.”
“Woo her?”
“I’ve, uh written her a couple of notes...love letters, sort of. She got one yesterday. I left another one for her in the mailbox today. She...uh...seemed to like the first one.”
“I don’t even want to know!”
“Mom! They were nothing dirty, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Look, why don’t you call her and tell her you want to go out to dinner tonight. Have her meet you in town at Adornetto’s. I’ll call them and make the reservation for you even. You just have to show up and have a calm, quiet evening out.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to get out of here but I don’t want to be out real late either. I’m beat.”
“I’ll make it for 5:30 and send up a prayer that it all works out.”
Mel sighed. “Okay; you roped me in, now I really have to go if I want to be there by 5:30.”
I watched now as Faye came back up front. “Well, what did you think,” I asked her.
“It was, uh, interesting.” She looked around. “Where’s Dana now?”
“Outside, just finishing up with the Adornetto’s delivery driver.”
“Speaking of them, I need to make them a reservation there tonight for 5:30.”
“All right! Way to go!” I dropped my voice, “I’m glad we did this.”
“We?”
“Yes, we. I admit I spoke to Mel before. That’s why she wrote the note. Did she tell you about that?”
“Note? Don’t you mean notes?”
“She wrote another one? Dana only mentioned one.”
“Then she didn’t get today’s yet.”
I thought for a few seconds and then looked toward the door for Dana myself. When I didn’t see her yet I told Faye, “Okay, here’s the plan. You go and add the dinner invitation for tonight to Mel’s new note. I’ll make the reservations.”
“I’m not getting into their mail!”
“Look, if we want this to go perfectly, we have to make sure Dana knows about it. I’m sure there have been times Jesse has gotten busy and has forgotten to tell you things...” I looked at Faye pointedly.
She nodded, “You’re right.”
“Where do you want to meet later, your house or mine?”
“For what?”
“Adornetto’s silly. We’re going too. We can’t leave anything to chance.”
Chapter 9 – On Assignment
Dana
12:45 PM Wednesday, February 11th
Morelville Ohio
As soon as Dad was back at the store, I excused myself and got out of there.
After a brief stop at home to let Boo out, freshen up and grab a few things, I went off to try and get a meeting with Warren Brietland.
I was nervous about the meeting with him, to say the least. I recalled when I’d first moved in with Mel, while I was recovering from multiple leg surgeries, that the Brietland clan figured prominently in one of her cases that I got sucked into involuntarily. I shuddered at the thought. I hope this go around with them works out a lot better!
Brietland met with me in his study. He dispensed immediately with pleasantries and got right down to business.
“I’ve worked with Young a few times in the past,” he informed me. “I keep using Russ because he offers me fast, discreet service. I expect it to be no different on this occasion.”
“Of course Mr. Brietland.”
“How long have you been with Russ?”
“I worked with him directly for three years. Now I work with him from time to time as his needs warrant.”
Brietland nodded. “That will have to do on such short notice. If I’d have had my druthers, I’d have taken care of this some time ago.”
I didn’t speak, I just nodded politely and let the man talk.
He continued, “My granddaughter Erin is among the last in a line of Brietland heirs that are worth a damn. Or, at least, that could be worth a damn. She’s a smart one but, I fear...Anyway, there are no Brietland males to inherit the Brietland fortune. The illegitimate bastard that should have been given the family name, Ryan McClarnan, is in jail just like his daddy.”
I shuddered again but Brietland didn’t seem to notice the effect the name ‘McClarnan’ had on me.
“Neither of my sons has produced a male heir. The three young women they have sired between them all stand to divide quite a fortune when I pass on, completely aside from anything their own fathers will inherit or will have added in value to the family holdings. They’ll be passing all of this wealth along to families that have no knowledge of our family history.”
He paused, leaned forward in his chair and looked at me intently. “All things change. I’m no fool. However, I don’t want to see the family coffers just frittered away and the good Brietland name dragged through the mud by these young women and the men they choose to mate with. Two of them are still in high school and, for now, they are of little consequence, but Erin is unfortunately married – for lack of a better term – to a vile man whom I detest.”
“What’s his name sir?”
“Victor Voll and she goes by Erin Voll, for now, at least. Victor is a criminal, pure and simple. What Erin ever saw in him – he’s a good ten years or more her senior, by the way – I’ll never know. My fear is, he is controlling her and manipulating her and getting her to do his dirty bidding. I can’t abide by that.”
He paused and drew in a deep breath. “Erin has been told she has money in trust and that she will begin receiving payments from on her 25th birthday in May, conditionally.”
“Are those conditions important to my investigation sir?”
“Not necessarily. They involve her husband more so than her and I’m dealing with him. You are to focus on her.”
“What exactly is that you need from me...from Young, Mr. Brietland?”
“Erin knows about the trust but she doesn’t know about the total wealth she stands to inherit. As it is, I intend to see to it that she does not get either the trust or a later inheritance if she’s not deserving of them. Your job will to be to look at my granddaughter very closely and specifically at the things she does that may aid her worthless spouse and anything she does apart from him that could be suspect.”
That’s still pretty vague.
He wasn’t finished. “I want to know where she goes, who she meets with, who her friends are...everything you can find out. If at all possible, I need some sort of report by Saturday.”
I did my best not to react strongly to the short window.
“I know this is short notice. Money isn’t a concern. If you need to follow her around the clock between now and then, I expect you to do it.”
He slid a sheet of paper out of a folder on his desk and held it out to me. “That should get you started.”
Glancing quickly over it, I could see that it contained Erin’s vitals, her address and telephone number.
“Frankly, I’d like to
see Victor Voll dead or behind bars with Billy Bob and Ryan; I don’t care which. Then Erin would be free to carry the Brietland family name honorably again.”
She’s still a female...her carrying the name doesn’t continue the family line.
“I’m not stupid Miss. As I’ve alluded, Erin is no saint. I know for sure that she’s into drugs. I need to know if she’s actually dealing and what else she’s involved in. If it’s only a matter of drugs, I’d rather have her away from Voll, in rehab and cleaning up her act before she receives money from her trust or inheriting even a small part of the family fortune.”
I rushed the straight home in a panic. It was already after 2:00 on Wednesday and Brietland wanted some sort of report on Saturday. I could hardly afford to waste time.
Absent mindedly, I grabbed the mail on my way into the house. I dropped it on the corner of Mel’s desk, fired up her laptop and started looking into online databases and look ups for everything I could find about Erin and Victor Voll.
Two hours and a half dozen calls later, I’d gathered everything I could nail down electronically but I’d hit a wall with most of my calls. I leaned back and took a deep breath while I contemplated trying to track the heiress down and following her around for a while.
Catching sight of the little pile of mail, I noticed another plain white envelope that was like the one I’d found in the box the day before. I edged it out of the stack and savored the fact that, judging by my name scrawled in the middle of it, I’d gotten another love note from Mel.
I slid the sheet out and smiled to myself as I read a note as tender as the first.
Dana,
Your kiss rocks me to my core. The fire in you, the passion in you fascinates and excites me. I just want to sail away with you to the middle of nowhere, free of duty and obligation; just free to be you and me.
I keep thinking about the time we were in Tennessee, just the two of us. There was trouble there, yes...it seems to find us wherever we go, but the good outweighed the bad and the strange by a country mile. I want to take you back there again and be just Mel and Dana, together, again.
I love you Dana, more today than I did yesterday and twice as much as tomorrow.