Forever Fudge

by Nancy CoCo

  “Yes,” I said, and felt the heat of a blush rush up my cheeks. I tugged Mal over to me and pulled her up into my lap. “What’s the dress code?”

  He raised his right eyebrow. “Wear something comfortable.”

  “Oh now, I don’t slip into something comfortable on the first date,” I teased.

  His gaze warmed. “I didn’t know you were a fifties kind of girl.”

  I smiled and stood. “I’ll be there at eight.”

  “Maybe I should come and get you,” he said. “It’s probably not a good idea to go out alone.”

  “You don’t live that far,” I said. “I don’t want you to burn dinner coming to get me.”

  “A carriage ride or a nice walk could be romantic.”

  “How much trouble can I get into in a mile walk?”

  “Allie, this is you we’re talking about.”

  I laughed. “I’ll see you at eight.”

  Chapter 21

  On the way back to the McMurphy I saw Jeffery walking ahead of me on Market Street. “Hello? Jeffery? Mr. Jenas?” I flagged him down.

  He stopped and turned to see who called his name. “Yes? Allie, what can I do for you?”

  “I thought you would be on set today. I heard they are shooting the pilot.”

  “I needed to take a walk,” he said with a shrug. “Creative stuff.” He wore a gray hoodie and blue jeans and shoved his hands in his front pockets. “I heard you had some trouble at the McMurphy. Makes me think I should have rented a room from you. I would have been in the middle of all the action.” He tapped his temple. “Good fodder for further episodes.”

  “I was wondering if you knew a kid named Ryan?”

  “Who?”

  “He’s a teenager. Mrs. Tunison’s grandson. He sometimes will porter for me.”

  “I have no idea,” he said. “Don’t know that many people by name. I do see a lot of them on my walks. Funny what you can learn about people simply by walking by their house or business every day.”

  “I was wondering, does the year 1956 mean anything to you?”

  “What? No, why?”

  “Just asking,” I said. “How come you didn’t stick around after Mal and I found the dead man?”

  “I figured once you called the police there wasn’t much for me to do. I’m on deadline. The last thing I have time for is sitting around while the police point fingers at people.”

  “Did you know Tad Johnson?”

  “Who?”

  “Cyrus Johnson’s nephew,” I said. Mal sniffed Jeffer y’s pant leg intently.

  He stepped out of range of my dog. “No, I don’t think I know Cyrus Johnson.”

  “Is this the first time you’ve spent any time on Mackinac Island?”

  “What’s with all the questions?”

  It was my turn to shrug. “You said you spent the season here. I wondered if you’d ever spent time on the island before. I used to summer here every year growing up. So while this was my first season as the owner of the McMurphy, I’m pretty used to spending time on the island. Were you?”

  “My parents brought me once when I was about eight or so,” he said. “It’s different as an adult.”

  “It certainly is,” I said. “But I don’t think it loses its charm. Do you?”

  “Not one bit,” he said. “I wrote some of that charm for the series.”

  “Good,” I said. Then I drew my brows together. “Wait, as the writer, shouldn’t you be on set all the time?”

  “Sometimes I need a creative break,” he said. “The team knows it. As long as I’m not gone too long, it’s okay. I’m still working out the last few episodes. I want to lead up to a killer season ending. You know we like to end the season on a cliff-hanger.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Are you going to make it seem as if one of the principal characters is killed?”

  He winced. “That’s a cliché. I’m working on something even more interesting.”

  “Oh, what?”

  “That’s for me to know and you to watch the show,” he said.

  My phone rang. I answered it while he waved good-bye and kept going down the street. “This is Allie,” I said.

  “Allie, it’s Paige.”

  “Hi, Paige, how have you been?”

  “Busy,” she said and I could hear the tiredness in her voice. “I’m sorry I haven’t gotten together with you for that lunch. We need to do that. I was wondering if you had time today. I know it’s sort of last-minute, but I would love to grab lunch.”

  I looked at my phone. It was 2 p.m.

  “I’ve got Mal with me,” I said. “When do you want to meet?”

  “Why don’t you come down to the marina? We can meet at the Island Café, say in half an hour?”

  “Great,” I said. “That’ll give me time to take Mal home and check in on the McMurphy.”

  “Super,” Paige said. “See you then.”

  Mal and I cut back down the street and through the alley to the back of the McMurphy. I unlocked the door and entered the building. It didn’t take long to snap Mal out of her harness and leash and let her free inside. I placed the leash and harness on the hooks by the door and walked down the hall to the lobby.

  Sharon was at the receptionist desk reading a book.

  “Hello,” I said. “Any trouble today?”

  “Nothing,” she said without looking up. “You’ve had three people check out as expected. Room 306 is running late for checkout. You might want to go up and check on them.”

  “Who is coming in today? Anyone new?”

  “No, it’s a slow day,” she said. “End of season. Most people come in Friday and leave Sunday.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “Room 306,” she said, and went back to her book.

  Mal followed me up the stairs. I stopped on the third floor. It was quiet. The new door locks were a bit odd to see after seeing lock and key my entire life. I knocked on room 306. “Hello? Management.” There was no answer. I knocked again, this time louder and longer. “Management.”

  I could hear banging around inside. Finally, the door opened to a bleary-eyed man in his twenties. “Checkout was at noon,” I said.

  “Right,” he said, standing there in only a pair of jeans. His chest was bare, as were his feet. His thick dark hair stood on end. “Sorry. Overslept.”

  “We will charge you for the day if you’re not out by three,” I said.

  “Got it,” he said. “I’ll be out.”

  “Thank you, Mr. . . . ?”

  “Gold, Mike Gold.” He grabbed a shirt off the back of the chair and tugged it on. “Sorry, I got in late and the new key thing had me all confused.”

  “Sorry for the inconvenience,” I said. “What about the new key system didn’t work for you?”

  “I didn’t realize that you locked the front door after nine. I was out with my buddies until two and, well, it took me about an hour to figure out how to use the key card to get into the building.”

  “Oh,” I said, and crossed my arms. “I didn’t think it needed extra explanation. I’ll be sure and note that for the future. Have a good day, Mr. Gold.”

  “Sure,” he said. “I’ll be out by three. Say, do you still have coffee in the coffee bar downstairs?”

  “Yes,” I said. “We have fresh coffee every hour except from eleven p.m. until three a.m.”

  “Cool.” He closed the door and I went up to the apartment to get my purse.

  “Hey, Allie,” Jenn called as I walked into the apartment. Mal came in behind me and playfully chased Mella up onto the kitchen counter. She hissed at Mal, then settled down on the counter.

  “Jenn,” I said. “I just talked to Mr. Gold in room 306. He’s a late checkout. Something about not understanding how to use his room key to get into the front door this morning. Do you think we need to put a doorbell on the front?”

  “Oh gosh, no,” Jenn said as she came out of her bedroom. She was dressed in a jean skirt and white peasant blouse. “Anyone co
uld be buzzing you all night. No, we’ll simply let them know when they check in. If they can’t figure it out on their own after that, it’s not our problem.”

  “Okay,” I said, and drew my eyebrows together.

  “What?” Jenn asked.

  “You aren’t usually so flippant when it comes to our guests.”

  She shrugged. “The only reason for anyone not to understand how to get into the building is that they are too drunk to figure it out. Drunks can sleep outside as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Wow, get up on the wrong side of the bed?”

  “What? No,” she said, and leaned against her doorjamb. “Just being realistic. Where are you off to?” she asked as I picked up my purse from the shelf in my bedroom.

  “Paige called. She wants to meet for lunch.”

  “Oh right, so you can mentor her. Nothing like last-minute notice,” Jenn said.

  “Wow, what is up with you?”

  Jenn sighed and ran her hand over her face. “I just heard from my boss in Chicago. She wants me there by the end of the week.”

  “So soon?”

  “There’s a big wedding and she wants to test my skills at last-minute problem solving,” Jenn sighed. “It means my time on the island is over.”

  “Have you told Shane?”

  “No, I just found out myself. I’ve been packing for the last hour.” She frowned. “I’m not ready to go.”

  “So don’t,” I said. “You could stay and start planning for the winter and next spring.”

  “I have to. This is a great opportunity to get some name recognition. There are a lot of people in Chicago who summer on Mackinac.”

  I put my hand on her arm. “Do you want me to cancel with Paige? I can see her anytime.”

  “Would you?”

  “Certainly,” I said. I pulled out my phone and sent Paige a text. Sorry, but something’s come up. Can we try again next week?

  She came back with a text. Certainly. Talk soon.

  “There,” I said, and put my phone and purse away. “Now let’s talk about what you are going to be doing in Chicago.”

  * * *

  I put on a pretty floral sundress for my date with Rex. There was no sense in going straight-up sexpot like I did for dinner with Dirk. It wasn’t because I didn’t want Rex to think I was sexy. But Rex had seen me at my worst more than once. So it seemed silly to try to impress him with one of Jenn’s dresses. I chose to be myself—comfortable in a cute floral sundress. I had slipped my feet into a pair of sparkly sandals and grabbed a soft white sweater to cover my shoulders.

  I stepped out of my bedroom and Jenn popped her head out into the hall from her bedroom. “You look cute.”

  “Thanks,” I said shyly. Mal came out and jumped up on me as if to say she approved. I blew out a long breath. “I’m kind of nervous.”

  Jenn laughed. “That’s a good thing.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’m off.”

  “By yourself ?” she asked, drawing her brows together.

  “Oh, not you, too?” I said. “It’s only a mile. I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s just there’s a killer out there,” she said. “Mal and I can walk you.”

  “And who will walk you back?” I asked. “No, I’ll be fine. I’ve got my phone.”

  “Hmm,” Jenn said. “I guess. How about Mal and I walk you out and watch you catch a carriage ride?”

  “I’m not sure there are any carriages out now. It’s off-season.”

  Jenn gave me a narrow-eyed look. “You don’t want to catch a carriage because you think Trent will find out.”

  “What?”

  “The carriages left on the island are all out of the Jessops’ stables.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous,” I said. “I’m sure Trent already knows. It’s a small island.”

  “Hmm. How about Mal and I walk you to the corner.”

  “Fine,” I said. “Let’s go.”

  “Bossy,” she teased as we locked the apartment and went downstairs. We ran into a couple going up to their rooms. Otherwise the lobby was silent. “It’s strange how quiet things get once the season is over,” Jenn said. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m going to miss this place.”

  I squeezed her hand. “You are always welcome here.”

  “I know,” she said as I put Mal’s halter on her and hooked up the leash. I handed Mal to her and we stepped outside. Rex lived up the hill behind the police station. Jenn walked me to the corner. “Looks like you were right. There aren’t any carriages out.”

  The island was alive with the sounds of people in bars, laughing and drinking and playing music. The sky was dark and the stars had begun to pop out. The air was a cool sixty-five degrees and smelled of fall. I took a deep breath. “It smells wonderful, doesn’t it?”

  “It does,” Jenn said. She gave me a quick hug. “Text me when you get there.”

  “Okay, bye.” I watched her turn around to go back to the McMurphy and walked up the hill. I felt safe until I got to the block behind the police station. I rarely came this way this time of day. It was clear that some of the homes were vacant during the week. I imagined they were still well used on weekends. The season might go until Labor Day, but more and more people were learning the joys of fall and winter on Mackinac Island. It meant that I would have guests as long as I wanted to stay open.

  I hurried up the hill. At some point I thought I heard footsteps behind me. I turned but no one was there. I went back to walking and heard the footsteps again. “Hello?” I called. There was no answer. I gripped my phone and walked faster. The footfalls seemed to speed up with me. I stopped and turned toward the sidewalk behind me. “Who is it? It’s not funny. Come out and face me.”

  No one answered. It’s as if whoever followed me held their breath.

  “Allie?” Rex’s voice came from behind me.

  I turned to see him walking toward me. “Hi,” I said, and rushed toward him, putting my arm through his. “Am I late?”

  “No,” he said. “I got a text from Jenn saying you were walking up by yourself. I thought I’d come and meet you halfway.”

  “Thanks,” I said, and glanced behind me.

  “What is it?”

  “I thought I heard someone following me,” I said, and shrugged. “Whoever it was seems to be gone now.”

  Rex squeezed my hand. “Come on, let’s get off the street. You look amazing, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” I said, and nervously tugged my hair behind my ear. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

  He was out of his uniform. His wide action-hero shoulders were encased in a pale blue dress shirt. It was open at the collar. He wore dark wash jeans and cowboy boots.

  “It’s not every day I get to see you out of uniform,” I said. I wasn’t about to tell him he smelled nice. But he did. It was a combination of aftershave and warm male skin.

  “I thought you’d be more relaxed if I wasn’t on duty.”

  “Well,” I said. “I certainly appreciate that.”

  “Good,” he said, his gaze warm. “I wanted you to.” He tugged me up on the porch of a bungalow that looked out on the straits. “I hope you like red wine. I’ve got a nice bottle breathing in the kitchen.”

  “I love red wine.” I glanced behind me. Was that a shadow?

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said with a smile. “I’m just fine.” I went inside determined to have a good time. After all, who would dare harm me while I was with Rex?

  Chapter 22

  “I’ve got a steak on the grill,” he said as he handed me a glass of red wine. “I’m making steak salad.”

  “Your famous steak salad?” I asked, and smiled at him. “Not very action hero.”

  “Action hero?” He drew his eyebrows together.

  “Yes,” I said, and raised my glass in a toast. “You are my personal hero. Here’s to good friends.”

  We touched glasses and took a sip of wine.

 
“Wow, that’s great.”

  “It’s from your cousin Tori’s friend’s winery in California.”

  “Tori always did have good taste,” I said, and took another sip. “I like your home.” I looked around. It was a classic 1940s bungalow. The front door opened into a living room, and a dining room that went straight back to a small kitchen. He’d opened the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, leaving a large island with a recycled glass countertop. The right side of the house was all bedrooms. Two of which were off the kitchen with a bathroom between. The third bedroom was off the living room. He’d turned it into a very masculine study. Complete with bookshelves and a large walnut desk. It was clear he sat in the easy chair often and read by the floor lamp. The books on the end table near the chair looked well read.

  “What are your favorite books?” I asked, and went into the study to look at his collection of books. Most were private eye books. There was an entire collection of Louis L’Amour westerns and a few old Zane Greys.

  “I like classics,” he said. “Noir, police procedurals, and such.” He leaned against the doorjamb and watched me as I trailed my fingers over the spine of his books.

  “Agatha Christie,” I said. “Nice choice.”

  “I thought you might like that one.” He raised one corner of his mouth in a bit of a smile.

  “How long have you lived here?” I turned and leaned against his easy chair.

  “This was my grandparents’ home,” he said. “I moved in after my last divorce.”

  “So we’re both living in our grandparents’ homes. What a couple of weirdos.”

  He straightened. “Speak for yourself.” He walked toward me and stopped dangerously close. “I happen to like the traditional nature of Mackinac Island.”

  “Yeah,” I said, my tone breathy. “Me too.”

  There was loud knocking at the door. It startled me and I had to work not to slosh my wine. “Are you expecting someone?”

  “No,” he said, his eyebrows turning down in the center. “Hang on.”

  The pounding continued. “Boss!”

  Rex opened the door to find Brent standing on his porch. “What’s going on?”

  “Sorry to disturb you,” Brent said, and took off his police cap. His gaze went from Rex to me and back. “You weren’t answering your phone.”