Proof of Murder

by Lauren Elliott

  “You’re right. It is silly of me to feel snubbed. I’m sure it was just an oversight.” Addie took another sip of her coffee, hoping that was true and that she still wasn’t feeling the effects of the townspeople having qualms about her, especially after her most recent run-in with a dead body, and her arrest. Nothing had changed, fingers crossed. She shook it off and smiled. “I could have mine made a bit larger and with longer handles so they could be carried as shoulder totes.”

  “That’s it. Look on the bright side, they planted the seed. Now you grow it into what suits you best.”

  Addie gave Catherine’s shoulder a light squeeze. “You always have a way of cheering me up when I start a pity party.”

  “Don’t forget I wiped your tears and bandaged your boo-boos when you were two years old. I know my little girl and just what she needs, and when she needs it.” A smile touched the corners of her lips.

  Addie laid her head on Catherine’s shoulder, swatted at a tear in her eye and nodded.

  “Now, let’s sit down and enjoy our coffee so we can perk up for the bonfire and fireworks celebration.” She ushered Addie to a counter stool.

  Addie groaned. “I don’t think I can.”

  “Yes, you can. The whole town’s going to be there to celebrate the inaugural docking, and we have to put on a brave face.”

  Addie screwed up her face. “Like this one?”

  Catherine playfully slapped her arm. “Come on, I know you’re exhausted after everything that happened yesterday with that horrible man, but put your best foot forward. It’ll be fun.”

  “I need some fun. There’s been too little of that lately between my arrest and then exposing a real-life ghost.” Her heart dipped at the fresh memories.

  A harsh knock came from the window behind them.

  “Sorry, we’re closed,” Catherine shouted, waving the woman off.

  Addie spun around on the stool. “I don’t believe it!”

  “You know her?”

  “Yes.” Addie jumped to her feet and swung the door open. “Kalea? Where have you been?”

  Without answering, Kalea swept into the shop. “Mmm, that coffee smells great. Mind if I have one?” She plopped a pod in the machine without waiting for an answer.

  “I take it this is your cousin?” Catherine looked questioningly at Addie.

  Addie followed close behind Kalea. “Answer me. The police have been looking for you, and I’ve been worried sick that you were lying dead somewhere.”

  “Pfftt. All taken care of. And as you can see, I’m not dead.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you have to say after your little disappearing act?”

  “This is a fantastic shop. I love those carved wooden pillars. I had no idea it was this big. You’ve done well for yourself, cuz.” Coffee in hand, she flopped on the stool beside Catherine, sloshing coffee on the countertop.

  “Thanks. Now talk.”

  Kalea raised her hands and shrugged. “It’s kind of a funny story . . .”

  “Funny as in ha-ha or weird?”

  Kalea took a long, slow sip. Addie tapped her fingernails on the counter. Her patience was growing thin until she noticed a tear rolling down her cousin’s cheek. “Kalea, what happened? Why did you take off like that without a word?”

  Catherine stroked Kalea’s back. “You can tell us. It’s okay. Addie’s just concerned.” She flashed Addie a “behave” glance.

  “Yes. As much as you scared me, I was worried.”

  “I know I messed up when I left like I did, but I had no choice.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I went out to dinner with that guy, Garrett.”

  “Yes, I remember.” Addie clasped her cousin’s hand. “And then what happened? Did he hurt you, insult you?”

  “No.” Kalea shook her head. “Nothing like that. He was a perfect gentleman. I got a call from . . . from the hospital in Cape Cod. Nolan had been admitted. He had a heart attack.”

  “I’m so sorry. Is he okay?”

  She nodded. “But . . .”

  “But what?” Catherine’s hand stopped their consoling strokes. Her eyes fixed on Kalea’s damp face.

  “He’s decided to go back to his wife,” she blurted. “He ordered me to move out of what was supposed to be our Cape Cod house because he’s going to sell it and move back into their family home in Concord. Then to make it worse, he took back his gift of the car. He said the near-death experience made him realize he wasn’t ready to give up on his marriage. His wife’s condition to taking him back was that I would have to find another job, too.” Her sniffles turned to sobs, and Catherine’s hand resumed its consoling pats. “So not only am I homeless, but I have no job.” Her sobs morphed into heaving wails.

  Addie slid onto the vacant stool. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” she murmured, forcing her mouth to not utter the words she really wanted to say. She’d learned from living with her cousin at college their first year that any words of wisdom or insight about becoming involved with a married man in the first place would fall on deaf ears. She sat quietly and pressed her cousin’s hand into hers.

  Catherine’s eyes pleaded for Addie to say something to the distraught woman. Addie looked away, knowing in her heart what she should say but unable to bring herself to say it.

  “Addie,” Catherine said, quirking a brow, “didn’t you just tell me—”

  Addie shot Catherine a horror-stricken glance. Catherine snapped her mouth closed.

  Addie then glanced apologetically at her old friend, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at Kalea as she said, “No family member of mine will ever be homeless. You can stay with me until you get back on your feet. And if you need a job . . .” Addie gulped on the words she was about to utter. “You can work part-time for me, here in the store.” Catherine gave her a slight nod, her eyes filled with pride, and Addie knew she’d done the right thing. Now she hoped this gesture wouldn’t come back to haunt her.

  “Are you serious?” Kalea’s head shot up, her eyes filled with disbelief. “You’ll let me live with you and give me a job?”

  Addie nodded.

  “Welcome to our little Greyborne Harbor family.” A smile lit up Catherine’s face as she wrapped her arms around Kalea.

  Addie looked at the two women locked in an embrace. “Yeah, aren’t families wonderful?” She was thankful she had found hers here in the Harbor, and by her cousin’s reaction, her little family had just grown by one more—who, in spite of all her annoyances, truly was family to her.

  Chapter 34

  With Kalea in tow, Addie wove through the crowd that congregated on the beach to take in the evening festivities. She caught sight of her target.

  “Simon!” she cried, and leapt into his arms snuggling into his hug.

  “I was beginning to wonder if we’d have to send out another search party for you like Martha called for yesterday,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

  “Not today, but there has been a . . . slight complication.”

  He held her at arm’s length. “Is everything okay? Marc hasn’t gone and arrested you again, has he?”

  “No.” She willed herself not to laugh at the look on his face, but it was hard, and she choked out something between a laugh and a snort. “Simon, I’d like you to meet my cousin, Kalea.” Addie gestured to the woman beside her, who’d stuck like a lost child to Addie’s side since they left the bookstore. “Kalea, this is my good friend, Simon.”

  Kalea took one look into Simon’s sea-blue eyes and her whole little-lost-girl act slipped away. Her eyelashes fluttered like butterflies. She thrust out her chest and brushed strands of auburn hair behind her ear. “Simon,” she cooed, extending her limp hand in greeting, “it is a pleasure to meet you.”

  Simon cocked his head, his lips turning up in a half smile. He draped his arm around Addie’s shoulders, gave her a reassuring squeeze, and limply shook Kalea’s extended fingers in reply. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Addie has told me so much about you.�
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  “Oh, she has, has she? I see.” Kalea glanced at Simon’s arm still wrapped around Addie’s shoulder. Her porcelain complexion turned a rosy hue, and she averted her eyes. “What’s this little celebration all about, anyway?” Kalea glanced at the crowds gathering around the large logs set out as bonfire seating areas.

  “I thought I told you on our way here?” Addie eyed her cousin warily. “It’s a welcome celebration for the first official docking of the cruise ship to Greyborne Harbor. We as a town thought they might enjoy a beach party of sorts and a fireworks display at the end of the eve—”

  “Oh, right. Yeah, you did mention something about that.” Kalea waved off the explanation. “There’s Garrett over there talking to Robert.” And she was off.

  Addie nudged Simon and pointed to her cousin as she sashayed up to her next victim. As if on cue, Kalea shifted her weight from one curvy hip to the other and leaned in toward Garrett, whispering something into his ear. A shy grin spread across his flushed face.

  Simon’s husky laugh made Addie’s stomach flutter. “See what I mean about her?” Addie’s own laugh bubbled free, joining his.

  “Good evening, Simon, Addie.”

  “Marc. You’re here?” Addie spun around at the sound of his voice behind them.

  Simon gave her a sidelong glance, confusion by her excitement to see her old flame clearly written across his face.

  “I mean”—she glanced at Simon—“I didn’t expect to see you tonight. You know, with the whole Art thing and the investigation and all.” She wanted to kiss away the confusion from Simon’s face but settled with clasping his hand in hers.

  “Yeah, it wrapped up faster than I thought it would. Between your and Vera’s statements, along with Maggie’s added information, Art finally gave a full confession.”

  “Did he confess to murdering Charlotte, too?” Simon drew Addie closer to his side.

  Marc’s jaw tightened. “He said he never intended her to die. He was just trying to scare her.”

  “But I gave you a precedent case and medical—”

  “I know,” Marc said, “and the DA agreed. Art did confess that he had been watching and listening for months and knew Charlotte was terrified to be alone in the house. She’d bought into all the local haunted rumors. He decided to play on that fear Wednesday night when she wouldn’t leave so he could get the books he was after, you know, the one you pointed out, A Study in Scarlet that had the birth certificate hidden inside it.” Addie nodded. “Art said he’d waited long enough to get his hands on it and when she wouldn’t leave that night, he knew he’d have to step up his game. He covered his face and hands with ashes from the hearth, in the hope of appearing more ghostly to scare her off. Which, as the DA said, showed intent to harm.”

  “And it obviously worked even if death wasn’t his intention.” Simon rubbed his jaw.

  “Yup, by everything else he said, I don’t think he really cared at that point. He just wanted to get his hands on what he felt was his and stop the auction to sell his property. That’s why he pulled off all the special effects he’d created over the past few months, hoping to scare everyone away from the house.”

  “Yeah, I told you about the humidifiers I found. He must have used them to create the cold air from the vents, and I guess he also found a way to produce just enough mist to make it appear like an entity taking form.”

  “He had done his research. He even manipulated Vera into helping him, all under the guise of creating a haunted experience for some fictional buyer, but his theatrics didn’t stop there.” Marc glanced at Addie. “He used his umbrella with the knife tip extended to be able to open the door just a crack and slid it up to push the doorbells away from the top of the frame, so he could enter your shop undetected. Then he used it extended again to make it appear that the books flew off the shelves by themselves. That’s why Paige didn’t see anyone. He was far enough behind her to escape detection.”

  “Then why did he hurt her?”

  “He said he didn’t want to, but when she started to turn around instead of running away in the opposite direction, he knew he’d have to knock her out before she saw him. He said he staged it all because he thought that if you were afraid the ghost from Hill Road House had materialized in your bookstore, too, then you’d take it as a warning and stop your snooping around.”

  Simon choked back a laugh. “He doesn’t know Addie very well, then. She only dug in her heels more and went at it with a renewed vigor.”

  “Dog with a bone,” Marc said, words that brought them both to a chorus of husky laughter.

  “Glad to see I can provide both of you with the evening’s entertainment.” Addie fought to suppress her own urge to laugh, which wasn’t easy, but she managed it by piercing one then the other with a glare.

  “Relax, Addie.” Simon kissed the top of her head. “I guess we just both know you too well.”

  “Then you know I can’t let this go until I know how all the pieces fit together.”

  Marc wiped his eyes, sniffed and looked at her. “What else do you need to know so you can bury your latest bone?” He stifled a laugh and gave Simon a sidelong glance, they both snickered.

  “Gee, thanks, guys. I’m thrilled to see you find my genetic quirk to be so humorous.”

  “Genetic quirk,” Marc choked. “It’s called an obsession.”

  “I’ll have you both know that I discovered my great-great-aunt Emily. Anita’s mother was well known in Greyborne Harbor for her sleuthing adventures, too. Therefore, it’s genetic.”

  Marc shook his head. “Well, that explains a lot, doesn’t it?” He glanced at Simon, a smile touching the corners of his lips. “I guess this won’t be the end of it, will it?”

  Simon groaned.

  “Come on.” Addie playfully swatted at Simon and glanced at Marc, his eyes holding a twinkle of amusement. “Did you question Blake about what I told you at the station? The conversation I overheard and what Art said to me about him and Philip being involved in an insurance scam?”

  “Yeah, but what they were up to wasn’t illegal. Not ethical, mind you, but not illegal.”

  “What was it, then?”

  Marc leaned toward them, his voice low. “It seems that Philip sent Blake a list of the auction items his client was after, and Blake removed them from the auction list and sold them privately to Philip for a percentage of the finder’s fee.”

  “They were running a little side business.” Addie blinked. “What about Duane McAdams, and Blake saying he wouldn’t be a problem anymore?”

  “Blake made a call to his father and told him what had been going on. McAdams Senior had his son committed to a rehab center.”

  Addie narrowed her eyes. “But what about the inventory lists that were all out of whack? They looked like someone was committing fraud.”

  “As a matter of fact, that’s why Charlotte was working so late Wednesday. She was trying to figure out the discrepancies in the lists and that all came back to Art. He’d been accessing her laptop when it was left unattended. Remember, he’d been watching everything through that peephole. He erased the items he was stashing away upstairs so there’d be no trace of them when they showed up on the black market for sale.”

  Simon shook his head. “It sounds like this Art fellow really knew what he was doing when it came to planning a heist.”

  Marc nodded. “He was a career criminal, after all.”

  “Marc, there you are. I’ve been searching everywhere for you.” Ryley planted a kiss on his cheek as she slid Addie a side glance. “Did you tell them?” Her dark eyes danced with the refection of the firelight.

  Marc shook his head and his gaze darted to Addie.

  “Tell us what?” Addie flinched in fear at what their big announcement was going to be.

  Marc heaved in a deep breath. “Ryley is going to be staying on in Greyborne Harbor as an official detective.” Marc’s shoulders relaxed with the announcement.

  Addie snapped her jaw closed.
Not what she was afraid he was going to say, but not sure how she really felt about this news either. Simon, on the other hand, had an ear-to-ear grin as he congratulated the former FBI agent and shook Marc’s hand like they were best buddies in the world. It made Addie wonder about his sudden change of attitude toward Ryley. She shrugged it off. He was most likely just happy Ryley was staying, which would solidify in his mind that Marc was really out of the picture in Addie’s future.

  “This deserves a toast,” Simon said. “Come on, Ryley. Let’s go see what we can find at the refreshment table.”

  When they were out of earshot Addie glanced at Marc. “What, she just up and quit the FBI?”

  Marc’s face glistened with perspiration. “It wasn’t that cut and dry, but it’s not my story to tell. You should give her a chance, though. I know you have mixed feelings, given with what happened with your arrest and whatnot—”

  “Forget the whatnot.” Addie’s eyes flashed. “She actually tried to convince you that I was guilty. Was she jealous of what we used to have?”

  “Stop it. No, I told you before. Like every good detective, especially an FBI agent, she was following the evidence, and the evidence at the time pointed to you.”

  Addie’s bottom lip quivered.

  “Look, Addie, I know I can’t take back what happened, and I can’t make excuses. But I will say she’s had a rough go of it the last few years. I hope you’ll give her a chance. Maybe the two of you can even come to be friends?”

  Addie sputtered.

  “Eventually?” Marc’s brow arched.

  “What was the forced leave she was on?” Marc’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I heard the two of you talking as you went out the door at the Grey Gull Inn.”

  “Maybe I should tell you, and then you’ll go easier on her.”

  Addie braced her shoulders, her gaze steadfast on his.