by Gina Dartt
“It might not be, but the book is a new release from last November, and I know it wasn’t in the used section last week, so it was probably brought in recently by a customer.”
“You think that means this other ‘Kate’ is Sam’s current paramour?”
Nikki shrugged. “No one seems to know who that person is. Which in itself is pretty unusual. Most of the time, it’s no secret who he’s seeing…unless she’s married. Which also might be a clue.”
“Just because the book is a new release, the card might not be,” Kate said. “In fact, since it was used for a bookmark, chances are it’s not. Assuming that the card is even from Sam Madison in the first place.”
Nikki nodded. “I know.” But she looked deflated at Kate’s lack of enthusiasm. “You’re right, of course. I’m probably making something out of nothing.” She studied the counter. “Too much time on my hands, I guess.”
Dismayed at how quickly the light went out of Nikki’s face, Kate reached over and covered the slender hand with her own, steadfastly ignoring the tingle that shot up her arm. “Still, it could be important. I don’t know that it’s enough to take to the police, but it might be something to investigate if that’s what you really want to do.”
“You’re just humoring me now.”
Startled, Kate opened her mouth to protest and then reconsidered. “Yes, I suppose I was though that wasn’t really my intention.” She tilted her head slightly. “Why are you so interested, Nikki? Is it just because the murder hit so close to home or, in this case, the bookstore?”
Nikki blinked, almost as if she hadn’t thought about it. “Maybe. Maybe it just makes me feel like I’m doing something more important with my life than working at Keebler’s.”
“Perhaps you have a leaning toward this sort of work. Have you ever thought about going into law enforcement?”
“You mean, like a police officer?” Nikki shook her head. “Not really.”
“Maybe you should. You could get a student loan...”
Nikki winced. “I already have a student loan. I took some computer courses from Compu-Learn when I came back from Halifax.”
Kate remembered the fly-by-night school which had popped into town at the height of the high-tech boom, took the money, and promptly run before the courses were finished, leaving the students without diplomas yet still carrying the bank loans they had arranged for the tuition. “I’m sorry.”
Nikki shrugged. “I did learn a lot about computers before the school closed, so it wasn’t a total loss. I know word processing and spreadsheet programs. They also taught me how to type. I don’t know if it was worth what I paid them, and I never received a diploma, but it did get me a job in Keebler’s accounting office. It’s better than a cashier’s job.”
“You want more.” Kate was pleased at the knowledge. “Those skills should be able to get you another job fairly quickly.”
“Maybe somewhere other than Truro. It’s pretty slow right now. The main problem is that I don’t own a car, which limits my options. I may have to take the bus down to the city, find a better-paying job and an apartment there.”
“You’re thinking of moving away?” The thought made Kate’s chest hurt in an unfamiliar and totally unpleasant manner.
“I don’t want to. I know there are more opportunities in the city, but I didn’t like living there. It was crowded, and you had to watch where you walked all the time. I like living in Truro. It’s near where I grew up, and I went to the high school downtown. It’s where all my family and friends are. I want to stay here if I can.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” Kate understood perfectly. She liked the town as well, appreciated its peacefulness and cleanliness, even if it sometimes felt a little too small. She took a sip from her coffee, peering at Nikki over the rim. “Uh, do you mind if I ask how old you are?”
“Twenty-six.” Nikki flushed and looked away, as if the question embarrassed her. “I guess I should know by now what I want to do with my life, but I don’t. If I did, I would get another loan and go to college for the proper training.”
“Not necessarily,” Kate said, feeling a sudden gulf in years between them. “I was thirty-three before I finally figured out what I wanted...or rather, didn’t want...from life, and I was damned lucky to have the store to fall back on. I discovered that I had gone through four years of university and ten years of marriage without developing any useful job skills at all.”
“What did you take in college?”
“Literature, but unless I’m going to teach or work in a library, which never really interested me, there are simply no jobs requiring it around here.”
Nikki tilted her head slightly. “Then why did you take it?”
“It fascinated me. Still does. In those days when we applied to university we didn’t always think in terms of what we were supposed to do afterward. Now, it seems like people only pursue secondary education in order to find a job that will provide them with the most money. I can’t remember the last time I talked with someone who went to university simply to learn rather than...what did you call it? Train for a career.” She chose her next words with care. “You know, if you want to stay in town, you should. I’ll start sending out feelers to see what’s out there. Hopefully, my contacts can provide some leads for you.”
Nikki was blushing again. “That’s not why I came to see you.”
“I know. If I can help you, though, I’m going to. That’s what friends are for. But you’re right in saying things are a little depressed at the moment. I don’t know how much longer it will be financially feasible to keep the store open. The overhead is steadily rising, while the profit margin is growing slimmer, and it’s the same for everyone here in the downtown. Still, computer skills are always useful, and I’m sure we can find you a position somewhere.”
Nikki took a breath. “There’s also the other thing.”
“What other thing?”
“The lesbian thing. Most people know.”
Kate waved it off. “Anyone who wouldn’t hire you because of that is no one you’d want to work for anyway, regardless of what kind of job it was.”
She was pleased to see this was exactly the right thing to say. Nikki’s eyes lit up at her casual assurance and encouragement. It was obvious that whoever had done a number on her self-esteem had been quite thorough.
Kate was caught off-guard by the anger that realization stirred within her and positively shocked at the sudden desire to meet this person, preferably with a baseball bat in hand. She wondered if Nikki was aware she was capable of inspiring the most intense and primitive emotions within her. If it weren’t so damned disconcerting, it would almost be funny.
“In the meantime, let’s follow the lead with the card you found in the book.” Kate picked it up. “What was the name of the book again?”
“Mummy’s Legacy.”
“The archaeologist mysteries.” Kate recognized it now. The fact that it was a new release returning so quickly had stuck in her mind and made it easy to pinpoint the day she had put it on the shelf in the back room. “The auction.”
“What?”
“It was in a box of books I picked up at the auction in the hotel last Tuesday night.” Kate rose from her chair and walked over to her desk, rummaging through her receipts. “Here it is.”
“Does it say whose estate it was?”
“No. If it was mentioned, I wasn’t paying attention.” Kate shrugged.
“Could we find out?”
Kate glanced over at her. “Do you really want to?”
“For my own curiosity, if nothing else.” Nikki’s eyes were steady.
Kate gazed at her a moment longer, acknowledging to herself that she would do just about anything in order to spend more time with the woman sitting at the breakfast bar. “All right,” she said. “Let me make a few calls.”
She returned to the kitchen where the phone was and put a hand on the receiver but didn’t lift it from the cradle as she flipped th
rough her address book, picking her most likely contact before she dialed. Aware of Nikki watching her, an impressed expression on her face, Kate resisted the urge to feel self-important. After all, she knew everyone in town only because she had no personal life, just a professional one. She was just now starting to notice how empty it was.
“Bill, how are you?” she said, when the phone was picked up. “This is Kate Shannon down at Novel Companions. Listen, I was wondering about the auction in your hotel last week. You don’t happen to remember whose estate was on the block, do you?”
Chapter Eight
Katherine Rushton was the name that Kate had finally tracked down from her friends at the hotel, which possibly identified the name on the card. Once they discovered the previous owner of the book, Nikki no longer had an excuse to remain at the apartment, though she certainly wanted to. A small part of her sensed that Kate also wanted her to stay a little longer, but she wasn’t completely sure, so she didn’t take the chance on imposing.
By late Friday afternoon, Nikki had yet to find any use for the information, but she hoped that she could uncover something just by using her ears for a while. As she strode down Prince Street after work, the wind had picked up, heralding more snow for the evening, and she was forced to bow her head as she headed toward the diner, finding the footing uncertain on the sidewalk still covered with a layer of slush from the previous storm. Turning the corner, she noticed the blackened and gutted shell of the insurance office, which stood like an evil sentinel at the end of the street, barricaded by orange barrier fencing and making her shiver. The glowing warmth of the diner was a welcome change.
Because she was a little early for the supper crowd, it wasn’t difficult to find a free booth. She knew it wasn’t financially prudent to eat out a lot on her budget, but she couldn’t discover anything by remaining in her apartment all the time. Scanning the menu, she finally decided on homemade soup, a selection that would fill her up and not cost too much. Plus, it had been sitting in the pot since early morning and actually tasted the best by this time of the afternoon. Nikki was discovering that by being out on her own and forced to watch her pennies, she was developing new spending habits, and not all of them necessarily served as a form of deprivation. When she lived with her parents and in the city with a well-paying job, she had not considered herself an extravagant person, but now she understood how much she had indulged herself when it came to groceries, computer accessories, music CDs, and books.
Being totally independent with a much smaller income, she was learning how to spend her money more efficiently. She had the same amount to read, thanks to the public library, and, by being more creative when she went to the supermarket, she was actually eating better. Instead of the quick and convenient processed dinners, which were easy to make, but expensive, she was buying raw ingredients and making herself a stir fry or a chili which would last for a week. Instead of junk food, she bought popcorn, a bag of which cost half that of potato chips, but provided plenty of snacks and was lower in fat to boot.
She wondered how Kate kept her trim figure or if she was just naturally compact. Recognizing where her thoughts had immediately trailed without even trying, and unable to fool herself by pretending her feelings for the other woman were only friendly, Nikki still hoped that if she maintained her discipline she would get past her adolescent crush. She didn’t think she would be able to remain a part of Kate’s life otherwise. Certainly, no straight woman would want a lovesick lesbian mooning around her, any more than a lesbian would want some lovesick straight guy drooling over her.
Addy brought over her soup as Nikki straightened in her seat. The waitress didn’t seem to mind the young people who occasionally used the diner as a social center, respecting their need to hang out during slow times, particularly when it was cold outside. In turn, they quickly vacated the place when she quietly suggested the table was needed. As a result, there were no clashes or awkward scenes, and the diner kept them as loyal customers as they grew older, just as their parents had been.
“Quiet around town,” Addy said, taking a moment to linger. “Especially for a Friday.”
“Yeah,” Nikki agreed before trying her soup, a thick beef barley, and finding it absolutely delicious. She alternated with mouthfuls of warm buttered roll. “Maybe there’s been too much excitement already this week.”
“You can say that again.” Addy sighed and sank onto the seat opposite Nikki, who eyed her curiously. “So, what’s new with you?”
Nikki shrugged. “Not much. I’m still looking for a new job. What’s going on around here? Any word on the fire?”
The morning newspaper had broken the story that the body was indeed that of Sam Madison, but while officials declared the fire had been arson, they weren’t yet calling his death a murder, nor was there any mention of the mysterious figure who had visited him that night. She wondered if the police were holding that tidbit back for their own reasons.
“Nothing more than what’s already been in the paper,” Addy said. “The funeral is on Tuesday.”
“You going?” Nikki wondered if Kate would be attending and, if she was, whether she dared find an excuse to tag along. Despite her courageous words and stance on her choice of friends, Nikki didn’t want to put her new acquaintance in an awkward position. She decided she would have to be content with a secondhand account if Kate attended the memorial service.
“Sam was a little out of our social circle,” Addy remarked. “Even in a town this small, the lines are drawn. Just because we knew him, and he knew us, doesn’t mean that we knew him, you know.”
“I know.” Nikki tilted her head. “Addy, have you ever heard of Katherine Rushton?”
“The stockbroker?”
“Is that what she does?”
“Yes.” Addy lowered her voice to a confidential tone and leaned forward, her massive breasts resting on the tabletop. “She’s from the city and still commutes to her office there, as far as I know. She bought Edwards House out in Old Barns a couple of years ago and spent a fortune restoring it, but something must have gone wrong. She had to put the house on the market for a really low price…a lot less than she probably paid for it. She’s living in a condo over on Highland Drive now. I’ve seen her in here on occasion with Terry Bishop. I think he’s her lawyer.”
Nikki considered the information. That explained the auction and how the book might have fallen into her hands. But was the “Sam” on the card actually Sam Madison, and if so, was the affair recent?
“Do you know whom she was seeing romantically?”
Addy laughed. “I don’t think she’s playing on your team, if that’s what you mean. She’s a really good-looking woman, though.”
Nikki blushed. “I was just wondering.” She supposed that if people thought that was why she was asking, perhaps she wouldn’t alarm anyone. Then she wondered why she was worried about alarming anyone, and what the repercussions of that could be. Savoring her soup, she considered what Addy had told her.
“So why are you looking for a new job?” Addy asked, obviously curious.
“Money. Keebler’s pays the bills, but I want more than that.”
“Don’t we all.” As a few more customers came into the diner, Addy glanced up and eased her bulk out of the booth. “Duty calls.”
Nikki finished her soup slowly, surreptitiously observing the people who were starting to filter into the diner, listening to the various conversations. The fire and death of Sam Madison was still the hot topic of the town, and everyone seemed to have an opinion. But no one seemed to know why Sam had been in his office that time of night or who, if anyone, might have wanted to kill him. Nikki ordered dessert, an extra expense, but it allowed her to legitimately remain in her booth a little longer.
As she savored every bite of her chocolate cream pie…another side effect of being poor, she appreciated every indulgence so much more…she centered her eavesdropping on the men in the booth behind her who, unlike everyone else there, were discu
ssing Sam’s financial status rather than his demise.
“I’m telling you, he was in a lot of trouble,” one voice said. Nikki didn’t dare turn around to identify the pair. That would be too obvious. Instead, she just sat tight and listened intently. “Between the money he had invested in the company, and the five hundred thousand he never accounted for with me, Maggie could find herself in a lot of trouble when the tax people come calling.”
“I don’t think we need to discuss this here,” another voice, smoother and more cultured, admonished quietly. “We’ll take it back to the office.”
Nikki recognized the silken tones of the town’s biggest lawyer, Terry Bishop, without needing to look. The sudden bulk of Addy appearing next to her diverted her attention, and she glanced up at the waitress, knowing she had lingered as long as she could, especially with the supper crowd starting to appear.
Addy laid her bill on the table. “How was the pie?”
“Wonderful. Does Eddie ever bake a bad one?”
“Never.” Addy grinned. “At least, not any that we’d serve to the customers.”
Nikki laughed and rose, picking up her bill. As she pulled on her jacket, she snuck a peek at the men in the booth next to her. Seated across from Bishop was Jack Dennis, a chartered accountant with Dennis, Moore, and Trip. Apparently, he was also Sam’s accountant. She wanted to stay longer and find out if they said anything else about the dead man, but once Addy had dropped the bill, she didn’t allow much leeway.
Paying at the counter, Nikki threw a wave at Addy’s husband, Eddie, working feverishly in the back. The big bald man grinned when he spotted her and raised his spatula briefly. Nikki hoped the restaurant was doing well, mindful of what Kate had said about the area being depressed. She couldn’t imagine the downtown core without the Mayflower Diner.