Fatality by Firelight

by Lynn Cahoon

  Cat handed him a napkin for the cookie crumbs left on his chin and patted his arm. “I’m so glad. In fact, that’s a great discussion starter for tonight’s get together.” She stepped into the middle of the room. “Let’s get started. Can everyone pull up a chair in a circle? We’ll gather around the coffee table so we can use the sofa too.”

  The group followed her instructions and, within a few minutes, everyone was seated. “Nelson was telling me how much work he’s accomplished during the week. How is the pace for the rest of you?” She looked at Jennifer Simon, the grad student, sitting next to her. “Do you want to start?”

  Jennifer nodded. “I thought it would be slow. I mean, I work, go to school, write, and do homework. How could I just write for a week? Instead, I’m finding it liberating not to have to rush to go do something else. I’m focusing on the work, and it’s heaven.”

  “I know, right?” Bella Neighbors chimed in. “I’ve been working on this book for months, and today I edited two chapters. Not just one, two. Even with all the distractions happening this week.”

  Everyone looked at Christina.

  “It must be something in the water. I’m ahead of where I thought I’d be.” She either ignored Bella’s veiled reference about Tommy’s death or didn’t hear it. “Especially since I spent most of the last few days not writing. Today has more than made up for the original delay this week.”

  As Cat listened to the writers chat about their process and how a break from the everyday world had jump-started their muse, she wondered if she should step away from the office to write at least a few days a month. Maybe she needed her own writer’s retreat.

  Returning her attention to the discussion, she realized one thing: Jeffrey Blank hadn’t said anything. Worse, he was staring at Christina like she was a painting on display in a museum. The only good thing was the girl was oblivious to his attention.

  “And that’s why I love romance. I’m all about the happy-ever-after ending.” Christina leaned forward, engaging her listeners.

  “It’s a fallacy. There is no happy forever. All there is—is now.” Jeffrey spoke, but his words weren’t warm and supportive. Instead, he was showing an edge Cat didn’t like at all.

  “Is that one of your poems?” As Cat asked the question, the group was already watching Jeffrey. Writers were a curious lot, especially about other writer’s processes.

  He frowned and shook his head. He didn’t seem comfortable with the attention, as his face had turned a scarlet red. “No, just my philosophy on life.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true. People fall in love and have long, fulfilling lives together, all the time. Statistically, some of those couples have to be happy.” Cat decided to change the subject since not all of the group had a romantic outlook, at least in their writings. “New question: What did you think about the library?”

  “So crazy how much space it has, even when it’s full of people. It’s as if it just keeps growing and expanding. Maybe it’s a magic library?” Nelson looked around the room, listening to the laughter. When it had died out, he shrugged. “No one else felt it?”

  “Dude, I thought you wrote nonfiction?” Jennifer Simon curled her legs up underneath her and sipped her drink. “I’ve been almost living in that library for the last four years. Except for a pretty hot make-out session with an economics major junior year, nothing magical has ever happened to me there.”

  Laughter filled the room.

  “Just because I write about historical events doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading a bit of fantasy. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin. Even Stephen King has a few books that deal with alternative universes.” Nelson shrugged. “The library just feels like a place that a portal could exist. What can I tell you?”

  “I’ve never considered the possibility.” Cat looked at Jeffrey who seemed to be doodling in his journal. “What about you, Jeff? Do you find the library time useful? You’re the first poet we’ve had join the retreat. I’d like to make sure we’re meeting your needs as well.

  “Jeffrey.” His gaze didn’t move from his notebook but the pen had stilled.

  “Excuse me, Jeffrey.” Cat waited, but when he didn’t respond, she prodded a little more. “So do you find your library time useful?”

  Now he looked up from his doodles and snuck a glance at Christina. “A poet finds inspiration in the most ordinary things. So scheduled library time”—he paused, moving his gaze back to Cat before he continued—“or group activities like this don’t make a difference in the creative process for a true artist.”

  The others were quiet for a minute. Then Bella chimed in. “I don’t think that’s true, at least not for my writing process.” She went on to share the interviews she had set up for the rest of the week. “And if I hadn’t done my homework, digging out facts and curiosities from all the information stored at the library, these interviews could just be a waste of time.”

  Christina stood and stretched. “I know it’s early, but this has been a crazy week, especially with Tommy’s …” She paused, a pained look crossing her face. Cat could actually see the mask Christina slipped on to hide the pain before she started talking again. “Anyway, it’s been a crazy week. I’m planning on writing straight through tomorrow. We don’t have any activities planned, do we?”

  Cat shook her head. “Breakfast will be available from six to nine as usual, and you’re welcome at the library any time, but there’s no lectures or seminars planned.” She looked around the room. “We’ll have a group dinner Saturday at a local restaurant to close out the week, but until then, you’re on your own. I’m available any time for one-on-one discussions about process or just questions.”

  “Well, I’ll see you around then.” Christina said her goodnights to the group and disappeared out of the room.

  “I’ve got work to do,” Jeffrey stated flatly, following Christina to the lobby.

  Cat glanced around the rest of the group. “We’re scheduled for another hour, but obviously it’s flexible if you want to leave.”

  “I’d like to talk about how the industry is changing. I’m getting ready to start looking for agents this summer and wanted to get your advice on the whole traditional versus self-published thing going on now.” Jennifer looked at the other two left. “And your advice as well. Bella, you’re published right?”

  With the conversation back on retreat topics, Cat felt more grounded. The group didn’t disband for a couple more hours as they talked about the state of publishing. Shauna helped her clean up after the meeting. “How did it go? I heard people on the stairs a few hours ago, but when I peeked in, you all were talking up a storm.”

  “Yeah, Christina and Jeffrey bailed early.” Cat took a bite out of the last cookie. “She’s still hurting about Tommy.”

  “Jeffrey’s starting to be a bit creepy. Creepy or love sick, I can’t really decide.” Shauna put the last glass on the tray and wiped down the coffee table. “Seems like there’s always one in the group who just doesn’t fit in.”

  Cat followed her into the kitchen. “Maybe it’s because he’s a poet. Maybe I should limit our groups to fiction writers.”

  “But then you wouldn’t get people like Nelson. That man is a hoot. We were talking about his collection of first editions yesterday. I didn’t know all of the names he was batting about, but it seems like he’s got quite a library.” Shauna rinsed the dishes in the sink as she talked. “I think it’s just luck of the draw. Some people fit in, some people don’t. I bet Jeffrey doesn’t fit in at home either.”

  “I didn’t realize Nelson was a collector.” Cat’s mind went to the library theft. She’d have to ask Uncle Pete when it actually happened. She really didn’t think Nelson could have stolen the book, but hopefully the theft had occurred before Saturday when the retreat guests had started arriving in Colorado.

  *

  Thursday morning, Cat dressed and wandered to the kitchen where Uncle Pete sat eating a plate of sunny-side up eggs, bacon, and Bananas F
oster waffles. She kissed him on the head as she went to the counter to grab coffee. “I didn’t expect to see you today. From what I’ve heard, you’re swamped.”

  “Katie told me you stopped by the station yesterday, so I thought I’d get Shauna to feed me this morning—and visit with you, of course.” He held up a fork full of the waffle. “I’ve never had anything like this before.”

  “I hope that means you like it.” Shauna set a plate of the waffles and bacon in front of Cat. “You might as well eat now too. I know you’re dying to lock yourself up in your office as soon as your uncle leaves.”

  Uncle Pete grinned at Cat. “She’s got your number already.” He ate the last bite of the waffles, sighed, and pushed away the plate. He said to Shauna, “You keep cooking like that and I’ll have to marry you.”

  “I’m not sure you’re her type. Besides, I can’t see calling her Aunt Shauna.” Cat sipped her coffee.

  “You might just have to get used to it.” Uncle Pete chuckled. “What about it, Shauna? You interested in a pudgy, old police chief with a bad back?”

  Shauna smiled at him as she refilled his coffee and took his empty waffle plate. “Sorry, I’m already dating someone.”

  “Someone with the biggest ranch in these parts and deep pockets from what I hear.” Uncle Pete shrugged and cut up his eggs. “Too little, too late, I guess.”

  “If you two are done with your impromptu edition of The Bachelor, can I ask you some questions?” Cat picked up a piece of bacon and waved it at her uncle.

  “As long as it’s not about an open investigation, sure.” His blue eyes twinkled.

  Cat pursed her lips. Okay, that took out the Tommy Neil questions. “So, one of our guests is doing research on Covington College. She says the mob sends their kids here for their undergrad because it’s considered a safe zone. Is this true?”

  “Of course it’s true.” Uncle Pete frowned at her. “I’m sure your mom told you to avoid accepting dates from the college boys, right?”

  “I just thought it was because they were college guys. Are you telling me that you’re okay with having mob kids here?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “The kids haven’t done anything wrong. As for the parents, there’s a meeting between them, me, and the president of the college about ground rules before they are even accepted at the school.” He grinned. “You wouldn’t believe the people I’ve sat across a table from, talking about their children. I’ve only had to ask the school to kick one kid out, but he was shoplifting from the local stores. And he wasn’t very good at it. We got him on security tape at five different shops. If you ask me, he wanted to be sent home.”

  “But I taught at the school. I never was told anything about this.” She thought about her classes. No one had seemed out of place or even the tiny bit threatening.

  “The faculty isn’t told unless they move into a high-level administration position. Hell, even the feds know about the arrangement, and they haven’t had a problem with it. I get a few more alerts from them when someone is wanted for questioning, but mostly they leave it to me to handle things.”

  Shauna had joined them at the table sometime during the discussion, and now she set her cup down. “What crime families are represented here? Any that have been on television or have names like Vinny the Knife? Or Manny the Moocher?”

  “I am not at liberty to say.” Uncle Pete finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth. “Thank you again for breakfast. If you ever do want to take me up on that marriage proposal, it still stands.”

  “Wait, I have a couple more questions.” Cat pushed the mob craziness out of her head. “Do you know Dante Cornelio?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Yes, unfortunately, I do. Why are you asking?”

  “He saved me from a nasty fall yesterday. When we were having coffee …”

  Uncle Pete interrupted her. “Stay away from that guy; he’s bad news. That’s all I can tell you without breaking some confidences I don’t want to break. So no more coffee dates.”

  “It wasn’t a date.” Cat blew out a frustrated breath. She wasn’t getting anywhere with her uncle. “Anyway, one more question. And yes, it’s on an open investigation: Did Tommy Neil kill himself?”

  “So you’ve heard the rumors around town.” He finished the last of his coffee. “All I’ll say on the subject is I don’t see how that would have been possible. I’m convinced that your retreat guest didn’t kill him herself, but that doesn’t mean that someone didn’t take care of her problem for her.”

  “That’s impossible too. Or at least improbable. Christina just got here on Saturday. Who would know her well enough to commit murder to defend her honor?”

  He stood and put on his coat. “I don’t know. From what she told me about her past, she might have someone on standby for that.”

  “I don’t understand.” Cat started to stand, but her uncle waved her down.

  “I’ve said more than I planned. Look, let me do the investigating; you two just keep your guests entertained and safe.” He put his hat on and smiled at Shauna. “Thanks for the meal.”

  After he left Shauna leaned back in her chair. “Okay, now I’m a little freaked out about how normal this little town looks. So your mom knew about the college?”

  “Apparently.” Cat wondered if she should give her mother a call. Her parents had moved to Florida after Cat and Michael divorced. They were tired of the snow, but now all her mom did was complain about the heat. “Although I’m more interested in who Uncle Pete thinks might be Christina’s white knight.”

  “The obvious person would be Jeffrey Blank but, like Christina, he just got here.” Shauna held up her coffee cup. “Here’s to our second retreat. Let’s hope number three brings us less-complicated guests and no dead bodies to worry about.”

  “I have a feeling our problems are just the tip of the iceberg here in Aspen Hills.” She shivered and pulled her cardigan closer. Had Michael found something at the college? Or someone? She still didn’t know who he’d been working for in those last months before the divorce. Was that why he’d been killed? She considered the thought as she took her dishes to the sink. Where would she start researching the best kept secret everyone already knew? Filling up her cup, she put on a smile for Shauna’s benefit. She’d brought her friend here; she needed to protect her if there was a problem. “It’s time to leave reality and get back into a fictional world where I can control everything.”

  “I thought you said your characters controlled that world.” Shauna laughed. “I’ll come get you for lunch. I’ll make lasagna and garlic bread. Seth should be here to eat with us.”

  “Remind him about getting the Denver guy in here for the quote for the attic heating and cooling unit. I’d like to get that finalized before the end of the year.” Cat walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her office. She would make the retreat business profitable, no matter what surprises Aspen Hills threw at her.

  Although this last retreat had been a doozy.

  Chapter 8

  Cat had her fictional high-school students taking career tests. Kori had two that day: accounting and potions. As she wrote about Kori’s inability to follow a complex potion after blowing away the accounting test, Cat felt like her heroine. The dull stuff she could do. The stuff of magic, now that was harder.

  A knock sounded at her door, and Seth stepped into her office. “I know, I’m breaking the no-contact-in-your-office rule, but I’ve missed you.” He pulled Cat to her feet and planted a long kiss on her. When they broke apart, she stretched her arms over her head, reaching up and down to ease the kinks.

  “I needed a break. What have you been doing?” She walked over to the couch and patted the cushion next to her.

  He plopped down and wound his fingers around hers. “Missing you, mostly. The college called me early yesterday and asked if I could step in and clean up some damage. I guess the frat party got a little wild. Your uncle arrived to talk to the boys when I was estimating out the
job.”

  “He was here for breakfast.” She thought about the college’s secret that apparently wasn’t that big of secret around town. “He confirmed the mob sends their progeny here to attend college.”

  “Although from what I heard today from the fraternity mom, the original mob families are pretty much dying out now, and the up-and-comers are taking over the Ivy League campuses. I think Covington’s exclusive market is drying up.”

  She took her hand out of his. “How did you know this and I didn’t?”

  He leaned back and stretched his arms across the back of the couch. “I guess it’s just not talked about. I mean, my mom told me when I started hanging out in town. She warned me not to get in fights with the guys or get too close to the chicks. Didn’t your mother tell you?”

  “Apparently she thought a less specific warning was all I needed. Maybe because I was dating you at the time.” Cat looked out the window in the direction of the college. “I feel like I’ve just found out I was living in Hogwarts all this time, and I thought it was just an unusual part of London.”

  “Seriously, you didn’t know about any of this? Wow. I thought you were just being cryptic with Bella.” He started laughing. “You are so naïve.”

  She pushed her hands against his chest. “Stop laughing. Anyway, is there anything else I should know? Like we have aliens on the city council?”

  He grabbed both of her hands and brought them up to his lips. “Don’t feel bad. I’m sure there might be one other person who didn’t know.”

  “Who.”

  “Paul Quinn. His mom didn’t want him to know anything about the college. So she just kept him home after school. The kid never even got to play with the neighbor kids. She thought everyone was a mobster. I hear she went to the state hospital a few years after he graduated. Kind of makes me feel bad for the guy.” He released her hands and stood. “Enough of this depressing talk. Shauna told me to come get you for lunch. It smells like an Italian restaurant down there.”