Fatality by Firelight

by Lynn Cahoon

  Christina laughed. “I have my required three books under the bed as well as the book I’ll be finishing in a few weeks. I’m going to pitch that last one next year, when I attend a local writer’s convention. I should have it polished and shining by then.”

  “The way you attract men, all you have to do is flip your hair back and you should get a few of those male agents to bite.” Jennifer put her hand up, blocking her mouth. “On your manuscript, that is.”

  “Stop teasing me.” Christina looked at Cat. “Some guy came up to our table tonight and tried to get my phone number. College kids, they’re the worst. Too cocky for their own good.”

  “I don’t think the guy was in college. He seemed way too old.” Jennifer tapped her pen on the paper. “He definitely looked like he works out. Man, he had muscles.”

  “What color hair did he have?” Cat didn’t want to hear the answer, but she figured she needed to know.

  Both Jennifer and Christina answered at the same time: “Black.”

  Cat looked at Jennifer. “Come see me tomorrow about the agent question. Right now, I need to tell all of you to be careful.”

  “Why? Do you think he was dangerous?” Christina swallowed hard.

  Cat reached out and patted her leg. “We don’t know. I’d rather you be overly cautious than get into a bad spot later on. So don’t go off alone and don’t talk to strangers.” She smiled at both women. “Just like what your mother would say, right?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “My mother would probably say go for it, especially if the guy was buying the drinks.”

  Cat didn’t know how to respond to that, so instead she stood. “I better go talk to the others.”

  As she left the room, she heard Jennifer exclaim to Christina, “Just think, you might have been kidnapped tonight.”

  The other three were in the foyer, heading for the stairs. She hurried toward them. “Hold off a second. The others told me about the guy who was hitting on Christina tonight.”

  “The guy was a tool, you could tell.” Jeffrey’s face turned bright red. “I don’t know why she attracts the crazies.”

  Cat paused and looked at him before continuing. “Anyway, it’s not just Christina I’m concerned about. Please be careful when you’re out and about in town. Aspen Hills is very safe, but there’s just some weird stuff going on right now. Make sure you buddy up when you leave and, like I told the girls, don’t talk to strangers.”

  Bella laughed. “Most of my research is talking to strangers.” She held up a hand before Cat could respond. “Don’t get your panties in an uproar. I’ll clear everyone through you or Shauna and let you know when I leave the house.”

  Cat nodded. “Sorry to be so limiting. I just don’t want anything to happen to any of you.”

  “Let them bring it. I know how to defend myself.” Nelson put his hands up in a defensive gesture. “I took boxing lessons last fall. Punch and jab, he won’t know what happened.”

  “And no fighting.” Cat stepped back. “Have a nice evening.”

  She watched as they made their way up the stairway to their rooms.

  “At least they’re not freaking out about the situation.” Shauna stood in the hallway. “I’m locking up. Is everyone accounted for?”

  “Yep.” She followed Shauna to the door and explained to her what had happened, both with the book and the guy talking to Christina.

  “You think he’s the guy who knocked you over.” It wasn’t a question. Shauna turned off most of the lobby lights and they went to the stairs. “At least your uncle will have one thing off his plate. I bet some college kid snuck the book out on a prank and then left it at the pizza place knowing it would be found.”

  As she went upstairs to her suite, Cat hoped her friend was right. Now, all Uncle Pete would need to figure out was who killed Tommy Neil.

  *

  Sitting in the kitchen with Shauna Thursday morning, Cat vocalized the thought that had been running through her head actually, since she had drug herself out of bed. “Only four more days.”

  Shauna laughed. “Are you sure you’re into this whole retreat business? You tend to wish the time away as fast as it comes.”

  Sipping her coffee, Cat shrugged. “I’ll get used to it. I didn’t realize how much interaction we’d have with the guests. And they all think they know what’s best for me after knowing me for less than a week. I get advice on my love life, my clothes, even the retreat. I can’t believe how intimate the whole experience is.”

  “What, did someone tell you to put a ring on Seth’s finger again?” The buzzer went off on the oven, and Shauna pulled out a double batch of chocolate chip muffins. One half of the muffin tins was chocolate on chocolate, the other vanilla cake with the big chocolate chips. The cocoa smell filled the kitchen. She sat the pans on the counter to cool. “All I have to do now is make up the fruit bowl and brunch is done. This group eats more than the last one did. My entire stash of cookies I put out last night are gone.”

  “Late-night writers.” Cat glanced at the clock.

  “What’s going on? That’s the fourth time you’ve checked in the last twenty minutes. Do you have a hot date?” Shauna put three muffins in a small basket and filled a travel cup with coffee.

  “With my imaginary friends, yes, I do.” Cat smiled and drained her cup. “Somedays I just want to do nothing and rest my brain.”

  Shauna set the basket and the travel mug on the table. “Maybe you should take today off. You and Seth could go skiing. Maybe spend some après-ski time in the hot tub?”

  “Next week. I’m almost done with my first draft, and I don’t want to be too far away in case you need me here. So far, these retreats haven’t been the calming, quiet getaways I’d thought they’d be.” Cat put her cup in the sink and gathered the treats. “Today should be all free writing. I think Bella has some interviews with town folk. Can you make sure she doesn’t go alone? I’ll come down and go with her if you can’t get away.”

  “You worried about people going off on their own?” Shauna paused, her hand on the fridge. “I don’t think they are in any danger.”

  “Maybe not, but something about that mystery guy who keeps appearing has me spooked.” She stretched her neck. “It’s probably a reaction from him knocking me over earlier this week. My subconscious knows he’s trouble.”

  “At least for you.” Shauna took bags of fresh fruit out of the fridge. “Go write. I’ll babysit the clan.”

  “Thanks. I’m taking a spin up to the ski lodge this afternoon. You’ll be around, right?” Cat tried to say this very casually, hoping that Shauna wouldn’t realize what she was planning.

  Shauna cocked her head and stared at her. “Your uncle is going to flip.”

  “I might just be going up to buy Seth a gift. He needs a new ski parka. And if I happen to do a little snooping around for clues … ?” Cat shrugged. “Just don’t tell Uncle Pete and everything will be fine.”

  “As long as you text me when you get there and when you leave. I’m not exactly sure what you’re looking for, but I know it can’t be good.”

  *

  The guest rooms were still quiet when Cat paused on the second floor landing. No shower water running, no clicking of keyboards, and more importantly, no one in the hall to stop her from reaching her office. She hesitated a second and then wondered if she wanted to be distracted. Shaking off the doldrums, she took the final set of stairs to the third floor and set the coffee down on a hall table as she unlocked her office.

  She booted her computer, then opened the document.

  Ten minutes later, when she hadn’t written a word, she opened her calendar and updated it with the deadlines and conferences she wanted to attend. Cat needed to develop a workshop she could pitch to the organizers on the value of retreats. Or at least writers’ retreats where there wasn’t a murder affecting the process. She closed the manuscript and opened a presentation program. Within an hour, the project was done. Now all she had to do was reach out to the
different writing groups. Denver groups would give her the experience to pitch to the bigger venues.

  Soon, she had one talk scheduled for each week next month. She made notes to start pitching the bigger events after her first dry run with the Denver Historical Writers Group in late November.

  She bit into a muffin and almost groaned at the richness of the chocolate. One thing she hadn’t done was mention the importance of good food for the guests. She was lucky she had Shauna to handle that part. Late-night writers snacked as much as stoners.

  She froze. Maybe that’s why the cookies disappeared last night. She’d be sure to ask Shauna if she had smelt any weed in the rooms when she went in to bring new towels and dump the trash. The contract said retreaters were not supposed to bring in drugs, but maybe someone thought since they were in Colorado, a joint or two wouldn’t matter. Or maybe they bought the stash here. Several of the local guys made their living with a summer crop of hemp grown deep in the forest where no one could find it.

  Cat didn’t do the stuff mostly because of seventh-grade health class. They’d been shown films about the dangers of IV drugs and the images still stuck with her. She knew pot wasn’t heroin, but still, a drug was a drug. And for her, she’d rather relax with a beer or a glass of wine at dinner. Besides, she’d never get any work done if she smoked pot.

  She focused on the computer screen. Not like she was getting a lot of work done this morning. Her mind kept going back to the trip to the ski lodge she would take later that day. Uncle Pete would be mad if he found out, but she could at least look at the coats while she was there. Just to make the excuse for her visit plausible.

  She reopened her manuscript, reviewing the last few pages. As she started typing, Kori and the story took over.

  It was noon before she stopped writing. A totally great day.

  *

  Seth stood and took the empty coffee carafe and basket out of her hands when Cat entered the kitchen. “You’re just in time. Pete’s coming by for lunch, and he said he wanted to update us on the library theft, especially since it was your guests who found the missing book.”

  “I hope he’s close by. I’m starving.” Cat sank into a chair. She lowered her voice, not knowing where the guests were. “Hey, did you see anyone buying weed when we were at Little Ski Hill?”

  “You think you’ve got a stoner in your group?” Seth shrugged. “You know it isn’t illegal here, right?”

  “Not illegal, but it is against the contract they signed. I might be old-fashioned, but I want this place to feel safe for all my guests.” She chewed on her thumbnail. “And I want them to be successful in getting something done this week besides just chilling. It’s the whole point of the retreat.”

  “I didn’t see anyone, but I’ve heard rumors that you can get anything you want up at the lodge.”

  “Seriously? And how did you hear this?” Cat rubbed a kink out of her neck.

  He stepped behind her, pushed her hands away, and started massaging the top of her shoulders. “I have my sources. Mostly it’s people over at Bernie’s. I’ve been told by a lot of people that I must do drugs to keep my girlish figure.”

  “Oh, really.” Cat bent her head, relaxing into the rhythm. The man had great hands. And between hours of writing and the craziness of the week, she felt tighter than a snare drum.

  “They don’t get that my work keeps me slim. I don’t sit at a desk all day playing solitaire.” He rubbed his thumbs down her spine and for a minute, Cat thought she was going to cry, it felt so good. Then his words hit her brain.

  “So, that’s what you think I do in my office all day? Play games?” She kept her voice steady, not wanting him to stop massaging.

  He laughed. “Just checking to see if you were awake.”

  The door to the kitchen opened and in her peripheral vision, Cat saw Shauna appear, a basket of laundry in her arms. “Whoa, I hope I’m not interrupting.”

  Cat tilted her head up to see her friend’s face. “Not interrupting. Seth is just working some knots out of my neck.”

  “I don’t think that’s what they called it in my day.” Uncle Pete stood in the doorway.

  “You don’t remember what anything was called back then.” Cat squeezed Seth’s hands as she leaned forward and stretched. “Glad you’re finally here. I’m faint from lack of food.”

  “I don’t think that’s really what you’re feeling, but you can humor an old man. I like to think my niece is pure as the driven snow.” He pulled off his coat and sat on the bench to take off his boots.

  “You remember I’ve been married, right?” Cat moved to the cabinet to pull out soup bowls. Shauna had clam chowder simmering on the stove.

  “Details.” He walked over and kissed her on the top of the head. “How’s the writing going?”

  “Slow.” Cat looked at Shauna who had sat the laundry basket on a worktable near the door. “Is this ready to dish up?”

  “You sit down. I’ve got it.” She hurried to take the ladle out of Cat’s hand.

  “I can dish up soup, you know. I’m not totally helpless.” Cat stared into the silverware drawer. “Just spoons?”

  “Spoons, knives, napkins, and a small plate.” Shauna pulled a tray out of the oven. “I made fresh rolls too. Grab some butter out of the fridge.”

  They worked together to get the meal served, and then after everyone had savored the first few bites, Cat looked at her uncle. “So why were you at the ski lodge yesterday?”

  “You heard about that?” He kept his gaze down and grabbed another roll to butter before he continued. “Your guests just seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time this week. Can you believe they found that book?”

  Cat studied her uncle. “Way to avoid the question, but I’ll play along. I know it looks suspicious, but none of them were even in town the night that the book was stolen.”

  “I wasn’t accusing them of anything. It’s just that girl was hanging around with Tommy before he died, the group of them discovers the missing book, and they were all up at the lodge last weekend.”

  “Yeah, skiing.”

  Seth shook his head. “I wouldn’t call that skiing. I’d call it drinking. I think Nelson and Jennifer were the only two who actually got on a ski lift that morning before hitting the bar.”

  Cat focused on her uncle. “So spill: What happened at the lodge?”

  “Why do you think something happened?” He dipped his roll into his soup and then took a bite.

  “Because you lumped their presence at the lodge with two other crimes?” She smiled. “I was an English professor, you know.”

  “Stop grilling your uncle. I’m sure there’s some things he can’t tell us.” Shauna reached for Uncle Pete’s empty bowl. “Can I refill that?”

  “Please.” He set his spoon down on his napkin. “What Shauna said. But what I did come by to tell you is the college wants to thank your guests for helping return the book. They have a little reception planned for Friday night, if that will work. The librarian lady is supposed to call you this afternoon.”

  Shauna set the filled bowl in front of Uncle Pete. “That’s a lovely idea. They will be ecstatic to be recognized. You should have heard them chattering last night when they came in from dinner.”

  “Do you have any suspects in the book theft?” Cat asked.

  “According to my sources, there’s a professor’s exit where the scanners have been deactivated, just in case they need to use the library during off hours.” He paused as he lifted his spoon to his mouth. “The librarian thinks the book left that way. She said she’s had problems with that lately.”

  Cat’s face felt hot. “Students aren’t allowed to use the exit. So she thinks it’s a professor?”

  “Or someone who used to be one.” Uncle Pete sighed, and he grudgingly put his spoon down. “I’ll be honest with you. When I was talking to Miss Applebome, your name came up in this discussion.”

  “Why would I steal a Hemingway?” Cat ripped a bite of her
roll and buttered it. “I don’t even write literary fiction.”

  “She didn’t accuse you of stealing. She just said you had borrowed a book last month that wasn’t supposed to leave the library.” He waited but when Cat didn’t respond, he asked, “Is this true?”

  “Kind of. I took a yearbook to show Linda Cook a picture during the whole Tom Cook mess. I took it back the next day. If Miss Applebome didn’t have eyes in the back of her head, she never would have known.”

  Uncle Pete laughed. “Well, she might have eyes in the back of her head, but she also has security cameras on all floors of the library. She saw you put the book in your bag. I guess she never gets people on that floor, so she was curious what you were researching.”

  “Michael showed me the exit when I first started teaching at Covington. He said most professors didn’t use it, that the library was trying to discourage them from leaving without checking out books, but he didn’t see the harm.” Cat shrugged. “I only borrowed one book that way. The yearbook to show Linda.”

  “Well, from what your librarian told me, I believe the professor exit is being locked down next week. There has to be approval from the fire department, but I don’t see where they’ll stop her.”

  Seth stood and took his bowl to the sink. “I need to get going. Hank’s coming into town today with the final estimate, and he wanted to meet over at the library so we could copy off the original blue prints. Setting up a second heating and cooling system is tricky in an old house like this.” He grabbed his coat and quickly left.

  “That boy always disappears when your ex-husband’s name is brought up. Have you noticed that?” Uncle Pete finished off his soup. “I’m heading back to the office to try and finish some of this paperwork. It’s hard to write a report on having something disappear only to be returned in a freak way. The boxes on the report form don’t seem to fit the situation.”

  Cat made circles in her soup with her spoon after her uncle had left. Shauna paused her hand. “What’s got you wound up? The Michael/Seth thing or the probable cost of the new heating unit?”

  Cat sat the spoon down on the table and sighed. “Can I say both?”