Fatality by Firelight

by Lynn Cahoon

  Cat wasn’t sure what type of system Bella thought she had, but she nodded. Writers were a crazy bunch, and she didn’t even want to ask how Bella had it sorted. “Sure. And if you want to come back early, I’ll have Seth bring you home.”

  “Thank you. This really is the best retreat. I’m going to recommend it to all my friends.” Bella returned to her note taking and Cat let herself out, shutting the door behind her.

  Best retreat ever, despite the murders and pending charges against the attendees. She shook her head. Thank goodness, the next few months were already booked. Otherwise, she might just have a PR nightmare on her hands if the media got wind of the bad luck following Warm Springs Retreat. She headed up the stairs as one more motto hit her. Killer retreat—if you live through the week.

  Chapter 13

  A knock sounded on Cat’s office door. She closed the game of solitaire she’d been playing, then turned her chair around. “Come in. You didn’t have to bring lunch to me.”

  The door cracked open and Nelson poked his face in the small space. He scanned the room until his gaze landed on Cat. “Sorry, were you expecting someone else?”

  “No. I mean, I thought you were Shauna. Come on in. What’s going on?” Cat hadn’t spent much time with the too-serious nonfiction writer. “I’m really glad you stopped in. I don’t feel like we’ve had very many conversations.”

  Nelson entered the room and sat on the edge of the floral sofa. He moved the magazines on the coffee table in front of him into a neat pile. “That’s okay. I really came to the retreat to write. All the other stuff has been fun, but it hasn’t been my focus. I’m just a few chapters away from finishing my book on Ben Franklin.”

  “I’m so intrigued by history. My ex-husband and I talked about writing a history of the house when we bought it, but that project never got off the ground.” Cat moved over to the same chair where she’d sat during her conversation with her uncle. “Is your book contracted?”

  Nelson nodded. “Deadline’s next month, and then I have another one to write before the end of next year.”

  “That’s an aggressive schedule.” Cat admired the guy’s chops. A nonfiction book a year was definitely full-time writing.

  “I thought I could do it, but now I’m questioning myself. How do you keep a writing schedule? I’d like to come here and work once a month, but I didn’t get that big of advance.” He grinned and tapped the table with his finger. One, two, three times.

  “Then set up a retreat at home. You can rent a cheap hotel room for a weekend. Get one of those where breakfast is part of the deal. Then just write from checkin to check-out. I bet if you booked mid-week, you’d even save more money.” Cat was getting excited about the idea. “You could buy a video on the writing process and play it in hour break sessions, just like our educational sessions here. And then order in dinner and lunch.”

  “You think it would work?” He narrowed his eyes. “Or are you messing with me?”

  “You wrote here, right?” She waited for him to nod. “Well, I might be giving away my secrets, but the magic is in the process, not the accommodations or the distance you travel from home. Besides, since you’re not wasting two days flying; that’s all the more words you’ll get done.”

  “And what if it doesn’t work?” He leaned back on the sofa, his taut body relaxing for just a moment.

  “Then you’re out two days and the cost of a hotel room. You took a bigger risk coming here.” She held her hands out. “Besides, you try it at home with no luck, you can come back here the month before your deadline. Maybe this place is writer magic. I’ve sure been happy with my production since I moved back.”

  Of course, she thought as she watched Nelson ponder the idea, she’d gone from working a full-time job to only writing and putting on the retreat. And she had Shauna for the hard stuff she didn’t want to do, like meal prep and clean up.

  Finally, he nodded, more to himself than to Cat. “I’ll try it. But if it doesn’t work, expect to see me in March.”

  “I think we have a couple openings still.” Cat checked her watch. They still had hours before the reception. “Was there anything else?”

  “One thing. Have you ever had a paranormal-energy reading done on this place?” He scanned the room. “I’m not picking up anything in this room, but the downstairs seems to have a presence.”

  “You think I have a ghost?” Cat almost laughed, but stopped herself as she realized he was serious. “Why would you say that?”

  “I’m sensitive to the vibrations. It’s something I’ve had to live with my entire life. The first floor reeks of a male presence. He doesn’t seem angry, just maybe confused.” Nelson shook his head. He leaned forward and tapped the table three times again. “You think I’m insane. I had better go before you won’t let me come back for future retreats. Just think about what I said. Even having a reading can clean up the energy at times.”

  Cat sat looking out the window onto the snow-filled backyard for a long time after Nelson left. No, the problem wasn’t that she didn’t believe the man. The problem was she wondered if it could be true. Michael would be the likely candidate if the house was haunted. Trying to avenge his death? Or pass on information he didn’t get to share?

  There was one thing that she definitely knew now. Hosting these retreats brought in a diverse writer population. That was the good thing. The bad thing was some of them weren’t playing with a full deck. She returned to her computer and opened her manuscript. She needed to write.

  Lunch came twenty minutes later, as Cat was just finishing a chapter. She saved her work, then stood to take the tray from Shauna. “I told you to call me.”

  “I needed the exercise. Those stairs are making my butt look killer.” She sank into the sofa. “How’s the writing going?”

  “I should be done next week. And if so, Seth and I may just take a few days to go skiing.” Cat waited for the response.

  “Out of town?” Shauna took one of the cookies off the plate and nibbled on the edge.

  Cat moved the tray away from her. “Just up to the Little Ski Hill. I won’t go if you don’t want to be alone here.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to be alone? You think I’m frightened easily?” Shauna tucked a leg up underneath her. “Besides, your uncle will show up for at least a breakfast or two.”

  “When I tell you what Nelson said, you may not want to be alone in the house.” Cat went on to tell Shauna about the male presence on the first floor.

  She considered Cat carefully. “You don’t think it’s Michael’s ghost do you? I’ve never known you to fall for the folktales and things that go bump in the night.”

  Cat shrugged, not meeting her friend’s gaze. “If it was true, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve learned in the last few months. Do I believe in voices from the other side? No, I don’t. However, someone was trying to mess with my head last month by sending me his journal. And I know someone was in the attic.”

  “Someone. That doesn’t narrow the suspect pool very much. You might as well believe in the darn ghost. By the way, who sent you the lovely flowers? I noticed there wasn’t a note.”

  “I threw the note away. I should have dumped the flowers too.” Cat closed her eyes. Seth hadn’t been happy when she told him who had sent the bouquet. “Dante sent them. I’m getting the feeling he wants something that Michael left in the house.”

  “Like what? Most of his stuff is gone—well, except for the kitchen and his study.” Shauna leaned forward. “You think Michael was working for Dante? Is that what he’d found out?”

  “Maybe.” Cat didn’t know what she thought about Dante and Michael, and she didn’t want Shauna to get involved in case it was dangerous.

  “This retreat is getting more interesting as the time goes by. What’s next?” Shauna put her hand up to stop Cat’s answer. “You need to eat and then get into the shower to start getting ready for the reception. I’m wearing green, so you can have any other color. We don’t want
to look all matchy-matchy.”

  “Will Kevin be there?” Cat let the question hang.

  Shauna stood and walked to the door. “He’s one of the college’s biggest supporters, so I’m sure he got an invite.”

  “Playing hard to get, are we?”

  “Just because I don’t call a man to see if he’s going to be at the same party as I’m attending doesn’t mean I’m playing hard to get. Besides, the phone lines work both ways; if he really wanted to know, he could have called me.”

  Cat laughed as Shauna flounced out of the room, her red hair bouncing off her shoulders. Cat knew her friend had more than just a crush on Kevin. She just hoped the guy wasn’t playing with Shauna’s heart.

  *

  Bella was the last to arrive in the lobby where they gathered to go to the library. Her dark hair, instead of being pulled back into the bun she’d worn every day that week, flowed around her shoulders, and she wore a tailored black pants suit with a matching pair of heels. As they started to leave the house, Cat stayed behind and fell into step with Bella. “You look great. I thought I was going to have to drag you out of Michael’s study for this.”

  “Believe me, I wanted to stay here and work. I’m through about half of the books and citations, but this is really interesting stuff. Your ex-husband was a meticulous researcher. Was he working on his own book about Aspen Hills history?”

  Cat locked the door behind them, pulling her coat closed with one hand. “Not that I knew about. But maybe he started something after we were divorced. I’ve been gone from the area for a few years.” She climbed into the front passenger seat and turned to look at the group. Five retreat guests sat in the back, but no Shauna. She turned to Seth. “Where’s Shauna?”

  “Some guy came and picked her up in a Land Rover,” Nelson said from the back. “The vehicle was sweet. I bet it ran him at least 50K.”

  “He brought her flowers too,” Jennifer added. “She put them in the kitchen, but they are lovely. Some sort of orchid.”

  “Surprised the plant didn’t freeze before he got in the door,” Jeffrey muttered. “How cold is it anyway? Maybe going out in this isn’t a smart idea?”

  Cat saw Seth look up into the rearview mirror. “The reason we’re taking the car is so you won’t be cold. The temp is supposed to be in single digits tonight, but right now it’s only twenty-two.”

  “What Mr. Howard is saying is don’t try to walk home from the library event tonight. If you need to leave before it’s over, just let us know and we’ll ferry you home.” She put her hand on Seth’s leg. “You’ll be happy to make several trips, right?”

  He glanced over at her. “Ecstatic.”

  “This is so much fun,” said Christina. “I mean how often do you get rewarded in life for doing the right thing?” The little that Cat could see of Christina’s cocktail dress shimmered even in the low light of the vehicle’s interior. When she took off the wool coat, she was going to be blinding. “I really need something like this. It’s been a bad week.”

  No one said anything. Who could disagree?

  “I don’t mean because of the retreat,” Christina added. “Heck, the retreat and writing is the only thing that’s kept me sane the last few days.” She leaned forward and patted Cat’s shoulder. “I love your house, and it’s been enlightening finding out so much about libraries. I might just have a librarian in my next book. Of course, he’ll be the uptight new guy, and she’ll be the complete opposite. Maybe even own a day care where the kids come in for storytime.”

  “Sounds like a fun idea,” Jennifer said.

  “I know, right? I love talking books with people. Maybe I do have the basics for my next book. The Reluctant Librarian?” Christina pulled out her phone and began tapping on the keys. “I’m sending myself an email about this before I forget everything.”

  “A good idea will stay with you.” Bella sat in the third seat in the far back. “It might evolve over time, but it will circle around in your head until you can’t help but write it.”

  Before they could get into a discussion on writing down ideas versus letting your mind sift through the good and bad, Seth stopped the car in front of the closest library entrance to the parking lot. “I’ll let you out here and then park. That way you guys don’t have to walk through the snow in your pretty shoes.”

  Nelson jumped out and held the door open. He leaned into the cab when Cat opened her own door. “Just to be clear here, I don’t wear pretty shoes.”

  Seth laughed. “Dude, they’re polished. My boots have seen more use than those wingtips.”

  Nelson offered his arm to Cat. “May I escort you inside? That is, if you’re not ashamed of walking with the pretty-shoe guy.”

  She grabbed her purse out of the SUV. Looking up at Seth, she smiled. “We’ll see you inside.”

  Nelson closed the door, and they gingerly made their way to the entrance. The sidewalk had been shoveled and de-iced, but even so, there could be black-ice spots. Cat didn’t want to end up in the emergency room tonight with a broken ankle and, worse, bruised pride.

  As they walked upstairs to the main reading room, Cat gasped at the view. The room’s ceiling had been covered with small white lights. The room looked more like it was out of some fantasy book than in the college library she’d thought she knew by heart. The college string quartet played baroque music in one corner, and a large table of food had been set up in another. Small, round cocktail tables covered with blinding white linens and a pillar candle filled the room. The burning candles gave a festive, yet other worldly, vibe to the room. Nelson walked her to what looked like the only empty table left, then turned. “May I get you a drink?”

  “White wine, if they have it. Otherwise, I’ll take a beer.” She scanned the crowded room after Nelson left. She waved to a few people she knew, but there was no Shauna and Kevin. Maybe they had to make a stop before they arrived. Or maybe they were making out like teenagers in the parking lot.

  Nelson dropped off her wine and then went to look for the rest of the group. Cat took a sip and relaxed, people watching. Someone touched her arm, and she turned, expecting to see Seth. Instead, Dante Cornelio stood in front of her in a tuxedo that screamed expensive. The fabric shimmered tastefully in the dim light. “I hear your group is the reason for the celebration. How proud of them you must be for finding the lost book.”

  “I’m not sure the book was just lost.” She saw Jennifer walk by and when she got behind Dante, the girl made a silent wow in Cat’s direction. She smiled and turned her attention back to Dante. “You really should mingle. Looking like that, you could have your choice of the women here.”

  “Maybe I like the choice I already made.”

  Cat’s mouth went dry as she considered his comment. She wasn’t sure if her sudden uncomfortableness was from his blatant attention or the fact her uncle had made it clear Dante was probably one bad decision from being on the board for America’s Most Wanted. She wasn’t a choice because she was dating Seth. The guy had to know that if he’d been in town more than a day and had any plug into the gossip chain.

  He laughed. “I can see I flummoxed you. Believe me, I am not hitting on you. If I was, the man coming up behind you may just have to defend your honor, and I’m not into duels.”

  Cat looked over her shoulder and saw Seth approaching with two beers.

  “I don’t think Seth would fight for me over a conversation.” Cat turned back and realized Dante was already gone. She scanned the room and finally found him across the room talking with Miss Applebome. “The man moves quickly.”

  Seth handed her a beer. “Not quickly enough because I saw him chatting you up. Is that the guy who bought you coffee this week?”

  “The one with mob ties? Why yes, yes it is.” Cat took a long pull of her drink. The beer tasted so much better than the wine had. She had to admit it to herself, she was a redneck—at least in her choice of alcohol. She looked pointedly at his bottle. “Hey wait, aren’t you the designated driver?�
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  He turned the label around. “It’s Colorado Basin Root Beer. The non-alcoholic kind. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Especially since I hear we’re a go for next week’s ski trip.”

  “Shauna really needs to keep her mouth shut.” Cat scanned the room again. “Where is she? They should have already been here.”

  Seth shifted from one foot to the other.

  Narrowing her eyes, she focused on him. “What do you know that you’re not saying?”

  “Fine. I saw the Land Rover in the parking lot. It looks like they’re talking.” Seth grinned. “Although, that’s not what I’d do if I had you in a dark parking lot.”

  Cat took another drink. “I hope Shauna’s not negotiating her signing bonus. I guess the guy is really pushing her to be his chef at the lodge.”

  “They didn’t look like they were talking business.” Seth shrugged when Cat stared at him. “What? A man knows when someone’s getting told a line. And Shauna’s getting a load full of crap from this guy. I hope she’s just smart enough to ride it out and not hook up with this loser.”

  “A loser that owns half of the county,” Cat reminded Seth.

  He crooked his head in the direction of Dante. “Money’s not everything.”

  “Are you asking if I’m interested?” Cat looked over his shoulder toward the food table. “If we’re going to get into a fight, can we at least eat first? I’m starving.”

  He took her bottle and set it on the table next to his and the half-drunk glass of wine. “We’re not getting into a fight. But food’s a great idea.”

  They loaded up the small plates with all kinds of finger foods and then returned to the table. Shauna strolled over alone from the bar, a beer in her hand. Cat watched her friend sway just a bit. “Hey, where’s Kevin?”

  “He has to be at the Denver airport to catch a plane tonight. No wonder he brought flowers. He knew he was going to be in trouble as soon as he told me.” Shauna took a bacon-wrapped shrimp off Cat’s plate. “Good, but this could use some barbeque sauce.”