Fatality by Firelight

by Lynn Cahoon

  Cat sat at the table long after her uncle had left. Shauna refilled her cup another time. “Something you want to talk about?”

  “Just thinking about Christina. The girl can’t catch a break, you know?” Cat laughed and took another muffin. “She’s all into the bad boys, which gets her in trouble. And I’m not sure the next one doesn’t fall into that category.”

  “You mean Jeffrey Blank?”

  Cat rubbed the back of her neck. “Why can’t she attract the solid, down to earth types? You know, like Nelson.”

  “Nelson is a little old for her. Besides, Jeffrey’s quite taken with our Christina. It would be kind of lovely, a poet and a romance writer, don’t you think? At least it would be if he didn’t give off the creep-a-zoid vibe. He doesn’t live near her, does he? Maybe this is just a vacation infatuation.”

  “I don’t remember. I’ll look it up. Are they on the same plane out of here today?”

  Shauna pulled out her day planner. “Actually, I am taking them both to the airport late tonight.”

  Cat stood and grabbed the filled office coffee carafe. “I hope it’s just a connecting-flight situation. Christina doesn’t need another problem relationship.”

  Chapter 19

  A knock came on Cat’s door about nine. She’d had a great morning writing, so she welcomed the interruption. Besides, it was probably Shauna stopping in to tell her she was leaving with the first airport shuttle. “Come in.”

  Bella came into the room. “You sound cheerful. The writing must be going well.”

  “I’m that transparent, am I?” Cat waved her into the room, pointing at the couch. “You want to talk?”

  “You’re such a normal writer. I get antsy when my roommate comes into the office, especially on days where each sentence comes hard. Then there’s other days when my fingers can’t fly fast enough. Someone needs to bottle the muse on those days. They’d make a fortune selling the magic,” Bella said as she sat on the edge of the couch.

  After Cat moved to the side chair, she watched the woman take in the office. It wasn’t like this was the first time Bella had been in here, but it felt like she was videotaping the images in her mind for playback later. “So, what’s up?”

  “I just wanted to thank you for opening up your husband’s office for me. I talked to Shauna yesterday, and she told me how hard the breakup between the two of you was.” Bella didn’t meet Cat’s gaze. “When I’m researching, I can be a little one-tracked and insensitive. So I wanted to apologize for being pushy on the subject.”

  “No worries. If I hadn’t wanted you to have access, I would have said no.” Cat thought about the room and having others use it. She needed to open up her life and that part of her history. She tended to react first then think later, but she had been okay with Bella using the room. “Besides, it was good for me to let a little light into that study. I’ve been going over the same information and still not coming up with a good answer.”

  “Your husband, I mean ex-husband, was an interesting man. It’s not often that business types get so involved in history research.” She patted a notebook she had in her hands. “But I’m glad he did. I do have a favor, though.”

  “Anything.” Cat templed her fingers together, wondering what exactly Bella would ask. She should have said, Ask and I’ll think about it. She really needed to get better at this people thing.

  “If I have a question on what I scribbled, can I call you and ask you to fax me a few pages? Or if I can’t find the resource in my library? I’m very detailed in my notes, so it wouldn’t be a lot, and I’d be able to guide you directly to the information I needed.” Bella spoke fast. Cat wondered if Bella had expected her to say no.

  “That wouldn’t be a problem at all.” Cat saw the relief on Bella’s face.

  “Thank you. I better get downstairs. Shauna’s waiting for me.” Bella turned to leave the office.

  “Hey, wait a second. Can I ask you a question?” Cat stood to follow her. “It’s about the books you reviewed.”

  “Of course.” Bella paused.

  “Do you think there’s a value in keeping them for the retreat? Are they specific enough to the location that other guests might enjoy looking at them?” Cat shrugged. “Or are they more academic research books, and I should give them to the library?”

  “I sorted the books into two piles. Books about Aspen Hills and Colorado and then the more general, American history books. If I were you, I’d keep at least the first pile here at the house. They are quite remarkable and hard to find. But look through the second pile before you just give them away.” Bella laughed. “I guess if it were me, I’d keep all of them. You have such a lovely work area in that study, and from what I hear, you’ll have a great library upstairs. Why not keep the books he curated for the retreat?”

  “Thanks, I didn’t want to just be acting on emotion here.” She gave Bella a quick hug. “Keep in touch and come back soon.”

  Bella walked toward the stairs. “One more thing. I found an envelope addressed to Catherine and left it on the top of the pile.”

  “Thank you.” Cat’s stomach tightened. The last letter she’d found from Michael had led her to the hidden office in the attic. Who knew what this letter would reveal?

  Cat watched out the window as Shauna backed the SUV out of the driveway. Bella sat in the passenger seat. She saw Cat in the window and waved. Waving back, she smiled as she thought of the portly writer. The great thing about running the retreat were the friendships she made during the week.

  She went right to Michael’s office to find the envelope. Time to let the white rabbit back into her life. Opening the door, she saw someone sitting in Michael’s chair. The chair slowly spun around, her heart beating faster and her breath quicker.

  A smiling Dante Cornelio sat in the chair. Stifling a scream, she managed to control her emotions and ask, “What are you doing here?”

  “Miss Latimer. Catherine. I’m sorry to intrude on your Sunday, but I’m on my way out of town.” He smiled toward the window that overlooked the backyard. “I believe, in the spring, your view from this spot will be quite beautiful. I do so love Colorado due to this amazing scenery. Everywhere you look, it’s a different calendar picture. You can see the tops of the mountain crest from here.”

  “Thanks, but I’m well aware of the view from my own house. How did you get inside?” She leaned against the doorway, hoping it would look nonchalant and not like she needed the support to keep standing. When she’d opened the door, she’d almost thought … she brushed away the idea. Michael was dead. At least that part of the puzzle was certain. Now she just had to determine why Dante sat in his chair and what he wanted. “I’d ask you again how you got in, but I’m not sure I want to know. So I’ll go with the obvious: What do you want?”

  He chuckled. “I suspect my reputation has preceded me. Maybe your uncle has been warning you off, perhaps. Anyway, I wanted to give you this.”

  He held out a blue notebook.

  “Is that one of Michael’s?” She took a small step toward the desk, then paused. Time to put at least one of these mysteries to bed. This could be the blue folder Bella said Michael had mentioned.

  “I’m afraid my nephew helped himself to this during one of his nocturnal visits. I have told him that he is not to come within blocks of the house. Or you.” Dante set the notebook on the desk next to the pile of books. Cat could see the envelope sticking out of the book. She hoped he wouldn’t notice it.

  “I don’t understand. Why would he steal one of Michael’s work books?” Now she did step closer, opening the cover of the book. The handwriting on the first page confirmed this was Michael’s. Was it the blue folder that Bella had asked about? Could she have been confused? “And when was he in my house?”

  “We’ve gone over this, Catherine. I told you my nephew had been bad. But you don’t have to worry about him breaking in anymore. I’ve also told him to stop with the phone calls. If you even feel uncomfortable in the house, just c
all me and I’ll take care of it.” He held up his business card. “I’ll leave this with you.”

  “I should call my uncle and tell him what you said.” Cat closed the notebook. She knew what she was proposing was a bluff, since she’d already told Uncle Pete about Martin. “Maybe then Martin would do some time for his actions.”

  “You could, but rest assured he will have air-tight alibis for the days in question. I made sure we were covered before coming to talk to you. In case you were, well, unreasonable.” He shrugged. “I thought we were becoming friends.”

  “Friends don’t break into each other’s houses.” Cat pointed out the obvious.

  A smile curved Dante’s lips. “Touché. Although I did feel that returning your property was a good reason. I guess I’ll have to try harder to show you the value of my friendship.” He stood from the desk. “It’s been lovely to meet you, Catherine. However, I’m needed back in Boston. I’m sure our paths will cross again very soon.”

  “I don’t get to Boston much, so I’m sure our paths won’t cross.” Cat straightened the pile of books on the desk, moving the envelope deeper into the book and out of sight.

  “That’s a shame. But I do visit Aspen Hills quite regularly. In fact, I just set up a library endowment that will be requiring me to come into town a lot.” He walked around the desk, pausing next to her. He looked down into her face, his gaze smoky and demanding. “Maybe we’ll be able to have dinner next time.”

  “I’m seeing someone.” She wanted to take a step backward, but didn’t want him to know his closeness made her uncomfortable.

  He pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “That’s unfortunate. I guess my timing is bad.”

  “I guess so.” Was it rude to tell someone that there was not a chance she’d go out on a date with him? Probably. Besides, he was on his way out of the house, which is what she needed. Him out of her house.

  “One more thing.” He paused before exiting through the doorway. “You are under my protection. However, I might not be able to keep you safe if you keep digging into Michael’s untimely death. You need to leave this alone.”

  “What do you know about Michael?” The question hung in the air as he gazed at her.

  “I will see you soon, Catherine.” He ignored the question and disappeared into the hallway.

  She didn’t respond, wondering if the parting statement had been a threat or a promise. She shivered, not liking the implication from either one. Cat didn’t know what was going on in Dante’s head—or worse, how he was related to Michael’s death—but she did know one new thing since because of his visit.

  Dante Cornelio knew who killed Michael and why. Now she just needed to figure out what he wasn’t telling her. Of course, she didn’t have any evidence strong enough except her suspicions to take to Uncle Pete. But she would sit down with him and share this new information as soon as the retreat was over. She was done with not knowing.

  She heard the front door close and then walked around the desk, sinking into Michael’s chair. No, she corrected herself, the desk chair. Nothing in this house or this room was her ex-husband’s property any more. Even as she thought it, she wondered if she was fooling herself. Would she ever be able to walk into this room that was so Michael and not think of it as his study?

  She slipped Dante’s business card into the desk’s top drawer. While she was there, she thumbed through the contents, wondering if it held any answers to the ton of questions running through her mind. Was anything missing? How long had Dante been in the office? She went through the drawers, trying to figure out what wasn’t there. She took out several nice pens and set them on the desktop. No use letting them dry up. Finally, she pushed the drawer closed. She was stalling.

  She took the top book off the pile and opened it to the page that held the envelope. She slipped Michael’s letter opener into the edge of the envelope and sliced it open.

  A single sheet of paper fell out. This time, there was no key to a hidden office. This time, Michael had only written an address: 846 Willow Lane. Then he’d signed the paper.

  Another clue that didn’t tell her anything. If Michael wasn’t dead, she’d kill him for being so cryptic. She stared at the address for a long while.

  “Cat? Are you here?” Seth’s voice broke through her confusion. She picked up the notebook, shoved the envelope and the note inside, then grabbed the pens. She’d take them into the kitchen for Shauna to use. Or to the lobby desk. And the notebook would go upstairs for her to read once the retreat guests had left. Maybe then she could figure out what exactly was at the address and what it had to do with Michael.

  She locked the study door behind her, then set the notebook and pens on a table in the hallway. She didn’t want Seth asking what she had. “I’m coming.”

  He met her at the door to the kitchen, almost knocking her down. He caught her, his arms surrounding her waist. “Hey, I guess you don’t have your phone on you.”

  Cat instinctively reached for her pockets. Empty. She’d left the phone on her desk when she’d come down with Bella, expecting to return to her office sooner than later. “I left it upstairs. Why, is something wrong?”

  They walked into the kitchen, and he took a soda out of the fridge. He offered her one, and she nodded, her mouth feeling like a desert, and waited for him to answer her question. “Kind of. Bella’s flight is late, and Shauna didn’t want to just leave her, so she asked me to drive Nelson to the airport. Have you seen him yet?”

  “No. I’ve been …” She paused, not wanting to tell Seth about Dante’s visit, but not knowing for certain why she wanted it to be kept secret.

  “Writing. I should have known.” He smiled. “Anyway, I told her I’d do this shuttle run. Do you mind? Or do you want to go? You can borrow my truck.”

  “Driving to Denver isn’t on my top-ten list of things to do today. You are more than welcome to take him.” She frowned at the clock. “Although you might be pushing the time, especially if he’s not packed yet.”

  As if on cue, the heavyset writer swung open the kitchen door. “Oh, there you are. I just wanted to say good-bye and ask who will be taking me to the airport.”

  Seth held up his hand. “That will be me. Are your bags in the lobby?”

  “Right by the door.” Nelson walked closer to the table as Seth left the room to retrieve the bags. “Thank you for your hospitality and for opening this retreat. I will be taking your advice to set up my own version as soon as I get home. I’ve got tons of projects that are screaming to be written.”

  “I’m so glad you found your time productive.” Cat stood and gave Nelson a quick hug. “Come back anytime.”

  “I might just take you up on that.” He waved good-bye, then followed Seth to the lobby and his waiting truck.

  “Two down, three to go,” Cat said to the empty room. She went over to the stove where Shauna had left a pot of beef stew simmering on the stove. She ladled a bowl for herself and sat at the table, thinking about the events of the morning. Not wanting to wait, she grabbed Shauna’s laptop and keyed in the address from the note.

  There were several hits, but only one was in Denver. She kept blowing up the map until she found the business that occupied the building. It was a dry cleaner. Had she gotten a note about where he’d left his suits? Michael had always been particular on where he took his overpriced wardrobe.

  No. There had to be something more about the building or the address. She just needed to dig deeper into the clue he’d left for her. Why had he been so brief? Maybe the address wasn’t an address. She keyed it into Google to see if any other “non-street” hits came up. Nothing. Not a book or a movie. Puzzled, she wrote the address onto the first blank page of the notebook she’d retrieved from the hallway after Seth had left.

  A knock sounded on the kitchen door. When she looked up, Martin—the lodge bartender and, she knew now, Dante’s nephew—stood at the door. He must have seen the fear in her eyes as he held up his hands, like he was surrendering.<
br />
  She stayed frozen to the chair, but the more she sat there, the madder she got. Then the land line rang. She walked over to the kitchen extension and picked up the receiver, even though she thought she knew who was calling. “Hello?”

  “Let the boy in; he has something he needs to tell you,” Dante said. Then he hung up.

  “This is stupid. Like I’m supposed to take your word for it?” she muttered as she hung up the receiver even though Dante couldn’t hear her. She walked to the door. “I wouldn’t let my Kori act like this in a book, why am I?”

  She didn’t unlock the door, but looked out the window at the young man. He held open his coat, apparently showing her he wasn’t armed. That didn’t mean he couldn’t overpower her. She still had three guests here to protect. Along with herself, of course. But Dante must be close by if he knew Martin was at the door.

  “What do you want?” She raised her voice so he could hear her through the door.

  “I wanted to apologize. Can I come in? It’s freezing out here.” Martin blew warm air into his cupped hands.

  “Your uncle told me you were going to leave me alone,” she called back.

  He shrugged. “Seriously, I feel like a jerk. I’ll be in and out. Then I’ll leave you alone.”

  Cat paused with her hand on the lock. “Stupid, stupid.” But she unlocked the deadbolt and let him in. He took off his coat and laid it on the bench.

  “You can frisk me for weapons if it will make you feel better.” He raised his hands over his head and waited.

  “Don’t be stupid.” Cat’s gaze drifted up and down the well-built man. You could tell he skied. A lot. As tight as he wore his shirts and pants, a weapon would have been obvious. “Spin around for me.”