Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 4 - 6

by Danielle Collins

  “Thank you,” she said, surprised he recognized her. “How—”

  He chuckled. “Our other guests won’t be arriving until just before dinner. You’re the only early check-in that I had on my list.”

  “Oh, I see,” she said, smiling. It was fortunate for her that the resort was only a little over three hours away from North Bank. Being a baker used to baker’s hours, she’d gotten up early, which was still sleeping in for her, and made the trip before rush hour traffic could be in her way.

  “I’ll show you to your cabin.”

  He picked up her small weekend bag and led her out the double glass doors and down a mulch path. “Just a few words of caution we like to give all of our guests. Despite the luxury of our resort, we are out in the wilderness. We caution all guests to throw trash away in the proper receptacles and to avoid going out later at night due to the habits of more dangerous nocturnal creatures.”

  Margot’s eyebrows rose.

  “Don’t worry,” the young man, whose metal nametag read Chuck, said with a grin. “No one’s been attacked by a bear yet.”

  While he laughed and turned back toward the path, Margot latched on to the word yet. There was a first time for everything.

  “Here we are,” he said, opening the door for her and holding it open so she could step inside.

  The cabin was more spacious than she’d anticipated, with a vaulted ceiling in the main room that led into the tiny kitchenette at the back. A door to the right opened into the bedroom with an attached bathroom, while a set of steep stairs, almost a ladder, jutted up to the ceiling and what appeared to be a loft over the back half of the space.

  “What’s up there?”

  “Reading nook,” he said with a wink. “We have a small grocery store a few miles down the road accessible by ATV, bike, horseback, or hiking trail. Feel free to shop there and your items will be delivered within the hour. You can also feel free to take advantage of our restaurant. You are a Gold Star guest and this card--” He handed her a plastic, gold card that looked like a credit card. “--will give you access to everything without cost. Do you have any questions?”

  She blinked, shocked by the opulence of a mountain retreat. She’d expected to be roughing it, but this was far from that.

  “Um, not at the moment.”

  “Then I wish you a wonderful stay, Missus Durand.” Chuck gave a slight bow and then left, closing the door behind him.

  She stood in the middle of the room and admired the cabin. The large, thick logs that made up the walls looked sturdy. There were wood floors and a wooden ceiling as well, but the seemingly excessive use of wood was tempered by large, plush rugs and wall hangings that accented the cabin’s rustic nature. They added a touch of elegance to the otherwise outdoorsy feel.

  Then there was the view. One wall was nearly all floor to ceiling windows and looked out over the valley, miles and miles of endless trees stretching out before them. She felt as if she was the only one in this world of green.

  Curiosity taking over, she climbed up the steep ladder-like stairs and grinned at what she saw at the top. A bed-like cushion stretched out against another large window. Pillows were stacked up three deep and several plush blankets sat at the end of the lounge. It was the perfect reading nook.

  Giddy with excitement, she came back down the stairs only to be struck by the reality of her situation. It wasn’t really a vacation if her friend was afraid for her life. But surely there had to be a good explanation for what had happened to CeCe and why this supposed stalker would be coming back now.

  That was the question, though. Was Rick the one who had stalked her before? If so, was it him now as well? If it wasn’t him, then who was it? And why—or how—had they found her here?

  So many questions and not much to go on. What she needed was to see the note. That, and she had to find out more about Rick and where he’d been all this time.

  Pulling her phone from her back pocket, she checked her service. None. Of course, she was high up in the mountains.

  Then something flashed on her screen: Connect to BRMR.

  Blue Ridge Mountain Resort. It had to be.

  She selected it and was immediately taken to a login page that asked for the access code. What access code? Chuck hadn’t given her—

  She smiled and pulled the card from her other pocket. Sure enough, there was a code on the back. She typed it in and was rewarded by a connecting message. When it went through, she opened her email app and typed in a quick email to Detective Adam Eastwood.

  She added, “Thanks again for dinner last night. I had a great time.” Thoughts of their rooftop dinner at Francine’s the night before came back to her and she smiled. He had asked her to be his official girlfriend over steaks and glasses of red wine. At the time, she’d laughed at him until she’d realized he was serious. For some reason, she’d assumed that dating one another exclusively had hinted at that reality already, but it seemed very important to him so she’d sobered quickly.

  After accepting his request, he’d grinned like a child at Disneyland and she knew she’d done the right thing to accept him. Not only was Adam a first-rate detective and an upstanding member of the small community of North Bank, Virginia, but he was a kind, compassionate, and thoughtful man. She’d had no doubts about agreeing to call herself his girlfriend, though using that term in her forties seemed a bit juvenile. Then again, if she wasn’t his wife and she was more than a friend, having a title did help things in that respect.

  Margot turned her phone on silent and went about settling into the cabin with enough time left to grab a few hours of reading before dinner was served and she would see CeCe again. Then, Margot thought, the real search would begin.

  Chapter 2

  Dinner was an event in and of itself. The large space was occupied by round tables topped with white tablecloths, sparkling silverware, and shining glasses. The sound of light chatter greeted Margot as she came through the door, glad she’d taken the time to slip into a floor length, springtime dress. It wasn’t fancy, but she felt as if she fit the more formal setting. She definitely hadn’t packed for this level of ‘cabin vacation.’

  “Missus Durand,” a young woman said, coming up to her with a big smile. “My name is Alice. CeCe described you to me so I would know who you were.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Alice,” Margot said, feeling a bit like a celebrity.

  “I’ve heard amazing things about you and your pastries from CeCe,” the girl said with a giggle. “I keep wanting to come down to your shop and try them. It’s just tough to get the time off.”

  “I bet,” Margot said, her stomach growling at the delightful smells coming from the kitchen.

  “Follow me,” Alice said with a sweet smile. “CeCe’s set you up at a table with a few other guests so you won’t be eating alone.”

  Margot followed the girl to one of the larger tables with a few empty seats still left. To her right was an older gentleman chatting with a younger woman on his right. Next to them was an older couple, and next to them was a young woman more focused on her phone than she was what else was going on around the table.

  “Everyone,” Alice said, doing a good job of sounding professional as well as formal, though she almost knocked over a glass of water when she helped Margot to sit. “This is Missus Margot Durand. She’ll be joining your table for the duration of your stay. Enjoy tonight’s meal.”

  Margot nodded at the two couples and noticed the woman still hadn’t looked up from her phone. She sat and reached for her napkin just as a handsome man breezed past her and joined the table in the remaining free seat.

  “What did I miss?” he asked, looking around the table.

  “You’re late,” the woman said, her eyes still glued to the phone.

  “Thanks, honey,” he said with added emphasis. He looked at Margot. “You’re new.”

  She was shocked, wondering how he could know that.

  “We come up here almost every other weekend becaus
e it’s the only retreat with Wi-Fi. I’m Matt Homes and this is my wife Sarah. She runs an online business and is rarely away from her phone. Aren’t you, sweetie?” He flashed a tolerant smile. “I can go out and do manly things like horseback riding and archery, and she can…work.” Now he grinned and rolled his eyes in a manner that said he was only joking. “I haven’t met you two either,” he said, directing his question to the older man and the younger woman.

  “Ron Durk and my, uh, girlfriend, Jenny.”

  The woman seemed to cringe, or maybe Margot had imagined it, as the older man put his arm around her, but the look was gone as soon as Margot thought she’d seen it and Jenny was leaning into the man. “Yep. Jenny Blane. It’s nice to meet you both.”

  The woman dropped her gaze to her mug of coffee, pouring an extra amount of cream in and clanking her spoon around.

  “We’re the Tallisons,” the gentleman next to Jenny said, drawing Margot’s attention. “Edgar and this is my wife Fran. This is our first time here, but so far, we’re loving it.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Fran said with a grin. “I think your favorite part was flying around those dangerous curves on the drive up here. And that would be my least favorite part.”

  Edgar grinned and wagged his eyebrows. “So what if I’m a bit of a lead-foot.”

  Margot held back her laugh. “Nice to meet you all. It’s my first time up here as well. I’m friends with the chef, actually. And my name’s Margot, as Alice said.”

  “Does that mean you get us free dessert?” Fran quipped.

  Margot laughed. “I think it’s all included.”

  Just then someone stood behind a podium on a slightly raised stage. It was a tall woman wearing a business suit that matched the uniform colors of the other staffers, a deep burgundy color. She was likely the coordinator.

  “That’s Marcy,” Matt said, pouring more water for himself from the decanter in the middle of the table.

  “On behalf of the Blue Ridge Mountain Resort staff, I’d like to welcome you all. It is our greatest joy to serve you while you are here. If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us. Before we begin, there are just a few safety rules to go over,” she continued.

  Having heard the information from Chuck, Margot let her mind wander to what her friend had told her before she’d rushed off to fix dinner. Margot had puzzled over it until she’d settled down with a book just to take her mind off the lack of information. But now, without something else to distract her, she found her thoughts trailing back to what CeCe had said.

  She thought she was being stalked. But to what end? Had Rick contacted her wanting to get back together again? Margot hadn’t been privy to all the details of their divorce but, if she remembered correctly, he had cheated on her with several women from his work. At the time, she couldn’t remember if he had wanted to reconcile; she thought she remembered CeCe saying that she had considered it, but Rick wasn’t interested. It made no sense then that he would come after her like this. Then again, Margot had to admit she didn’t know all of the information.

  That was the worst part. CeCe had dropped the idea in her lap and then run off. Granted, she had no alternative, she had to work, but it was maddening to be on the cusp of something and have it disappear for a time.

  She blinked back to the present and noticed that Marcy was finishing up her introduction. “Remember, if you are interested in any of our outdoor actives, feel free to let a staff member know. We’ll get you on the list and you’ll be able to enjoy the full benefits of the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thank you again for joining us and please enjoy your meal prepared by our highly decorated chef, Celia Baxter.

  Marcy stepped down to a torrent of applause and the light dinner conversation returned. Margot focused on enjoying the meal and getting to know those at her table, though conversation was stilted at best. Perhaps things would improve in the morning after a relaxing evening.

  “What did you think of dinner?” CeCe said, coming up to Margot from the kitchen, her white chef’s coat unbuttoned at the collar.

  “It was wonderful—fabulous—you truly are a master.”

  CeCe blushed with pride and Margot could almost imagine that things were back to normal, but she couldn’t forget what her friend had said. She was being stalked and the culprit had followed her to the resort.

  During the silence through most of the dinner Margot had thought through questions she needed answers to, but looking at her friend now, it was obvious to see that she needed a night of rest before Margot gave her the third degree. Margot almost smiled at that thought, knowing it was a saying Adam often used in jest.

  “Before we go,” CeCe said, interrupting Margot’s thoughts, “could I introduce you to someone? Well, two someones actually?”

  “Of course,” Margot said, looking around the quickly emptying dining room to see if she could spot who CeCe would introduce her to.

  “They aren’t here,” she explained. “Follow me.”

  They walked out of the double, wooden doors that closed off the dining hall and entered the lodge’s main sitting area. A large river stone fireplace dominated one wall adjacent to another wall made completely of windows. It looked out onto a view similar to the one from Margot’s cabin. An impressive valley below, filled with green trees, was now covered mostly in shadow due to the setting sun.

  Large, comfortable couches and chairs took up most of the area, providing seating for many to relax and enjoy a book or a specialty coffee from the café that was still open as some of the guests milled about.

  “They have an apartment upstairs,” CeCe explained.

  Margot frowned and wanted to ask who, but she was cut off by CeCe looking around like they were breaking some rule and motioning Margot under the rope.

  “Uh, should I be going up here?” Margot eyed the sign attached to the rustic looking rope that said, “Employees Only.”

  “You’re with me. You’re fine,” CeCe said with a grin.

  Margot followed her friend up the carpeted stairs that wound behind the fireplace, the stones wrapping all the way around the back. When they got to the top, there was a door to the right. It wasn’t marked in any way, but CeCe paused, grinned at Margot, and knocked.

  A few moments later, the door opened and CeCe’s grin widened.

  “CeCe darling,” a woman said as aged hands came into view. “I’m so glad you came to visit.”

  “I brought a friend I’d like to introduce you to.”

  At this, a woman’s head popped out into the doorframe, a smile already in place. “You must be Margot!”

  With one swift movement, CeCe propelled Margot into the room. She took in the large space that she assumed occupied the whole top half of the dining hall. A fireplace dominated most of the far back wall, likely occupying the chimney space of the fireplace in the dining hall. Then, elegant couches and chairs took up residence in the center. To each side there were doors leading to what Margot assumed were bedrooms. There was no kitchen, but she assumed they hardly needed that with the dining hall’s kitchen below.

  “Welcome to our little home.”

  Margot nearly laughed at this, thinking the space had to be over four thousand feet, but she merely nodded. “It’s lovely to be here. You are?” She looked accusingly at CeCe for an explanation.

  “Oh, sorry,” CeCe laughed. “This is Lela Wilkinson. Where’s Stan?”

  “He’ll be right out, I’m sure. He was in his study, but I told him there was someone at the door.”

  “Is that my CeCe girl?” a booming voice said behind them.

  They turned to see a tall man with white-gray hair wearing a dark green cardigan over a bright pink plaid shirt. He exuded style, Margot thought with a smile.

  “Stan, this is my dear friend Margot Durand.”

  “I hear you make the best pastries this side of France. I may need a demonstration to truly believe this.”

  Lela leaned against Stan, her salt and pepp
er hair pulled back in an elegant bun and her clothes just as stylish as Stan’s. “My husband likes his pastries, Margot,” she said with a laugh. “Despite what his doctor says about eating them.”

  “Everything in moderation, right CeCe?”

  Margot looked over to her friend and saw CeCe nodding, the unmistakable look of caring on her face. She really loves Stan and Lela, Margot thought.

  “We’re so glad you get to come and visit with our dear CeCe,” Lela said. “She barely gets down to town and I fear she’ll get lonely.”

  “Oh, I’m fine.” CeCe’s smile was forced and Margot wondered if Lela and Stan could see that too.

  “Well, I just wanted to introduce her. We’re going to head back to our cabins, but I hope we can have a meal or coffee or something together.”

  “You betcha,” Stan said without hesitation. “Throw in some pastries and I’m liable to hire you.”

  Margot laughed. “I have my own bakery to run, but I appreciate the enticement. Why don’t I make some pastries for you regardless?”

  “Done!” Stan let out a hearty laugh and they made their exit.

  When they were outside, CeCe looped her hand through Margot’s arm and grinned at her. “Aren’t they the best? I feel like they’ve all but adopted me since offering me this job!”

  “They seem really wonderful. I bet you feel that…” She hesitated, wondering if she would be bringing up bitter memories.

  “That they are a sort of replacements for my parents?” she asked, looking up at Margot.

  “I wasn’t going to say it quite like that.”

  CeCe laughed. “No, it’s all right. I’ve felt that about them, actually. Not a replacement so much as a second chance at having parents again. It’s not a replacement, but…it helps.”

  “I’m glad you’ve found—” Margot trailed off, her attention snagging on something in the bushes to the right of the path. They were almost to their cabins and she’d done a cursory glance around them out of habit. “What is that?”

  “I-I don’t know.” CeCe slipped her arm free of Margot’s and walked toward the item on the path. It was a deep burgundy color.