Bree grinned. "Well, that eyesore you've been avoiding is quickly becoming the biggest pain in my…what is you call it? Asteroid?"
I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at her. I really was trying to be more adult-like since becoming part owner. Bree tended to bring out the younger side of my twenty-five years, but I could tell she needed me to be ready to listen tonight. "Yes, a pain in the asteroid. Don't judge me just because my Gram had a strict no-cursing policy."
This time my comment eased the worry lines on her forehead for a moment. "Not judging, just teasing."
Mandi made her way to the bar with an order. "Hi Bree! Did I overhear you talking about Shady Pines? What's going on with it? That building has been abandoned for years now. I'm pretty sure it's haunted."
"If it's haunted, I want no part of it! No wonder I avoided it." I may risk my life from time to time in order to see justice prevail, but scary buildings that may be haunted—not my style.
Bree's worry returned, making its presence known on her normally cheery complexion. "Unless you're in the real estate market, you won't have to worry about it. The owner has finally decided to put it up for sale." She pushed her glass toward me and made a gesture indicating she wanted another. "And that man, Jack Condor, is planning on bidding."
Very few people in Danger Cove were fans of Jack Condor. I confess I might have been at the top of people who didn't like him, though Bree might now be vying for that position. "Why in the world would he want that rundown old building? I know he's been trying to purchase land and redevelop it into the modern, sleek look he fancies, but talk about your fixer-upper."
Bree's arms crossed as a scowl settled in. "Oh, he has plans for it alright. He told me he was going to buy it and make it into a nice little hotel that offers up a complimentary, hot breakfast to the guests. He said it was high time the Ocean View had some competition. Ugh!"
Before I could respond, she continued. "You wanna know what's worse?"
I wasn't sure I did, but no way was I going to interrupt her tirade. "What?"
She used her thumb to gesture to a man and woman sitting at a booth in the corner. They'd been talking quietly and nursing their drinks for the past hour or so. "Those two, Adam Miller and Jessica Byers, are also real estate developers. I have no idea what their plans are for the place, but if they decide to return it to its full splendor, then I find it incredibly ironic that they're staying at my bed and breakfast while in town for the auction. I'm housing people who ultimately want to take business away from me."
She huffed out a good deal of exasperation and returned to her drink. I decided to let her have a moment before I tried to console her. I'd learned from my interaction with Mandi that even though the redheads in my life were pretty calm, when they did get upset, you needed to give them some space before trying to "fix" everything.
Instead, I ventured a glance over at the two people Bree had pointed out. They seemed cozy, but that could just be me looking through Tan-colored glasses. As Mandi had blabbed to everyone within hearing distance, Tanner and I were officially an item. It may have taken me awhile to get with the program, but since that time, I had a tendency to see love in the air wherever I went. Even though I only got to see him on the weekends, as he was teaching fifth grade in Seattle now, we talked on the phone every night when I got home. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and a body that could make a girl forget her own name. At least this girl.
Before my vision became too dreamy, the door flew open, and none other than Jack Condor himself swaggered in. His beefy arms stretched the fabric of his blue and white jersey making the pirate face on his chest look like it received a bad batch of Botox.
The rings on his fingers shone almost as bright as his teeth, which was saying something in the muted lighting. I stopped looking when I realized his pants were the typical polyester of baseball uniforms. Some things a girl just didn't need to see. "Well, there ya' ladies are. Couldn't figure out why you weren't out supporting your community by playing on the DC Pirates softball team." He lifted the black and chrome aluminum bat like a sword. I was not surprised to see his initials emblazoned near the grip. Only someone as self-important as Jack would go to the trouble to have that done. "Took the Seattle Sluggers down in extra innings."
Bree's nose crinkled as though someone had just run their nails down a chalkboard. But a sly smile snaked across her lips before she tossed me one of her famous smirks. She spun the stool around to face her current arch nemesis. Obviously agreeing with me on the whole too small outfit, her finger traced a big circle in the air around him. "They probably finally threw the game because not everyone has a strong enough stomach to keep looking at this." She let out a little giggle/snort before continuing. "Which, coincidentally, is also why we won't join the team." She spun back around, the smile fading back into the whole chalkboard scowl as he began to chuckle.
"My, my, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today." He leaned closer, a taunting smile on his face, "I bet you're worried someone is going to renovate that old roach motel and then you won't have to make up any beds because everyone will be staying there? Don't worry that pretty little red head of yours, missy."
The tension radiated from Bree filling the room and thickening the air. Time to step in. I placed another drink in front of her. "This one's on the house—I went easy on the bitters since I know you enjoy a good, strong drink." I smiled to try to ease her aggravation. She relented enough to relax the tense lines around her mouth.
"Oh, I think I have plenty of bitter to go around." She took a quick sip and then faced Jack again and used her thumb to point to the other two real estate investors in the booth. "Maybe you should worry that not-so-pretty head of yours. Adam and Jessica plan on giving you a run for your money. They're in town for the same piece of property."
Jack's expression softened revealing their just might be a heart buried under that barrel of a chest after all. "Like I said, you don't need to worry. I've talked to both of them. They have the same plans as I do. Tear down, clear the lot, and start fresh. I'm thinking some shiny new condos will do the trick. So you don't worry, and breathe easy. Ol' Jack ain't worried about them either."
"It's not them he should be worried about." A woman's voice edged into the conversation, though I couldn't see her behind Jack's large frame.
Apparently, Jack recognized her immediately without turning around. His complexion paled as his remaining swagger subsided. I swear I could see beads of sweat forming on his top lip. "It can't be…"
"That's right Jack, darling. It's me. Camilla Cartwright."
I had no idea who Camilla Cartwright was, but Jack certainly did. She reminded me of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Her platinum blonde hair was short and wavy, but stern all at the same time. I guessed her age to be late twenties, maybe early thirties. She gave off a no-nonsense vibe tinted with high-class society that oozed affluence. Money certainly wasn't a problem she had to contend with.
Jack forced a smile to his face. "Camilla, what a surprise to see you."
She threw her head back as a shrill laugh escaped her ruby-red lips. "Oh Jack, I find you so amusing. You had to know I'd be here." Camilla handed her designer purse to a woman standing quietly next to her before moving into Jack's space. Personally, I never wanted to be that close to the man, but it didn't seem to bother her.
"Why is that?" he growled out between clenched teeth.
She walked her matching red-painted fingernails up his beefy bicep. I was immediately drawn to the pointed angle of each nail. Maybe she instructed the manicurist to give her claws? The arrogance in her voice interrupted my thoughts, "Because…if you want something, I see it as my job to take it away from you. Isn't that right, Serena?"
The purse-holding woman smiled, her long brown hair moving as one with her head. "Totally your style and anyone who tries to stand in your way should know that."
Camilla smiled at her and winked. "See, Jack, even Serena understands that's how this works."
"So
unds like a playground bully to me," Bree offered as she twisted the barstool around to face Camilla.
The woman cut a sharp look in Bree's direction. "And you are?"
Bree forced what I was certain was a fake smile. "Bree Milford."
Camilla tilted her chin up, and the scrunching of her face gave me the impression she was trying hard to place the name. She turned to Serena. "Help me out, dear. You know how forgetful I am."
"Bree Milford runs the Ocean View Bed & Breakfast."
"Yes, yes, that's right. Pleasure to meet you, dahling. Quite a quaint little establishment you're running there."
Bree's face was drawn tight. I worried it might break. Though it went against my nature to help Jack out, I didn't care for Camilla's overall attitude or the fact she was making a spectacle of herself in my bar. I stepped closer to the group. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Her grey-green gaze turned to me, and I received the up-and-down once-over. Maybe if she didn't like what she saw, she'd leave with a lot less fanfare than she arrived. I'd be ok with that. "Not this time, thank you. I need to head to Seattle and get settled in. Staying at a real hotel." She turned to Bree. "No offense, but I only stay in hotels with room service."
The tension slowly faded from my friend's face as she shrugged. "None taken. We prefer low-maintenance guests. No offense." She finished her statement with a bright smile.
Camilla appeared slightly taken aback at Bree's comment, but recovered quickly. "You'll have to worry about low guest count once I offer up some competition." She returned her attention to me. "Busy couple of days ahead of me. Perhaps my assistant and I will stop in for a victory meal once we put poor little Jack and your friend here in their place." She stepped closer to the bar and leaned in. "I don't like to lose to anyone, and I'm not about to start now. I always get what I want."
The hyena laugh escaped from her tiny throat again before she turned on her high heels and left. Serena lagged behind. I grabbed Bree's arm to keep her from vaulting after Camilla's retreat. I really needed to focus on finding new security.
Serena's voice was much quieter—and less grating—than Camilla's, but I could hear her speaking to Jack. "Look, you know how she is. Don't let her get to you. I heard your team won the game tonight. Lucky bat or glove?"
The tension released its death grip on Jack, and he nodded. "Thank you, young lady." He gripped his bat tighter and lifted it to tap his heart. "Luckiest bat a man could own." He sighed. "Maybe I should bring it with me to the auction."
Serena offered a smile and shrug. "It's not personal. She has her sights set on the place, so be prepared."
Jack hit his palm a couple times with his lucky bat. "Oh I will. Thanks, Serena. Nice to see you again."
She nodded and then hurried out the door.
Jack turned and gestured to the drink Bree was downing. "I'll have what she's having."
Both Bree and Jack looked miserable, and there really wasn't much I could do to help. I delivered his drink and watched them both sip at the contents, staring off into space. All of this over the most rundown building I'd ever seen in the Danger Cove area. I didn't know much about real estate, but whether they demolished the property and rebuilt or tried to rehab it, I didn't understand how that could be profitable. Maybe when Jack was in a better mood, I'd ask him. From the sound of everything I'd heard tonight, that could take awhile.
DARK RUM REVENGE
coming soon!
Two Sleuths Are Better Than One Page 22