Scones and Scofflaws Page 14

  “Luke, you’re a life saver. Literally,” Anna said.

  All three of them started when the door to the kitchen creaked open.

  “What the…?” Sammy said.

  “Another visit from your ghost?” Luke asked.

  Anna smiled widely on seeing the small black and white cat as it slid through the narrow opening. “Not a ghost. Just a real tough cookie.”

  31

  Anna frowned and let out a grumble as the bit of ceramic she’d been holding slipped onto the coffee table.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Sammy told her. “I know it was Aunt Louise’s, but seriously, it looks pretty far gone.” As Sammy spoke, she reached over and tickled the cat under the chin.

  The cat — now black with white and gray patches on her feet and chest — sat proudly on the sofa next to Sammy. Anna sat on the floor facing them and the coffee table, on which she’d placed all the bits and pieces of ceramic she could find from the broken vase.

  “I know.” She dropped another piece and looked at Sammy. “But I think I can put it back together. As long as this glue holds.” She held up the old tube of superglue she’d found in a kitchen drawer, looking at it skeptically.

  “So what’s bugging you, then. You’re not worried Jason’s going to come back, are you?”

  Anna shook her head. “Probably not, no. But what if he does?” She focused on picking up another broken piece and matching it with the few she’d already glued back together. “What do we do then, if Luke isn’t around?”

  Sammy grimaced. “I hope we don’t find out.”

  “But don’t you see?” Anna knew her frustration was coming out and took a breath to calm herself. The cat turned her head to face her, as if listening closely. “I hate that I can’t take care of myself. On my own, you know. And now I have to take care of Eoin, too.” Anna thought of the boy, upstairs in his room calling his mother. He hadn’t seemed too upset by the encounter, but Anna had no doubt he’d been scared. Who wouldn’t be?

  “I mean, of course I’m grateful to Luke,” she continued.

  “We both are.” Sammy said sharply. “He totally saved us.”

  “I know.” Anna returned to her ceramic puzzle. “I just don’t want to be dependent on a man again. Ever.”

  “Oh, honey. This is about Steve, isn’t it?”

  Anna shuddered. “Don’t mention him.”

  “It’s okay to let it out. You know, we never really talked about what happened. I mean…” Sammy slid down onto the floor across the table from Anna and pushed a few pieces around, looking for matching ones. “I mean, you told me what happened, but we didn’t really talk about it, you know?”

  “I know.” Anna tried to focus on her work but looked up when she sensed the cat moving. She’d edged closer to the edge of the sofa and was watching Anna closely. “What does she know that I don’t?” Anna asked.

  “Who, the cat?” Sammy laughed. “Who knows. Maybe she’s already on her ninth life. Ooh, maybe she knew Aunt Louise.”

  The cat opened its mouth into a wide yawn and stretched out its front legs as she lay down on the sofa. Despite her apparently comfortable position, she kept her blinking eyes on Anna.

  Anna leaned forward to tickle her behind the ears. “I’m glad you’re a tough cookie. I’m so sorry I destroyed your house. If I’d only known.”

  Sammy and Anna worked in silence for a minute or two, then Sammy coughed. “You ready to talk yet?” she asked.

  Anna didn’t look up. “You know I always pictured myself finishing my degree then settling down somewhere in an academic job. Somewhere not too far away, of course.”

  “Not too far from Steve, right?” Sammy asked.

  At least Sammy understood. Once Anna had her degree, she and Steve could finally admit their relationship publicly. Until she had that degree in hand, her relationship with her faculty advisor had to be kept under wraps. Sammy was one of the few people who’d known about it.

  “I don’t think Steve ever told anyone about me.” Anna spoke quietly. “I should have realized that was a problem…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Stop it.” Sammy chided her. “You didn’t know.”

  Anna bent down to look more closely at two ceramic pieces. “Do these go together?”

  She passed them to Sammy, who adjusted one slightly. “Yep, hand me that glue.”

  The vase was slowly coming into shape as they glued the broken pieces back into their old places. “He was always more concerned about keeping our relationship a secret than I was,” Anna continued her thought from before. “I figured that was because he had more to protect — and more to lose.”

  “Like his job.” Sammy raised her eyebrows. “He shouldn’t have been in a relationship with a student. There are reasons there are rules against that.”

  “Well, I figured wrong, didn’t I?”

  Sammy didn’t answer, just worked silently with Anna on the few remaining pieces of ceramic. The cat watched them both through slitted eyes, occasionally yawning or stretching.

  When Anna had seen her own original research used as evidence in a series of Steve’s academic publications, she knew just how wrong she’d been about him. He’d been stealing her work, claiming it as his own. Her accusation of theft got the far-too-slow wheels of academic justice turning, but it would take months, maybe years, before she got the credit she deserved for her research. And Steve got the reputation he deserved.

  “Now I’m just waiting, you know?”

  “For what?” Sammy asked.

  Anna put down the pieces she’d been holding. The cat lifted its head. “You know what, you’re right. For what?”

  “Oh.” Sammy frowned. “I was just asking.”

  “No.” Anna stood up. “What am I waiting for? For someone else to step up and point at Steve and say ‘that man is dishonest.’” Anna pointed at the cat as she spoke. The cat blinked. “Sorry, honey, I don’t mean you.”

  She looked down at the coffee table. “Aha!” She grabbed two more pieces. “These go here…”

  Sammy held the larger part as Anna glued the two new pieces into place. Both women leaned back and looked at what they’d created. Then burst out laughing.

  “That is not a vase,” Sammy said.

  “Well it certainly won’t hold water,” Anna agreed. “Look, this side looks good. As long as I put the hole against the wall…” Her voice trailed off.

  This was so typical of her. Whenever she made a decision to do something, she refused to let it go. Refused to give up. Refused to admit when she was in over her head.

  “You’re not thinking about the vase right now, are you?” Sammy asked softly.

  Anna shook her head.

  “What have I done, Sammy? What am I doing? Why did I think I could do this?”

  “I don’t know, I told you not to bother.”

  Anna gave Sammy a look and she smiled kindly. “I know, I know you’re not talking about the vase. Look, the house looks gorgeous, right? And you will get guests again, I promise. You will make this work.”

  “And George?” Anna asked, watching as the cat jumped from the sofa and made her way to Anna’s side. She put a hand out and the cat bumped her forehead against the hand then rubbed her head back and forth, purring. “At least someone here is happy now.”

  “You’ll make this work, Anna,” Sammy repeated. “I know you. I know you will.”

  Anna smiled at the cat then looked up and smiled at Sammy. Sammy did know her. Sammy knew that Anna was stubborn and wouldn’t give up. It was going to get her into trouble.

  32

  Anna stood on the wide front porch watching as Sammy drove away. The late afternoon sun cut through the bare trees leaving long, flickering shadows on the lawn and sidewalk. Anna took a deep breath. She loved this time of day. Actually, come to think of it, before this whole tragedy, she’d loved every time of day in Cape May.

  Once Sammy was out of sight, heading back to her bakery to get set up for her early mo
rning tomorrow, Anna found Eoin and bundled him into his light jacket. It was time to take him to his next fun activity. At least, it was supposed to be fun.

  He didn’t object as he pushed his arms into the sleeves of his jacket, but he didn’t help either.

  “Eoin, do you not want to go back to the community center? Did you enjoy the last time?”

  Eoin shrugged. “I s’pose,” he whispered in the little voice he always used around her.

  “This time you’re going to be learning all about sea creatures, doesn’t that sound fun?”

  Eoin’s eyebrows went up and he nodded. “It does,” he answered thoughtfully. “I like learning.”

  Apparently the creativity lab, the last activity he’d joined, hadn’t been particularly thrilling for him. Anna laughed and gave him a quick hug, then took his hand and together they headed toward the center of town.

  Once Eoin was safely settled in the right room of the community center, his wide eyes examining the various posters and pictures of sea animals taped to the walls, Anna walked back to Washington Mall. She had some food and kitchen supplies to replace, even if she didn’t have any guests.

  The streets of Cape May looked completely normal. She passed a few locals who greeted her with cautious smiles, and visitors strolled the streets admiring the colorful wooden exteriors and gingerbread trim of the Victorian houses. She loved the style, too. Her own house had surprising gables and towers popping up in unexpected parts of the house. Aunt Louise’s rooms were tucked into the ground level of one of those towers, around the side of the house.

  Thoughts of Aunt Louise brought her spirits up a bit. She missed the old lady, for sure. She was going to have to bite the bullet and go through her rooms soon.

  With her thoughts focused on Aunt Louise and her house, Anna walked right into Paul Murphy.

  “Sorry.”

  “Excuse me.”

  They both spoke at once, Paul looking up from the cell phone that had drawn his attention away from his path.

  “Oh, Mr. Murphy,” Anna said. “How are you?”

  “Hmm?” Paul looked at her again. “Right, yes. The B&B owner. Anna is it?”

  Paul looked as if he was going to continue on his way so Anna stuck out a hand, obliging him to stop and shake it.

  “Yes, that’s right. Anna McGregor. How are you doing? With George’s death and all, I mean. Are you okay?”

  Paul glanced up and down the street, looked down at his phone once more, then slipped the phone into his jacket pocket and smiled politely. “Yes, thank you for asking. I am doing well. As you know, I didn’t really know George very well.” He frowned, as if realizing that might not have been the most polite response, then added, “unfortunately.”

  “I understand.” Anna smiled comfortingly. “But you really didn’t have a chance to, since he worked out of Trenton. I’m curious, had you worked with him long?”

  Paul’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

  “It’s just that… like I told you before, I met Richard Gormley. It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that George bought the business from him. Did you work with him before?”

  “I just told you,” Paul’s voice rose in anger, “I didn’t know him well.”

  Anna raised both hands. “Sorry, of course you did. I’m just… I’m trying to get a better sense of George Hedley, of who he was as a person, you know?”

  “You are?” Paul opened his eyes wide in surprise. “Why?”

  Anna shrugged. She didn’t have a good response to that. Fortunately, Paul continued.

  “He was suspicious. That’s who he was as a person.”

  “Suspicious? How?”

  Paul straightened his shoulders and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” He looked up and down the street. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Paul,” Anna cautioned him, “George is dead. The police are investigating. If you have suspicions about George, you’re going to have to share them. If not with me, then the police.”

  A cluster of women passed them on the sidewalk. As Anna mentioned the police, two of the women turned to stare at them, their steps slowing. Anna glared back at them and they pretended not to notice, hurrying on down the street.

  Paul watched the exchange with a reddening face. Finally, his shoulders slumped. “I might as well tell you, I always assumed George Hedley was somehow connected to the mob.”

  Another couple approached them from the direction of the main street, so Paul put a hand on Anna’s arm to direct her to a bench tucked between two pine trees off the pedestrian path. They sat close to each other, keeping their voices low.

  “Why did you think that?” Anna whispered.

  “He was a money guy — a great money guy. And really not, I repeat not a people person. In fact”―Paul shut his eyes and laughed—“he was terrible with people. They didn’t even like being around him.”

  “But you chose to work with him?” Anna asked, confused. “Why would you do that?”

  Paul nodded. “He brought me on board after he’d acquired Varico. He saw its potential, room for expansion. And as usual, he was right. About the business potential. Also right that it wasn’t a business he could run on his own.”

  “So you’re like a front man?”

  “Ha! You could say that, yes. My job is to run the business and keep George as far away from the clients as possible. Oh, I mean my job was…”

  “That’s why you didn’t like him coming into town so often?” Anna prodded, keeping him on track.

  “Absolutely. Plus, I was a little afraid of him. Like I said, I thought he was connected.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “You met him. He was… I don’t know… off.”

  “That’s certainly true. But I think he was just good at numbers and awkward around people.”

  “I guess so. I just… I just knew the business would run better if I dealt with the customers. So when people came around saying they knew him — like a tough-looking young man once, said George had offered him financial advice. I don’t mind telling you, I was scared. I thought he might be a hit man, you know, with the mob?”

  “Tough-looking young man?” Anna’s brows furrowed, then cleared when she realized he must mean Jason. Her first thought, of Jason in his Brigitte Bardot dress, was immediately replaced by the memory of how fierce he had been earlier that day. “Right, definitely scary. But you don’t have to worry about him, he wasn’t a hit man. He thought he was a friend of George.” Even as she spoke, Anna realized she didn’t really know if what she was saying were true. Was George connected to the mob? Was Jason really a hit man? She didn’t know either man well enough to answer honestly.

  “A friend?” Paul sounded surprised. “Oh. I didn’t realize George had friends.”

  “No, apparently neither did George. But he did, for all the good it did him. So will you be running the business on your own now?”

  “Yes, I will.” Paul nodded. “Funny. Before George died, I was looking for another job. Working with George, nervous about who he was and who he was connected to… it was getting to be too much for me.” He sighed and leaned back against the bench, running a hand through his hair. Then he laughed. “I guess now I’ll find out if it was the stress of the business or working with George that’s turning my hair prematurely gray.”

  “What about George’s widow? Won’t she inherit George’s share of the company?”

  “No, no.” Paul frowned and shook his head rapidly. “We had an agreement. In writing. It’s my business now.”

  “That works out pretty well for you, then,” Anna said, trying to keep her face a picture of innocence.

  She must have failed.

  “You—” Paul stood and cut himself off. He let out a growl but said nothing more, simply turning and dashing away from her.

  Anna had taken only a few steps when her cell phone rang. Hoping for a reservation, she answered in a chirpy voice.

&n
bsp; “Ah, yes, Ms. McGregor.” The voice was familiar, but Anna couldn’t immediately place it.

  “Yes, may I help you?”

  “This is Richard Gormley.”

  Anna froze where she was on the sidewalk, glanced around, then slipped back onto the bench she’d shared seconds earlier with Paul Murphy.

  “Mr. Gormley. Hello. How are you? I hope you and your wife found another place to stay and managed to enjoy the rest of your time in Cape May.”

  “Indeed. We are still enjoying our time in Cape May.”

  “Oh, good.” Anna was at a loss for how to respond. Why was he calling her?

  “Ms. McGregor, I want you to know that I am very sorry about what you must be going through. I can imagine George Hedley’s death has not been good for your business.”

  “Oh.” Anna’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, thank you. I appreciate that. No, it’s not been easy, but I’m sure I’ll get by. Climbing Rose Cottage will be available for your next visit to town.” Was it appropriate to be pitching her B&B on this call? She had no idea why he was even calling.

  “I’m glad to hear it. But I don’t think we’ll be staying with you again.”

  Anna slumped back against the bench. “No, of course not,” she answered in a quiet voice. “I can’t blame you. When someone dies like that…”

  There was a pause. Anna was about to repeat herself when she heard Gormley inhale sharply. “I don’t think you understand, young lady.”

  Young lady? Who did this man think he was talking to, his daughter?

  “Excuse me?” Anna said, her voice sharper.

  “As I said, we are still in town. My wife and I. We are spending time with friends. Good friends. You know by now that I ran a business in town for many years.”

  Anna nodded, then realizing that was not helpful, simply said, “Mm-hmm.”

  “We’ve been hearing stories from our friends, Ms. McGregor.”

  At least he was back to Ms. McGregor, that was better. Wasn’t it?

  “It seems you have been spreading rumors about me.” Gormley’s voice was getting louder, higher pitched.