by J A Whiting
I’ll put the pepper spray on the bedside table. Maybe a knife, too.
Lin immediately dismissed the idea of the knife, afraid an intruder might use it on her.
Just the pepper spray then.
Lin didn’t want to put on pajamas in case she heard someone breaking into the house so she changed into sweatpants and a soft, long-sleeved shirt, left the lamp on in the living room, and climbed into bed with the dog resting beside her.
When she switched off the bedside light, she lay on her back staring up at the ceiling, ready to leap out of bed at the slightest sound. She tried running through all the reasons why she’d overreacted. People do walk around at night. There are already a good number of people visiting the island for the Stroll and someone might have been out for a walk or was returning from a restaurant.
With all the trouble going on at the Snows’ house, my mind got jumpy from being alone in the dark. It was nothing. I need to get some sleep.
Lin turned onto her side and attempted to clear her mind of worry by listening to the dog’s slow, restful breathing. Having Nicky with her helped her to calm down and she was beginning to relax when a clicking sound was heard from outside her window.
Nicky leapt to his feet and began to bark as Lin rolled out of the bed and crouched on the floor, perspiration running down her back and her heart beating a mile a minute.
The dog jumped to the floor, standing still and silent, sniffing the air with his hair standing up on his back.
Grabbing her pepper spray, Lin crawled to the window and rising onto her knees just enough for her eyes to see outside, she took a quick look.
Nothing but darkness.
A hard knock on the front door caused Lin to fall back on her butt and the dog barked and took off to the small foyer.
“Lin?” A man’s voice called from the other side of the door.
Hurrying to open it, Lin asked, “Leonard?”
“It’s me. Can I come in?”
Unlocking the door, Lin swung it open to find her partner standing on the step looking forlorn.
“Did you see anyone lurking around my house? What are you doing here?”
“I saw the light on. I thought you were up.”
“Where’s your truck?”
“At home in my driveway. I’ve been walking.”
It was then that Lin realized what was going on. Leonard lived miles from her house and would not be out walking the empty roads late at night unless….
“Come out of the cold. Come in here.”
Leonard stepped inside. Despite his winter hat and heavy coat, he shivered like he’d fallen into an icy lake.
Nicky whined and rubbed his head against the man’s leg.
“Give me your coat. We’ll light the gas fire. There’s a warm blanket on the sofa. Go wrap up in it while I make some tea,” Lin said.
Leonard stood there like a zombie.
“What is it?” Lin asked gently, but she already knew.
The big man’s lower lip trembled and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
“Marguerite’s gone. For good.”
21
Sipping a cup of hot tea, Leonard hunched on the sofa wrapped in a fluffy blanket with Nicky resting across his lap.
Lin sat in a chair across from her partner with her legs pulled up under her, holding her mug between her hands. “Tell me what happened.”
“You know what happened.” The words seemed to stick in the man’s throat. “She’s gone … and I’m never going to see her again.” Leonard closed his eyes and rested his head against the sofa back.
Lin waited a few seconds to ask, “How do you know? What’s different this time from the other times she’s left for a few days?”
Leonard set his cup on the coffee table, looked up at the ceiling, and sighed. “When I got home from work, she was standing in the living room. She looked different, more transparent. The minute I saw her, I knew. I asked her why. I started to cry.” Leonard needed a few moments to gather himself. “She shook her head and then she gave me the sweetest smile. She put her hands over her heart, and then she held them out to me … like … like she was sending me her love. And then she was gone. I … I dropped to the floor and bawled like a baby.” Tears began to stream down the man’s face.
Tears welled in Lin’s eyes, too, and when they spilled over her lids, she got up, sat down next to Leonard, and wrapped him in her arms. The two of them rocked back and forth for a few minutes with the dog in between them.
Leonard sighed and sat back, wiping at his cheeks with his hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry about loving someone.”
Taking in a long, deep breath, the big man said, “I left the house and started walking. I walked for hours. All around, up and down the streets. I ended up here.”
Lin used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe at her own cheeks. “I’m glad you did.”
“I’m never going to see her again, Coffin.”
Lin took her friend’s hand in hers. “But you’ll always have her in your heart.”
Leonard slept on the couch with the dog right beside him, and in the morning he was up early and making breakfast when Lin stumbled into the kitchen, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Smells good in here. You should stay over more often.”
“I would if you put an extra bed in your office. Just so you know, that sofa isn’t that comfortable.”
“You’re welcome.” Lin teased and took a seat at the kitchen counter to watch Leonard cook. “I thought someone was following me home last night.”
Her partner stared at her with the pancake turner held aloft. “When?”
Lin smiled. “Last night.”
“Someone followed you home?”
“I thought someone was behind me. Viv and John and Jeff and I left the boat club late. Viv and I walked home. After we turned off, I got the sensation I was being watched and followed. The stuff going on at the Snows’ house got to me. I was paranoid.”
“Are you sure? No one walked down your street behind you?”
“They might have, but I took off running when I turned down the road. I didn’t want to take any chances.”
“No one ran after you?”
“I was too afraid to notice. When I got to the door, I screamed for Nicky and he started barking while I jammed the key in the lock and came in. If I didn’t have a heart attack then, I never will.” Lin grinned. “I sat around in here with most of the lights off waiting to see if someone tried to break in.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?” Leonard asked.
“What would I say? Someone was walking behind me? I don’t think they’d find that as alarming as I did.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t need to,” Lin smiled. “You showed up on my front steps.” A shadow passed over her face as she remembered the evening. “Before you got here, I was in bed. I heard a noise. Nicky heard it, too. We got up and I peeked out the window.”
“What kind of a noise?” Leonard asked.
“A click, or a scrape. Something like that. It must have been you.”
“I didn’t make any clicking sound.”
“Well, something made the noise. Maybe it was a branch brushing against the outside of the house.”
“Maybe,” Leonard said, but he looked skeptical as he scooped scrambled eggs and lifted pancakes onto their plates next to slices of buttered toast. “Let’s eat.”
“I won’t need to eat for the rest of the day,” Lin told him, reaching for her fork and digging in.
A few minutes passed and Lin asked, “Are you doing okay?”
Without looking up, Leonard said, “I’m okay. Not great.”
“Do you want to talk?”
“There’s nothing else to say.” Leonard took a long swallow of his coffee. “Will you drive me home so I can shower and change clothes? I can meet you at the first client.”
“Of course. Want me to come in while you ge
t ready? We can be a little late.”
“I think I’d like to be in the house on my own.”
“I understand.” Lin nodded. “You can sleep here tonight if you want to.”
Leonard made eye contact with her. “Only if you sleep on the sofa and I get the bedroom.”
“No dice.”
“Then I’ll stay home.”
“Don’t go wandering the streets again tonight,” Lin told him. “Drive over here if you need to talk, or be with us, or whatever.”
Nicky barked his agreement.
Leonard’s dark brown eyes held Lin’s. “Thanks, Coffin. I mean it.” He looked down at the dog. “You, too, small fry.”
When the breakfast was eaten and the dishes cleaned up, Leonard said, “I’ll take the dog out while you get dressed.”
Lin showered and put on her work clothes and made lunches for her and Leonard, and while packing the food into the bags, she looked to the door wondering why Nicky and Leonard had been outside for so long.
Her heart rate increased as she pulled on her coat and hat and hurried outdoors. “Where are you?”
Nicky barked and came around the corner of the house with Leonard following behind holding his phone.
Lin didn’t like the look on his face. “What’s wrong?”
“I was taking some pictures.” He gestured to the snow on the ground under her bedroom window.
Lin stepped closer and let out a gasp when she saw the footprints. Whirling around, she said, “Someone was here last night.” Anger flooded her body and her hands balled into fists. “Someone was following me.”
Nicky growled low and deep.
“There are footprints under the living room windows, too,” Leonard told her.
“Was someone going to break into my house?” Lin blinked, stunned by seeing the footprints.
“Someone might only have been looking in without any plan to break in.”
“Why? Why would someone be looking around?” Lin’s eyes widened. “Was it the same guy who broke into the Snows’?”
“The intruder might think the painting he wants has been moved out of the Snows’ house for safekeeping,” Leonard said. “Maybe he thinks the painting has been moved to your house and wanted to see if he could see it inside.”
Lin’s face was red and her chest was rising and falling with anger. “This is getting ridiculous. How dare this person invade our personal spaces.”
“I think you should call the police. Report it. Have it on file in their police reports.”
“Do you think the police could figure out who was out here by checking the soles of the shoes from the footprints?” Lin asked.
“The snow was hard. The footprints aren’t clear. It won’t help identify the loser who was skulking around here last night.”
“I’ll call the police. Why don’t you take my truck and go home to change? You can come back and pick me up when you’re done and we can head to work,” Lin suggested. “I’m going to call Jeff and Viv, too.” She handed Leonard the keys.
“Okay.” Leonard gave Lin a funny look.
Lin tilted her head to the side in question. “What?”
“Now I have to worry about you.”
“Maybe it will take your mind off something else,” Lin said gently.
“It won’t. It will just add to my misery.” Leonard shrugged. “See if Jeff can stay here with you tonight. I don’t want you to be alone. If he can’t, I’ll sleep on that darned, lumpy sofa again.”
One side of Lin’s mouth turned up. “Thank you.”
Leonard headed to Lin’s truck. “Don’t let anything happen to you, Coffin. I just couldn’t handle it.”
22
The first official day of the Holiday Stroll was in full swing with the tourists and residents moving through town from one event to another. The Whaling Museum’s annual Festival of Trees drew crowds to see the stunning trees designed and decorated by members of the community creating a beautiful winter scene. An ugly sweater contest went on all day, there was cookie decorating, holiday concerts, store sales, guided hikes, and tours of some of the festively decorated homes. The sun was shining and the temperatures were chilly, but not frigid, making it perfect weather to enjoy the festivities.
Viv’s bookstore-café bustled with browsers and buyers and two of the employees stood at the entrance pouring cups of hot cocoa with marshmallows and handing out frosted sugar cookies.
Lin had volunteered to work at the store to help out and she and Viv, and Viv’s friend and employee, Mallory were stationed at the beverage counter waiting on customers and making drinks, preparing sandwiches and bowls of soup, and selling the pastries and desserts.
Viv shed some tears when Lin told her that Marguerite was gone.
The previous day, Lin met with two police officers who took the information about the man who followed her home and peeped in her windows. Not much was said about the event, but the officers told her she did the right thing to report it.
Jeff stayed overnight so that Lin wouldn’t have to be alone in case the lurker decided to make another visit. Thankfully, the night passed without incident.
Leonard had been quiet all day while he and Lin worked side-by-side on snow removal, tending to holiday decorations at their clients’ homes, and meeting with several current and prospective clients to discuss spring landscaping projects.
Lin didn’t dare bring up Marguerite. She knew her partner needed time to process the ghost’s departure, and if Leonard wanted to talk, she knew he would indicate to her that he needed a sympathetic ear. Instead of pumping the man about his feelings, Lin made little jokes and light conversation and pretended it was just another day.
Nicky stayed by Leonard’s side and kept a close watch on the man, monitoring his mood and acting playful when it was appropriate, and being quiet and companionable the rest of the time.
During a lull in the café area, the young women refilled the pastry cases and coolers and wiped down the counters, and Lin was filling the coffee brewers when she noticed Anton making his way over to her.
“So many people on the streets today.” Anton removed his winter hat.
Viv joked with him. “It’s day one of the holiday stroll, remember?”
“It’s too crowded.” The historian fussed and accepted a cup of coffee handed to him by Lin.
“The merchants in town love crowded,” Viv reminded Anton.
“Yes, yes.” He waved his hand in the air. “But I don’t.”
“It’s only three days,” Lin said placing a blueberry muffin in front of him.
“But people come before the stroll and stay long afterwards,” Anton pouted. “Anyway, I have some news.” He reached into his briefcase and removed a leather folder.
Viv’s and Lin’s faces turned serious.
“You found some information?” Lin held her breath.
“Christine Allen, the art historian, contacted me this morning.” Anton flipped some pages. “Here we are.” He looked up at Lin. “Christine told me one of her associates recognized the description you gave her of the man who made an offer for Captain Baker’s portrait.”
“Who is he?”
“He seems to have a number of names, but the associate knew the man as Carl Rodo. He represents different clients in art acquisitions. That’s his official job description anyway.”
“What’s his unofficial job title?” Viv asked.
“Thug,” Anton told them.
Her blue eyes wide, Lin asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means what it sounds like. Rodo makes offers for artwork. He often succeeds in gaining the desired piece.”
A shiver ran over Lin’s skin. “And when he isn’t successful?”
“That depends on who he is representing and what the piece is.”
“So what does he do?” Viv asked. “Intimidate people? Threaten them?”
“It seems so in some cases.” Anton nodded and referred to his notes. “There have been two suspected ca
ses where a reluctant seller suffered an unfortunate accident.”
“No way,” Lin said. “Are you serious? They hurt people to get a painting?”
“This is very big business,” Anton explained. “Millions of dollars pass hands, many deals are shady, many deals handle stolen artwork and ancient artifacts, things move through secretive channels, art ends up in the collections of billionaires.”
“I had no idea,” Lin was stunned.
“Who is this Rodo guy representing?” Viv questioned. “Does anyone know?”
“He works with several clients,” Anton said. “But he is thought to work closely with one person in particular, Alexander Popov, a man who made his incredible wealth through hedge funds. That’s the legitimate business he runs. He has supposedly made much more in his illegal ventures. He is thought to be a very dangerous man.”
“Do we think Popov is the one who wants the captain’s portrait?” Viv swallowed hard. “Please say no.”
“It certainly could be Popov,” Anton said. “I’m going to share this information with law enforcement.”
“There’s still the unanswered question,” Lin reminded the others. “Why does a collector want the painting of the captain so badly?”
“I’d like to know the answer to that,” Viv said, “but I’d prefer to focus on ways to stay safe from this Rodo character.”
“Viv has a point,” Anton said.
“Where does Rodo live? Is there any way to find out if he’s left the island?” Lin asked.
“He lives in Miami. He doesn’t spend a lot of time there, and no, I doubt he’s left the island. He doesn’t have what his client wants.”
“He’s going to steal it, isn’t he?” Viv asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Anton agreed.
“We need to tell the Snows. Maybe they could hide the painting in the attic for a while,” Lin said. “Keep it out of sight. Keep it out of harm’s way.”
Anton pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps, Robert and Lila should consider taking the offer. That would remove the possibility of danger touching them.”
