We spent the next half hour goofing around and taking pictures. I couldn’t think of a more perfect ending to the day.
After our photo shoot, we headed back to the house where I planned to make a big pot of spaghetti complete with cheesy garlic bread. After supper, Matt and I really needed to talk about where we were going to live after we were married.
By eight o’clock, we were nestled under a quilt on the front porch, laughing each time the Olson’s curtains or Mrs. Rogers’s twitched back into place when our audience grew tired of watching us do nothing more than talk.
“I’ll live anywhere you want to, Stormi.” Matt rested his chin on the top of my head.
“I really love this house. Do you think we’ll regret the lack of privacy?”
“Probably, but I come from a small family. I love the noise and bustle of yours. When you visit Caldwell, why don’t you plan on moving Angela into the master bedroom and make a small apartment upstairs for us? A bedroom, bathroom, and a small sitting area. Then, when we need some quiet, we have a place to go.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. I can still enjoy the beauty of the house, but we’ll have our honeymoon retreat.”
I could only hope that Caldwell didn’t turn out to be the killer. He was the closest construction company Oak Meadows had.
13
The next morning, I placed a call to Caldwell Construction, specifically asking that Hank Caldwell be the one who gives me the estimate. I was promised he would arrive within the hour.
Now, I stood in the attic, slash Angela’s apartment, and envisioned the tirade when she found out she would have to share a room with Cherokee until the renovations were complete. They’d hear her screams in New York City. I’d had minor renovations done a few months ago, but if this was going to be mine and Matt’s retreat, there was a lot more work to be done.
I shrugged. If she didn’t like the accommodations, she could move.
Where was my mocha drink? Maryann promised to have it in my hand well before Caldwell arrived. I was sure I would need the fortitude before knowing how much the renovations were going to cost me. Still, I was happy that Matt was willing to live with my crazy family.
“I’m sorry.” Maryann thundered up the attic stairs. “The contractor is here early and wandering around the outside of the house.” She thrust my drink into my hand.
“Most likely chalking up additional things wrong with my house.” I took a sip and rushed down the stairs and outside.
A burly man in his mid-to late fifties walked the perimeter of my house making notes on a clipboard while Sadie barked from the kitchen window. The man turned. “That dog will have to be locked up before we can start work.”
“She isn’t vicious. I’m Stormi Nelson, can I help you?”
He nodded. “Hank Caldwell. You asked for renovations. I’ve been making a list.”
“I want the attic renovated, not the rest of the house.”
“Oh. My bad. Would you like to show me the area?”
I studied the three-day growth of beard on his square face, the beady eyes and slight paunch. Looks notwithstanding, I didn’t think I liked the man. It was nothing more than a feeling, but I wasn’t usually too far off the mark. I’d show him the attic, get some referrals, and let him know I had Dixon’s files before actually signing on the dotted line. Maybe I’d have Matt meet him. I didn’t want any shenanigans just because I was a woman. “Follow me.”
I led him through the house, hiding a grin around the straw of my drink as he made a wide berth around a growling Sadie. It wasn’t like my big furry girl to be so antagonistic. “She doesn’t like you.”
“Most dogs don’t. It’s weird.”
Hmm. Dogs were usually a great judge of character. “Maryann, would you mind coming to the attic with us?” I poked my head into my office as we passed. I decided to trust my dog’s instincts and not be alone with the man.
She joined us immediately and the three of us tromped up the stairs I’d had built when Angela moved in. “I want a nice handrail on these stairs,” I said. “I want them to look as if they’ve always been here.” In the attic, I led him around the mess and piles of clothes. “I want this to be basically a large, modern master suite. Large bathroom with separate jet tub and shower, two vanities, separate water closet—”
“What’s that?” He looked up from his notes.
“The little room where you put the toilet.”
“Oh.” He wrote that down.
“A large walk in closet with space enough for a padded bench. I want the closet custom. I’ll draw you up some designs.” I planted my fists on my hips. “I’ve already had heating and cooling put in, so that’s about it.”
“This is going to be expensive.” He glanced up from under bushy eyebrows.
“Oh, that’s no bother. Since taking over Dixon’s investigative services, and combined with my own, the money will be there.” I crossed my arms and tilted my head, ready for his reaction. I wasn’t disappointed.
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Why, right before Dixon was murdered,” I drew out the word, “we agreed to go into business together. He gave me copies of all his files and recordings. Now that he’s gone, I guess it’s just me and my associates.”
“Associates?” He paled.
“Yes. There are three of us. Oh,” I put a finger to my lips, “you were one of Dixon’s clients. I guess that means you are now mine. Do I get a discount on construction services?”
“Or what?”
“It’s just a question.”
“What do you plan on doing with the information Dixon handed to you?”
“Why, nothing. Not until the person who actually hired him wants me to. From your reaction, I gather that wasn’t you. Of course, it wasn’t. You wouldn’t hire someone to take pictures of you at a strip club. How silly of me. Well,” I rubbed my hands together, “that’s about all here. How long until you get back to me? Oh, and I’d like some references on your work, please.”
“Three days.” He stomped down the stairs.
Sadie barked loud and shrill.
The front door slammed.
“That went well.” I turned to Maryann.
“How so? We’re adding to our suspect list rather than taking away.”
“Once we’ve confronted everyone on the list Norma gave us, we can then start pushing people to make a move or to back away.”
“You love to live dangerously.” She shook her head. “Where to now?”
I chewed the inside of my bottom lip. “I could call about making an appointment with Doctor Pritchard.” I know Matt was sending an undercover cop, but they didn’t know about the Photo-shopped pictures. I wondered whether Dixon would have altered the photo, but couldn’t think of a single reason why he would. Still, he had the photo on his negatives. Which meant…he had to have taken a picture of the photo. Why?
“Let’s go see Matt.” We headed to the car and then to the police station, Pritchard’s photo in hand.
Once there, Matt led us to his office and studied the photo. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“A lot of things don’t make sense.” I sat in a chair across from his desk. “It looks suspiciously like blackmail to me.”
Matt’s phone rang. He hit the speaker button.
“Rachel Gable is demanding to see you.” My sister’s voice came through loud and clear.
Matt met my gaze. “Send her away.”
“She won’t leave.”
“Then make her wait.” He punched the button to hang up. “She’s probably here about the restraining order.”
“Good.” I grinned. “Now, back to the task at hand.” I refused to let that woman disrupt my life any more than she already had.
Angela rang again. “I’m sorry.”
Rachel burst into Matt’s office. She got a smug look when she saw me. “Oh, good. The gang’s all here.” She handed Matt a sheet of paper. “When would you like to meet your daughter?
”
Matt laid the paper on his desk. “So, the results came in. I’m a father.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I don’t have time to discuss this right now.”
If she knew him as well as she said she did, Rachel would have turned and fled the room. Instead, she stepped around his desk and laid a hand on his arm. Stupid woman.
“Can’t you see why you can’t marry someone else?”
“Not at all. You kept the fact I had a daughter from me for three years, so it hasn’t been a big concern to you.” He gripped his arm and dragged her toward the door. “I suggest you leave or I’ll have you thrown out.”
“But—”
He pushed her into the hall and slammed his door. “I’m sorry about that.” He turned red-rimmed eyes on me.
I rushed to his side. “We’ll work through this.”
He pulled me into his arms. His shudders tore through me. “I have a daughter I never knew about. I don’t even know her name.”
The door closed behind us. Maryann most likely left to respect our privacy.
Without speaking, Matt and I stood, slightly swaying, just holding each other. My heart raced out of fear. A child changed so many things in our life. I loved the little girl, despite her horrible mother, because Matt’s blood ran in her veins. But, the thought of Rachel in our life for a very long time filled me with dread.
“Let’s get married now. Today,” Matt said. “We can still have the formal ceremony as planned, but—”
I pulled back. “No. Nothing will change between us. We won’t get married because we’re afraid of what that evil woman will do. Hey, at least now the childish voodoo games will stop.” I gave him a shaky smile.
He gazed into my eyes. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Oh, I think we’re made for each other.” I rose on my toes and kissed him. “Let’s get back to work, shall we?”
He kissed me again, then again, as a man starving for a life-saving drink of water. He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. “I’ll pass the photo on to the undercover cop and pay a visit to Caldwell on the pretense of seeing his notes on the renovation. You keep on Miller and visit with Susan Burnett. Be careful.”
“I will.” I cupped his face. “Keep the faith. God is in this.”
“I know. I’m sorry I’m not coming to you as pure as you are to me.”
I chuckled. “One of us needs to know what they’re doing.” I turned and left, casting one last look over my shoulder.
Matt stood at his desk staring at the paternity test.
The fact Rachel held on to the fact he was a father made me more angry than her trying to break up our marriage. I recognize a desperate woman who knew she was losing the battle and almost felt sorry for her. I wasn’t the type of person to break off a wedding to the man I loved because of something in his past. No matter how big.
I met up with Maryann in the waiting room.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“It’s all going to be just fine.” I approached Angela’s desk. “You’ll need to clear out the attic and move in with Cherokee for a few weeks. I’m renovating the attic into a space for me and Matt.”
“What?! Of all the nerve—”
I held up a hand to ward off her screeching. “My house, my money, my wants. See you at supper.” I turned and marched into the fall afternoon. I loved my sister, but sometimes she needed to be put in her place.
A brisk breeze had picked up. Leaves in autumn splendor rained upon the parked cars. The only thing marring the beauty of the day was the smug woman sitting on the hood of my car.
“Get off before you dent the hood,” I told her, pressing the unlock button on my car fob. “Remember the restraining order.”
“You’d have the mother of Matt’s child arrested?”
“In a heartbeat.” I grinned. “If you’re behind bars, you’re no longer a problem. Then, we could get the court to order a psych eval. Wouldn’t that be interesting?”
She called me a few choice names as I got into the driver’s seat, then kicked the front fender. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she limped away.
“Things are never going to be the same,” Maryann said. “I don’t have a clue how to be an aunt.”
“I don’t have any idea how to be a stepmother.” I turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the parking spot. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I bet Matt fights for custody. If he does, he’ll win. That will make you a full time mother.”
I took a deep breath. Attic renovations might change…again.
14
The ringing of my cell phone from my nightstand woke me the next morning. I fumbled for the phone, knocking it to the floor in the process, and upsetting three cats and one very large dog who had all somehow managed to sneak into bed with me.
I finally had the phone in hand, and hanging half on the bed and half on the floor, pushed the answer button. “Hello?”
“I’d like to speak with Stormi Nelson.” A cultured, feminine voice said.
“This is she.” I glanced at the clock. Eight a.m. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept this late.
“This is Doctor Amanda Pritchard. I’d like to hire your services. Could you meet me at the quaint coffee shop in Oak Meadows at nine?”
“Oh. Yes. I’ll be there.”
The woman hung up and had me dashing for the shower, calling Maryann on my way. “Get over here within thirty minutes.” I hung up and set my phone in the vicinity of the sink. A splash alerted me to the fact I’d missed and the ever-accommodating toilet caught the phone.
“No!” I plunged my hand into the bowl and retrieved my phone.
After a few seconds of whirling like a dervish, hoping for a miracle, I raced downstairs and to the kitchen for a bag of rice. I took the phone apart and buried the pieces deep into the rice. Zipping the bag closed, I took it with me back to my room and left it sitting safely on the bed under the watchful eye of my pets.
Forty minutes later, I shoved the bag of rice and phone into my purse and thundered downstairs. I’d made the point of wearing black slacks and a long-sleeved royal blue blouse. I’d slapped on some makeup and pinned my hair into a sloppy bun. I wanted to have a semblance of professionalism when meeting with someone of the doctor’s caliber.
Maryann glanced up from the kitchen. “Must be important if you’re out of jeans.”
“Doc Pritchard called. We’re meeting her in twenty minutes at Delicious Aroma.”
She frowned. “You should have told me. I would have worn something other than a grey maxi skirt and sweatshirt.”
“At least the sweatshirt has lace down the arms.” Maryann would look nice in a feed sack.
We made it to the coffee shop at five minutes til nine. I hollered across the room for Tyler to make our usuals, then chose a round table set apart from the rest.
Norma sent a curious look our way, which was replaced with one of surprise when Pritchard walked into the room. Norma mouthed, “Wow,” and pretended to concentrate on the laptop screen in front of her.
Pritchard must know who I am because she made a beeline to our table. “Miss Nelson?”
“Yes.” I stood and offered my hand. “Please, have a seat and my assistant will get you something to drink.”
Pritchard barely glanced at Maryann and said, “Black. Cream and sugar. The biggest they have.”
Maryann rolled her eyes and hurried to the counter, bypassing the line, to the disgruntled murmurs of those waiting. I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to miss a second of our meeting with the beautiful doctor either. Despite making an effort with my appearance, I felt shoddy and underdressed.
Amanda Pritchard, she said I could call her Amanda, which made me feel ridiculously privileged, set her Gucci bag on the table and twined her string of pearls around her fingers. “I’m a bit embarrassed to be here.”
“I’m guessing you know that I’ve taken over for Dixon.” I took my drink from Maryann
.
“Yes, but I was never the one to hire him.” She pursed her lips. “It seems as if someone is out to tarnish my reputation.”
It wasn’t that sparkly to begin with, but okay. “Who would want to do that?”
She exhaled sharply. “My ex-husband, more than likely.” She gave a sharp laugh. “He’s a web designer for several major corporations and sticking my head on some slut’s body would be an easy feat for him.”
“So, you weren’t in that motel with the mayor?” Oh, yeah. The man’s identity had come to me while I was sleeping. The paling of her skin told me I hadn’t dreamed the man’s name.
“Former mayor, and no, I never had.” She pulled harder on her pearls. “But…this isn’t common knowledge, although a few people obviously are aware of the fact…I intend to run for mayor. I believe that is the reason for the photographs.”
Also a very good motive on her part to knock off Dixon. “How did you find out I had the photos?”
She gave a tight-lipped smile. “Word gets around.”
While we talked, Maryann took notes on her Ipad. She made the perfect assistant. Not many people could sit there quietly and blend into the background while someone spilled their motive for murder.
A tall man with a camera approached our table, snapped a quick photo, and skedaddled before we could say a word.
“Wonderful.” Amanda stopped fiddling with her necklace. “Who knows what the paper will make of this little meeting.” She stood and grabbed her purse. “Find out who is setting me up, Miss Nelson, and send the bill to my office.” She sauntered from the coffee shop.
“Do you think she killed Dixon?” Maryann turned off her Ipad.
“She’s as good a suspect as the others. I guess we’ll find out if she threatens me in any way.” I took a sip of my coffee, noticing Amanda hadn’t touched hers. “My question is…does she know the undercover cop Matt sent is an undercover cop? I’m not sure it would matter at this point, but maybe hiring me is nothing more than a red herring.”
“The only person on this list we haven’t spoken to is Susan Burnett.”
“Call and make us an appointment.” I leaned back in my chair, putting all four legs back on the floor when Norma glared at me.
Nosy Neighbor: All 7 complete Nosy Neighbor cozy mysteries PLUS: 2 short Christmas stories (A Nosy Neighbor mystery) Page 97
