by Mae Fox
She padded to the bathroom, pulled her thick hair back into a sloppy ponytail, and washed her face. Once her teeth were brushed, she turned out the light and crawled beneath the covers. Her body was more than ready to give in to the urge to get some much-needed rest.
But her mind was not. She squeezed her eyes shut as her thoughts raced.
Should she call Detective Frost and tell him what Carrie had relayed to her? She figured she should, but the last thing she wanted to do was face the detective’s keen eyes again so soon. There were times when his attitude made her feel like he believed she brought all of this onto herself, as if Straussberg had never experienced any real crime until she showed up.
No, she wouldn’t call him. At least not right now. She was bone weary and not in the mood. If she was going to call anyone at this hour, it would be Daniel Franklin. She could use a dose of his deep voice and charming smile. Maybe she would call him tomorrow. Or if luck was truly on her side, he would drop in to see how things were going.
As if that’s going to happen. She hadn’t had much in the way of good luck since she’d set foot on Missouri soil.
TWELVE
“Julie,” a male voice said. She turned to see Liam rushing down the stairs toward
her the next morning. He smiled politely. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” “Of course,” she said, though what she really wanted to do was duck into the tearoom and snatch another cup of coffee. Coming off of a fitful night of very little sleep, she knew she’d need all of the caffeine she could get to survive the day.
“I know I’m supposed to leave tonight, but I was wondering if I could rent my room for a while longer.”
Julie blinked. “You want to stay here longer?”
“Yes.” He nodded eagerly.
“For how many more days?”
He shrugged and didn’t meet her eyes.
“I’m not sure.” “I take it you’ve found the weekend to be inspiring fodder for your next book.”
He had the good graces to blush. “When did you figure it out?”
“Friday.”
He rubbed a palm against the back of his neck. “Thanks for not telling everyone my secret. Sometimes I just need time to be plain old me.”
“I understand, and you’re welcome,” she said. “But don’t thank me too much. Sadie figured it out as well.”
“Huh. So, about the room …?” he asked.
“I’m sure we can work something out. I do have rooms available.”
“That’s precisely what I was hoping you’d say.” With a satisfied grin, he started back up the staircase, taking them two at a time.
“Aren’t you coming to breakfast?” Julie called to him.
“I’ve got something to do. Then I’ll be down,” he called over his shoulder.
Gregory, Carrie, Susan, Kenneth, and Sadie were already in the breakfast room when Julie arrived.
Julie was glad to see Sadie looking none the worse for wear. “When did you get back?”
“Late last night.” Sadie took a delicate sip of her tea.
“Did Joyce come with you?” Julie asked.
“Oh no, dear, she’s still at the hospital. Poor thing. The doctor made her stay a little while longer.” The older woman shifted in her seat and took another sip. “I couldn’t stand it there for another minute. Hospital food and all that. Dreadful smells, you know.”
“Oh.” Julie wasn’t sure how to respond. The two women had been inseparable since they had arrived, the best of friends—or so she’d thought. Julie had fully expected Sadie to remain with Joyce until she was released from the hospital, not be chased away by a little thing like smelly hospital food. Did Sadie have an ulterior motive for returning to the inn so soon?
“I hope they release her today,” Julie finally said.
“Thank you, dear. So do I.”
Julie turned her focus to the rest of the group just in time to hear Kenneth exclaim, “I’m just saying that I don’t believe we have anything else to worry about!”
“I don’t see how you can possibly believe that.” Susan frowned.
“It’s simple, really.” Kenneth picked up a scone and slathered it with clotted cream. Julie could almost see Hannah roll her eyes. With all the work Hannah put into her fabulous scones, they didn’t need any embellishment, not even the traditional topping the Brits used. “It’s the law of averages. So much has already happened, what more could feasibly go wrong?”
Susan shook her head. “You shouldn’t have uttered that challenge to the universe.”
“All I know is I’ll be glad to get out of here,” Gregory chimed in with his usual scowl firmly in place.
Julie noticed he’d brought the small bronze duck from his room and set it next to his plate. Not quite as menacing a weapon as the fire poker, but potentially lethal all the same. She grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down next to Shirley.
“Good morning,” the spunky redhead greeted as Julie joined her. As was the case on most days, her attitude was just as lively as her clothing—a bright pink-and-red dress accented with dangly heart earrings and a handwoven scarf.
Julie thought she looked like a walking valentine, but Shirley always brought a smile to her lips. “Good morning to you.”
“It’s going to rain today,” Shirley announced loudly enough so everyone would hear.
“It’s already started.” Julie stirred a bit of cream and sugar into her coffee and took a tentative sip. Perfect.
“Great.” Gregory tossed his napkin onto his plate and snorted in disgust. “Our last day here, and we’re trapped inside this place.”
“I’d be happy to loan you an umbrella,” Julie offered.
Gregory simply rolled his eyes.
“A pity. I was looking forward to one last day in town,” Sadie agreed.
“It should stop later this afternoon,” Shirley said.
“I think it’s a perfect time to work on the quilt. We’re almost done,” Julie reminded them.
“Yeah, like that’s what I want to do,” Gregory said sarcastically. He propped his feet in the chair opposite him as if daring someone to tell him to get them down.
“We could play board games,” Kenneth suggested.
“What did I miss?” Liam sauntered into the breakfast room.
“Nothing except that it’s going to rain,” Shirley said.
“It already is.” Liam snatched a piece of fruit and a couple of muffins from the sideboard and then poured himself a cup of coffee.
“We were right in the middle of deciding what to do today,” Susan said.
“Quilting or board games,” Carrie added. “What’s your choice?”
“Quilt,” Sadie said.
Liam shook his head. “I have some stuff to work on in my room.”
A chorus of protests went up around the room. Julie couldn’t decide if they honestly wanted Liam’s company or if they wanted to keep an eye on him.
“If I have to stay down here and endure this, so do you,” Gregory said. “And I vote for playing a game.”
Julie could see Liam begin to cave. “Come on,” she said. “It’ll be fun.”
Liam looked like he might protest further, but then he seemed to change his mind. “All right. Count me in.”
“Yay,” Carrie said. “What do you want to play?”
“Anything but Clue,” Gregory grumped.
Julie couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of his comment and the situation as a whole.
After everyone finished breakfast, most of the group moved to the tearoom where the quilt was set up, while Kenneth and Liam went to get the games out of the game cabinet.
“How about Othello?” Liam asked.
“But that’s a two-person game,” Susan protested.
“Fine by me,” Gregory said. “You and somebody else can play and leave the rest of us in peace.”
“Well, there’s Monopoly, Life, and Trivial Pursuit.”
“I am not playing a trivia game with a co
llege professor,” Kenneth said. “All the brown questions will be too easy for you.”
“Like you’d be any better,” Liam protested. “You’re a doctor. You’d get all the science ones right.”
Kenneth smiled. “Touché.”
“Maybe we should play teams,” Susan suggested.
“Or we could have a checkers tournament,” Julie said. “Whoever isn’t playing can quilt. How does that sound?”
“I like it,” Carrie said.
They drew numbers to see who would go first. Gregory and Kenneth drew one and two, and had first play. Carrie, Sadie, and Susan looked somewhat relieved to be quilting while the men moved their red and black discs across the board.
Liam slid into the seat next to Julie. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to have any rooms available on the first floor, would you?”
“Sorry, no,” Julie said. “The guest rooms are all located on the second floor, except for the Tower Room, where Carrie is staying.”
“Too bad.”
The inn manager inside Julie kicked in. “Is there something wrong with your room?”
“My room is fine,” Liam said. “But I thought it might be more fun to be down here.”
“I would have thought you’d need quiet and solitude.” Liam shook his head. “I like to be in the thick of things. I find it inspiring.”
“For your writing,” Carrie interjected.
Liam swung around to stare at her. “How did you know?”
The young woman smiled. “Your picture is on your jacket covers.”
Liam seemed to puff up with pride. “And you’ve read my books?”
“Every one of them.”
“Me too,” Susan said.
“And me too, dear,” Sadie said.
He looked back to Julie. “Does everyone here know who I am?”
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t tell them.”
He turned to Carrie. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I figured that if you wanted to hide out badly enough that you lied about your name, you needed some time to be someone else.”
Liam’s expression softened. “Thank you very much for that.”
“Well, unless we’re going to host an impromptu book signing and group therapy session, can we get back to the game?” Gregory asked.
Kenneth turned his attention back to the board.
“If you want to change rooms simply for a change of scenery,” Julie said to Liam, “you could have the Tower Room once it’s free. You’d have a completely different view—though it’s certainly not in the thick of things.”
“Thanks. I will.”
“Is something wrong with your room?” Kenneth asked.
Gregory sighed and leaned back in his seat, clearly more than ready to get the game over with.
“Nah,” Liam said. “I was just hoping to get on the first floor.”
“Our room’s got that great view over the garden,” Kenneth said. “That might be inspiring.”
“You’re not leaving today?” Carrie asked Liam.
“Nope. I’ve rented my room for a little while longer.”
She nodded and went back to her quilting.
“You know, that’s a brilliant idea.” Kenneth’s entire face lit up. “Let’s stay a while longer, hon.”
Susan looked like she was about to choke, but she managed to keep it together. “Shouldn’t we get back to your practice? I mean, we’ve been away longer than we’d anticipated.”
“Just a day.” Kenneth looked back to the board and made a triple jump. “King me,” he said to Gregory. “This is the most fun I’ve had in years.”
Stunned at the strange turn of events, Julie nodded. “It might take a bit of shuffling, but I do have one more room open for the rest of the week.”
“And we can keep our same room?”
“Unless you still want to trade with Liam.”
“Liam’s room’s bigger,” Shirley chimed in.
“Then let’s do it,” Kenneth said. “What do you say, Liam?”
The two men smiled like they had pulled off the biggest heist in history. They stood and started talking about how to best go about switching out.
“I’ll get Inga to change the sheets,” Shirley said.
Susan pushed back from the quilt, muttering something about terrible vacations.
“Hey, what about our game?” Gregory hollered as Liam and Kenneth left the tearoom to go upstairs. They either didn’t hear him or they ignored him. Julie wasn’t sure which.
Carrie continued to quilt, seemingly satisfied with her morning plans.
Julie stood and went to make the changes to the register. There for a moment, even with Gregory in the room, the vibe had seemed almost … normal. Her guests were playing checkers, quilting, drinking tea, and otherwise having a fairly good time—all things considered.
How long can it possibly last?
Carrie and Sadie continued to quilt as Liam and the Calhouns switched rooms. It took the better part of the morning, but at least they were all occupied.
Julie made her way to the kitchen around ten.
As usual, Hannah was mixing up something that smelled yeasty and delicious.
“I was wondering if we could serve something for lunch today,” Julie asked.
Hannah frowned. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“I know, but it’s raining, and everyone seems to be content to stay here. Most of the guests wouldn’t normally be here right now.” Had it not been for the murder, everyone already would have been checked out and on their way home.
Hannah gave Julie that look, the one that said she was overstepping her boundaries.
“It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate,” Julie said. “Maybe some finger foods and snacks. That way they can continue to quilt and play games. No one has to stop if they don’t want to.”
Hannah grumbled in response.
“So, you’ll whip something up?”
“Of course.”
Julie smiled. “Thanks. I’ll let everyone know.”
It was almost noon before Kenneth, Susan, and Liam came back downstairs.
“How did a single guy get such a big room?” Kenneth asked.
“Oh, it’s not that big,” Liam said, with a shrug.
“I can’t believe you’re giving that up.”
“All in the name of art,” Liam said. “And the view of the garden.”
Kenneth beamed at his new friend.
Julie suspected he either wanted a book signed or the next story dedicated to him.
Carrie sat up straight when they entered the tearoom. She stretched the kinks out of her back and adjusted her glasses. “Susan, will you quilt with me?”
Susan smiled. “Of course.”
“It’s our turn at checkers,” Kenneth said, clapping Liam on the back.
They sat at the table where the board was set up. Kenneth and Gregory’s abandoned game was still in place. The men started realigning the pieces as Hannah entered carrying a tray of tiny quiches and finger sandwiches.
“Thank you,” Julie said as Hannah set the tray on a nearby table. “Normally we don’t serve lunch, but Hannah didn’t want you to have to go out in the rain, especially since she’s the best chef in town.”
Murmured thanks went up all around. Hannah blushed, privately rolling her eyes at Julie.
“I’ll leave it up here buffet style,” Hannah said. “You can help yourselves when you’re ready.”
“It looks wonderful,” Julie said, convinced the woman was a miracle worker.
Hannah shot her a look that would have meant “You owe me one,” but the sparkle in her eyes said otherwise. Julie knew her friend really was happy cooking for the inn’s guests. After all the excitement they’d shared over the years, it was amazing that the simple act of cooking could bring Hannah such joy.
Julie took a bite of one of the quiches. OK. Maybe not so simple. It was fabulous. She managed to swallow her satisfied moan with the bite a
nd not embarrass herself in front of her guests.
Kenneth and Liam grabbed plates and filled them as high as they would go.
Shirley made fresh coffee and a pot of tea.
Carrie and Susan continued to quilt, unwilling to stop and eat, and also respectful enough of the hard work they’d put in to not risk staining the beautiful creation before they even finished it.
As Julie picked up one more quiche, it suddenly dawned on her that something was wrong with the scene before her. Somebody was missing. “Where’s Gregory?”
“I saw him headed toward the library a little bit ago,” Shirley said. “He’s still gone?”
Julie scanned the faces before her as if she could possibly miss him in a crowd of six. “Yes.”
“Oh, well I’m sure he’ll be right back,” Shirley said.
Julie had a bad feeling about it. She muttered a response and headed out of the tearoom, intent on finding Gregory. But the library was empty.
She slowly made her way back toward the others, poking her head into various rooms as she went. It wasn’t like he couldn’t leave the inn, but she was suspicious all the same. As she passed the door to the tearoom on the way to check the library, she heard Shirley say in her most dramatic voice, “… and would you like to know how this mystery ends?”
Boy, would I, she thought with a grim smile.
THIRTEEN
Realizing Shirley was talking about the murder mystery weekend, Julie changed course and headed back into the tearoom.
“Yes, yes, tell us please,” Susan and Carrie said over each other.
The men smiled indulgently at them.
“Well,” Shirley drawled in that way she had that pulled everyone to the edge of their seats before she even got to the good stuff. Her flair for the dramatic had made her twice-weekly sessions of Stitches and Stories one of the inn’s most popular events with guests and tourists alike. “My character’s name was Shelly Carson, and I was married to Bill Carson. That was Daniel Franklin from the other night. Remember him?”
Everyone nodded.
