As I closed the box and piled my laundry over the top of it, something dawned on me. Olivia had said that Nakita was friends with Kerbie. Shrek, and Gronk. Then why did she act so anxious when she saw the mechanics walk into the café? If they were friends, why the cause for concern? Maybe something in this box would provide clues. It would have to wait for later, though, since it was time to meet up with Axel and Jax.
I left the kitty-pile still sweetly asleep on my bed and slipped out into the hallway. There it was, right across from my room, in its usual morning spot. The anthropomorphized traveling window seat enjoying the early morning sunshine for its own snooze. I noticed the bookshelf was rearranged and now also contained several vases of fresh flowers set between the books for a very pretty effect. I’d need to check it out later to determine if any new books were added. The window seat library yielded some very enlightening books about Destiny Falls and the Caldwell family. It would also be helpful as I tackled putting together the Destiny Falls online newspaper. Add those things to my growing list of to-dos.
As always, I didn’t rush my way through the house. I savored the experience. It seems the wood railings had been polished because they had a more vivid shine than usual. And that’s saying a lot. The beautiful woods throughout this home were obviously well-maintained by someone. Who, I didn’t know, as the household staff must do their work while I was gone or sleeping? Or . . . wait. Did the house maintain itself? That would be very possible. A self-cleaning house. Oh yeah. Package that and you could make a million. Or ten.
I met Axel downstairs in the foyer. My spirits lightened the minute I saw my brother’s smiling face. At that moment, our father Leonard came around the corner from the kitchen.
“Good morning, guys,” he said, looking quite pleased to be able to say that.
How nice it felt to hear my father say ‘guys’ and have it mean me and my brother. I bet he felt great joy in that. After a lifetime of having his children separated, to have us all three together was a blessing.
“Hayden, do you have time later this afternoon to go to the newspaper office with me and start your new adventure?”
“Yes! I would love that.” I was excited to see what secrets the office might hold. We set a plan to meet up later.
Axel chose a table by the window and we settled into the pink booth. The flowing lines of pink butterflies were not decorating the walls today. Instead, the walls were frosted with climbing bougainvillea plants bursting with pink blossoms. The front door was decorated with a white, arched arbor covered with the same plant, plus small, pink, fairy lights. Oh, wait! The butterflies were here! They were just tucked in between the flowers. I could see their gently fluttering wings peeking out here and there. The overall effect was captivating.
“Good morning, friends!” Vessie walked up to our table, drying her hands on a pink towel. I stood up for our requisite hug. I was getting accustomed to the easy affection here. More than that, to be honest. I was enjoying the warm displays that seemed so normal to the people I’d met here.
Today Vessie was dressed in white flowing trousers and a colorful, embroidered peasant top. Her charming attire blended perfectly with today’s décor. “Will it be just the two of you?” she asked.
“Jaxson will be joining us,” said Axel.
“Oh, wonderful!” She smiled brightly. “Something to drink while you’re waiting?”
“Tea for me, please,” I said. Axel ordered a latte and Vessie went off to the counter for our drinks.
Axel looked over my shoulder and his face burst into a smile and he waved. I knew Jaxson had entered the building. They’d been friends since college, but even beyond that, there was something magnetic about Jax. He glowed with personality. His three-day stubble and just-a-bit-too-long hair gave a relaxed vibe that balanced with his strong, muscular body. When he saw me, he bestowed me with that Matthew McConaughey smile, dimples and all, that made me weak. The way he looked at me spoke volumes. It brought back my vision from the falls and my suspicion that he might be the man of my future.
Jaxson sat down next to me and looked deep into my eyes as he said good morning. I was enveloped in the musky scent of Armani cologne. He was bewitching.
I didn’t know him well, as all of our encounters had revolved around murder cases, jeep break-ins, and assault cases. I had held back on pursuing anything more since I had just been a visitor in Destiny Falls. But now that it appeared I was here to stay, maybe it was time to get to know him on a more personal level. Based on his intimate smiles, perhaps he felt the same.
Vessie reappeared at the table with our beverages and said hello to Jaxson. He stood up, took her hands, and smiled that Matthew McConaughey smile, dimples and all, as he looked into her eyes and said good morning. Well, hmm. Perhaps his charm wasn’t exclusively for me. Now that the stars in my eyes were dimming, I realized he’d been every bit as charismatic with just about anyone I’d seen him with. (Unless he was working, then he was All Sheriff, All Business. Which was sexy in a whole different way.) That didn’t mean he wasn’t The Future Husband and Father of my Future Children, but I’d take this slowly and see where it went. After all, there was obviously more than one man who fit the character in my vision.
Our breakfast visit was delightful. I enjoyed spending time with my brother and his buddy (mystery man or not). After we ate, we ordered another round of coffee and tea, and Jaxson filled us in on the latest in the murder of the ferry captain.
“We’re making headway on the case,” Jaxson began.
Wow, this I wanted to hear. I’d been mulling over my unsettling encounter with the captain, her message, the strange men in the café, and the mystery package. Because of her dire warnings, I didn’t want to be the one to share these facts and possibly endanger myself or my family.
“We’ve learned that Nakita was in the process of a contentious divorce. Apparently, she’d been having an affair. Her husband discovered it and he was furious. We’re trying to locate her husband and also identify the man she was having the affair with. It’s been a challenge. Both men have been evasive, but we have some leads that we’re working through. We suspect this was a crime of passion.”
Wait. What?! This was not at all what I was expecting to hear. What about her odd behavior? Her warning in the café? The intimidating mechanics? The package? This was not adding up.
“Hayden, are you okay?” Axel’s voice made its way through my fog.
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. Just processing.” I was way more than processing. I was panicking. What should I do now? Should I tell them about the box? About my encounter with Nakita? About my suspicions about the mechanics?
I excused myself to use the restroom and stood there trying to think, but finding it hard to do so around the buzzing going on in my brain. Nakita’s ‘life or death’ warning had proved to be accurate in that she was now, as Latifa would say, dead. And the postal worker had been accosted and the Caldwell mail ransacked right before I received the FedEx package. This wasn’t a situation to take lightly. I paced back and forth in the tiny room and finally decided I would mention a few vague details and see if Jaxson would take these and proceed with an eye to something nefarious.
I sat back down in the booth. “There are a few things you should know,” I said, treading lightly. “I met Nakita in line at the café a couple of days before her death.”
Both men turned to look at me, their expectant expressions making me sweat.
“She seemed nervous. Two men in ferry uniforms, who looked like mechanics, came in after she did. She appeared to mistrust them.”
Jaxson took out his phone and made some notes. Good. I could get him started on thinking that there was more to this story.
“Can you describe the men for me?” he asked.
“They were tall and very large, overweight men. Both had black hair. They were wearing ferry uniforms, like coveralls. Both rather dirty, but it looked more like grease, that’s why I thought they might be mechanics. I’ve since learn
ed that they are. I also saw them near the ambulance the day that Nakita’s body was removed from the ferry.”
“Fits the description of the two mechanics at the scene, name tags said Gronk and Shrek. Easy to remember those two. Was Nakita alone when she came into the café that day?”
“No, she was with Kerbie, the helmsman. They seemed like friendly coworkers. Do you know Kerbie?”
“Perhaps. Can you describe him for me?” Jaxson said.
“He’s very short, less than five feet tall. He was also obese. His hair was a very bright red. He was there at the ambulance, standing near the stretcher.”
Jaxson nodded. “Yes, that’s the helmsman. Is there anything else of significance from the day you met her?” he asked.
Boy, the million-dollar question. I took a sip of my tea to hide my face and shook my head. “I think that’s pretty much all of it for now.” I’ve never been a liar, so concealing my encounter with her made me uncomfortable. I hoped they would move on with the conversation. Which they did. Thankfully.
I felt like I’d been holding my breath since breakfast with Jaxson and Axel. Now that I was back in my room, I let out a tremendous sigh and dropped into a chair.
There was a scuffle behind me. I turned to see Latifa and Chanel playing with Lola. I use the word ‘playing’ loosely. The kitten was so full of energy, she was all over the place. I laughed at Latifa and Chanel. They were sprawled on their sides—the only thing moving was their front paws. They were batting cat toys back and forth for Lola to chase. She would pounce on a feathered toy and then jump onto one of the big cats, then back out again, chasing the toy. Latifa and Chanel both looked exhausted.
“Welcome to motherhood, ladies,” I said.
15
I had a few hours before meeting my father at the Destiny Falls Observer office, so I decided to hike through Twin Falls Park and take some photos with my new camera.
The park was amazing. It was more like a forest than a park, really. Luckily, there was a maze of trails made of wood chips or gravel, so it was quite a pleasant, easy trek. The abundance of vegetation and wildlife made it a virtual photographer’s paradise. I was so intent on taking a photo of a butterfly that had landed on a flowering bush that I never heard someone approach behind me.
“That’s a pretty butterfly,” the voice whispered.
“Oh!” My jerk and yelp scared the butterfly away.
I looked up to see Han standing behind me. All decked out for a day on the trails.
“You startled me!”
“Oops,” said Han. “I should have said boooo!” He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers in a menacing way. We both laughed.
“I should know better,” he said. “I’m an amateur wildlife photographer, myself. Sorry for interfering with your shot.”
“That’s okay. I’m just getting comfortable with my new camera.”
“Taking up a new hobby, are you?” Han asked.
“Not a hobby. A new job! My grandmother has asked me to start up the Destiny Falls Observer as an online paper.”
“Eleanor asked you?” he laughed. Clearly, anyone who knew my grandmother knew she was much more direct than that.
“Okay, fine. She assigned me a new job. Editor and photographer. I’ll be meeting my father at the newspaper office in a bit, so I thought I’d get comfortable with the equipment.”
“How’s it going? Need any help?” he offered. “I’m not a pro, but I can make my way around the basics.”
“Actually, yes. I’m having a bit of trouble with the close-up focus. That’s why I was working on the butterfly.”
“Yeah, focus can be a frustrating element until you master it. Want to show me your shots?”
Han and I spent the next two hours together. He had enough knowledge about cameras to help me figure out some details. True to my father’s comment, if Han tried to take a photo to demonstrate something, the result was an empty black square. Being a Destiny Falls native, an enchanted camera didn’t faze him. He just shrugged it off and changed his approach to showing me what to do and then letting me take the photos. This required close contact, as we both hovered over the camera. When he touched my hand to guide me on a setting, or when I felt his breath on me as we explained a detail, it was as if there was an invisible connection between us. It wasn’t that crazy zap you hear about in romance novels; it was more a deep-rooted bond being awakened.
When I first met Han a month ago, I was bowled over by his smoldering good looks and smooth James Bond-ish personality. Over time, I learned that he was one of those rare, gorgeous guys who was even more incredible on the inside than the outside. He was kind, polite, and easy to be around. He made me laugh and he paid attention when I talked. Even more, he seemed interested in the same kinds of things that I liked and he laughed with gusto over my jokes. When he had shared his feelings about his affection for his sisters, that cemented his position as utterly endearing.
“Look!” He got my attention and pointed up.
There was an owl up in the tree not far from us. I’d never seen an owl here, though I had heard them quite a few times. We quietly inched closer, and I took several splendid pictures.
“Wow! So glad you saw him,” I said. “Must be your keen investigator’s eye.”
“Yeah. Coz you have to keep an eye out for those crafty, nocturnal birds of prey.” He gifted me with his wide smile, his eyes twinkling.
I was melting into his gaze when I was suddenly jolted into reality. “Oh shoot! I have to go meet my father at the newspaper office. And I’m keeping you from your hike!”
“Hayden, spending time with you has been more rewarding than any hike I could have taken.”
I felt the heat creep up my face and I stammered some reply. I couldn’t even understand what I said. Being as sweet as he is, he just let that go and helped me pack up my camera.
“Today’s just my warm-up hike,” Han said, “Day after tomorrow, I’m planning a trek up to the lake at the top.”
“That sounds wonderful! I’m looking forward to making that hike again. In the meantime, I have a new job to learn!”
Han wished me good luck for the day with a soft kiss on my cheek, then hiked off in the direction he originally was heading. I had a warm feeling as I watched him walk away. He seemed like the real deal, this one.
16
Eleanor had explained that the newspaper editor retired six months ago, but the newspaper office had remained intact. They were hoping to get it up and running again, and it contained all the old physical copies in storage, so they felt it valuable to keep things as they were. The office was in one of the Caldwell buildings, and I was delighted to discover that it was just down the block from Poppy’s Extravaganza and only a short walk from Vessie’s Café.
The building ran the length of the block and contained three businesses. A clothing boutique on one end, an antique shop on the other, and the Observer office in the middle. It was a single-story building made of brick, but was designed with about six different shades of red, gold, and brown bricks in a friendly pattern, making it look fresh and modern. There were hanging baskets dripping with flowers, and a striped awning over the entire length of the building that gave it a jaunty, Hallmark, small-town feel. There was a white-painted bench set out front, next to a large pot of flowers, and a flag waving in the breeze. I loved it at first sight.
The bench was so welcoming, I took a seat there to wait for my father. It gave me an opportunity to absorb all the businesses surrounding my new workplace. I spotted a wide range of shops including a flower shop, a pharmacy, and an art gallery. There was a small park in the space between some shops, with a picnic table that looked like a great place to have lunch.
It was so quiet here. Nothing like the bustle of Seattle. I have nothing against bustle, mind you. But the peacefulness here was refreshing. It felt honest.
“Hey there, Hayden.” My father’s voice broke the silence. He sat down beside me on the bench. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Oh, are you late? I thought I was early.”
He looked at his phone. “Yep. I guess you are early, and so am I. He handed me a key ring with several keys on it and motioned grandly to the front door. “Welcome to your new kingdom. Ready to go inside?”
“Very ready!” I got up and unlocked the door, eager to step inside.
The newspaper office was so much nicer than I had expected. I was picturing an old-time printing press, black file cabinets, ugly yellow lighting, and messy brown desks. Clearly, I’ve seen too many old movies. I could thank Latifa for that. Instead, it was a bright, open space dotted with comfortable furniture and three clean, modern desks. Two of the desks were empty, but the third held a computer with several large monitors and a desktop printer.
It seemed a comfortable size for three or four people to work here. I assumed the editor was the only full-time person, but we hadn’t discussed that. How many people does it take to run a small community newspaper? I had no idea. But now that it would be digital, I suspected that I could manage on my own.
There was a wall filled with special wooden filing cabinets that had wide, shallow drawers that obviously fit the newspapers. Several bookcases held directories and research books.
There were photos displayed on the walls that appeared to be those from the paper. Gorgeous shots of the parks, waterfalls, shops, and the ferry. There were portrait-quality shots of the local people and events.
Large windows made up the entire front of the space, providing a splendid view of the shops across the road. The back appeared to have a bathroom and a door leading out to the alley behind the building.
The atmosphere hummed with years of memories and windows to the past. You could almost feel the history in here amongst the old papers, books, and the photographs. Soft ceiling lighting made the room glow golden, and I noticed beautiful, antique desk lamps on each working space. I felt the promise of future memories brewing. The space reminded me of a cozy library, one of my favorite places. I instantly felt at home.
The Disappearance of Emily: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2 Page 8
