East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14

by Leona Fox

  “But what? My first thought was to sell it, or at least hoard it until there's a shortage so they can sell it for a higher price but there hasn't been any sign of that happening. I've spoken to a few owners of gas stations and they haven't reported any unusual activity, which is strange because you'd think if they really did want the gas that's where they would strike.”

  “But they also would have known gas stations have surveillance cameras. One thing is for sure, he's doing his best not to be caught.”

  “So why steal it then, just to have gas? Why not buy it?”

  “Maybe he can't afford it.”

  “But who needs so much gas?”

  “It would have to be something big...some heavy machinery or something. But we can't just go around and ask anyone with a big truck without having any evidence.”

  “No, but maybe we can ask someone who knows a lot of people with big trucks,” Ellen said.

  At the earliest opportunity she and Andy went to see Ray, who was the mill manager. When he saw them approaching he greeted them with a warm smile. He had taken to his new role with aplomb and looked a happy man, as did all his workers.

  “Haven't seen you in a long time,” Ray said with a broad smile. He shook Andy's hand firmly and gave Ellen a chaste kiss on the cheek, followed by a hug.

  “You know how things get,” Ellen said.

  “Yes, I heard about the business with the man from West Callow, that was a terrible thing. I hope it's nothing like that that's brought you here today.”

  “Oh no, nothing so bad,” Andy said.

  “How's the mill going?” Ellen asked.

  “Just fine, thank you. Yes, Emily is the perfect steward and she says she's going to come up and visit soon. So I'm sure she'll come and see you, too.”

  “That would be great, I'd love to see her again,” Ellen said, and then Andy cleared his throat, and she remembered that she had to get down to business.

  “But as for why we're here, I'm sure you've heard about the gas bandit who has been plaguing the town?”

  “Yeah, it's a silly thing really. They need to be stopped soon, whoever they are.”

  “That's what we're trying to do but we don't have anything to go on. We've been trying to think about why they would need this much gas and we're thinking it must be for some heavy machinery or something like that. Our first thought was this place, not that we're accusing you of anything, but have you seen or heard anything suspicious?”

  Ray screwed up his face as he started to think but he quickly shook his head. “Nothing that I can think of. Wish I could help but whomever the bandit is, he's not here. It's not like there are a lot of places around town that need that much gas, though. So you're probably on the right track. Wish I could be more help, I'm sorry.”

  “Don't worry about it. I'm glad things are going well here. Come into the cafe sometime and we can catch up properly,” she said, and the two of them promptly left.

  “That leaves us no better off,” Andy said grimly.

  “Maybe not, but Ray was right. Only a few places in town could use all that gas.”

  Chapter 7

  Ellen and Andy remained together for a while to think more about the gas bandit, and they made a list of everyone they could think of who would have had a use for the gas. But soon enough Paul came to them and asked if he could speak to Ellen. He had spoken to just about everyone else around town about Andy, but Ellen was the one who could offer the most intimate knowledge of the man. Andy seemed reluctant as usual, but he didn't say anything in the process. When Paul came to the cafe Andy quickly excused himself while Ellen was left alone with the actor.

  The novelty of a Hollywood star being in East Pender had not worn off. So people still were intrigued by his presence, but he had been in the town for long enough that people didn't come up and continually bother him whenever he was around. Ellen had been dreading this meeting somewhat since she wasn't sure how much of Andy's life she should reveal. Andy had been nothing but reluctant to talk about his past and she didn't know how candid to be, even though she did want Paul to give a good account of Andy when the film was made. They got a couple of drinks and sat down at a table. Paul pulled out his notebook and leaned forward in the chair, looking intently at Ellen.

  “I hope you don't mind us talking like this. I know this must be a little strange for you,” he said.

  “Not at all, anything I can do to help.”

  “Well, so far everyone has been a great help and very complimentary toward Andy. It seems he does a fine job at keeping this town safe, and I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear many people have mentioned the efforts you've made as well. You two really are the stars of this place.”

  “Not that you'd know it from the way people acted the other night,” Ellen said dryly.

  “That all will blow over. People just like getting worked up over things like that. I've seen enough of it in my time as an actor. Whenever I get cast in a movie there are always people who are ready to mob the studio for what they think is a bad choice but, in the end, they always stand in line. I wouldn't take it too seriously. But what I really want from you, well, the other people, they don't really know Andy. They only see him as the man who solves the crimes. I'd love for you to give me an insight into what he's really like behind closed doors, the man behind the uniform, if you will. That really would help me out a lot.”

  “I don't really know what I can say. I mean, with Andy you pretty much get what you see and...well, you know he's a very private person. I don't know how much I should be telling you.”

  “Just tell me anything you like; I promise what you say will be between us. I'm only using this for research purposes.” Despite his assurances Ellen remained apprehensive so Paul continued talking.

  “Perhaps it would be best if we just talked about various things and we'll see what comes up. It's funny though, I was speaking about how you were mentioned along with Andy a lot of times. Do you think sometimes he takes credit for the work you do, or that he would be less successful if you weren't around? He's even admitted himself that you have made him see things differently. Are you sure you're not the real brains of the operation?”

  Ellen looked shocked at the insinuation and shook her head, denying it vehemently. “I don't know how anybody could think that. Andy was distinguishing himself long before I came along and there's no way I could do this without his assistance. He lets me help him, not the other way around. Don't forget that I'm an amateur. What you just implied is...it's not true at all. I'll tell you one thing. Andy is the most honest, honorable man and he takes his job very seriously, sometimes too seriously if you ask me. He cares a lot about the people under his protection and there are no limits to what he would do for them. To even suggest anything else is something I never will agree with.”

  Paul nodded, and Ellen calmed herself after her tirade.

  “And what about you? What made you first get involved with the police? Was it something you always had done?”

  “It was a happy accident, I suppose. I'd always been interested in mysteries and puzzles. I just have one of those brains that likes solving things but I never considered it as a career. One night I was working at the cafe and there was a crime. Because it was so close to me I started to get involved, as did Kelly, and it turned out we were a pretty big help to Andy. Ever since then he's called us up sometimes to help with some cases. Not all of them, just the ones he thinks could use our expertise. And sometimes, of course, the cases find me.”

  “Have you ever thought about not helping out? Does it ever get too stressful?”

  “Sometimes, and dangerous, but ultimately I know what I'm doing is for the greater good and the people of the town are much better off for me helping out. I'm sorry, though. I thought this interview was about Andy, not about me?”

  “My apologies, but often the best way to get to know a man is to get to know the woman he loves. Did you know him well before you started helping him?”

  “Not r
eally, I suppose there's no harm in telling you I came back to East Pender because my parents were very ill. After they died I set up the cafe so I was preoccupied with that. I knew of Andy and I saw him around, but I never was friendly with him until we started working together.”

  “And what was that like? Did you know that you were attracted to him straight away?” Ellen blanched a little at the personal nature of the questions and Paul noticed her squirming in her chair.

  “I apologize if these questions are a little intimate but it's the kind of things I have to know. If you're uncomfortable answering them then that’s fine. We can move on to the next one,” Paul said, trying to give her a reassuring smile.

  “It's fine. I'm just not used to talking about these kinds of things with a stranger, and you know what Andy's like. I don't want to say anything he's uncomfortable with.”

  “Then don't think of me as a stranger, consider me a friend!” Paul said, leaning forward and smiling widely.

  “Well, if you want to know the truth then, yes. I was attracted to him when we first met but I never thought anything would come of it. When you get to my age, well, there's a certain point when you start thinking of romance as a thing of the past. The way my life had been, it had taken a course away from love and romance. So I didn't give it much attention. He always seemed focused on his work anyway, so he didn't seem to have time for a relationship. We spent a lot of time together, though, and there was definitely something there. It just took us a while to actually acknowledge it.”

  “A tale as old as time, and I don't know what you mean about a woman 'your age'. You're far more beautiful than most women I know in Hollywood.”

  “Thank you, but I know that can't be true.”

  “Oh, but it is. Most of them have a manufactured look. You're the real deal. Anyway, let's get back to Andy. So you were working together solving crimes and dealing with this romantic tension. Did that ever interfere with the investigations?”

  Ellen leaned back in her chair and cast her mind back to those many cases ago when she and Andy had not been together. It seemed so long ago now even though, in reality, it was not all that distant in time. Yet, she and Andy were so close and he was such a fulfilling part of her life that to think of a time when they weren't bonded as lovers was strange. Even so, she did remember the pain of holding back her love for him, and all the angst that came with it; The anguish that seemed so foolish for a grown woman to have and that seemed so senseless now when all they had to do was be honest with each other.

  “I wouldn't say it interfered. We both knew what was most important in these cases. Neither of us ever would have let anyone innocent suffer because of our own personal feelings, but there were times when things became rather tense between us. That was fueled by the feelings we had for each other, which led to a few arguments, but it never spilled over into the police work.”

  “And what's it like now that you are together? Is there ever any tension when you disagree about things?”

  “No, we've always been pretty good at being able to discuss our feelings with each other. If we do disagree, which we do, a lot,” she laughed, “we always can talk it out. We make a good team, always have and hopefully always will.”

  “But is it difficult to separate your relationship from the work you do together? It's all well and good, working on these cases, but when you go home together at night, is it still on your minds, or do you manage to get your alone time?”

  “We have to make an effort at it. Sometimes it's tough because the cases we work on can be quite involved, but we both try to remind each other we do deserve our own lives as well. We've both known sorrow and I think we both realize it's important to keep some things separate. We're both too old for any drama so we've got a pretty good handle on things, at least I think so,” she said, laughing again.

  It was surprisingly good to talk to someone about these things and as the conversation continued she found herself opening up to Paul more easily. She told him about a few of the things she and Andy did together to help forget about the job, like how they would read to each other or watch a movie, little things that reminded them why they were together.

  “And recently I've been thinking a lot about the future. It's easy to forget about the rest of the world when you're in East Pender. It's like we're in our own little bubble and I'm aware that when I die I'm probably not going to be remembered. Just the other day I was at the cemetery thinking about everyone there and the thing that struck me the most was the tombstones that were being covered in moss and grass. All those people had lives. They loved and felt the same things we do, and yet they're forgotten. We're not like you, at least you're going to have your films. People are going to remember you long after you're dead but for people like me and Andy it's different. We have to make sure we make the most of our lives while we have the chance, and being with him is how I'm going about doing that.”

  “What is it about him that attracts you most? What is it that made you fall in love with him?”

  It was perhaps the most difficult question she ever had been asked. She had no idea how to go about answering it, the act of falling in love with Andy had happened so naturally and almost without her knowing. It was simply that one day she had awoken and these feelings had been a part of her. There didn't even seem to have been any choice about it; there was no way she couldn't love him. To distill the exact reasons was an impossible task and one that she put great thought into. She was searching her mind to try finding the qualities that she most admired, until she finally exhaled and gave up.

  “You know, it's funny, but I can't actually answer that, I don't think. All the qualities I admire in him...they're present in other people but I think it's the unique combination that I love. There's never been anyone like him in my life. There's just something that when I'm near him I feel like it's where I belong, as though being with him is what my life has been leading to. It sounds a little corny, and sometimes I don't even believe myself when I say it, but that's the truth. I love him because he's him, and that's probably the best answer I can give.”

  “Hearing you talk about him almost makes me believe in love,” Paul said.

  “You don't?”

  “I believe in feelings, but I think love is just something to control us. I've known a lot of people in the world and there have been many different versions of love. I've never known anything to last though, even when they claim they love them forever. I've seen married couples get destroyed and young hearts broken by life. Love is just as impermanent as everything else in the world.”

  “So what do you do, just keep yourself alone? That sounds like a pretty miserable way to live. Sometimes you have to take a chance on love, even if you don't believe in it.”

  “I'm never alone Ellen. Come on, I'm a millionaire and a Hollywood actor, you think my bed is ever empty? It's easy enough to indulge the physical sensations but the emotional needs...that's more difficult. I never would be tied down to anything like that. It's all a fleeting thing, like you say. We're only here for a limited amount of time so we may as well get the most out of life, shouldn’t we?” he said, looking at her with a wicked glint in his eyes. His eyes moved down and Ellen could feel them on her, and suddenly she felt vulnerable and unsettled.

  “That's not really what I meant...” she said.

  “Wasn't it? Or was it exactly what you meant? I'm going to be honest with you now Ellen. Ever since I came to this town I've been impressed with what it has to offer, which includes you. You're different from all the other women I know. I'm sure I would regret it if I did not pursue you. So what do you say? Do you- feel the same way?”

  Ellen's eyes went wide as she could barely believe that he had asked the question. She tilted her head and looked askance at him, with her jaw dropping open. She half-expected him to begin laughing and pretend it was all a joke but instead he remained sitting there, resolute, looking at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

  “Are you serious?” sh
e asked.

  “Always. It's not so strange a thought, is it?”

  “I don't know where you get off saying something like this but it's completely out of the question. How can you ask me about my love for Andy and then turn around and make a move on me? Do you have no respect or any sense of decency? You know, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt when you came to East Pender. Andy wanted to ignore you and send you back to Hollywood but I persuaded him to give you some time, to make sure you understood him but obviously you don't. I don't know how you're ever going to give a true portrayal of Andy because he has more honor in his little finger than you have in your whole body!”

  Ellen raised her voice sharply and Paul seemed amused more than anything, which was not the reaction she was hoping to see. He moved languidly and sighed, pulling his notebook away from the table.

  “It's no big deal,” he began, “this is just the way it's done in Hollywood. People take what they can get, and they give what they want. There's no need to be so outraged.”

  “You're not in Hollywood anymore,” Ellen replied through gritted teeth, a steely look on her face.

  “No,” Paul said, dispirited, “and I'm beginning to see this isn't the world for me. When I was going around town I thought maybe I could live in a place like this, but it's not meant for the likes of me. I've been changed by Hollywood. It turns you around, you know. You have all these roles and even when you're supposed to be yourself you're told how to act and what to say. Sometimes it's easy to forget who you really are.”

  Ellen was a little touched by the melancholic tone of his words, but she still was rattled by his proposition and the anger had yet to subside. If Paul simply had come to her with these reflections she would have been happy to hear him out, but he had shown herself and Andy a profound lack of respect, and that she could not tolerate. Yet what happened next surprised her.