Undercover in Glimmer Creek

by Julianna Morris

  She sat down to eat breakfast, but she mostly crumbled her toast and let the coffee grow cold. Truthfully, she felt guilty when she wasn’t doing something for Poppy Gold. Everything was so connected to her parents, and with Mom gone...

  The familiar grief rose through her, but she forced it away. As she’d told Gabe, she was trying to back off a little, if only to let the staff know she trusted them. If there was a problem they could always call.

  Tiny Tim wandered into the kitchen and meowed, as if asking a question.

  She smiled at him. “Yes, you’re staying for the rest of the weekend.”

  Seeming to understand, he jumped onto the windowsill and settled down for serious bird-watching. She was still petting him there when she saw Gabe walk into the garden with her grandparents shortly before 9:00 a.m.

  She’d never gone weak-kneed at the sight of a man, but she came close with Gabe.

  Frustrated, she called them inside. She was thrilled to have her grandparents at Poppy Gold and hoped she’d be able to ditch Gabe during part of their visit. He might not believe it, but family had more to talk about than finding industrial spies.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  DESPITE GABE’S BROODING PRESENCE, Tessa enjoyed the morning with her grandparents, probably more than her father. Though time and distance had softened his relationship with Patrick Connor, they still had little in common.

  Pop had shown up before they could talk about the industrial thefts, so they’d visited until lunchtime, when she ordered a picnic from the general store. They ate in the park, entertained by a local barbershop quartet, who often performed in the bandstand. A large crowd had gathered by the time the singing had concluded.

  “What a treat,” Grams declared after the applause had died away. “I had no idea there was a barbershop quartet in Glimmer Creek.”

  “One of my second cousins started the group twenty years ago,” said Tessa as she selected a peach custard tart for dessert. “They call themselves the Forty-Niners.”

  After the meal, Tessa escorted her grandparents around Poppy Gold to show them the most recent changes. Her father stuck close, making it impossible to discuss anything about industrial espionage.

  “Red astrachans, eh?” Granddad murmured when he viewed the small orchard that had been planted, a nostalgic smile on his face. “My mother claimed red and white astrachan apples made the best pies.”

  “That’s what Pop said, so we decided to plant them here. So far we haven’t been able to get the white variety, but we’re still trying. When the apples start coming in, you’ll be sure to get part of the crop every year.”

  “Wonderful,” said Grams with obvious delight. “My mother-in-law told me about cooking with astrachans. I’m looking forward to trying her recipes with the ‘right’ kind of apple.”

  Granddad gazed at the little trees. He was likely the only person alive who remembered the small apple farm where his mother had grown up. Tessa squeezed his hand, knowing he was pleased, even if he couldn’t say so.

  It was difficult knowing the two most important men in her life had so much trouble communicating. If her mother’s death had taught her nothing else, it was that you couldn’t count on having time to say the things that needed to be said.

  * * *

  GABE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE participating in the family outing, but he wanted to be there in case Patrick said anything to Tessa about the thefts.

  It was also difficult seeing the tension between Liam and his father. In a way, it didn’t make sense. According to Tessa, her grandfather had never made her feel guilty about leaving Connor Enterprises. Patrick had also deeded Connor’s Folly to his son and daughter-in-law as a wedding gift. Surely that implied approval.

  Perhaps it was simply because Liam and Patrick had such different focuses. Liam liked working with his hands, while Patrick was devoted to business.

  “There’s Lance,” Tessa said. She waved to Lance and he came over. “This is the young man preparing our orchard land,” she explained. “Lance, these are my grandparents, Patrick and Sandra from San Francisco.”

  * * *

  LANCE EXTENDED HIS arm before realizing how dirty he was from digging up weeds and rocks. “Sorry,” he muttered, frantically wiping his fingers on his jeans.

  “Nonsense,” said the old guy. “I’m delighted to meet the person responsible for those apple trees. My mother loved astrachan apples.”

  Lance blinked. These must be Liam Connor’s parents and not related to Jamie. Jamie had tried to tell him the ways everybody was connected in Glimmer Creek, but she had so many relatives, he couldn’t keep them straight yet.

  Mr. and Mrs. Connor shook hands with him as if they didn’t care about the dirt he couldn’t wipe off.

  “Mr. Co...that is, Liam told me about his grandma growing up on an apple farm,” he stuttered. Even after several months he had trouble saying Liam, but first names were easier when there were two Mr. Connors. “He’s teaching me about growing apples.”

  Sandra Connor smiled warmly at him. “You’ve obviously done a huge amount of work out here.”

  “He’s doing a terrific job,” Liam said. “And when he’s done, I’ll teach him how to maintain Poppy Gold’s antique vehicles.”

  Lance’s face heated and he tried not to look at Gabe, feeling guilty that he wanted to enlist in the navy when the Connors were willing to give him a better job. He shuffled his feet. “Uh, I better go back to work.”

  He sped off and didn’t catch his breath until everyone had walked out of sight. Was it dishonest not to tell them? But he hadn’t actually made up his mind. Besides, he ought to talk to Jamie about it before he did anything else.

  * * *

  TESSA FELT BAD that she’d put Lance on the spot. He was awkward with people, which wasn’t any wonder in light of his childhood.

  The afternoon was turning warmer and Grams fanned herself. “If you don’t mind, Tessa, I’d like to go sit by the pool while you continue the tour with your grandfather. I don’t get many opportunities for sunbathing in San Francisco.”

  “I’ll sit with you,” Pop volunteered instantly.

  Tessa held back a smile. Grams had known her son would prefer staying with her and that it would give her husband and granddaughter some privacy to talk with Gabe about the investigation.

  With Gabe and her grandfather, Tessa returned to the Victorian Cat to discuss the thefts from TIP.

  “My security team tells me that nobody has approached Connor Enterprises with an offer to sell insider information,” Granddad explained as they sat at the kitchen table.

  Tessa frowned. “That’s odd.”

  “We aren’t the only company who could benefit, my dear.”

  “That isn’t what I meant. Surely by staging the thefts here at Poppy Gold, someone was hoping to throw suspicion onto Pop or me or Connor Enterprises. So why wouldn’t they try to take it further?”

  * * *

  GABE WAS DISCONCERTED that the same thing hadn’t occurred to him. Why hadn’t the culprit tried to solidify the case against the Connors, if only by passing on the information that had been stolen?

  “Maybe they still hope to follow through on their plan,” Patrick suggested.

  “Or else they think the connection alone is enough,” Gabe said.

  Tessa tilted her head challengingly. “Yeah, initially Gabe thought Pop and I might be involved.”

  Patrick’s gaze turned coolly angry. “You suspected my son and granddaughter?” It was plain that whatever disputes Patrick might have with Liam, he wouldn’t tolerate an insult to his family’s honor.

  “Not for long,” Tessa interjected as she stood up, “and I already gave him a hard time about it, so he recognizes the error of his ways. Right, Gabe?”

  “Absolutely,” Gabe agreed, trying to k
eep a straight face. There was a difference between physical security and the wrath of a protective grandfather, but the idea that he needed Tessa to defend him was amusing. One of the reasons he’d opposed her getting involved in the investigation was concern for her safety.

  “What are the chances an anonymous letter was sent to a company employee?” Gabe asked. “Say, something that could have been taken as a prank or inappropriate disclosure, but not an offer to sell data?”

  Patrick shook his head. “Anything like that should still be forwarded to my security chief, who would notify the Securities Exchange Commission. TIP and Connor Enterprises may not be stockholder companies, but illicit dealings affect the market and stockholders from other companies.”

  Gabe nodded.

  “What now?” Patrick asked.

  “TIP is coming back a week from Monday.” Tessa opened her refrigerator and took out a pitcher filled with iced tea. “We’re setting up a sting operation with Uncle Milt.”

  Tessa put tall glasses on the table and filled them.

  “I could have the head of my security team come up here with some of his crew to support Milt,” Patrick offered.

  Tessa sipped from her glass. “Thanks, but it isn’t necessary. Gabe has ‘contacts.’” She drew air quotes around contacts with her fingers, and Patrick lifted an eyebrow.

  “Contacts?”

  “I’m a retired navy SEAL,” Gabe interjected, giving Tessa a stern look. She was enjoying herself too much at his expense. “So I know a number of ex-SEALs who are now in the private security business or doing similar work.”

  Tessa plucked a leaf from a spearmint plant on the table and crushed it into her tea. The cool, crisp fragrance filled the air. “Don’t be offended, Granddad. I doubt that Gabe trusts anyone who hasn’t successfully finished SEAL training and gone on a few missions. The rest of us are just defenseless rabbits who don’t have enough sense to come in from the rain.”

  To Gabe’s surprise, her grandfather smiled at him. “She’s a handful, isn’t she? Sharp as they come and loves to tease.”

  “I’m not sure she’s teasing,” Gabe objected, reminded of the way Liam would say things about his daughter. They both seemed to have the same indulgent view of Tessa.

  Tessa rolled her eyes. “Granddad, we’re devising a strategy to trick the thief into revealing their identity immediately—to put a time limit on the value of the information. Whoever it is has managed to avoid suspicion until now, which means they’re smart and exceptionally careful.”

  “Perhaps you can use me as a form of bait—try to convince the thief that I’d be particularly interested in buying the information. A phone tap could be put on all my office lines.”

  She nodded. “It’s a thought.”

  “Just let me know what I can do to help.”

  * * *

  TESSA CAUGHT AN incredulous glance from Gabe that seemed to ask, Is he for real?

  She almost snickered.

  Her grandfather was genuine. Though Patrick Connor had his faults, including the hot temper she’d inherited, he ascribed to Benjamin Franklin’s philosophy of being able to do well by doing right. He was a tough competitor, but he wouldn’t do anything illegal or underhanded.

  A short time later, she saw her father and grandmother pass by the kitchen window.

  “I think this meeting is over,” she announced. “Grams must be tired of sunning herself by the pool.”

  She opened the front door before they could ring. “Did you have a nice time?” she asked.

  “Yes, but it got too frantic for quiet conversation,” her grandmother said with a laugh. “Quite a few children must be staying at Poppy Gold this weekend, and they all descended on the pool at once.”

  “It’ll be even worse when more schools are out for the summer.”

  “How nice to have so many families.”

  Tessa felt the same way. Christmastime was particularly special when kids were staying. Poppy Gold went all out for the holidays and she was looking forward to sharing it with her own children one day.

  She glanced at Gabe, only to kick herself. No woman in her right mind should think about family and Gabe McKinley together...even if it was what she wanted more than anything else in the world.

  * * *

  “JAMIE, WHY DO people call this a Carnegie library?” Lance whispered on Thursday evening as Jamie sat at a table in the library, typing notes on her computer. “I thought it was the Glimmer Creek Library.”

  “A rich guy gave money to the town to build it, like, a zillion years ago,” she whispered back. “My mom says the town was upset about the architecture he wanted, but it was nice having him pay for most of it. Mr. Carnegie built libraries all over the place.”

  “I wonder how he got rich enough to give that much money away.”

  She shrugged and tucked her notebook computer into her backpack. “Do you want to go now?”

  Lance nodded, and they returned the books she’d been using to the shelves. Outside, he looked up at the building. “It sure doesn’t look like Poppy Gold.”

  “Nah. Mom calls it classic revival style...whatever that means. I like the buildings in Poppy Gold better.”

  He grinned. “You like everything in Poppy Gold better.” Then his smile faded. He needed to talk to her and didn’t want to wait any longer. “I’ve been thinking. You know, about the future.”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, uh...” He swallowed. “I’ve been thinking about enlisting in the navy.”

  Jamie looked so startled he wished he’d thought of a better way to tell her.

  “I thought you were happy in Glimmer Creek.”

  “I am happy, but Gabe says I can get training in the service. I want to do right by you, and how can I do that if I don’t do something like enlist? I thought if I got to be a navy flier, I could work for an airline after I got out. Pilots make a ton of money.”

  “Money isn’t everything.”

  Lance stuck up his chin. “It is when you don’t have any.”

  “But it could be dangerous. I couldn’t stand anything happening to you, Lance.”

  He hadn’t thought about getting hurt, and it meant a lot that Jamie was worried. But it was the only way he knew how to do what he wanted. “At least will you think about it? The navy might even send me to college, and I know that’s important to your family.”

  “Okay.”

  She was quiet as he walked her home and he wished he was better at saying the right things. More than anything, he wanted to tell her about his childhood, but now didn’t seem the right time, either.

  He just hoped that Gabe was right...that Jamie would understand.

  * * *

  JAMIE WENT TO bed early, but she couldn’t sleep. She kept remembering when her uncle Tate went down flying a navy plane and how Aunt Jessica had come home with her two little boys, all quiet and different, the way Uncle Liam was now.

  Finally Jamie turned over and looked at the charm bracelet on her bedside table, barely visible in the moonlight coming through curtains. She couldn’t wear it to work, but she kept all his gifts there so she could look at them at night. Now she wondered if she should have tried harder to make him stop buying her presents. Maybe he wouldn’t be so worried about money if she’d made him understand that just being with her was enough.

  Even though it was warm in her bedroom, her toes were cold, so she got up and filled a hot water bottle. She sat on the padded window seat, clutching it to her stomach.

  I’ve been thinking about enlisting in the navy.

  Jamie closed her eyes. Was it selfish to object? The only reason he wanted to enlist was because he thought it was best for their future. As much as she adored Glimmer Creek, it wasn’t a place where people got rich.

  But what if he go
t hurt or died, just because he thought enlisting was the only way for them to be together?

  Jamie traced an infinity symbol on the cushion, wondering how to sort it out. The truth was, even though they’d known each other for a couple of months, they’d never talked about anything really important.

  She’d guessed things, of course, and had pieced together bits of information from the little stuff he did say. There’d been some sort of trouble in Sacramento, and she thought he might have been in a foster home. He hadn’t realized it, but he’d once called a girl named Maggie his foster sister, not his sister.

  None of that mattered, except that Jamie didn’t think it had been very nice. What mattered was that Lance was good and decent and would never hurt her. But why didn’t he trust her enough to explain?

  All at once a terrible thought occurred to her... Had he bought her all those presents because he thought it was the only way she’d love him?

  It was a horrible idea.

  Hours crept by, with one question after another popping into her head, but Jamie couldn’t come up with any answers except that there was clearly more wrong between her and Lance than him wanting to enlist.

  * * *

  “SO FAR I haven’t found anything suspicious on anybody I’ve checked out,” Great-Uncle Milt reported over the speakerphone.

  Tessa and Gabe had called him every evening since her grandparents’ visit, discussing various scenarios for TIP’s upcoming trip to Poppy Gold.

  “What about Celina Noble?” Gabe asked.

  “I can’t tell you specifics about anybody, just that I haven’t seen anything questionable.”

  Great-Uncle Milt’s tone was measured and Tessa tried not to laugh at Gabe’s frustrated expression. He’d been fairly good about accepting the limits of what they could provide...at least lately.

  “I’ve also requested a tap on your grandfather’s private phone line through the authorities in San Francisco,” her great-uncle explained. “It was a good idea to use him as bait, though there are no guarantees the thief will contact Connor Enterprises.”