Friends and Frauds (An Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Book 6)

by Diana Xarissa

  “To Lance,” Eric said. “He found some of the best deals I’ve ever been involved in and made me a lot of money. I’m going to miss him.”

  Donald’s eyes met Fenella’s as she took another sip of her wine. He looked amused.

  “To Lance,” Jared said. “He’d just about convinced me to retire here, and now I’m afraid to stay another night. I can’t believe he was murdered in his bed.”

  Fenella thought about arguing with the man. The island was a very safe place, really. But after all of the murders that had taken place in the past six months, maybe he was right to be worried. All the more reason to drink, Fenella thought as she finished off her glass of wine. Neil quickly refilled it for her.

  “We should order,” Donald suggested as the waiter hovered near their table.

  “Yes, let’s,” Fenella agreed. While she wasn’t planning to drink any more, no matter what Neil thought, she’d only had a light lunch and that had been hours ago. The glass of wine she’d already consumed was beginning to make her feel a bit giddy.

  Donald ordered several appetizers and urged Fenella to have whatever she wanted from the extensive menu. She finally settled on a steak in a red wine sauce that sounded delicious.

  Neil and his friends ordered right after them and Fenella found herself second-guessing her choices as she listened to their requests. She sat back and sighed as the waiter walked away.

  “What’s wrong?” Donald asked quietly.

  “Nothing, really. We can talk later.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to move?”

  “I don’t want to be rude. And I’m fascinated to hear more about Lance.”

  Donald nodded. “So how long had you known Lance?” he asked Neil, winking at Fenella.

  “A very long time,” Neil replied with a laugh. “We met when I first went to London, maybe thirty years ago? He was not long out of university and I was trying my luck in the big city. We hit it off immediately.”

  “What about the rest of you?” Donald asked.

  “Neil introduced us about ten years ago,” Adrian said. “I was putting together a little project and Neil suggested bringing Lance into it. I wasn’t sure at first, but it turned out to be the right move.”

  “I met him around the same time,” Jared said. “I believe Lance was expanding his business interests at that point. He jumped into a project I was working on as well. I met Neil through him, actually.”

  “That makes me the odd man out,” Eric laughed. “I only met Lance about five years ago. I’ve known Neil for years and he brought Lance into something I was putting together. It worked out well for all concerned.”

  “He was very good at making money,” Neil said. “And I think he would be happy with that as his epitaph.”

  “What about hobbies or interests outside of work?” Fenella had to ask. She wanted to understand Lance as a person.

  “Hobbies? As Adrian said, he collected stamps and coins. I don’t think he thought of it as a hobby, though. He did it because he could make money buying and selling them. Everything Lance did was about making money,” Neil told her.

  Which made his interest in Shelly all the more worrying, Fenella thought. Now that the man was dead, it probably didn’t matter, but it still bothered Fenella.

  “He never married?” Fenella wondered.

  “I don’t believe so. I know he had a couple of near misses in his younger days, but he was too focused on his work to give women the time and attention that they demand,” Neil replied.

  Donald chuckled and gave Fenella’s hand another squeeze. She met his stare and smiled at him. The smile he gave her back made her heart skip a beat. Sometimes she forgot how attractive he was.

  “Here we are,” the waiter announced as he began to pile plates full of appetizers onto the tables. Everyone fell silent for a few minutes as they enjoyed the food.

  “Why did Lance want to come back to the island after all these years?” Fenella asked after a while.

  “He was ready for a change. London is expensive, and the island has a much more favorable tax structure. He was missing his childhood home,” Neil rattled off the list in rapid succession. “You can take your pick from those options. They’re just some of the reasons that he gave me when we talked about it.”

  “He told me that he still had friends on the island, even after all the years that had passed since he’d lived here,” Jared said.

  “And he told me he missed living by the sea,” Adrian added. “Living near the Thames isn’t quite the same thing, and it costs a great deal more.”

  “I’m surprised he managed to persuade you all to come over with him,” Fenella remarked as the waiter cleared the appetizer plates. “I mean, since you were just business colleagues, rather than friends.”

  Eric laughed. “That’s the exact reason why I came,” he told her. “I don’t travel to see my friends, but Lance hinted that there might be some business opportunities here, and, in fact, we were working on one before he died. I’m not sure what will come of it now, of course.”

  “It will still happen,” Neil said confidently as he refilled all of the glasses. He frowned at Fenella. “You aren’t keeping up,” he scolded, gesturing toward her still full glass.

  “I’ll have to try harder,” she said lightly, lifting the glass and putting it to her lips. As soon as Neil looked away, she put it back down without drinking.

  “Lance got me here by talking about the tax structure,” Jared said. “And it is very favorable, especially when compared to London. As I said, I might be tempted under different circumstances.”

  “Neil’s been telling me about the island for years,” Eric said. “I knew he kept all of his money here and got away with paying next to nothing in taxes on it, so when Lance started talking about it as well, I paid attention. Coming over for a fortnight seemed a good idea a few days ago.”

  “It really is a lovely and very safe island,” Fenella said. “It has some wonderful historical sites, as well.”

  “Maybe you could show me some of the sights, then,” Eric suggested. “Perhaps you could tempt me to retire here, if you tried hard enough.”

  Donald opened his mouth to reply, but Fenella caught his eye and shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a tour guide,” she said. “And I’m rather busy with the book I’m writing, as well.”

  “You’re writing a book? How fascinating,” Neil said in a patronizing tone. “What is it about?”

  “Anne Boleyn,” Fenella replied. “I have a PhD in history.”

  “Really?” Neil said. “Smart and beautiful. When you get bored with Donald, you know where to find me.”

  “That’s out of order,” Donald said quietly.

  Neil laughed. “After all the women you’ve lured away from me over the years? I think I’m entitled.”

  Donald stared at the man for a moment and then nodded. “Touché,” he said.

  Fenella had to bite her tongue to keep from asking any questions. The matter was probably best discussed when she and Donald were alone.

  “And when you get bored with Neil, because you will, I’m not too far away,” Eric said, winking at Fenella.

  “Tell me about Lance’s accident,” she said, deliberately changing the subject.

  “His accident?” Neil repeated. “What accident?”

  “He told me that he’d been in a car accident,” Fenella replied.

  Neil glanced around the table at his friends. “That may have been during a time when we weren’t in contact,” he said after an awkward pause. “I mean, we were business colleagues. Months or even years would go by when we wouldn’t see one another. It all depended on what deals we were all working on.”

  Fenella nodded. “So none of you knew about the accident?”

  All four men shook their heads. Their meals were delivered before Fenella could ask any more questions. Neil poured out the last of the second bottle of wine and ordered a third as everyone began to eat.

  “He n
ever mentioned the accident to any of you?” Fenella asked after her first bite.

  Again, the men all shook their heads. Donald raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised he told you about it, if he didn’t normally discuss it,” he said.

  “As I said, we worked together, but we weren’t exactly friends,” Neil said. “We didn’t talk about personal things, really.”

  Fenella took a few bites of her delicious dinner while her mind raced. Lance had explained away his odd appearance by saying he’d been in an accident. Surely his friends would have noticed the change in the man’s appearance and asked questions? Unless Lance had been lying to her, which seemed likely. But why lie?

  “How is everything?” Donald interrupted her thoughts.

  “It’s excellent,” Fenella said, reminding herself to taste her food. “How is yours?”

  “Wonderful. Would you like to try it?”

  Fenella glanced at his chicken and then sighed. It looked too good to resist, even if that meant that she’d have to share her steak. “Yes, please,” she replied.

  Donald cut her a small piece and held it out to her on his fork. She took the bite and nodded. “It’s really good, too. Did you want to try mine?”

  “I’ve had the steak here before,” he replied. “You enjoy it.”

  “I’ll try yours,” Neil said. “It looks wonderful.”

  Fenella pretended she hadn’t heard the man, staring into Donald’s eyes as she sipped her soft drink. “We should do this more often,” she told him.

  “Yes, we should,” he agreed. “Either on the island or elsewhere. I’m going to Paris next month. You should come with me.”

  “Paris sounds wonderful,” Fenella replied.

  Donald looked surprised, but then grinned at her. “Paris will be wonderful, if you come with me.”

  “Don’t mind us,” Neil said loudly. “We’re just sitting here watching your lovely romance unfold. Donald, how many women have you taken to Paris before?”

  Donald flushed. “I can’t see what business that is of yours,” he said.

  “I’m just trying to hasten the inevitable,” Neil laughed.

  “How’s Laura?” Donald asked.

  Neil laughed again. “As far as I know, she’s fine. We haven’t seen each other since the party the other evening and have no plans to see each other again. We were never more than friends, really.”

  “Really?” Donald asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “She may tell you otherwise, but I have no control over whatever assumptions she may have made,” Neil said airily. “I certainly never made her any promises.”

  Fenella exchanged glances with Donald. He smiled at her. “We should have left as soon as they arrived,” he told her.

  “And missed out on all this fun?” she replied.

  He chuckled. “This is why I’m crazy about you,” he said.

  “Does anyone want to see the pudding menu?” the waiter asked as he began to clear away the empty plates.

  “Fenella?” Donald asked.

  She was tempted, but she’d had quite enough of Neil and the others. Going home had more appeal than even the most tempting of desserts. She shook her head.

  “Just the bill, please,” Donald told the man.

  “Add them to my bill,” Neil said loudly. “I’m happy to buy my former business associate and his friend dinner.”

  “Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” Donald replied.

  “I know, but I insist,” Neil told him.

  The waiter looked at Donald. “Mr. Donaldson?” he said hesitantly.

  Donald shrugged. “If Neil wants to pay for my dinner, I shouldn’t object,” he said. “We’ll just be on our way, then.” He got to his feet and then held out a hand to Fenella. As she stood up, Neil did the same.

  “It was good to see you again,” he told Donald, offering his hand. After the pair had shaken hands, Neil turned to Fenella. “And it was wonderful to see you again,” he said, pulling Fenella into a hug.

  She stiffened as Neil’s arms went around her. After an awkward minute, where Neil pulled her tightly to him, Donald cleared his throat.

  “That’s quite enough,” he said firmly.

  Neil laughed and then ran a hand down Fenella’s back before releasing her. “I do hope to see you again soon,” he told her.

  Not if I see you first, she thought as she took Donald’s hand again and walked with him out of the restaurant. They were back in Donald’s car before anyone spoke.

  “That wasn’t quite the romantic evening I was hoping for,” Donald said.

  “We should have left when they arrived. I was just too curious to hear what they’d have to say about Lance to leave,” Fenella told him.

  “I hope you learned something interesting, then.”

  “I don’t know what I learned. I will have to think it all over once I get home.” And talk about it with Mona, she thought.

  “But we were talking about Paris. It will take me a few weeks to clear my schedule, but we could be in Paris in early October. What do you think?”

  “I think it would be wonderful, but I’m not sure about taking our relationship to that level,” Fenella said honestly.

  Donald nodded. “You may not believe me, but I’m worried about that as well. You aren’t the sort of woman that I usually spend my time with. I can’t play games with you and buy your affection with expensive trinkets. After Brandy, I swore I’d never let myself fall in love again. And here I am, falling for a woman who isn’t at all what I thought I was looking for, and I’ll be honest with you, it scares me.”

  Fenella stared at the man. He didn’t seem the type to be scared by anything. Almost immediately she began to wonder if he was telling her the truth.

  He glanced over at her and then turned his attention back to the road. “I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t believe me. I’m well aware of the reputation that I have on the island.”

  “It’s just hard for me to imagine you being afraid of anything.”

  Donald nodded. “And actually, I’m afraid of a great many things, mostly to do with the health and safety of my children. After I lost Claire, they became my priority. Even now, if the phone rings in the middle of the night, my first thought is always with them. I hate that Phoebe is in New York and too far away for me to see regularly, and I hate that my son is in London but is too busy with his own life to even take my calls.”

  “I’m told children never appreciate their parents until they have children of their own,” Fenella said.

  Donald shrugged. “I’m happy that they both have their own lives, and I think I did a good job bringing them up after their mother died. I don’t suppose I’ll ever stop worrying about them, though.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  “Lately, though, I’ve been worrying a great deal about you, too,” Donald told her. “And I’m not sure that that’s a good thing. I suspect you’re more interested in Daniel Robinson than you are in me and I feel as if I should stop seeing you before I get my heart broken again.”

  Fenella took a deep breath and tried to work out how best to reply. “I like Daniel a lot,” she said eventually. “But I like you a lot, too. I’ve really only ever been in a couple of serious relationships. I’m enjoying having the freedom to see different people, and I’m learning a lot about myself and what I’m looking for in a relationship along the way.”

  Donald pulled his car up to the curb in front of Fenella’s building and stopped the engine. He turned and looked at her. “I’ve never told I woman I didn’t want to see her again because I wanted to get more serious and she wasn’t looking for a commitment,” he sighed. “It’s always been the other way around. But here I am, telling you that I want to make our relationship exclusive, knowing that that isn’t what you’re looking for at the moment.”

  “I’m sorry,” Fenella said softly. “But I’m not ready for any sort of commitment, not yet.”

  “And you probably won’t be while Daniel Robinson is in the
picture,” Donald sighed.

  Fenella shook her head. “This isn’t about Daniel. I’d tell him the same thing if he asked me to get more serious. I was with Jack for over ten years. I’m enjoying having my freedom right now. I’m not ready to have to think about someone else before I do anything again, not yet, anyway.”

  “I’m only a phone call away if you change your mind,” Donald told her. “And I can’t promise I won’t keep asking you out, either. I don’t know that I’m strong enough to resist you.”

  Fenella laughed. “You’ll forget all about me by the weekend,” she predicted. “Some beautiful blonde who is half your age will stroll past you and you’ll be smitten.”

  Donald chuckled. “I’d like to think I’m not that shallow, but there’s a part of me that’s hoping you’re right. Otherwise, I shall have to sit back and watch you fall further in love with Daniel.”

  “Daniel and I aren’t even speaking at the moment,” Fenella blurted out. “He got angry with me for finding another dead body.”

  Donald stared at her for a minute. “I wish I’d known that before I started this conversation,” he said. “Can we start over?”

  Fenella laughed. “I’m too tired to talk any more tonight. Why don’t you call me when you know what you want?”

  She opened her door and climbed out of the car, not giving Donald a chance to reply. He started to follow her, but a car pulled up behind him and began to honk. Fenella knew he’d have to move the car, so she waved Donald away. He shrugged, then waved and drove slowly down the promenade.

  “At least you’re happy to see me,” Fenella said to Katie as she walked into her apartment a few minutes later.

  “Merrooowwww,” Katie replied.

  “You had your dinner,” Fenella reminded her. “But I suppose a treat couldn’t hurt.”

  “You spoil her,” Mona said.

  “Yes, I do, because I love her and she’s always here for me,” Fenella replied, blinking hard as unwelcome tears threatened.

  “You’re upset. Did you and Donald argue?” Mona asked.