A Page Marked for Murder

by Lauren Elliott

  * * *

  Despite the chill of a cloudless sky, the evening air felt downright balmy compared to what Greyborne Harbor had endured the last month. Still, Addie didn’t decline the frothy cup of hot chocolate Zach waved under her nose. They visited the various carving stations, where contestants’ eyes were fixed on the large digital clock and timer situated beside the gazebo. At precisely six p.m., carving tools were drawn, and the artists began to transform the shapeless blocks of ice into magical creations.

  At this point in the process it was impossible to guess what the finished products would depict, and as Addie made her way from station to station, it was clear none of the contestants were going to give away their plans ahead of time. Even though most artists worked from a pattern or blueprint, none were left out for prying eyes to view. It was part of the magic and mystery that an ice-carving competition inspired. Bystanders and judges had to guess what the final image would represent as the ice blocks took shape over the next two days.

  “I wish Simon was here.” Addie’s gaze landed on Serena’s mitten-encased hand tucked snuggly inside Zach’s gloved one, and a swell of envy swept through her. “These kinds of events bring out the diagnostician in him, and he always tries to assess the overall picture and make a determination of the end result.”

  “Isn’t that called sleuthing?” Serena chuckled.

  “I suppose it’s a form if it.” Addie laughed and gave her friend a shoulder nudge. “Oh, look, there’s Paige . . .”

  “Yeah, but what’s going on? Who are those two guys with her and Martha?”

  “One is her father, Ken Stringer, and the other one is a fellow he left the bakery with this morning. He was arguing with Ken, and then I saw him later, arguing with that man Kalea took off with.”

  “By the look on his face, I’d say whoever he is, he sure likes to argue with people.”

  “You’re right. Whatever they’re all discussing looks tense.”

  Serena’s brows creased. “Yeah, and they’re starting to attract a lot of attention from the people around them.”

  “Should we innocently approach them and see if we can defuse the situation?”

  “But could we be subtle enough not to set Martha off even more? Knowing her, she’d think we were just sticking our noses where they don’t belong.”

  “You’re right. You never know how she’s going to react at any given moment.”

  Paige’s usually pallid complexion reddened to a crimson glow in the twinkling gazebo lights. Her eyes filled with tears, and she bolted away from the group toward the library parking lot. Martha shouted something Addie couldn’t make out in the din around them, squared her round shoulders, and, huffing and puffing, pushed past Addie, Serena, and Zack toward the park entrance on Addie’s shop street. Addie glanced down at the small cargo nestled under her coat to make sure Martha’s brusque shoulder check hadn’t harmed the little dog. By the time she glanced back up, Ken and the taller man had disappeared into the crowd.

  “Wow,” was all Serena could manage to say.

  “Wow is right. Is Pippi okay?” Zach stroked the little dog’s head as it poked out from under Addie’s coat lapel.

  “She seems to be, but what just happened?”

  “Like I said, that guy seems to like to argue with people.” Serena glared at the spot the man used to fill.

  “Yeah, but poor Paige was in tears, did you see her?” Addie gazed in the direction Paige had gone. “Should I go after her? I’ve never seen her that upset before.”

  Serena shook her head. “It looked like family business, and you should stay out of it.”

  “You’re right,” Addie said, biting her lip, “but—”

  “No buts. You saw the look on Martha’s face. Do you want to feel her wrath when you go sticking your Miss Snoopy Nose in on their private affairs?”

  Addie shook her head.

  “Good, I’m sure Paige is all right, and she’ll tell you everything tomorrow.” Serena squeezed Addie’s hand in sympathy.

  “I gave her the day off because it’s Emma’s fourth birthday party.”

  “Well then, you’ll just have to live in suspense a little longer, now won’t you? Come on, Zach and I are going to the Ship ’n Anchor Tavern on Marine Drive for a beer. Why don’t you join us? You can text Simon and tell him to meet us there.”

  Addie gazed down at the little black nose sticking out from under her jacket. “No, I can’t. Thanks, anyway. You guys have fun. I’ll go and wait for Simon at my shop, and then Pippi can run around in there for a bit.”

  Addie waved as her friends took off, and she shifted the cargo under her coat when her cell phone in her pocket vibrated. Wrestling with Pippi to avoid sending her into a snowbank, Addie fished her phone out and glanced down at the text from Simon.

  It looks like I’ll be working late, so I won’t be able to meet up with you guys. Gloria’s MRI came back. She’s on her way to surgery. I’ll call later if it’s not too late. Xxx.

  That’s too bad on all accounts but thanks for letting me know. Addie added xxx and stuffed her phone back into her pocket.

  “Well, my little friend, should we get you home for dinner and call it an early Friday night? I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. This has been one strange day.” She laughed and ruffled the top of Pippi’s head.

  * * *

  The following day, Addie reached over the backdrop of her “Ice” window display and placed the last of her cut-crystal miniatures along the Victorian gaslight pathway. The tiny glass figurines made a perfect representation of the ice sculpture displays found in the park. It was surprising to her that they had sat in the curio cabinet by the counter for months doing nothing but collecting dust. Today, people couldn’t buy enough of them right along with the books Paige had ordered specifically for the festival.

  With the last miniature in place, her tummy picked that exact moment to rebel. She softly chuckled, thinking it made the perfect exclamation mark for a busier than usual Saturday morning. Many attending the carnival across the road gravitated to her windows depicting the Fire and Ice theme, and the ping of the sale key on the cash register had become as constant as the tinkling of the overhead doorbells.

  Not that she was complaining, but working alone all morning had definitely taken its toll on her and the wriggling little fur ball at her feet, who had become her shadow. “I know. You need to get out, but”—she looked around the store and spotted a few browsing customers—“we can’t leave right now.” Her words were met with a sad whimper, and she scooped the little dog in her arms. “Who said dogs can’t understand what people say.” She grinned and scratched her new little friend’s ear. “Now, if Aunty Kalea had shown up by ten as she promised, we wouldn’t be in this mess, would we?”

  Addie couldn’t help but fume over her cousin’s latest antics. In spite of telling Addie not to expect her home last night, she made a grand entrance at two in the morning, waking both Addie and Pippi by banging around in the bathroom and singing up the hallway to her bedroom. Earlier in the night, Addie had placed Pippi in bed with her, so Addie could get some much-needed sleep. It was the only thing she could think of to stop the incessant whining coming from the little doggy bed on the floor at her bedside. At Kalea’s late bedtime antics Addie had wanted to pull the pillow over her head to muffle the noise, but Pippi, not okay with losing her cushy sleeping place, had struggled for pillow dominance.

  When Addie had gone into Kalea’s room this morning to rouse her night owl cousin, Kalea had pulled her blankets over her head and moaned something about being at work by ten. She even promised. Two hours ago that window had closed. If it hadn’t been for Edna popping in and laying claim to the 1957 edition of Doctor Zhivago and offering to take Pippi for a short walk in the park, Addie wasn’t sure what she would have done. It had been a long time since she had no assistant and had forgotten how restrictive her daily activities could be. Paige had been a blessing in her life, and she really missed her. Kalea, on t
he other hand, not so much. Except for today, and that thought sent her blood pressure careening. Yes, it was definitely time for the talk she had been avoiding through Christmas.

  The tinkling of bells snapped Addie out of her trance. A flushed-faced Martha thrust a brown paper bag in front of her. “Here,” she barked, “I thought you might be hungry.”

  “Thank you, but I thought you were closed today.”

  “I was, but I got the cleanup all finished and won’t be reopened now until Monday. That chicken salad was in the fridge, and it will go bad by then, so somebody should eat it up.” She shrugged. “It might as well be you.”

  Addie glanced at the bag and back at Martha. “You have no idea how much I need this.”

  “I put a couple of treats in there for the princess, too.” Martha scratched behind Pippi’s perked little ear. “Now I have to get home to help Paige with the final setup for Emma’s party.”

  “Right, I’ve been so busy I forgot that was today. I have a gift for you to take if you don’t mind.” Addie retrieved a small, brightly wrapped package. “Here, please give this to Emma for me. I think it’s something she’ll really like.”

  Martha shuffled over to the desk and took the gift from Addie’s outstretched hand. “I’m going to hazard a guess and say it’s a book.” She looked ready to laugh but grinned instead.

  “Yes, but not just any book. It’s an early edition of Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings. It’s a collectors’ copy.”

  “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

  “I hope so. Paige told me the fascination she has for ducks and geese so . . . well, I thought it might be perfect.” Addie’s mind raced as Martha stuffed the present into her large Martha’s Bakery shopping bag and trudged toward the door.

  Should I or shouldn’t I? What the heck. I might as well jump into the duck pond with both feet. “Wait,” Addie called, stopping the robust woman at the door. “How is Paige this morning?”

  “As good as any mother can be, hosting her first major birthday party.” She chuckled as she reached for the door handle.

  “I mean”—Addie dashed around the counter—“after last night? I saw her when she left the park. She looked pretty upset by something the tall man said to her.” Addie felt the tetchy pricking of Martha’s mind-your-own-business glare and glanced away.

  “You saw all that?” Martha drew in a breath so deep it shook her ample bosom, and she noisily expelled it. “That was Brett Palmer! Emma’s no-good father.” She all but spat out the words.

  It dawned on Addie in that moment that the tension emanating from Martha wasn’t directed toward her for prying, but at this man. She locked eyes with Martha and saw the spark of fury even speaking Brett’s name induced in her.

  “Can you believe it? The jerk has had nothing to do with Paige or that sweet little child for nearly four years. He hasn’t even paid one cent of child support since he walked out when she was a baby, and suddenly, a few days ago, he shows up and demands to attend Emma’s fourth birthday party and informs Paige that from now on, he wants custody of that little girl and will go to court if he has to!” Martha’s eyes darkened. “Don’t worry. Paige is fine today because I think I’ve put an end to all his nonsense, and if not, I will soon. You can mark my words!” She swiveled and charged out the door.

  Chapter Five

  Addie couldn’t usher her last customer out the door fast enough before flipping the sign to CLOSED. “Phew, we made it.” She glanced down at the squirming fur ball at her feet. “Come on, let’s get packed up and go meet Simon and the rest of the volunteers at the beach.” She darted behind the counter, tossed all the dog toys she could see into the dog bed, scooped it and her little friend up, and headed out the back door.

  When she arrived at the tourist center down on the harbor, it took her two drives around the parking lot until she spotted a space and wedged her Mini between a red fire engine and the fire chief ’s SUV. She couldn’t believe how many people had answered the town council’s plea to help with the unloading and stacking of Christmas trees. It was far more than she had expected, and between the crowds and the fading light of the day, she had no way of spotting Simon.

  She pulled her phone out of her bag and typed. I’m here.Where are you?

  By the stage.

  Be right there.

  She shoved her phone back in her bag, glanced at Pippi, and shrugged. “I think there’s room in here for you, too.” She laughed and placed the little dog in her oversize tote bag. Patting the black wet nose poking out the top, she headed toward the stage area. Her eyes and heart lit up when she spotted her target beside the bandstand speaking with Keith Hubert, the fire chief and husband of Martha’s eldest daughter, Mellissa.

  “Hi, Keith.” Her head nod was returned by the tall ginger-haired man, and she slid up beside Simon and gave him a shoulder nudge.

  “Addie.” Simon grinned and planted a kiss on her cheek. “And good to see you, too.” He placed a fleeting kiss on Pippi’s head. “Is she behaving for you?” His sparkling, inquisitive blue eyes captured Addie’s and sent her heart fluttering.

  “Oh yeah, except she’s the worst bed hog I’ve ever seen. Other than that, we’re doing just fine.”

  “Say, isn’t this Gloria’s dog?” Keith rubbed the little head poking over the top of Addie’s bag.

  “Yes, it is. Do you know her?”

  “Oh yeah.” He clasped his large hands around Pippi’s head and playfully scuffled her neck fur. “This little girl and I go way back. Martha usually takes her when Gloria goes on a trip, and there were one or two times that Mellissa and I had to dog sit when Martha was busy. How ya doing, girl?”

  Pippi happily licked at his hand.

  “You dog sat? Here, maybe she’s better off with you.” Addie started to remove Pippi from the tote bag.

  “No, no, no.” Keith’s hand covered hers. “The bed-and-breakfast where I’m staying doesn’t allow pets.”

  “What bed-and-breakfast?” Addie looked up at him. “Are you and Mellissa renovating the house or something?”

  Simon shot Addie a warning glance, and she snapped her mouth closed.

  “You might say . . . or something. Anyway, I’d better get back to work. I’ve got to make sure fire regulations are adhered to and all that.” Keith backed away, giving Pippi one more ear scratch. “Now, you behave for the nice lady.” He chuckled and joined the group of volunteers unloading trees from a flatbed truck.

  Addie stared at Simon. “What was that look you gave me for, and what was all that about him living at a bed-and-breakfast?”

  “Paige didn’t tell you?”

  “No, she rarely talks about her sisters. From what I can tell they’re not that close. Age difference, I suppose. So what’s up?”

  “Well, Miss Snoopy, if you must know . . .” Simon placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “I do. This involves Paige’s family, and now I’m even more worried about her than I was before.”

  “Keith was just telling me that he and Mellissa are having some problems, and they have mutually agreed to live apart for a while to try to sort it out.”

  “Aw”—Addie’s hand shot to her chest—“that breaks my heart. They have two kids, don’t they?”

  Simon nodded. “But why were you worried about Paige in the first place? What’s going on?”

  Addie proceeded to tell Simon about the incident in the park last night and repeated Martha’s chilling words today. “It kind of made me shudder, you know. It wasn’t so much what she said but how she said it and the look in her eye.”

  “I agree with Serena. Keep your nose out of it. If Paige wants to share her family drama with you, she will. After all, remember how long it took for her to even tell you that she was a single parent? Paige, like her mother, is a very private person.”

  “But Simon, this is Paige, and I hate to see her—”

  “Shush.” He placed his finger over her lips. “Let them work out whatever issues they have. It
’s obviously family business and none of yours.”

  “But—”

  “No ‘buts.’ Now, come on. Let’s get to work and help with this. Remember, it was you who signed us up in the first place.”

  “Yes, but—”

  He flashed her one of his famous don’t-say-another-word looks, but that wasn’t enough to deter her from whining. “I signed us up when I thought that I should do more in the community like my aunt did, but look at all the trucks, Simon. How will we ever manage to unload and stack what must be over a thousand trees?” Addie eyed the seemingly endless convoy of pickups and flatbeds and decided it must be made up of every truck in the county that answered the call for volunteer drivers to collect the trees from the curbsides.

  He clasped her hand in his gloved one and tugged her toward a flatbed truck. “Come on, it won’t take that long. Look at all the people here to help out.”

  Addie groaned in protest and deposited Pippi, snug and secure in her tote bag, a safe distance from the feet of eager volunteers. Simon shot her a goofy sideways grin as he handed her a pair of insulated leather-palmed gloves, which he’d had the brilliant foresight to pick up from the hardware store on his way to meet her. She could have kissed him right then, but in a flash, he hopped onto the flatbed and handed her a tree.

  It didn’t take long until they matched the rhythm and pace of the two men working alongside them. Just when the bottom of the truck deck became visible, Simon was called away when an unstable stack of trees tumbled off a truck and pinned a man underneath, and he had to help transport the victim to the hospital. The two men they had been working with finished off the load, and Addie made a quick pitstop to check on Pippi. After taking her for a much-needed walk, Addie gave Pippi a few treats to hold her over until they got home for dinner.

  When she returned, the two fellows were already unloading another truck with a different couple. Addie spotted Paige on the back of a three-quarter ton beside the bandstand shell and headed toward her at the same time as Martha was commandeering Paige to assist her at the volunteer snack table. Keith, took it upon himself—much to Addie’s dismay—to pair her up with Elli Hollingsworth, Serena’s often flaky assistant and Paige’s best friend.