by Sonia Parin
“Mira thought we should spend some time in town interviewing people.”
Eve took a step back, physically and mentally distancing herself. “I assume that’s what the police will do.”
“Yes, but if we ask around, we’d do it conversationally. No one would suspect us of delving. Some people are suspicious of the police. They might say they’re prepared to help out but, in reality, they’re not entirely comfortable opening up.”
Crossing her arms, Eve took another step away from the counter and looked out the window. “It might be better if I play the disinterested card. You go ahead and ask questions. I’ll remain in the background.”
“Everyone will expect you to become involved.”
“Don’t be silly. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them I’m simply too busy setting up my new business to poke around.”
“But you have a vested interest. This happened in your store.” Jill sounded outraged. “In your place, I would be beyond furious. As you said, of all the stores… Eve, you have a reputation to uphold.”
“Yes, well… I think it’s about time I revamp it. Yes, I definitely want a new reputation.”
“Too late,” Jill announced. “You can’t play the innocent bystander. No one will buy it, least of all me.” Jill slurped her coffee and set her mug down with a thump. “Now, let’s get down to business. Have the police given you access to the building?”
No, not yet, Eve thought. “They will. Eventually.”
“This could be a message from the universal powers that be telling you to rethink your intention to set up a new business. I’m sure you’d be able to get your deposit back. After all, you leased a building with a dead body hidden inside.”
“Nice try, Jill. I don’t seem to be able to put a foot right with you today. You don’t want me to set up a new business but you do want me to play at being an amateur sleuth.”
Disregarding her, Jill read through the rest of her list. To Eve’s surprise, it matched almost everything she had discussed with Jack the night before.
“Yes, I’m still wondering why no one noticed Phillip Manningham missing. If we’re going to talk with anyone, I think we should start with his neighbors, Pete and Susa Dresden.” If she could get back into the building to work on her project, then her curiosity could be justified and she wouldn’t be so conspicuous if she dropped in at the hardware store.
A hard thump had them both looking around.
“What was that?” Jill whispered.
“Probably a bird. I cleaned Mira’s windows last week and we’ve had several birds flying into them.” Eve strode toward the front of the house and, shifting the curtain, she peered out the window.
Jill came up behind her. “Well?”
“I don’t see anyone out there.”
“Are you sure? My imagination is running wild. I’m picturing someone… the killer delivering a message for you to keep your nose out or else. It’s just what you need. Pick up the gauntlet and get back on your horse.”
Easing the front door open, Eve stepped out. “Oh, it’s the newspaper.” Bending down, she picked up the local Gazette and brought it inside.
“You should be more careful. Someone could have used that to lure you outside.”
“Right. Because I pose such a threat.” Eve laughed and settled down at the kitchen counter. She unrolled the newspaper and scanned the front page. “Oh, here’s an idea. I know it’s early days yet, but I should start the ball rolling and run an ad for the store.”
“You seem determined to ignore everything that’s going on around you,” Jill complained. “Fine. I’ll go along with it. Have you decided on a name?”
“Yes, I thought I already told you. I want to keep it simple. Eve Lloyd’s a la Carte Catering.”
Jill curved her eyebrows.
“What?”
“Eve Lloyd. A la Carte.” Jill tilted her head in thought. “Yes, I like that better without the catering bit. You should cash in on your name.”
“You think a la carte is enough for people to know I’m offering a catering service?”
Grinning, Jill said, “Well, when it comes to you, you’re like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Hors d’oeuvres. Murder and mayhem. Or, both. So, why limit yourself?”
Chapter Seven
“Where did you leave Mischief and Mr. Magoo?” Eve asked as they drove into town.
“At the inn. I would have brought them with me, but Mira looked too comfortable with them curled up at her feet. She’s actually getting some work done right there in the living room. I heard one of the guests on the phone to a friend telling her she was staying at an inn with a famous writer at work. I think you might be onto a winner there.”
“Writer in residence?” Eve asked.
“Yes. I think it’s a fabulous drawcard.”
During the planning stages, they had discussed doing workshops at the inn. Maybe they needed to revisit the idea. “Do you think Mira will be amenable to the idea of hiring herself out as a prop at my inn?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not. It’s great advertising for her too.” Jill pointed ahead. “That car’s pulling out. Quick, grab the spot.”
Eve parked the car and scanned the street. “What’s going on? Why are there so many people here?” A lot more than usual, Eve thought.
“Maybe they’re hungry for news. Free advertising for you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still trying to discourage you from setting up a business in town, however, with so many people out and about I think it might be a good idea to post a notice on the window promoting your new venture.”
“Great idea.” Swinging around, Eve stared at Jill. Discourage? “Hang on, backup a bit. I thought you’d come to terms with my plans to expand.”
“Give me time. I’m sure I’ll come around.”
“Where’s your doubt coming from?”
Jill gave a weary shrug. “I don’t doubt your abilities. It’s… the circumstances cropping up when you least expect them, or rather, when you set your mind on something, that I worry about.”
“It’s not as if I have any control over the circumstances.” Eve emerged from the car, pulled up her collar and tugged her baseball cap down.
“If I didn’t know better I’d think you were trying to fly under the radar.” Jill laughed. “Oh, wait. You are.”
“That’s right. Amuse yourself at my expense.” She tapped her baseball cap. “But I’m killing two birds with one stone… Not that I’d ever want to kill a bird.”
“Is this about your parents?”
Eve didn’t think they would spare the time to come into town again. The day before had been a departure from their normal routine, which always excluded anything that didn’t rank highly in their carefully scripted lives.
“I see, you refuse to answer. Fine, I won’t pester you. Where to now?”
Relieved, Eve said, “The Rock-Maine Gazette.” As they strode along the main street, Eve glanced at her store. She couldn’t stop thinking of it as hers. “They’re like bees to honey.” There were several people standing outside looking in. No doubt, drawn by the crime scene tape. “What do they hope to see?”
“You, of course.”
“There are only a couple of people who know I’ve rented the building. News can’t possibly have spread so quickly.”
Jill took her arm and tugged her along. “Come on. You’ll make yourself sick thinking about it. However, mark my word, everyone will be eager for news about you and your efforts to uncover the truth.”
“Once upon a time, I recall you trying to steer me away from trouble,” Eve said under her breath.
“I know. Sometimes I confuse myself. Being around you exposes me to the ebb and flow of the universe according to Eve Lloyd.”
They were a few steps away from the newspaper office when Eve came to a sudden stop. Two people emerged from the building. Two people she recognized only too well.
She had no time to hide.
Her mom turned.
Seeing Eve, she smiled. To Eve’s surprise, she then waved.
“What’s come over her?” Eve murmured.
“Yes, what’s this world coming to when you mom waves hello? Honestly, you’d think she’d know better.” Jill waved back.
“What are you doing? You mustn’t encourage her.”
Jill grinned. “Hello, Mrs. Lloyd.”
“Oh, please, call me Sarah. Hello, Eve. We were hoping to bump into you.”
“Are you leaving?” Eve asked.
“No, we told you we’re here for a week… or so.”
Or so? Eve didn’t like the sound of that. “What brought you to town… again?”
“We wanted to introduce ourselves to Derek Tucker.” Taking in Eve’s puzzled expression, her mom added, “He runs the newspaper and as he works for William Hunter who is now our client, we thought it appropriate to become acquainted with Derek Tucker.”
Her mom could not have explained herself more clearly if she’d been trying to communicate with an extraterrestrial being.
When her parents took on new clients, Eve knew they considered it their duty to know everything they could about them.
Her dad strode up, a newspaper in his hand. “Eve.”
“Dad.”
He took in her cap and smiled. “Sarah, I believe we need to congratulate Eve. She’s gone into business.”
Eve watched as her mom took a deep swallow and smiled. “Yes, I noticed. Eve’s Catering. I’ll mention it to William.”
Oh, please don’t, Eve silently begged. “That’s okay, mom. You don’t have to.”
“Oh, but his business would be excellent for you, Eve. He told us he plans on spending more time here and has already scheduled several parties.”
Eve was quick to interject, “And I’m sure he has already organized the catering for them.”
Her parents shared a look Eve had seen far too often. It spoke of tolerance for their daughter’s choices.
Her dad tapped the newspaper against his hand. “Well, I’m glad we subscribed to the Gazette. We’re bound to see good things written about you.”
They’d subscribed?
Eve chipped her way through her mind freeze to realize her parents would now receive weekly updates about life on the island. A while back, when she had gone on a cruise with Mira, Jill had shared information about her with the newspaper and they’d run updates about her antics, which had involved a murder case.
She managed to move her lips into something she hoped resembled a smile. “Right… Well, Jill and I need to get going.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. Your dad and I were just on our way to have a coffee.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jill said. “I’ll catch up with you later, Eve.”
Eve’s mind stalled again. She watched her parents walk away, with Jill between them.
Eve stood there, her cell phone in her hand. Without taking her eyes off them, she pressed the phone to her ear. “Mira. My folks have just kidnapped Jill. She probably thinks she went with them willingly, but you know they have their ways.”
Mira sighed. “Oh, dear.”
“I need your help. Send her a text message. Tell her what she’s up against. If I warn her, she’ll think I’m overreacting. It’ll be better coming from you. They’ll interrogate her. I know them. They think I’m up to something and they’ll try to get the information out of Jill.”
Mira laughed. “But you are up to something.”
“Yes, and I don’t want them to delve. They already know I’m setting up a catering company. They can’t know about the inn. You know what will happen if they find out.”
“Say no more. This is my haven. I’ll defend it with my last breath.”
Disconnecting the call, Eve headed toward the Gazette. As she stepped inside, she thought about her parents subscribing to the local newspaper.
She wondered how many other people subscribed to it.
Suddenly, her small world expanded.
Jill believed the killer lived on the island so Eve decided to follow another line of thinking. What if the killer lived on the mainland? They knew they had a secret. A secret that could be discovered by anyone at any time.
How would they stay informed?
They might have friends on the island, or…
They subscribed to the island’s newspaper.
She found Derek Tucker sitting at his desk, his phone pressed to his ear. Seeing her, he gave a small nod. When he ended the call, he sat up and smiled. “Eve Lloyd.”
Eve hadn’t had much to do with the local reporter. However, being a small town, everyone knew each other, if not personally, then by sight. Or, as in her case, by reputation.
“I just met your parents. Lovely couple.”
“Thank you,” she said. Although, she had no idea why she should thank him. She had nothing to do with how her parents presented themselves to the world. “I suppose you’ve heard the news.”
He gave her a wide smile. “You should have been a reporter. What I would give to have your luck.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re always in the right place at the right time.” He stretched his arms out. “First in with the news. If you set up shop, you’d put me right out of business.”
“Don’t worry. You’re safe. I’m most happy in the kitchen.” She looked around the office. It faced the street, with a large window giving him full view of everyone walking past. “Oh, you can see my store from here.”
He rounded the desk and went to stand next to her. “You’re right. I hear we’re going to be neighbors. When do you think you’ll open?”
“In a couple of months. It all depends on how much work I need to do to get the place up to code. The kitchen, in particular, will come under scrutiny.”
He pointed at her cap. “I see you’re starting your advertising early.”
“I’m trying to generate some interest.” She moved closer to the window. “You can almost see from one end of the street to the other. Do you have security cameras installed?”
“Why do you ask?”
“If you have cameras, I won’t have to bother installing them myself. I’m on a strict budget.”
He pointed to the corner. “It only covers the entrance.”
Pity. In any case, it wouldn’t keep information for longer than a few days or weeks, Eve thought. She gazed out the street and toward her store. “Just think, you might have witnessed something without realizing it. Will you be running a piece?”
“The police refused to comment, so I don’t have much to go on with.”
Refused to comment? Would that have stopped Eve?
He smiled at her. “Would you be willing to share some information? You have the advantage of being well-connected.”
“I’m under strict orders not to talk about it, but I can confirm a body was found inside.” He already knew that because he would have seen the coroner’s van. “Did you know the previous tenant?”
He gave a small nod. “I saw him around. Phillip kept to himself. He worked from nine to five. Most days he had lunch at the office. When he stepped out, he either picked up something at the bakery or the café. That’s all I can tell you. I spend part of my day looking out the window but not all of it.”
“Did he live on the island?”
He shook his head. “Not that I know of. Have the police identified the victim?”
Eve shrugged and thought it would be best to play around with the truth. “If they have, I’m not likely to be told. Just because I’m dating a policeman doesn’t mean I’m privy to information. But it doesn’t stop me from wondering. Jill and I have been tossing around a few ideas. She thinks the killer lives on the island.”
He looked surprised. “And what about you?”
“I don’t think he does. However, I think he might want to keep up with what goes on in town. I hear people can subscribe to your newspaper.”
“Oh, yes. In fact, your folks just signed up. As you know, most of the locals are permanen
t residents but some aren’t, so they like to stay in touch.”
“Is your subscription list computerized?”
Smiling, he crossed his arms. “Are you following a lead?”
“Jill insists it’s someone on the island. I’d like to back up my argument with some solid reasoning. I’m thinking the killer might subscribe to your newspaper so he can keep track of what goes on. So, how long have you had the subscription system in place?”
“A couple of years.”
She didn’t bother asking if she could look at the list. For starters, she didn’t think Derek Tucker would violate his subscriber’s privacy. Also, she didn’t have the resources to research names. “Does that mean you’ve lived here that long?”
“Oh, I don’t live here.”
“But you only started working here two years ago?”
Derek laughed. “I’ve heard about your tactics of turning everyone into a suspect.”
Grinning, Eve asked, “What will you tell the police when they ask if you knew Phillip Manningham?”
“Only what I told you.” He brushed his fingers along his chin. “It’s strange. I don’t remember ever speaking with him and I usually make a point of chatting with everyone. It makes you wonder why someone like him would set himself up in a small town. If I wanted to keep to myself, I’d choose to live in the city.”
“You might be onto something there,” Eve said. “In a small town, I think people might notice someone more if they were trying to avoid contact.” She hoped that was the case.
The front door opened and a young woman strode in. “Sorry, boss. Long line at the bakery.”
“I should go.” She turned only to stop. “By the way, is there any chance my parents’ subscription might be accidentally deleted?”
Derek laughed. “I’m open to bribery.”
“Let me guess, you want a scoop.”
He smiled. “Whenever you’re ready to trade, my door is always open.”
Chapter Eight
“I feel like a kid in a candy store with my nose pressed against the window, looking in. When is this crime scene tape coming down?” Eve asked.
