“Someone looks happy today!”
“And good morning to you,” I greeted Angela as I strode past the circulation desk Friday morning. No further comment followed, and I sighed with relief. Trish must have been true to her word about remaining mum about my dinner with Jared Foster.
“I’ve always loved Halloween, haven’t you?”
I gave a start when I discovered Evelyn Havers walking beside me.
“All the decorations, the costumes, bobbing for apples . . .” Evelyn’s laughter sounded like wind chimes. “At least, that’s what we did in my day.”
I looked around at the festoon of jack-o’-lanterns, skeletons, and witches adorning the walls and hanging from the ceiling. “It’s turned into a fun holiday, but when I was a teenager, Halloween was an excuse for older kids to have shaving-cream fights and toss eggs at houses.”
“Not here in Clover Ridge. And certainly not here in our beloved library.”
“That’s for sure. Sally’s asked me to place more scarecrows and dried corn arrangements wherever there’s empty shelf space.” I entered my office.
Evelyn followed me inside.
“Did you want to tell me something?”
She blinked as if she was trying to come up with an excuse. “How are things between you and my niece?”
“Cold. Hostile. If looks could kill . . .”
“A pity, but looks can’t hurt you.”
“It isn’t pleasant.” I turned on my computer to check for urgent e-mails—namely, from Sally.
Evelyn sighed. “You’re annoyed with me, and I can’t blame you.”
I gave her my full attention. “I’m hurt that you won’t tell me what you know about Laura Foster. But I don’t suppose it matters now. Jared and I are working together to find out who killed his mother and who killed Al Buckley. We’re scrutinizing everyone who was important in Laura’s life, starting with her family.”
Evelyn grinned. “You and Jared. Now that’s an interesting bit of news.”
“There’s nothing interesting about it. We’ve joined forces because we share the same purpose. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do. I have to draw up a list of supplies for the adult Halloween party next Tuesday night, and—”
“There was something I always wondered about,” Evelyn said. “And I wasn’t the only one.”
“What was that?”
Evelyn perched on the corner of my desk. “A month or two before Laura was killed, the family lawyer came by to see her a few times. Each time they left the building, she’d say it was to have a cup of coffee.” Evelyn cocked her head. “Now why would they bother to leave the library when we serve coffee here?”
“To talk privately,” I said. “After all, he was her lawyer.”
“Then why didn’t she go to his office?” Evelyn shook her head vehemently. “I think it was for some other reason. She always looked in better spirits when she returned from their time together.”
My mouth fell open. “You don’t imagine. . . .”
“Heavens, nothing like that in half an hour or forty-five minutes . . . although, I suppose if they were . . .” She gave me a stern look. “That wasn’t what I had in mind. I asked at the café around the corner. They actually did go out for coffee. What I’m trying to say is I think Laura and her family lawyer were romantically involved.”
I shook my head. “But why do this in front of the people she worked with and then go for coffee in another public place? It doesn’t make sense.”
“To throw us off the trail. To make us think they were talking about some legal matter. Lawyers often see their clients outside the office. As do accountants.”
“Mmm.”
“Besides, I got the sense that Laura wasn’t very happy at home. Ryan was a handful, and Bryce was always working. The library was a safe haven for her. A place where she could help people, and they appreciated her.”
I nodded. “I know nothing about the lawyer, but the rest of it lines up with what Jared told me about his mother. She wasn’t happy before she died.”
“And unhappy people often do foolish things.”
That said, Evelyn faded from the room.
Another suspect to add to the list. But how could I possibly find out if what Evelyn supposed was true? I mused on the possibilities as I skimmed through my e-mails. The only note from Sally was a reminder to see her before I went shopping for the Halloween party, and I was planning to do that anyway.
Why did Evelyn have a change of heart about telling me what she knew about Laura Foster? A mystery within a mystery.
I reached for a pad and pen and started jotting down appetizers I planned to buy for the Halloween party. I’d been worried patrons would be reluctant to come to a library event that included food and drink, but the sixty available slots filled in minutes, and the hospitality desk kept adding more names to the waiting list.
I was excited about the upcoming Halloween party. Patrons who signed up had agreed to come dressed as their favorite literary or movie character and had paid ten dollars to cover the cost of refreshments and prizes. The library staff was welcome—as long as they wore a costume. I was coming as a female Sherlock Holmes. Uncle Bosco had a green plaid deerstalker, and Aunt Harriet had a large green cape. I’d ordered an oversized magnifying glass online.
“Think bite-sized pieces that don’t cost too much,” Sally had advised. “Be sure to check all prices beforehand. The bakery makes scrumptious pumpkin breads and caramel apple cupcakes we can cut up and serve on toothpicks. Get small paper plates and napkins with Halloween patterns.”
Miniquiches and pigs in the blanket made my list, along with chips and dips and cut-up veggies and two different red punches I planned to place at either end of the table. Trish and Susan had bought the decorations—with Sally’s approval—and would set them up in the meeting room late Tuesday afternoon.
The party was scheduled to start at seven and end at nine. Barbara had arranged for the entertainment months ago. A magician would perform for half an hour, and then a storyteller would tell thirty minutes of ghostly, grizzly tales that had taken place in Connecticut. Then we’d have the costume parade and vote for the best male and female costume and the funniest male and female costume.
I’d planned to buy as much as I could at one of the local warehouse stores that my aunt and uncle belonged to. I’d just gone online to start checking costs before showing my list to Sally when my phone rang.
“Hi, Carrie. It’s Jared.”
“Hi. How are you?”
“Fine. I hope I’m not keeping you from anything important. I wanted to know if you got any vibes or came to any conclusions from what I told you last night.”
I laughed. “There was so much. I’m still running through everything in my mind. But I’ve learned something new.”
“What is it?”
Too late, I realized I’d spoken without thinking. What if Jared asks me how I know what I’m about to tell him? “Nothing solid, but a few people who work at the library told me your family lawyer came to see your mom a few times before she died.”
“Really? Ken Talbot? He was with us the night Al died. He has gray hair. Wore a three-piece suit.”
“I remember him. Why did he come?”
“Ken’s an old family friend as well as our lawyer. Ryan convinced Dad that Ken had to be there in case we could sue Al for slander. I told Dad it was ridiculous, but Ryan’s hysterics won out.”
“Was he your dad’s friend originally, or your mom’s?”
Jared laughed. “Actually, Ken is Uncle George’s friend—his college roommate. I wonder why he came to see Mom at the library instead of at his office.”
I suddenly felt embarrassed. “The two people I spoke to seemed to think your mother and Ken Talbot had some kind of romance going.”
“Really? Mom and Ken? I mean, they dated when they were very young, but they both married other people. Of course, Ken’s been divorced over twenty years. Still.”
“Remember what your mom’s friend Helena said that night—that your mother wanted to divorce your father?”
Jared made a scoffing sound. “I find it difficult to believe anything Helena says, especially since that was the first and only time I’d ever heard that.”
I exhaled noisily. “I suppose there’s no way we can find out if it’s true or not.”
“Of course there is. We’ll ask Ken.”
“Really? Ask him if he had a fling with your mother, his former girlfriend?”
“Why not? It happened fifteen years ago, if it happened at all. I’ll explain to Ken we’re trying to solve my mother’s murder. I know Ken pretty well. Despite his smooth lawyer veneer, I’ll know if he’s bullshitting me. Or out and out lying.”
I shivered. Jared and I were about to question one of the very people who might have murdered his mother. “I’m suddenly frightened. What if he’s the killer?”
“I don’t think we’re in any danger if we let Ken think we’re asking primarily because of what Helena announced in the library before Al died.”
“Good point. Do you think he’d admit to a romantic involvement?”
“I don’t see why not,” Jared said.
“Are older people that open?”
“It’s worth a try. I’ll give Ken a call, see if we can stop over there on Sunday evening around eight. I thought we’d have dinner before—that is, if you’re free and would like to join me.”
“I definitely want to—on both counts. I’m working Sunday, but I should be home around five thirty.”
“In that case, why don’t I pick you up at six thirty?”
Having our plan to look forward to made me happy enough to hum as I returned my attention to my computer and researching the cost of more Halloween items. When I finished, I walked over to Sally’s office to show her my list.
Dorothy stormed out of Sally’s office, a furious expression on her face.
“Hello, Dorothy,” I said.
She pushed past me, slamming into my shoulder.
“Ouch!” I complained.
Sally beckoned me into her office. “I apologize for Dorothy’s rudeness. I had to deliver some unpleasant news, and I’m afraid she took it badly.”
“Oh,” was all I said, though I was longing to know what the unpleasant news could be. Has a patron complained about Dorothy’s behavior? Is she about to be fired?
I handed Sally my list. She studied every item, looked at my figures, and asked if I was sure my numbers were accurate.
“They are. Here are the receipts for the decorations Trish and Susan bought.”
Sally looked them over, then returned them to me. “Hold onto them.”
“Will do. I need to buy four prizes. If I don’t see anything today, I’ll buy them over the weekend.”
“Don’t spend more than twenty dollars on each prize. Why don’t you shop for them after lunch?”
“That’s what I was planning to do.”
“If you need the time, take another half hour or forty-five minutes.”
At noon, I walked over to the Cozy Corner Café and ordered the lunch special—spinach quiche, a salad, and a cup of coffee. As I was paying, I scanned the bulletin board I’d discovered the week before. Most of the notices were from people in need of a contractor, plumber, housekeeper, or babysitter. Workers posted business cards advertising their services. So far, I hadn’t seen ads for apartment rentals, but it didn’t hurt to look.
An advertisement that hadn’t been up when I’d eaten here last caught my attention: “Cottage for rent. Reasonable rate for the right person.” Reasonable rate for the right person? What kind of weird ad is this? I jotted down the phone number and walked back to the library.
I dialed the number as soon as I got to my office. It rang several times. I was about to disconnect when a male voice repeated the number to me.
“Yes, hello. I’m calling about the advertisement you posted on the Cozy Corner Café bulletin board.”
There was a pause, and then the voice asked, “Can you come by to see the cottage this afternoon?”
“I’m afraid I can’t leave work, but I can stop by tomorrow morning.”
“As long as you can be here by ten thirty the latest.”
“I suppose I can.”
He rattled off the name of a road that didn’t include numbers and asked if I knew where that was.
“If I remember correctly, it’s a few miles north of Clover Ridge.”
“Correct.” He proceeded to give me directions to his home. “Any questions?”
“No, I know exactly where you are.”
“If you say so. Please call if you get lost. I need to leave here no later than noon.”
“I won’t get—” I began, but he’d already clicked off.