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When Emma arrived at the Anderson house, she found it strangely quiet. There was no hustle and bustle at the front door as there had been on her other visits. She couldn't help but notice the police presence and suspected that most of the staff were being questioned or were avoiding the police.
Deciding to be a little presumptuous, she avoided the front door and walked around to the back entrance, where she knew she would be welcomed by Sophie and Cook. She had almost reached the corner of the house when she heard a woman's voice arguing with another person. She stopped for a moment and listened carefully, recognizing the other two voices were male. She was pretty sure one was Kevin Frost's and listening closely, she could identify Joe Winders as the second man. But she couldn't identify the woman's voice, no matter how hard she listened. But one thing was clear. The three of them were arguing. Not wanting to interrupt them or be accused of eavesdropping, Emma turned around and walked back to the front of the house. It looked like she was going to have to use the front door, after all.
As Emma waited for somebody at the front door, she wondered what the argument had been about. The words were unintelligible, except she was sure she had heard Kevin tell the other two that he was going to let Midge know about something. The rest of the argument had become passionate and, try as she could, she still couldn't place the woman's voice. She knew she had heard it in the last twenty-four hours. That meant it had to be somebody from within the Anderson household or staff.
The front door opened, and Emma looked up into the smiling face of Travis. She expected one of the staff to open the door and was pleased to see it was him.
"Back again? Is it me, or the mystery that keeps you coming back?" Travis teased as he held the door open for her to enter.
"I'll be diplomatic and say both," Emma retorted, feeling her cheeks heat up with a telltale blush. She lowered her head slightly, hoping he wouldn't notice, and didn't see his grin widen.
"Where is everybody?" Emma asked as she looked around the entrance and noticed how quiet it was.
"Mom went to lie down for a nap. One of her migraines was starting. Personally, I think she is trying to get away from everybody. Wendy's been nagging her, and Marianne seems to think she needs to be at her side every second to go over the planning for the party."
Travis grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway toward the kitchen, exactly where Emma wanted to go. "If we enter Cook's domain, we should be left alone. The police are back, questioning the caterers, so they shouldn't bother us. Have you found out anything?"
Emma didn't say anything until they reached the kitchen. She called out a greeting to Cook and Sophie, who were busy working at the kitchen sink and took a seat at the small table by the back door. Travis joined her, a cup of coffee in each hand. She hadn't even noticed him going over to pour the drinks, but she inhaled deeply, appreciating the rich scent. She wrapped her hands around the porcelain, letting the heat from the drink warm her fingertips. Travis sat down and waited for her answer.
"Just little bits and pieces, probably things that you know. What no one seems to talk about is Cindy herself. Can you tell me about her?"
Travis leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable, and thought about Emma's question.
"Nosy."
"A wannabe."
The other two women in the kitchen answered Emma's question before Travis had the chance. Looking in their direction, Travis burst out laughing.
"Nothing gets past you, does it, Cook?" he asked the older woman. She shrugged and wiped her hands on a dishtowel.
"You are in my kitchen, and you're not exactly whispering, are you?"
Emma grinned at the two of them. This was the bantering of two people who were like family. Then she looked over at Sophie, who was busy decorating a tray of Christmas cookies.
"What do you mean by 'wannabe', Sophie?"
"Cindy envied what other people had. She constantly tried to mimic their lifestyle. Even though there was no way she would ever be in the same league as Wendy, Cindy was always trying to dress like her and pretend she had the same experiences. She was trying so hard to convince herself she was just like the girls Wendy hung around with that she was overspending her paycheck and overstepping her place here at the house."
"That's right, I've heard Marianne rebuke her several times to watch her tone and mind her own business." Cook nodded in agreement.
Emma was ready to ask another question when a movement out the window caught her attention. Nancy was coming around the corner of the house from the same direction Emma had tried to access earlier. She watched the gardener hurry toward her cottage, wondering what the police had asked her about. As Nancy disappeared, Emma turned her attention to Travis and saw he had also noticed the young woman.
"She was always sticking her nose into other people's business, too. Asking questions she had no reason to ask. Private questions about the family. I liked the girl, but I didn't trust her."
Cook's comments returned Emma's focus to what was going on in the kitchen, but before she could answer, Marianne poked her head around the door frame.
"Oh, it's you, Emma. I thought I heard the doorbell. I thought it might be someone important needing to talk to Mrs. Anderson." Dismissing Emma, Marianne turned her attention to Cook. "I'd like to take a pot of tea up to Midge. Something that will help her headache. Can you have that ready in fifteen minutes?"
"Of course. I'll have Sophie take it up when it's ready."
"No! I'll take care of that. Emma, Midge isn't up to seeing you or anyone else for the rest of the day." Marianne's tone was sharp, and Travis straightened in his chair.
"My mother can make her own decisions, Marianne. Besides, Emma is here to talk to me."
"Fine. Cook, let me know when the tea is ready." Turning on her heel, Marianne left. But it was clear she wasn't pleased about Emma being there or Travis defending her presence.
Sophie gave a low whistle, "Wow, she's not happy you're here, Emma."
"Yeah, I got that impression, too."
Before anyone could answer Emma, the back door opened, and Joe Winders walked in.
"Looks pretty cozy in here. Think I'll join you." Pushing a chair closer to Emma, Joe sat, invading her personal space uncomfortably as he leaned toward her. "Emma, isn't it? Glad to see another pretty face around here."
Was he serious? Emma couldn't believe the man's forwardness. Wasn't he Nancy's friend? And Wendy certainly acted as if they had a more personal relationship. Shifting herself slightly away from Joe, she tried to hide her revulsion.
"Yes, I'm Emma. We met briefly yesterday." Deciding to turn the tables, she added, "You know, while the police were searching the shed and asking you some pointed questions."
Rather than taking offense, Joe gave a sharp bark of laughter, nodding. "Oh, you're feisty. I like that."
"I just saw Nancy go to the cottage," Travis interrupted, obviously trying to get rid of Joe.
"I figured she'd be over there. I came here looking for Wendy. She wanted something from me, and I need to let her know I found it."
Emma sensed rather than saw Travis stiffen. She had a pretty good hunch Travis wanted to know what was going on between his cousin and the man next to her. Almost as much as he wanted Joe out of the main house.
"We'll be sure to let Wendy know you were looking for her."
"I can wait. She'll show up here, eventually. I messaged her I was here. And while I wait, I'd like to get to know you better, Emma." Leering at Emma with a saucy smile full of artificially whitened teeth, Joe shifted his position in the chair to cut off her escape. "After all, we're down one pretty lady with Cindy gone. Emma will fill in nicely."
Emma reached her hand out under the table and squeezed Travis's leg in a warning. This was a perfect opportunity to find out more information, and she didn't want Travis to say or do anything that might squish Joe's bragging tendencies.
"Oh, you knew Cindy? What was she like?" Emma cringed as she heard her voice. She was laying it on thick and hoped Joe was too self-absorbed to notice. He was, and twisting the ring on his middle finger, he answered.
"Cindy was ambitious, a girl after my heart. She wasn't afraid to ask for a favor or two, or an introduction to someone who might move her career along. She loved secrets-other people's secrets, that is. That's how she got Nancy to drop her name to Mrs. Anderson when she was looking for someone to assist Marianne. Not that the two of them ever got along."
By now, Joe had draped his arm over the back of Emma's chair, and she squirmed in her chair with distaste. When he reached out and tugged on her hair suggestively, Emma decided she'd had more than enough. Getting information about Cindy wasn't worth dealing with this creep. She'd find another way.
"Joe! I've been looking all over for you."
Wendy's arrival prevented Emma from saying or doing something she might regret, and she couldn't help but notice how quickly Joe moved away from her and turned his charm on Wendy. Travis's cousin narrowed her eyes at the movement and shot Emma a warning look. It was one of those looks that said, "Hands off, he's mine." The look every woman recognized and understood.
They all watched as Wendy came over and kissed Joe on the cheek and grabbed his hand, pulling him from the table. Travis looked like he wanted to stop his cousin, but it was a fleeting look, followed by a raised eyebrow as he watched Joe scurry after Wendy like a chastised child. It was Cook who broke the silence after the back door closed.
"That girl is just looking for trouble. Travis, it won't do you any good to step between them. It'll only turn your cousin more toward that trouble."
"You're probably right, Cook. But that doesn't mean I have to like what I see," Travis growled in a low tone. Emma watched Cook and Sophie exchange a knowing glance.