T
he following night, Gran, Liam and I all got dressed up in our finery and made our way to the recreation center at six o’clock. It was the first time I’d seen Liam in a tux, and I have to say, he took my breath away. The well-tailored suit showed off his broad shoulders and slim waist. Gran and I dressed in our “little black dresses,” and definitely melted into the crowd, which is what we wanted. My blackeye had faded, and I artfully covered it up with makeup. I was pretty confident no one would know it was there.
The evening began with alcohol flowing. I had just left the bar when I almost ran into someone. I looked up and almost groaned.
“What are you two doing here?” Trying to hide my surprise.
Dad smiled. “I’m fine, dear. How are you?” He bent down and kissed my cheek.
I smiled. “Hello, dad.”
“Molly, why do you have a drink in each hand?” asked mum.
“Didn’t you hear? I’m a two-fisted drinker these days.” I laughed.
She was not amused. “What will people say if they see you?” She looked at dad. “Joseph, take one of those drinks from her.”
Dad laughed. “No, I think I’d prefer a whiskey. Would you like a drink, dear?” She shook her head, and he walked toward the bar.
“One of these is for Gran, mum.” I nodded toward the wall. “She and Liam are waiting for me.”
“What are you doing here, anyway? And what on earth happened to your eye?” She took a drink from my hand and turned toward the wall.
Of course, my mum would be the one person to notice.
“I walked into a door, mum. It’s much better.”
She looked around. “Where are they, exactly? It’s quite crowded in here.”
I bit my lip since you could see Liam over most of the people in the room, and just walked that way. By the time we arrived, I’d finished most of my drink, and wished I could drink Gran’s.
“Mother, Liam, how delightful to see you both. I didn’t know you were going to be here.” Mum leaned in for Liam’s kiss on her cheek and gave her mother a hug.
“We didn’t know until last night, Deidre. You look lovely as always.”
I hadn’t paid attention to what mum was wearing, but Gran was right. She had on a sparkly black dress with long sleeves. Every time she moved, she sparkled.
“You look very nice, mum.” I sipped the last of my drink and looked for some place to set the glass down.
“I can take that, miss.” Said a voice behind me. The server carried a tray of drinks, which he held out to me as he took my empty. “Champagne?”
“Yes, please.” And I took a glass off the tray.
Mum scowled. “Molly, slow down. You’re going to make a fool of yourself.” I looked for the server for another one, but he was too far away.
“I promise to keep an eye on her, Deidre,” said Liam, smiling.
“Please do. This is an important night for the mayor. The election is in one week and according to the polls, either candidate could win.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a fan, mum.”
“His mother is a dear friend of mine, so of course we had to show our support.” She looked around. “I’ll be right back. Watch for your father.”
Just then, dad found us. “Colleen, Liam. Great to see you.” He kissed Colleen’s cheek and shook Liam’s hand.
“I think they’re ready for everyone to be seated. Where’s your mum?”
“I don’t know. She disappeared a few minutes ago. I’m sure she’ll find us, though.” I had given the tickets to Liam. “Where are we sitting?” Hopefully, it would be far away from my mum.
He pulled them out of his pocket as mum joined us. “I just spoke to Melanie Plumb. She could get us all together at the same table. Isn’t it wonderful?”
My stomach plummeted, but I smiled. “That’s wonderful, mum. Thanks.” I gulped down the rest of my champagne just as another server was walking by. I dropped my empty on the tray and took a full one as mother lead us to our table.
We all made it through dinner, and then the mayor spoke. When he finished, mum clapped louder than any of the rest of us. I couldn’t help but stare at this imposter pretending to be my mother.
Once she’d finished, I asked, “Mum, would you introduce me to the mayor?” I smiled.
She grinned. “Of course, dear. I’m so glad you’re taking an interest in local politics.” She turned to dad. “See, I told you she’d grow up someday,” and she stood up. “No time like the present.”
I tossed my napkin on the table and got up to follow her. I noticed Liam grinning and Gran outright laughing. As I was walking away, I heard dad ask, “What’s so funny?”
The mayor stood with a group of people, all talking to him at the same time. Mum walked right into the middle of it without even glancing at those around him. “Shane, what a lovely speech.” I stood outside the group, my face turning red, wanting to apologize to those she’d haphazardly pushed aside.
“Deidre, I’m so glad you could come.” He took her hands and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you liked the speech.”
“Shane, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Molly.” She turned to me. “Molly, this is Mayor Wilson.”
His eyes lit up. “Molly, it’s so good to finally meet you. Your mother has told me so much about you, and you are as beautiful as she said.”
Dressed in a thousand-euro suit, blond hair and bright blue eyes, and a million-euro smile. I could see how he charmed mum. “Thank you, mayor.” I looked around at the people staring at us. “Could I speak to you alone for a moment?”
Mum had a look of panic on her face, but the mayor just smiled. “Of course.” He looked around at the group still loitering around him. “Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen,” and the group dispersed. All except mum.
I smiled. “Mum, I’ll meet you back at the table.”
“Molly, I’m sure the mayor is too busy right now…”
“It’s no problem, Deidre. I can make the time for your daughter.”
Mum’s eyes drilled into me and I’d seen that look a thousand times as a child. It meant “don’t embarrass me or there will be hell to pay later.” I just smiled.
We walked out into the hallway, where only a few people were walking around.
“Thank you so much, Mayor. Did you know Herb Weston was trying to contact you?”
“Tom Doyle mentioned it, but I don’t know why. You don’t think he had something to tell me that made someone kill him, do you?”
I looked at him. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
He shrugged. “Being mayor of such a small village comes with some power. I would feel just awful if that were the case.”
“I just know Herb was quite eager to speak to you, but you were in Cong with your parents.”
A sad look came over his face. “I was. This is a hard time of year for all of us. It’s my brother, you see. The twenty-eighth of October is the anniversary of when he disappeared and they take it quite hard, so I always try to be there to comfort them.” He pulled out a picture from his wallet and handed it to me. The two lads, one taller than the other and obviously older, standing in front of some rose bushes. “He was my hero. Here we are shortly before he disappeared.” He smiled. “At my grandparent’s home.”
“Did you ever figure out why he left?” I handed it back to him.
“He and my father didn’t get along. Too much alike, I think. And like many kids, figured he could find a better life out from under the thumb of his family.”
My witchy senses buzzed. “Did you ever try to find him when you were older?”
He nodded. “I hired a private detective, and I found out he’d been in jail a few times for petty thefts. I never told my parents, though. It would have killed them.”
“Why are you getting involved with this?”
I smiled. “I’m just trying to find some answers for his ex-girlfriend.”
“Well, be careful, won’t you?”
“I will. Thank you for your time.”
We shook hands and made our way back into the main hall. He went toward the front of the room. I went to the bar, trying to avoid my mother as long as possible.
She must have been watching the door because she found me just after I ordered my glass of wine.
“What did you need to see the mayor about? So help me, Molly, if you embarrassed our family, I’ll never forgive you.”
The bartender handed me my drink with lifted eyebrows. I took it and mum and I walked toward our table. “Mum, it wasn’t anything embarrassing. I just had a question for him, that’s all.”
“Are you involved with another murder? Why can’t you be a normal daughter. More like Fiona? Or Ciara, or Reanna, for goodness sake. They don’t make their mothers a nervous wreck.”
I set my drink down on the table and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Nothing to be nervous about. I promise.” Before I could sit down, Liam was at my side. “Would you care to dance?”
We were on the dance floor, his arms around me and my head on his shoulder. I could feel Liam’s chest rumble with laughter. I pulled away to look at his face. “What are you laughing about?”
“You and your mum. What did the mayor say?”
I filled him in. “He seemed concerned when he thought maybe Herb was killed because he wasn’t available to meet with him. He knows his brother was in jail, but didn’t tell his parents.”
He swung me around. “If only we could find where Herb kept his information. He has to have a file somewhere.”
Shortly after that, we took a break and went back to the table. While Liam was getting us something cool to drink, my phone buzzed. I looked at the message.
Liam set a drink down in front of me. “It’s from Callum. Turns out Herb left everything to Suzanne.” I looked at the group. “He say’s they’ve just requested a warrant for her arrest.”
Gran’s eyebrows shot up. “We should warn her.” She picked up her phone.
Liam put his hand on her arm. “No, you can’t.”
I looked at Gran. “He’s right. If we warn her, DI Elliott will have reason to come after us for interfering with his investigation. Besides, Callum will get in trouble.”
Gran set aside her phone. “So, what are we to do then?”
“I will put some of the money from my inheritance to good use and make sure she has an excellent solicitor.” I patted her hand.
Dad spoke up. “Call Jack Webber. I’m sure he’ll be willing to help.”
“Thanks, dad.” Although dad is a solicitor, he doesn’t handle criminal cases, and Jack had helped us before. “We should have him on retainer.” I smiled.
Liam and I danced again, and when we returned to our table, Gran was waiting to tell us goodbye.
“Your parents have offered to drive me home. You two stay and have fun.”