| |
Ryan met with Sady in her office the first thing Tuesday morning.
"My main goal in coming here was to meet you," he told her. "But while I was digging through records and family history, I noted something interesting. Your Great Aunt Marge lived in Sinful, Louisiana, didn't she?"
Sady nodded. "She left me her estate, but I turned it over to my Uncle John. I visited the town once."
"Did you ever read anything about a man named Louis Colbert?" Ryan asked.
"I don't recall hearing that name," she replied after thinking it over.
"Let me tell you what I learned about him. Sorry if this is long winded, but once I start a research project, I'm hooked! Anyway, Louis Colbert was a long-time member of Huey Long's personal staff. You probably remember from history that Huey Long was a dynamic and controversial political figure in Louisiana's history."
"Wasn't he shot?" Sady asked.
Ryan nodded. "On September 8, 1935 and he died on September 10, 1935. Rumor has it that during the turmoil following his death, someone emptied the Long's home safe. Most historians believe it was one of the staff since many left when they heard about his death. They were likely afraid they'd be gunned down if they stayed and supported Long's widow. Here's where it gets interesting. I learned a man named Louis Colbert moved to Sinful shortly after Long's death. He lived there until his own death in the 1960's."
"Do you think he was the staff member who cleaned out the safe?"
"I think it's a good possibility. Members of the Long family suspected it because they hounded Colbert for years, but never came up with the proof. Many historians agree that Louis was the most likely culprit."
"And you think the safe contents might still be in Sinful?" Sady's eyes sparkled.
"Many of Louis' belongings were donated to the town of Sinful, like the land where the library now sits. A few of his personal belongings have shown up on online auctions during recent years. My understanding is that much of Sinful's population is of an older generation, so many of those items might still be there. My interest is more in following the history of Louis, but we may turn up something of value."
"My Aunt Marge lived in Sinful a long time," Sady said, grabbing his arm with excitement. "After her death I was supposed to inventory the contents of her house. I never did, but Uncle John mentioned she had quite a few old items in her possession."
"Well, since you have ties to Sinful and I'm going there to investigate the story..."
"I'd love to go," Sady shouted, and Ryan grinned at her enthusiasm. Then she added, "But I have to check a couple things before I can give you a definite answer. Can I call you at your hotel?"
Ryan agreed, and Sady rushed to Harry's office. Sady trusted Harry to be honest and look out for her. First she asked if she should go, then she asked if she could go. "I let my excitement get the best of me," she admitted. "It's like seeing that beauty pageant crown sparkling and forgetting I haven't won it yet. Do you think it's safe to travel with Ryan? I know you checked on him, but I don't want to be one of those stupid victims in the movies who hear a sound and go outside, even when they know a maniac is lurking in the neighborhood. Am I one of those stupid victims, Harry?"
He smiled and pointed to a chair. "You're not a stupid woman, Sady. But you're wise for being cautious. If it sets your mind at ease, your uncle ran a thorough check on Ryan Greer as well. Unless the man has a never-before-seen second personality I don't think you're in danger. Ryan volunteers at a youth center for troubled teens, he coaches a pipsqueak soccer group, and his fiancée is a nurse. John also checked his work, and he's the investigative journalist he claims to be. With a few awards for his stories."
"So do you think it would be okay? If I went... this week?" she asked hesitantly.
Harry laughed. "I think Matt would welcome the opportunity to be pulled from his Mom sitting duty to come back to the office." Before he finished speaking Sady nearly knocked him out of his chair with a hug.
"I'm going to call Ryan, then I'm packing," she yelled on her way out the door.
Harry shook his head with a smile. When CJ and Amanda came to see what caused the excitement, he explained Sady's request. Amanda didn't approve, and she let Harry know.
"You're gonna blow all the plans I made with Ellen," she warned.
"Good," CJ replied. "You're better off staying out of it. Those two can figure out their problems without your help."
Amanda sniffed. "I have faith in Sady, but Stubbles on the other hand..."
"Why don't you go help Sady before she floats away like a balloon?" Harry suggested. Amanda ran for the door before he changed his mind. CJ raised a brow and Harry explained, "It won't hurt Ryan to see the wrath he'll face if he lets anything happen to Sady."
CJ frowned. "She'll be safe, won't she?"
Harry smiled and closed his door. Then he confided in CJ. "John told me Matt's about to blow up, so we're sending him to Sinful. He won't let anything happen to her."
"You're leaving us short-handed for the week, aren't you?" CJ asked.
"It's for a good cause," he offered.
"Harry, are you scheming to get our favorite young couple back together?" she joked. "You should have teamed up with Amanda and Ellen."
"What can I say?" Harry grinned. "You'd do it too, Candy Jane." CJ snorted and left his office.
That afternoon Sady and Ryan waited at the bus station. "I know the bus takes longer," Sady admitted to Ryan. "But it will drop us in Sinful and everything's within walking distance. If we fly, we'll have to rent a car and drive there. Besides, I'd like to get to know you."
***
While Sady and Ryan waited for the bus, Matt brought Ellen to the office of Knight Investigations. Amanda she greeted Ellen warmly. Then she looked at Matt and lifted one corner of her lip in derision. His eyes turned stormy, and he gave her a suspicious look before showing Ellen his office.
Harry and CJ stepped out to greet them, but Matt was distracted by Sady's closed door. Finally he asked, "Is she with a client? I thought she'd like to say hello," he added lamely.
"Sady's not here," Harry told him. "She's heading to Sinful with Ryan." He exchanged a glance with CJ. John was right- Matt blew up.
After yelling for a few minutes, Matt paused for breath and Ellen asked, "Well, if you're so worried about her safety, why aren't you doing anything about it?"
"Like what?" he asked. "I can't just fly down and leave you here by yourself."
"Why not?" Ellen asked. "I'm a big girl, and I can enjoy shopping and eating out without you here to hold my hand." Matt looked offended, and she laughed. "I'm just saying that Amanda and I will have a wonderful time while you're gone. Right, Amanda?"
"I still have a job here," he protested weakly.
"Morrow wants you in Louisiana," Harry told him firmly. "Go pack, Meadows. We'll take care of Ellen."
Matt kissed his mom, then smiled at the Knight's. Amanda stood next to them and he gave her a glare which she returned. "Don't blow it again, Stubbles," she warned as he left.
Ellen let out a sigh of relief when Matt left. "I thought I'd have to shove dynamite under that boy," she confessed. "Thank you for helping me keep my sanity!"
***
On the long bus trip, Sady told Ryan about her family. "My dad died when I was very young. I don't even remember him. I think my mom turned her attention to me and beauty pageants to cope. Anyway, by the time I was three we hit the road, and that became our life for the next two decades. Then one day I woke up and knew I'd had enough. My mom was disappointed, but I'm glad I quit because we were able to spend time together without the constant distraction of the circuit."
"And you chose to become a librarian," Ryan said with a shake of his head.
"I keep forgetting you're a nosy journalist," Sady teased. Then she grew solemn. "My mom died unexpectedly a year later, and the only family I had was my dad's brother- Uncle John, and a great aunt I'd never met- Marge, who's since passed away. Until now," she smiled, brushing off the sad moment. She hugged Ryan's arm and explained how she ended up in Michigan.
"Oh, and I should tell you that my uncle took control of the house in Sinful, and he is using it for other things, so we can't stay there. We can't even visit the house."
"This would be your uncle who works for the government, right?" At Sady's guarded expression he continued, "It's what I do for a living, Sady. Digging into peoples lives and backgrounds is what moves me to write. But don't worry, I'm not going to ruffle your uncle's feathers. I have no wish to take on the federal government."
Sady thanked him and asked about his family.
"Well, I'm happy to say my mom, Dorothy, didn't take after Donna," he grinned. "My parents have been married for almost forty years. My dad, Wes, ran a small newspaper where I grew up and I was at that place every chance I got. There was no question about what I wanted to be when I grew up."
Ryan pulled out his phone and showed Sady pictures of his family. One picture showed Ryan with a smiling blonde woman. "My fiancée, Erin. We're getting married in the spring. I hope you'll come visit us," he invited.
Ten hours later he exclaimed, "Oh, my God! How did I let you talk me into taking the bus? Are we ever going to get there?"
"You sound like Matt," Sady teased.
"You haven't told me about him," Ryan observed.
"There's nothing to tell," she snapped.
"Don't lie to me, Sandy-Sue Morrow," he responded. "We're family, remember?"
"Fine. He told his mother we weren't friends... while I stood there! His exact words were, 'Hell, no'!"
"Are you friends?"
"Not any more!" she said in a firm voice. Then she bit her lip, and Ryan patted her hand.
"Uh, huh. You're more than friends," he said gently. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be so upset."
Her eyes big with confusion, she confessed, "I thought we were too. Until his mom showed up out of the blue."
"That would explain it," Ryan told her. Her brow furrowed and he explained. "I'm not saying this to hurt your feelings, but you haven't had the pressure of a parent hoping you'll meet the right person and settle down. The older you get, the greater the pressure. In Matt's shoes, I'd have said the same thing."
"You're just trying to make me feel better!" she accused.
"Is it working?"
"I don't know. Keep going," she grinned.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," he scolded. "You were there for the dinner grilling, Sady. If I didn't know he was jealous, I might have taken offense."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so, cuz. And so did everyone else at the table, including his mom."
"Maybe she doesn't like me," Sady worried.
"Sweetie, Matt likes you, therefore Ellen likes you," he explained. "Besides, she'd like you even if her son was out of the picture. You're a sweet and nice woman."
"You didn't know me during my pageant days," she laughed. "Back then sweet and nice was a show for the judges. Behind the stage it was fighting and clawing."
"Which tells me you're a good person, one who could leave the competitive spirit behind."
"Aw! You're a very nice man, Ryan Greer. I'm glad we're cousins."
"And I'll be glad when this ridiculous bus ride is over!"