It was strange to lounge around in the morning. The detective still hadn’t allowed us to open the tea shoppe, so there was nothing for me to do early in the day since I’d sworn off sleuthing.
Knowing I was going to be wearing a Victorian Dress at the festival, I took time to find some warm leggings to wear under it. I could always take off a layer or two if I somehow ended up feeling too hot. I put on some thick socks and slipped on my new boots. I was very pleased with the way they fit and how toasty I knew they would keep my toes.
Once I poured a cup of coffee, I sat down to enjoy it, but my cell phone rang. I saw Gran’s name flash across my screen.
With hesitation, knowing I couldn’t keep any secrets from her, I answered. “Hello, Gran.”
An hour later, after she’d dragged every bit of information out of me, including the news about the threatening letter, Gran finally let me go, but only after I promised on my life never again to stick my nose into police business.
I set down my phone and leaned back. My eyes scanned the room. I was happy with my Christmas tree. I had decorated after Mathew left the night before, using red and green lights and my old-fashioned ornaments, which made me feel very nostalgic. The white feathered angel with its lighted halo smiled down at me.
My phone rang again. This time there was no name, just the word “Unknown.” Normally I would ignore it, but I picked it up and swiped. “Hello?”
For a few seconds, it was silent, then I heard some heavy breathing.
“Who is this?” I asked.
“Mind your own business!” a deep voice moaned.
I raised my voice. “Who is this?”
Whoever it was hung up, but I yelled into the phone three more times, “Who is this?” My hand was trembling when I finally set down the phone. I didn’t know what to do, if I should call Detective Rawls or run out to the patrol car, or nothing. I decided to wait until Mathew picked me up and ask him what he thought.
I hoisted myself into the passenger seat of Mathew’s truck. He grinned at my Victorian getup. The tea shoppe baskets were in the back seat and in the truck bed. Gran told me our baker would be dropping off the treats to put in the baskets. She’d been baking at her own home since the shop closed. We’d have to spend the first hour filling all the baskets while the Bible Study Ladies set up and decorated the booth.
On our way to the festival grounds, I tried to inform Mathew as casually as possible about the phone call. It didn’t work.
“What!” he yelled, stomping on the brake. “When did this happen?”
I chewed on my lower lip. “Earlier this morning.”
“Why didn’t you call me, or the police?”
I pulled back farther from him. “I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to discuss it with you first.” My voice was barely a whisper, and my lips trembled. Mathew must have noticed, because he seemed to calm down. He took a deep breath then said, “We need to call Detective Rawls.”
I nodded. “Can we do it from the festival?”
“Yes.” Mathew started driving again.
“I’m sorry,” I said, and turned to look out the window. The scenery of Maine always helped to calm me.
“Georgina, you haven’t done anything wrong. I’m sorry for yelling.” He reached across the seat and placed his hand on mine. “I was scared. This is actually all my fault. I should never have suggested we start this investigation, and all it’s gotten you is threats. We basically interviewed a handful of innocent people.”
I pushed a strand of loose hair off my cheek. “No one seems to have had any reason to want the mayor dead.”
“Especially right now, with the Sunset Apartments deal needing to be completed.”
“Once the town votes on a new mayor, can’t he or she finish the project?”
Mathew shrugged. “Maybe. If Mayor Dalton left good records, the project can probably be pushed through. Without them, though, a new mayor might not see it as a priority and may not work on it right away.”
I frowned. Something niggled my mind but passed before I could capture it. “By the look of the mayor’s desk, it will be hard for anyone to figure out anything very quickly. It was a real mess. Maybe Helen Cranz was right. She should do some straightening in there.”
“I’m sure once the murder is solved, she’ll get the chance.” Mathew steered into the parking lot and stopped the truck. Luckily, we wouldn’t have to carry the baskets far. Our booth was only about twenty yards from the parking lot.
“Okay, I’ll start unloading, but you need to call Detective Rawls. Tell him everything you remember.” Mathew jumped out of the driver’s seat. I pulled out my cell phone, stared at it for a few seconds, then started pushing numbers.
“Now, aren’t these just lovely baskets?” Savannah drawled. “You did a splendid job, Georgina.”
I lifted another basket onto the booth counter and placed a scone in it. Gran and I decided until the investigation proved Tea by the Sea innocent, we probably shouldn’t fill the baskets with petit fours.
I was still smarting from the tongue-lashing I’d received from Detective Rawls. He hadn’t been too happy I’d waited so long to tell him about the phone call.
Trying to get my mind off it, I kept busy. It was almost time for the festival to begin. As promised, the Bible Study Ladies were all there helping. They were each dressed to the nines in Victorian dresses that put mine to shame. They’d also created a very nice booth.
At first our conversation was all about the festival and the baskets. However, after they noticed Mathew talking to me privately, they began giving me knowing looks and sideways glances.
Once he finished unloading the truck, Mathew lingered at the booth while I told him about Detective Rawls’s reaction. Obviously the man was furious with me for not calling earlier, but in the end, he assured me he’d have a patrol car keeping watch on my apartment for a few more days—which made Mathew happy.
The festival began right at five. Everyone had decorated their booths in festive Christmas decor. The ladies had hung poinsettia teacups across the top of our booth along with a hand-painted sign with the shop name on it. The counter was covered in an old-fashioned Christmas tablecloth, and the ladies had made red and green aprons for all of us to wear. I was sure Gran would approve of everything.
Once people started mulling around the festival, our booth was an instant success.
After an hour, my face felt frozen in place from smiling so much while handing out baskets. Mathew walked around visiting with many of his congregants at other booths, but he stopped by ours around half past six.
“I’m doing a run for burgers and fries. Several of the other people running booths were too busy to stop for dinner, so I agreed to run out and bring something back. Jot down what you want on your burger, and I’ll get it.”
I did as he asked then turned back to the booth and picked up a basket to hand to the next customer. When I glanced up, I was surprised to see Robert Casey, the mayor’s pro tem, standing beside the booth.
“Hello,” I bubbled out, immediately regretting it. I was glad to see him out of his house, but the last thing he needed was undue attention.
“Hello, Georgina.” He looked uncomfortable.
“I’m glad to see you.” I lowered my voice. “Are you going to preside over the tree lighting tonight?”
He nodded, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his gray down coat. “I may not be able to do everything required of a mayor, but I think I can push a button to light a tree.” He laughed nervously.
“That’s great. When is the tree lighting?” I glanced across the walkway. The big Christmas tree was set up in the center of the festival area.
“Eight.”
I could tell by his curt answer our conversation was over. I lifted a basket and handed it to him. He eyed it and was about to turn it down, but I pushed it into his hands. “It’s on the house.” I hoped he didn’t suspect me of putting poison in the scones.
He took the basket, gave a wan smile, and strolled away. I couldn’t help but think it was going to take every ounce of his bravery to stand in front of all the people tonight and light the tree. I bowed my head and said a little prayer for his courage.
I could see Mathew delivering bagged food to several other booths. However, he wasn’t staying long at any of them. In fact, I thought it looked more like he was just tossing them onto the booths and jogging by. I could feel a tingle run through my system. His odd behavior was a sure sign something was amiss.
When he reached our booth with the last bag, he handed it to me but stepped behind the booth and pulled me to the side.
“I saw something,” he whispered.
I was reaching into the bag but stopped. “What do you mean?”
“I was driving by city hall, and I saw a light on in the mayor’s office. I thought it was strange, so I stopped in front of the building. As soon as I did, the light went off, but I stayed there for a few minutes trying to decide if I should go in or not.”
I waited for him to go on. When he hesitated, I pressed, “And? What happened?”
“Phyllis Gates came out the front door a few minutes later. She stood on the front steps, looking around, and then started walking away. She had a long red folder in her hand.”
“Hmm. The mayor had several red folders on his desk. I wonder what’s in the one she took.”
We looked at one another, and the glow of curiosity in Mathew’s eyes made me step back.
“Mathew, did you call Detective Rawls?”
He looked away for a moment then shook his head. “Not yet. I was so intrigued. All I could think about was getting here and telling you. But I’ll call him right now.”
Mathew stepped to the back of the booth and pulled out his cell phone. I moved closer to the front, pulled the burger out of the bag, unwrapped it, and took a bite. In general, fast food was not my favorite, but I was so hungry, it hit the spot.
The crowd around the booths was thinning as most people were walking toward the big Christmas tree. Everyone was getting ready for the tree lighting. I was trying to see through the crowd.
Maybelle slipped up beside me.
“Georgina, you go on over to the tree lighting. I’ll keep a watch on the booth.”
I blinked at her, placed a hand over my mouth, and mumbled through a bite of burger, “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’ve lived here a long time. I’ve seen that tree lit plenty of times, but this is your first Christmas in Sea Side. You should get to see everything.”
I was grateful for her kindness. It would be nice to have Mathew join me, I thought, but when I glanced over, I saw him deep in his conversation with the detective. After I stuffed the last morsel of burger into my mouth and wiped my hands on my apron, I headed toward the growing crowd.
Just as I was getting ready to slip into the circle and stand beside Savannah, I noticed Sawyer Dalton hovering near some bushes that blocked the view of the parking lot. I was glad to see him out and about, but something in the way his eyes kept shifting over the crowd made me curious. He seemed to be waiting for someone.
I stepped back, turned, and began to walk toward him. Then I heard a familiar sound, the clicking of Phyllis Gates’s heels. I moved closer to a tree, pulled at my overwide Victorian skirt, and hid behind the trunk. I felt silly, but after what Mathew had told me about Phyllis coming from the mayor’s office, I thought it was strange to see her meeting Sawyer. Since they were both still potential suspects, I decided it was best to observe them from a safe distance.
When Phyllis reached Sawyer’s side, they started to converse. I turned my head toward the Tea by the Sea booth and was glad when my eyes met Mathew’s. He’d finished his phone call and was looking for me.
I waved my hand frantically until he started walking toward me. When I pointed at Phyllis and Sawyer, Mathew’s eyes opened wide. He gave a quick nod of understanding and casually strolled toward me. I knew he didn’t want to move too quickly and attract attention, but I felt like it was the longest thirty seconds of my life. When he finally stood beside me, I scooted over so he could hide behind the tree as well. I was sure my dress was sticking out the other side, but there was nothing I could do about it.
“What do you think they’re up to?” I whispered.
“Don’t know,” Mathew answered, and peeked his head out for a second. “Hmm, this is bad. Phyllis just gave the folder to Sawyer.”
I couldn’t help myself. I had to see. I peeked from the other side of the tree. Sure enough, the red folder was now under Sawyer’s arm.
“What should we do?” I asked.
“Detective Rawls told me he was going to send out a patrol car to pick up Phyllis. I think one of us needs to stay with her, and the other with Sawyer.”
I nodded. “You take Phyllis. I’ll take Sawyer.”
Before Mathew could answer, I moved away from the tree and began to stroll on the sidewalk in their direction. Sawyer and Phyllis had completed their conversation and were walking in different directions. Sawyer was headed straight toward me.
Without a second thought, I put my head down, took a few steps, and allowed myself to crash into the man. I fell back from the impact, and he lifted his arms to catch me, the red folder flitting to the ground.