| |
Mrs. Ophelia Roy is not the sort of person to be easily brushed off, and when Louise looks helplessly in my direction I know this is my cue. I might be stepping into my lifestyle manager position sooner than I’d like, but if ever there was a moment to prove to myself - and everyone else - what I can do, it’s now.
“Good afternoon!” I say, as brightly as I can. “Can I be of any assistance?”
Mrs. Roy slides her glasses down her nose and peers over them at me.
“I’m Cassie. Cassie Clinton. I’m the new lifestyle manager here at Serenity Suites.” I glance at Louise. “Or I will be.”
This introduction seems to offer Louise enough of a lifeline to catch hold of, and she jumps in to introduce us properly.
“Cassie! Yes, this is Mrs. Roy. She’s another soon-to-be resident here although I don’t believe you were scheduled to be moving in quite yet...”
“Certainly not! All this dust and activity is not at all good for my constitution.” She gives a little cough, before glaring accusingly at the gentlemen present as if they, and their entire gender, are responsible for her discomfort. “I only came to clarify a few details with you, Louise, dear, but it looks as if you’re a little too busy at the moment.” She sweeps an imperious gaze around the group before coming to rest on me. “I suppose your assistant will be able to help me.”
I bristle at the term assistant, and the healthy dose of skepticism that comes along with it, but then I remember the fearful shadow on Louise’s face and decide I’m more than happy to endure a little condescension if it helps my friend’s new business. Helping Serenity Suites will help me too in the long run.
“I’d be more than happy to.” I lay a light hand on Mrs. Roy’s back and steer her towards the main property. “Let’s step inside, shall we?”
“Oh, Cassie! You can use my office,” Louise says, her voice ringing with polite desperation. I nod, vaguely wondering where else I could have taken Mrs. Roy that doesn’t still look like a building site.
“So! Do you often have visits from law enforcement?”
We pass a contractor whistling and wearing his hard hat at a jaunty - and entirely impractical - angle and one sharp look from Mrs. Roy is enough to put a stop to that. Two others see us coming and scurry out of our way and I begin to wonder just what I’ve signed up for in offering to take our newest arrival off Louise’s hands.
“Here we are!” I feign enthusiasm I don’t feel as I reach the door to Louise’s office and push it open, immediately seeing the chaos within and closing the door on it again before Mrs. Roy can cross the threshold. “I have a better idea! There is still so much work going on here at the moment that it’s so loud and - and dusty, as you said.” I pause and mimic Mrs. Roy’s earlier cough. “I’m sure we can find somewhere a little more comfortable for us to have a catch-up. You look like a lady with impeccable taste. Perhaps you’ll join me in a pot of tea?”
*
“WHO IS THAT?”
Having settled Mrs. Roy comfortably at a table in the window so she can get a feel for the bustling, friendly center of Patterson, I’m taking a moment to myself while I order our drinks. Mindy’s cafe was my first - and only - idea of where to take my new friend. I’m just relieved there was a break in the weather long enough for us to reach it without getting rained on.
“A new Serenity Suites resident.” I wince. “Or a prospective resident, at least. I’m trying to seal the deal.”
“And you thought bringing her here would do that?” I can picture the incredulous eyebrow raise on Min’s face without having to look at her.
“Well, there wasn’t anywhere we could sit and talk there. It’s still half under construction. And with the sheriff...” I trail off, catching a curious glint in Mindy’s eyes. “I thought we’d come here for refreshments. It can’t hurt.” I offer her a pleading smile. “Especially if you throw in a couple of those beautiful strawberry shortcake desserts with our pot of tea.”
“This is a coffee shop,” Mindy grumbles, as she good-naturedly fulfills my request. “You know. Coffee. That goes just as well with strawberry shortcake as anything.”
“Of course it does.” I’m trying to placate Mindy without undoing all my good work with Mrs. Roy, who, it seems, is nothing if not particular. “But I promised tea and if I can’t even deliver on that...”
“Fine.” Mindy reaches across the counter to place a heavy teapot down with a thud on a tray, and I catch sight of something glinting on her wrist.
“Ooh, is that new?” Like a magpie I reach for it, and Min jerks her hand back, then laughs, awkwardly sliding her cuff down over a delicate rose-gold watch.
“You startled me!” She shakes her head. “It’s not new. It’s something of an heirloom, but I only just decided to start wearing it.” She pats the watch surreptitiously. “You only live once, you know?”
“That’s right.” I reach for the tray and lift it, straining a little under the weight. “You’re welcome to join us if you aren’t too busy.”
“Don’t you have important Serenity Suites business to discuss?”
I shake my head, then smile, hoping I don’t look quite as desperate as I feel.
“It’s more about giving Mrs. Roy a good impression of the town. She’s going to be moving down to Patterson from Coleridge Bay, and I want her to see what a great place this is to live in.”
“Right.” Mindy doesn’t sound all that convinced. “You mean, apart from the crushing poverty and occasional murder?” I whip my head around to look at her and she smiles. “Only joking. You know I love this town as much as the next person.” She sighs. “And a lot more than most.” A movement in the window catches her eye and she waves, but when I look, whoever she greeted has long gone. Something seems to have cheered her up, though, because she hurries around the counter to join me and heaves the teapot off my tray, making my whole load a lot lighter. “You know I’d never speak ill of the dead, Cassie, but I have a feeling that things might just change a bit around here in the wake of that woman’s demise.” She’s smiling as she crosses the cafe to my table and I hurry to keep up, wondering what has happened to alter my friend’s mood so swiftly and completely, and hoping that it has a contagious effect on Mrs. Ophelia Roy, who could use a little cheer.
“Here we are!” I carefully settle the tray in the middle of our table and pull up another chair. “I hope you don’t mind, I invited Mindy to join us. She is a Patterson legend, and I’m sure will be able to answer any questions you might have about the town.”
“You work here?” There’s something almost dismissive about Mrs. Roy’s tone, but I’m not going to let a little thing like arrogance deter me.
“Mindy owns the cafe outright. She’s the best baker in town.” I pass the largest of our two strawberry shortcakes to Ophelia. “These are to die for.”
“I hope not!” Ophelia lifts the cake to her lips and takes a dainty bite, chewing and swallowing before allowing a smile that transforms her entire countenance. “Goodness, you weren’t kidding! Absolutely divine. My dear - Mandy, was it?”
“Mindy,” Min says, exchanging a look with me as she pours two cups of tea and allows our new friend to fawn a little over just how good her baking is.
“I don’t think I’ve tasted shortbread this perfect since I was last in Edinburgh. Do you know Scotland?”
“I’ve heard of it.” I hear the laughter in Mindy’s voice and decide that she has certainly been my secret weapon in getting Ophelia on my side. I slide off my chair and hurry across the quiet cafe to fetch a third cup and saucer that will hopefully persuade Mindy to stay put and work her magic a little longer.
I wave at Samuel as I pass him and he barely looks up from the crossword he’s frowning over. I wonder if he’s annoyed at how quickly I ditched him this morning, and decide I’d better put some effort in if I want to keep him as a friend. But only a friend, I remind myself. So not too much effort. I certainly don’t want anyone to get any wires crossed.
“So, Mindy.” I can hear the businesslike tone in Ophelia’s voice as I return to our table and am ready to back my friend up on whatever she needs. But Ophelia’s next words are enough to stop me in my tracks. “Who do you think is responsible for this dreadful murder at the mansion?”
I’m so startled I almost drop the cup and saucer I’m carrying and it clatters noisily onto the table, making everyone jump.
“Sorry!” I can hear the overly false note in my voice and pray it’s not so grating to everybody else. “More tea? I thought you might like to join us, Min. Here, shall I pour?” I’m chattering away, hoping and praying it’ll be enough of a distraction to turn the conversation in a new direction. But I have underestimated the ability of Mrs. Ophelia Roy to get what she wants.
“I have no idea.” Mindy’s gaze is fixed on the window and she fusses absent-mindedly with her watch.
“Neither do I,” I say, hastily taking a sip of my tea. “Well, this is pleasant. And just think, Mrs. Roy, you can become a regular customer at the cafe once you’re all moved in at Serenity Suites. That’s if you don’t want to take advantage of the fully stocked dining area on-site...”
“I suppose it might cause quite a scandal,” Ophelia continues, wetting her lips in anticipation. “If the manager of Serenity Suites is declared to be a suspect.”
“Who?” Mindy snaps to attention.
“Sheriff Cooper asked Louise to accompany him to the station,” I say in a low voice. “But just to answer a few questions. He’ll be taking statements off everybody soon enough.”
“I’m amazed you’ve avoided him for this long,” Mindy says, reaching across me for my untouched strawberry shortcake and breaking off a piece to nibble. “I know Deputy Davis spoke to you at the time, but -”
“Were you there?” Ophelia is all interest, her pride and superiority replaced with craven curiosity. “Did you see anything?”
“Cassie saw everything.” Mindy sighs. “I’m sure her testimony is going to be the thing to solve it. When Sheriff Cooper came to speak to me I was no help at all. I spent all evening slaving away in the kitchen.” I turn my head at this, remembering distinctly that Mindy had been nowhere to be found when I’d gone looking for her only minutes before Jessica’s fall. “I suppose I should be grateful to have such a rock-solid alibi.” She shivers, toying with her watch again. “After all, I’m sure as far as some people are concerned I have more motive to want that woman dead than anyone. But I was busy in the kitchen the whole time.”