“You’ve got to be kidding,” Kelly muttered before she looked in the direction of the voice that had called out her name. There was a sliver of a chance she was hearing things.
Nope. She wasn’t hearing things. It was indeed Barlow Childers. Heir apparent and Marvin’s grandson. A blast from the past she’d soon like to forget.
What did he want?
“Good morning, Barlow.” As with Jed, the loan officer, she checked her voice before speaking. The young business man was the last person she wanted to run into after a disappointing visit to the bank. Truth be told, Barlow was somebody she never wanted to run into. Their previous interaction, when he barged into the boutique declaring it was his rightful inheritance, had left a lot to be desired. Eventually, the whole matter had been straightened out. Still, his bull-in-china-shop behavior left a bad taste in Kelly’s mouth.
“Glad we ran into each other. I was going to call you today.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather bomber jacket. Unzipped, it revealed a lightweight gray crewneck. He didn’t seem the type to be adventurous with color. No, he was more of a safe bet kind of guy. A quick glance at his creased khakis, and his traditional loafers confirmed her assessment. He wasn’t a fashion risk-taker. Her guess was that he shopped at L.L. Bean.
“Oh? About what?” A pit formed in Kelly’s stomach. This wasn’t shaping up to be a good conversation or a good day.
“My grandfather.” He stepped forward, closing the space between them. Kelly caught a whiff of his aftershave or cologne and she, momentarily, forgot they were adversaries. “And his money.” That snapped Kelly out of her silly teenage age girl stupor.
“What…what are you talking about?”
Barlow chuckled. It wasn’t a lighthearted laugh. It was more like a so, we’re-going-to-play-this-game, kind of laugh. A breeze kicked up, ruffling his dark brown hair as his intense dark eyes fixated on Kelly. They were pools of intriguing darkness she could easily get lost in if it wasn’t for the fact that they were his.
“I trust you’ve taken care of your financial situation so you won’t be needing any of his money.” He gestured to the bank.
Marvin must have told his grandson about his generous offer to loan Kelly money. Being the greedy little heir, Barlow would want to stop such a transaction. Heaven forbid his grandfather do what he wanted with his own money.
“You don’t have to worry about your inheritance. I have no intention of taking Marvin up on his offer to lend me money.”
Barlow nodded. “Good to hear it. My grandfather sometimes acts out of emotion rather than logic. Guess it’s because he’s an artist.”
“Something you’ll never have to worry about. Good for you.” Kelly walked past Barlow. They had nothing to discuss.
“Are you implying I have no emotions?”
“No, of course not. I think you have emotions. You love money.” Kelly plastered on her sweetest smile and batted her false lashes.
“Correction, Miss Quinn. I respect money. I respect how hard it is to earn it, and I respect how my grandfather struggled to build his estate. Which is why I won’t allow anyone to swindle him out of his money.”
Kelly’s smile fell, and her eyes widened.
“Swindle? You think I’m trying to do that to Marvin? I turned him down. I’m here at a bank getting a loan.”
Barlow leaned in closer. “Keep in mind, my grandfather isn’t a backup plan if you fail to get a loan. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him and you, Miss Quinn.” He pulled back and then continued down the street without so much as a look back.
Kelly balled her hands into fists and huffed. The man had some nerve. He acted as if Marvin was a senile old man who needed protection from her, the young shop girl down on her luck.
Well, she wasn’t down on her luck. She was a smart woman with a college degree and ambition. She didn’t need a handout, no matter that it came from a place of affection, from Marvin or anyone else.
A honking horn caught her attention, and she looked to the curb. A police vehicle pulled up, and Gabe was inside behind the wheel. When she reached the lowered passenger window, he removed his sunglasses.
“Ahh…finally, a friendly face.” Kelly did her best to keep from sounding sorry for herself. Still, there was a little inflection of pity in her voice despite her internal pep talk a few moments ago.
How many times was a gal supposed to rebound from being kicked down before she threw her arms up in surrender to the universe?
“I take it the meeting didn’t go as you’d hoped.” Gabe leaned toward Kelly.
“No, it didn’t. I have a lot to think about and very few options.” After the words came out of her mouth, she realized all wasn’t lost. At least she had options.
“Everything will work out, you’ll see.”
Her heart swelled. He always knew the right thing to say, unlike Barlow. And she appreciated Gabe. “You don’t know how to roof a building, do you?”
Gabe grinned. “Sorry, not a skill I possess.”
“Maybe I can learn by watching a few YouTube videos.”
“I don’t think that’s a smart idea.”
“No, it’s a desperate idea. What I could really use right now is some good news. Got any?”
“Sorry. The only news I have is there was a break-in at Jason Fallow’s house overnight.”
“What? It sounds like someone was busy last night. Don’t leave me hanging, tell me more.”
Gabe shrugged. “Not much to tell. Jason was woken up by the sound of the intruder, and when he got downstairs, the person was gone, but whoever it was broke the patio door.”
“Huh.” Kelly’s mind churned. Was the intruder an opportunist looking to score some pawnable items from the home of a grieving widower, or had the killer come back to kill again? Or, was it the same person who’d broken into her boutique? If so, why?
“Oh, boy.”
“What? All I said was ‘huh.’”
“It’s never that simple with you.”
“Haha. His wife was just murdered, and now someone broke into his house. Also, my boutique was broken into overnight. Do you think it’s a coincidence? Because I don’t.” That reminded her, she hadn’t checked her phone to see if there was an update from Pepper. So much for being a responsible business owner. Maybe Jed was right to turn her loan request down.
“Not my call. Detective Wolman is looking into it. I’ve got to get back to work. You okay?”
“Sure. Don’t worry about my financial woes or the leaky roof. As you said, it’ll all work out.” She pulled back and waved as Gabe eased his vehicle back onto the road. She pulled her phone out of her purse and checked her messages while she walked back to the boutique. There was a message from Pepper. An officer had arrived, and Kelly needed to get back ASAP. She picked up her pace and made it back to the boutique in record time. Well, she never timed the distance between the bank and the boutique, but it felt like she beat a personal record all the same.
Before she entered, she noticed the police car parked out front and then looked up at the biggest pain in her bottom line. The roof. The timing of its decay was unfortunate, to say the least. Even if it waited months or a year to fail, there wasn’t any guarantee she’d be in better financial shape. Retail wasn’t for the faint of heart. She reminded herself she was Martha Blake’s granddaughter. She would survive this hiccup.
A five-figure roof repair was more than just a hiccup. Kelly shook her head. Everything had to work out. It just had to. She reached for the door handle and saw that the Closed sign was still displayed. When she discovered someone had ransacked the downstairs, she was scared, mostly. Someone had been in her space while she was sleeping. The thought was unnerving. Now, that fear morphed into anger because she was losing money. The process of reporting the crime, having evidence collected, and checking inventory took time. In the business world, time was money. She blew out a breath. Everything would work out. She entered the boutique with what she hoped was a better mindset than only a moment ago.
Inside, Pepper was telling the officer she completed an inventory of the merchandise and found nothing missing. See, finally some good news.
The officer had a few more questions for Pepper and then for Kelly. When they were done, he went into the rooms that had been searched to process those areas for evidence.
“Do you think they’ll find any evidence? Like fingerprints?” Pepper stepped out from behind the sales counter and joined Breena beside a display stand of hats and umbrellas.
Kelly shrugged. “Whoever broke in probably wore gloves.”
Breena nodded. “We heard that Jason’s house was broken into last night. What’s going on in town? First, the murder and now break-ins? Lucky Cove used to be such a safe place.”
“I think it still is. Mostly.” Pepper tidied the umbrellas.
“I just saw Gabe, and he told me about what happened at the Fallow house. By the time Jason got downstairs, the intruder was gone.” Kelly set her purse on the counter. “To answer your question about—”
The front door opened, prompting Kelly to look over her shoulder.
“Mark, what are you doing here?” Kelly asked.
“I heard about what happened here last night. Why didn’t you call me? You could have been hurt if the intruder…” He hurried to her and pulled her into an embrace.
“Aww,” Pepper and Breena said in unison as they leaned into each other and pasted silly smiles on their faces.
Kelly ignored them and their tween behavior. “I’m sorry. It was just so crazy this morning. I just got back from the bank, and I could use a cup of coffee. How about you? Come into the staff room with me, if it’s clear.”
“Yeah, don’t worry, we got everything covered.” Breena’s silly smile widened, and her eyes went all dreamy.
Kelly took Mark by the hand and led him to the back of the boutique. The police officer emerged from the staff room and indicated he was finished in there. He was on his way into the accessories department.
Kelly slipped out of her jacket while Mark looked around the mess.
“Wow. Was anything taken?” he asked as he refused a cup of coffee.
“No. It looks like the person was looking for something. What? I don’t know.” She poured a cup of coffee.
“How did things go at the bank?” Mark sat at the table. He must have been in court or heading there because he had on a suit. Usually, he dressed more Friday casual when he only had office hours. She glanced at his footwear, a pair of polished Oxfords. A stark difference from Barlow’s laid-back loafers. “Kell, the bank?”
“Oh, sorry.” She snapped out of her thoughts. Why Barlow popped into her mind then was a mystery to her. She sat across from Mark and sipped her coffee. “Not good, but I have a couple options for getting the money for the roof repair.”
“Good. Good. Being a business owner isn’t ever easy. There’s a lot of potential for this business. You just need to make sure you apply yourself a hundred and fifty percent.” He leaned forward and covered Kelly’s free hand with his.
“I’m doing that. The marketplace for consignment is exploding, and I have every intention of taking full advantage in that upswing.”
“Do you really?” His eyebrow arched as he pulled his hand from Kelly’s.
Kelly stiffened.
She didn’t appreciate the question or the slight shift in the tone of Mark’s voice. She wondered if he thought she’d miss it. Not a chance when she was applying a hundred and fifty percent to him at the moment. She wanted to know what was going on with him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Mark pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry. What I said was stupid. You’re doing an amazing job with the boutique. So, just think how great business would be if you were here more focused on the business.”
Too bad he removed his hand from Kelly’s because she wasn’t able to yank hers back. It would have felt so good.
“I don’t recall asking you for business advice.”
“You didn’t. I’m only offering an opinion. An opinion I probably should have kept to myself. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Kelly sipped her coffee while mentally counting to ten, hoping to rein in the fiery response on the tip of her tongue. Saying it out loud would do neither one of them any good. Besides, he’d just apologized.
“I guess I’m worried about your safety. I want to make sure you’re safe. Look, your shop was broken into after you found Tawny’s body. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“I appreciate your concern. I really do. There’s just a lot going on right now. The roof, the money situation, Serena.”
“What about Serena?”
“She asked me to help her clear her name.”
“She had the nerve to ask you for help? After what you told me about her and how she treated you, you can’t seriously be thinking about helping her?”
“It’s true she was awful to me. She was awful to many people. But she has two daughters she’s been shielding from the public eye, and if she goes to prison, it will ruin their lives.”
“Well, Serena should have thought about that before she murdered Tawny.”
Kelly’s mouth fell open. Had she heard Mark correctly?
“I’m shocked. How could you say such a thing? You’re a lawyer. What about that whole innocent until proven guilty?”
“You’re right. She is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Again, I’m worried about you.”
Kelly reached out and covered Mark’s hands with hers. She believed his gaffs were because he was concerned about her safety. It was charming. She realized how lucky she was to have Mark in her life.
“I’m going to be okay. You don’t have to worry. But, since we’re talking about this, I think it’s a good time to ask this question.” She’d worked up the courage to broach the subject Frankie pointed out might be an issue for the couple.
Mark grinned. “This sounds serious.”
“It’s not bad. Just something we need to talk about. Aside from you being worried about me, will helping Serena cause a problem between us?” Once she asked, she held her breath, waiting for Mark’s answer. It was stupid. Of course, it wouldn’t be a problem between them.
His gaze dropped for a moment. When it met Kelly’s again, it had become more severe.
“It may. The last thing I need is to have to bail you out of jail if you’re arrested for interfering with a police investigation.”
Kelly pulled back her hands. She couldn’t believe what he’d just said. Where was his unconditional support? It’s what couples did.
“Look, Kelly, I’ve worked hard to build up my law practice, and I can’t have anything jeopardize that.”
“Or, anyone.”
“And Marcy is my sister. It’s complicated. And it’s dangerous for you to track down a killer. Let the police do their job.”
And I should do mine.
“I appreciate your honesty,” she said, despite the lump in her throat and the breaking of her heart.
“All relationships need honesty. I’m glad we can talk about anything.” He glanced at his watch. “I should get going. I’ll call you later about dinner.”
“Sure.”
Mark stood and gave her a kiss before dashing out the back door.
She huffed as she swiped up her mug and took it to the sink. She was on a roll with disappointment today. First, Jed the banker and now Mark the unsupportive boyfriend.
His response had been like a sucker punch to her stomach, and it knocked the breath out of her.
All relationships need honesty.
He said it, but was he being candid with her? Was he anxious about her safety as he claimed, or was he more concerned with how things looked to his peers, his colleagues, and his family?
The door swung open, and she wiped away her tears. Darn. She hated crying over a guy.
“Hey, the officer is all finished,” Breena said. “And, Mrs. Addison called, and she has a closet full of clothes that no longer fit, so she’s bringing in some dresses and pants later today. I guess it’s true what they say about the divorce diet.”
“Great. She has good taste.” Kelly walked to her desk, but she didn’t sit. She leaned over and moved papers around to avoid eye contact. Because her eyes were watery, she couldn’t see what those papers were. Heck, it didn’t make a difference because she couldn’t think clearly.
“Everything okay?” Breena took a few steps into the staff room.
Kelly nodded. “Sure. You know, I have to run out for a bit. I want to talk to Caroline about my options for financing the new roof.” And maybe a shoulder to cry on like old times when boys had caused them heartaches.
“Oh, sure. No problem. I’m here all day. I’ll let Pepper know.” Breena turned and left the room.
Keeping her gaze down, Kelly grabbed her jacket and purse. Leaving now, she’d make it to Caroline’s office in East Hampton by lunchtime. She sent off a quick text offering to bring sandwiches. As she pulled the back door closed, her sister texted back. She’d love a veggie wrap.
Of course, she would. Meanwhile, Kelly wanted a BLT with a side of chips, potato salad, and a hot fudge sundae.