Lycanthropy Files Box Set

Chapter 3

3

After the sheriff’s departure, Lonna and I sat in silence and sipped our coffee.

“Somebody wants you to have this place, Joanie.”

I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder. “Either that or somebody doesn’t want someone else to have it.” Like Leonard Bowman. As much as he’d been described as a loafer living off his brother’s generosity, he looked like he worked toward some sinister purpose.

“Regardless, you're the designated heir. I have a mystery to solve, so I need to ponder my strategy,” Lonna mused. Her eyes focused on a spot on the wall, and I knew she was drawing up a list in her mind. It was the same look she’d gotten on numerous previous occasions—some innocent planning, some diabolical plotting. Sometimes they had ended well for me, and sometimes not. I wondered which it would be this time, but I was sure of one thing – I didn’t want to be up here alone.

“You can stay here as long as you like,” I told her again. “Goodness knows I don’t need all this room.”

“And you probably need the company. I don’t know that you’re safe here.”

“Thanks.” It was nice when we agreed on such things.

“The locals probably wouldn’t be very forthcoming with me,” she continued, “so how about you talk to them? If nothing else, they may remember the ‘old man’s little granddaughter.’ You’re sort of a local.”

“If spending six weeks for five summers makes you a local.”

“It’s more credibility than I’ve got.”

“True. Who will you talk to?”

The corners of her lips turned up in a cat’s smile. “I’ll keep in touch with the charming Sheriff Bud Knowles, of course. And the new families who’ve moved in.”

“Including the Bowmans.” I knew it wasn’t a question.

“Right.” Her grin widened. “Including the Bowmans.”

The after-work rush at the diner was more of a swelling of the crowd that had been there earlier, but this time they all looked like locals. Judging from the hard hats and dirty, tanned shoulders huddled at the booths, many of the men were construction workers. I cringed internally when I realized they were essentially forced to build the houses that had displaced their families. When I came through the door, I thought I heard a lull in the conversation, but it picked up again quickly. Maybe Lonna was right—being half a local was better than being an outsider.

“Have you been here all day?” I asked Louise as I slid onto a stool at the counter.

She poured me a cup of coffee without my asking for it. “I took off for the lunch shift and came back to help Terry with dinner. Laurel, the evening girl, is sick. Difficult pregnancy.”

I nodded, not sure what to say.

“You all settled in?” she asked, as though inheriting my grandfather’s mansion and fortune was the most natural thing in the world.

“No, Lonna and I weren’t brave enough to go upstairs yet. The place looks like no one’s been in it for months. Except for the kitchen.”

“Now that’s a fact. Gorgeous, isn’t it? That city lawyer of your granddad’s had me bring some stuff up there. Oh, that reminds me.” She pulled a key out of her pocket and set it down. “I should’a given this to you earlier. I held on to it for your granddad when I’d do some cleaning for him.”

“Thanks. I was wondering who had been helping him keep the house.”

“You know men. They need all the help they can get.” She grinned wide enough to show the gap between her front teeth, but her sideways glance told me she withheld something.

“That’s the truth.” I slid the spare key into my jeans pocket.

“So did he tell you about why he redid the kitchen?”

“No, I haven’t talked to him. In years, actually.” This wasn’t exactly Lonna’s investigation, but it would help mine. “I was surprised.”

“Well, about six months ago…” She broke off as a customer waved her over. “One minute, sweetie.”

I watched her as she walked down the length of the counter to where Peter Bowman had just settled in. He glanced at me, so I looked down into my coffee cup for a second. When I looked back up, Louise was nodding at him as if he’d just asked her a question.

“You’ll notice the local guys are a bit more polite than those city types,” she told me when she returned. “They’re all about to faint from curiosity about you, but it’s Peter Bowman who had the cheek to ask.” She wiped at an invisible spot on the counter with a red checkered rag.

“So you were saying something about my grandfather’s kitchen,” I reminded her.

“Your kitchen, if I recall, young lady.” The tenor voice at my shoulder startled me, and I turned to gaze right into the icy blue eyes of Peter Bowman.

“All right, my kitchen.”

He wedged his briefcase between me and the guy next to me. “’Scuse me, I have some business with this young lady,” he told the annoyed construction worker, who glared at him but moved over.

“I’ll talk to you later, Miz Fisher. I’ve got to wait on these gentlemen over here.”

Louise disappeared and left me with my empty coffee mug. And Peter Bowman.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” I said.

“Yet each of us knows who the other is.”

“True enough. So no formal introduction is necessary.”

“Not unless you stand on such ceremony.”

“Not usually.” I took a breath. Here I was feeling like I needed to keep the conversation going, yet he had barged into my space and my talk with Louise.

“I would appreciate an introduction to your lovely friend, the one you were with earlier.”

“Why?” I had to ask, although I suspected his intentions were less than honorable.

“Let me pay for your cup of coffee.”

“I’ve got it, thanks. So, how do you know Lonna?”

“She worked on a case for a friend of mine in Little Rock. Although we never met personally, he pointed her out to me online.” He smiled, but only with his thin lips. They reminded me of a reptile’s. “I’d like to become acquainted. I may have some work for her here.”

“She’s busy.”

“I’m sure. But I’d like to meet her regardless.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Please do. In the meanwhile, I’ll speak to the sheriff and let him know we have an esteemed P.I. in our neighborhood.”

Threat noted, but I had to try. “She’s incognito for now.”

“Then we shall definitely have to talk.” He reached in his pocket, and for a moment I thought he was going to draw a gun on me, but he pulled out an ivory-colored business card.

“I look forward to seeing her in the morning. My schedule’s clear until lunch.” He disappeared into the crowd.

“That one’s a snake,” Louise said as she suddenly reappeared in front of me, coffee pot in hand. “What did he want with you?”

“Not me, my friend.”

Louise nodded as if Peter Bowman asking about an attractive woman wasn’t at all unusual. “His poor wife. She seems to be such a nice little woman too.”

“Any kids?”

“Lance is a cutie pie, but he’s difficult. His mother has her hands full with him and his dad.”

“How old is Lance?”

“Terrible two. And he is one hundred percent little boy.”

Another memory jolted me. My brother had been like that—a challenge for both my parents, although my father had taken pride in Andrew’s rough-and-tumble personality. It was a miracle he’d never broken a bone.

Louise glanced over her shoulder, where another new face had joined the crowd. “Look honey, I know you must be real curious about everything that’s been going on. Why don’t you come by tomorrow morning when it’s not so busy, and I’ll fill you in on the town gossip about your granddad?”

“That would be great.” The tension in my chest that had been there since the sheriff’s visit eased a little. “Thanks, Louise.”

She waved and moved down the line, refilling coffee cups and greeting newcomers. I left enough money for the coffee plus a generous tip and squeezed out of the diner. As I walked out the door, I realized I had no idea what Lonna and I were going to do for dinner, but there was no way I’d turn around and fight my way back to order something to go from the packed diner. A chill had crept into the air with the setting sun, and I shivered.

“You’ll catch your death of cold out here.” The tone was mocking. I turned to see Leonard Bowman leaning against a lamppost. He wore a black leather jacket over an open green polo shirt and khaki trousers, and although his posture was relaxed, he seemed like a compressed spring ready to uncoil at any moment.

I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I just had a conversation with your brother.”

“Did he try to charm or threaten you?” A smile tugged at his lips, and I noticed he was the antithesis of his pale brother with his wavy dark brown hair and black eyes. More intense, too. The image of him in Galbraith’s office came to mind.

“A little of both, but mostly threaten.”

His smile bloomed, and my breath caught at the change from storm cloud demeanor to the warmth of a beach on a hot day. “That’s usually how he works.”

“Leonard, there you are.” His grin disappeared when the staccato clicks of black designer heels announced the appearance of a tall woman with emerald eyes. Her milk-white skin glowed in the half-light, and her black hair fell in soft waves to midway down her back. She, too, wore a light leather jacket, but underneath was a ruby red dress that left very little to the imagination. I couldn’t really see her purse, but a flash of light off its designer buckle told me it cost more than my car.

“Kyra Ellison, this is Joanie Fisher.”

“Doctor Joanie Fisher, actually.” I had to do something to get back on equal footing with this woman.

“Charmed.” She held her hand out for me to shake, but the limpness in her fingers told me she considered it—and me—a waste of time.

“Enjoy your evening,” I told them and half-turned to go, but then I made an about-face.

“Do you know where my friend and I could get dinner?” I asked.

“Well, we’re on our way to Choucroute, a French place here in town.” Kyra frowned at my attire as though to suggest I was horridly underdressed.

“Hmm, we just had French for dinner last night.”

“Then you might want to try Tabitha’s. It’s a good casual American place.”

“Thanks.”

Kyra grabbed Leonard’s arm and turned him away.

“Nice to meet you,” I called after them. Damn, I was feeling insecure. Lonna, with her Italian beauty, never had that effect on me. But then, no one would describe her as a “snob”. Kyra Ellison definitely qualified as one. And a b***h to boot.

Tabitha’s was a pub-style restaurant with a full bar against the back wall, which hid the kitchen from view. The dark wood paneling gave the place a snug feel in spite of the large mirrors that hung behind the bar and on the top half of the walls behind the booths. Candles in Mason jars flickered on the tables and provided most of the low light that suffused the restaurant.

“We’ve got to find a grocery store,” I remarked to Lonna after we gave the hostess my name and the other diners in the restaurant—all six of them—looked up with curiosity. After Robert had dumped me, I’d wished to be more noticeable. The notoriety had now worn thin, and part of me wished I could just go back to my apartment in Memphis, crawl in bed and wake up to find all of it from the fire onward had been a bad dream.

The hostess reappeared with menus and a smile and seated us in a booth near the front of the restaurant. No sooner had we opened the menus than a young man appeared. His name tag said, “Ted, Manager”.

“Welcome to Tabitha’s, Miz Fisher,” he told me.

“Doctor Fisher, actually,” Lonna broke in. I kicked her under the table.

The young man wasn’t fazed. “Doctor Fisher and Miss…”

“Marconi, Lonna Marconi.”

“A friend,” I explained.

“Of course.” He winked. “I just wanted to come over and say hello and I hope we’ll be seeing much more of you. Please accept this complimentary appetizer.”

Another waiter placed a plate of stuffed mushrooms and two little plates on the table along with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Your grandfather appeared in town only rarely, but these were his favorites.”

“And how much is the wine?” asked Lonna.

I cringed. I didn’t want any more attention, and Lonna’s directness was getting plenty of stares.

“Compliments of an admirer.” The corner of Ted’s mouth twitched as he opened the wine, a red blend from California. It occurred me he thought Lonna and I were partners. “I’ll give you ladies a moment to look over the menu and be back to take your order.”

“An admirer?” I asked as soon as Ted was out of earshot. “Must be for you.”

“You’re too hard on yourself, Joanie.” Lonna sipped her wine. “It’s very good by the way, very smooth.”

I lifted a couple of mushrooms to my plate. They smelled of some sharp, salty cheese—gruyere, I thought—a savory blend of herbs, and fresh sourdough breadcrumbs. The tops were perfectly browned, and when I cut one in half, real lump crabmeat that smelled sweet instead of fishy spilled out. While buttery, it was by no means greasy, and the mushrooms themselves were cooked to the perfect texture.

“They certainly know how to do food here.” I thought back to the breakfast we’d had at the diner. I considered myself a pretty discriminating eater, and it was rare for me to have two meals in a day that bowled me over.

Lonna nodded, her mouth full. I studied her as I blew on a bite of mushroom. While she and Kyra Ellison may be similar in build and coloring, Lonna had kindness and genuineness, which made her much more attractive than the arrogant Kyra. To me, anyway. It figured Leonard Bowman would go for someone like that.

As I snagged another mushroom, I admitted I was torturing myself by comparing the two women. I would never be as tall, attractive or curvy as either. No one would give me a second glance if they saw me next to either of them. And as much as the thought of a secret admirer thrilled me, I had to admit it was probably Lonna who had one. Either that, or someone decided my grandfather’s fortune made me attractive.

“Two cents for your thoughts?” Lonna grinned at me. She resembled a vampire with the red wine on her lips and teeth.

“I thought it was just a penny?”

She waved her hand. “Inflation.”

“They’re PhD thoughts. They should be worth at least a dime.”

“You’re evading the question.”

“Lucky in life, unlucky in love?”

“Yeah, that seemed like a self-pity look.” She leaned forward. “You’ve had a hard day. Hard month, actually.”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

Lonna reached over to cover my hand with hers. “You’re not in it alone.”

At that moment, Ted reappeared with an “Aha, I thought so!” smirk. Lonna leaned back, and laughter danced in her eyes with the candlelight. As she gave her order, I glanced over the menu and picked out the first thing that sounded good: blue-cheese-stuffed beef tenderloin with port wine and mushroom sauce. It came with a salad and rolls, and my stomach growled in appreciation when my eyes landed on the dessert selection.

“Doctor Fisher?” he asked.

“She must have seen something chocolate.”

“I’ll have the tenderloin, house salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and mashed potatoes for the side.”

“Very good. I’ll get these in and check on you in a little bit.”

“He’s cute.” Lonna followed him with her eyes. “I’m a sucker for a guy with dark hair and a dimple.”

“I don’t think he considers us eligible.”

“Yeah, I caught that look.” She arched an eyebrow. “You know, that may actually work to our advantage.”

“No way.”

“Hmmm, you’re right.” I could almost see the wheels turning as she went through the possible ramifications. “As conservative as these little towns can be, you don’t want to give the locals any reason to dislike you.”

“Not any more than they already do.”

“I doubt it. They’re just curious. Have you gotten any hostility?”

“Only from the Bowman brothers. And by the way, Peter Bowman is a creep.” I filled Lonna in on the almost-conversation I’d had with Louise about the kitchen. I lowered my voice. “And then he basically said he’d out you as a P.I. if you didn’t go by to see him tomorrow.”

She pursed her lips. “It may be a good idea. I’m sure he has a different perspective on the child disappearances.”

“It sounds like he wants to get a different perspective on you. Like with your clothes off.”

“Possibly.”

“Now you’re being evasive.”

She shrugged. “You know me. Jerks are my type.”

“And married men were mine, but I’ve sworn them off.”

“Probably a good thing. Wives’ll have you killed if you’re not careful.”

“Stick to the cute waiter.” I looked over at Ted, who opened a bottle of wine at another table.

“I don’t think he’d find me eligible from either his or my perspective.”

“You never know. We’re probably totally confusing his gay-dar right now.”

“Oh, he’ll know. They always do.”

Our food, carried by Ted himself as well as a regular waiter, arrived, and we didn’t speak for a few minutes.

“How is yours?” I asked.

“Excellent. I’m jealous.”

“Of what?”

“That you get to live up here among the rich and culinarily spoiled. And you get a kick-ass kitchen. All you need is a butler and you’re all set.”

“‘Culinarily?’” I laughed. “Is that a word?”

“It is now.”

Before I could reply, the door opened and let in a draught. I shivered and turned to see Kyra Ellison and Leonard Bowman. Although he wore a carefully neutral expression, something about the set of his jaw and the tightness around her lips said they disagreed about something.

“Isn’t that Peter’s brother?” Lonna asked as she craned her neck to follow their progress to the bar. Leonard’s eyes scanned the room. Kyra frowned, almost pouted.

“Yep, that’s Leonard.”

“Who’s the sulky woman?”

“Her name is Kyra Ellison. She’s the one I told you about.”

“She certainly looks like a snob.” Lonna studied her with narrowed eyes, then tossed her hair. Threat dismissed. I wished I felt the same.

The couple took seats at the bar, and Leonard held up two fingers. I don’t know if it was the lighting, but I hadn’t noticed before how slender and graceful his hands were. I pictured him running them through his thick, dark hair while thinking or gripping a steering wheel as he maneuvered winding mountain roads in his rugged four-wheel drive, or running them over my—

Stop it, I told myself. The last thing I needed was to become attracted to another attached man. And Kyra Ellison had definitely attached herself to Leonard.

“I know that look,” Lonna murmured. She held up her wineglass. “Here’s to the Bowman men, unattainable yet irresistible.”

“I don’t know about that,” I grumbled but clinked her glass with mine anyway.

“How about some chocolate? It’ll cure a broken heart.”

“Two nights in a row?”

“Is that what you tell your lovers?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Depends on the lover.”

“Touché.”

Ted came over and took our dessert and coffee orders. I ordered a Chocolate Insanity, which proved to be a chocolate mousse filling in a cookie crust. Lonna opted for crème brulée.

I had deliberately averted my eyes from the bar, so when I glanced up after dessert, I was surprised to see Leonard and Kyra still there. Whatever disagreement they’d had seemed to have been resolved, and they laughed as he tucked a stray ebony curl behind her ear. I tried to ignore the finger of pain that poked my heart. Robert had loved to do just that as we talked over after-dinner drinks. On the nights his wife had been out of town – they still lived together even though separated, or that’s what he’d told me. Gads, I’d been so gullible. I envied Leonard and Kyra their freedom. They looked like lovers who didn’t care that others knew they were together.

Ted’s voice startled me out of my observations. “Your check has been taken care of.”

“By whom?” I asked.

“Your admirer.”

“My admirer?” He was definitely looking at me.

“He said to tell you he hoped you enjoyed your dinner.”

“Wow,” Lonna said. “I wonder who it could be.”

As we left, I glanced toward the bar. Leonard’s eyes flicked our way, and when they met mine, my heart skipped a beat. Was that what it felt like to be enchanted? The giddiness lasted the moment it took to walk out of Tabitha’s and into the cool night air, which dissipated it like the smoke from a snuffed candle.

“Where to now?” I asked.

Lonna pulled her keys from her non-designer purse. “We have to go back to your grandfather’s house sometime.”

“I know.” I sighed and wished we had explored the place during daylight. Who knew what might lurk there after dark?

Lonna had driven to the restaurant. I was concerned her Grand Cherokee would roll down the mountain after a too-fast curve, but she might as well have been behind the wheel of a sports car the way the large vehicle responded to her touch. It was a good thing she drove because her first question would have startled me into a tree.

“Have you ever thought of suing Robert?”

My heart skipped a beat. “For what?”

“s****l harassment. He was your boss.”

“Nope. It was completely consensual. I could never perjure myself.”

“That’s too bad. He deserves something for what he did to you.”

“I don’t know.” I smiled and imagined him tucking my hair behind my ear. “I usually enjoyed what he did to me.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

We reached the front gate, and I clicked the remote Galbraith had given me. The squat brick gatehouse stood lonely and forlorn just behind the gate on the left, and I wondered how much staff my grandfather had kept while he was alive. I remembered not being completely alone in the house with him, but I couldn’t remember who exactly was there or why.

As we rounded the first curve, I caught my breath. I thought we had turned everything off, but light blazed from the windows.