My cell rang shortly after I sent the text.
“I can’t figure out why he would bother to return after all these years,” Amy said as soon as I answered. “Why now? What could he want from me when he didn’t want me back then?”
“I don’t know why, and I wouldn’t want to speculate but what I do know is that now you can get some answers and put to rest the endless questions you’ve asked yourself through the years. For that alone, his visit is worth it.”
“You’re right. It’s just that I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m glad I got some cancellations today. I have two more phone meetings then I’m done for the day. I’m also glad I doubled up on getting clients’ taxes done yesterday, it made for quicker phone calls today.”
“Beau there?” I asked.
“He’s busy with shoveling and enjoying Vera’s hot toddies.”
Silence filled the space for a bit, and I waited.
“I’m glad Beau is here with me. I know I said I could face my dad alone, but now I’m not so sure.” She sighed heavily. “I’m such a coward, Pepper.”
“You are not a coward, Amy. You have never been nor will you ever be a coward. You are a strong, brave woman. Your dad’s sudden return is a shock, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he meant it to be that way to catch you off guard. My dad said he was driving a dated car, which means he just might be looking for money from you. Does he even know his wife died?”
Another sigh filled the space before Amy answered. “When my mom was in hospice, she told me that my dad came to visit her, to say goodbye and tell her how much he always loved her. She had been elated when telling me. I asked the nurses if he’d been there, but no one had seen a man in my mom’s room. I think she imagined it. Besides, how would he know where she was? He never kept in touch with us. He never cared about us.”
“This snow is supposed to lessen and stop later today. How about lunch at the diner tomorrow?” I asked, knowing she needed to talk more and needing to see for myself how she was holding up.
“Will your road be plowed by then?”
“Marsh will have it plowed before I’m out of bed in the morning.”
“That’s right, I forgot he plows your driveway when it snows. Breakfast tomorrow sounds perfect. Oh, I didn’t get a chance to tell you,” Amy said, rushing to talk. “I heard the models talking about Ian’s modeling gig for that intimate apparel company… Understated. I believe that’s the name. It seems the company is going to have a female model pose with him in some of the shoots. So, you’re prepared… she goes by Lynx and she’s gorgeous. Google her.”
Okay, I’d like to think I’m above doing something like that. Though Ian and I have only been together a few months, I trust Ian. He hasn’t given me one reason not to. I knew going into this relationship that he does endless photo shoots with plenty of beautiful models, some partially naked. There was no reason—no reason at all—for me to search out this model Lynx.
But, of course, I did anyway.
Short blonde hair, tall, curvy, and topaz-colored eyes, though the color was probably fake to match her fake name. But there was no doubting that she oozed sex. She was an up-and-coming model and I suppose this gig with Ian would enhance her resume.
“Get used to it, Pepper, she isn’t the first gorgeous model Ian has worked with and she won’t be the last.” I warned myself to let it go and turned to something that made me happy… murder.
4
I grabbed my paper files from my office and returned to the living room. Work had been delayed on renovating the attic and turning it into my new office, which I didn’t mind. I had tons of stuff to clear out of the attic, mostly my aunt Effie’s things which I had no plans of tossing. Then there were decisions on design. William Strathmore, owner of Strathmore Builders, though partially retired, had made several suggestions I hadn’t even considered but appealed to me. So, with the design being changed, the renovations wouldn’t start until the spring. I was also excited that the wall connecting my present office with my stock room would be opened, giving me more space for prepping.
But right now, that was a fleeting thought. I was far more interested in the Rita Carson murder. I settled on the couch and started with archived online newspaper articles on the murder I had downloaded to my laptop. I had made notes on things that had stuck out to me.
I was just starting to read through them when I heard the front door lock turn. A few people had a key to my place, not one of my brothers being those people. Mo looked up from where he was snoozing in front of the fireplace. It was his someone-is-at-the-door-but-I’m-not-going-to bother-to-get-up-since-I-know-the-person alert. And down went his head for him to continue snoozing.