Page 17 of Artifice

Breakfast was served at eight, and Olive headed downstairs right on time to find a seat.

Though Tevin was already at the table, Olive was careful to make it appear they didn’t know each other.

Five other guests were also seated: a twenty-something couple celebrating their three-year wedding anniversary and three women exploring Maine together. Olive had met the ladies yesterday.

Olive said a quick hello to everyone before sitting down and tucking in her chair.

Nearly as soon as she’d done that, Mrs. Potts—yes, that was her actual name—wandered out from the kitchen with a pot of coffee in hand and began to make the rounds. The woman was probably in her early sixties and thirty pounds overweight, with her gray hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.

Olive took a bite of her crisp bacon, knowing it was an indulgence she shouldn’t allow herself very often. Then Mrs. Potts began to make small talk with everyone, asking them where they were from and what they were doing here.

Olive had done some research before she came and knew this bed-and-breakfast had opened two years ago. Before that, it had been a private residence.

There were no hotels in Edgewood, only a handful of bed-and-breakfasts. There were also several private home rentals available, but Olive had wanted to immerse herself among the people and see if she could find out as much information as possible.

And Mrs. Potts just might be the source of some of that information. Her husband was retired, but he now worked part-time at Lighthouse Harbor doing maintenance. Olive had yet to see him at the house.

Olive made sure she was the last one at the table, taking the final bite of her savory bacon. “If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you lived in town?”

The question sent the woman’s gaze fluttering. “All my life.”

She began to gather up the dishes.

“But you’ve only been in this house for two years,” Olive asked. “Is that right?”

“That’s right. It’s always been a dream of mine to start a place like this, so when it went up for sale, my husband and I sold our old home and cashed out our savings to see if I could make it work. And I did—though barely.”

“Your new home is lovely, and the breakfast was delicious.”

Their gazes met again, and Mrs. Potts smiled. “Thank you.”

Olive shifted in her seat, not quite in a hurry, even though she had to be at school in fifteen minutes.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what did you do before you took over this place?”

Mrs. Potts’ gaze began to flutter yet again. “I’ve worked various jobs around town.”

“I see. I hear there are a lot of fishermen in this area as well as small business owners like yourself. I’m assuming those are the careers most people have here.”

Lighthouse Harbor was another large employer, but Olive didn’t want to say that out loud. When she’d introduced herself at breakfast, Olive hadn’t mentioned the place and had only said she was in town to do some business.

But according to Stephanie, the waitress at the restaurant last night, most everybody already knew who Olive was and why she was here.

Mrs. Potts might also know that already as well.

“Yes.” Mrs. Potts grabbed another plate and stacked it on top of the others. “Fishermen. Restaurant owners. Things of that nature. We’re pretty simple around here.”

Olive wanted to ask about Lighthouse Harbor. But if Olive pressed too hard initially, the woman might clam up.

That wasn’t what she wanted.

For that reason, she stood and thanked her again.

She would ask more questions . . . later.

Right now, she needed to get to the school to see what she could uncover.

Colin’s parents had mentioned their son had one close friend at Lighthouse Harbor.