Page 17 of It's a Wonderful Knife

“The plans should be done by the end of December, and then the first of the year construction will begin.” I frowned. “I’m excited to have a new, updated space, but also leery of how the people of Rainy Dale will feel about it all. They’re so set in their ways.”

“There wouldn’t be much point in rebuilding it exactly the way it was. It was never quite what you wanted or needed.”

I frowned. “Why do I feel like people won’t care about that?”

He laughed. “Just do what you want, Max. If they can handle River’s Zen-like clinic, I’m sure they’ll be fine with anything you do.”

“I hope so.” I was startled when a man came walking out of the undergrowth. He looked as shocked to see us as we were to see him.

“Oh.” He blinked at us, wiping leaves from his dark hair. “Hey there.”

I recognized him as the driver of the red sports car that had almost caused an accident. Royce had spoken to him earlier, but he hadn’t shared exactly what he’d said to the guy. However, I felt Royce tense up at the sight of the man.

“Out for a walk?” Royce asked in a gruff voice.

“Uh, yeah.” The guy forced a smile. “It’s a lovely day, so I thought I’d go for a stroll.”

I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d come out of the brush. If he was just out for a walk, why hadn’t he been on the path?

The guy met my curious gaze, and he held out his hand. “I’m Richard, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, uh, hi.” I shook his hand. “I’m Maxwell.”

An awkward silence fell. Usually Royce was good at making conversation, but I definitely got the feeling he didn’t like Richard.

“How’s your cabin?” I asked politely.

“It’s fine.” Richard grimaced. “I’m used to fancier places. I’m in banking.”

“I see.” I didn’t see. In fact, I wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything. “Did you end up here by mistake?”

“No. I booked my stay here.”

I frowned. “But you didn’t know what the accommodations would be like?”

“I knew. There were pictures online.”

I blinked at him, feeling puzzled by the conversation.

Royce shifted beside me. “As I recall, you just broke up with your girlfriend?”

Flicking his gaze to Royce, Richard looked momentarily confused, but then he said, “Uh… that’s right. Me and Tiffany called it quits.”

Royce narrowed his eyes but stayed silent.

“That’s too bad,” I offered. “Must be difficult to go through that around the holidays.” I only said that because it seemed like something Royce might say, only he wasn’t saying anything, and the silence was getting to me.

“It’s been heartbreaking.” Richard’s tone was blasé as he glanced around. “Well, I guess I’ll see you guys at dinner.”

“Sure,” Royce said, eyeing Richard.

Richard strode off in the direction of the main house, still glancing around every few moments as if he worried he was being watched.

“Something about that guy just seems off,” Royce murmured.

“He does seem a bit shifty.”

“When I talked to him earlier, he said his girlfriend’s name was Carla, but just now he called her Tiffany.”