Page 157 of Secrets Along the Shore

I push my chair out and stand. “Mr. Donner, I understand your reticence, but making unusual offers on land later discovered to have a body buried on it, is rather suspicious. I’d love another spa fifteen minutes from my house—you’re aware there’s one at the Riverview Hotel, right? Butno onein Mitchell County is going to believe anyone with half a brain would buy Taybolt’s property to build another one—much less for five times its market value. Which begs the question, what is the real reason your client wanted that property?”

When he doesn’t answer, I move to the door, turning as I reach it for one last shot over the bow. “You can tell me now, and save yourself and your client a lot of trouble, or you can put both of you in the bullseye of my investigation.”

Crickets.

“Alrighty, then,” I say, and head for the lobby, leaving him speechless—a rare thing for a paid mouthpiece.

I wonder how long he’ll wait before calling his client.

And how long it’ll take the hornets from the nest I’ve just kicked over to find their way to me.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

I losetrack of time trying to catch up on work at my office, and don’t even notice until it’s nearly five. I’m due to meet James at his father’s house for dinner at five-thirty, something we do every couple of weeks. I race out the door without shutting anything off, hoping I’ve left in time to beat the snail’s-pace five o’clock traffic.

I haven’t.

Tonight, I’m going to take Edward up on his offer to help. He has contacts spread all over the county and knows everything going on in it. If someone is legitimately planning to build a spa resort that will bring in tax revenue to the local government, Edward will likely know about it. Frank Donner may not be willing to give me the name of his client, but maybe I’ll get lucky and my future father-in-law can tell me.

The Calder family home—in their family since the early 1900s—sits on the northeast end of uptown Riverview. The two-story red brick mansion with federal columns and a stately porch has been added on to in multiple projects over the years, so the modern-day version is three times the size of the original. The pink azaleas along the front still have their blooms thanks to the cooler climate at this altitude, and pools of abundant red and white petunias fill the mulched beds.

I circle the roundabout in the front, then continue down the left to the side porch. I find it easier to come in this way, and it keeps Valentina, his full-time housekeeper-slash-cook, from having to answerthe door. Also, as Edward put it, “You’re family and family doesn’t use the front entrance.”

No one answers my knock. After a few minutes, I use the key he gave me and enter the kitchen, my stomach sighing at the aroma of homemade biscuits enveloping me.

The chicken salad sandwich I grabbed earlier for lunch is long gone.

Valentina is nowhere to be seen, but there is coffee brewing, which means she’s around somewhere. I pour myself a cup, add the creamer they keep around for me, and move farther into the house to find Edward. James should be arriving soon, but if I can talk to Edward before dinner, we can avoid bringing up work while we eat.

Edward’s office is on the second floor, toward the back of the house. I think it used to be a bedroom, but he chose to convert it at some point, claiming it has the best view of the river the house offers. Crossing over rich red Persian rugs covering the century-old plank flooring, I climb the stairs—wide steps with another red rug held down by brass rods and a hefty, white handrail. At the landing I head for his office at the end of the hall, which takes me past the series of framed photos of James and Matthew cataloging their childhood. I’m just about to call out for Edward when his voice thunders through the space.

“I do understand! I just don’t understand how this happened. You were supposed to handle it without it coming back on him!”

I freeze. I’ve heard Edward upset before, but never like this. Never so…unforgiving. Instinct pushes me against the wall, and I step softly in his direction.

“…Well, keep it that way, Donner. You hear me? That’s what you were hired for, so do your job.” Edward pauses for several seconds. “I don’t care what she said. James is on the verge of being elected to federal office. The fact that they found that woman is not going to destroy his future. I will not let one mistake ruin his chances.”

The blood in my body has turned to frozen slush in my veins. My heart rebels, skipping a beat, then launching back into action with a kick against my chest like an angry thoroughbred. Lightheadedness swamps me as my ears roar.

Donner.

“James is on the verge of being elected to federal office.”

“The fact that they found that woman is not going to destroy his future.”

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Hold her off, Donner. I will not have this blow back on him. Give her nothing.”

I’m focusing so hard on holding myself up on legs threatening to crumble, moments pass before I realize Edward is no longer talking. Panic shoots through me as I push off the wall and retreat down the stairs as quietly as I can, praying Edward hasn’t seen or heard me.

And that my body won’t give out before I get where I’m going.

I’min the kitchen clutching my cup of coffee, swigging like it’s Gatorade and I just finished a 5K—pretty stupid, given it’s sending my already soaring adrenaline levels to blackout-level heights, but I have to do something. I have to move and act because the second I stop, I’ll have to process what I just heard.

Valentina is still AWOL. My mind goes to the oven and I wonder whether she’s checked it. I wouldn’t want dinner to burn…