Page 4 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay (Spotted Cottage #4)

When they’d told him Adelaide’s sister was dating Russell Westwood, Rick had had his concerns. Celebrities brought drama, but surprisingly, Russell seemed to be the most normal one in the bunch. Or, at least, the quietest.

Marilyn’s face reddened, her long nails clutching at the bottle’s cork. Rick leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as the swinging door came to life yet again.

Adelaide stood in the opening, her eyes narrowed on her mother, her chest heaving with quick, short breaths.

The muscles in his shoulders tensed. Had something happened?

“I can’t believe how good it’s stuck in there!” Marilyn said. She held the bottle up to Rick. “You’ve got muscles. Maybe you can help me.”

“That’s not yours!” Adelaide said, stepping forward.

Marilyn shrugged. “It’s not yours, either.”

“I found it,” Adelaide countered.

“Don’t be selfish. My goodness.” Marilyn shook the bottle, the paper inside making a soft clink. “Can’t we all enjoy whatever fun the tide brought in?”

Adelaide looked up, her eyes scanning the room. “I just…”

Patty and Eliza were dealing with a customer at the front of the store. No one seemed threatening, but something wasn’t right about this bottle.

Rick reached out and pulled it from Marilyn’s hand. “Let me try.”

Marilyn turned, a smirk on her face. “See? Some people have manners.”

“Some people weren’t raised by wolves,” Sheila said in a low voice.

Rick tucked the bottle under his arm. “On second thought, this could be a threat to Adelaide. I’ll have to investigate it.”

“A threat!” Marilyn let out a tut. “You’re being ridiculous. Don’t spoil the fun.”

Adelaide took a breath and looked away.

So it was the bottle.

Rick shook his head. “It won’t be any fun if there’s an incendiary device inside.”

Russell laughed. “You’re a serious guy, Rick.”

“That’s what they pay me for.”

“I’m Russell Westwood,” he said, extending a handshake. “I’m not a serious guy, but sometimes I play one on TV.”

Rick smiled. “I’ve seen your movies. They’re good.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.”

More important than the movies, Rick hadn’t heard any negative stories about Russell. That was rare, especially as famous as he was.

“Rick is my new bodyguard,” Adelaide said. “Shane is on a big case and there were some threats.”

“I already told Russell about it,” Marilyn said, waving a hand.

Russell cleared his throat. “You’re welcome to stay with me, Rick. I’ve got an open room right next to Addy’s. You can keep an eye on her.”

“What about me, Russell?” Marilyn dropped her hands onto the table, her rings making a clank. “I’m practically your mother-in-law and you haven’t offered me a room yet.”

“Hm, I wouldn’t go that far,” Patty said, scooting by with a tray on her hip.

“We’re not married, and you have no right to demand to stay in Russell’s house,” Sheila said. “Or, for that matter, Patty’s either. We’re full.”

“I came here to tell you I’ve been robbed and all you can think about is technicalities. So what if your boyfriend didn’t give you a ring?” Marilyn shook her head. “You’re fifty years old, Sheila. It’s –”

“I’m fifty-one, Mom.” Sheila crossed her arms over her chest. “Didn’t you bring anything for my birthday?”

Marilyn sighed. “How could I? I keep telling you, I was robbed!”

Adelaide took a seat next to her. “What happened, Mom?”

“Finally, someone’s paying attention.” She sat back in her seat, resting her hands on the table in front of her. “I was living with Lawrence for almost a year.”

“Who’s Lawrence?” Sheila asked.

“My boyfriend, of course.”

“Of course.” Sheila rolled her eyes.

Russell leaned over and said in a low voice, “I’m going to stay out of the crossfire.”

Rick nodded. This was of no interest to him, but he’d been held hostage by duller exchanges.

Marilyn went on. “He was having problems paying his mortgage, and he found a company that would help him with it.”

Sheila raised an eyebrow. “Help him how?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but they worked out a deal so he could use the equity in the house.”

“Probably a sale-leaseback,” Sheila said. “I know where this scheme is going. They bought the house from him and then rented it out at twice the price.”

“It’s not a scheme,” Marilyn snapped. “Two nice young men came to the house and explained it to both of us, and he signed up. He got a good payment for it, too. Paid for a twenty-one-day cruise for the both of us.”

“I’m sure he got a payment,” Sheila said. “For a tenth of what his house was worth. Then they kept bumping up his rent until he couldn’t pay, right?”

“We don’t discuss money. It’s crass and ruins the romance.” Marilyn turned back to Adelaide. “I knew he was having some trouble, but the men came around the house again. They said if I paid off the remainder balance of the house, it would be all sorted. So I went to the bank –”

Adelaide groaned. “No, Mom, you didn’t.”

“I went to the bank and took out fifty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty thousand!” Sheila’s mouth dropped open. “How did you get that much money?”

“It’s my life savings, Sheila. I had to go to five different banks because none of them had that much cash on hand.”

Sheila’s hands completely covered her face.

“I gathered it all up, met with the men, and signed the paperwork.”

“What paperwork?” Adelaide asked, her voice muffled behind her hand. “Do you have a copy of it?”

“They were supposed to send it to me, but a week later, we got an eviction notice. I couldn’t reach them, and I started to wonder if they’d stolen that money from me!”

“We can’t help you, Mom.” Sheila shook her head. “Some guys off the street took you for a ride, and you gave them all of your money.”

“They weren’t off the street! They work for the company. Key House or something.”

“Do you have their names?” asked Russell. “Maybe we can talk to them and figure out what’s going on.”

“Was it House Key?” Marilyn tapped her chin. “I would ask Lawrence, but his phone is disconnected. We’re not talking anyway. I came here to get help from you girls before it’s too late.”

“That money is gone.” Sheila clapped her hands together. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

“It can’t be gone! I bought the house, Sheila.”

“No, you didn’t. How could you buy it for fifty thousand dollars? Didn’t he get more than that for his payment?”

“Yes, I suppose he did.” Her lips curved into a frown. “This is what I get for trying to do good. Believe me, it’s the last time I’ll do anything good.”

“We’ll figure something out,” Adelaide said gently. “Give me a second. I’ll make some calls.”

She stood, walking to the front door, and Rick followed. Outside, his footsteps crunched in the gravel and Adelaide spun, jumping when she saw him.

“You don’t have to follow me,” she said.

“Actually, I do.” He pulled the wine bottle out from under his arm and handed it to her. “I think this is yours.”

She accepted it. “Thanks.”

He nodded. “Pretend I’m not here.”

“That seems rude,” she said slowly. “I’m only going to make some calls. I need to find my mom a place to stay.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” He bowed his head slightly. “I’m just here to watch your back.”

She cleared her throat. “Right. Okay, thanks.”

Her eyes fell and she walked a short distance to a nearby bench, taking a seat.

He stood behind her, scanning the area. There was no one nearby, and no way for anyone to approach without him seeing them first.

Rick relaxed his shoulders and looked up. The sky was a sea of blue, cloudless and endless.

He remembered that from when he was a kid, coming to visit his cousin, Cody, out west. The sky was always blue, the sun always shining.

It was too much sun for Rick. It had suited Cody’s character, though. He had been like a sun, always giving off that warm glow.

Until it had stopped.

The tea shop door opened and Rick snapped his attention over. It was Sheila, moving fast, her eyes narrowed and fists at her sides. She shot him a glance before walking over to Adelaide.

He had to smile. At least he wouldn’t be bored.