Page 7

Chatter

Lavender had completely relaxed around him, which Chatter hated to say seemed needed. Chatter hadn’t realised how tense she’d been. After hearing her story, he wasn’t amused and unsurprised at why she’d been so stressed. What a bunch of greedy assholes Lavender’s family was. They were little better than commonplace swindlers. Chatter thought back to how Jinx said he’d seen people wandering the grounds the other night.

Something in Chatter’s gut warned him they were more than locals out for their jollies. Residents would be aware that somebody had moved in. It was the talk of the town that the old, haunted manor had workmen fixing it. The trespassers now appeared a little sinister. Lavender hadn’t mentioned a physical threat or danger to herself, but Chatter wondered if there was one.

“You’ve got a lot going on. Who’s helping you shoulder it? I don’t want to put pressure on you, but are you spreading yourself too thin?” he asked.

“Probably. I’m able to meet with the experts coming in because there are now two cameras in the room we are clearing and one in the hallway. Plus, there is a security guard with the students. Often, I wonder if I’m being overly suspicious, but I can’t help it. It’s ingrained from the betrayal of my family,” Lavender explained. Chatter felt like Lavender was desperate to have somebody on her side.

“Sweet girl, trust me, if that was me, I’d not let anyone near anything, and I’d place a ring of guards around the manor. You’re handling everything perfectly,” Chatter said, hoping to soothe her.

“Am I, though? I feel so inadequate to the estate’s needs. Aunt Aggie placed her faith in me, and I’m scared of failing her,” Lavender asked plaintively. She took a huge inhale and blew it out. “Listen to me whine. People have far worse problems, and I’m acting like a spoiled brat. I need to shut up and put on my big girl panties.”

Chatter laughed at the expression on Lavender’s face, and she raised a quizzical eyebrow. “You look like you’re going into battle.”

“Guess I am!” Lavender giggled, and Chatter was arrested at how her face lit up. Lavender was attractive in a girl-next-door way. She wasn’t a stunner like Chey or Bunny, who took your breath away. Lavender was lovely and the type of pretty you knew would follow her into old age.

“Let me help you?” he offered, and Lavender cocked her head.

“I don’t do… cretins. And they can’t come anywhere near me, or I’ll freak the fuck out. But I can do eggs, train sets, toy cars, and other stuff,” he volunteered. Chatter wondered why he was putting himself so close to the evil cretins. He’d take a sledgehammer to them all if he had his way!

“Are you sure?” Lavender asked.

Chatter’s chest expanded as he saw the trust and hope in her eyes. Lavender needed someone to depend on, and Chatter planned to be that person!

“Yes. Just ensure… cretins… don’t come anywhere near me.” Chatter relaxed. He’d not realised how much the D word stressed him out. Thinking of them as items made everything easier for him.

“No, I’ve learnt that lesson,” Lavender replied, laughing. “But if you’ve some spare time, I’d love the help.”

“Then you have it,” Chatter said warmly, with an odd sensation in his stomach. Maybe he’d eaten something dodgy.

Lavender

It was easy to be around Chatter. He didn’t push an agenda, and what you saw was what you got. He was so effortless to talk to, it was a pleasure. Chatter just offered an ear and didn’t judge. Many would have considered Aunt Aggie crazy, but Chatter didn’t suggest anything. I’d left him talking to the others after we went back to the house. I entered and headed for the bedroom upstairs we were clearing.

It was the Peacock Room Emory had picked, and we were using another room, which somehow hadn’t been filled, as a workspace. The team were carefully removing the dolls one by one. They were then assigned a number and registered on the tracking system. Each doll was wrapped and placed into a crate with packing peanuts to protect it from jostling. The box received a label detailing its contents, origin, packer, and logger. Any bill of sale or registration certificate was included in the crate.

Then they were put on a cart and wheeled to the elevator, which I’d had checked and was deemed safe. Following this, they were moved to a temperature-controlled cellar room. The system updated with the doll’s location upon their return.

Emory was staring at a doll in puzzlement as I entered. “What’s up?” I asked.

“I’m sure this is a Harthill China doll, but I don’t see the identification mark,” she answered.

Carefully, I took it from her. “Ah. This is because it is a Harthill, but Harthill Senior, not Junior. Senior always hid his marks here,” I explained and, lifted the doll’s arm and moved her sleeve down. Emory peered down the sleeve with an expression of surprise.

“He put it under her arm?”

“Yes. In Harthill’s Sr’s early ones. In his later designs, he placed it at the back of the neck under their hairline.”

“Didn’t know that,” Emory muttered. “So, this is an early doll?”

“Yup. She’s worth about ten thousand. And a splendid example of his beginning work. Whoever had this doll loved her very much.”

“She came with authentication papers and a bill of sale,” Emory confirmed.

That was great. Most of the dolls had them. Only about ten per cent didn’t. That made us identifying and valuing them easier. It would also let me tell their story if I opened a museum. That idea was gaining traction.

“Lavender!” my name was bellowed from down below.

That was Chatter.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the guard watching intently as items were packed away. The guard was operating under the guise of being a gopher, fetching and carrying for the team. I reckoned they’d guessed his real purpose, but nobody questioned me.

“Be back soon,” I said.

“Okay,” Harriet replied with an idle wave.

I headed downstairs to find Chatter in the entrance hall with a tall, well-built man.

“Miss Bloodsworth? Tatum Carpenter, the coin expert you called. I arrived a day early and thought I might pop along,” he responded with a warm smile.

“Hi, yes, I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. I guess you’d like to see the collection?”

“I hate idling about, and I wouldn’t mind getting a jump start on it,” Tatum replied.

Chatter nodded as I looked at him, insinuating he’d stay with Tatum. “Okay, we’ll take you upstairs. Chatter will remain with you. Please excuse the dusty conditions. I’ve only recently moved back in, and I’ve not been able to get cleaners in yet,” I said, embarrassed.

Chatter whipped his phone out and texted someone as we walked down the cobwebbed hallways.

“Wow, this certainly plays into the Adam’s family haunted house theme,” Tatum observed cheerfully.

“Sorry, it’s quite embarrassing, but there’s been a lot going on,” I replied and didn’t elaborate. I stopped outside the room with the coins, unlocked it, and then pressed my thumb print to the sensor before wiping it clean. I opened the door and admitted Tatum.

Tatum’s eyes widened, and he looked around the large bedroom. “This is the collection?” he asked, somewhat faintly.

“Yes.”

“Any idea how many there are?”

“Several thousand, I would assume,” I answered.

“Excuse me, but shit. I wasn’t expecting that,” Tatum said as he reached out and opened the nearest box. He checked a few more and began frowning. After he’d studied twenty, Tatum sighed.

“You’ve a massive problem, Miss Bloodsworth.”

“Call me Lavender. What’s the issue?” I asked.

“You’re lucky you called me. I’m a rarity in the coin world. Lavender, I have an eidetic memory. I can read something once and never forget it. Which is why I read about every single coin possible. You no doubt have a valuable collection. But this is all over the place. Whoever did this bought coins and basically shoved them in here. Those twenty alone, seventeen are from different countries. And those twenty are worth about one hundred thousand dollars. This isn’t something I can assess and value on the day I’d planned to stay,” Tatum said as he opened another box.

“Beautiful, perfect condition, this coin I’d value at another ten thousand and make that eighteen countries now,” he muttered.

“What are you suggesting?” Chatter asked.

“I’m going to need to clear a space in here so I’m able to work. I’ll require crates to pack coins from the same country in. Once that is done, I’ll start valuing and drawing up the relevant documents. However, that’s not happening in a day, let alone a week,” Tatum answered honestly.

“I can pay. Do you want the job?” I asked bluntly.

“Yes, this is any valuer’s dream come true. And I can begin right now if you’ve someone to help me,” he replied as he glanced around.

“Lavender, I’ll stay. Do you have any large crates?” Chatter said.

“Yes. However, I don’t have another empty room to work out of,” I worried. “Not on this level, and you’re going to need a big area to stack crates, and frankly, you couldn’t swing a cat in here.”

“Nobody is using the hallway, and we’re the only ones up here. Place the crates along the walls. Once we have made a decent space in here, we’ll simply move the coin boxes in here into the space, creating stacks. When we’ve finished, we can pack them into crates and store them,” Chatter suggested.

“That’s a great idea. Chatter, I’ll send someone up to help,” I offered, and he nodded.

“One of the boys would be good. All they need to do is line boxes up along the hallway outside, and Tatum and I can do the rest,” Chatter replied.

“Don’t know how to thank you for this,” I murmured, and Chatter’s eyes softened.

“Sure you’ll think of something!” he responded with a smirk, and a blush began.

“I’ll send Kelly and Dan to help,” I said and skittled away

Chatter

He was as suspicious of Tatum as he was of anyone handling Lavender’s treasures. But the guy worked efficiently. Tatum glanced at a coin, informed Kelly who’d they’d kept, which country it belonged to, and Kelly placed it in a crate under a security guard’s watchful eye. Before long, they’d cleared a corner. Kelly and Dan carried a table and chairs up as Chatter stacked boxes where Tatum told him to.

Half the room was organised by the end of the day, impressing Chatter. They brought extra crates up and packed the stacks with a lot of coins away.

“There’re millions of dollars here, aren’t there?” Chatter asked.

“Yes. I’ve not even started valuing them or examining them, but the quick glances I was taking… we’re into double-digit millions,” Tatum agreed.

“Jeez, Lavender will have a meltdown,” Chatter said.

“Chatter, I get the sense these aren’t the only treasures,” Tatum murmured.

“Not for me to comment on,” Chatter replied in an attempt to shut him down.

“Some of these so-called experts will low ball an item. I’ve seen it plenty of times. I’m part of a community of specialists who work together and recommend one another. We have several high client testimonies, and these are genuine professionals,” he explained.

“I’ll let Lavender know. She has some coming, but she also knows people, as she’s an expert in her field,” Chatter said.

“Yes, we’re aware of Lavender and her reputation. The group was considering asking her to join us. I’ll talk to her and feel her out,” Tatum agreed.

Chatter locked the door behind him and bellowed for Lavender, making Tatum jump. He waited for her to appear.

“Cretins?” Chatter asked, looking pensive.

“None out on display. Come on, I’ll show you out,” Lavender said with a warm smile at Tatum. “How did you get on?”

“I cleared about half the room, the rest should be done tomorrow. Then the real work starts. I’m staying at the local hotel. What time would you prefer me to arrive in the morning?” Tatum inquired.

“Any time from nine is fine. Thank you for today,” Lavender answered. Tatum approached his rental car and drove off.

“How do you fancy dinner?” Chatter asked, and Lavender smiled at it.

“That would be great. Let me grab a shower and get changed,” she said.

“I’ll be an hour,” Chatter replied and headed for his bike. With his back to her, Lavender didn’t see the huge smile on his face. Chatter was looking forward to this.

Lavender

“The Black Hills are stunning,” I stated as I stared out of the restaurant. Chatter had picked a patio table at a local ribs and steak place, and I’d been spellbound by the scenery around us.

“Yeah, they sure are. I grew up running wild through them. Going camping and shit was our thing. Until life happened,” Chatter said, and sadness crossed his face.

Something inside told me not to push. That Chatter wouldn’t appreciate it. I sensed a deep loss, and then it disappeared as I watched a wall come down.

“Were you friends with any of your brothers from the club as a child?” I asked as silence awkwardly fell between us.

“Shotgun and Levi. We were childhood friends. A couple of others. We grew up with Chance,” Chatter said.

The awkwardness was in the air still, and I felt relieved when the waitress delivered dessert. Somehow, after an evening of easy conversation, I’d managed to wreck things with one question. Who could have foreseen that?

“Lavender, sorry. That was on me. I had a woman, and I loved her with everything I had. Back then, I was a different man. I laughed and joked around. Hallie brought the best out in me. We grew up together, and Hallie did a lot of that stuff with us. Hallie was murdered when the club was fighting to get clean. I don’t talk about it, and sometimes memories creep back,” Chatter explained.

I squirmed in my chair. Shit, I’d misread the situation. Oh God! I thought Chatter had been interested in me, but he was being friendly.

“Hey, don’t worry. I understand completely. Shall we head home? I’m feeling a little antsy,” I suggested lightly and forced a smile.

Chatter looked undecided, as if he wanted to say something more, but he smiled slightly and nodded.

“Sure. It can’t have been easy leaving the manor tonight knowing what’s inside,” Chatter said, signalling for the waitress.

I ground my teeth as the waitress sent him a flirty look, just like she had all night. The embarrassment of misreading this as a date and feeling a little stung by pain, I exploded.

“For God’s sake. If a man is eating a meal with a woman, that doesn’t give you the right to flirt with him in front of her face. Have some dignity. How desperate are you?” I snapped.

Chatter’s eyes shot to mine in surprise as a blush began on the waitress’s cheeks.

“What? I’m so tired of her poor service. I’ll wait outside while she no doubt writes her phone number on the back of the receipt!”

As embarrassed as I was, I slipped silently through the restaurant, ignoring some stares from people who’d been sitting close to us. Outside, I threw my head back and dragged in a deep breath. Shit. Let’s just pile the embarrassment on. I’d dated and had been involved in two relationships in my life. I wasn’t a novice on the dating scene, but I’d certainly read this wrong.

Chatter came out and gave me a searching look. Weakly, I offered him a smile. “Sorry, but I hate poor service.”

“Saw that!” Chatter chuckled. We began walking towards the truck he’d brought.

“Thanks for the meal. Maybe I’ll cook for you one day,” I said, nearly biting my tongue off.

“That would be great. I’m an okay cook but don’t bother much. No point when it’s just you on your own. And the one thing you don’t admit around my brothers is you can cook. Shotgun did that and had everyone camping on his doorstep for months,” Chatter explained.

“Poor Shotgun,” I replied. We reached the car, and I opened the door and climbed inside. Chatter frowned but walked to the driver’s side.

“Did I do something wrong?” Chatter asked as we were driving home. Conversation had become stilted, and there was an awkwardness between us.

“No. It’s my fault. I misinterpreted this as a date. It’s my problem, not yours,” I finally replied after a few seconds ticked past. Honesty was always the best option,

“This was a date, and I wanted to discuss dating.”

“That sounds formal,” I teased as a pink tint hit my cheeks again.

“It is. Because I want my partner to understand what’s involved before going in. I loved Hallie, and when she was murdered, it tore me apart,” Chatter said. “We were engaged and planning a wedding, and everything was perfect. Then Hallie was gone. That destroyed me. Took me months to recover, and I was a brute in the meantime. I got revenge for Hallie, and over time, I put my life back together.

“Lavender, I hate one-night stands. And I don’t stick my dick in club whores, either. But no relationship I have ever goes past six months. That’s my rule. And if I think a woman is getting attached, I end it. There won’t be invites to a club cookout or drinking there with me. I keep dating separate from my MC life. I do exclusive but short-term relationships. Don’t need emotions messing things up,” Chatter explained, and I was rather shocked.

“So, if someone gets strong feelings for you, you break up?”

“Yes. I’m not looking for kids or a family. The exclusiveness of a short-term relationship means neither of us has to worry someone’s cheating. We both go into this knowing there is an expiry date,” Chatter continued.

“Yeah, I don’t know how I feel about that. I’ve had two relationships, one lasted three years and the other two. My emotions did get involved, and if I started something with you, they would again.”

“That is fair enough,” Chatter said. He paused. “Are you saying no?”

Carefully, I searched my feelings, and Chatter let me consider my answer.

“Yes. I’m afraid I am. I’d probably fall in love with you, and you wish to avoid that. Chatter, I don’t want to be hurt, and you would possibly break me. Going into something knowing it has an expiration deadline. No, that’s not me. Thank you, but no,” I said firmly, even as I regretted it.

“Fair enough, but we could have been good!” Chatter replied with regret.

“Probably… what the hell?” I exclaimed as he drove up the lane to the Manor, and I saw a light on… in the widow’s tower. “That’s locked!”

Chatter parked up. “Stay here. I’ll go check it out.”

“Do you know how to get there?” I asked, and Chatter looked resigned.

“No.”

“Then you need me to lead the way.”