Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
The weather had whipped up a summer storm, but Ewan and the summer fair committee had covered all contingencies. The party was under a huge white tent, and the shuttles dropped us off at the canopied entry.
While I’d planned on wearing another of the dresses I’d bought at Lulu’s, the weather changed my mind for me.
It was freezing outside. This was a casual dance, so I donned my black boots, jeans, and a green sweater with bell sleeves.
It would be chilly in the tent, even with so many bodies inside and the heaters that would stand tall throughout.
By the time I made it to the bottom of the hill to the shuttle, I was grateful I wore jeans and my jacket. I pulled the hood of my jacket up as cold rain spilled down from the sky.
“Evening, Doc,” Mara’s grandfather said from behind the wheel.
“Does your granddaughter volunteer you for everything?” I smiled to take the edge from my words.
“Aye, but I volunteered on my own for the first shift tonight. I like getting to see all the residents on their way to the fete. It’s fun.”
Her grandparents were some of the kindest people I’d ever met. They had been my points of contact before I arrived in Sea Isle. And they, and the town, had been so much more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
I sat behind him and waved at each of the partygoers as they entered. When the shuttle was full, we headed up the mountain to Ewan’s estate, which was just outside of town.
The enormous rectangle tent was dressed in white lights, and we went inside.
The food had been set up at the back of the tent where I found Mara and Jasper talking. She’d piled her curls on top of her head in a messy bun. But she wore a cute, sparkly, emerald dress with boots.
Jasper was in his normal jeans and rugby shirt. It was kind of a uniform for the patissier. He still had a bandage on his head, but other than that, he appeared fine.
“I feel underdressed,” I said to Mara. “You’re so sparkly.”
She waved a hand. “You always look gorgeous.”
“How are you two feeling?”
Jasper shrugged. “A bit stiff from the fall, but not too bad thanks to you.”
Mara only had a small plaster on her temple where she’d hit the floor. “I’m good,” Mara said. “I took multiple naps today.”
“Me, too,” Jasper added. “I only had to make macarons for tonight’s event. And then I crashed. Any news on the case? I’m curious who tried to kill us.”
The crowd around us all turned at once and quieted down.
“That would be a no,” I said louder than necessary.
“But I still feel so guilty about you two being hurt,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, we’re the idiots who followed you into danger,” Jasper said. “And Mara had the pepper spray—I should have let her go down first.”
“Since you were tasered, I’m not sure that would have helped,” I said. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get over this guilt.”
Jasper made the sign of the cross over me.
“What are you doing?” Mara asked. “Only priests can do that.”
“Well, I’m absolving her guilt,” Jasper said. “Dinnae worry about us, Doc. Except for dating two men at once, it’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in a year.”
“Two?” Mara and I said at the same time.
“Well, Malcolm, the guy you bought the jewelry from, called me earlier today. We’re going to have lunch tomorrow before he leaves town.”
“What about David?” Mara asked.
“Like I said, dating two men at once.” Jasper smiled.
“Just be careful with that softy heart of yours,” I said. He’d been betrayed before by someone he loved, and I didn’t want him to get hurt again.
“It’s just lunch, and he’s leaving town. It’s not like anything can really happen. And besides, I deserve a little fun.”
“That you do,” I said.
I grabbed a couple of macarons. Jasper’s were as good as any I’d had in France. And I’d eaten more than my share there.
“This all feels very familiar,” I said. We’d been at the same party a year ago. I’d been new to town then. So much had happened since those early days.
“I cannae believe you’ve been here for a year,” Mara said. “Though, I felt like I’ve known you all my life.”
“I feel the same way,” Jasper added. “I love our little family of friends.”
“I’m grateful for all of you. My life is so different than when I lived in Seattle. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Group hug,” Mara said.
We laughed but hugged.
“Where is Abigail?” Jasper asked.
“Tommy didn’t feel like facing the crowd tonight.
He’s become quite popular after singing at the talent show.
When they were going to get fish and chips, people kept stopping them to tell him how good he was.
He started to feel uncomfortable with all the attention. Abigail decided he needed a break.”
“That voice could win him one of those popstars shows,” Jasper said. “But I can understand the need for some quiet time. It has been a busy week. I’m used to people, but working night and day is getting old.”
“It has been a fun week,” Mara said. “And business has been great, but I’m ready for the tourists to leave and for our town to return to normal.”
I nodded in agreement. I never minded being busy, but my goal for the next few months was to use my free time to do more genealogy research into my family history. My ancestors had originally come from this area in Scotland, however as I’d told Ewan, there still wasn’t much known about them.
Though, it honestly didn’t matter. I’d never felt so connected to a place or the people than I did in Sea Isle. It was home and always would be.
“Would you care to dance, Doc?” Ewan asked.
I turned to face him. “Have your toes recovered from the charity gala?”
He chuckled and then held out his hand. “I can take it.”
He was dressed in a cable-knit sweater and jeans, and as always, was more handsome than any man should be.
“OK. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I took his hand. He guided me to the dance floor.
I did my best to ignore the curious glances from the locals. Though, I was certain gossip would be flying around town before the song finished.
“You look beautiful,” he said. “That color of green suits you.”
“You too.” I stumbled a bit. “I mean handsome. You look handsome.”
He grinned.
That was graceful.
“Everything looks great tonight. It’s a shame the weather didn’t cooperate.” I steered the conversation to something easier to talk about.
He shrugged. “That’s why we always use a tent. Our Sea Isle weather is unpredictable at best.”
“True. Any news from your forensic accountant?”
He cleared his throat. “Can we just dance and not think about work for a bit?”
“We can,” I said.
Luckily, it was a slow song so there was more swaying than actual dancing. Still, every time I glanced around, people were watching us.
That is, except for two women in the corner. Catherine, and Davina had their heads together and seemed to be discussing something intensely.
“I wonder what that was about?”
“What?” Ewan turned us so he could see what I could see.
“Those two have become so friendly with one another. Did you listen to the recording I emailed you? It was the whole reason we were there. I was curious what they were up to.”
“So much for not discussing the case.”
“Well, I just remembered. You were angry with me for investigating without you last night, and it’s weird that you didn’t say anything.”
“Mara told me,” he said. “As I was helping her into the surgical suite to wait for you to be done with Jasper. I questioned Mara, and she said Catherine had been looking for an earring she’d lost. But when they heard the noise, they thought there was an intruder, and they ran out the back door.”
“Right, an earring. You heard the recording, though.”
“Aye, I did. But I wasn’t going to play that card quite yet. I want our forensic accountant to finish her report first.”
“Evidence, right?”
“Aye. We have no way of knowing if what the two women were suggesting actually exists.”
“You need proof.”
“Exactly,” he said.
“And it would make sense if it was one of them who had tasered Jasper and Mara, but it wasn’t. There is a third person involved in all of this.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They were still in the office when I heard the thumps downstairs, which turned out to be my friends being hurt.”
“None of you should have been there,” he said. “You’re all lucky it wasn’t worse. You seem to have forgotten we are dealing with a killer, a smart one.”
“I never forget that fact,” I said. “But those two are up to something. How do they even know each other? Every time I see them together, they’re whispering, as if sharing secrets. Did you ask them how they knew one another?”
“We’ve interviewed both of them,” he said as if that answered everything.
“And?”
“They met at an event where Burns brought his mistress rather than his wife. They’ve been friends since then. I think it was a couple of months ago.”
“Do you find their scheming suspicious?”
“Aye, but it is all supposition at the moment.”
I didn’t agree. They had been snooping in the office, and they had not been looking for any kind of jewelry. And why do it at night with the lights out, since Catherine had access to the office during the day?
The song ended and we joined Mara and Jasper, who had been dancing together.
“Do you not have dates tonight?” I asked.
They laughed. “I didn’t want to seem too pushy since we’d already been out this week,” Mara said.
“David had to do inventory tonight, and Malcom had to pack so he can leave after our lunch tomorrow. So for tonight, we are plus ones for each other.”
I grinned.
Henry came up and whispered something to Ewan. He frowned.
I wonder what that is about?
“Do me a favor and keep her out of trouble tonight,” Ewan said before I could ask. “I need to check on something.”
And then he was off.
The tent was too crowded, and I quickly lost sight of him.
“Excuse me,” Kaitlyn Jacks said.
“Hello, Ms. Jacks, how are you?”