Chapter 7
Barrett opened the car door for Cadie like the perfect gentleman.
He slid into the driver's seat, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on his thigh.
He appeared unaware of the effect he had on her.
The afternoon sun slanted through the windshield, highlighting the strong line of his jaw.
She remembered the pressure of his hand when he'd touched her thigh, and how he hadn't pulled back. She wanted more, but she wasn't about to say so.
If she didn't watch it, she'd be lost in a daydream about Barrett kissing her in the parking lot after a school dance, his hands gentle on her face. There had been promise in that kiss. Then he'd left for the Navy, and she'd spent years dreaming of him.
But this was not the moment for romantic fantasies.
She cleared her throat. "I have a couple of things to do this afternoon."
Barrett turned to look at her. "Sure…I'll drop you at the hotel.
" He pulled from the curb. "I'll visit Charleston Pharmacy and contact your aunt's doctor to see what I can learn about the medication changes.
Your estate attorney has provided me with documents to show that I represent the administrator of the estate. "
She watched his hands on the steering wheel as he drove, strong and capable. She forced herself to look out the window at the scenery.
When they arrived at the hotel, Barrett said, "Why don't we have dinner tonight at that restaurant you mentioned, the one with good gumbo?"
"NOLA Cookery," Cadie said.
"We're both here for as long as this investigation takes," Barrett said. "Why should we eat alone?"
Cadie opened the car door. "Okay, pick me up at six, then."
She stood on the sidewalk and watched his car pull away, disappearing into traffic.
It was just two friends catching up while working on a case—although she didn't quite believe that. She was looking forward to dinner more than was wise.
*****
After Barrett drove away, Cadie got her car from the lot and drove to Stratton House. She parked, unlocked the front door, then stepped inside. Her footsteps echoed in the empty halls, the sound lonely and slightly eerie.
Cadie walked through the main corridor, past the performance hall and the teaching studios. She assumed her aunt must have had an office that she used to run the business. After some searching, she found a room that she hadn't explored before.
The office was smaller than the other rooms, clearly used for administration rather than music. Papers and files covered the desk against the wall. Bookshelves lined another wall, filled with music theory books and ledgers. A filing cabinet stood in the corner.
Among the papers, she spotted an academic year planner. The dates were for the current year, covering the months before her aunt's death.
Celia Ann's handwriting filled the pages. There were appointments for doctor visits, piano tuning, student lessons, and such. The entries seemed routine for running a music conservatory. But as Cadie flipped through the pages, she noticed handwritten notes in the margins.
The entries predated the notes that she'd read in her aunt's journal. The timeline became clearer and a pattern emerged. The entries were disturbing, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. Yet the new data combined with the journal notes painted a troubling picture.
She carefully placed the calendar book in her bag. There were also some loose papers with additional information tucked inside the planner. She kept those as well, making a mental note to review everything. And she wanted Barrett's professional perspective on what she had found.
The room suddenly felt stuffy. She needed air and remembered the courtyard, so decided to sit outside for a few minutes.
Cadie walked through the building to the back door.
The outdoor space was larger than she had realized on her first visit.
There was an overgrown garden that still had traces of its former beauty, an old fountain in the center.
Oak trees bordered the property, their branches creating dappled shade.
Wrought-iron fencing enclosed the space.
The flower beds had been weeded, and a few late-blooming plants added color to the space. It appeared that a gardener tended the area.
She found an old bench near the fountain.
The paint was peeling, but the structure was sturdy.
Cadie sat with her bag beside her, then took a deep breath of autumn air.
Birds sang in the oak trees. The fountain no longer worked, but the courtyard was peaceful.
Cadie closed her eyes briefly and thought about restoration possibilities for the building.
When her phone rang, Genevieve's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey…it's good to hear from you," Cadie answered.
"How are you?" Genevieve said. "We miss you already."
Cadie gave her an overview of what had happened in the last couple of days. She covered the highlights of the investigation and even what she'd just found in her aunt's planner.
"That's a lot," Genevieve said. "I had no idea. And you knew Barrett in high school?"
Cadie's heart skipped a beat. "I did, but it didn't last."
"Is he married?"
Cadie smiled at her friend's interest in her love life. "No, he isn't."
"Hmm, that's kinda good, huh?"
"I admit that I've thought of that," Cadie said. "But the investigation comes first."
"Do you have confidence in him?"
"He's very thorough and professional," Cadie said. "He was a Navy SEAL, so he knows what he's doing."
"Good, I'm glad you're not alone." Genevieve paused. "I'm going to tell Abe about this. He can connect you with resources if you need them. And Weston at Guardian Investigations can help too. I'm sure they'll provide whatever you need."
"Barrett might take you up on that offer," Cadie said. "His partners are handling his business in California while he's away. And besides, Abe and Weston know me better."
They talked for a few more minutes, then Genevieve said, "Well, I must run. Remember that we all care about you. Let me know if you need anything."
After ending the call, Cadie smiled to herself. It was good to connect and not feel alone. She'd be home as soon as she could wrap things up in Charleston.
A shadow darkened Cadie's view and movement caught her eye. Then a man appeared just beyond the garden wall.
He was dressed in an expensive suit with polished shoes.
She guessed his age at about forty. He was of average build, with short brown hair and a light beard.
Reaching for the garden gate, he said, "Do you have a moment?
" He entered the garden then extended his hand.
"I'm Kal Davis, KD Commercial Property."
She took his hand. "I'm Cadie Ladd."
"I heard this beautiful property had been inherited," Kal said, gesturing at the building. "I assume you're the new heir."
Cadie thought his attitude was a bit aggressive.
"Historic properties like this are wonderful, of course," he said, "but they require significant investment to maintain.
The restoration costs alone would be substantial.
" He took a few slow steps around the garden.
"I've been interested in this property for some time," he said in a casual tone.
"I made several offers to your aunt, but she was reluctant to sell.
She had a sentimental attachment, I suppose. "
Cadie watched him, wary of his motives.
"I'd like to make you a very generous offer," he said. "It would be an amount above fair market value. It would save you the headache of dealing with all the repairs, the permits, the code violations that will inevitably arise."
Cadie's unease grew. "I've only just learned about the inheritance," she said, polite but firm. "I haven't made any decisions about the future of the property. I'll need to consider my options."
Kal's smile tightened. "Of course, take your time. Although I wouldn't wait too long. Historic buildings have a way of developing expensive issues—especially when they sit empty."
When Cadie voiced no objection, he continued, "Maintenance issues or even vandalism can be expensive.
It would be unfortunate if any of that happened.
It would be better to sell now, while the property is intact.
" He pulled out a business card and offered it to her.
"Call me when you're ready to discuss this seriously. "
Cadie took the card. "I'll keep it in mind."
"I look forward to hearing from you, Ms. Ladd," Kal said. He gave her one more assessing look. "Soon, I hope."
He walked back through the side gate. Cadie watched until he was out of sight.
The garden no longer felt peaceful.
Cadie grabbed her bag then headed back into the building, securing the door behind her.
She walked quickly through the halls to the front entrance, locked the front door of Stratton House, and went straight to her car.
Once inside, she sat for a moment, looking at Kal's business card.
Then she slipped it into her bag and headed back to the hotel.
*****
Once inside her room, Cadie spread the planner and papers on the bed, studying them more carefully. Also, she pulled out her aunt's journal to compare the timelines.
The planner notes came first, showing an earlier stage of her aunt's concerns. The journal entries showed the progression, the decline. Medication changes seemed to coincide with symptoms.
Her aunt had known something was wrong, had tried to track it and understand it. She had died still uncertain, but her notes were clues.
Cadie forced herself to step away from the evidence. She needed to clear her head before seeing Barrett.
She stood in front of the small closet, trying to decide what to wear. She selected dark jeans and an emerald-green blouse that was flattering but not overly dressy. It was casual enough for dinner and nice enough to feel good.
She applied light makeup and left her hair down, thinking Barrett might like it that way. She couldn't help but care.
Cadie sat on the bed to wait. She glanced at the planner with the other papers. She decided to share her discoveries when he arrived, instead of after dinner. The information was too important to wait. They could discuss it and plan the next steps.
Her thoughts drifted to Barrett and how natural it felt to work with him. She liked it a little too much.
*****
The knock made Cadie's stomach flutter. She took a breath to steady herself and opened the door.
Barrett stood in the hallway looking devastatingly handsome. His hair was slightly damp from a recent shower. He was clean shaven, and she caught the scent of his cologne.
His expression warmed when he saw her. "You look beautiful."
The simple words, spoken with such sincerity, made her heart skip. "Thank you. Come in for a minute?"
Barrett stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him. The hotel room suddenly felt smaller, more intimate with him in it. He looked at her, then noticed the papers spread on the bed.
"I found more of my aunt's notes today at Stratton House," Cadie said. She showed him the planner. "There's a timeline here. These entries predate the journal. I wanted to share them with you."
"Of course," Barrett said, then accepted the planner and began going through it.
He lingered over one page then flipped to the next.
"Your aunt was documenting changes in her health.
" He looked through the other papers. "It's clear that she was feeling poorly months before her death, but she didn't feel listened to. "
Barrett finished reading. "I'm beginning to get a better picture of her final months."
"Something else happened today," Cadie said. She watched his expression shift to full alertness, the protective instinct visible in the way he straightened. "A man approached me at Stratton House." She showed him the business card. "Kal Davis. He wants to buy the property."
Recognition flashed across Barrett's face. "I know that guy. We went to high school together. He was a year behind us." His voice hardened. "He was rude and studious back then. Apparently he's a real estate developer now." He took the card, frowning. "What did he say to you?"
Cadie recounted the conversation, including Kal's attitude about the property and the comments about problems arising. Plus, she mentioned how quickly he'd discovered that the property had been inherited.
Barrett's expression darkened with each detail. "Your aunt refused to sell to Kal. Then her health began declining. Now he's aggressively pursuing you to sell. That's suspicious timing."
"That's what I thought too," Cadie said.
"We'll talk about it over dinner," Barrett said, moving toward the door. "Plus, I'll share what I learned today."