Chapter Nine Making Plans
Chapter Nine
Making Plans
The excitement from the event with Madison and the news from Burton kept Viggo awake most of the night.
He was there to protect Madison, not just as a houseguest, although he had great confidence in Diogo to alert him of any unusual noises.
The dog stirred when Lincoln and Olivia got home, but Diogo was smart enough to know they weren’t strangers and rested his head on his front paws.
Diogo was also Viggo’s canine alarm clock and woke him at six.
Viggo sat upright and focused on the room.
It was shore décor with starfish and shell paintings on the walls.
He wondered how Madison would have decorated it had it been her house.
Maybe someday. At least she was going to be around for the next two years.
Viggo pulled on his jeans and shirt from the night before and padded down the hall into the kitchen.
He was the first one up. He let Diogo out the patio door and then rummaged through the overhead cabinets in search of coffee for the coffee maker.
He was delighted to find a French roast, which he began to place in the machine.
Within a few minutes, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
He checked the time. It was almost seven.
He wondered who would be next in the kitchen.
Several minutes later, Madison appeared in her silk paw-print pajamas with her hair piled on her head, fastened with a claw clip. Wisps of hair fell around her face.
Madison was surprised she wasn’t feeling self-conscious waking around in her night clothes with her bed head. She made a mental note.
“Good morning!” she greeted her guest.
“Good morning to you. How did you sleep?”
“Like I was in a coma.” Madison walked to the cupboard and pulled out a mug. “Thanks for making the java.”
“I was going to make breakfast but wasn’t sure what time you were getting up.”
“I’m up now, so get busy.” Madison smirked as she topped off her coffee with some light cream. “Over easy. Crispy bacon. Rye toast, lightly buttered.”
“Aye-aye, matey,” Viggo responded lightheartedly.
Madison grabbed an apron from the pantry and tossed it to Viggo, who was grinning from ear to ear. Then she snatched a can of food for the cats and served them their breakfast.
Diogo gave a woof outside the door. “I’ll clean up after him when we’re finished with breakfast, if that’s alright.”
“Fine with me.” Madison peered over her coffee mug.
Several minutes later, the sound of footsteps on the stairs echoed into the kitchen.
As Lincoln and Olivia entered the room, they stopped in their tracks.
All eyes darted from one face to the other.
Madison decided she wasn’t going to explain anything.
Not just yet. She winked at Viggo, who also remained mute except for a “Good morning! Can I fix you some eggs?”
Lincoln and Olivia’s mouths went agape at the same time. Lincoln stuttered. “I … I … okay. I’ll have mine scrambled.” He looked to Olivia for some backup.
“Me too!” she said, and gave Madison a raised eyebrow.
Madison decided to calm the waters. “There was another break-in. This time it was at Pauline’s, where Uncle Kirby used to live.”
“Was anybody hurt?” Lincoln asked with concern.
Viggo joined in, “No, and nothing was taken. The place had been emptied over a month ago. Apparently, Pauline is planning on renting it again.”
Olivia walked over to the coffee maker and poured a cup for herself and one for Lincoln. She held the pot and motioned to Madison.
“No. I’m good, thanks.”
“When was this?” Lincoln pulled out a chair for Olivia and himself, while Olivia sat the mugs on the table.
“Last night. Rob sent me a text. The common denominator is Kirby, so I wanted to make sure you guys would be okay. Madison offered the guest room.” He left them hanging to wonder if he actually slept in it. He and Madison were enjoying their little guessing game.
Viggo continued to prepare breakfast as the conversation continued. “The chief is going to have the place dusted for prints. See if there is a connection to the boat house break-in.”
Olivia was searching for a clue from Madison about the sleeping arrangements. Madison gave Olivia one of their secret expressions indicating nothing happened. Olivia frowned. Madison suppressed a chuckle.
“Crusty is supposed to bring a few boxes over this afternoon. They were in Kirby’s place, so maybe there’s some sort of clue in them,” Lincoln offered.
“What time is he coming?” Madison asked, as Viggo set her breakfast plate down in front of her. “Looks yummy.”
“Around four,” Lincoln replied.
“Sounds like we have some work ahead of us. Maybe I should make some steamed clams as a reward.” Madison raised her mug to hide her lips and stared at Viggo.
“You haven’t made them in a while, considering we live in a clamming community,” Olivia said.
“That’s probably why. We’re a clamtastic town,” Madison said.
“I’ll pick up the clams,” Viggo offered. “If I am not being presumptuous about being invited.”
The nervous tension had abated, and everyone laughed. “No. You have to buy the clams, but you don’t get to eat them,” Madison teased.
“I’ll go to the Waterwitch and pick up a loaf of bread,” Olivia added.
“Better make it two,” Lincoln advised. “You know how much I like to sop up that sauce!”
“Done. I’ll also get something for a salad. Anything else we’ll need?” Olivia asked.
“We have a couple of bottles of Fiano from Campania, so we’re fixed for wine,” Lincoln said. “You can use whatever swill is in the fridge for your clams.”
Madison turned to Viggo. “Don’t mind my brother. He can be a wine snob.”
“No worries. I consider myself a beer snob,” Viggo responded. “I’d rather die of thirst than drink Budweiser.”
Everyone chuckled at his remark.
“Then it’s settled,” Madison declared. “We’ll probably need at least five dozen.”
“No problem. I’ll go to the reclamation center.”
“I’ll make some pasta, also. There’s nothing like fresh linguini with clams,” Madison added.
“Do we have enough pots?” Olivia mused. She rose from the table and began to do an inventory of their cookware. “I think we’re going to need two more large pots.”
“I’ll grab them from the boat house. Hannah has a few extra in the storage shed,” Lincoln offered.
“Perfect!” Madison was thrilled her time with Viggo was being extended.
For the next few minutes, everyone chowed down on their surprise breakfast. Viggo was the first to finish.
“I’ll go check the yard.”
As soon as Viggo was beyond earshot, Lincoln and Olivia leaned across the table. “So?”
Madison was unflappable. “So, nothing.”
“Bummer,” Lincoln teased, then added, “Seriously?”
“Yes. Seriously. I am going to take a shower. You kids get to clean up.” She tapped her brother on the back.
Viggo entered the kitchen as Madison was heading toward her room. He followed her into the entry. “All clear,” he said, referring to Diogo’s go-go.
“Thanks,” Madison replied. “I’ll see you later.” She had a cheeky impulse and patted him on his tushie.
“Do that again, and I may never leave.” Viggo also took the opportunity to flirt big time. “However, I have to get back to my place and clean up my act. See you later. And thanks for the hospitality.” He leaned in for a kiss, and this time, he moved his target from her forehead to her cheek.
His aim is improving, Madison gleefully thought.
Chief Burton was so bothered by the Kirby-related incidents that he went into the station on his day off. He looked at the incident folder.
“Huh,” he said, as he noticed the similarity in a boot print they found.
It looked like the same one that was on the broken glass.
His gut was right. This was no coincidence.
He sent Viggo a text to bring him up to date.
It wasn’t normal protocol, but Burton trusted Viggo as a law enforcement colleague and considered Viggo’s close association to the family.
Viggo sent Burton a response informing him that Crusty was bringing a few boxes from Kirby’s to the Wainwright house later in the day.
Maybe we’ll find something. Stay tuned.
Viggo was also unnerved at the string of events.
He had known Kirby for a few years, and there was nothing to indicate the man was involved in anything nefarious or untoward.
Viggo wondered why they broke into Pauline’s when they already had the map, which he assumed was what they were after.
He hoped they could find some sort of clue in Kirby’s belongings.
Madison and Olivia were doing the prep work for their dinner, chopping garlic, mincing parsley, and clipping oregano. Madison brought Olivia up to date on her date with Viggo.
“I swear, it was the best time I’ve ever had at a business affair.”
Olivia shot her a sideways glance and cleared her throat.
“Okay. Okay. It was the best time I’ve had since I can’t remember. Except for the stroll we took after the award ceremony. That was lovely.”
“So, did you guys at least make out?” Olivia could not fathom that Viggo and Madison didn’t get down to it. The sexual tension between them was palpable to her and Lincoln.
“If you count kissing the back of my hand and my forehead making out, then yes.”
“What are you talking about?” Olivia stopped chopping.
“He kissed the back of my hand and my forehead,” Madison said glumly.
“Maybe he was being polite and is waiting for a signal from you,” Olivia suggested. “Have you tried making a move?”
Madison twisted her mouth. “I rested my head on his shoulder on the ride home.”
“Oh, my goodness, Madison. That is not making a move. You can’t be that out of practice.”
“Apparently, I am.” Madison frowned. “Plus, it would have been awkward with the two of you here.”
“Oh puh-lease!” Olivia retorted. “We’re all grownups.”
“I know, but it just didn’t seem right. We need to be alone.”
Olivia had a devilish grin on her face. “So as not to scare the neighbors?”
Madison flicked a towel at her best friend and sister-in-law. “You’re a regular comedian.”