Chapter Fourteen
Audrey followed Evan across the Barker property, wishing she’d come up with a better excuse to avoid this tour.
She shot a glance over her shoulder toward the house, where her grandmother, Maggie, was likely chatting with Rhonda Barker.
If she called out now, maybe Maggie would swoop in and save her, but she didn’t want to make a scene.
Not yet, anyway.
“So,” Evan said, gesturing broadly, “this is the famous wall.”
Audrey stopped, looking at the low, weathered stone wall separating the Barkers’ property from Chips Hogan’s. Evan stood close, his grin crooked but lacking any real charm.
“This little piece of land right here,” Evan continued, pointing at a patch of grass just beyond the wall, “is what started all the drama. Chips claimed it was his, hired some surveyor to back him up, but my dad wasn’t about to tear down his hard work.
Lawsuits, threats, you name it. Funny how it all stopped when Chips kicked the bucket, huh? ”
Audrey nodded, her gaze lingering on the wall. The dispute seemed petty, but she knew people could get heated about property lines, especially in small towns where land disputes had a way of growing roots.
Evan smirked. “You’re quiet. Too quiet. Are you shy or something?”
“Just thinking,” Audrey replied, keeping her tone neutral.
“Well, stop thinking so much.” Evan turned and continued walking, motioning for her to follow.
They wound up at a gazebo tucked into a far corner of the property. It might have been picturesque once, but now it was falling apart, the wood warped and the paint peeling. The latticework was missing in places, and vines had claimed the steps leading up to the structure.
“Romantic, huh?” Evan said, leaning against one of the support posts with a sly grin.
“Sure,” Audrey said flatly, edging away from him.
Evan reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against her arm. “You’re cute, you know. You got a boyfriend?”
Audrey stiffened and stepped back. “No, I’m not dating anyone right now.”
Evan chuckled, unconvinced. “Come on. Jimmy, that busboy from The Chowder House, is obsessed with you. Don’t tell me you’re not into him.”
“Jimmy’s a friend,” Audrey said firmly. “That’s it.”
Evan’s grin widened. “Then what’s the problem? I’m right here.”
“The problem is I’m not interested,” Audrey replied, her voice cool.
Evan’s eyes darkened. “You’re lying.” He stepped closer, too close. His hand moved to her waist, and before she could pull away, he grabbed her wrist.
“Let go,” she said sharply.
“Don’t act like you’re too good for me,” he snapped, his grip tightening.
Audrey didn’t hesitate. She grabbed his hand, twisting his index finger back just enough to make him yelp in pain and release her.
“Jesus!” Evan snarled, shaking out his hand. “You’re such a bitch.”
Audrey glared at him, her heart pounding. “Don’t touch me again.”
Flushed with anger and embarrassment, Evan stalked off, muttering under his breath. Audrey stood there for a moment, catching her breath. When she was sure he wasn’t coming back, she turned her attention to the stone wall.
Curiosity gnawed at her. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then hopped over the wall onto Chips Hogan’s property.
The house was eerily quiet, its windows dark and its yard overgrown.
Audrey tried the front door, but it was locked.
She circled the house, testing each door and window until she found a bathroom window cracked open.
After some maneuvering, she managed to climb inside, landing awkwardly on the tile floor.
The interior was just as she’d expected: empty and lifeless.
Furniture was covered with dust, and the air smelled faintly of mildew and abandonment.
Audrey wandered through the rooms, feeling a pang of sadness.
Chips had been a regular at The Chowder House; ornery or not, he felt like family.
Now, the house felt like a shell of the man he’d been.
Eventually, she found herself in a small office. A desk sat in the corner, cluttered with papers and an old computer. Audrey rifled through the documents, her curiosity piqued.
Among the papers, she found a folder labeled LAWSUIT DOCUMENTATION.
Inside were plans Chips had been preparing for the lawsuit to force the Barkers to tear down the disputed section of the wall.
The case was detailed, complete with surveyor reports and handwritten notes.
Audrey frowned. It looked like Chips had been gearing up for a serious fight before his sudden death.
She was about to leave when something else caught her eye—a birthday card propped on the corner of the desk, half-buried under a few loose papers.
Audrey slid the stack aside, tugging the card free.
The papers fluttered as she did, and she caught sight of handwriting scrawled across the top sheet. Frowning, she gathered them up as well.
She opened the card first, expecting a kind note, but the message inside made her stomach drop.
Scrawled in messy handwriting were threats, detailed and graphic. The writer—Evan—had listed several violent ways to get rid of Chips once and for all. The threats were written in a stream of consciousness, as though Evan had been venting his rage onto the card.
Audrey’s hands trembled as she slipped the card, along with the small stack of papers, into her pocket. Before she could process what she’d found, she heard her grandmother calling her name from outside. Heart hammering, she hurried out of the office.
Audrey climbed back out of the bathroom window, brushed herself off, and made her way back to the Barker property just in time to join everyone in the dining room for brunch.
The bay windows let in the afternoon light, and the table was set with plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries, and fresh fruit.
Evan was already seated, sulking. Audrey avoided his gaze, quickly sliding into the seat next to Maggie.
“Where were you?” Maggie asked softly, her eyes narrowing.
Audrey reached under the table and slipped the birthday card into her grandmother’s lap. Maggie’s brow furrowed as she opened it discreetly. Her eyes widened as she read the threats inside, and she gave Audrey a startled look.
Cord, seated across the table, noticed the exchange. “What are you two conspiring about? It always leads to trouble.”
Maggie quickly slipped the card into her purse. “Nothing, Cord. Just sharing a little local gossip.”
Rhonda entered the room with a tray of freshly baked croissants, cutting off further questioning.
“Everything looks delicious, Mrs. Barker,” Audrey said, hoping to steer the conversation.
“Thank you, dear,” Rhonda replied with a strained smile.
Phoebe turned to Cord, her voice light and teasing. “I’m never going to live up to my mother’s cooking skills.”
Cord grinned. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll do the cooking.”
“You’re a terrible cook,” Audrey joked.
“Then we’ll go out!” Cord declared.
Everyone laughed except a sulking Evan, who just rolled his eyes, annoyed.
As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Audrey couldn’t help but notice Evan glaring at her from across the table as he angrily chewed on a piece of bacon. His piercing gaze made her skin crawl, and she quickly looked away.
The tension in the room was palpable. Bert and Rhonda seemed nervous, their smiles forced, and Evan’s sour mood loomed over the gathering like a storm cloud. Audrey’s mind raced. Could Evan have carried out his threats against Chips in a fit of rage?
She considered the possibility. He could have bought the poison with cash, then planted the deadly nightshade in his pantry to frame him. Evan didn’t strike her as someone who thought things through, but he was cunning enough to come up with a plan that might deflect suspicion.
When she glanced at him again, Evan gave her a wink and a chilling smile. Audrey looked away again, her stomach churning.
She’d had enough of Evan Barker for a lifetime.