Chapter Eighteen
The bridal shop in Halibut Cove was the epitome of small-town charm, with lace curtains, shelves of delicate tiaras, and soft classical music playing in the background.
Maggie and Audrey stepped through the door, the little bell above jingling to announce their arrival.
Phoebe Barker, standing on a raised platform in a sea of ivory satin, caught sight of them in the mirror and gasped.
“You came!” she exclaimed, turning toward them with an excited smile. She turned and whispered loudly to her mother, everyone in the shop overhearing, “I didn’t think they liked me!”
Rhonda looked equally relieved. “It’s so nice to see you both here. Phoebe’s been a wreck over this dress. We finally chose one, but—”
“It’s a disaster!” Phoebe interrupted, tugging at the too-tight bodice with a dramatic groan.
Lesley, the shop’s owner, bustled over, tape measure slung over her shoulder and a pin cushion strapped to her wrist. “Phoebe, stop pulling at it! You’ll stretch the fabric.
Let me take a look.” She crouched and began examining the dress, pinning a section of the dress with expert hands.
“A few alterations, and this dress will be perfect. Trust me, you’ll be the picture of elegance. ”
Phoebe sighed, but a flicker of hope crossed her face. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Lesley said confidently, patting her on the arm.
“You look so gorgeous already!” Audrey chimed in, knowing she was laying it on a bit too thick.
Phoebe didn’t seem to care. “Oh, thank you!”
The bell jingled again, and all eyes turned as Dr. Bradley Comstock, the town’s handsome new dentist, stepped into the shop.
His athletic build and easy smile were enough to make half the women in Halibut Cove swoon, even without the perfectly coiffed brown hair and friendly, boyish smile.
Phoebe immediately perked up at the sight of him.
Lesley brightened. “Dr. Comstock! What brings you here today?”
Bradley looked slightly sheepish. “I need a birthday gift for my receptionist, Melanie, and I’m a bit lost. I’m not great at picking out clothes.”
Lesley nodded knowingly. “Melanie Blaisdell? Not to worry, I’ve got just the thing. She tried on a blouse last week and loved it, but she’s been waiting for her next paycheck to pick it up. I’ll go grab it from the back.” She disappeared into the stockroom.
Phoebe wasted no time sidling up to the dentist, extending her hand. “Hi, I’m Phoebe Barker. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”
Audrey leaned closer to Maggie, whispering, “Is it just me, or is it hilarious that she’s flirting with another man while wearing a wedding dress?”
“Peak Phoebe,” Maggie replied with a smirk.
Phoebe dragged Dr. Comstock over to Rhonda. “This is my mother, Rhonda Barker.”
Dr. Comstock smiled and shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Barker.”
When he saw Maggie, recognition dawned on his face.
“Mrs. Holbrook! I’ve been meaning to find you and introduce myself ever since I moved to town. I hear you’re the one to know in Halibut Cove.”
Maggie waved a dismissive hand. “My reputation is grossly exaggerated.”
Audrey chimed in, “I have an appointment with you tomorrow, Dr. Comstock.”
Bradley flashed a perfect smile. “Yes, I know. Your sister-in-law, Katie, recommended me. She’s been my greatest promoter. But honestly I think it’s because of the Starbucks gift card I hand out for referrals.”
They all laughed.
“Well, Audrey, I’m looking forward to it. And what about you, Mrs. Holbrook? Can I count on seeing you in my office anytime soon?”
Maggie sighed theatrically. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to stay loyal to my dentist of over fifty years, Dr. Lawry.”
“I hear he’s retiring and running off to Florida,” Phoebe interjected. “Can’t compete with the new blood.”
Maggie frowned. “I didn’t hear that.” She turned to Bradley. “Then I suppose I’ll be in touch—eventually.”
Lesley returned with a neatly wrapped package. Bradley paid and waved goodbye, promising to see Audrey the next day.
Phoebe eventually flounced off to the dressing room to peel out of the gown. When she emerged, fully dressed again, she thrust the crumpled dress at Lesley with a huff.
“Work your magic, Lesley,” she pleaded. “I need this to be perfect.”
With Phoebe out of earshot, Maggie turned to Rhonda, steering the conversation carefully. “Did you hear about poor Griffin Mead?”
Rhonda nodded solemnly. “Yes, such a tragedy. Poor man. I remember him from when I was young. Always polite, always kept to himself.”
Maggie leaned in just a touch. “He worked for your father back then, didn’t he?”
A flicker crossed Rhonda’s face. “Yes. For a time. I wouldn’t say we were close.” She smoothed an invisible wrinkle from her skirt. “Best to leave the past where it belongs.”
Before Maggie could press further, Phoebe returned to earshot and jumped right in.
“If you’re asking whether Mom and Griffin were ever a thing—no way.
She only had eyes for Billy what’s-his-name back then.
From what I’ve heard, he was awful—always belittling her and calling her stupid.
Then she started seeing Dad, and that’s when the gossip started.
When Billy disappeared in the seventies, people whispered that Dad had something to do with it.
My mom never talks about any of it, but I’ve heard the stories. ”
Rhonda’s shoulders stiffened, her gaze dropping to the floor as if Phoebe had spoken out of turn.
“Bert was just a scared kid—he couldn’t have done anything like that.
The truth was, Billy left Halibut Cove to start over.
He’d already been in jail for his temper.
Me, Bert, my father, we were all like, ‘Good riddance!’”
Maggie felt a chill run through her. Old rumors had a way of lingering in small towns, twisting with each retelling, but she couldn’t ignore the detail—Bert Barker’s name tied to a disappearance decades earlier.
Whether there was truth to it or not, it was another shadow hanging over the Barker family.
Later that day, Maggie and Audrey parked outside the mail center in the next town, ready for a stakeout. Armed with snacks and thermoses of coffee, they kept their eyes peeled for anyone approaching the PO box linked to the nightshade shipment.
Hours passed with little action. Maggie amused herself by pointing out pedestrians.
“Look, it’s Dorothy from bridge night,” she said, nudging Audrey. “Bet she’s sneaking chocolate again. And with her diabetes …”
Audrey groaned. “Focus, Nana.”
Their patience was rewarded when finally, after two and a half hours, a teenager on a shiny new motorcycle pulled up and went straight to the box in question.
Neither Maggie nor Audrey recognized him, but he clearly had a purpose.
They followed him as he roared off, Maggie’s lead foot turning the quiet stakeout into a hair-raising chase.
“Nana, slow down!” Audrey yelled, gripping the dashboard.
“This car has more get-up-and-go than you think,” Maggie replied, a gleam in her eye as she took a sharp turn.
“You’re going to kill us before we figure out who he is!”
“Relax, I’ve got this,” Maggie said, narrowly avoiding a parked car.
They finally followed the teen to a ramshackle house on the outskirts of town. A burly man stepped out onto the porch as the boy parked his motorcycle in the driveway.
“Troy, move that bike into the garage!” the man barked.
Maggie squinted. “That’s Kurt Foley. Trouble, with a capital T.”
She got out of the car, plastering on her most charming smile. “Kurt! Long time no see.”
Kurt gave her a wary look. “Maggie Holbrook. What brings you all the way out here?”
“Staying out of trouble, Kurt?”
Kurt smirked. “That wouldn’t be any fun now, would it?”
Maggie chuckled. “Fair enough. I couldn’t help but notice your son picking up mail at a PO box over in Hadley Point. There’s been talk about nightshade being shipped to that address.”
Kurt’s expression darkened, his posture stiffening. “So?”
Audrey jumped in. “You’ve got a perfectly lovely mailbox at the end of your driveway. Why do you need the PO box?”
“That’s my business,” Kurt said gruffly. “I don’t always want people knowing where I live.”
Troy came out of the garage, wiping his hands on a rag.
Maggie gestured to the shiny motorcycle. “That’s a nice bike. Did your dad buy it for you?”
Troy shook his head. “No, I earned it by mowing lawns over the summer. And working for my uncle, running errands.”
“Your uncle?” Audrey asked.
Before Troy could answer, Kurt cut him off. “Enough, Troy. Go inside.”
Troy hesitated but obeyed, leaving Maggie and Audrey alone with Kurt.
“If the cops have questions, let them come out here,” Kurt said, his tone defensive.
At that moment, a woman appeared in the doorway. “Supper’s ready!” she called. Then, seeing Maggie, her face lit up. “Oh my word, Maggie! What a surprise.”
“Midge!” Maggie said warmly. “It’s been ages.”
“How is everyone?”
“Fine, fine.”
“I hear Cord’s getting married.”
“Surprised us all.”
Audrey’s brow furrowed. “You’re Clyde Peterson’s sister, aren’t you?”
Maggie’s eyes narrowed as realization struck. She turned back to Kurt. “Your son mentioned his uncle. Uncle Clyde, perhaps?”
Kurt’s expression hardened. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Maggie.”
But Maggie wasn’t so sure.