Sneak Peek of The Notekeeper
Taylor Higgs paused outside the door to Elite Sleuth Solutions. Seeing the name Robert Higgs, Private Investigator, etched in the glass, had her heart lurching. Her father had founded the business seven years earlier when he’d retired from the GraceTown police force.
He”d been so proud of running his own company and excited to be his own boss. While he had always enjoyed being a detective for GraceTown PD, he liked the autonomy of setting his own hours and taking on cases that mattered to him.
She knew he’d looked forward to many more years doing what he loved, but that hadn’t been in the cards.
Taking a deep breath, Taylor pushed open the door, setting the bells to jingling. It was wild to think that her father had been in this office for over two years, yet this was her first time seeing it.
When she’d flown back for his retirement party from the force, her dad had still been looking for his first office. Taylor had gone with him to check out some possibilities, and he’d found one he liked.
When he’d brought in a partner two years ago, they’d quickly outgrown the original office space and had moved to this location.
Taylor’s last trip to GraceTown was shortly before the partner and the move. The long hours demanded at the law firm in Chicago where she worked made getting away difficult.
Understanding the demands placed on a young attorney, her father traveled from Maryland to Illinois yearly to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with her.
This year, she’d planned to come to GraceTown and celebrate with him. Well, it was August and she was here now, but not soon enough. The thought was a sudden knife blow to her heart. She absorbed the impact with a sharp inhale.
After taking several steadying breaths, she told herself to focus on the present.
Taylor knew the only way she could handle this difficult time was to put one foot in front of the other and do what needed to be done.
She let her gaze scan the outer office. His last office had been a hole-in-the-wall compared to this one. In addition to a partner, business had been good enough to allow him to hire a receptionist.
A desk to the right, complete with two visitor chairs, filled the small outer space.
Straight ahead were two offices: one for her dad and one for Jameson Fox. Her father’s partner, a former cop, was a stranger to her. Then again, she’d also never met Glenna Kovacs, the receptionist he’d hired.
Standing there, Taylor waited for Glenna--or Jameson--to appear.
After fifteen long seconds, she called out. “Hello. Is anyone here?”
She waited another fifteen seconds before crossing to her father’s office. She”d have known this was his sanctuary even without his name on the door. The clutter on top of the desk had a smile lifting her lips. She shook her head. For as long as she could remember, Bob Higgs had followed the principle that a disorganized desk was a happy desk.
No matter how cluttered his desktop looked in his home office, she’d learned that he could nip the exact paper he was looking for out of the mess at any given time.
Taylor found her gaze drawn to a pencil holder she’d made out of popsicle sticks at Brownie camp when she was eight. She’d painted each stick a different fluorescent color, then secured them around the perimeter of a soup can with Elmer’s Glue. She personalized the holder by adding lots of hearts and stickers that proclaimed, “Best Dad Ever” and “I L-O-V-E my Dad.”
At the time, he’d made a big deal about how much he loved the gift. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized he still had it. Or the picture that sat framed on his desk. Her mother had taken it of the two of them a long-ago Halloween.
Taylor had been only five and too young to make the rounds alone. She’d dressed as Annie while her dad went as Daddy Warbucks. The dog they’d had at the time, a reddish Cockapoo named Harley, had been dubbed Sandy for the night.
Her mom—well, her mother had been designated as the one to hand out candy. She’d dressed as Miss Hannigan for the evening, wanting to feel a part of the action. They hadn’t gotten a picture of the three of them together, and now she wondered why.
Taking a deep breath, Taylor picked up the pencil case. She would keep this. Looking at it would forever remind her of the wonderful father who--
“This is a private office. What do you think you’re doing in here?”
Startled by the demanding deep voice, Taylor whirled. The pencils flew right before the holder slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor, several sticks coming loose from the can.
Taylor let out a little cry at the sight of the popsicle sticks scattered at her feet. Telling herself she had more important things to worry about right now, she lifted her gaze to see two strangers in the doorway.
“Who are you?” This question, containing more puzzlement than anger, came from the mid-fifties woman beside the man.
The woman’s oversized glasses gave her face an owl-like appearance. Her curly brown hair sprang out from her head as if she’d just stuck her finger in a light socket.
The man beside her, who she pegged as close to her own age, was tall and broad-shouldered with dark hair cut stylishly short. Right now, he gazed at her with suspicious dark eyes. “What are you doing in Bob’s office?”
Taylor kept her eyes on both as she bent over and scooped up the popsicle sticks, placing them in the can. “I could ask you the same.”
“We work here.” The man spoke cooly. “Your turn.”
“You’re Jameson Fox.”
Why had she thought he’d be older?
“You know my name.” His eyes never left her face. His voice, while calm and polite, held an undercurrent of steel. “Now tell me yours.”
The tone demanded rather than asked for a response.
“Taylor Higgs.” Realizing she was making a mess of this first encounter, she smiled and struck out her hand. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’m Bob’s daughter. It’s good to meet you finally.”
“Taylor. Oh my goodness.” Rushing forward, the woman quickly closed the distance to Taylor before catching her in a tight embrace. “I’m so happy to meet you. We loved your dad so much.”
If he was Jameson, this was likely Glenna Kovacs, the receptionist. Her father had teasingly referred to Glenna as his work wife since she handled so much around the office.
Since he’d often mentioned Glenna in his texts and Facetime chats, Taylor wondered if something more personal was happening between her dad and the woman.
He hadn’t said, and she hadn’t asked. Taylor figured those were the kinds of questions best asked in person.
As Glenna squeezed tight and the scent of Gardenia wrapped around Taylor, for an instant, she let herself lean.
Then Taylor stepped back and gave Glenna a watery smile. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Jameson, who’d bent over to scoop up the pencils, straightened and set them on the corner of her father’s desk. “It was a shock to everyone.”
“I didn’t get many details.” Taylor shifted her gaze from Jameson to Glenna.
“Bob had been complaining of a headache for about a week.” Jameson’s lips tightened momentarily before he continued. “We urged him to see a doctor. He said he would when he had time.”
“He was fine that morning when he left on surveillance. No complaints about the headache, remember?” Glenna shot a glance at Jameson before returning her attention to Taylor. “Your dad said he’d be back by noon. The three of us ate lunch together on Monday.”
“Over lunch, we’d have our staff meeting,” Jameson added.
He’d shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
“It was nearly twelve when I noticed him sitting in his car out front. The sun was bright, and I couldn’t see him very well. I assumed he was finishing up a call.” Glenna blinked rapidly. “Finally, at about twelve-fifteen, I went out to see what was taking him so long. Th-that’s when I-I found him.”
Glenna turned to Jameson, her face awash with misery. “I still keep thinking if I’d gone out sooner, maybe--”
“He was already gone.” Jameson’s arm stole around her shoulder.
“But if—” Glenna began again.
“We’ve talked about this before,” Jameson reminded her. “The doctor said he didn’t have a chance, no matter when he was found.”
“That’s what I was told.” Taylor heard herself say. She’d initially ignored the call from an unfamiliar number when it had come through. But, after listening to the message left, she’d called back. That’s when she received the devastating news.
Her father, an active and fit fifty-eight-year-old with his whole life ahead of him, had passed away from a ruptured brain aneurysm.
If bad things did come in threes, she’d had her quota.
Only a few days before she’d gotten the call about her dad, she’d been given her walking papers from the firm she’d worked for since graduating from law school. The firm was acquired by another, and she was deemed a redundant employee. The fact that she wasn’t the only one let go didn’t provide much comfort.
Especially when her boyfriend, who had been kept on, broke up with her, citing it wouldn’t look good for him to be dating someone who’d been terminated.
Both of those events, though, paled in comparison to losing her father. Bob Higgs was her daddy, her rock, the one person that she trusted to always be there for her.
From the time Taylor had been small, her dad had told her she could count on him always being in her back pocket, close by whenever she needed him.
Now, he was gone.
“Taylor.”
The sound of her name pulled her from her reverie. Two sets of eyes were staring at her.
“I’m sorry.” Taylor rubbed her hand across her face. “This past week has been incredibly difficult.”
Because there would be no job to return to, instead of immediately flying to GraceTown, Taylor had taken a week to settle things in Chicago.
Her roommate Angi had been happy that Taylor could move out and thrilled when she said she’d be leaving her furniture behind. Angi’s boyfriend had already begun moving in before Taylor had finished packing.
“I assume you’re here to plan the funeral.” Glenna offered Taylor a supportive smile. “I’ve been making a list of possible music and service details, things I thought Bob would like and?—”
“Thank you for that, but I’m going to put that off for now.”
Glenna took a step back, unable to hide her surprise. “Pardon me?”
“Dad wasn’t a big fan of traditional funerals.” Taylor ran a tongue across her suddenly dry lips. “I believe he’d prefer a memorial service over a funeral. Actually, I don’t think he’d want anything.”
“What?” Glenna’s voice rose, then broke. “Are you saying…that doesn’t seem?—”
Jameson’s hand on Glenna’s arm had her stopping mid-sentence. “Taylor is Bob’s next of kin. It’s her decision, not ours.”
“I plan to schedule a memorial service,” Taylor hastened to reassure them. “I just need time.”
“Of course.” Jameson offered her a reassuring smile. “Whatever you need, we’re here to help. Aren’t we, Glenna?”
“Yes, absolutely.” Glenna took a deep breath and appeared to steady. “When do you need to be back in Chicago?”
“I’m staying in GraceTown for now. I have an appointment with my dad’s attorney. Once I speak with him, that will give me a better idea of where I am going forward.”
“Take all the time you need.” A look of sympathy filled Glenna’s eyes. “I’m sure you know this, but I’ll say it anyway: your dad was incredibly proud of you. He loved you very much.”
“Bob was a good man,” Jameson added. “The best.”
Truer words, Taylor thought.
As grief once again rolled over her in a black wave, the best she could muster was a jerky nod.
+
Jameson watched Taylor step out into the bright summer sun. She was far prettier than the woman he had visualized when Bob spoke of her, which was often.
He wasn’t sure why, but he’d assumed she looked like her dad—a short, stocky man with wiry black hair and a sharp jawline.
The only thing Jameson could figure, now that he’d seen the tall, willowy blonde with the big brown eyes, was that she must take after her mother, a woman he’d never met.
According to what little Bob had said, he and his ex-wife had split when Taylor was in high school. When the ex moved to California after the divorce, Taylor stayed in GraceTown.
Bob, the kindest man Jameson had ever met, was also an excellent judge of character. Despite Taylor not having been back to see her dad, at least not since Jameson had become Bob’s partner, Bob had loved his daughter deeply, which meant she was a good person.
Because family or not, Bob was nobody’s fool.
“I didn’t recognize her,” Glenna spoke matter-of-factly, even as her eyes lingered on the empty chair behind Bob’s desk.
Jameson lifted his hands and spread his fingers. “Not surprising. She was just a kid in the photo on Bob’s desk.”
In the photo, she’s dressed in an Orphan Annie Halloween costume, complete with a red yarn wig and face paint. Bob has made an interesting-looking Daddy Warbucks.
“I know she wants to do what’s right for her father, but we should be planning his service,” Glenna continued. “We’re the ones who’ve been here for him, not her.”
Jameson shook his head. While he understood Glenna”s perspective—she’d always been fiercely protective of Bob—in this situation, friends weren’t the same as family. “Bob would want her to handle this.”
Glenna’s brows drew together. “You think?”
“I know.” The only thing that surprised him was that Glenna didn’t.
“What about the business?”
Jameson stilled. “What about it?”
“You and Bob were partners.” Returning to the chair behind her desk, Glenna dropped down and swiveled the chair back and forth, her eyes never leaving his face. “What do you want to bet that Bob left her his share?”
“Maybe.” It would have been unexpected if Bob had left him the business, but occasionally, long shots did come in. He shrugged. “If he did, I’m sure she’ll sell it to me. What good is it to her?”
“You’re probably right.” Glenna’s voice softened. “Do you have the money to buy her out? If not, I have some savings. I’d be happy to lend you some.”
“That’s a generous offer, and I appreciate it.” This conversation ventured as close to personal as Glenna had gotten with him. Though she was constantly butting into Bob’s business, a fact Bob appeared to enjoy, she’d stayed out of his.
Jameson hoped that wouldn’t change now that Bob was gone. Still, he wouldn’t take Glenna’s money. She’d worked hard for whatever savings she’d accumulated, which made her offer that much sweeter.
“As long as she doesn’t think Bob’s share is worth a fortune, I should have enough.”
“Okay, then.” Glenna picked up the brown bag she’d dropped on Bob”s desk when they entered the office and saw a strange woman beside it.
“Back to business.” Glenna gestured to her clean and tidy desktop. “Do you want to eat out here?”
“What say we skip the meeting this week? We could maybe do it once we organize a few things and know better where we’re at.”
“Works for me.”
“Good. I have some calls to make. I’ll take my food and eat at my desk.”
“I’ll do the same.” Glenna expelled a shaky breath. “No surprise. I haven’t got much work done this past week.”
Jameson understood. Both he and Glenna had been floundering since that horrible day.
Glenna took out the sandwiches, chips, and brownie squares they’d purchased from a food truck parked down the block.
“I was thinking that the next time we decide to leave the office at the same time, we need to lock up.” The thought of locking up hadn”t crossed his mind since they’d been just down the street and only gone for ten minutes max. “I don’t know about you, but it was a shock to see someone in here. Especially in Bob’s office.”
Glenna shook her head. “I wasn’t sure what to think, but I’m on board. The front door really does need to be locked unless one of us is here.”
Leaning over, Jameson scooped up his share of the food truck lunch. When he straightened, he found Glenna staring, a speculative gleam in her eyes. “She’s a pretty one, isn’t she?”
“She’s lovely.” He smiled, recalling how her long, honey-blonde hair had been tousled around her shoulders as if she’d hopped out of bed with no time to brush it. Her large dark brown eyes had been an enchanting contrast to the lightness of her hair.
“I wonder if she’s dating anyone.” Glenna brought two fingers to her lips and tapped them against her mouth. “I would think if she was and it was serious, he’d have come with her.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Jameson kept his tone easy, knowing that Glenna’s predilection for matchmaking wouldn’t have a chance to get started this time. “Once things get settled here, I bet neither of us will ever see her again.”
This absolutely gripping story will keep you turning the page way too late at night.