Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 4 - 6 Page 4

  Chapter 5

  Adam sat at Margot’s kitchen table, his shiny, black but scuffed shoes offset by the white t-shirt he was wearing. She assumed he’d taken off his button-down in favor of something more comfortable. She had, after all, surprised him with her request.

  “So now they are both holed up at Bentley’s place? That doesn’t seem safe.” He was lost in thought as she put the finishing touches on the meal she was making for them all that night—one of her favorite pasta dishes where you threw everything into one pot. It was a time-saver as well as extremely tasty.

  “I know, but they do have Nils. And the fact that there hasn’t been a specific threat against them.”

  “Who is this again?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and Adam narrowed his eyes at her. “Harrison’s bodyguard, I guess. I don’t think he’s American. Sounded like he had a European accent. Maybe Swedish?”

  “Interesting.”

  “What are you thinking?” She’d learned to ask this of him frequently in order to understand what was going on in his head. He wasn’t one to share until he was absolutely ready, but he often forgot to share. She’d learned to ask him rather than guess.

  “Just that there are a lot of things I don’t understand about this whole situation.”

  “You and me both,” she said, laughing as she wrapped up the garlic bread she would put in the oven when they got to Bentley’s. “But the question is, are you willing to help?”

  Adam stood, coming toward her. He reached for her hand and tugged her toward him, reaching for her other hand. “When will you realize that I am always willing to help you?”

  Margot’s heart pounded in her chest at his sudden nearness, feeling the smile that took over her lips. This man before her was always patient and always willing to help her, no matter how harebrained her schemes were or how dangerous. Though she knew he didn’t like the thought of her being in danger.

  “Thank you, Adam. I appreciate it. I know it’s not exactly part of your job.”

  “True,” he said, reaching up to brush a strand of her hair behind her ears, “and yet I always seem to find myself tangled up in some mystery or another against my chief’s wishes usually.” He chuckled. “You’re troublesome like that.”

  She laughed and leaned into his touch. Then, without warning, he moved in and gave her a quick kiss. The feeling of his soft lips on hers sent a tingling through her and then he pulled back just as quickly.

  Part of her wished for more from him—whether a commitment or some understanding about their relationship—and yet another part of her, the more dominant part, reminded her that she was the one who drew lines where it came to them. How could she think of romance when Bentley could be in trouble? Besides, she wasn’t sure she could move any farther with Adam if she wasn’t privy to more of his background. She didn’t want him to tell her things that were classified, but there had to be some type of middle ground, didn’t there? Some compromise? She didn’t like the fact that he kept so many things from her. For a woman who often spent time figuring out the truth, not knowing all of Adam’s past bothered her. Not enough for her to stop seeing him—no, she cared too much for him for that—but enough that she wanted to make sure that, at the right time, they had a serious and candid conversation.

  “Margot,” he began, his eyes narrowing as if sensing her thoughts. She had a feeling he would tell her everything if he weren’t constrained, but was he being open about what he could share? “Shall we go?” he asked, as if putting the unspoken thoughts to the side for now.

  “Yes,” Margot agreed, knowing it was best to leave these thoughts until a better, less distracted time. “Dinner is served—well, almost.”

  He helped her carry everything out to her car and then followed her over to Bentley’s, since he would go home after their dinner.

  As they brought everything up the stairs to Bentley’s apartment, Margot wondered what they would learn that night. Would Harrison have anything else to share? Perhaps shed light on something that he had kept from her when she’d first arrived. Or did Bentley have some idea that involved Adam that she knew nothing about? He was cunning like that.

  They were greeted at the door by Nils, who observed the food with greedy eyes—Margot was glad she’d made extra—and then they were allowed in.

  Dinner went well, the conversation kept to broad topics they could all talk about without delving too deep, but once the dishes were cleared and they all sat down again, Nils back to his spot by the wall, Margot put her elbows on the table and looked at Harrison.

  “Why do you feel your life is threatened?” She thought she saw a look of panic race across his eyes. “You think it’s related to that summer, right?” she added.

  He blinked and nodded. “Yes. Yes, of course. That summer on the Majesty. It has to be.”

  That didn’t sound like a confident answer, but she turned to look at Adam, who had shifted in his seat. “Let me get this straight, you think you—and in turn, Bentley—are in danger. So you came here? Why?”

  “Who are you?” Harrison said. He’d merely nodded at Bentley’s assertion that Adam was merely a friend, but now he made it clear he no longer accepted it.

  “I’m a detective with the local police department.”

  Harrison huffed out a breath and leaned back.

  “Is that a problem, Mister Douglas?”

  “Problem?” The man looked flustered. “Nah. I just… I mean, we don’t want the cops involved.”

  “Why?” Adam had the look of an interrogator as he leaned forward.

  “I-I don’t know.” Harrison threw his arms up. “Isn’t that what usually gets people in trouble?”

  Margot had to admit that Harrison wasn’t making much sense, but she felt they were deviating from the real topic at hand.

  “Harrison, is there something you’re not telling us?”

  He frowned, taking the unlit cigar from his mouth and licking his lips. “I just… I’ve got a feeling about this is all. And good old Ben here was the one we all turned to—back then. I mean, I figured he’d know something about all of this. It was either him or that kid, Sean.”

  Margot’s ears perked up at the mention of Sean. “What makes you think of Sean? Wasn’t he just a kid?”

  “If you call being fifteen with anger issues a kid, then yeah, I guess.”

  Did that mean that Harrison thought Sean was involved? But why? And why now?

  “There is something else,” Bentley said, drawing all of their attention to his side of the table.

  “What’s that, Bentley?” she encouraged.

  He shifted nervously in his seat. “The gold coin.”

  “The what?” Adam asked, leaning forward. Margot felt herself lean forward as well. Only Harrison looked surprised and yet…not.

  “I wasn’t sure if I should mention it—I mean, it’s been years since I’ve even thought about that coin, but about a year or two after that fateful summer, I got an envelope in the mail. Inside was a gold coin—a doubloon, I think they’d call it—and no note. I always assumed… Well, I assumed it was a joke.” He eyed Harrison.

  “I got one too,” he said without emotion. “I thought as much. A cruel joke, though—and at our expense.”

  “Yes, very cruel.”

  Adam knew what they were talking about since Margot had filled him in, but he took a moment to insert a question in. “Who do you think really took the treasure?”

  “I don’t know,” Harrison said reflexively.

  Bentley’s brow furrowed. “I’ve always wondered about that. One of the passengers who happened to overhear us talking about it? We weren’t very discreet back then. Or perhaps someone with King’s Scuba or who saw us out there the night we found it? I couldn’t believe Melinda to be a part of something that sinister, though.”

  “But Sean?” Margot pressed.

  “I don’t know,” Bentley said.

  “He could have done it,” Harrison said right after.


  The two men seemed at odds to what they believed possible. It would be difficult to truly find out anything from so long ago though. She looked to Adam to see what he thought about this.

  His eyes were focused on the tabletop as if seeking the answer there. When she placed her hand on his arm, he looked up.

  “I’ll look into it. I don’t know what I can uncover after so long, but the past may not be too far away. In the meantime—” He met Nils’s gaze from across the room. “—will you two be all right here?”

  “Sure we will,” Harrison said before Bentley could respond. “Nils is the best.”

  Bentley looked dubious but nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

  “Then I should head out. Lots to do tomorrow.”

  Margot stood as well. “Call me if you need anything, all right?” she said, her comment directed to Bentley.

  “Will do, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her on the cheek when she leaned down to hug him.

  When they left, Margot shot a sidelong glance at Adam. “Do you really think you’ll find anything from that long ago?”

  He was quiet until they reached her car, then he turned his gaze on her. “I didn’t say anything in there, but I’m not sure the past is that far away, only because there’s something happening in the present.”

  “You mean the recent deaths.”

  “Yes.” He nodded, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I’ve got a few calls into some friends in different departments up in Maryland. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  “And keep me informed?” she said with a sly grin.

  “Always.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek then opened her door for her, waiting until she was in to close it again.

  He waved and headed off to his car while she started hers up. It looked like the past was quickly going to catch up with the present.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning after finishing her baking prep and welcoming Dexter back after his day off, Margot was in her office when she got a call.

  “Hey,” she said, happy to see Adam’s contact on the screen.

  “Hey back,” he said, sounding chipper. “What are you up to?”

  “Oh, you know, making world famous French pastries. Not much else.”

  His low laugh made her smile. “You don’t sound busy then. Good.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Want to take a trip with me?”

  She sat up. “Where are we going?”

  “Unfortunately, Russ Grossi’s house is still part of an active investigation.”

  His words conjured sad images from the news broadcasts she’d seen. Apparently, unlike Tony, Russ had been murdered rather violently. It seemed not to line up, but Margot knew better than to assume anything. They could be connected, something she was sure they were going to try and discover, or they could be not affiliated and then Harrison’s claims would be unfounded. Either way, they were going to make progress on the case, she just knew it.

  “What does that mean for us then?”

  “Means that we’ll have to turn our attention to Tony’s place. I’ve got a buddy on the Maryland force and he’s agreed to let us take a look around.”

  A thrill coursed through Margot, though she tried to keep it in check. This was just a fact-finding mission. “What time?”

  He laughed. “I knew you’d be game. Say I pick you up in two hours?”

  She checked the clock and nodded to herself. “I’ll be ready.”

  For the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon, she helped Dexter with projects they were working on and then gave him carte blanche run of the kitchen—something she knew he’d enjoy.

  “Margot,” he called out to her before she was about to head out the door. “I forgot to look for that friend of yours. Can I use your computer?”

  “Sure,” she said, nodding toward her office door. “You know the password. Do you need me to write down the info I sent to you before?”

  “Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got it saved in a message somewhere. Thanks.”

  She headed out the door, curious to see if he would be able to come up with something, but more focused on the task at hand.

  “Hey, Adam,” she said, sliding into the leather seat warmed by the sun. “How’d you’d get time off to do this?”

  “Well, it’s not exactly time off.”

  She looked over at him. “Really?”

  “I mentioned the interest in the Russ Grossi case and, while we’re not invited in on that of course, the chief was curious too. I explained the other side of things—without giving out any names at this point—and he was interested. He’s letting me run with this for now since I told him it does involve a resident of our community.”

  “Are things really that slow?”

  Adam laughed out loud and maneuvered onto State Route 395 heading north to Maryland. “I don't know that I’d frame it that way…but there is a bit of a lag. I think he was happy to have me out of his hair and to stop pestering him about cold cases.”

  “There are cold cases in North Bank?”

  “There are cold cases in every town—well, I assume so. I just… I don’t know. I’ve been itching to do something.”

  “Glad I could help with that.”

  He smiled at her, taking a moment to squeeze her hand, then turning back to the road. Their conversation stayed from the purpose of their drive in favor of catching up on their plans for the upcoming weekend and the biking trip Adam had asked Margot on. She’d readily agreed and they discussed where they would stop for lunch along the way, since it would be an all-day event.

  When they finally pulled up to the house, she was surprised to see an unmarked car already parked out front.

  “I told my buddy an estimation of when we’d be here.”

  She nodded and they exited the car at the same time a man in his mid to late forties did the same from the unmarked car. He had hair that was graying at the temples and looked like he’d just walked out of an all-nighter.

  “Hey, Charles, good to see you,” Adam said, extending his hand. “This is Margot Durand. Margot, this is Detective Charles Hascomb.”

  “Hiya, Margot,” he said, stifling a yawn. “Excuse me. We’ve just had our third child and…to be honest, it’s been killing both my wife and I.”

  She nodded in commiseration. “I can imagine.”

  “Let’s get you two inside.”

  They walked up the long walkway toward the front door and Adam asked, “They ruled his death an accident?”

  “It was most likely natural causes. There was no sign of foul play, but we won’t know for sure for a few more days, I think. The M.E. is backed up with a bit of a backlog and an older man’s death didn’t spark a lot of interest or rush.”

  “Because there was nothing suspicious.”

  “Exactly,” Charles said with a curt nod. “He’d had heart issues in the past so, after consulting with his doctor, I didn’t find any of it strange. It’s only when you mentioned a potential connection with the fella who died over in Chesapeake that made me curious. I’ve put a rush on the M.E. but, like I said, they are backlogged so there’s no telling when I’ll hear back. Not as soon as you’d like, I’m sure.”

  Margot looked from Charles to Adam. She knew that Adam wanted things rushed as well, they were all curious about what was going on in this case—or the potential of a case—but she also saw his respect for the man and his position with the M.E. No doubt Adam had been in a similar situation in the past in their small town.

  “I did some digging,” Charles continued, “but came up with nothing. Wife is deceased, no kids, nothing out of the ordinary. His lawyer is working on executing the wishes of his will now, but nothing seems to be out of place.”

  They stopped at the door and Charles fumbled for the keys, yawning again. When he finally got the right ones and unlocked the door, Margot wondered what they would find. Clues to a connection with the past? Or just a regular house sitting empty
after its owner had died of natural causes? She hoped for the latter, but feared the former.

  Then the door opened and she gasped.

  “What?” Charles said, looking fully awake now.

  Margot’s eyes first went to the lock on the front door. It appeared not to have been tampered with, but she was sure there were other forms of entry, and she planned to find them because the house had been ransacked!

  Margot sat on the back porch of Adam’s home, his dog nudging her hand as if demanding she pay him the attention he deserved. She laughed and obliged, scratching behind his ears and loving the satisfied look on the dog’s face as his eyes slid closed in pleasure.

  “Don’t bother her, Clint,” Adam said, coming out with a tray of food and drinks for them.

  Margot still smiled at the dog’s name, Clint Eastwood, and laughed as he looked at Adam, then shamelessly nudged Margot’s hand again.

  “Sorry,” Adam apologized. “You can ignore him if you want. He’ll eventually leave you alone.”

  “He’s all right,” she said, turning her attention to him. “You just want some love since you never get any from this guy.” She heard Adam’s resounding laugh as he went inside and appeared again with napkins.

  “Ready to eat?”

  “Definitely.”

  She surveyed the colorful salad with slices of chicken laid artfully across the top. Pieces of avocado, tomato, and mozzarella dotted the greens.

  “This looks amazing. Since when do you only have salads for dinner?”

  He looked up at her, feigning indignation. “I’m a healthy eater.”

  “Mmhmm. Turning over a new leaf?” she teased.

  He laughed at her pun and shook his head, a guilty look surfacing on his handsome features. “I had a hamburger and fries at lunch. I figured I should be good for dinner.”

  “See, I knew it.” She smiled. Then again, just looking at Adam was a testament to his healthy habits. While he enjoyed a cheat meal here and there, he was committed to his health and hit the gym every other day with a run on the off days.