A Roux of Revenge (7 page)

“Thanks, Lucky. Thank you so much.” Janie threw her arms around Lucky’s neck and hugged her.

“What did you two argue about that was so awful? You’ve always gotten along great with your mom.”

Janie’s face fell.
“You’d never believe me if I told you.”

Chapter 11

T
HE FOLLOWING MORNING
at the Spoonful Lucky kept a close watch on Janie. So far, she seemed to be doing fine. She was a lot less nervous than she had been on the previous days, but Lucky
noticed she would occasionally stare out the window, as though expecting the stranger to be there. Miriam had been relieved and grateful when Lucky had called the night before to let her know Janie had been found and was safe. Miriam sounded rather sheepish on the phone and apologetic, but offered no further explanation as to why Janie had stormed out.

The Spoonful was crowded. The din of
the restaurant made it impossible to hear the bell, but movement at the door caught Lucky’s attention. She looked up to see Ernie White. He entered, accompanied by two men who more than likely worked for him at the festival. Ernie, overweight and not in the best of shape, wore an expensive gray suit while the two men were in jeans, boots and work shirts. Meg seated them at a table and passed out menus.

Lucky glanced over at Jack. She could tell he had spotted Ernie. She hoped Ernie didn’t decide to approach her grandfather again about setting up a booth at the festival. Jack turned in her direction and shot her a meaningful look, indicating Ernie with a jerk of his head. Lucky nodded in response.

She heard the clatter of dishes behind her. She grabbed three orders from the kitchen hatch
and placed them on trays for Janie and Meg to deliver. She looked up as Elizabeth Dove came through the front door. Lucky waved to her and pointed to an empty stool. Since Elizabeth had become Mayor of Snowflake, her schedule was so busy that Lucky rarely had a chance to visit and chat with her.

“Early lunch?” Lucky asked. She knew Elizabeth always had breakfast at home and started her day
at the municipal offices early.

“Yes. I have a meeting in an hour, but I’m starving now.” Elizabeth smiled. Lucky thought the older woman looked healthy and completely back to normal. A few months before Elizabeth had been held prisoner on the orders of a man she had trusted. Elizabeth looked up at her questioningly. “What is it?”

Lucky smiled widely. “You just look so fantastic.”

“I am perfectly fine.” Elizabeth laughed. “Now stop worrying about me.”

“What can I get you?”

“I’d love to try that new beet and barley soup with maybe a bakery roll?”

“It’s delicious. How about a rosemary roll from Bettie’s Bakery? The flavor would go nicely with that soup.”

“Can I get it to go?” Elizabeth asked.

“Of course.” Lucky placed the order slip on the hatch. She turned
back to Elizabeth and leaned over the counter. “So tell me, how is everything?”

“It’s fine . . . I have a meeting about the . . .” Before Elizabeth could complete her sentence, Ernie White slid onto the stool next to her.

“Elizabeth! How are you?” Ernie managed to make his greeting sound as if he were holding court and Elizabeth was a supplicant for his favors.

“I’m fine, Ernie. And
you?” Elizabeth’s tone was pleasant but, to Lucky’s ears, distant. She knew Elizabeth’s guard was up. Ernie had the knack of affecting a lot of people that way. And Lucky was sure Ernie’s intent related only to his own agenda, not just to passing the time of day.

“Lucky, I’m glad I caught you.” Something oily and overly friendly in Ernie’s tone raised her hackles. “I’ve been talking to your
grandfather about the Spoonful providing food at the festival—you know, a nice little booth. Chance to expose more people to the restaurant. I’d even be willing to negotiate my percentage.”

“Jack’s been over this before with you, Ernie. It’s not worth our while.”

“I’d go sixty-forty with you. Forty for you, sixty for me.”

Lucky was nonplussed. “What part don’t you get, Ernie?”

Elizabeth watched the exchange with amusement.

Lucky glanced over at Jack, who had started to rise from his stool behind the cash register. She shot him a look to let him know she had the situation under control. “Why would we split anything with you? Assuming we even had the staff to run a concession, which we don’t. We’re doing just fine as it is.”

“Well . . .” Ernie smiled. “It wasn’t
that long ago you were almost belly up. I wouldn’t be so quick to get on my high horse if I were you.”

Elizabeth was silent, but her eyebrows raised a notch. She was well aware Lucky had a temper, and if Ernie hadn’t already experienced it, he was pushing real hard to expose it.

Lucky’s face flushed deeply. She knew it was happening and couldn’t do much about it. The pitfalls of having
such fair skin. “I’ll tell you what, Ernie. I’ll keep your very generous offer in mind. Now, is there anything else you’d like? If not, Jack’s right over there to collect your money.”

Ernie’s face shifted from oily to mean. “Have it your way. But don’t come begging for a shot at a booth next year.” He rose quickly and headed to the cash register, slapping some bills in front of Jack. He walked
out the door without another word, the two men in work clothes trailing behind him.

Lucky shuddered. “He just always manages to bring out my worst side. I’m with Jack on that one,” she said to Elizabeth.

“I don’t blame you,” Elizabeth responded. “Seems there’s always a dagger under that insinuating tone. He’s managed to make some enemies since he’s been in Lincoln Falls, or so I’ve heard.”

“I can believe that.” Lucky hesitated. “What did you say? Since he’s been in Lincoln Falls? I thought he was from there originally.”

“I don’t think so. He comes from . . . actually, I don’t really know where he’s from. Someone told me, but I don’t recall offhand. He’s been in Lincoln Falls for maybe five or six years. He’s been very successful, but I don’t think he’s made a lot of friends.
The sooner he goes back to wherever he came from, the better, I say.”

Marjorie slid onto the empty stool next to Elizabeth. She stashed the shopping bag she was carrying under the counter at her feet. “Elizabeth. Haven’t seen you for a while. How have you been?”

“Oh, just fine, Marjorie. Where’s your sister today?”

Marjorie pursed her lips. “She’s very busy. Couldn’t make it.”

Lucky’s ears went up. She couldn’t recall a day when the two sisters weren’t together.

Elizabeth picked up her order. “Have to run.” She stood and blew Lucky a kiss. “Marjorie, good to see you too. We’ll have to catch up some other time.” She smiled and walked over to the cash register.

“Tea and a croissant, today?” Lucky asked Marjorie.

“Yes, dear. That would be fine.” Marjorie was
never talkative, but today she seemed nervous and upset.

Lucky carried the cup of tea and buttered croissant to the placemat. “Is everything all right?” she asked. Marjorie looked close to tears.

“Oh . . .” Marjorie shrugged her shoulders and took a deep breath. “Cecily isn’t speaking to me right now. We had a terrible row.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Lucky had always noticed the differing
personalities between the sisters, but never remembered a disagreement between them.

Marjorie leaned over the counter and whispered, “That man we met here . . . he stopped in at the shop yesterday, just as we were closing. And he asked her to have dinner with him! Can you believe that?” Marjorie’s tone was indignant. “I didn’t say anything in front of him, but I told her later she was taking
an awful chance having a date with a strange man.”

“Ah.” Lucky nodded seriously, in what she hoped was a neutral tone.

Marjorie continued. “After all, he’s a complete stranger in town. We really know nothing about him.” Lucky was relieved no one was sitting close to Marjorie who could overhear her remarks. Marjorie took a sip of her tea. “Cecily became very upset with me. And when I reminded
her . . . you know, she had a terrible blow years and years ago. She . . .” Marjorie leaned closer. “She was jilted, almost at the altar. Well, not exactly, but another few days and it would have happened that way quite literally. Well, she just blew up at me. That’s the only way I can put it. Told me what she thought of me and my opinion.” Marjorie sniffed back a tear. She looked truly wounded
to have her good advice rejected so vehemently.

“I didn’t know. What an awful experience for her to have. I’m so sorry,” Lucky commiserated.

“I realize my sister isn’t like me. I’m perfectly happy as a spinster. Never met a man I would have wanted to share my life with. Who really needs ’em, I say. But Cecily . . . she’s such a trusting soul. I just couldn’t bear it if my sister got hurt
like that again.”

Lucky was torn. She wanted to remind Marjorie that her sister was a free agent and shouldn’t spend her life in a bubble, but at the same time she could understand an older sister’s desire to protect a vulnerable sibling from hurt. “Oh, oh.” Lucky touched Marjorie’s arm. “Here comes Nate with that insurance investigator in tow.” Joe Conrad had obviously been successful in
locating Nate.

Marjorie took a last bite of her croissant. “I’m leaving now.” Without futher ado, she gathered up her shopping bag and purse. “I’d rather not have to deal with the man who caused our argument last night.” She stood and headed for the cash register.

Lucky watched as Nate paused on the sidewalk before coming into the restaurant. He was staring at Ernie White, who stood on
the sidewalk talking to the two men who had been with him at the restaurant. Nate leaned toward Conrad and made a remark. Conrad nodded in response, and then together the two men entered the restaurant.

Chapter 12

O
NCE THE LUNCH
rush died down, Lucky joined Jack, Nate and Joe Conrad at their table where they lingered over coffee. Janie manned the cash register while Meg cleared off the remaining tables.

“I guess you two have already met Joe,” Nate said.

Jack reached across the table to shake Joe’s proffered hand.

“Hello again,” Lucky said. “I see you found Nate.”

“Joe’s been retired for a while, but he was telling me about his last case. Very interesting,” Nate said.

Joe smiled sheepishly. “It’s my ego, or maybe pride, I guess. It just galled me that I had to retire—company
policy—before I could close this one out. The young guy that took over my caseload couldn’t do anything with it either.”

“What company are we talking about, Joe?” Jack asked.

“I was with Union Fidelity my whole career. And not to brag too much, but I had a great record as an investigator. All except for this one last case. I guess that’s why I can’t let it go.”

“You think your company
might be willing to share their records?” Nate asked.

“I don’t know. I can ask, if you like, but they might want a subpoena to do that.”

“Well, if it turns out this might be related, I’ll give them a call.”

“You have no connection with the company anymore?” Jack asked.

“Nope. But I sure would like to bring this one to them on a silver platter. Not for any reward or anything, but
who knows, maybe they’d rethink their strict retirement policy.”

“What’s it about?” Jack asked.

“About seven years ago, there was an armored truck robbery. You may remember it—over at Bennington.”

“I do remember,” Jack said. “It was all over the news.”

“It was pretty terrible. There were two guards on duty in the company’s office early that morning. Another man, dressed in a guard’s
uniform with a ski mask, busted in. One of the two guards resisted and was killed. He was a young guy with little kids. Very sad.”

“And they never caught the man who did it?” Lucky asked.

“Nope. Never did. The company had to pay out on the loss after all. What happened was this . . .” Joe said, taking a last sip of his coffee. “It’s pretty definite it wasn’t just the one man involved.
It was a pretty secure bunker, so one of the two guards in the facility had to be in on it. Although it took the police a little while to get suspicious of him. He may have even masterminded the heist. What I think, and the police at the time came around to thinking, was that the inside man, one of the guards, turned off the alarm and left the outer door unlocked. The other guard, the young guy who
got killed, must have been completely unaware that it was a setup. The police went over his life with a fine-tooth comb, but they never turned up anything suspicious. Nothing to indicate he had been involved.”