Part 16 (2/2)
”You spent too much time in New York where you don't talk to your neighbors without a weapon in your purse.”
I shrugged. ”It wasn't that bad.”
Eve chuckled. ”The worms in the apple? Remember?”
”True, but there are worms around here, too, judging by the body count.”
”And the wildcat piece of work we're having drinks with.” Eve rolled her eyes.
I turned in my seat. ”How did you find her?”
”She found me and invited us for drinks.”
”Sounds a bit like an agenda.”
”Ya think?”
Eve glanced at me. ”You didn't ask me who she is.”
”I already had a mental picture of Leopard Nails. Who is she?”
”Lolique LaFleur, Councilman McDowell's trophy wife.”
”You jest. The town gossip columnist is married to the publicity hound from h.e.l.l? Her name sure doesn't give away her courage,” I said. ”I look forward to meeting the woman who can stand to live with that man. It's a wonder he never broke his arm patting himself on the back.”
”I think he did once,” Eve said.
”Stop the car and back up a bit.”
Eve hit the brakes, looking like I was nuts, but she put the car in reverse so I could see the two women sparring beside their cars on the overlook.
”That's Sampson's sister. She just left the shop,” I said, ”but I don't know who she's with.”
”Lolique,” Eve said. ”Leopard Nails herself.”
”How do they know each other? Why would they argue?”
”Everybody knows everybody around here. Besides, people stop Lolique on the street for her autograph. You know what their stances remind me of? Me and my mother when we disagree on something we've never agreed on. That's a 'here we go again' discussion, if ever I've seen one. The way their arms are moving takes practice.”
”I never knew you to be so observant and so wrong. Sheesh, drive, will you, before they see us.”
Eve hit the gas and we glided away.
I shook my head. ”It doesn't add up. For somebody who hasn't been in Mystick Falls long, Sampson's sister knows a lot of people, consorting with the local butcher, Lolique, a local celebrity, and a man in a wheelchair.”
”Consorting?” Eve asked.
We made up outlandish ”consorting” scenarios until we pulled into the car lot. ”You look at Elements, let me do the talking, and don't drool in front of a salesman.”
I saluted. ”Gotcha.”
Inside, Eve interviewed salesmen and I admired a painting of an auburn-haired woman, front and center on an upper-floor wall, pose regal, features delicate, a sweet expression as she looked down on everyone.
”Who is she?” I asked a woman behind a counter.
”Madeira? Maddie Cutler, star pupil, is that you?”
I knew the face but it took a minute to get a name. ”Natalie Hayward? How are you?” I'd once taken an advanced sewing course from her, a rare adult who let you call them by their first name. She must be in her early fifties, by now. ”You look great,” I said.
”I am and so glad that you're back to stay.”
”Me, too. Do you work here? No more sewing lessons?”
Her eyes crinkled with her smile. ”Administrative a.s.sistant to the owner pays better.”
So why sit in an information booth? I wondered.
”I'm filling in during the floor manager's break,” she said. ”I like to get out of the office once in a while. What did you want to know?”
”The name of the woman in that painting?”
”Oh, she's the last of Zachary Goodwin's direct line, his daughter, Gwendolyn. Zachary's great-great-grandfather started the dealers.h.i.+p and swore it would stay in the family, though an in-law owns the place now. Gwendolyn's painting has to stay up, or her second cousin inherits. He's the dark-haired man having coffee over there.”
”The one in the wheelchair?” The man Eve and I might have seen kissing Suzanne Sampson in her backyard. How many men in wheelchairs could there be in Mystick Falls?
”Yep. Gary Goodwin. Comes in every day to be sure her picture's still there. G.o.d forbid we should have an earthquake and it falls. Gary will take right over.” She laughed as if she made a joke, but it seemed forced.
”Would it be a disaster if he took over?”
”No, everyone likes Gary, but he doesn't have what it takes to make Goodwin's flourish.”
”Why do you say that?”
”He votes against dealers.h.i.+p needs at board meetings, because he hates the owner. Gary should have inherited. Zachary Goodwin's will was a surprise.” Natalie caught someone's eye and stiffened.
I looked behind me but saw only the man in question looking the other way.
”Sorry,” she said. ”I'm talking out of turn.”
”It's okay. I like local history. One more thing. Has Goodwin needed that chair his whole life?”
”No, it was a car accident before they opened this place. His physical injuries healed to the extent they could, but that's old news.”
”Excuse us,” Eve said, pulling me well away from the central counter. ”No paying cash, Mad, which I know is your preference,” she whispered. ”You want a payment plan to give you wiggle room, money wise. You can always pay it off early, if Vintage Magic is hopping. What color?”
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