Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

S aturday morning, Cat woke to light snow falling outside her window. She loved the first few snowfalls, but by March, she’d be tired of the snow, white or not. Today it felt magical.

She’d stayed with Seth after dinner, and they’d talked about everything and nothing. She loved that. And they’d snuggled while they watched a movie. He’d even turned off the game.

She enjoyed her time with the retreat guests and the income from their monthly invasion paid for the house renovations as well as the utilities, which could be high, especially in the winter as they tried to keep the house warm. She employed Shauna and Seth with the retreat money. Her writing income was sporadic, but when it arrived, it was substantial. She had to put some of it back into marketing and her education as an author.

Thank goodness Michael had left her the house in his will. If he hadn’t, she wouldn’t have come home to Aspen Hills and brought Shauna along. They’d still be working in California and Seth would still be here, missing her.

But her life happened in between the retreats. Where it was just the three of them, or, sometimes, just her and Seth. And Sam, of course. Seth never went anywhere without that dog.

Cat wondered if her uncle felt that way about his job and the time spent with Shirley, his new girlfriend. She lived in Alaska so they only saw each other every other month. When they’d first gotten together, Cat thought Shirley would move here since she was retired. Instead, she had stuck to her guns and her hometown.

These random thoughts had led her to the relationships around her. Her friendship with Dante. Maggie’s relationship with her husband, which didn’t seem as flawless as when they were out together, they both put up a united front. Maggie’s husband seemed to need her more than she wanted. Maggie was a gifted writer. Cat had read a few of her pages this week. She asked everyone to send three chapters of what they were writing to her before the retreat. Maggie’s pages came later because she signed up on Sunday. But the pages were good. Maggie had a strong voice for her genre. Would writing become something that strengthened or stretched their marriage?

Cat had heard of spouses who had given their writer mate an ultimatum, early on while they were still learning. Give up writing or me . Michael had wanted her to write but wanted the result to be literary, not genre fiction. Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen in this case.

As she dressed, thinking of her day, she remembered she wanted to visit Lucy Johnson today. Cat hoped she would be more aware of the real world today. Losing a spouse in a violent murder must have affected her deeply.

What would Cat do if she lost Seth?

She pushed the idea away. She’d gone down that rabbit hole when he’d joined a mercenary group for the money. Cat checked her image in the mirror. She would go write for an hour, check on the guests, then run out to see Lucy. Then she had to be back in time to change for dinner and put a giant cherry on the top of this writers' retreat.

She wished it was already Sunday night.

Cat headed downstairs to grab a pot of coffee and a clean cup. Shauna was in the kitchen, talking to someone. Probably Seth. Cat opened the door and saw Dante sitting at the table. He was dressed in a suit with a tie and drinking coffee. Cat wore what she called her writing clothes. Comfy sweatpants and an old tee from when she attended Covington. Over that, she wore a zip-up sweat jacket telling everyone that Denver was the place to be. She’d bought it on their last getaway to the closest city. “Good morning, I see you’re dressed in weekend attire.”

He snorted. “I’ve got a meeting with the college administration to finalize the promotions they’ve made recently. I wanted to see if you’d gotten any insight into who killed Allen Johnson or why.”

“Shouldn’t you be asking my uncle that?” Cat asked as she filled a coffee carafe and then a cup for right now. She took the cup to the table and sat down.

“He doesn’t like to share information as much as you do. I swear, he must have never gone to kindergarten. Isn’t that where we all learn to help each other.” He took a plate holding a large cinnamon roll from Shauna. “Thank you. This looks amazing.”

“I like to do something special for the guests’ last full day. Tomorrow I’ll have a full Sunday brunch on the table including mimosas if you want to come over.” Shauna handed Cat a plate and fork as well, then sat down at the table with just her coffee. “Pete hasn’t been sharing much with any of us this time. He thinks Cat’s too close to the investigation.”

“Her prior work colleagues?” Dante took a bite of the roll. “Shauna, you should sell these. You’d make a fortune.”

“I don’t want to make a fortune. I’m looking for a sugar daddy to support me,” Shauna teased but she blushed as Dante continued to praise her food. “And no, it’s you that has Pete worried. He thinks that someone isn’t being honest about their role in the murder.”

Dante’s eyes flashed, but he kept his anger in check. “I didn’t kill Allen. I didn’t order someone to kill him. I do believe that he was stealing from the college and someone used that information to try to frame me for both the theft and the murder. Someone, apparently in a red dress.”

Cat shook her head, “Maybe. I’m wondering though if it’s two different things. If someone had found out that Allen was skimming and used it to frame you, I’m not sure they would have wanted Allen dead.”

“With him dead, you can build the story that he found me out and I killed him,” Dante explained.

“I get that, but Allen wouldn’t have talked if you got blamed for the theft. What’s he going to say? I did it, don’t blame Dante?” Cat focused on the roll. This was what had been bothering her for days now. “Both the guy who framed you and Allen would have wanted Allen alive. Not dead.”

“So we’re looking for two people, not one.” Shauna sipped her coffee. “Both were taking advantage of Allen’s misdeeds.”

“And one wore a red dress,” Cat added.

“I asked the photographer to send over the guest pictures she took that night. I think she’s getting them together for your uncle first, then she’ll send them along. I’ll forward them as soon as I get them.” Dante finished his roll and stood. “My meeting is in a few minutes. I’m sorry, I need to leave.”

Cat looked between him and Shauna. It was clear, he hadn’t come to talk to Cat about the murder. Shauna blushed again, then stood and picked up his plate. “Thanks for coming by for coffee. I don’t seem to leave the kitchen much during retreat weeks.”

He paused by the doorway, looking back at them. “The way you cook, I’m surprised someone hasn’t set you up in your own restaurant before now. Maybe we need to talk soon.”

Cat pointed to the door. “You can leave anytime. No one poaches my retreat partner right under my nose.”

Shauna smiled as she met Dante’s gaze. “Besides, I don’t want to manage a restaurant. One week a month of this is more than what I need or want.”

After he left, Cat stayed around to finish her coffee. “So why was Dante here for breakfast?”

“He saw my light in the kitchen and texted to see if I wanted some company. He’s an early riser, like me.” Shauna opened the fridge and started taking things out to make something else.

“Oh, just a casual morning meeting?” Cat knew Dante still had feelings for Shauna. But she’d ended it a while ago, citing concerns about his job and family attachments. Cat thought it was more about her loss of Kevin and not wanting to go through that again. “Shauna, if you asked him, he’d leave the family for you. I’m sure of it.”

“I wouldn’t ask that of him or anyone. You shouldn’t have to change who you are when you become a couple. It should be easy. Like you and Seth.” She turned and looked at me.

“Whatever Seth and I are, easy is not one of them. We had a late dinner last night together. It was comfortable. We haven’t had anything close to comfortable like that since he left on his last deployment.” Cat finished her coffee and put a paper towel in the empty cup. “I’m going to go write. Do you want to go to Lucy Johnson’s with me later this morning?”

Shauna shook her head. “I’ve got too much to get done, but I’ll make a care package for her. Soups, bread, and a lot of sweets. You never know what you want when you’re grieving.”

Shauna knew more than most about grieving. She’d helped Cat deal with Michael’s death, which was more emotional than Cat had expected since they’d been divorced at the time. And then Shauna had lost her fiancé, Kevin, who had promised her the moon, including giving her Snow, her coal black horse. Shauna needed an uncomplicated relationship. Any relationship with Dante wouldn’t be uncomplicated.

“Thanks, I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” Cat didn’t say any of the things she was thinking, but she decided she was going to watch Shauna and Dante closely. Maybe there was a way to get them together, somehow.

Cat didn’t run into any of the writers on her way up to her writing office. She had planned on moving her office over to the other wing when Seth completed the remodel, but she loved how close it was to her room. Her work commute, not counting going downstairs for coffee was steps, not over an hour like it had been in California when she’d taught English.

She was lucky and she knew it. Now it was time to write the books that allowed her to continue to be lucky and support the retreat.

A knock on her door took her out of the world-building she was doing at the magic academy she’d now been writing for several books. Maybe she should teach a session on writing a series. She loved writing connected books because the town and characters became friends as she continued to write books set in the same area. And when readers became invested in the series, they continued to read.

Which was a win/win for all involved. Including her publisher.

Shauna poked her head into the room. “Hey, I wanted to let you know I made chicken tortellini soup for lunch. It’s on the stove, staying warm. I need to run out for a few things at the store. I’d go shopping tonight, but I’m planning on having a margarita or two at dinner.”

Cat glanced at her computer clock. “I didn’t realize it was so late already. I need to get going if I’m going to see Lucy today.”

“The basket is already packed and in the SUV. I’ll take my car shopping. It hasn’t been out in days.” Shauna started to leave, then paused. “Anything I can get you?”

Cat assured her she was fine, and Shauna closed the door after her. Cat closed up her document and turned off the computer. Then she checked her to-do list for the day that she’d written out yesterday.

She had planned on visiting her uncle too, but she’d have to put that off until tomorrow since she’d gotten lost in the manuscript. She needed to find out if Grace had shown up yet. Uncle Pete would be here for Sunday night dinner. At least she assumed he would. He rarely missed Sunday dinner and Cat loved how they were keeping the tradition alive, even after her parents had left the state to retire somewhere warmer.

Cat left everything in her office except her wallet and keys and headed downstairs. She needed to get this visit over and done with before it was time to get ready for dinner. She grabbed her coat and headed out the front door to the SUV. Not only had Shauna packed the food basket in the front seat, she must have warmed up the vehicle’s engine and cleaned the windows. Or Seth had.

Somehow, everything got done. The writing retreats, her deadlines, and the house stuff were all handled between the three of them. Cat felt gratitude for the hands that took care of her, even when she thought she was doing it all herself.

As she drove past Dante’s house, she saw several cars there. Was he having his staff get him ready for another week here in Aspen Hills? Or was he getting ready to head back to Boston? Running a crime syndicate must be hard enough. Changing one to be mostly legit? That must be overwhelming. The good news was that when there was money, sometimes it just fed itself and made more money without doing much.

Banks paid interest on money that just sat there. Stocks rose and fell in value. Someone had known a lot about financial tools to be able to pull off a scam on the college. And they either didn’t know about the mob connection or didn’t care. Was that same person the one who had framed Dante for the theft?

Maybe this was one mystery that would stay unsolved. The mob tended to take care of their own policing. People paid for any indiscretion against the connected families. It might not have been immediate like it had been in the past. But it happened.

A car was in the driveway at the Johnson’s so Cat pulled up behind it and parked. It wasn’t Lucy’s car since Cat had seen that on Thursday when Lucy had decided to run away. But it seemed familiar. Was this Kim’s car? She grabbed the food basket, which was surprisingly heavy, and headed to the front door where she rang the bell.

No answer.

She rang again. This basket was getting heavy. What had Shauna sent Lucy, a side of beef?

Cat reached out to knock and the door opened under the pressure. She could hear voices back in the area where the kitchen was if she remembered the house from her last visit. “Hello? Lucy? It’s Cat Latimer.”

She followed the voices and found Lucy and Roxie Scarsdale arguing.

“I don’t care if you did all the work,” Lucy screamed at her. “Allen was in charge of the department and he deserved the credit. He handled all those donors with kid gloves.”

“All I said,” Roxie looked at me, pleading in her eyes. “Oh, look, Lucy, you have another visitor. You’re Cat Latimer, right?”

Cat smiled and set the basket of food on the counter. “Hi, Lucy. Roxie. My business partner who’s an amazing cook made you up a basket of food. It can be frozen or just put in the fridge. Where do you want it?”

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t really care. I need to do laundry. No one’s done laundry since Allen died. I need to make sure the maid is coming tomorrow. Just put it in the freezer so it doesn’t go bad.”

Cat watched as Lucy ran up the stairs. Then she started unpacking the food. Shellshocked, Roxie helped put it away.

“I just came by to see how she was doing and she laid into me about how unappreciated Allen was at the department. I’m not the one getting all the glory. She should be yelling at Mike Tosan, not me.” Roxie put the last quart of soup in the freezer. “I only came over because Kim said Lucy needed company. I’m leaving now. You can deal with the psycho.”

“She’s probably just overcome with emotions,” Cat said as she set the last of the cookies out on the counter where Lucy might find them. “I parked behind you. Let me tell Lucy I need to leave, and then I’ll move my car so you can get out.”

“I’m not staying inside the house. I was genuinely afraid she would pull a knife on me just now. I’ll wait in my car.” Roxie headed out to the foyer where she’d left her coat and Cat went into the hallway to find the master bedroom or the laundry room since that was where Lucy had said she was heading.

“Lucy? Hey, I need to head out,” Cat called as she walked through the hallway and opened the doors. Finally, she found the bedroom. Clothes were all over the place. But something sparkly was on the bed and caught Cat’s eye. She stepped into the room and found a red sequined dress with a large black stain on it.

Was this the dress that Cat had seen in the picture? She needed to see the pictures that Dante had sent her to see if Lucy had been at the event, in that dress. She looked around and pulled out her phone, quickly snapping a picture of the dress.

“What are you doing in here?” Lucy asked behind her.

Cat turned, tucking the phone in her coat pocket. “I was looking for you. You said you needed to do laundry. That dress though, I think you need to take it to the dry cleaners. Sequins are so hard to wash.”

Lucy’s gaze went over to the dress. Then she walked over and picked it up, holding it up against her body as she looked in the mirror. “I loved this dress. I lend it out for one night and it comes back with this stain. I’m never lending out anything ever again.”

“I get it. I don’t loan out my books anymore, just for that same reason,” Cat moved toward the door. “Anyway, I left a bunch of cookies out on the counter for you if people stop by. And there’s soup in the freezer if you get hungry. I think Roxie’s leaving too.”

“She’s a horrible person. I think Allen was sleeping with her. Then she comes here to tell me she’s sorry?” Lucy was still staring at herself or the dress, Cat couldn’t tell.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Lucy,” Cat said, then she hurried down the hall and out of the house. She didn’t stop until she was in the car with the doors locked. Lucy might not have killed Allen, but she wasn’t dealing with grief well and Cat didn’t think it was just not eating. Something had broken in Lucy’s head.

She dialed her uncle as she pulled out of the driveway and told him all about her two visits. “I don’t think she’s safe alone in the house. Or with people. Can you call someone?”

He assured her he would handle it. Then he asked about the dress. “Do you think she was making up the story about loaning it out?”

Cat wanted to say yes. That Lucy was the killer and the situation would be over and done with. But she didn’t think that was true.