seem very happy.”
“We are, thanks.”
“I have to say I envy you. Right now, Nathan’s putting all his energy into the kids’ camp. He’s told me as soon as he reaches that goal, he’ll have time for our relationship, and I told him I’m behind him one hundred percent.” She leaned forward. “You know most people think I’m all business. I am all business. I could really help with that end of the camp. I really want Nathan to succeed.”
So finding the answer to the riddle was more important to Fiona than I first thought. “I’m sure we’ll find some answers at the chateau.”
“That’s great, Madeline, thanks.”
I expected her to say good-by. Instead, she sat down in the armchair and twisted her hands in her lap. This was the first time I’d seen her in any way unsure. She looked like a terrier confronted with a high wall.
“Was there something else, Fiona?”
“This might be too personal.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Personal for me, I mean.” She sighed as if she’d made a decision. “Does Nathan seem to show any interest in Tori? Someone told me they were an item years ago. I always thought she had eyes only for Aaron, but apparently, she was a bit of a flirt.”
I thought everyone in town of a certain age had gone to high school together, and I couldn’t imagine Tori as being flirtatious. “I don’t think they’re on very good terms, otherwise, he would’ve gone to the chateau to check the portraits himself, right?”
“I need to be certain. If he still cares for her, I’m not going to waste my time.”
“I’m assuming you didn’t go to Celosia High School?”
“I moved here about five years ago. Like you, I wanted my own agency in a small town. Maybe I’ve just heard rumors, but I’d hate to put a lot of effort into a relationship that wasn’t going to work.”
I hadn’t seen any evidence that Nathan was longing for Tori Satterfield, or Fiona, for that matter. He seemed set on winning his fortune and setting up camp. I almost asked Fiona if she wanted to hire me to find out and reconsidered. “Does Nathan know how you feel?”
“As I said, we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of weeks. It’s too soon for me to declare myself. I want to know what I’m getting into.”
You’re really interested in Nathan’s inheritance, I wanted to say. “I think you need to talk to him. Maybe he’s ready for a more serious relationship. Maybe he’s not. But if he’s honest, he’ll tell you.”
“I hope he’ll be honest with me. But you could let me know if he says anything about Tori, couldn’t you?”
“It would be better if you asked him,” I said. “He’s my client.”
“That’s not much help.”
“I’m sorry.”
She got up. “Well, thanks, anyway.”
I could tell she wanted to say, “Thanks for nothing.”
***
I’d already planned to meet Jerry at Georgia’s after my school visit. His new schedule gave him the rest of the afternoon off.
“Which is very convenient, because I need to go to Parkland and see Warwick,” I said.
Jerry gathered a stack of music books from the counter. “Great! I can look for a watch.”
“I really need you to run interference.”
Jerry grinned. “Doesn’t Milton know you’re married?”
“That probably won’t deter him. And we need to be back here in time for PTA.”
He held the door for me and we went out. “PTA? I’ll bet that’s something you never thought you’d do. What’s the occasion? Were you so popular they had to have you back right away?”
“After I talked with Tori Satterfield, I went to Celosia Elementary to speak with Rachel Sigmon’s art classes. While I was there, one of the teachers had what looks like a fatal heart attack.”
“And you were on the scene! You
are
the Grim Reaper.”
“I want to make sure it was an accident. Mrs. Lever was universally hated and feared.”
“Like Mrs. Meerbaum.”
We both shuddered. We’d spent a miserable semester with Mrs.
“We are, thanks.”
“I have to say I envy you. Right now, Nathan’s putting all his energy into the kids’ camp. He’s told me as soon as he reaches that goal, he’ll have time for our relationship, and I told him I’m behind him one hundred percent.” She leaned forward. “You know most people think I’m all business. I am all business. I could really help with that end of the camp. I really want Nathan to succeed.”
So finding the answer to the riddle was more important to Fiona than I first thought. “I’m sure we’ll find some answers at the chateau.”
“That’s great, Madeline, thanks.”
I expected her to say good-by. Instead, she sat down in the armchair and twisted her hands in her lap. This was the first time I’d seen her in any way unsure. She looked like a terrier confronted with a high wall.
“Was there something else, Fiona?”
“This might be too personal.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Personal for me, I mean.” She sighed as if she’d made a decision. “Does Nathan seem to show any interest in Tori? Someone told me they were an item years ago. I always thought she had eyes only for Aaron, but apparently, she was a bit of a flirt.”
I thought everyone in town of a certain age had gone to high school together, and I couldn’t imagine Tori as being flirtatious. “I don’t think they’re on very good terms, otherwise, he would’ve gone to the chateau to check the portraits himself, right?”
“I need to be certain. If he still cares for her, I’m not going to waste my time.”
“I’m assuming you didn’t go to Celosia High School?”
“I moved here about five years ago. Like you, I wanted my own agency in a small town. Maybe I’ve just heard rumors, but I’d hate to put a lot of effort into a relationship that wasn’t going to work.”
I hadn’t seen any evidence that Nathan was longing for Tori Satterfield, or Fiona, for that matter. He seemed set on winning his fortune and setting up camp. I almost asked Fiona if she wanted to hire me to find out and reconsidered. “Does Nathan know how you feel?”
“As I said, we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of weeks. It’s too soon for me to declare myself. I want to know what I’m getting into.”
You’re really interested in Nathan’s inheritance, I wanted to say. “I think you need to talk to him. Maybe he’s ready for a more serious relationship. Maybe he’s not. But if he’s honest, he’ll tell you.”
“I hope he’ll be honest with me. But you could let me know if he says anything about Tori, couldn’t you?”
“It would be better if you asked him,” I said. “He’s my client.”
“That’s not much help.”
“I’m sorry.”
She got up. “Well, thanks, anyway.”
I could tell she wanted to say, “Thanks for nothing.”
***
I’d already planned to meet Jerry at Georgia’s after my school visit. His new schedule gave him the rest of the afternoon off.
“Which is very convenient, because I need to go to Parkland and see Warwick,” I said.
Jerry gathered a stack of music books from the counter. “Great! I can look for a watch.”
“I really need you to run interference.”
Jerry grinned. “Doesn’t Milton know you’re married?”
“That probably won’t deter him. And we need to be back here in time for PTA.”
He held the door for me and we went out. “PTA? I’ll bet that’s something you never thought you’d do. What’s the occasion? Were you so popular they had to have you back right away?”
“After I talked with Tori Satterfield, I went to Celosia Elementary to speak with Rachel Sigmon’s art classes. While I was there, one of the teachers had what looks like a fatal heart attack.”
“And you were on the scene! You
are
the Grim Reaper.”
“I want to make sure it was an accident. Mrs. Lever was universally hated and feared.”
“Like Mrs. Meerbaum.”
We both shuddered. We’d spent a miserable semester with Mrs.
Similar Books
