Read Online Kingdom by the Sea (Romantic Suspense) by Jill Winters - Free Book Online Page B

“Who's ‘we’?”
    “You
and me—and any other interested parties you don't need to worry about.  You
just do your part, and you'll get your piece.” 
    Michael
rolled his eyes.  God, he really hated working with a creep like Lucius.  But
when he was approached with this opportunity, it was just too necessary.  Of
all the times to be tapped for a thing like this, Lucius had appeared just
after Michael had cost a friend a lot of money.  Lost the money , was a
more accurate way to put it.  Here, his friend, Caleb, had trusted him—with
money that had been hard-earned—and Michael had miscalculated.
    No
point thinking about that again now.  Though it was hard not to play it back in
his mind considering that this costly mistake was Michael's primary motivation
on this job. 
    Either
way, he really shouldn't complain.  This con was unlike any other he had
attempted; it had a straightforward path and promised to be a relatively easy
gig.  If Lucius would just stop panting, hovering, and calling his cell,
Michael would be able to get shit done in peace.
    “It's
been One Fucking Day,” he said now with steely calm.  “Go back to Boston and let me
work.  Or—you can always go back to your employer and tell him that
you're taking over from here.  Your choice.”
    Lucius
paused.  But ultimately wasn't baited.  “Fine,” he mumbled.  “But I'll be back
soon.”

Chapter Twelve
    Tinsdale
was a silent kind of quiet.  The building was actually a house that had been
converted into a library.  Nicole had made arrangements to meet up with Ginger
today and start going through the materials for the Harvest Parade collage. 
    The
front door opened onto a paisley patterned rug and Nicole entered.  Before her
stood a large staircase, cordoned off by a velvet rope.  Down a step to her
left was a seating area of stately furniture.
    “Hello,”
Nicole called out after a moment.
    She
heard a door shut somewhere and the shuffling of footsteps. 
    Then
Ginger Bloomingdale appeared above her.  Her sturdy black shoes with rubbery
square heels descended the steps.  “Good morning,” she said in that soft-spoken
way of hers.  Ginger's voice seemed naturally to be just above a whisper.  “I'm
so glad you could make it.”
    “Sure,
I'm happy to help, especially since this was important to my aunt.”  She let
her voice drift off before the conversation became trite or maudlin, or
tediously both. 
    “It
really will help.  Otherwise Hazel or I would have to finish the lighthouse
portion of the collage ourselves.”  She unhooked the velvet rope and motioned,
a little shyly, for Nicole to follow her upstairs. 
    The
second floor of Tinsdale was an open stretch of green and gold carpet, with
wooden tables and bookshelves the color of butterscotch.  A thick banister
curved around in the center, leaving an open view to down below.  The place
smelled faintly of lemon, like wood polish.
    Ginger
led the way to a table that was beside a window, nestled between two tall
bookcases.  Several bound folders were stacked on top.  “I laid out some items
on loan from the Chatham Historical Society that pertain to the lighthouse. 
Let me know if you need more; I'll see what I can do to help.  Thank you
again,” she finished sweetly. 
    Struck
by the difference between Ginger and her sister, Nicole blurted, “By the way,
is it just you and Hazel in that house?”  She hadn't specifically asked if either
was married, but that was what she wondered.  
    For a
second, Ginger's eyes blinked wildly.  Then she said, “Now—yes.  Hazel used to
live there with her husband, Walt.  But he...” 
    She
paused, pressing her lips together in a meaningful way. 
    “Walt
was lost at sea nearly fifteen years ago.” 
    “Oh...I'm
sorry, I didn't realize...” Nicole began lamely. 
    “Of
course not,” Ginger assured her softly, “and it was a long time ago.  I lived
in New
York at that time with our other sister,