sheepish grin. “I fell asleep.” “Well, it’s no wonder.” Josh stepped closer. “You’ve been working so hard with the bake shop closing and the bed and breakfast starting up. Not to mention everything that happened surrounding Professor Linden’s murder.” Angie sighed. “You heard about the candy shop owner? Mr. Finch was killed.” Josh nodded. “That was a terrible shock.” “Did you hear Courtney and I found him?” Josh’s eyes widened. “What? You found him? Angie, I’m so sorry.” Angie loved the sincerity and caring in Josh’s voice. “Listen, do you have to get back right away? Can you have lunch with me? We’ve both been so busy. It would be nice to just sit and talk.” Angie’s long lashes fluttered over her blue eyes. “I’d like that.” She looked down at her jeans. “I’m not dressed for the restaurant though.” “The restaurant doesn’t open until later in the afternoon. We can eat lunch in the café.” Josh and Angie went into the resort’s cafe and took a table by the windows looking over the Atlantic Ocean. “How are things here? Have you cleared up the issues with the manager?” Angie sipped her ice water. Josh leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I don’t know. He talks a good game, but I’m not sure about him. He seems … distracted. He does unexpected things. He was out of touch with the resort for an entire day. No one knew where he was. He was supposed to be here. The assistant manager tried to call him, but he never picked up. He showed up the next day. Never gave a reason for his absence. I’ve discussed it with him, what our expectations are. There have been other things, too. Nothing is enough to remove him from the position, but if it keeps up, we might not have a choice.” “He came well-recommended?” “Yes, highly. But the guy working for us doesn’t seem like the one with the great recommendations and resume.” Josh looked across the room and nodded. “That’s him speaking with the hostess.” Angie glanced over. A tall, slender, man dressed in what appeared to be an expensive suit stood next to the hostess going over some papers. The man was middle-aged with dark brown hair. Some gray showed at his temples. “He looks very professional and polished.” “His name is Andrew Flynn. He’s worked all over the world. Davis and I thought we hit the jackpot getting a guy like this to run the resort. Now I’m not so sure.” Their meals arrived and the subject changed to other things. Angie enjoyed spending an hour with Josh. It almost made her forget why she had left the Victorian. Just as that thought entered her mind, her phone buzzed. “Go ahead,” Josh said. “Check it.” Angie lifted the phone from her pocket and looked at the text. Come home. “I need to get back.” Nervous tension made Angie’s heart pound. She wished her sister had sent a little more information than only a two word text.
Chapter 10 Angie jogged the miles from the point to the center of Sweet Cove and she slowed to a walk as she turned on to Beach Street. Her leg muscles were tight and her lungs burned. She realized she needed to get more regular exercise. By the time she climbed the Victorian’s front porch steps, her breathing continued to be quick and labored, but now the reason wasn’t because she had been running. Angie didn’t know what awaited her inside the house. Twice on her way home, she’d stopped and texted Ellie and Courtney, but neither one replied. Her heart hammered. Her stomach clenched with worry as she reached for the doorknob, turned it slowly, and tip-toed into the foyer. Angie looked into the living room and her heart jumped into her throat when saw Mr. Finch sprawled on the sofa. Her hand flew up to her mouth to stifle a gasp. A blanket haphazardly covered Finch and a cold compress lay across his forehead. What Angie could see of his face was ghostly pale. His eyes were closed. She thought he looked like he was