necklace, and leather boots. Moonlight and Thor were in the kitchen waiting for breakfast so I popped open a can of food for each of them, let Thor out quickly, and headed to Muddy Water Coffee House.
Like everything else on Main Street, Muddy Water was in walking distance so I left the Jeep in the drive and hoofed it. My phone blinked three new messages. One was from Leo, telling me to call him back. One was from my boss, Shea Parker, telling me to get my ass to work and one was unknown. No message.
Cinnamon was already sitting at a table when I got there. The coffee house was set in an old 1800s bank, with fluffy couches and earth toned walls. I draped my jacket over a chair across from Cin and placed an order with Iris at the counter.
“You see that man over there?” Iris asked as she handed me a latte. Her reading glasses dangled from her neck.
I started to twist my head, but she whispered, “Don’t look.”
I swayed forward and asked, “Then how can I see him?”
Iris ignored me. “He’s been asking a lot of questions.”
“Like what?”
“About the town. About the tourism. About you.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Just little things. Like how long have you lived here. How old are you. Who your family is. What you do for a living.”
“Iris, you’re creeping me out.”
“I just thought you should know, honey. Never saw him in here before. He must have seen your picture in the paper. Now he’s sweet on you.” Iris made a kissy face.
“Don’t do that,” I said.
“Probably just a tourist.”
I took my coffee and scooted around the rope in front of the counter. The man in question was hunched over a mug near the window, reading the paper. He was wearing a baggy black suit, felt hat, and gloves. A wool coat was slung across his lap. I couldn’t see his face, just sunglasses and a mustache.
I flipped through my mental Rolodex to see if he seemed familiar. There was something about him that rang familiar. Bells were chiming in my ears telling me I knew this person, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out from where.
I made a note to pick up some pepper spray. Or maybe Thor.
Cin was going over her paperwork at the table.
“You think my premiums will go up?” she asked, only half joking.
“I don’t know. But hey, you were going to remodel anyway,” I pointed out.
“Yep. And I took out a big fat loan to cover it.” She gave a disgusted look.
“Ouch. Who was going to do the work?”
“I was leaning towards Eddie McAllister for the outdoor patio and stone fireplace.”
“Slow Eddie? He’s still in town?”
Cin nodded. “He’s a great mason and the city always approves him. I was waiting for other bids to filter in and Kirk was helping me sort through them.”
Kirk is Eddie’s brother. He’s also the city inspector and in a town with eighty percent of its buildings on the historic register, every job is subject to approval.
I sipped my coffee and glanced at Mr. baggy pants. I got the feeling he was eyeing me, but he buried his face in the paper quickly. “Why didn’t you just hire Chance?”
“Because although your high school sweetheart is a great carpenter, he’s not an expert in mason work. He was on the list for building out the new bar, though. Plus I was going to remodel and expand the bathrooms and re-finish the floors.”
I flitted my eyes to the man again. Cin caught me and followed my gaze.
“What’s that about?”
“Nothing,” I said. “What time are we supposed to meet the insurance agent?”
Cin looked at her watch. “Half an hour.”
“I’m just going to run and get Thor. I’ll be there ASAP,” I said, picking up my coat and coffee.
“You spoil that damn dog,” she said.
“So did you,” I said as I pushed through the door.
As I led Thor down the steps that trailed to Main Street, I could see my cousin waving her hands and yelling at a short, bald man with wire-rimmed glasses. I checked the clock on my phone. I was on