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“I keep thinking we need to come up with a name for the meeting space,” Jess said. “‘Meeting space’ is too bland. I’m looking forward to Daphne’s class. I know zip about costume design, so I won’t be one of the students and experts in attendance.”
“We want to make sure we have at least fifty people,” Ruby said. “Ava thinks we’ll get closer to seventy.”
Mark shook his head. “It won’t be that many.”
He was a cut-to-the-chase type, Kylie knew from previous encounters with him. From what she’d seen of Russ Colton so far, she suspected the two of them would get along well. She’d always had the feeling that Mark and Jess looked out for her, alone up the road in her rented house and now at Moss Hill.
The waitress arrived at their table, and they put in their orders—turkey clubs for Mark and Russ, the tuna melt for Ruby and the house-made broccoli-cheddar soup for both Jess and Kylie. Kylie didn’t trust herself to dive into a club sandwich, given how self-conscious and keyed up she was. It wasn’t just having a private investigator at Moss Hill or the unusual lunch. It was being around this many people at all. She was out of practice.
“Ava will be here on Friday,” Ruby said. “She’s as excited as I am, but she couldn’t get away from school. A bunch of her theater friends are coming up from New York to see Daphne. Same with my friends in Boston.”
“Are they staying in the area?” Russ asked.
“Some. Not many options here in town, but plenty within an easy drive. But we timed the class so people could make it a day trip from New York or Boston. A longer one from New York, obviously, but doable.” Ruby seemed unable to sit still, a bundle of raw energy and nerves. “We are thrilled to have Daphne here. We loved getting to know her better over the winter. I’m dying to see Hollywood and where she lives. She says Ava and I have a standing invitation to visit, but I don’t know if she’s just being polite.”
“If she said it, she meant it,” Russ said, nothing casual about him as he watched Ruby fidget and squirm.
Ruby turned to Mark. “How’s everything at Moss Hill?”
“Fine. Why?”
But she swung around to Russ. “No problems with your apartment?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “None.”
“That’s good,” Ruby said half under her breath. “Good, good.”
Jess, seated at the far end of the table, leaned forward. “Is something on your mind, Ruby?”
She didn’t respond at once. She took a breath and fixed her gaze on Russ. “We could have a situation brewing with Saturday.”
Kylie went still. Was this why she was invited to lunch? She felt a subtle change in Russ as he studied Ruby. “What kind of situation?” he asked.
“Problems with codes, permits, fire extinguishers. I don’t know. Not my area of expertise.”
“Problems at Moss Hill, you mean?” Jess asked, clearly shocked.
Ruby nodded. “My mother says someone is spreading rumors around town about possible safety violations and cut corners.”
Mark bristled visibly. “There are no problems at Moss Hill.”
Jess gasped. “Who is spreading these rumors? Has anyone said anything directly to your mother?”
“You know Mom,” Ruby said. “If a blade of grass has a complaint about a lawn mower, she’ll hear about it. She’s tuned in to town gossip. This will be the first event at the mill. All we need is some crank causing trouble. Ava and I aren’t professional meeting planners, but we’ve done everything possible to dot every i and cross every t. Mark, are you sure—”
“I’m sure,” he said stiffly. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“What if a contractor cut a corner you don’t know about?”
Jess touched Ruby’s shoulder. “You’re getting spooled up.”
“I know. I am. I’ve been stewing since Mom told me about the rumors last night. I’m worried someone’s trying to sabotage us.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Jess asked.
“Because people can be jerks,” Ruby snapped.
Kylie said nothing. Russ Colton hadn’t said a word since his initial question to Ruby, either. The meals arrived. Ruby looked as if she regretted ordering a sandwich. Jess snatched two fries off Mark’s plate before trying her soup. Kylie hadn’t expected the conversation to turn to news of unpleasant rumors. Was that why Ruby had invited her to lunch? But Kylie couldn’t see how she could help unravel what, if anything, was going on.
Ruby stared at her sandwich. “What if someone doesn’t want Daphne here—or just doesn’t want Moss Hill to host events?”
Mark lifted a triangle of his club sandwich. “A mixed-purpose space was always in the plans for Moss Hill. It’s no surprise to anyone we’ll be hosting a variety of events there. As far as I can see, people are excited about having that kind of space in town. There have been no problems or complaints.”
“Not everyone is excited, obviously,” Ruby said. “My mother says she has no idea who is behind the rumors.”
“Is this sort of talk unusual around here?” Russ asked.
“Knights Bridge is a small town,” Mark said. “People talk. They have their grudges. But nasty rumors like this? I’d say it’s unusual.”
Ruby seemed to make an effort to try a small bite of her sandwich. “I haven’t lived here full-time since I started college, but I can’t think of anyone who would want to sabotage a class by a Hollywood icon who’s donating her time...” She put down her sandwich and sank against the back of her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “I didn’t sleep at all last night. I’m steamed, obviously, but I’m also this close to totally freaking out.”
“Just because something is annoying doesn’t mean it’s problematic,” Jess said.
Mark nodded. “I promise you, Ruby. These rumors are completely unfounded.”
Kylie tried her soup. It was thick, creamy and cheesy, with chunks of fresh broccoli. She understood now why Ruby’s text had struck her as off. Ruby had arranged lunch to reassure herself nothing was wrong at Moss Hill that could jeopardize Daphne Stewart’s appearance in Knights Bridge. Kylie lived there. It made sense to invite her to lunch in case she’d heard or seen anything that might indicate trouble for Saturday.
Russ finished a triangle of his sandwich and wiped his fingers on a napkin as he studied Ruby. “Do the rumors include Daphne or just Moss Hill?”
“Concern about Daphne and the people attending the master class.”
“What kind of concern?” Russ asked.
Ruby sniffled, calmer. “That there’ll be an accident, and people will get hurt because of the cut corners or bought-off contractors or inspectors. Whatever.”
Mark sucked in a breath. He seemed to take her high emotions in stride but clearly wasn’t pleased with this development. His wife of less than a year was pensive. “Who’s on your short list of possible jerks who could spread such a stupid rumor?” Jess asked.
“No one,” Ruby said. “I haven’t heard anything negative about Daphne’s class. I don’t want these rumors to take on a life of their own. I hope I’m not making things worse by mentioning them.”
“I’d rather have you speak up than keep this to yourself,” Mark said.
“Christopher Sloan said he’d stop by Moss Hill and talk to you.”
“Anytime.” Mark turned to Russ. “Feel free to join us.”
Russ gave a curt nod. “Thanks.”
“I just need reassurance,” Ruby said. “I know ten-to-one this is small-town grumping and griping, creating drama where there is none—someone looking for attention. You know, the arsonist who sets a fire and then sits back and watches the flames.”
Jess dipped her spoon into her soup. “In this case, the fire won’t catch and spread because there’s nothing to feed it. There are no problems at Moss Hill.”
Kylie glanced at Russ, but his expression hadn’t changed. His deep blue eyes settled on her. “What about you, Kylie? Have you heard any rumors?”
She ignored his undertone of suspicion, assuming it came with the territory of being an investigator. She shook her head. “No, but I doubt I would. I didn’t know about this class until yesterday.”
“Kylie keeps to herself,” Ruby said, the slightest edge to her voice, if only because she was so agitated. “The artist at work. Deadlines. Am I right, Kylie?”
“Fortunately, yes,” she said, forcing a smile and seeing no need to explain further.
Ruby clearly wasn’t satisfied. “If you like your solitude and need it for your work, why move into Moss Hill? You had to know you wouldn’t have the place to yourself. The apartments and offices would get rented, the meeting space would get booked and you’d run into Mark’s staff, groundskeepers, cleaners, security guards—all sorts.”
Kylie decided she’d had enough of her soup. “In a way, the activity at Moss Hill is one of its attractions after my months on my own up the road. My apartment is quiet. I can be removed from the activity around me whenever I need to be.”
“I’m sorry,” Ruby blurted. “I didn’t mean to put you on the defensive. I sound like such a bitch. I’m really on edge, I guess. I want everything to be perfect on Saturday. I’m sure there’s nothing to these rumors. Kylie, you’re welcome to come to the class. You and Daphne probably have a lot in common.”
“Thanks,” Kylie said. “I’d like that.”
“Are you on a tight deadline?” Jess asked.
“Not at the moment.” Kylie didn’t explain further. She appreciated the change in subject, but not to that particular subject. “It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. April showers bring May flowers, though, right?”
Russ picked up his coffee. “So they say.”
Kylie sensed he was aware she’d been borderline desperate to keep the subject from shifting to her work. Fortunately, the weather was ever a source of interest in New England, and everyone else at the table seemed relieved to move on from talk of Moss Hill and Daphne Stewart. Jess mentioned that it didn’t rain much in Southern California, and the rest of the lunch passed amicably and innocuously. By the time they considered dessert, Ruby was calmer, if still bothered by the rumors. Kylie was under no illusions that Mark Flanagan had dismissed them, either—and she knew Russ Colton hadn’t. Not a chance.
* * *
Russ Colton was riding back to Moss Hill with her. Kylie adjusted to this fact as she got in her car with him. She’d thought Mark or Ruby might give him a ride, or he’d want to take a walk in the village and check it out, stretch his legs after his long overnight flight, then find his own way back—but none of that had happened.
He strapped his seat belt on next to her in the little car. He oozed masculine confidence, but it didn’t strike Kylie as deliberate. It was natural. A part of who he was. Over lunch, she’d tried to assess him as an objective observer. He wouldn’t do for Cinderella’s or Snow White’s prince. Maybe a Badger. She could take part of his last name. Colt Badger, PI.
Now that could be fun.
She pulled onto the side street where Smith’s was located and came to the intersection with Main Street, aware of her passenger’s dark blue eyes on her. “You don’t seem peeved at Ruby O’Dunn for implying you could be the one spreading rumors about Moss Hill,” he said.
“I didn’t take her comments that way. She’s just nervous about Saturday.”
Russ didn’t respond right away. “I get the impression people around here have you pegged as a reclusive, eccentric artist. Are you?”
She eased the car onto Main Street. “I just had lunch with four people. I didn’t tell you to find your own way to town. That’s not being reclusive.”
“We are here in your little car together, that’s true. Self-interest at work? Did you suck it up and go to lunch so you could find out more information about what’s going on at Moss Hill this week, with Daphne arriving and me here?”
Kylie could feel her tension rising but tried not to show it. Russ Colton was a pro. He knew what he was doing. He knew how to elicit information from people. She drove past the common, sunny and green on the perfect spring day. “It would be a simple solution if I were the reclusive, eccentric artist who doesn’t like the idea of dozens of people showing up in her creative space.” She kept her tone as neutral as she could manage. “If I’m the one spreading these rumors, you talk to me, reassure me, threaten to take away my crayons, and all is well. An unknown rumor-monger and potential saboteur is more worrisome. I’m not a threat to anyone.”
“You weren’t messing with the fire extinguishers or something like that when I caught you at the mill this morning?”
“You didn’t ‘catch’ me. I just happened to be there the same time you were.”
“You ran when you saw me.”
She glanced at him. “Wouldn’t you?”
He grinned. “I’d buy me a beer.”
“It was too early for beer,” she said, taking the turn onto the back road to Moss Hill.
“Are you being straightforward or combative with me?”
“Maybe both.” She tightened her grip on the wheel. “This is becoming one of those days I wish I could start over.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t badger you when you’re kind enough to drive me to lunch and back.”
His tone didn’t hold a single note of contrition. He wasn’t sorry. He was doing his job. The apology was merely a tactical maneuver. “Why don’t you just tell me how I got on your radar? Was it running when I saw you, being in the lobby in the first place—or was it lunch and these rumors?”
“Now, that’s combative,” he said.
“I consider it straightforward.”
He settled back in his seat. “Here’s my take. You were blindsided by the news of Daphne’s class on Saturday and an investigator about to show up on your turf. You calmed down when you remembered Julius Hartley. Then you saw me, and I’m not Julius—not by a long shot—and Ruby O’Dunn invited you to lunch out of the blue. You guessed something was up and decided to find out what.” He paused. “Am I right?”
“I don’t consider Moss Hill my turf.”
“I’m staying across the hall from you. I’d consider that my turf.”
Meaning she was on his turf. His bottom line, maybe. “I’m coming up for air after a series of tight deadlines. I only expected to stay in Knights Bridge for a few months when I moved here. Now it’s been ten months, and I’m trying to be more social and meet people in town.”
“That’s it, huh?”
Obviously he didn’t believe her. “Maybe I knew you were jet-lagged, and I thought I’d be a good neighbor and accompany you to lunch. Welcome you to town. Make up for our bad start.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” He shifted his long legs, clearly having difficulty getting comfortable. “I’ve been in little seats too many of the past twenty-four hours.”
“You didn’t demand a first-class seat?”
“Coach is fine with me.”
Kylie glanced at the river, quiet and shallow, without any steep drops away from the dam. “I haven’t seen anyone sneaking around Moss Hill, in case that was your next question,” she said. “I don’t keep track of all the comings and goings. Probably not even most of them.”
“Does Mark Flanagan have enemies?” Russ asked.
She’d expected the question. “Not that I’m aware of. It’s my understanding that Mark grew up in Knights Bridge. People in town know him and like him, from what I can tell. But I’m not the best one to ask, since I’m new here.”
“Where did you grow up?”
“East of here. Near Mt. Wachusetts.”
“Any enemies?”
