Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates (distant reading .txt) 📗

at all.” James scooped Fluffy into his arms as I accepted a bag containing the gathered-up food. “I like dogs. Come on, girl.”

I glared at Charles as we passed his shelf, and he smirked.

“Charlene told me you live over the library,” James said as we climbed the stairs. “Nice.”

“It is. I like it a lot, but it’ll soon be time to move on.” We reached the fourth level, and I put the bag on the floor and dug out my key. I unlocked the door and went into the Lighthouse Aerie. James followed me and put Fluffy down. “Here you go, little lady. No trying to escape.” Fluffy immediately began exploring her surroundings, the pink leash trailing behind her.

“Is this your first visit to America?” I asked.

“I was born here,” James said.

“You were? Really?”

“Yup. In Nags Head, as it happens.”

“Your accent’s completely English.”

“I didn’t live here for long. My father was American, and he died when I was a baby. My mum was a PhD student studying American constitutional history; after my father died, she moved back to the UK to be close to her own parents.”

“Do you visit often?”

“Not for many years. Mum brought me here a few times to visit with my grandparents when I was a kid, but I haven’t been back since they died. My father was almost fifty when I was born, and he was an only child. Mum remarried not long after she moved back to the UK, so once my natural father’s parents were gone, she had no reason to come here again. She enjoyed her time when she lived here, and she still talks a lot about it. Natural enough, I guess, that I wanted to learn more. Thus my interest in the history and legends of the Outer Banks. In a way, it’s my history and my legends.”

“That’s interesting. It makes a field of research so much more special, doesn’t it, when you have a personal connection?”

“It does.”

I wasn’t just being polite. I was, to be completely honest, being nosy. I’d seen Evangeline’s powerful reaction on meeting this man, and I was wondering what had caused that. James said that before this research trip, he hadn’t been to America since he was a child. Was that true? “Did you hear about what happened in town last night?”

“You mean that guy being killed? I did. I heard it was the husband of the woman who was in here yesterday morning. Your friend?”

“Friend of my family.”

“Tough. Do the police know who did it?”

“Not as far as I know.”

“Charlene said you’ve worked with the police before?”

“I wouldn’t say ‘worked with.’ I’ve been of help to them in the past. I—” I looked directly at him. “I have a way of finding things out. Things about people.”

He shifted his feet, clearly losing interest in this conversation. “If you’re okay, I’ll be off.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Is Daisy going to lunch with you?” I tried to keep my voice casual, as if I didn’t really care.

“No. She’s in Manteo today, having a look at some family’s letters they found in a forgotten old box when they wrapped up Granny’s estate.” He chuckled. “All I can say is, thank heavens for pack rats. A researcher’s dream. Cheers.” James shut the door on his way out.

I let out a breath. I was worried for my friend Charlene. She’d recently told me about a bad relationship she’d had a few years ago with a married man. I didn’t want to see her making the same mistake again. She’d told me, that other time, that her heart was fully capable of overriding the Beware! warnings coming from her brain. It can be awfully hard not to follow your heart where it leads.

Fluffy sniffed around the kitchen. “Try to stay out of trouble,” I told her before going downstairs and back to work.

Louise Jane came in as I was shutting down the computer. “Closing time!” I called.

“I know when it’s closing time, Lucy. I’m meeting James and Daisy. We’re going out for a drink. They’re coming across some interesting things, and Daisy’s anxious to tell me about it.”

“I’m sure she is.”

“Sarcasm does not become you, Lucy. Unlike some people, James and Daisy are experienced enough academics to know the value of local stories. As a professor of American history, Daisy has a deep interest in—hi, Teddy.”

“Oh, good. I’m not late,” the new arrival said. “We’re going for a drink, Lucy. Would you like to join us? Charlene’s meeting us in town, so we’re going to be a jolly old group.”

“No thanks. Connor and I have an appointment to look at a house.”

Louise Jane’s eyes flashed. “Is that so?” she said, ever so casually. “I wonder what Bertie’s going to do with your apartment.”

“It’s been empty before,” Theodore said. “Not many people want to live this far out of town, and the space is very small. Never mind the lack of an elevator.”

“I’m well aware of that, thank you, Teddy. Before Lucy arrived, I suggested to Bertie she rent it out. For the extra income.”

“She can’t do that,” I said. “The place doesn’t have its own entrance; only a library employee can be in here after hours.”

The desk phone rang, and I reached for it as Louise Jane explained to Theodore that some people could be trusted around library property.

“I’m sorry, Lucy,” Connor said. “I got a call from the realtor. A firm and final offer’s been made on that house, so there’s no point in us seeing it.”

“Oh no. I liked the look of that one so much.”

“And the price was right. She said she’ll keep looking.”

“I’ve been invited to go out for drinks with Charlene’s researchers, Theodore, and Louise Jane,” I said. “Do you want to do that?”

“If you do, sure. I’ve some stuff to finish up here, so I’ll meet you in town. Send me a text when you know where you’re going.”

“Will do.” I’d turned to face the wall to make the call, and I started when I