A Finder's Fee (8 page)

“H
ello, Dae.”

Dillon Guthrie was no doubt a bad man, but he looked more like a comic book superhero with his thick dark hair and square jaw. His icy blue eyes swept over the shop. Maybe he was making sure we were alone.

“Mr. Guthrie. Thanks for coming.” I admitted to being a little scared of him. He’d never done anything to me personally, but I had it on good faith that he was a killer, smuggler and thief.

“Why so formal?” He removed his gray wool coat and tossed it to the nervous-looking young man who closed the shop door then ran to catch the coat. “I thought we were through the courtship phase. You know me. I know you. Call me Dillon.”

I thought of him that way, when he wasn’t around. Face-to-face was a different story.

He sat on one of the wood chairs near the burgundy sofa. His suit and shoes might have been worth more than everything in the shop—except the bells.

“I got your email. What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to discuss some business with you. And there’s the little thing about my giant face on the water tower.”

He smiled at me like a shark might smile at its prey before swallowing it. “What’s the problem? You don’t like the artwork? I think they did a good job capturing your likeness. Think it’s too small?”

“You’ve been financing my mayoral campaign ads, haven’t you? I need you to stop. I don’t think it’s legal.”

“Legal?” He laughed. “Of course it’s legal. I’m your Super PAC. Anybody can pay for someone else’s campaign now. You have nothing to worry about. Not that you didn’t take care of it yourself. Getting your opponent framed for murder was brilliant.”

“I didn’t know the race car was down there. I was looking for something else.”

“Well, it was fortuitous then, wasn’t it? Looking for treasure? Did you find something? Is that part of the business aspect of this conversation?”

“In a manner of speaking.” I didn’t plan to let the conversation get away from my problem with him. “I appreciate that you were trying to help me with the election, but I can’t accept it.”

“Okay. I get your point. When I offered you cash for what you needed last year, you turned me down. I’m your friend. I didn’t want to see you lose.”

“I can take care of it myself, thanks.” I watched as he signaled the thin young man, who brought him a bottle of water.

“What else can I do for you?” He took a swallow of water and smiled at me. “Have you found the third bell?”

This was the part I hated most. “I need to raise some capital. It’s a lot for me—not something I can take out of the cash register.”

I told him about Kevin being fined and that I wanted to return the money to him. “What I’m proposing is selling you my bell from the St. Augustine monks. Of course, you can take yours with you too.”

He whistled. “For five thousand dollars? You and I both know that’s a steal. You must really love Brickman. What is it about him? Maybe the law enforcement connection—like your grandfather?”

That brought my chin up. I needed his help financially. I didn’t need him to tell me who I should and shouldn’t see. “That doesn’t matter. My personal life is personal. Will you help me or not?”

“I would rather spray-paint the
Mona Lisa
than take those bells away from you. You convinced me that the third one is coming your way. I’m not buying your bell, or taking mine. What I can do is loan you five thousand on account. You can pay me back when you’re ready or when we get the third bell.”

I thought about his proposal. I probably shouldn’t have, but I shouldn’t have been there trying to sell the bell to him in the first place. I was holding his property. It was worth a lot more than five thousand dollars. Maybe it would be okay this once to take advantage of his generosity.

Gramps or Kevin could never know this had happened. They would never understand. But my heart was lighter as I shook Dillon’s hand on the deal.

“Thanks. I really didn’t want to give up the bells.”

“Yeah. I figured as much. You’re transparent, Dae. Or it’s just that we think so much alike. Except for the streak of righteousness you have running through you. It’s probably just the way you were raised.”

The thin young man quickly got Dillon’s coat for him then held the door. “I’ll have the money to you right away. Cash, I think, if you’re comfortable with that. Checks leave such messy trails. See you later.”

I watched them leave and sank down on the sofa. With that problem solved, my next question was how to give Kevin five thousand dollars without him asking where it came from.

• • •

I
knew Kevin had his eye on an antique desk for his office,
but it was too pricey for him to fit it into his budget. Five thousand dollars. I spoke with the man from Charleston who was selling it, and he offered me a great deal.

Because I could pay cash, it was delivered late the next morning. I followed the truck to the Blue Whale in the golf cart, filled with a combination of excitement and dread. I wasn’t sure how Kevin would take this gift. He wouldn’t want it if he knew where the money had come from. I’d be stuck with an expensive desk I couldn’t use and an angry boyfriend.

Kevin came to the loading door at the back of the inn. He’d just finished unloading some supplies for the week. He was understandably surprised to see me there with the man from Charleston and the big desk.

“Is that what I think it is?” He grinned. “I don’t think it’s my birthday yet.”

“Lucky you, it doesn’t have to be.” I gave him a quick kiss and kept my tone light.

As the man was unstrapping the desk, Kevin walked me away from the dock. “This is kind of pricey, isn’t it?”

“I got a really good deal on it.” It wasn’t the truth—the seller wouldn’t take a penny less than the asking price of five thousand. But I hoped my little white lie would make Kevin feel better. “I knew you wanted it, so I jumped on it. I guess it’s your birthday, Fourth of July and Christmas present wrapped into one.”

“This is nothing to do with the fine from town, right? The desk was listed at five thousand dollars—exactly the price of the fine. No coincidence there?”

“Maybe a little one.” I hugged him. “I wanted to say thank you for everything. I hope you like it.”

He searched my eyes for several long seconds as though he might be able to fathom whether I was telling the truth. Finally he laughed. “I don’t know what I’m worried about. I know you don’t have that kind of money. You must’ve done some extensive bartering. Thank you, Dae. I appreciate it.”

It wasn’t exactly the same as giving him the five thousand dollars to pay the fine. On the other hand, it was a nice trade, since he’d admired the old desk for months. And it was the only way I could think of to do any sort of reparation for what had happened. My trader instincts told me our score was settled. That would have to be good enough.

After the desk was unloaded, I thanked the man from Charleston for bringing it so quickly. Before we came here, we’d already settled the money with the envelope full of cash that Dillon had dropped off at the shop for me. I had left nothing to chance.

Kevin and I walked inside to see where the best place would be for the desk. Ann and Betsy were on their way downstairs with luggage in hand.

“Let me help with that.” Kevin grabbed the suitcases and took them outside to his pickup.

“You’re leaving?” I tried not to sound as relieved as I felt. Shayla and her grandmother were bad enough trying to discover the witch. I didn’t need Ann trying to figure things out as well.

“Betsy’s mother wants her back today,” Ann said. “Since nothing seems to be going on besides a routine forty-year-old murder, I thought I might as well go home too.”

“How’s your psychic detective agency working out?”

“First of all, I’m not a detective. I’m a consultant. We make way more money. And it’s going well. The FBI has thrown a few cases my way. That, and some back pay they owed me, has set me up. You should come see me. You’d like New York.”

“I’ll put that on my list of things to do before I die.”

She smiled a little in her sardonic way. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. Stay out of trouble, if you can. Don’t lead Kevin into temptation. He can’t resist a good witch hunt.”

Betsy hugged me. “I’m glad you’re okay, Dae. I was really worried. I’m sorry everybody thought you were a witch.”

“Thanks. I’m so glad you came with Ann to save me. It’s nice to know I have friends in faraway places.”

“I could tell you weren’t a witch right away,” Betsy continued. “You were dirty but you sure weren’t ugly or green.”

“That’s right. I wasn’t ever green, was I?” I hugged her again and laughed. “Tell your mother hello for me. Do well in school. Maybe you can come back during the summer when the weather is nice.”

“That would be fun. I’d like to go to the beach and look for pirate treasure.”

“We might be able to find some too. There’s some pirate gold in the museum next door. We’ll go take a look at it next time you come.”

The good-byes were said and Betsy was settled in the middle of the pickup seat between Kevin and Ann.

Ann squinted at me a little as she closed the truck door. She reminded me of Flourine. “Take care of yourself, unless you want me to make regular visits. You’re a part of my soul now. You can’t hide anything from me.”

Maggie daringly switched places with me and giggled.

I held my breath and pushed her back.
What was she thinking?
I didn’t want Ann to change her plans and join Shayla’s efforts to out the witch. “Thanks, I think.”

“That’s the only reason I’m leaving so soon.” Ann seemed not to even notice the switch. “I know I could feel if there was anything in you besides one hundred percent Dae O’Donnell. Good luck in the election, although I guess you don’t really need it now.”

Kevin waved to me as they started out toward the airport. “Sorry I have to go right away. I didn’t know you were bringing the desk. Maybe you can come back later and we’ll check out the best place for the desk with dinner.”

“I have an appointment later. I know this was a surprise. We’ll get to it when you can.”

He closed the window and I watched the old pickup drive away. I took a deep breath when they were gone. That stunt of Shayla’s last night with the mirror hadn’t been anything. I was a little nervous that Ann was capable of so much more.

Still, she and Betsy had come to rescue me with my friends in Duck. How much better could things be than that?

“You took quite a chance back there,” I warned Maggie. “This could be bad for both of us if we get caught.”

“I’m sorry, Dae. But how could you stand her saying that to you when it is so untrue? I had to laugh at her.”

“Well, pray thee do not do it again.” I shook my head. “Just don’t take those chances.”

I got in the golf cart to drive it back home, humming some music and feeling happy with the day. I planned to drop off the cart for Gramps in case he needed it and then walk to the shop. I got a surprise when I found a strange car in the drive at home.

I knew most of Gramps’s friends drove golf carts. I knew the vehicles of the few who didn’t. It wasn’t a police or sheriff’s car, so there was no trouble. I parked the cart near the garage and went inside to see what was going on.

Gramps was pouring coffee and already had a few oatmeal cookies on the kitchen table. Laura Wilson—Mad Dog’s wife—was there, smiling at him. Her eyes were red-rimmed with crying and her hand was unsteady as she took a mug from him.

“Hi, Mrs. Wilson.” I took off my jacket and hoped she wasn’t there to yell at me about finding the race car. “I’m so sorry about what’s happened to Councilman Wilson.”

Laura Wilson wasn’t flashy or flamboyant like her husband. She looked like someone’s grandmother, which she was, many times over. Her gray hair was nicely coiffed by Trudy every week, and her brown eyes were steady and calm. She’d worked for Dare County as a clerk for many years before retiring.

“Hello, Dae. I hope I’m not interrupting anything you and your grandfather had planned.”

Gramps shrugged his shoulders under his red flannel shirt and black suspenders when I caught his eye. He was wearing his tall boots, so I knew he must’ve been on the way out when Mrs. Wilson stopped in.

“No, of course not.” I sat down at the table with her. “Is there something we can do for you? I know this has to be a terrible time for you and your family.”

I was still hoping she wasn’t going to go off about the election and the murder investigation. I was cringing at the idea of handling that from her, especially at this moment. She was tortured, and I felt responsible in some ways, even though finding old number twelve hadn’t been part of my plan. It couldn’t lead to anything good.

Mrs. Wilson kept her composure. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor, Dae. I know it’s a lot to ask, but all of us—Randal’s family and close friends—we believe he’s innocent of this terrible crime. We can’t think of any way to prove it.”

Gramps sat down and ate some cookies, washing them down with a big swig of coffee. “What can we do, Laura? Of course we’d be glad to be of service.”