The Chalice Thief Read online

  I disconnected the call as quick as I can. Then for good measure, I turned the phone off.

  As much of an inconvenience as it might be, I may just have to get rid of this thing.

  I’ve got enough ghosts in my life as it is.

  Back at the Inn one of those ghosts was waiting for me. Lachlan was born in an era before telephone communication was even a dream of Alexander Graham Bell’s, let alone the era of mobile phones. I guess that’s a good thing, otherwise he’d be ringing me up every five minutes considering how he keeps worming his way into my life.

  On the way back my car began to sputter, coughing out black smoke from the tailpipe and lurching forward a few inches at a time. Great. One more item on my list of things that needed my attention. I suppose I should’ve left this old girl at Oliver Harris’s auto repair shop. I couldn’t remember how old the car was, exactly, but we didn’t buy new cars to keep as loaners at the Inn. No sense to that.

  Lachlan was outside to meet me as I parked close to the front doors, letting the engine die with one final loud pop through the exhaust. Just to see what would happen, I turned the key again. The ignition clicked, but the engine didn’t turn over.

  Great.

  The book from Ada’s library had ridden all the way on the front passenger seat. I leaned over and picked it up, tucking it under my arm, and when I turned back there was Lachlan’s face at the window, smiling at me and pointing at the engine.

  “Sure,” I told him, holding the door handle. “Like you know anything about cars. Didn’t you drive a horse? Now, move.”

  He frowned, and shook his head, and then his face changed.

  What I saw was the old woman he showed me before. Long silver hair and brown skin wrinkled and creased from decades of exposure under the sun. That same face. He was trying to tell me something. I just can’t figure out what.

  “Maybe you should write it down,” I told him sarcastically.

  He didn’t move, and I wasn’t in the mood for more games, so I threw the door open in his face. It passed right through him, right through his incorporeal body, and turned him to wisps of color that faded away under the afternoon sun. The last thing to disappear was the old woman’s face.

  Ghosts. What could I say? You get used to them. Eventually.

  I didn’t bother locking the car door. It wasn’t running, so who’s gonna steal it? Guess I’ll be walking the next time Rosie calls for a snack. Poor woman. And where on God’s green Earth is Josh? I knew it shouldn’t be my problem to find Rosie’s errant husband, but as their friend I felt like it was. As if I didn’t already have enough to take care of.

  I’m going to start writing all these things down. Or programming them into my phone’s calendar so I know what I’m doing first, second, and fifty-third.

  As if it heard my thoughts, my mobile started ringing. At the doors to the Inn I checked the screen.

  Unknown Caller.

  On second thought, I’ll just stick to writing things down on paper. Doubt I’ll have this phone for much longer. Although, if I change the number, I wonder if the ghosts would still be able to ring me up. Do they have call forwarding in the afterlife?

  Inside the front door, I smelled something that took my mind off ghosts, and how they kept dialing my phone without physical fingers to push the buttons… or, you know, mobiles of their own.

  It was after two o’clock now, and believe it or not that’s the actual peak of the lunch hour on a weekend. I figured Ikon might’ve gotten the staff to put together a selection of sandwiches for the guests and maybe even turned away anyone not staying with us who came in looking to eat at the Inn today. What I found instead was a full dining room and the aroma of roast lamb and potatoes. And a stew. Someone had made stew, and from the look of things people were enjoying it.

  Behind the check-in desk Janus waved to me. Well, he was in early. I didn’t mind my people switching shifts when they had a need. So long as things got taken care of. Course, if I had many more people cancel their reservations like the Randall’s had, then I wouldn’t be able to afford front desk workers. Worries for another day, I reminded myself. For the moment all I did was smile back at Janus and ask him to hold onto Ada’s reference book for me. No reason to upset him or the others over how bad things might be until I knew which way this current mystery was going to make the wind blow.

  Several people in the dining room greeted me with a nod or a wave. I realized too late that more than a couple of them were reporters, and suddenly there were questions about the Chalice being fired about, and if I was involved in the investigation, and what I thought about my own daughter’s boyfriend being charged with the theft. My servers tried to run interference, stepping in between me and whichever reporter was hounding me next. Paul, my youngest server, even managed to spill an entire bowl of stew in the lap of one especially persistent journalist, bless his heart.

  I made it through the swinging door into the kitchen without having to answer anyone’s queries, even though I gave that one woman a glare that should’ve stopped her heart. None of them were daft enough to follow me in here, to my great relief.

  The man at the counter, stirring ingredients into two huge stew pots while at the same time minding a pan full of chickpeas, smiled brightly at me. “About time you returned, Boss.”

  Ikon. He made quite the picture standing there in that white apron, wiping his hands on a towel and then stirring the stewpots again. “I figured I’d find you in here, but this…? You made lunch for the guests? Really?”

  “You sound surprised,” he laughed. “I know you didn’t get to sample much of my breakfast fare but I promise you that I know what I’m doing. My dear Mom showed me all a man needs to know in the kitchen.”

  “Well, you are a wonder, aren’t you.”

  Looking back at me over his shoulder, he winked. “You have no idea.”

  He began humming as he worked, and I stood there, watching him. He was a handsome man to have in the kitchen. A handsome man to have anywhere, to be sure.

  Blushing, I put my hand up over my mouth to hide my expression. Funny, where a woman’s thoughts will go sometimes. Well. It was okay to look, wasn’t it?

  “I see you,” Ikon said to me.

  “Of course you do,” I said quickly, tucking my hands into my pocket just to give them somewhere to be. “I’m standing right here.”

  “No, I mean I see you. Looking at me.”

  He put the ladle down on the white ceramic surface of the stove. Now it was just him and me, and a kitchen full of delicious scents and the quiet sound of bubbling stew and conversation from the dining room. The kitchen had always seemed cozy to me. Now it suddenly seemed… intimate.

  I wondered, if I stayed here, what would happen next?

  “Um, Ikon… I need to go upstairs and see my daughter. Carly and I have a lot to talk about. Do you mind staying on today and making sure the menu is taken care of? Do we have anything for dinner?”

  “Glad to do it, Boss.” He seemed honestly happy that I’d asked him to take on the added responsibility. “You can count on me. You know that, right?”

  “I do. I’m glad you’re working for our Inn. You really saved us today.”

  His bright smile slipped a little. “Just an employee, is that it?”

  “Well, not just an employee. You’re part of our family, Ikon. That’s what makes the Pine Lake Inn so great.”

  “Right. Sure. One big happy family. Well, Boss, I’ve got this.” And just like that his smile was gone altogether.

  What did I say?

  The pan of chickpeas banged against the counter as Ikon took it off the burner. I gathered that was the end of our conversation. Well, Ikon was a good employee. I mean, we’re friends too, and I enjoy his company, but I don’t have time to stand here and play twenty questions. If he wanted to tell me what’s bothering him he’s going to have to come out and tell me. Later. Right now I’ve got another uncomfortable conversation to get into with Carly.

&nbs
p; A quick dash through the kitchen kept the reporters from even having time to throw a question my way. I’m sure they’ll sit right where they are for the next few hours though, eating a dessert maybe or nursing a cuppa, waiting to see if I make another appearance. That’s fine with me. If we’re going to lose money over this business with the Chalice, then I won’t mind making it up out of the news agencies’ pockets.

  On my way to the stairs I made sure to thank Janus for coming in early, and checked to make sure there weren’t any more fires that I needed to put out. Thankfully nothing else has happened. Our handyman, George, left word that he’d be back in Lakeshore tomorrow and expected a long list of chores ready for him to do. I was going to be only too happy to oblige him. I asked Janus to take care of making that list, though. I needed to start delegating a few things if I was going to have any time to even breathe.

  Carly’s door was closed when I got up there, but I have no doubt that she was in her room. She doesn’t have a car of her own. She’s got nowhere else to go, and I doubt that she wants to poke her head out about town for anything right now. Not until she knew what’s going to happen with Drew.

  Sadly, it was going to be up to me to tell her that things were looking grim for her boyfriend.

  My hand hesitated at her door, ready to knock. See, now would have been a fantastic time for Rosie to call me and tell me she’s going into labor. I’m just not that lucky. So, touching my unicorn necklace to steady myself, I rapped my knuckles against the door.

  There was no answer, but I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps from the other side. “Carly? It’s me, honey. Can we talk? Please?”

  Still not saying anything, she unlocked the door, and opened it, standing there looking at me for the longest moment. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks had the obvious residue of dried tears on them. It really hadn’t been an easy morning for her. Finally, without a word, she stepped back to let me in.

  Every room in the Pine Lake Inn was laid out pretty much the same. There’s a window, and a bed, the small dresser and the television, and a connecting bathroom with just enough space for a shower and a sink and a commode. I have them painted in bright colors, and I made sure they’re always clean and presentable and the sort of place people wanted to come back to time and again. Carly’s been living in room number five all this time and I haven’t heard her complain once. Although, as she sat on the edge of the bed now with her arms crossed firmly over her chest, I got the feeling she wished that she’d never come back to Lakeshore.

  “Carly, I don’t know what to say.”

  Could I have picked a worse opening?

  She dropped her angry glare to the floor. “You never did. That was part of our problem.”

  “That’s not true,” I pointed out. “You know that isn’t true. I always told you the truth. Your father leaving me… his death… wasn’t my fault. Now that you know the whole story you must realize I never lied to you.”

  “You let me leave.” A hitch in Carly’s voice told me how hard she was fighting to keep back tears. “You let me run away and never tried to bring me back.”

  That wasn’t exactly true either, but I didn’t come up here to fight with her. “You were always welcome here, Carly. Please, let’s not drag up the past. There’s too much going on right here, right now. I went to see Kevin. Drew’s in some serious trouble.”

  With that she practically exploded up off the bed, her hands fisted up at her side and making her jewelry rattle. “What are you doing poking into this?” she hollered at me. “This is my life. My life! You messed your own about but you don’t get to do the same to me!”

  Words failed me. My mouth opened, and I wanted to say something that would make it all better but nothing came out. Nothing at all.

  This was the anger that Carly had been keeping under her own skin. The pent up disappointments and fears of a young woman who had to deal with losing her father, twice. Every uncertainty, every dream that had been crushed along the way, all went into what she was feeling right at this moment. Now her boyfriend was being taken away from her, much the same way her father had been.

  And, once again, I was in the middle of everything happening to her.

  Carly’s pretty face was beet red and her eyes were wild. I didn’t raise her to lash out at her mother, I knew that. Then again, there were all those years when Carly was away and I didn’t know what was happening to her, who she was with, or when I would ever see her again. She’s more a product of her own upbringing than mine.

  That’s something that I can’t change. The here and now, on the other hand, that’s up to me.

  I swallowed, working up moisture in my mouth. “Carly, I’m sorry. Please understand that. My fault, or not my fault, the past happened. To both of us. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there for you more than I was. So sorry you had to go through all that. Please understand me. Drew is in real trouble. Can we just focus on that? There’s video surveillance from the Thirsty Roo. They can see Drew go in the back, right to where the Chalice was being kept.”

  Her eyes went blank. Her anger was still there but now I could see the worry that overlaid it and tightened her expression. For better or worse, she really did love Drew.

  There was a long, strained moment before Carly lowered herself back onto her bed. The comforter was already mussed up like she’d tried to sleep during the day without much luck. I didn’t blame her, considering everything that’s happened.

  “I don’t know what to do, Mom.”

  I went to her, finally, and sitting very close together I put my arm over her shoulders. Was this good for us? This breakdown and confession of our real feelings? Maybe it was. Maybe it’s not. All I know is that it hurts. A lot.

  “If you believe in Drew,” I said, hoping it will help at least a little, “then what you should do is simple. Stand by him, and don’t give up.”

  “Is that what you did with Dad?” she asked.

  “At first, yes.” Breathing in brought back all those old memories for me. “As time went on… I hate to admit it but I gave up on him. I even began hating him. That’s what your emotions can do to you if you don’t find out the truth first. I’ve made my peace with what happened to your father. Don’t wait until you’re in that same spot. Stand up for him now if that’s what you’ve a mind to do.”

  The tears she’d been so careful to hold back before were brimming out from the corners of her eyes now when she turned to look at me. “Do you think Drew is innocent?”

  Now there’s a question and a half. “The more important thing to ask yourself, is this. Do you believe in his innocence?”

  She was already nodding her head, her hair in its pixie cut bobbing up and down. “Yes. I do, Mom. Drew and I we share… everything.” She blushed as she said it, just enough so I didn’t have to wonder what she meant. “There’s no way he’s got any secrets from me. No way. Drew’s not a thief!”

  I smiled, because I remembered that kind of youthful dedication to the love of your life. At that age it seems like nothing can stand between you and your man.

  Just like I used to, back when she was a little girl, I wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumb. “I’ve got a few things to talk about with your brother tonight. Some of it might help Drew. I don’t know. I want to talk to Alfonse again, too. I still have my doubts about this Chalice of his being the real thing. Don’t give up hope, Carly. There’s always something we can do if we put our minds to it.”

  She nodded again, tucking strands of hair behind her ear. “All the things you’ve been through. I can’t imagine. Kevin’s told me about some of them, though I’m betting he left out some stuff. You’ve been kidnapped at gunpoint and hounded by mobsters… though I’m not sure that last part’s for real. Seems like something he made up.”

  It was completely true, actually. All of it. Turns out there’s more of a seedy underbelly to Tasmania than anyone’s willing to admit and I seem to keep putting my foot in it. I appreciate that Kevin left out the gri
ttier parts, though. No reason to upset Carly with facts she can’t do anything about. Her Mom’s life hasn’t been a simple one here in the town of Lakeshore, and no doubt.

  “It’s okay, Carly. Sometimes life is hard. It’s not about what trouble finds you. It’s about how we deal with it when it does.”

  She blurted out a short laugh. “Sounds like a greeting card. When’d you find time to get so philosophical?”

  I shrugged, and let her in on my own little secret of life. “Time moves on.”

  “Well. That about says it all, it does.” Standing up, she took a shaky breath and walked over to where she’d tossed her sneakers against a wall. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  “You’re sorry that I’m suddenly philosophical?”

  “No, I’m…” She pulled one shoe on, then the other, before she turned back to face me. “I’m sorry that I yelled at you. I’m sorry that I blamed you for Drew. No, not just Drew. I blamed you for Dad, and for not being there for me, and… Any time anything’s gone wrong in my life I blamed it on you.”

  “Honey, I understand.”

  “No, Mom, you don’t.” One hand found her necklace and her fingers fiddled with the dangling bits of copper. Not unlike the way I do with my unicorn necklace, I suppose, when I get stressed. “You don’t understand at all.”

  Resisting the urge to tell her that mothers understand everything, I tried for a smile instead. “You can tell me anything, Carly. Really, you can. When you came back to Lakeshore it was one of the happiest days of my life.”

  “That so?” she countered. “That why you left so quick afterward to go on your holiday down in Port Arthur?”

  Oh. Yeah, I supposed that would be on her list of things to blame me for. “That was nothing to do with you,” I promised her, and hoped she could hear the sincerity in my voice. “James and I, we just needed to get away for a bit. It hit us all very hard when we found your father was dead, Carly. Me most of all. You must realize that?”

  “You left me,” she said, her voice tight. “Again, you left me.”