Letters in the Attic(13)
Annie printed out a copy of the obituary. How terrible it must have been for Susan to lose her and then her parents so soon after.
“I wish you had let me know, Sooz. I’d have been there for you. I’d like to be there for you now.”
“Fall down a rabbit hole?”
Annie started. “Grace. I didn’t see you. My goodness, what time is it?”
“Almost two o’clock. I’ve been to lunch and back. You ought to take a break before you waste away back here.”
“Maybe you’re right. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, but thanks to you, I’m inching closer.”
“Go get some lunch and a breath of fresh air. We’ll still be here when you’re ready to start looking again.”
Air was exactly what Annie needed, the brisk October air out on Main Street. She stepped out of the library door, took a deep breath, and then scurried across Oak Lane to The Cup & Saucer. The lunch crowd was gone, and Annie was glad to see that her favorite corner table was empty.
Peggy looked up from the counter where she was refilling salt shakers. “Hi, Annie. What’ll it be?”
“Coffee to start with. I don’t know what I want to eat yet, but I’m starved.”
It took just a minute for Peggy to bring her a steaming cup.
“Everything OK?”
“Yeah. It is.” Annie sighed. “Some people just have it rough, you know.”
“Sometimes you’re the windshield; sometimes you’re the bug.”
Peggy gave her a menu and a wry grin, and Annie answered with one of her own.
“I know, but some people get a lot of trouble all at once.”
“Anybody I know?”
“Susan Morris, the one we were talking about at the club meeting. I’ve been over at the library doing some research. Mary Beth was right about her parents being killed in a car wreck, and I found out that the aunt she was living with in New York died not very long before that.”
“That’s too bad.” Peggy leaned against the other side of the booth. “And she was just out of college then? What a shame. What about that rich guy? Did you find out anything about him?”
“I haven’t found any marriage records for Susan yet. So far, Prince Charming is still a complete mystery.”
“Did somebody say Prince Charming?” A lanky guy in a policeman’s uniform got up from his stool at the lunch counter and sauntered over to Annie’s table. “Are you looking for me, ma’am?”
Peggy pursed her lips. “Oh, go sit down and drink your coffee, Roy, and let the adults talk.”
“Now, that’s no way to treat your elders, Peg. Why don’t you introduce me to your friend here? Not that everybody in Stony Point hasn’t heard of pretty Annie Dawson.”
Annie didn’t know whether to be flattered or annoyed. She settled for skeptical. “Have they?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Peggy snorted. “This is Roy Hamilton. Obviously one of Stony Point’s finest.”
“I haven’t seen you around town,” Annie admitted, shaking the hand he offered. “Are you new here?”
“Just hired on by Chief Edwards when Callahan retired. I was working in Newcastle until a little while ago, but I heard Stony Point was a pretty attractive place to hire on.” He grinned at Annie. “Very attractive, if you ask me.”
Annie refrained from rolling her eyes. “Do you live here in town?”
“I’m renting a beach house on Ocean, just north of Elm.” His grin widened. “I guess that makes us neighbors.”
“You must be at Mr. Cruz’s. The little house with white trim and a porch swing?”
“That’s the one. And, of course, everybody knows about Grey Gables. That’s a big place for one little lady by herself.”
“I don’t live alone.” Annie pretended not to notice the smirk on Peggy’s face.
“You don’t?” Roy’s sandy eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead. “I heard you were a widow.”
Annie smiled sweetly. “I am.”
“And all your family lives back in Texas, right?”
“They do.”
Roy chuckled. “You’ve got a dog.”
“A cat,” Annie admitted. “But she’s the jealous type.”
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll have to try to win her over with some fresh salmon. We lawmen aren’t allowed to accept bribes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t offer a few.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “I’ll leave that between you and Boots.”
“Of course, if you’d like to …” A beep from the cell phone hooked to his belt drew his attention. “Excuse me a second.”