He walked back over to the counter to take his call, and Peggy shook her head.
“Sorry about that, Annie. He’s not one to take a hint.”
“Poor guy’s probably just lonely. It’s hard when you’re new in town. I know.”
“I beg your pardon, ladies.” Roy came back to Annie’s table. “I’ve got business to see to, Annie, but I hope, now that we’ve been properly introduced, that I’ll see you again.”
“Stony Point’s a small place.” Annie kept her voice light and impersonal. “So that’s pretty likely.”
“Us being neighbors and all.” Roy took his mirrored sunglasses from his shirt pocket. “If you ever need anything, you come see me. Thanks for the coffee, Peg.”
He handed Peggy a folded bill and went out the front door. Annie watched as he took long strides across Main Street toward the town hall.
“Well, he’s not shy.”
“Just a nuisance more than anything else.” Peggy made a sour face. “He’s always asking for his ‘police discount.’ Hardy-har-har.” Peggy unfolded the bill, brightening when she saw it was a five. “But he does tip well.”
Annie chuckled, and Peggy pocketed the money.
“Anyway, back to what we were talking about earlier: I’ve been asking just about everybody I’ve seen if they know anything about Susan Morris, but nobody seems to remember much about her. Sorry. I really would have thought you’d find something about her marriage.”
Annie sighed. “That’s where I hit a brick wall. Nothing on any Susan Morris getting married to anyone anywhere in the state of Maine anytime between 1985 and 2005. Absolutely nothing.”
“Hmm. I guess it’s possible she was married somewhere out of state.”
“I guess so.” Annie took a sip of coffee. “That proverbial haystack just got a lot bigger. Are you sure you never heard anything about this man she was supposed to be married to?”
“Me? I was way too young to pay any attention to that kind of thing back then. Maybe Mary Beth will have thought of his name by the time you see her next.”
“Or that shoe company he had. It was shoes, right?”
“That’s what she said.”
Annie bit her lip. “I guess I could search for Maine shoe manufacturers and see what I come up with.”
“But if she wasn’t married in the state, maybe he didn’t live here either. His company could have been in Virginia or New York or Timbuktu.”
Annie propped her chin on her hand. “Yeah, I know.”
“Hey, I forgot.” Peggy tapped the tabletop with one bright pink fingernail. “I have some good news for you. I asked Wally about the other guy, the handyman. His name is Tom Maxwell, and Wally says he’d do you a good job if you’re in a hurry to start on your bathroom.”
“Actually, I’d really rather have Wally do it. I know the kind of work he does, and that way it helps you out too. But Mary Beth sounds like she doesn’t want to wait much longer to get her basement organized. I’m sure she’d like the referral.”
“I appreciate your wanting to hire Wally. I would like to see us get a little ahead for once.”
“It’s pure selfishness on my part. He did such a nice job on my kitchen, I don’t want to use anyone else.” Smiling, Annie handed the menu back to Peggy. “I hope you still have that shrimp chowder you had as your special today. I need something to warm me up.”
“Coming right up.”
5
The chowder was delicious, a hearty cream base packed with shrimp, bacon, and potatoes, and things looked a little bit brighter by the time Annie pulled up in front of Grey Gables.
Alice waved from the front porch of the carriage house and then scurried over to the car. “Find out anything?”
“You’re just as bad as Peggy. Come in out of the cold, and I’ll tell you about it.” Annie unlocked her front door and picked up the stack of mail lying just inside. “I have some chicken and veggies in the slow cooker if you want to eat later on.”
“That sounds a lot better than the leftover pasta I was going to have. Don’t mind if I do.”
There was a patter of paws on the stairs, and then Boots hurried into the room, rubbing against Annie’s legs, demanding attention.
“All right. All right. You first.” Annie handed Alice the obituary about Susan’s aunt. “That’s all I found out. Pretty much the end of the story as far as tracking Susan through her. Be right back.”
When she returned from feeding the cat, Alice returned the article to her.
“End of story all right. I’m sorry.”