Murder at Redwood Cove (19 page)

T
he buzz of the alarm jarred me into consciousness once again. Yesterday's events filtered sluggishly through my half-awake mind. Fred could detect cancer. Michael had flown Allie and Daniel to Beacon Medical Center. They'd discovered a melanoma, but she would be fine. It had been caught at an early stage. Scott had been sent away on a “burning fire” mission, as he called it.

I pulled the down comforter over my head. Just a few more minutes of warmth, softness, and quiet. It felt good to be back home in my own bed.

Home? In my own bed? Where did that come from? Had I really connected that much to Redwood Cove? I flipped the comforter back and stared at the ceiling. What wasn't to like about the place? A small town on a beautiful coast. That worked for me. I was a small-town girl. I learned that after the brief time I spent in a couple of big cities. I thought of the Silver Sentinels. Friends helping friends. I liked that, too. I felt comfortable here. I hoped I had a chance to come back to Redwood Cove in the future.

Sighing, I knew I couldn't ignore the new day anymore. I rolled out of bed and winced. My sore muscles needed time to warm up. I walked to the kitchenette, started the coffee, headed for the shower, and began the whole getting-ready routine. After I finished, I took a couple of aspirin and put the bottle in the pocket of my fleece vest.

I entered the work area, my cup clutched in my right hand.

I stopped. A man wearing a gray pin-striped suit stood looking out the back door. The razor-cut line of hair on the back of his neck would make a general proud.

“May I help you?” I asked, bewildered by a stranger in our private area.

He turned around.

“Daniel?” Was I dreaming? “What . . . Why . . .” I stopped, speechless.

“Good morning, Kelly.” He raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“I . . . uhhh . . . you look great,” I stammered. “I mean . . . not that you didn't look great, uhh, nice before . . . I thought you looked wonderful.” My face felt on fire. I was getting in deeper and deeper. “It's a different look,” I finally managed to say.

Daniel laughed. “Thanks for all the compliments . . . I think.”

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, thanks.” Daniel settled himself on a stool.

“Why the suit?” I handed him a mug.

“I decided to apply for Bob's job. I want to be a better provider for Allie.” He paused. “And it's time for me to make some changes in my life.”

“That's wonderful, Daniel.” But did he have any experience running a place like this?

“I majored in business management before I dropped out of college.”

A shiver raced down my spine. I felt like he'd read my mind.

“I thought about it during the flight back yesterday and asked Corrigan if I could meet with him. We have an interview scheduled here in about fifteen minutes.”

I knew Michael was only here a couple of days. Quick thinking on Daniel's part.

“I got in touch with a couple of buddies, and they found the suit and shoes and cut my hair.” He grimaced. “I don't remember my neck ever feeling so cold!”

He got up and fetched a worn leather briefcase leaning against the wall. He pulled out some papers and handed them to me.

“I won't tell you how many years I've had this.” He held up the portfolio. “It lived in the back of the closet from the day I moved here until yesterday.”

His résumé's format was outdated, but the critical information was there. Impressive that he'd pulled it all together so quickly.

“Daniel, I wish you the best. If Michael asks me how it's been working with you, rest assured I'll only have wonderful things to say.”

Crunching gravel heralded Corrigan's arrival. Through the back window we saw him pull up in the black Mercedes and park next to the pickup.

Daniel took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders.

“You'll do fine.” I handed the résumé back to him.

“Thanks, Kelly.” He placed the papers back in his leather case.

Corrigan opened the door and stopped. He blinked a few times. “Hi, Daniel. Looks like you're ready for the interview.”

“Yes, sir.”

I thought he was going to salute.

“Kelly, how are you doing today?” Corrigan asked.

“Fine,” I lied. “A little more coffee and my batteries will be charged for the day.”

“Glad to hear it. Is there a problem with me using the office right now?”

“No. I'll be taking care of guests. Helen came in early to do breakfast. I told her last night to take the rest of the day off after that. I'll take care of the finished breakfast baskets. She's been working extra hours since Bob died, and I thought she'd like some quiet time with Tommy.”

Michael looked at me thoughtfully. “Good idea.”

The two of them headed for the office while I poured more dark, hot liquid from a thermos Helen had prepared. We only had three guests left. Checking them out would be easy. Easy. I liked the sound of that right now.

As I sat down at the counter and sipped the hot brew, my cell phone rang. I checked the number. Scott.

“Hey, how are you doing? I got your message about an emergency. Where did you end up going?”

“I'm in stunning Sedona with a miserable twerp of a real estate agent.”

“Fun and not so fun, it sounds like. I love Sedona.”

“You've been here before?”

“Several times. Be sure you get up to the Red Rim Café at the airport. With any luck, they still have the all-you-can-eat crab feeds.”

I stopped. I realized I didn't really know much about Scott. It was a very basic restaurant frequented by families and people grabbing a bite to eat after work. I thought of his immaculate clothes and quality leather shoes. All I had seen him in until recently.

“Though it might not be what you're used to. It's not fancy,” I added hastily. “Mostly locals.”

“I'm not about fancy, Kelly. Good food and good company are what interest me.” He paused. “I wish you could be here to show me around and share that delicious-sounding dinner.”

“Maybe we can do that sometime.” Did I really say that? I'd promised I wasn't getting involved with anyone.

“We have a company retreat in a few months. I'll see you then, if not before.”

“I look forward to it.” My fluttering heart didn't seem to be in agreement with my reservations.

“Kelly, let's stay in touch. We have very isolating jobs.”

“I'd like that, too.” Where was this going?

“There are a lot of issues and ideas that come up when I'm out in the field. Bouncing them off of someone would be great. It's nice having someone to talk to.”

Oh, business.

“And not just about business,” Scott said.

What was up today? Was I thinking out loud?

“I enjoyed getting to know you on a more personal basis.”

“I learned some new things about you, too.” Like the jeans and hiking shoes.

“Gotta go. And don't let anything happen to those horse pajamas. Very cute. 'Bye.”

He hung up before I could get in a retort. I sipped the coffee, thinking I was already looking forward to the next time we talked.

The finished breakfast baskets were outside the guest rooms. Back in the kitchen, I placed them on the counter. I toasted some bread and spread it with organic peanut butter and homemade wild strawberry jam. I took a couple of bites and began to put dishes in the sink.

I heard men's voices in the hallway. Michael and Daniel entered.

“Welcome aboard.” Michael gave Daniel a hearty clap on the back.

“Thank you, sir.”

“No more ‘sir.' My staff calls me Michael.”

“I won't let you down.” Daniel turned to me. “Kelly, do you need me for anything today?”

“No.” This was his usual day off. “It's a good time for you and Allie to be together.” I smiled at him. “And congratulations.”

He beamed and hurried out the door.

“It's been quite the few days for you.” Michael sat down on one of the stools.

“Yep. Do you want some coffee?”

“Sounds good. You know me.”

I chose a large mug, filled it, and handed it to him. I walked around the counter and sat beside him.

“I'm glad you came out of it okay. Your father would've never forgiven me.” He took a sip of his coffee.

“Michael, this was my first assignment as an administrator for your company. I'd like your feedback on how I did.”

“You did an excellent job. You stepped into an unknown situation, followed company protocol, and used your ingenuity to solve a crime.”

“Thanks.”

“More than that, you valued the people of the community and the employees. You respected the Silver Sentinels. Some people would've dismissed them. You supported Helen and Tommy, putting them first. Giving them your room. Filling in today.” He paused. “That's what I want from people in this company—thinking in a big-picture way. It's a sense of family and working together I want to create. You've done that. Your dad will be proud.”

“Thank you for the compliments.” I turned the mug around and around in my hands. “I know you and Dad are friends and that's why I got considered for the job as a temporary assistant in Colorado.”

“Right.” Corrigan looked puzzled.

“Michael, it's important for me to be appreciated for myself as an individual and what I can contribute.”

Corrigan straightened up on the stool.

I looked at him. “Do I have this job as an executive administrator because of who I am and what I did in Colorado or because of your friendship with my father?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“You earned it every bit of the way.” He leaned toward me. “I mean that. It has nothing to do with your father.”

I took a deep breath. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You're right about my giving you some special consideration when I hired you in the beginning. I knew about your upbringing and what you did on the ranch. Making you an executive administrator was my decision based on your performance. And what you accomplished here shows me I did the right thing.”

“Thanks for telling me that.”

“You're one of us. You're part of the team.” He gave me a quick hug. “I have some business I need to attend to today. I'd like to meet tomorrow morning and talk about Daniel taking over.”

“Okay.”

“
Unfortunately, I'll have to start searching for another manager in a month or so.”

I sat up, confused. “What do you mean?” He'd just hired Daniel.

“The Ridley House came on the market. I've been wanting to buy and renovate it for years. I'm meeting with the real estate agent today to put in an offer.”

“So you'll be looking for a manager for the new place?”

“No, I'm going to assign Daniel to it. I know he refers to himself as a handyman, but he's much more than that. He's a very skilled carpenter. Daniel also spent a lot of time working for a contractor whom I know and respect. It's going to need a lot of work. Daniel can oversee the job and do some of the work himself. I'm sending one of my architects out to prepare the plans.”

“Does that mean you'll be looking for a manager for this place?” My thoughts flew back to this morning. Thoughts of home.

“Yep. Back to square one.”

“Michael”—I swallowed hard—“I'd like to be the manager here.”

Corrigan put his cup on the counter and stared at me. “Are you saying you'd like to move here and make this your full-time job?”

I took in a deep breath. Was I sure? “Yes.” The answer rang true in my heart of hearts.

“This is a very small town, a place where it can take a long time to develop friendships.”

“I feel I already have some friends. And a small town is what I like, it's where I belong.” My excitement was building.

“I was going to give you a choice of two different resorts for your next assignment—one in the Bahamas and one in Florida.”

I didn't feel the slightest interest. “I'd like to stay here.”

“Okay. I'm willing to let you give it a try on one condition.”

“What's that?”

“If it doesn't work out, you let me know. Don't let pride get in the way. You can have your current position back.”

“Michael, thanks!” I wanted to clap my hands together but felt I'd better retain a little decorum. “I even have a horse to ride! Diane at Redwood Stables said I could ride him any time he was available. And we're going to plan a series of equestrian travel vacations with special meals and events and—”

“Okay, okay.” He laughed. “We'll see how it goes.”

I couldn't believe how excited I felt.

“What I'd like you to do is stay here for a month and work with Daniel. Then take a few weeks to go home, pack your things, and move out here.”

Move out here. Wow! Yay! I'd be coming back to Redwood Cove and all the great people I'd met.

“Sounds good to me.”

“See you tomorrow.” Corrigan picked up his briefcase and left the room.

And he left me walking on clouds. I was valued and respected. I was part of a team. I had a new career. I had a new beginning. I'd found my place and my new home.