Harry smiled at Reese and handed over a box of chocolates. Sam’s frown deepened. The last thing he needed was Reese falling under Harry’s spell. Even at his age, he was a charmer. Sam didn’t need Reese making it inviting for Harry to stop in every day.
“You ask me, the town is well rid of that Dupont character. Never liked that guy. Marnie Wilson’s the one we need for mayor. And she’s taken a shine to you.” Harry winked at Sam and then took a chocolate from the box Reese had opened and bit into it. He frowned. “But we might’ve gone from the frying pan into the fire with that Henley Jamison in charge now. I only wish the election was sooner. The sooner we have it, the sooner we can get rid of the current riffraff.”
“Can’t argue with you there,” Sam said.
The door opened again, and Wyatt stepped in. He looked surprised to see them all standing in the lobby.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Sam shifted to the left to accommodate the newcomer. The lobby was getting a little crowded. “We all just got here at the same time.”
Harry stuck his hand out. “You must be the new guy. I’m Harry Woolston, chief of police.”
Wyatt’s questioning eyes flicked from Harry to Sam.
“Former chief,” Sam said. “Did you take care of Nettie and Rita?”
“Yeah. They’re very interesting.”
“You must’ve made quite an impression on Rita,” Reese said. “She called the station to put in a good word for the ’nice young man’ who came out. Said something about bringing you fruitcake?”
Wyatt turned red. “Yeah. In order to get them to reconcile, I had to sit down with them for a slice of fruitcake.”
Harry laughed. “You actually like that stuff?”
Wyatt grimaced. “No, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the peace.”
They all laughed as the door opened again. Kevin and Lucy came in, and Sam shuffled another foot to the left.
Kevin stopped at the door. Lucy inched her way around the room, sniffing everyone’s shoes.
“Hey, Harry, What’s going on?” Kevin asked.
“We’re just catching up on the case,” Harry said. “Got any suspects?”
“We’re not catching up on the case,” Sam said. “At least you’re not.”
“I might have some ideas that could help you out.” Harry leaned in closer. “You ask me, that Lucas Thorne is behind it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Come on, Sam. Everyone knows he’s a bad seed. The way he’s putting up all those buildings. Ripping down trees. Ruining our pristine town. And we all know Dupont was in his pocket. Why else would all those zoning laws be changed when no one in town wanted them changed? Dupont probably saw he was getting in too deep and wanted out, so Thorne removed him. Marnie Wilson will rein Thorne right in, though. He’ll be as afraid of her as he is his wife.”
Kevin’s eyes narrowed. “He’s afraid of his wife? Somehow I don’t picture that.”
Harry snorted. “I know, right? But that Beryl, she’s a hard woman. Known her family for decades. That’s how Thorne found our town; she brought him here. Beautiful woman but hard. Rich too.” Harry’s face turned thoughtful. “That’s probably why he married her. For the money. Her family funded all his real estate development. Good match, though. She’s the only woman devious enough to handle him. Smart—well, other than marrying Thorne. That’s why she made him sign the prenup. She wears the pants in the family.”
Sam exchanged a glance with Kevin. He couldn’t picture Thorne yielding to a woman, but he’d never met Beryl. Sam tried to avoid Thorne whenever possible. He was a bit happy, though, to know there was someone who intimidated Thorne. Maybe Sam would take the wife out to lunch to show his approval.
The door opened again, and they all shuffled sideways to accommodate Alvin Ray, the mailman. He was dressed in his usual meticulously pressed blue-and-gray uniform and carrying the white plastic box that he used to deliver bulk mail.
He stopped just inside the door, his brows raised. “Well, good morning. I’m not used to such a reception.”
“Morning, Alvin,” Harry said. “You’re looking fine today.”
Alvin smiled proudly. He was known for taking pride in his appearance. “Thank you!”
Alvin hefted the box onto Reese’s desk, almost knocking the chocolates off. Harry pushed in between Wyatt and Alvin to catch them.
“Hachoo!” Harry sneezed.
Reese glanced up at Harry, her eyes wide with concern. “Harry, you coming down with something?”
“Nah,” Harry scoffed, whipping out a white linen handkerchief and blowing his nose. “I never get sick. Allergies. Pet dander. Cats usually, maybe dogs too.” He looked down at Lucy. “You been hanging around with any cats?”
Lucy narrowed her eyes and curled the left side of her lip as if the very idea of hanging around with cats was repugnant.
Harry grabbed another chocolate and sniffled. “Guess I better be moseying off. Wife wants me to pick up some lady stuff at the pharmacy.”
Kevin turned sideways to let Harry get to the door, and they all watched him leave.
“Nice man,” Alvin said as he sorted the mail onto Reese’s desk.
“He is,” Reese said.
“Coming in here always brings back fond memories.” Alvin finished his sorting and looked around the lobby.
It had been only a few years since the post office moved to a new modern building and the police station was upgraded from the basement of the town hall to the old post building. The building still had all the original trappings, from the marble floors to the wainscoting to the oak doors with their etched-glass windows. They even made use of the mission-style furniture that had been in the building since 1930. It still smelled of years of lemon pledge and stamp glue. Some might have been put out by having to make do with the post office castoffs, but Sam thought the building and furnishings had character.
“Don’t know why they put all that modern stuff in the new post office building. It just doesn’t have the charm.” Alvin waved toward the wall of post office boxes that divided the room. The antiques were constructed of solid brass, with black dials and eagles emblazoned below the small etched-glass windows. “Like these boxes. The new ones are just plain steel. So boring.” Alvin squinted over the tops of the boxes into the squad room, his eyes darting to the corkboard where photos of the Dupont crime scene were tacked up.
He averted his gaze quickly. “Guess you guys are busy, what with what happened to the mayor and all.” He pushed his black-framed glasses up on his nose.
“Sure are,” Sam said.
Alvin turned toward the door, his face thoughtful. “Funny thing, though. What was the mayor doing in the mill? It’s not really a place where someone like him should be.”
“He might have been lured there or had a meeting. We’re not sure yet.” Sam had no intention of letting it get out that the mayor was meeting with them to provide information on Thorne.
Alvin shrugged. “Could have been a setup. You know, like on TV. There’s rumors. But then I also heard rumors the only people seen there that day were the cops.”
“We patrol that area from time to time,” Sam said.
Alvin pushed his glasses up again. “Yeah, guess that makes sense. Anyway, rumors are just that—rumors. Well, have a nice day.”
The lobby was silent as they watched Alvin leave, his white sneakers squeaking on the polished marble floor as he swung open the door and exited into the sunlight.
As Sam watched him amble down the granite steps, Jo’s voice rang out from the squad room.
“Are you guys going to sit out there, chatting like old ladies, all day, or you gonna come in here and help me solve the case?”
* * *
The squad room wasn’t big, but it was enough for the three desks that the department needed. Jo sat at hers next to the window, her laptop open, yellow smiley face coffee mug perched beside it.
As they filed into the room, she stood and came around to sit on the front of her desk, which faced into the middle of the room.
Kevin’s desk was on the opposite wall. He pulled the chair out from under it and spun it around. Sam went to the coffee machine, popped an orange K-Cup of Gorilla Organic into the top, and started the machine. “Anybody want a coffee?”