Gunpowder Chowder (9 page)

“Have you told Pam?”

“I don’t want to tell her. She already worries way too much about that kid.”

“They might have stopped by but it doesn’t mean he killed Vern. What would his motive be?”

Jack stood up and walked to his window. “I don’t know, but it could be connected to that girlfriend of his. Tasha did not get along with her stepdad.”

“I’ve only been here for a couple of days, but all I’ve heard is that no one cared much for Vern Mason. That doesn’t help to narrow the field of suspects down much.” Hannah joined Jack at the window. A car drove by and pulled into Hannah’s driveway.

“Looks like you’ve got company. Want me to walk over with you?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Hannah had her hand on the doorknob. “No thanks, but I’ll have to leave Nellie here. That’s Meg picking me up. I’m not sure what it’s all about, but she told me she has some information about Vern.”

“Don’t let her take you to that awful Pub and Pool Hall.”

Hannah ran out the door and jogged to Meg’s car. She could see several scrapes on the passenger side and half the rear fender was missing. Too late to back out now, she thought, as she opened the door and slid in next to Meg.

“Your cottage is dark, I thought you weren’t home.” Hannah had trouble catching her breath. “Were you out jogging?” Meg asked.

Hannah laughed. “Jogging? No, walking is more my speed but I was at Jack’s house when I saw you pull in.” She buckled her seatbelt. “So, where are we going?”

“The Pub and Pool Hall. My brother owns it.”

Hannah’s stomach flopped. Great, there had to be something sketchy about this place if Jack warned her not to go. Sketchy with a possibility of information?

They rode in silence, Hannah tried to keep her bearings, but after several quick turns down unlit streets, she knew she wouldn’t be able to find her way home if Meg abandoned her at the pub. She patted her jacket pocket, checking that her cell phone was still there, and with any luck, it was still charged.

Finally, Meg bumped into a parking lot and shut her car off. A low building, the neon lights flickering ‘ub and Poo all’ told her this was not the high end stop for the Hooks Harbor tourist crowd.

“Here we are. Don’t let appearances turn you off. This is where all the locals hang out, and if it’s information you want, it’s where you’ll find it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.” Meg tucked her keys, phone and wallet into a small bag that she slung over her head to settle across her chest. “I like to keep my hands free. Just in case.”

“In case of what?” Hannah couldn’t help but ask. She felt like a fish out of water and she hadn’t even set foot inside the hall yet. She knew she was going to stick out like a sore thumb in this joint.

Meg grabbed Hannah’s arm. “Come on. No time to be shy. They’ll eat you alive if you don’t get your ‘don’t mess with me’ expression on. Caroline could fool anyone with her look.” Meg watched Hannah. “Let me see what you’ve got.”

Hannah took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, clenched her teeth, and glared at Meg.

“Not bad but you might want to practice a bit to get it up to Caroline’s level.”

Meg pushed the door open. A rush of stale cigarette smoke, beer soaked wood floors, and buttery popcorn smells hit Hannah’s nose. She coughed and felt her eyes burn. Meg leaned close to her ear. “You’ll get used to it.”

Meg kept her hand on Hannah’s elbow, guiding her to the bar. “Hey Michael, found a new one.”

Michael grabbed two mugs, filled them from the tap, and slid them down the counter to Meg, along with a bowl of popcorn. “Oh yeah? How’d you trick her into coming
here
?”

“I told her about your gourmet popcorn, right, Hannah?”

“Sure,” she said, cool as a cucumber.

Michael’s lip twisted up into an almost smile. After Hannah took a long sip of the draft beer and her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, she focused on her surroundings. The click of pool balls came from the right side of the hall where all the action at the moment seemed to be centered.

After several minutes of listening to Meg and Michael chatting, Hannah asked Meg, “Is Michael your brother?”

They both laughed out loud. Michael leaned over the counter, putting his face next to Meg’s, and asked Hannah, “Really? You need to ask?”

“Twins? You didn’t tell me that before.”

Meg finished her beer. “Didn’t want to overload you with too much information. How about a friendly game of pool?”

Hannah nodded. The beer helped to relax her and give her the confidence she lacked when they first walked in. And, she knew no one at the Pub and Pool Hall was aware of her pool talent. But they were about to find out.

Meg introduced Hannah to the locals lounging around the pool table. Herb and Kirk nodded at Hannah between shots, pretending that the eight ball was way more interesting than the new girl at the pool table. Hannah analyzed her competition. Herb was, by far, the stronger player.

Hannah held her beer mug and leaned against the wall, not too far from Kirk as he waited for Herb to miss a shot. “New in town?” he asked.

“Obviously,” Hannah answered. “I’m renovating Caroline’s Café and Cottages.”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “No kidding. You had to kill Vern to get him off the property?” he asked and laughed so hard he ended up with a coughing fit.

Meg winked at Hannah and asked the men around the table, “What do you boys know about Vern? He was always up to something.”

Silence except for the click of the pool stick as Herb sunk the eight ball. Game over.

Kirk sighed. “It doesn’t matter anymore, I guess. He was having some fun on the side, if you get my drift.”

Meg handed a pool stick to Hannah, directing her question to Kirk. “Anyone from around here?” She racked up the balls.

Kirk shrugged. “I don’t think so. He kept his dalliances private so Kelley wouldn’t find out. That’s why he rented the cottage from Caroline. He couldn’t very well have his fling at their Inn, now could he?”

“You can break, Hannah.” Meg pointed at the white ball with her stick.

Hannah chalked up her cue before shattering the triangle of balls. A solid ball rolled into the left corner pocket. With her focus on the game, she walked around the table, sinking three more solids before missing a bank shot. She had everyone’s attention.

Meg moved into position, trying to find a clear shot at a striped ball. “You didn’t leave me with much of anything, Hannah. Where’d you learn to play pool? I thought you were going to be an easy win for me.”

Hannah let herself smile but remained quiet while Meg took her shot. She split two touching balls, sending a striped ball into a corner pocket and leaving the solid ball teetering on the edge of the opposite pocket. It rolled in, too.

Hannah cleared the table of solids and sunk the eight ball, before she hung the cue stick back on the wall.

“Nice game,” a new voice said from behind her back. “It didn’t take you long to find the local watering hole. Where’s your sidekick?”

The hairs on her arm prickled as she turned around to see Chase staring at her. “How about a game in exchange for the rent Cal owes you?” Hannah asked.

“Nothing like a dame to rescue a prince charming in distress. And when I win? You sell your property to me?” Chase smirked.

Hannah kept her poker face in place, one thing she had perfected from playing cards with her father. That, and her pool talent. “I’ll pass.” She knew she couldn’t wager something she couldn’t deliver on, even though she had no expectations of losing the bet.

Chase laughed. “Just what I thought. All talk and no action.” He racked up the balls and pointed his pool stick at Herb. “I guess you’ll have to do instead.”

Meg pulled Hannah back to the far end of the bar. “Be careful. Chase is the last person you want to be in debt to. You may be a good pool player but it’s not worth it to risk being in Chase’s clutches. Besides, Cal is a big boy and he can handle his own problems. Don’t let his good looks fool you.” She signaled to her brother for refills.

When Michael arrived at the end of the bar with the beers, Meg asked him, “What rumors have you heard around here about Vern having a girlfriend?”

“Only that he had at least one. Kelley was fit to be tied trying to get the scoop on what he was up to.”

Hannah asked, “Angry enough to kill him?”

“Sure,” Michael said, “but she was only one of many. What’s your interest anyway?”

Meg said, “Hannah inherited Caroline’s business. She doesn’t want to end up like Vern.”

Michael leaned close to Hannah. “Better watch your step. What I heard is that Caroline made a deal with Vern. She was pretty disappointed that you hadn’t shown more interest in her and her business.” He wiped the counter with a damp rag. “Whoever knocked Vern off has an agenda to get that property one way or another.”

Chapter 11

Meg huddled closer to Hannah. “Why show up now and not when Caroline needed the help? Are you sure you’re up to the challenge of taking over her business?” Her tone was challenging and gruff.

Hannah stared at Meg. She knew this question was a test and that she wanted Meg on her side. This no-nonsense woman had an inside track with the locals, she had been Caroline’s right hand helper, and at this point, Meg was exactly who Hannah needed. But she had to play her cards just right to gain Meg’s loyalty.

“My plan, and Caroline knew this, was to finish my education before moving here. Caroline was independent, not exactly a hidden quality. She never asked me for help.” Hannah finished her beer. “I don’t know what she said about me to everyone around here, but she never pressured me to come and help. I believe that Caroline thought everyone should figure out their own path, and she was a firm believer in a good education. Maybe only as a backup plan, but still, she valued my choice. And I had no idea she was leaving her business to me. Not until I got the call from her lawyer.”

Meg slouched against the counter. “Well, I’ll be. All along I assumed you were an ungrateful, spoiled, no good kid—just waiting for her to die so you could waltz in here and relax on the beach.” Meg slapped Hannah on the back. “So, what’s your next step?”

“I won’t be selling, if that’s what you’re beating around the bush trying to figure out. I’ve heard the question, ‘are you up to the challenge’, at least three times in the last two days. Do you want to know the answer?”

Meg nodded, leaned back, crossed her arms and let her lips twitch up into a grin. “Can’t wait. You’re full of surprises.”

“I don’t know if I
am
ready or not, but there’s only one way to find out. Sometimes you’re faced with a fork in the road and I’ve decided to take it.”

Meg’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Hannah left a ten dollar bill on the table and slid off the bar stool. “Either path will lead me to something new and I’m staying in Hooks Harbor, taking the path to get Caroline’s business back on its feet. Are you coming too?”

Meg took the money and stuffed it into Hannah’s pocket. “I’m beginning to see a sparkle of Caroline in you. Of course I’m coming. I’m not going to miss this exciting ride.” She slapped her hand on the bar. “Hey, Michael, tonight’s on me. Add our drinks to my tab.” Leaning close to Hannah’s ear, she whispered, “He never makes me pay.”

Michael waved to his sister as Meg and Hannah left the bar.

The crisp night air revived Hannah and cleansed most of the stale smoke from her lungs. “Interesting place, Meg.”

“Interesting—such a safe word. Say what you really mean!”

“Okay,” she raised one finger and counted off, “smelly, funky, dark, and dingy, with a touch of down to earth atmosphere.” She glanced sideways at Meg. “How’s that work for you?”

Meg laughed. “Much better. You nailed all the best qualities of the Pub and Pool Hall.”

“No, I thought it was the
ub
and
Poo
All
.” Hannah exaggerated the words. She was definitely feeling relaxed and was enjoying herself more than she probably should be.

“You crack me up. Just like Caroline used to. Boy, do I miss her, but,” Meg bumped her hip into Hannah, “you’re on your way to filling her shoes.”

Meg dropped Hannah off at her cottage. When Hannah looked at Jack’s house, a light was still shining through the edges of the curtains. Was he still up? She decided to walk over and knock softly. He’d either hear her or not. Hannah wanted to bring Nellie back to her cottage for company.

The quiet sound of conversation seeped through the front door. Hannah knocked. Nellie woofed. The conversation stopped and the door opened.

Jack’s shoulders sagged but he invited Hannah in.

“I hope I didn’t wake you up.” She looked around to see who he had been talking to but discovered it was only the T.V. flickering silently.

“Can’t sleep. Did you come for Nellie?”

“If you don’t mind. I like the company, especially at night.”

A slight grin formed at the edge of Jack’s lips. “I knew she was the right dog for you. Do you want to sit for a few minutes? Tell me about your evening with Meg?”