At Wick's End - Tim Myers [16]
I said, “Eve, there’s nothing to forgive. You have every right to feel the way you do, but you should know that I want to stay here and keep making’ candles with you. I can’t wait to learn more, and I’m most appreciative you’re willing to teach me.”
Was that a hint of rose on her cheeks? “That’s why I’m here. Would you like to help me get ready for the day? We need to start by pulling stock from the storeroom.”
“I’ll do it,” I said. “I need to learn my way around sometime, and you showed me where everything was yesterday.”
“It’s just as well you handle that,” Eve said. “Belle was very particular about anyone going in the stockroom but her. She knew where everything was all the time, and she didn’t want anyone disturbing her system. As a matter of fact, the only time she’d let me step a foot inside was if she needed help. I just wish she’d asked ...”
As her words faded, I stood there again, not knowing what to do to offer her comfort. Eve took a deep breath, then seemed to calm herself.
Before I could disappear in the back, Eve said, “I noticed you had a visitor last night after hours.”
“How in the world could you know that?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, I’m no Sherlock Holmes,” she said laughing. “There was a puddle near the door, and I noticed a damp towel in the bathroom.”
I nodded. “The sheriff came by, and I happened to be down here looking around when the storm hit. He nearly drowned out there.”
Was it my imagination, or did Eve’s eyes harden for just an instant? “And what did he want with you?”
“He came by to offer his condolences about Belle. I’d been hoping he was following up on the break-in upstairs, but no such luck.”
Eve looked surprised by the news. “What are you talking about? What break-in?”
And here I’d thought the tenants at River’s Edge were all prescient. “Somebody broke into Belle’s place looking for something yesterday. Twice, to be exact. They made a real mess of things.”
“What in the world could they have been looking for? Belle didn’t keep any money or jewelry around her apartment, she didn’t believe in owning expensive things. Frankly, I can’t imagine anything there worth taking the risk of being caught.”
“I have no idea. Don’t worry, though, I changed the locks, so it won’t happen again. Did you happen to have a key to Belle’s,” I asked softly.
“Now why would I have one of those? We worked together, Harrison, but our private lives were just that.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I quickly said. “I just thought she might have left you a spare in case something happened to hers.”
“Well she didn’t,” Eve said abruptly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a great many things to do before we’re ready to open.”
The storeroom was locked, but I wasn’t about to ask Eve about any more keys if I could help it. I walked back to the small cubby of an office that aspired to be a broom closet in another life and started my search. Eve pointedly ignored me as I walked past her. She earnestly scanned the shelves, making notes on a clipboard as she worked. Now what had I said to offend her so? I wasn’t looking forward to tiptoeing around my own employee, but at the moment, I needed her a great deal more than she needed me. It appeared I’d have to wear soft-sole shoes for some time to come.
It didn’t take long to find the key, as it was hanging on a nail near the entrance. Thank goodness there was a faded tab taped to the key that identified it.
In fact, there were two nails on the wall behind the office door, side by side, and I couldn’t help wondering if that was where Belle had kept a spare key to her apartment. It would make it handy for her, and Eve would certainly have known about it. But I’d already asked her about the key, and she’d denied having one. I thought back about precisely what she’d claimed, and suddenly realized that Eve hadn’t said a word about having access to a key, just that she hadn’t had one in