Death Waxed Over - Tim Myers [44]
Jubal was alone in his shop, a sign I hoped meant that my customers were starting to come back to me. “Harrison, good of you to come by. Is your candleshop closed this morning?”
“No, I’ve got an assistant running it when I’m not there.”
He sighed. “It’s an incredible amount of work, operating a shop by yourself, isn’t it? It’s no wonder Gretel invited me down here to work with her. Frankly, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep the place open.”
“What about Hans? Has anyone heard from him?”
“The attorney tells me he’s doing everything in his power to locate him, but to be honest with you, I don’t know how much luck he’s going to have. Hans never was my favorite. I’d walk through fire for Gretel, but her brother is a different story entirely. Greed ruled him.”
“Do me a favor, Jubal. If you do hear from him, would you let me know?”
“More idle speculation, Harrison? I was under the impression that things were quieting down.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
He picked up a copy of The Gunpowder Gazette. “It’s more what they’re not saying than what they’re printing. You haven’t been mentioned in days.”
“I suppose that’s something to be thankful for, anyway.” I glanced at my watch and realized that if I was going to have time to drive out to Mrs. Jorgenson’s before my shift started, I’d have to get going.
As I headed for the door, I said, “Remember, call me if you hear from him.”
Jubal nodded and I left him to his candleshop.
Mrs. Jorgenson’s car was nowhere in sight when I pulled up in front of her house, though she had a huge garage that was a completely separate building. I walked over and tried to peek inside, but the tinting was so dark I couldn’t see a thing. Her butler must have noticed my arrival, because he opened the door before I’d even had the chance to knock.
“I’m afraid Mrs. Jorgenson is still unavailable.”
“Come on, I just want a few words with her.”
“So sorry,” he said, then closed the door on me.
So much for the direct approach. I had no doubt she was in there somewhere, but if I was going to make amends, I was going to have to find another way to do it than face to face.
I drove back to At Wick’s End wondering how I was going to manage that. By the time I got back, I was no closer to an answer than I’d been before. I went upstairs to my apartment and made a quick sandwich, then headed down to the candleshop for my shift.
Eve met me at the door, breathless. “Harrison Black, where have you been?”
“I’m not due to come in until noon. Didn’t you look at the schedule?”
She said, “I know that, but it was an awful time to be away from the shop.”
“Oh no. What did I miss?” It seemed like the few times I left the shop to Eve, something happened that needed my attention. I wasn’t about to stay there around the clock, though. Soon after I’d taken over all of River’s Edge, I’d learned my time away from the place was important for me to maintain my sanity. I could well sympathize with Jubal’s fatigue at working every hour his shop was open.
Eve said, “Mrs. Jorgenson came by an hour ago. She was quite upset that she’d missed you.”
“I was at her place trying to get past her butler. Did she say what she wanted?”
Eve shook her head. “No, all she would say was that she’d talk to you some other time.”
“How did she act?” I asked.
“Harrison, you know it’s impossible to tell that woman’s mood from her expression or behavior. She’s always so stone-faced it’s a wonder she doesn’t freeze like that.”
I’d seen a few cracks in that facade since I’d started teaching her candlemaking, but even I had to admit they were rare in their appearances.
She studied me a moment, then asked, “So what are you going to do?”
“Eve, there’s nothing I can do. I’ve tried to get past