“I realize you don’t get a lot of tourists here on the island,” she said to Brenda, “but are they such a rare species that everyone in town turns out to view a specimen?”
Brenda giggled and leaned closer, on the pretext of collecting the menu. “It’s true, we aren’t exactly a destination stop in the San Juans. We’re not Friday Harbor, that’s for sure. Most folks don’t even know that Legacy exists, and that’s the way people around here like it. The biggest event here all year is coming up next week, that’s the annual Coppersmith technical summit. The employees of the R-and-D lab and their families fill up the lodge and the bed-and-breakfast places. There is always a big barbecue on the last night. The whole town is invited.”
“What makes me so interesting?”
Brenda winked. “The fact that you’re staying out at Sam Coppersmith’s place, of course.”
“He doesn’t have a lot of guests, I take it.”
“Are you kidding?” Brenda straightened and did an eye roll. “He hasn’t brought a lady friend here since his fiancée was murdered.”
“The way I heard it, they were not engaged.”
“Well, they weren’t. She got killed before they could make it official. But everyone on the island knew that Sam was going to marry her. Losing her like that just about broke his heart.”
“I see.”
“There was a lot of nasty talk after he found the body. Online, they were calling him Blackbeard. They said any smart woman should be scared to death of him.”
“Bluebeard,” Abby said.
“Huh?”
“Bluebeard was the name of the seventeenth-century nobleman who was in the habit of murdering his wives, not Blackbeard.”
“Oh, yeah. Whatever. Anyhow, the fact that he brought you here is a very big deal. Means his broken heart is mending.”
Abby watched Sam walk down the street toward the diner. He had just come out of the post office, but he wasn’t carrying any mail. He nodded at the people he passed. They greeted him in a comfortable, relaxed manner.
Newton, secured to a post by his leash, spotted Sam approaching and got to his feet to greet him.
“No one from around here believed for a single minute that Sam had anything to do with that poor woman’s murder, you know,” Brenda whispered earnestly.
Abby watched Sam pause to scratch Newton behind the ears. “I understand. They believed he was innocent because they knew him and knew the family. They couldn’t imagine him committing murder.”
“Well, sure, everyone knows the Coppersmiths. They own most of the island. But that’s not the reason we all figured Sam didn’t kill his fiancée.”
“What was the reason?” Abby asked politely. She braced for the answer she knew was coming.
“Simple,” Brenda said, with an air of triumph. “Like my dad says, if one of the Coppersmith men decided to murder someone, you can bet there wouldn’t be anything left behind to tie him to the scene. Either it would look like an accident or else the body would just disappear. Not that hard to make that happen around here.” Brenda nodded in the direction of the small bay. “Lotta deep water out there.”
“I’ve heard that theory,” Abby said.
“Yeah, well, obviously you don’t think he killed that poor woman. You wouldn’t be here if you did, right? Oops, gotta go.” Brenda grimaced. “The boss is giving me one of his get-back–to–work looks.”
She whisked herself off in the direction of the coffee machine.
Sam opened the door and walked into the diner. Every head in the room swiveled in his direction. There were several rounds of cheerful greetings. Sam responded to the friendly gauntlet with the easy familiarity of someone who knows everyone in the room.
He made his way to the booth where Abby sat alone with her coffee, and lowered himself down onto the vinyl seat on the other side of the table.
Brenda materialized instantly, a thick mug and a pot of coffee in her hands.
“Morning, Sam,” she said, her cheeks pink with excitement. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thanks, Brenda. How’s your grandmother? Heard she was having some problems.”
“She went to see that specialist in Seattle, like your mom suggested. They ran some tests, and he put her on some new meds. They seem to be working. Her blood pressure is under control again.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.”
Brenda poured the coffee and gave him a dazzling smile. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, coffee is fine for now. We’re waiting for my folks. Dixon is bringing them over from Anacortes. Should be here in a few minutes.”
“It’ll be nice to see them again,” Brenda said.
She went back behind the counter and started to pour coffee.
The background noise of conversation that had faded for a bit returned in full force. Sam raised his mug to swallow some coffee. He stopped when he saw that Abby was looking at him.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“No,” Abby said.
“Okay.” Sam shrugged and took a sip.
Abby glared. “Don’t be dense. Do you realize that everyone in this diner, probably everyone in town, assumes that we’re involved in a relationship?”
Sam struggled with that question for a few seconds and then gave up. “We are involved in a relationship.”
“Maybe, but it’s complicated.” She tipped her head slightly, to indicate the crowded restaurant. “Your neighbors here don’t understand the nuances. They think we’re in a more personal relationship.”
“Yeah.” Sam drank some more and lowered the mug. He smiled. “That, too.”
She leaned forward. “I’m concerned that there will be some widespread misunderstanding here, Coppersmith. This is your home, not mine. What about the gossip?”
“What about it? This is a small town and a small island. Gossip is the lifeblood of the community.”
“You’re not taking this seriously, are you?”
“What do you want me to do? Stand up and announce that we’re sleeping together but that we’re not involved in a personal relationship?”
She sat back and drummed her fingers on the table. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Relax. You don’t care what anyone around here thinks. Once this situation is finished, you’ll never see any of these people again, right?”
She did another staccato drumroll and narrowed her eyes. “Right.”
“Good. Glad we got that sorted out.”
She gave him a steely smile. “Like my dad says in his book on modern marriage, communication is the key to a good relationship.”
“Absolutely. Here comes Dixon’s water taxi.” Sam put down his mug, got to his feet and pulled some money out of his wallet. He dropped the bills on the table. “Time for you to meet the parents.”
Abby slipped out from the booth and collected her tote. She walked side by side with Sam, past the curious stares and polite farewells.
Brenda waved a casual good-bye. Abby wiggled her fingers in response. Outside, on the sidewalk, Newton greeted her in his customary over-the-top style. She freed him from the post and wrapped the end of his leash around her wrist.
They walked along Bay Street and watched the water taxi ease into the dock. There were only two passengers on board. The resemblance between Sam and the broad-shouldered, silver-haired man was unmistakable. Same fiercely etched features, same fiercely determined eyes, Abby thought. It was not all that hard to imagine Elias Coppersmith surviving a murder attempt and escaping an underground explosion with a cache of dangerous paranormal crystals. Not so hard to envision a man like this going on to found an empire like Coppersmith Inc., either.
A trim, attractive woman with discreetly tinted blond hair stood beside Elias Coppersmith. Her hands were thrust deep into the pockets of her jacket.