A Flicker of Doubt (Book 4 in the Candlemaking Mysteries) (14 page)

“
Why should I believe you?”
I asked.

“
Harrison, frankly I don’t
give a rat’s tail if you do or not.” He studied me a moment, then
said, “You have no intention of selling out, do you? You know what?
I don’t need your land anymore. I’ve got another piece of property
all but sewn up.”

“
Did you have anything to do
with the guards at Cyrus’s place? I can’t get in to see
him.”

Runion didn’t look surprised by the news,
but I wasn’t sure that meant anything. “The old man’s got guards
now? Maybe he just wants his privacy.”

“
And maybe he’s a prisoner
in his own house.”

Runion laughed at the accusation. “Sure,
that’s it I’ve got the old man sewn up tighter than a bug in his
own place. Harrison, you’ve got a good imagination there, boy. Now
kindly clear out of my office, I’ve got serious work to do. Go make
a candle or something.” I got up, leaving his door open as I
left.

He called to Jeanie, “After you see Mr.
Black out, come in here and take a letter.”

I told Jeanie, “You don’t have to walk me
out, I’m leaving.”

She got up anyway. “I need to stretch my
legs.” Jeanie surprised me by walking out to the sidewalk with me.
When we were outside, she said, “He’s doing something with Cyrus,
and it’s shady, if you ask me. Be careful.”

“
I will. Thanks for the
warning.”

“
You don’t understand.
Harrison, I know Greg acts like a jerk, but he’s worse than you
think. He’s gotten tied up with some folks who are nothing but
trouble, and I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

I’m not backing down, Jeanie. Cyrus Walters
is a friend of mine, and I don’t let my friends down.”

She touched \my arm. “I know how you are,
I’ve heard about your streak of nobility. I’m just saying you
should watch your back.”

“
I plan to.”

I started to walk off when Jeanie called
out, “So, is it fun making candles?”

“
You should come by At
Wick’s End. I’ll give you a candlemaking lesson, on the
house.”

She smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but I
pay my own way, Harrison. I might really come by, though.”

“
You’re always welcome
there, you know that.”

The office door opened and Runion stuck his
head out “I didn’t ask you to walk him to his car. Come on, we’ve
got work to do.”

“
I’ll be there in a minute,”
she said.

Runion obviously considered arguing the
point, then he saw the severe crease on her brow. After her boss
was gone, Jeanie said, “I’ll keep my ears open. If I hear anything
about Becka or Cyrus, I’ll let you know.”

“
Thanks, I
do appreciate that. Jeanie, is it safe for you to cross Runion like
this? I don’t want you to take
any
chances on my account.”

“
It’s sweet of you to ask,
but I’ll be fine. I had better get back in there, though. I’ve
pushed him enough today. Bye, Harrison.”

“
Good-bye.”

As I drove back to River’s
Edge, I felt happier than I had since I’d found Becka’s body. With
Jeanie spying for me on the inside, I didn’t have to confront
Runion
anymore.

Still, there had to be something I could do
about Cyrus.

I was halfway back to River’s Edge when it
hit me. I Suddenly I knew exactly what I had to do.

Chapter 11

As soon as I got back to River’s Edge, I
raced upstairs to check the telephone book. There was one person I
knew who would give me the information I was after. I just hoped
she was working today.

Frannie Wilson answered on the third ring.
“Registrar of Deeds,” she said efficiently.

“
Frannie, this is Harrison
Black. I need a favor.” Frannie laughed. “That’s the only reason
you ever call, isn’t it? The last time you needed a favor, you at
least dragged your hind-end down to my office.”

“
I would have visited you,
but this is kind of urgent. Do you know how I can get hold of Ruth
Nash?”

Frannie thought a moment then said,
“Harrison, why are you looking for Cyrus’s sister? I heard he was
giving you the brush-off, and I’m not all that eager to make that
family mad at me. Is Cyrus really trying to keep you from visiting
him?”

“
Me and everyone else in
Micah’s Ridge. Frannie, something’s wrong, I just don’t know what
it is. Cyrus has two guards out in front of his house to keep folks
away. Does that sound like the man you know?”

“
No,” she admitted. “That’s
odd, even for Cyrus. So, you’re going to bring in the big gun, huh?
Yes, I suppose I it’s merited. One thing though, Harrison. If Cyrus
is through with you, I want you to promise me you’ll drop
this.”

“
I give you my word. I just
want to make sure he’s all right.”

“
Then I’ll give you Ruth’s
number.”

After she read it off to me, I said,
“Thanks, Frannie. Did you know it by heart?”

“
Dear me, no, I’ve got
enough useless information clouding my thoughts as it is. I looked
Ruth’s number; up in my little book when you mentioned her name.
I’d say to pass my regards on to her, but I’ve got a feeling Ruth
isn’t going to be all that happy to hear from you.”

“
I swear, I won’t tell her
how I got her number.” Frannie laughed. “You won’t have to, she
probably already knows.”

“
What do you mean? How could
she?” “Ruth has always believed she’s psychic. If you can make that
play to your advantage, it might help your cause. But you need to
tiptoe around it. She’s sensitive about the subject”

“
Thanks, I’ll remember
that.”

After I hung up with Frannie, I took a few
deep breaths, then dialed the number she’d given me. The telephone
was answered crisply before it had the chance to complete its first
ring.

“
Hello?”

“
Wow, that was fast,” I
said.

“
I was standing by the phone
when it rang,” an older woman’s voice said. “Would you prefer it if
I hung up so you could call me back? I’ll let it ring a dozen times
before I answer the next time, if you’d like.”

“
That won’t be necessary,” I
said. She didn’t sound all that thrilled with my call in the first
place, and I had a hunch if I did as she suggested, she’d never
pick up the second time.

“
Then I’m glad we’ve
dispensed with that. Now, how may I help you?”

I thought, You’re psychic, don’t you already
know? I kept that to myself, though. “My name is Harrison Black.
I’m calling about your brother.”

“
How odd. I’ve been thinking
about him a great deal lately.”

“
It’s imperative that you
visit Cyrus as soon as possible. He’s living behind two armed
guards, and he won’t let anyone see him.”

“
And what is that to you,
Mr. Black?”

“
Please, call me Harrison.
I’m a friend of your brother’s, and I’m worried about
him.”

“
He’s a grown man, Mr.
Black,” she said, ignoring my request for informality. I was losing
her; I could hear it in her voice. It was time for desperate
measures.

“
Mrs. Nash, can’t you feel
his aura from there? I’m afraid your brother is in some kind of
trouble. Surely his spirit is calling put to you, his closest
relative?”

She paused, then said, “It’s obvious you’ve
been talking to Frannie. Don’t bother denying it There was one
incident in our childhood, and she’s branded me a lunatic ever
since. You don’t believe in special gifts, do yon?”

She had me there, and I couldn’t bring
myself to lie.

“
Honestly, I’m not sure what
I think. If you believed in aliens, and for all I know you do, I’d
tell you little green men were here if it would help get you to
Micah’s Ridge to check on your brother.”

“
What I believe or choose
not to believe is none of your business, and I’d appreciate it if
you’d drop your references to the psychic world when you speak to
me. What exactly is it that you suggest I do, Mr.
Black?”

“
Visit him,” I said. “I’ll
go with you if you’d like.”

“
I can’t leave here. I have
responsibilities to my daughter and her children.”

“
What about to your
brother?” I asked. After the words escaped my mouth, I realized I
had probably pushed her too far.

I was nearly ready to apologize when she
said, “You’re right; of course I’ll come. It’s going to take me a
few days here to arrange for someone to watch the children, but
I’ll be there as soon as possible, I promise. How do I find you
once I’m in town?”

“
I’m at the River’s Edge
complex,” I said. “It’s next to your land on the Gunpowder
River.”

“
So that’s why you’re
interested in my brother.”

“
The land development was
what made me go see him in the first place, I freely admit that.
But I’m worried about Cyrus right now, and it’s got nothing to do
with what’s happening next door to me.”

“
We’ll see if that’s true
when I get there,” she said. “Until then, Mr. Black.”

“
Good-bye,” I said, but
she’d already hung up. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle Ruth
Nash when she came to town, but the important thing was, if anybody
could get through to Cyrus, it would be her. For the moment I was
going to have to forget about my friend and hope things were okay
until his sister could get there.

I glanced at the clock and realized I’d left
Eve alone long enough. It was time to sell candles again.

Markum was outside the candleshop waiting
for me when I showed up.

“
Have you been waiting
long?” I asked. “I didn’t realize we were going to meet this
afternoon.”

“
I had some time to kill, so
I thought I’d come by. Do you have a minute?”

I looked through the bay window in front of
At Wick’s End saw Eve watching us. “I’d really better get inside,
but you’re welcome to come in.”

He shook his head. “No, thanks. That woman
doesn’t like me, and she’s not afraid who knows it.”

I wanted to tell him he was being paranoid,
but it just happened he was right. Eve had expressed a dislike for
Markum and his way of life since the day I moved into River’s Edge.
Still, the candleshop was mine to run, and if I wanted Markum
there, that was all that counted.

“
Come on in,” I said. “She
won’t bite.”

“
Listen, I don’t want to
cause any friction between you two. What I’ve got can
wait.”

I held the door open. “She needs to accept
you, Markum; you’re a part of River’s Edge.”

He walked inside, though it was obvious he
was reluctant to do it.

Eve stared at us both
frostily, as if we’d brought a legion of germs in with us.
“Sorry I took so long,” I said. “Markum and I
need to talk.”

She refused to even acknowledge his
presence. “I’m taking my dinner break now if you can spare me.”

Since there wasn’t a single soul in the
candleshop besides the three of us, that didn’t look to be a
problem. “That’s fine,” I said.

She grabbed her jacket and was gone in a
heartbeat.

Markum grinned after the door closed behind
her. “You’re right, there’s no tension there.”

“
What exactly does she have
against you?” I asked.

“
She doesn’t approve of my
lifestyle.”

I put my coat behind the counter and asked,
“Why not? I’m surprised she even knows what you do.”

Markum laughed. “That’s what bugs her so
much. She doesn’t have a clue how I make my living. All she knows
is that I don’t make or sell anything, and that I have a lot of
free time. The rest is in her imagination.”

“
So do you think she’d
approve if she knew more about your line of work?”

“
Are you kidding? She’d
probably try to have me evicted.”

“
She wouldn’t have a prayer,
not as long as I’m in charge.”

“
Harrison, you know what I
do isn’t exactly accepted by the population at large.”

“
Do you steal things from
their rightful owners?” I asked. “Do you cheat the innocent, or rob
the rich? In other words, can you stand to look yourself in the
mirror when you get up every morning?”

Markum pondered my question for nearly a
minute, then said, “I never looked at it that way, but I follow a
code of ethics in what I do, though it’s nothing that formal. I
don’t cheat anybody who didn’t acquire what they got illegally or
immorally, and I’m more interested in restitution than pure
profit.”

“
So we don’t have a
problem,” I said, patting his shoulder.

The big man smiled broadly. “You’re good
company, you know that? If my Russian deal ever goes through, I’m
going to do my best to convince you to come along.”

“
You never know, I might
just take you up on it” I said. “Now what’s next?”

He frowned, then said, “I’m not sure. I
wanted to discuss some kind of strategy with you before I go
muddying up your trail. Have you had any luck on your own?”

I told him about speaking with Runion and
his secretary. Markum whistled when he heard the news that Jeanie
was going to keep an eye on things for us in the developer’s
office. “How did you manage that Harrison? She barely gave me the
time of day when I was Acre.”