Julianna Morris - Honor Bound

“Nonsense. Henry will drop by tomorrow.”

Kelly groaned to herself. “That isn’t necessary, but why don’t you both come to dinner on Saturday? I can’t remember the last time you were here.”

Actually, they hadn’t been to her place since Ben’s move to Sand Point. She made a face. Could she be jealous about Ben and Toby moving to Oregon? Before now she’d only needed to share Gina and Henry on his brief visits.

“That would be lovely,” Gina said, interrupting the unpalatable thought. “But don’t go on the deck until we’re sure it’s safe.”

“You’re just afraid that if I break my neck, you’ll miss my apple pie,” Kelly teased.

“I do love your cooking. Oh, dear!” Gina exclaimed. “I forgot that Toby and Ben are coming to dinner at our place on Saturday.”

Kelly winced. Gina wouldn’t understand if she didn’t extend an invitation to them, as well. “They’re welcome, too, of course,” she managed to say. Having Toby would be fine; he was already her favorite Sunday school student. But Ben? Maybe he’d make an excuse and send Henry and Gina and Toby without him.

“I’ll let them know,” Gina said happily. “Isn’t it wonderful having them here?”

Yeah, wonderful. Until Ben decided he missed the city and broke his aunt’s and uncle’s hearts by moving back. Did he realize how much he meant to them, or how thrilled they were that he’d made Sand Point his home?

“Yes. I’ll see you Saturday—let’s plan for five o’clock so Toby can have an early night.” Kelly said goodbye and switched off the phone. It was just as well that Henry hadn’t been home. Overreacting could become a habit, and she didn’t want to be scared of every creak and bump around the house. A woman needed to take care of herself.

She scratched Frodo’s neck. He yawned and went back to sleep. Human problems didn’t bother him.

Kelly swung her feet onto the couch. Paranoia aside, her biggest problem was putting up with Ben every day at City Hall.

And now on Saturday evening.

Darn it.

“BEN?”

“Yup?” Ben saw his aunt come into the kitchen. He was on his back under the sink, repairing the leaky drain—Henry was great with anything electrical, and terrible with plumbing.

Unfortunately, Henry didn’t know he was terrible, so Ben was taking care of the leak while his uncle was out of town.

“I just got off the phone with Kelly. She’s asked us all to dinner on Saturday. Will that work for you?”

“That’s…fine.”

Ben made a final adjustment on the drainpipe while he adjusted his expression. There was no way that Kelly had asked him to dinner without encouragement from Gina.

“Apparently there’s a problem with her deck railing,” Gina went on, unaware of his tension. “She wanted Henry to check it for her, but when I said he’d gone to Portland for the day, she asked us all to come on Saturday.”

Ben swallowed an ironic comment. Kelly must have invited his aunt and uncle to dinner, then been forced to invite him and Toby, as well.

“That’ll be nice,” he said, at the same time thinking it was late for Kelly to ask Henry to come over. “How did she sound?”

“A bit edgy when she first called. But she’s dreadfully independent. She never asks for help. I remember after…” Gina’s voice trailed and she looked unhappy. “It doesn’t matter. She’s gotten through it.”

Ben frowned.

Kelly never asked for help?

“I’ll go now if you’ll watch Toby,” he offered. He would give a lot to see Kelly’s face if he showed up at her doorstep unexpectedly.

His aunt shook her head. “You know I’m always delighted to watch Toby, but she seems all right. When I suggested you might be able to come instead, she said it could wait.”

Naturally.

Gina put the kettle on the stove. “How about a cup of tea? I’ll make cocoa for Toby and we’ll have some of the lemon cake you brought from Klinghoffer’s Bakery. Or would you prefer coffee?”

“Tea is good.” Ben tried to shake off a vague concern. He was tense between having two murders to solve and trying to prove himself as police chief.

Yet Ben couldn’t sleep for a second night in a row. His feelings about Kelly were getting confused again, which was the last thing he needed.

The next morning Ben left Toby with Gina and headed to City Hall a few minutes early. He generally got to the station when Kelly was visiting the corner coffee vendor, and since she was regular as clockwork, it was safe to assume he could catch her there.

Ben ordered a plain cup of coffee as he waited. Kelly seemed perfectly fine when she arrived. “Hi, Larry,” she called, barely flicking a glance at Ben.

“Morning, Kelly. One tall mocha ‘Why Bother’ and a blueberry muffin, ready to go.” Larry extended a paper sack and cup.

“Thanks,” she said, giving him the money. Her smile must have dazzled the guy, because he stood stock-still, holding the bills and watching her walk away. Or maybe he just enjoyed the view—Ben couldn’t deny that Kelly was easy on the eyes, whether coming or going.

“Why is it called a ‘Why Bother’?” he asked, following her.

Kelly jumped. “It’s a sugarless, nonfat, decaffeinated latte, that’s why.”

He grunted. “I wouldn’t bother, either.”

“I like it.” She took a defiant swallow. “Unlike some people, I don’t live on caffeine and sugar.”

“Oh? Is that a nonfat, sugarless muffin in your bag?”

A hint of pink brightened her cheeks and he grinned. He’d forgotten how much fun it was to tease Kelly.

“What do you want, Santoni?”

“I want to know if there was something you should talk to me about.”

She stumbled and he caught her elbow. “What do you mean?”

“Last night. Did you really call Henry about the deck, or was it something else?”

“Oh.” It could have been Ben’s imagination, but she seemed relieved. “I was overreacting. There’s no need to get into it.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Overreacting to what?”

“When I was out on the deck it felt as if I was being watched. So I checked from the kitchen window and didn’t see anything. Well…maybe there was a dark shape in the bushes. It made me uncomfortable, that’s all.”

Ben drew her to a halt. “Someone was trespassing on your property and you didn’t call 911?”

“I didn’t say someone was trespassing. And besides, I called Henry. Thankfully he was on a trip to Portland, so nobody got inconvenienced for something so silly.”

“That’s what the police are for. How long was the person there?”

Kelly looked at him, exasperated. “I told you, I don’t know that anyone was there. And even if there was, it could have been someone out for a walk who wanted a look at the ocean.”

“In the dark?”

“There was plenty of light from the moon. The water was beautiful, that’s why I was outside myself.”

“Let’s go.” Ben marched her to the parking lot.

“Hey, where do you think we’re going?” Kelly demanded.

“To your house to investigate.”

“I have to work. The mayor expects his morning report.”

“Tell him to take a hike. This is more important.”

She seemed about to argue further, but got into his Jeep Cherokee and took out her cell phone. “Viv?” she said after a moment. “I’m going to be late, but I’ll try to be there by nine…. No, nothing’s wrong…I’m just delayed because someone is bored and needs something to do.”

Ben snorted.

Hardly bored with someone threatening the mayor and two murders to solve.

“Will do.” Kelly closed the phone and looked at him. “If you insist on doing this, I live on Sea Front Drive.”

“I know.” He cleared his throat and turned north. “Henry pointed it out once when we were driving around town.”