Pamela Tracy - Clandestine Cover-Up

She blinked, and he could see that the idea that the church was the catalyst hadn’t occurred to her. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t give up that easy, which meant he needed to stick around a while. Since she wasn’t going to agree with his suggestion, he made another. “So, I take it instead of letting it rot, you’re going to hire me on to help renovate.”

“Why make some other handyman a target when you already fit the bill?”

He liked that, even with all that was going on, she still had a sharp tongue. Working with her and for her would never be dull.

On Monday, after several hours of cleaning trash away from the church’s main room, Tamara heard a noise. It sounded like a creak that accompanied a footfall. She silently straightened and slowly turned, wishing her back wasn’t to the front door. Her purse, with the mace inside, was in the attic on top of the desk.

Did she have time to run and get it?

“Hello,” a woman called loudly. Then seeing that Tamara was right in the main room, she grinned. “Oops, didn’t see you there.”

The woman at the door definitely didn’t look dangerous. She looked friendly and welcoming.

“I’m Angela. I own the bookstore next door. I was wondering if you’d like to go across the street for lunch. Since we’re about to be neighbors and fellow businesswomen, I thought we should maybe get to know each other.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m covered with dust and look a mess.”

“Oh, that doesn’t make any difference. Tali and Sharon have been watching you all morning. They want to meet you, too. This is a great street. Most of the merchants work together. Sharon has my business cards on a table in her restaurant lobby. I send people over there to eat. Never thought this old church would ever stop being vacant. So, you’re a lawyer? You don’t look like a lawyer.”

Tamara had to laugh. Usually, people didn’t have any trouble believing her vocation. “I’m a lawyer. Right now I just happen to be a lawyer masquerading as a handyman. I’m opening up my own practice.”

“Well, I admire any lawyer willing to get her hands dirty. Come have lunch. My treat.”

“But I’m covered with—”

“It’s after one, the lunch rush is over. There are probably only ten people at the restaurant.”

There were twelve, but that was counting Tali and Sharon Rasmussen, who joined Angela and Tamara the moment they were seated.

Tali was a big, black man who didn’t fit the persona of who Tamara imagined would be the owner of an Italian restaurant. He towered over his wife, who was short, curly haired and animated.

Actually, they both were animated and—Angela was right—they were both eager to meet her.

“We’re glad somebody’s doing something with the property,” Tali said. “It’s been neglected for so long.”

“Not neglected,” his wife said. “Lonely. Vincent keeps up the grounds and such, so it hasn’t hurt property values, but talk about a waste of space.”

“So what are you planning to do with the building?” Tali asked.

She started to answer, but before she could, he continued, “We’ve seen you with Vincent. Are you planning to hire him? We can recommend him. He works for Konrad Construction during the week. They remodeled our house.”

“And Vincent hired on afterward and put up a shed for us,” Sharon added.

Tali pooh-poohed, “That took all of an hour. I could have done it had you given me time.”

“I gave you time,” Sharon disagreed. “We had the building materials for over a year.”

“Tell them what you’re going to do with the old church,” Angela interrupted.

“Open my own law practice,” Tamara said easily.

Tali leaned back. “Ah…then, we heard right.”

Before he could say anything else, the waitress came, orders were given, and Sharon took over the conversation before her husband could.

“We were saying that a lawyer is just what Vince needs.”

“Sharon,” Angela warned.

“What? You think Tamara isn’t going to find out about—”

“I already know Vince,” Tamara said. “He’s best friends with my sister’s husband.”

Angela nodded. “That’s why you looked familiar. I can’t believe I didn’t see the likeness earlier. I knew I’d seen the red hair before. You’re Lisa’s sister.”

“Big sister.” Tamara turned to Sharon and asked, “What about Vince needing a lawyer?”

“Not Vince,” Sharon said. “His family. Mainly Vince’s brothers and definitely his uncle Drew.”

Tamara took a drink of her iced tea. “Vince hasn’t mentioned them.”

Of course Vince hadn’t mentioned his family. A year ago, during the wedding, their focus had been on Lisa and Alex. Two weeks ago, when Vince came to Tamara’s rescue, it had all been about Tamara. Yesterday, on the porch, it had been all about Tamara again.

“So,” she encouraged, “Vince has an interesting family?”

They all nodded their heads.

“He has an active family,” Tali said.

“Not like they used to be,” Angela said. “Vince and Darren both are decent sorts. Vince built the bookcases for my store. Darren works on my car, and he doesn’t charge an arm and a leg.”

“How big is Vince’s family?” Tamara asked.

“Not that big,” Angela said. “Vince’s mom, his brothers and then there’s Drew, who’s past eighty.”

“Drew’s pretty much a recluse now,” Sharon said. “Last time I saw him, he was shaking so bad I thought he’d need help getting into that old truck of his. Not that anyone would necessarily feel brave enough to help him.”

“I’m glad I didn’t see that,” Tali said. “Someone like that shouldn’t be behind the wheel.”

Sharon turned to Tamara. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard Drew’s name. He’s the one who scares people. I told Jake about Drew because last time I saw him, when he was shaking so badly, was right in front of the old church.”

“When?” Tamara asked.

“The day you found the sign painted on the door.”

Now Tamara saw why she’d been invited to lunch. It wasn’t that they wanted to get to know her, but that they wanted to get to know more about what was going on.

“He was in front of the church,” Sharon continued. “Tali and I were opening up the restaurant.”

“Jake didn’t mention him.” Tamara felt a bit flushed. Maybe Vince had more than his job connecting him to the old church. “Is Drew tall?”

“Yes. All the Frencis are tall. But if you’re thinking he painted the words, not possible. Drew shakes too much. I think he has Parkinson’s. If he painted the words, you’d not be able to read them.”

“Was he the only one you saw?” Tamara inquired.

“That early in the morning, yes. Later on, I saw a few people who parked in your lot. Some folks still park in the old church’s parking lot if the street gets crowded and Friday is one of the busiest days here at the restaurant.”

“Kids play ball there in the lot. Skateboard, too,” Angela added.

“Did Drew say anything to you or anybody?” Tamara asked.

“Drew doesn’t talk to people—he snarls,” Angela said. “It wasn’t the first time he’s stopped at the old building. These past few weeks, he drives by often. I told the sheriff.”

“Define often,” Tamara urged.

“He started driving by near the end of April. I remember because I was putting Easter decorations up and saw him. I maybe saw him once or twice a month. This month, he’s driving by about every morning. Sometimes he stops.”

Tamara now had a few questions to ask Vince, number one being why he hadn’t mentioned his uncle’s presence on her property that day two weeks ago.