Mobsters and Lobsters (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) (10 page)

“Nine? I’ve got to talk to Pearl Martini and I hope she can answer some questions. She arrived here with one of these treasure maps, too. I’m beginning to think that Great Aunt Caroline had a plan. I just haven’t figured out the details. Yet.”

Meg cleaned up the lobster roll wrappers. “What about your grand opening?”

Hannah held both hands out to her sides, palms up. “Not much I can do. Pam doesn’t give one hoot about my problems. She’s probably secretly happy to be ruining my opening.”

“I have an idea.”

“Spit it out.” Hannah leaned forward again, anxious to hear Meg’s suggestion.

“Michael has a kitchen at the pool hall. How about serving lobster rolls, clam chowder, and Caroline’s famous slaw over there? You’ll attract all the locals, maybe some tourists, and, mostly likely, the motley crew of gangsters. Michael will love the exposure. He’ll sell lots of beer. You could even raffle off something.”

“You’ve given this some real thought.” Hannah flicked the end of her braid on her cheek.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Raffle off a weekend in one of your cottages. The whole event could benefit the library. Cal’s sister told me they don’t have any money for new books.”

“I like this idea except it will be a big hit in my pocketbook. I don’t know if I can swing it.”

“Let me worry about that, too. I can scrounge up some donations. We’ll make it work out for you, Michael,
and
the library. Are you in?”

Hannah paused, considering how much this little venture might cost her. “I’m in. With one condition.”

“Oh boy. I’m sure I won’t like it.”

“How about,” Hannah leaned toward Meg in a conspiratorial manner. “How about we raffle off the original, the one and only, treasure map from Great Aunt Caroline.”

Meg roared with laughter. “Are we bringing her back to life to spook everyone?”

“I only care about spooking out the killer before Ruby gets charged with Lenny’s murder. Or worse—someone else ends up with a knife in their back.”

“All because of a silly treasure map?”

“There are at least six people in town I’m betting don’t think it’s a silly map. And that number was eight a couple of days ago. Care to make a guess as to how many more will be killed off?”

“As long as those scumbags keep killing each other, it cleans up the gene pool.” Meg laughed.

Hannah slapped her arm. “You are one bad influence, Meg. Now, get out of here before Pearl shows up. I don’t want to scare her off before I convince her to help me.”

“With what?” Meg narrowed her eyes and studied Hannah’s face.

“I want to know who that first victim is.” Hannah filled Meg in on Ruby’s background with Lenny. “Maybe the short, fat, now-dead guy is the connection between Lenny and the killer.”

“You better be careful. How do you know you can trust Pearl?”

“I saved Petunia from being shot by one of the detectives this morning. She owes me.”

Meg shook her head. “You are treading into dangerous waters, Hannah. I hope your Great Aunt Caroline doesn’t regret starting her little joke about the buried treasure.”

“It’s a bit late for her to regret much of anything. Unfortunately. And I have to clean up the damage. Somehow.”

Chapter 12

With Meg helping Jack find the
original
map that he had stored someplace, Hannah brought her attention back to Ruby’s iPad and the images from Lenny’s camera.

Something caught her eye in the photo. A set of knives, with one missing, rested on a table in the photo of the short fat guy. Hannah zoomed in on it. Was the missing knife the murder weapon?

She cropped the photo and printed the image of the short fat guy so she’d have something to show Pearl. The knife would have to wait. Hannah was positive that Officer Pam Larson would
not
miss that detail.

The sound of little feet trotting up her porch steps spurred Hannah to close the iPad and move it out of the way. Pearl, with a tiny bit less bravado than was her usual manner, tapped on the door. “Hellooo? Hannah?”

“Come on in, Pearl. Are you hungry? I have a delicious lobster roll for you if you’re interested. It’s supposed to be my signature food at the snack bar grand opening, but . . .” She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. “That’s not happening on schedule.”

“Oh dear.” Pearl made herself comfortable at Hannah’s table. Petunia rooted around the room, digging in Nellie’s dog bed. “How can I help?”

Hannah placed the lobster roll in front of Pearl. Even though she didn’t say she wanted it, who could resist? Tender chunks of fresh lobster meat, without all the work of cracking open the shell of the whole crustacean was a win-win. Hannah also had treats on hand for Petunia—a couple of grapes for her, and a homemade dog biscuit for Nellie.

“I’d love a cup of coffee too, dear. If it’s no trouble.”

Hannah poured two mugs and joined Pearl at the table. “I’m hoping you can help me.” Hannah slid the image of the short fat guy across the table toward Pearl. “Any idea how to find out who this is?”

Pearl took a big bite of the lobster roll as she studied the image. “I’ve seen this guy before.” She set the paper down, tilted her head, and looked up at Hannah. “But I’m not sure where. Why?”

Hannah sensed that Pearl was hiding something.
Did
she know who the short fat guy was? “How did you
really
get that map from Caroline, Pearl? And why did you show up in Hooks Harbor now? A year after Caroline died?”

Pearl sputtered and coughed, pretending her coffee went down her windpipe but Hannah could tell it was all for show. “You know, Hannah, you remind me a lot of your Great Aunt Caroline. No beating around the bush, just straight for the jugular. Let me tell you something you probably don’t know about her.”

Hannah leaned back, wondering if what Pearl was about to tell her was fact or fiction.

“I was always in Caroline’s shadow.” She fluffed her hair. “You might find that hard to believe, but it’s true. Caroline had all the self-confidence in the world and I was always filled with self-doubt. She didn’t need a red sports car to get attention. Or a cute potbelly pig to keep her company. Caroline knew what she wanted and she got it. Always.”

“What does all that have to do with the guy in the photo?”

“I’m getting to that. It was maybe a year and a half ago, or a little more, I’m not sure. Anyway, I came here to visit Caroline. I know. I told you I hadn’t seen her for years. No one knows I visited. Caroline suspected she wouldn’t be around for too many more years and she wanted to be sure this business didn’t just crumble and disappear.”

Hannah nodded.

“She had a plan to get visitors to come to town. Bring in some business. Have a little fun.”

“The treasure map,” Hannah guessed.

“Right. The treasure map. And she let me take on the project. She had the idea but not the energy for the planning. The only stipulation was to wait until after she died.”

“You mailed the letter with the map to yourself?”

“Sort of. The short fat guy in the photo you just showed me did some work for Caroline. On the side. Under the table. She didn’t want anyone to associate him with her. He mailed it for me. And the other maps too. For a real live treasure hunt.”

“How many maps are out there?” Hannah was skeptical of Pearl’s story.

Pearl shrugged. “I’m not sure. But Caroline kept the original.” She leaned toward Hannah with a glint in her eyes. “So, we can help each other. You want to know who that guy is and,” she leaned back with a satisfied grin, “I want the original map.”

Alarm bells clanged in Hannah’s head and her stomach did a flip-flop but she forced herself to keep her face neutral. “Interesting proposition. I’ll think about it.”

Pearl’s eyes widened. “So you have it?”

“No.”

“Oh. Well, the deal’s off then.” She wiped her hands together for emphasis.

“I know where it is.” Hannah decided to use her trump card to flush out the rest of Pearl’s scheme. By now, Hannah was convinced Pearl was up to no good and was only out for the treasure. For herself. Apparently, Great Aunt Caroline never shared the hoax part of her buried treasure plan.

Pearl’s hand slapped the table. “I knew it. I was never sure the whole thing was for real or not, but how else did Caroline keep this place afloat? Look around. I bet you’re trying to figure it out, too. There’s not enough coming in with the cottages and snack bar to even pay the taxes. She had to have another source of money.” The edge of Pearl’s lip twitched up. “I think that’s where your short fat guy came in. He came snooping around and I guess someone didn’t like it.” She leaned back in her chair. “We can split the treasure fifty-fifty. How does that sound?”

Hannah stood up and carried the empty mugs to her sink. “Seeing as I have the map, it doesn’t sound very good for me. Would
you
take those odds?”

Pearl rubbed her chin and stared at Hannah. “Don’t kid yourself, honey. You can’t carry Caroline’s lunch bucket in the bluffing department. You
need
my help.”

Hannah placed both hands on the table and leaned inches away from Pearl’s face. “I don’t think so. The map is all I have to keep me from being the next one to get a knife in my back.”

Pearl laughed. A deep evil laugh. “And what’s going to protect your sister Ruby and her sweet little girl Olivia? Huh? Answer
that
.”

Hannah felt her hands turn to ice. She reached down and gave another treat to Petunia but never took her eyes off Pearl’s face. “I’ll protect them. Just like I always have.”

“You are a stupid girl, Hannah Holiday. Caroline would be so disappointed in you and your recklessness.” She pushed herself out of the chair. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. I’ve waited too long to lose this treasure now, to the likes of,” she waved her hand, “you. I was patient waiting for Caroline to kick the bucket, but my well of patience is almost on empty. You better watch your back.” She walked to the door. “Come on Petunia.” She turned her head to look at Hannah one last time. “By the way, I need more towels in my cottage. Your rude employee, what’s her name? Meg? She refused to give me extra towels for Petunia’s baths.”

The door slammed and Hannah sank into her chair. Nellie leaned against her, providing a bit of comfort. She stroked the soft fur until her hands stopped shaking. She wasn’t sure if it was from fear or anger. Probably both.

Hannah looked around the small cottage that she now called home. “Okay, Great Aunt Caroline, I could use some help right about now.”

Footsteps clumped on her porch, startling Hannah. Her heart raced. Was Caroline sending her help or was Pearl coming back to kill her?

“You look like you just saw a ghost,” Jack said as he entered the cottage without knocking. “What’s going on?”

Meg followed behind Jack. “Ready to hear our plan?”

“It has to be better than the last plan that was thrown in my face fifteen minutes ago.” Hannah was skeptical that there was an easy solution.

Meg and Jack looked at each other, puzzled by Hannah’s frustrated tone. Hannah summarized Pearl’s proposition and looked expectantly at her two friends. “What do I do now? She basically threatened Ruby and Olivia if I don’t hand over the map.”

Jack rubbed his hands together and smiled. “I love a challenge. I’ll take care of Pearl. Caroline always said Pearl
thinks
she’s smarter than she is.” He checked the time. “You and Meg should get over to the Pub and Pool Hall. Drop some hints about the map and your raffle plans. Believe me, word will spread like wildfire.”

“What about Ruby and Olivia? They’re sitting ducks in that little house.”

“Tell her to stay here at your place. Nellie will protect them,” Jack said. “Call her now. I’ll wait until they get here. Then Pearl and I will have a good time. Maybe I’ll even let her take me for a spin in that sporty red car of hers. One thing I know about Pearl is she eats up flattery like others eat up creamy delicious chocolate bon bons.”

Chapter 13

Meg and Hannah drove to the Pub and Pool Hall. Meg insisted on driving her run-down, rattle-trap of a car. She said it would fit in with the local color better than Hannah’s yuppie Volvo station wagon. Hannah didn’t argue. She watched through the window as the houses of Hooks Harbor got farther apart and she tried to ignore the spring poking into her butt.

“When is Michael going to fix those lights?” Hannah asked when they finally bumped into the pothole-filled parking lot. “Isn’t he getting tired of seeing
ub and Poo all
?”

“He
has
fixed it several times, but someone always climbs up on the roof and knocks the same lights out. I guess it’s become the joke around the pool table. Michael’s afraid that one of these times, whoever climbs up will be so drunk they’ll fall off, break a leg, and sue him so he’s leaving it as is.”

Hannah laughed. “Then he’d have to change it to
u sue all
.”

“Not funny, Hannah.” But Meg did let out a small chuckle. She patted Hannah’s leg. “Ready to channel your inner Caroline and hit this place with both feet on the ground?”