“Many times. At the bookstore, knocking on my door at the house. I’d see him at the market and he’d start again with his offers. He always made it seem like we’d just run into each other by accident, but I think he was following me around.”
“Why is he so adamant about buying your house?” Lin was thinking out loud. “Is he from the island?”
“I tried to get information from him about why he was so interested in this particular house, but he wasn’t very forthcoming. I asked a few people about him and I looked him up on the internet. His name is Greg Hammond. He runs a large landscape design business, does a lot of patios, walkways, stone walls, things like that, in addition to landscaping with plants. He’s got a house and a big barn and greenhouse out towards ‘Sconset way.”
“Your house wouldn’t fit his needs if he’s a running a business like that.”
“He says that he’s keeping his present property. He wants my house, too.” Viv frowned. “But why? Is he crazy or is there some legitimate reason to want it so badly?”
“We should look up his background. Maybe discreetly talk to some of his employees or customers. I could approach someone he’s done work for and tell them I was thinking of hiring him and ask how things went with him.”
Viv nodded. She seemed to be thinking something over. She made eye contact with her cousin and lowered her voice. “I keep thinking there must be something in particular about my house. Its history? Its design and layout? I don’t know.”
Lin smiled. “Maybe there’s a huge oil deposit under the house. He’ll tap into it and make millions.”
That comment elicited a loud chuckle from Viv. Her big blue eyes sparkled. She was just about to say something else when her boyfriend, John, and her assistant manager from the bookstore, Mallory, walked into the restaurant at the same time and hurried over. John gave Viv a kiss and then he greeted Lin with a hug. Mallory and Lin had met a few times. The two women greeted each other warmly.
The waitress returned and took drink orders from the two newcomers.
Mallory looked across the table at Viv. “Guess who I saw storming up the street just now?”
Viv made a face. “Let me guess. Was it Mr. Crazy House?” Viv, John, and Mallory had christened Greg Hammond with the more descriptive name. “He spoke with me just a few minutes ago, or should I say ‘argued?’”
“Ugh. That guy won’t give up.” Mallory shook her head. She couldn’t believe that Hammond had spoken with Viv twice in the same day. “He seems to be getting more desperate.”
John’s eyes narrowed and his lips turned down. “This worries me.” He put his arm protectively around his girlfriend’s shoulders. “I don’t like it. Why don’t we go to the police station tomorrow? I think it’s a good idea to have a report of this man’s harassment on record.”
“My very words,” Lin agreed.
Viv’s eyes darkened. “Why can’t he leave me alone?” She groaned. “I guess you’re right. Let’s go to the police station later in the afternoon though. I don’t want to be away from the store in the morning. All the regulars come in for coffee and pastry. I like to be there then.”
With that decided, the group dug into their meals and the talk turned to music and books and movies. Even though she was enjoying herself, Lin couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her chest because of Greg Hammond’s pestering of Viv. Not only that, but she was still disturbed by her hallucination of the man in the back field appearing in her photograph.
When the girls had been in their early teens, Lin had shared with her cousin that she was able to see spirits. She braced hard for Viv’s response, but Viv was excited by the news and wanted to hear all about it. She didn’t think Lin was crazy or weird or a liar.
It was the first time that Lin could remember having felt valued and respected for who she was with someone other than her grandpa, and it made her feel that she could tell her cousin anything. Lin had planned to tell Viv about the photograph during dinner, but she didn’t get the chance because of the talk about Greg Hammond and his quest for Viv’s house.
A musical group set up in the corner of the restaurant and started to play Irish folksongs with a rock edge. After just a few bars of the first song, the clientele was clapping hands, stomping feet to the beat, and some were singing along. Lin and the others stayed until after midnight enjoying the company of the crowd and the upbeat music.
After calling it a night and saying goodbye to everyone, Lin walked up Main Street under the streetlamps. As she headed for home, worry over Viv and the man in the photograph caused a heavy sense of dread to fall over her shoulders like a heavy, woolen, eighteenth-century cloak.
Chapter 4
Up early the next morning, Lin and Nicky strolled down Main Street into town. A soft breeze off the ocean kept the early morning air clear and comfortable. Lin planned to stop at Viv’s bookstore/café for some tea and something to eat before heading off to open a bank account and arrange with the cable company to come to the house to install internet.
The brown dog wagged its tail at everyone they passed. The animal was under the impression that all humans, cats, and dogs were his friends, and he was shocked to discover on rare occasions that he was wrong.
When Lin arrived home last night from having dinner with Viv and the others, Nicky dragged himself off his blanket and met her, sleepy-eyed, at the door. She let him outside for a few minutes and then the two stumbled into the bedroom and fell asleep. Once Lin started her landscaping job, the small brown dog would join her on her rounds, but on evenings when she was out or had other things to do, she didn’t like the poor creature to be stuck in the house so she’d arranged for a carpenter to come and give her an estimate on the installation of a doggy door.
When they reached the bookstore, the front door was open, a bowl of water was set out for any dogs passing by, and two huge pots of flowers stood to the side. The bookstore had dark wooden shelves stacked with paperbacks and hardcovers and several tables stood in the center aisle displaying bestsellers and books recommended and chosen by the staff. In the rear of the space was the café with a counter to place orders for drinks or treats. Several groups of comfortable sofas and chairs were placed near the counter area, and tables and chairs were clustered to one side. The cozy shop had tin ceilings and gleaming wood floors.
Viv’s store was always crowded with customers reading on laptops and handheld devices, paging through books, and having a bite to eat or something to drink. Her dark gray cat perched on an easy chair observing the goings-on. Dogs were welcome in the store as long as they got along with the queen of the domain.
Nicky’s tail wagged at the sight of the cat and he approached slowly. He rested his head on the easy chair with his snout only an inch from the lovely cat’s paws. She watched him for a moment, and then placed one paw gently on the dog’s nose.
“The queen has given her blessing.” Viv came around the corner of a bookshelf. “Do you think they remember meeting before?”
Lin scratched Queenie’s cheeks and the cat purred. “I bet they remember each other.”
Nicky jumped onto the easy chair and snuggled next to the cat. Queenie moved closer to the arm of the chair away from him, but she allowed the friendly animal to stay.
“Whoa.” Viv’s eyes bugged out watching the interaction between the cat and dog and she chuckled. “That is a first.”
Lin shook her head at the dog’s bold move as she walked to the counter to order tea and a cornbread muffin. “Any early morning visits from Mr. Crazy House?”
Viv rolled her eyes. “No, but the day is young.” She gave a forced smile. “I got here late. I slept through the alarm because of our late dinner last night.”