A Killer Plot (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

worry about a thing while you’re here, dear.” Sensing Olivia’s impatience, she finally answered the original question. “Now I could tell that Mr. Ford had been doing his best to get to know folks from our town, from fishermen to librarians to little Dixie Weaver. He also talked on his cell phone quite a bit.” She flashed a look at Cosmo. “Please understand. I make it a point to give my guests their privacy, but because this whole house doesn’t get the best reception, Mr. Ford often talked out on the front porch and I’d hear bits and snatches now and then. When I was tidying up and such.”
    Olivia didn’t buy this explanation for a moment. Annie was clearly an inquisitive innkeeper. “Did you hear any bits and snatches on Saturday?” she asked.
    “All I know is that while he was talking on the phone, he wrote down the name of our little park south of town—the one right on the river with the bird plaques and that old Civil War cemetery. If you can even call it a cemetery. It’s just a few graves, really.” She shrugged. “Mr. Ford planned to visit the park that very afternoon, though he wasn’t wearing the right shoes, if you ask me.” She clucked her tongue in disapproval. “He also told the person on the phone that he was real interested in what he had to say and would like to meet in person. And I only know this much detail because Mr. Ford came to me in search of pen and paper. I didn’t hear anything else.”
    “Well, that’s quite a comprehensive tidbit,” Olivia mused aloud and turned to Cosmo. “Was Camden a nature lover?”
    “Of course not.” Cosmo grimaced at the idea. “The man hated the outdoors. Give him air-conditioning and double-paned windows or he’d complain like a starlet who’s lost her sunscreen! In LA, Cam only went outside for Starbucks or the newspaper.”
    “Therefore, going to the Neuse River Community Park would be out of character?” Olivia pressed.
    Cosmo leaned forward on his elbows. “As out of character as me going to a women’s fashion show to ogle the models instead of the clothes.” He shook his head. “I’m assuming there’d be bugs at this park too? Mosquitoes? Ticks?” He shivered in distaste. “He’d only go there if he could borrow a hazmat suit!”
    “I don’t think our souvenir shop keeps those in stock.” Olivia took a sip of coffee. “Truly excellent brew, Annie.” The innkeeper flushed. “Can you tell us anything else?
    What was Camden’s mood when he came home to change for the evening? And what time was that?”
    Annie looked out the window. “Let’s see. I was in the kitchen making scones to put in the freezer. I had to stop to register the Parker couple and ring Roy to carry their luggage upstairs. That must have been around six because the scones were already in the oven when I saw Mr. Ford.” She tapped her watch. “Must have been a bit after seven when he came down from his room. He’d been in jeans and a cotton shirt that afternoon, but he was fresh as a spring day in white pants and a pink shirt. He smiled and gave me a friendly wave but didn’t stop for a chat like he usually did. Still, his eyes were twinkling, like a kid on Christmas Eve. He was real worked up, like he couldn’t wait to get where he was going.”
    Cosmo sighed. “So he wasn’t scared when he left. Cam wanted to see this person. But he didn’t meet a person. He met a monster !” His voice cracked and his eyes filled with tears.
    Pushing her chair away from the table, Annie got up and put an arm around Cosmo and squeezed. The young man leaned back into her pillowy chest. Olivia also rose. She and Annie exchanged a look. They both knew Cosmo needed to be taken under someone’s protective wing and Olivia hoped her face portrayed her relief over sharing the responsibility with such a capable woman.
    “I think you should stay at The Yellow Lady,” Olivia whispered gently to Cosmo. “You’re perfectly safe here and Annie and Roy can care for you better than I ever could. If you stayed in the cottage, you’d have to cook your own meals, make your own bed, and you’d be all alone. Besides, I don’t even own an iron.”
    Cosmo waved his hands in front of his face and blinked away a fresh round of tears. “I have got to get a grip!” He sniffed several times. “Okay. Since you two insist, I’ll stay here and be spoiled, but don’t you try to disappear on me, Olivia Limoges!”
    “The thought never crossed my mind. I’m only