“I wouldn’t say no to one of those cinnamon rolls,” Hank said, pulling up a chair to the round table where Bea and Deidre were already seated instead of sliding onto the bench.
Morning traffic had slowed enough that I could catch my breath, though I knew it wouldn’t be for long since the lunch rush wouldn’t be far off.Fortunately, I closed at two on Saturdays.
“I wonder where Walt is,” Deidre said.“It’s after ten.He’s never late.”
“We should call the police and have them do a wellness check,” Hank said.“Leroy Smithers was dead in his house for a whole month before anyone came to check on him.Looked like a slab of beef jerky when they found him.”
“That’s because Leroy was meaner than a junkyard dog,” Bea said.“If he didn’t live on prime real estate on the island it might have been longer.I bet that realtor woman hasn’t peeped in people’s windows since.”
Deidre rolled her eyes.“A lesson learned for everyone involved.Don’t be mean or a pushy snoop.”
“I’ll call Dash,” I said, picking up the phone.They were right.Walt was never late.
But even as I dialed the bell above the door jingled again and Walt came inside.But he wasn’t alone.
The man with him was lean and tan, with silver hair clipped close to his head.He wore pressed khakis and a white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow, and a Rolex on his left wrist.
“Sorry for my tardiness,” Walt said.“But I ran into an old friend and decided to bring him along.”
“We were just about to call the police,” Dottie said.“You scared us.”
“I appreciate the thoughtfulness,” Walt said.“No one wants to end up like Leroy Smithers.”
That seemed to be the consensus.I’d learned old people discussed death quite a bit differently than those of us who weren’t quite so close to it.
“Good to see you, James,” Deidre said.
I didn’t know who the man was, but it was obvious the Silver Sleuths did to varying degrees.
I looked at Carly and Genevieve and said, “Things have slowed down a bit.Clarissa and Audrey should be in any minute and they can take over the counter while you two take your breaks.”
They assured me they were good, and I took the rest of the teas and pastries to the Silver Sleuth’s table and waited for an introduction to the newcomer.
“Mabel,” Walt said.“This is Dr.James Everett.He was Henry Wainwright’s partner.”
“Oh, it’s very nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand.His grip was warm and dry and lasted exactly the right length of time.
“Mrs.McCoy,” he said, smiling.
His dental implants were bright white and perfect, and if I hadn’t known he was pushing eighty I would have guessed him at least two decades younger.Grimm Island was an odd place.The amount of money here made plastic surgery as common a trip to the grocery store or nail salon.Even at his age, he was a very handsome man, but I didn’t recognize him as a customer of the tea shop like I did so many of Grimm Island residents, and I wondered if he still lived on the island.
“Walt has been telling me about you,” he continued.“And of course I’ve read all about you in the paper over these last months.I’m sorry to say this is my first time in your delightful shop.Walt says you make an excellent cup of tea and an unforgettable lemon scone.Though I have to admit I’m more of a coffee connoisseur.Traveling the world as much as I do you develop a certain taste.”
He whispered the words like he was breaking the law and it made me smile.
“Have a seat and I’ll bring you something I think you’ll like,” I said.
He grinned like a boy in a candy shop and scooted in next to Bea, talking with the others animatedly.
Since he’d mentioned he was a world traveler I decided to grind Panama Geisha beans.I prepared the coffee and took a lemon scone from the bakery case and brought both to him.I noticed Walt had pulled up another chair around the table for me.
“It’s hard to beat the smell of a good cup of java,” James said once I’d put his order in front of him.He took a sip and his eyes widened.“Well, well, Mrs.McCoy.It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good Panama Geisha.”
“You know your coffee,” I said.
“As do you,” he said with admiration.
I considered it a high compliment.
