“Effie would have adored you, and she would have found you perfect for Pep.” My mom turned to me. “She would have been planning your wedding by now, and believe me, she would have made it memorable.”
I would have given my mom a warning about mentioning a wedding, but I spotted the glistening of tears in her eyes and knew her words were spoken out of love for Aunt Effie.
My mom sniffled back her unshed tears and asked, “This may sound crazy, but do you think your aunt’s safety deposit box has anything to do with what those bank robbers were after today? Marie told me their only interest was in the safety deposit boxes.”
“I knew they weren’t after money,” I said. “They didn’t touch the registers. They went straight for the safety deposit boxes.”
Ian agreed. “They were in and out fast. Too fast. Like they knew exactly how long they had before the police arrived and what they were looking for.”
“Which means they knew something was in one of those boxes,” I said. “Something worth the risk.”
My mom nodded and smiled. “Another mystery to solve.”
Ian and I both answered in unison. “Absolutely.”
My mom sighed and reached for her tea. “Your first order of business would be to get the names on the safety deposit boxes, but that won’t be easy since the bank has strict rules.”
I grinned. “But they would be in the police report.”
My mom shook her head. “I have a duty to uphold as mayor, and so does your dad as sheriff. Those files are not for your eyes.”
“But Dad?—”
“Was lax at times in sharing information with you, though mostly you got it out of him without him realizing it. That is not going to happen while I’m mayor. I won’t have anyone thinking that I’m playing favorites.”
Ian leaned back with a grin. “You are going to make one great, honest mayor, Mayor Maidson.”
“That’s my plan,” my mom said with a broad smile.
Our meals arrived and we started to dig in when I spotted Beau heading our way.
“Hey, got room for one more?” he asked when he reached us.
I noticed his easygoing tone didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Ian stood immediately, giving his friend a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Always. mate. What brings you here?”
“That work meeting was rescheduled last minute,” Beau said, sliding into the seat next to Ian. “Thought I’d grab something with Amy since I was free, but she’s busy. Are you sure I’m not crashing a family lunch?”
“You are family, Beau,” my mom said with a pat to his arm, then waved to the server so he could order something.
He got a club sandwich like me.
“It’s my fault Amy has been so busy,” my mom said. “I don’t know what I’d do without her help with the summer festivals or how she’s been able to completely reorganize the Willow Lake Historical Society. Membership has gone through the roof since she took over. I swear, that girl could organize a hurricane and come out with matching napkins and thank-you cards.”
Beau offered a chuckle and a nod, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His smile didn’t even make it halfway.
I noticed it instantly.
“You okay?” I asked because I couldn’t just let it go. Something obviously was disturbing him, and I had a feeling I knew what it was.
“Yeah. Just overworked by a relentless boss,” he said, with a forced chuckle and a quick look at Ian.
“Then maybe it’s time for a few days off,” Ian said, clearly noticing it too.
But neither of us pushed. Not yet.
Conversation turned light as we enjoyed our meal, and when we were nearly finished, my mom’s cell rang.
