“Only a small ledger, but it didn’t have any notes about the paintings.” Ivy had seen other numbers in the ledger, but she couldn’t make out what they might pertain to. “And a letter.”
“May we see these?”
“Of course.”
Bennett said, “Mrs. Erickson was an avid art collector, but she was also a generous community benefactor. We can only imagine that she was sheltering these works for the owners and artists.”
“Perhaps that’s true, but we would appreciate any information you might have. While we cannot prosecute the dead, we still need to find the truth, as it might help us in other investigations.” Ari pushed back from the table. “Thank you all again—Ivy and Shelly, Mayor, Chief—for doing the right thing and contacting us as quickly as you did.”
After the meeting broke up, Shelly started up the stairs, and Ivy followed her. As Ivy climbed the steps, she thought about the joy that individuals and families would have over the return of their stolen paintings, and this suffused her with pleasure.
However, the news about Mitch was startling, and she could hear Shelly’s angry sniffles just ahead of her. Better now than later, she thought, but she knew Shelly had developed feelings for him. First Ezzra, now Mitch. Another broken heart for her sister.
Ivy couldn’t help but wonder if she could she withstand the same.
Chapter 20
“MITCH, I’VE GOT to talk to you,” Bennett said, placing his hands on the Java Beach counter. “Can you leave for a few minutes?”
“Why not here?” Mitch nodded toward the customers who were waiting for orders. “Line out the door for the early morning rush. “Can it wait?”
“Can’t talk here.” Bennett motioned for Mitch to lean closer. “FBI wants to talk to you,” he whispered.
“Maddy, take over for me for a minute.” Mitch followed Bennett out the side door.
Satisfied they were out of earshot of customers, Bennett pulled out a business card. “FBI agents are in town investigating the artwork in Ivy’s basement.”
“What do they want with me?”
“You helped break the wall down, and you installed a door and a lock.”
“So? I was doing Shelly and Ivy a favor.”
“You also know what’s down there.”
Mitch blew out an exasperated breath. “Look, I really like Shelly. I just wanted to help.”
“Listen, Mitch, I’m trying to do you a favor here. You’ve gotten your life back on track. Don’t mess it up now.”
Mitch held up his hand. “I’ve got nothing to do with the art or antiques.”
“Think carefully. Given your history, they may want to search your home, your boat, your business.”
“Not without cause, they can’t.”
Bennett stared at him. “I hope you have nothing to hide.”
“I swear. I might have been stupid once, but I’ve changed.”
Bennett put a hand on his hip. For Mitch’s sake, he hoped that was true. “If you were tempted in any way, there’s still time to rectify your actions.”
Mitch’s lips separated, and his face took on a genuine look of hurt. “I haven’t let you down, Ben. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“Word to the wise is all.” Bennett bumped his fist and left. Mitch was like a younger brother to him, and he wanted to see him make a success of his second chance.
Mitch went back to work, and Bennett paused on the sidewalk, praying that his friend hadn’t been tempted.
Years ago, Bennett had found him sleeping in the back of his pickup early one morning. Mitch confided that he’d just been released from serving a year in prison for burglary, but he was trying to make an honest living. He’d been selling pastries on the beach, so Bennett had guaranteed his rent for a tiny coffee shack on the beach that was vacant. The city owned the property, and it was before Bennett had become mayor, so there was no conflict of interest.
Bennett had felt sorry for the poor kid, who’d lost both his parents in an accident. Mitch seemed smart, and he needed a break after spending a year in prison for his lapse in judgment. Since Bennett had known him, Mitch had worked tirelessly, and they’d never spoken of Mitch’s past again.
Bennett prided himself on helping Mitch get a foothold on the path to rehabilitation, and he prayed Mitch hadn’t messed up. Given his friend’s previous crime, this was a temptation as big as the moon for him.
Chapter 21
THE NEXT MORNING, Shelly opened the door to Ivy’s bedroom. “Still want to go shopping this morning?”
“Either that or I’m wearing what I have on to the party tonight,” Ivy replied. She wore her usual scuffed running shoes—not that she had run in years—along with blue jeans and a plain white shirt she’d bought years ago at J. Crew or Gap. She couldn’t remember which shop, except that it had probably been on clearance.
Shelly grimaced. “Can’t let that happen. Twenty minutes and we’re out of here.”
Ivy glanced at the clock. Anxiety prickled her neck; by the end of today, they would know why her mother had summoned them here. She’d hardly slept last night, worrying about her parents.
To keep her mind off her mother while she waited for Shelly, Ivy flipped open the book, The T-Shirt & Jeans Handbook, her sister had given her. The feeling that Bennett was awakening in her was spilling into other parts of her life. It had been a year since Jeremy’s death—a year of not caring what she looked like and reaching for the most comfortable clothes in her closet. If she managed to get out of bed.
Now, she had finally crawled out of her self-imposed exile and was rediscovering who she was without Jeremy and without their children. For the first time in her adult, post-college years, she was on her own and free to make her own decisions. It was also time she worked on her outer image. Although her dream of an inn would
