“Next?” Sheila said in her nifty brogue.

“Hey, Sheila. Guess I’m next. Clam chowder, to go. Please.”

As she fixed my chowder, I touched the stack of papers, pulling my pocket back just enough to read the address.

Mrs. Olivia Wheaton. No Chandler yet.

Great. There might be something very useful for me in these correspondences. I only hoped they weren’t some steamy love notes from Devin. Then again, Devin looked as if he didn’t know how to write.

After grabbing a stack of napkins, plastic spoon and package of oyster crackers, I paid for my lunch and hurried back the several blocks to Highcliff Manor.

Neal’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, which made me relax a bit. Not sure if I was up to seeing him after last night when he’d seen me-all of me. I smiled to myself and went inside.

Lydia was at the computer, so I quickly said hi and went to the elevator. It felt as if she was staring at me. At my pocket. As if she knew I had “borrowed” the letters. Yikes! Quickly I got onto the elevator that seemed to open its doors just in time as I heard Lydia call my name.

I stepped inside the elevator, pretending that I didn’t hear. Hey, I knew myself well enough to know that lying about taking personal property was not up my alley. I would have spilled my guts to her even if she had no suspicions at all.

When I opened the door to Goldie’s room, I was relieved to hear him snoring away. Thank goodness. Jackie was bustling about the room and stopped to look up when she heard me.

Hm?

Had she been snooping around Goldie’s personal belongings? Did she suspect us or was she more of a thief, since I recalled her making that comment about not being able to afford eating out for lunch.

Damn it. My mind was reeling out of control. Had to be guilt eating away at me. I walked in and smiled at her. “Hey. How is he?”

“Sleeping like a baby since you left. I was just straightening out the place.” She lifted a pillow from the chaise lounge, fluffed it and set it back.

I looked around. “The place looks perfect.” As it had when I left.

Seemed Jackie needed watching.

I let out a breath and wondered if I was overly suspicious of everyone around there. They all couldn’t be involved!

Or could they?

Goldie moaned.

Jackie and I swung around in his direction. I hurried to his side and leaned over. “Hey.”

“Suga?”

“None other. How you doing, Gold?” Before he could answer, I looked up to see Jackie gone-without a word. Hm again. Weird if nothing else.

“Do you need anything?” I asked, sitting down on the chair next to him.

“Water. Maybe water.”

“Sure, hon.” I poured some fresh ice water into a cup and held it out toward him. “Take it slow.”

He did, then leaned back and sighed. “Hell of a dream after taking those narcs, Suga.”

I laughed. “Oh yeah? Spill. Was I in it?”

“Ouch. Don’t make me laugh. Yes, you were in it-” He looked around the empty room. “And you and you and even Toto.”

“Oh, stop. Hey, Gold, listen to this.” I proceeded to tell him about my snooping, the letters, and whatever I’d learned about Lydia. Not wanting him to worry, I left out my suspicions about Jackie. I’d keep my eye on her myself.

“Wow. Read me the letters.” He lifted himself up on his elbows then flopped back down.

“You’re still too high on your meds, silly, and besides, I wouldn’t want someone walking in or listening outside the door. For several reasons, Gold, I don’t trust too many folks around here.”

“I hear you, but what about the good doc?” He chuckled then said “Ouch” again.

“Well, I trust him,” I said.

Goldie looked at me, whistled and said, “Good for you.”

“Stop trying to get my mind off delicious Jagger.”

“Touché.” He rolled over and moaned.

“Get some more rest, Gold. I’ll be in the chair by the window if you need me.”

“Perfect. Peek at a letter or two and let me know what you find out. If anyone comes in, they’ll never suspect you took the letters from the office.

I walked to the chair, sat down, put my feet up on the ottoman and thought Goldie had a good point.

Except for the heavily bandaged woman-who even I didn’t recognize.

After making sure Goldie was set for the night, I hurried out and jogged back to the lodge. Thank goodness no one was around as I ran up the stairs-oh so eager to read the letters. Even if old Samuel flew past me, I’d ignore him.

A cold breeze touched my cheek as I opened my door. “Okay. I get it. You read minds. I’m busy now though. Beat it.”

My skin warmed. I laughed out loud and flopped onto my bed but not before pulling all the letters from my pocket. Turned out that there were only seven of them, but someone had lovingly packaged them up in a ribbon.

For a few seconds I contemplated not opening them.

It was so prying to read someone else’s personal letters. They had to be personal and probably sensual by the ribbon, the handwriting and the fact that they were snail mail and not e-mail.

Still, two men were dead and fraud was being committed here in Newport.

And someone had followed me and Ian had knocked me out.

I slowly untied the ribbon, not wanting to cause any damage. After all, I had committed a crime even if they were only letters, so no need to do any damage.

My hands shook as if they knew we shouldn’t be doing this. But I managed to get the first one open. It was over twenty years old and the handwriting rather messy. Had to be from the guy. The lover.

My darling…

Soon my vision blurred and a tear dropped onto my pillow. The guy had really been in love with the woman, but it sounded as if their parents wouldn’t allow them to be together. Wow. Sure sounded like some movie of the week or a Brontë novel. It went on to say that they could meet secretly on Cliff Walk near the Chinese pagoda.

“I’ve seen it,” I whispered.

How romantic! I got the sense that these two were very young, probably still teenagers since he talked about movies and television shows. After three more letters I sat up, blew my nose for the thousandth time and decided they hadn’t gotten me anywhere other than a romantic read. Not even any names or return address on the letters.

Obviously two forbidden teen lovers. I called them Romeo and Juliet in my head and hoped they actually didn’t do away with themselves.

Before I could wrap the letters back up exactly as they were, there was a knock at the door.

“You eating tonight?” Jagger asked.

My Romeo, I thought, and then told myself the letters had made me crazy. Crazier than usual. “Come in.”

“You should lock your door,” he said as he opened it and stepped in. “What’s wrong?”

There was genuine concern in his voice. Nice. “I’m fine. Work related. What are you up to eating?” I asked.

“Whatever. What type of work related thing makes your eyes bloodshot?”

I rubbed my eyes. “I’ll explain over dinner. I’m actually hungry. Let’s just go to The Market. I don’t want to fuss.”

Jagger took me by the shoulders, leaned forward and kissed my forehead. Then he moved to my cheeks.

How sweet, I thought, until his lips met mine-and sweet would not be the word I’d use to explain how I felt-because for a fleeting moment I felt as if I’d cheated on Jagger and should confess.

Within seconds, and still in Jagger’s arms, I told myself that was ridiculous. We had no commitment to each other. No words of feelings had ever been spoken. Hell, who even knew what our feelings were? I sure didn’t, although if he kept me in this embrace much longer I’d be professing my supposed love and asking him to get hitched.

I eased back.

He seemed reluctant as he let go then he turned toward the door. “The Market it is,” he said as if nothing had happened.