Mystery Noir

Sweet Interludes # 1

I was sitting at the table eating breakfast when Penny sat down across from me and slid a newspaper across the table. While I glanced down at the circled classified ad, she used a spare fork to eat two my sausages. I frowned as I read the listing out loud. "Commercial and Residential space for rent. Large lower level offices with frontage to Main Street and three-bedroom apartment upstairs, fully renovated. Three and a half baths, half bath on the lower level, with a kitchenette."

When I glanced up to Penny, she grinned and took a drink of coffee from my cup, nodding happily. "Perfect, huh?"

I turned my attention to putting jam on my toast, eating a bite before shrugging. "Perfect for what? And who even does classified ads nowadays?"

"Mawaska does." Penny nodded to the window that overlooked the far end of MainStreet. "Perfect for you. You need a base of operations, why not here?"

"I have a very secluded cabin that few people know the location of, and all my clients contact me via email or phone. In fact, Mawaska is a horrible place to be, because we don't want people to know it exists." I shook my head, taking my coffee cup back when the waitress came with a cup for Penny, who ordered a breakfast platter for herself.

Penny took her time measuring out several spoons of sugar and a couple little things of cream, stirring the coffee and finally taking a slow swallow. "Well, your cabin is good for... I dunno, when you want to go write a memoir or something, but this place is nice. And having a front here and a place to stay would probably be cheaper than the hotel. You don't have to give anyone the address, stick to the email and phone, but at least you... we... have a place to work out of. You told me you want to help people find this place, help Mawaska help people. So why not?"

"I didn't plan on making a habit of coming back here." I scowled at my breakfast as I speared a potato wedge. "I didn't ask those two to come kidnap us and bring us back either."

"Safer with them than us staying at the B&B or something till you got better." Penny shrugged, before offering a gentle smile. "And I really like Mo, but I don't think you'd want to have been laid up with the Broadick's all this time either."

I frowned at her, before finally conceding with a nod. "Alright. If it had been just me, I would have snuck out, tried to make it back to my cabin and curled up on my bed until I could move again. It's been effective in the past."

Penny's expression grew sad then, watching me for a long moment, before shaking her head. "You've been so alone..."

The sympathy, the look of concern and empathy on her face unsettled me, causing me to clear my throat and shake my head gruffly. "Nah. I'm independent. But we're off topic. I've agreed to help Mawaska, but I don't know if I could settle down roots here. I'm an outsider."

"You ever wonder if you're an outsider because you let no one get close to you? You make everyone else outsiders, but that just isolates you." Penny paused as the waitress returned, delivering her food.

I watched the other woman eat her eggs and waffles, sipping my coffee as I contemplated her words. "I hired you, didn't I?"

Penny smiled brilliantly at me and nodded. "And I'm totally your sidekick, but we need a bat cave."

"And why do you think I can afford it?" I snorted and rolled my eyes, though I couldn't fight the grin coming over my features.

"It's pretty cheap. And I'm sure the Mawaska First Bank here will give us a mortgage if you asked. What other bills do you have?" Penny asked before shoving half a waffle into her mouth.

I laughed softly and shook my head, raising a curious brow. "Property taxes on my cabin. Gas and food. My employee."

Penny gave me a smug look, though we didn't talk anymore about it until we finished, when she grabbed my arm and pulled me down the street to where the beautiful Victorian-style house stood. It had a wraparound porch and immense picture windows that looked into the main floor. I could only imagine that there once used to be a sitting room and a parlour, with a kitchen and dining room in the back, but now the entire floor was open, with large black beams supporting the ceiling. There was a back counter with a sink, small fridge and a tiny stove, some built-in bookshelves on one wall, and a door that must have led into the bathroom or something. In the back corner was a staircase that spiraled up to what I could only assume was the second floor.