Cookie Dough Catastrophe (A Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mystery Book 9) by Angela K. Ryan

Author:Angela K. Ryan [Ryan, Angela K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: John Paul Publishing
Published: 2024-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

On Friday morning, Anna and Mary walked to Carl Thorton’s bed and breakfast, a few blocks back from the Cove.

He greeted them enthusiastically. “Hello, Mary. Welcome,” he said. He all but ignored Anna, which she tried not to take personally.

He led them into a large dining room, where the kitchen staff was taking the last of the breakfast food away. The faint smell of paint and wood told Anna that he had recently completed a renovation.

“Can I offer you something to eat?” Carl asked.

“No, thank you,” Mary said.

“I’m fine, too,” Anna said, but Carl didn’t seem interested in her answer. Membership on the board of directors had its privileges.

“I was devastated to hear about what happened to Leah Weston,” he said.

“So were we,” Mary said. “That’s why we wanted to talk to you.”

“To me?” Then his eyes brightened. “Are you looking for opinions on which direction to take the camp?” he asked.

“Not exactly,” Anna said. “Like everyone else, we are puzzled, and we’ve been trying to get to the bottom of what happened to Leah.”

“I guess I feel responsible, since I was one of the people who helped bring her to Seagull Cove.”

“I see,” he said, looking as if the wind had been taken out of his sails. “Well, I’m happy to help in any way I can. I’m a big supporter of the camp. But I barely knew the woman.”

“Yes, thank you again for your generous contribution last December.”

He nodded proudly. “You’re welcome.”

“We have a big job ahead of us in hiring a replacement.”

He sat a little straighter. “Oh, yes. I don’t envy you that task. Leah was a very impressive candidate, from what I heard. But perhaps your next choice should be someone a little more forward thinking. Leah was hesitant to make any big changes. I know that Dawn McNichols applied for the position, and I’m sure she will apply again.”

“I’d imagine you’re right,” Mary said.

“She would be a wonderful choice,” Carl said.

“And for the record, Leah was thinking of the future. She was planning to make some changes, it’s just that her top priority was to invest in programs for the local kids,” Mary said.

“Right. But the camp only has so many resources. Sometimes by not committing to any one vision, neither is accomplished.”

This wasn’t going anywhere, so Anna decided to change the topic. “Had you ever met Leah?”

“I met her a few times, but as I said, I didn’t know her well. She stayed at the bed and breakfast for a few weeks last January, while she looked for an apartment.”

“Did you notice anything unusual during that time?” Anna asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Did she have any enemies that you saw?”

“Hmm. I wouldn’t call her an enemy, but Vicky Browning came over one morning. She and Leah got in a heated discussion. I wasn’t here, but one of my staff members overheard the conversation and told me about it because it bothered some of the other guests. Vicky said that the board would regret not selling her the camp.

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