Maple Pudding Mystery by Tammy Beck

Author:Tammy Beck [Beck, Tammy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The Dirty Cup Tradepost was alive with the spirit of nostalgia, the low hum of chatter and bursts of laughter mingling with the smoky scent of whiskey and the faint musk of the ocean. The old bar creaked under the weight of history—its worn wooden beams and dusty maritime relics told stories of their own, almost drowning out the voices of the veterans reminiscing over their beers.

I pushed open the door, pausing a moment to let my eyes adjust to the dim light of the antique chandeliers. The air felt heavy, almost as if it was saturated with the past.

I spotted Frank at the bar, animatedly chatting with Old Woody, while Gary nursed a drink at a corner table, his face set in a grim expression. It didn’t take long to find Doreen and Hal, sitting together at one of the tables in the center of the room. Doreen caught my eye and waved, a smile brightening her face.

I made my way over, weaving between tables, offering polite nods and greetings to familiar faces. I wasn’t here for the drinks tonight. I was here for answers. Answers that, hopefully, wouldn’t be too hard to come by.

“Francis! Glad you could make it,” Doreen said as I reached their table. “Sit down, sit down. "Where's Ed?"

"He might join later but he still had a few things to take care of at the station," I said.

When a server came to take my order, I asked for water.

“How are you two holding up?” I asked Doreen and Hal.

“Oh, we’re managing,” Hal said. “Everyone’s been on edge since… well, you know.”

I nodded, glancing around the room. "I can imagine. It's not easy to deal with and it's up-close-and-personal to a lot of people this weekend."

The veterans were scattered in small groups, some laughing, some quietly talking, a few with their heads bowed in thought. It was a night of mixed emotions—a place where people sought both solace and camaraderie.

I leaned in closer to Doreen, lowering my voice. “I’ve been wondering about Amelia’s husband. He served with the rest of the men, right? Ed mentioned something about it.”

Doreen’s expression changed, her eyes growing distant. “Oh, yes. Henry was a good man. Quiet but dependable. He and Gary were close back then, or at least they seemed to be.” She glanced at Gary.

“Must’ve been hard for her, losing him like that,” I said, carefully probing. “Especially since Tom's role on the team."

Doreen narrowed her eyes at me, trying to gauge how much I actually knew about the mission that seemed to be not-so-secret at this point. When she didn't say anything, I continued.

"Do you think Amelia still holds a lot of that in her heart?”

Doreen sighed, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “It was terrible for her. She never really got over it, you know? And now, with everything happening… I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s all coming back for her. The loss of her husband hit her hard and she managed to keep it together but I'm afraid now with Tom's murder it's all unraveling a bit.

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