The Village of Gerard's Cliff Page 9

Chapter X

  To Connor's surprise, the drive into the village was going pretty well.

  He really hadn't expected her to agree to this, being that she seemed to dislike him most of the time, and, adding to that, the fact that he was a guest at her inn. They conversed rather easily, he thought, considering that they'd only known each other for two days.

  He told her about his family in Maryland - his parents, married for forty-five years and now retired, an older, married brother with two children, and a younger sister, engaged to be married in the spring. As he kept an eye on the winding two-lane road, he noticed that she would nod or smile, glancing over at him every so often, as if in serious thought.

  Connor listened intently as Allie told him about her family. Her father, a pediatrician, she said, still worked to occupy himself after her mother had died a couple of years ago. She had an older, married brother, living in central Virginia, as well, but they were not that close. After she and Patrick had married, they'd realized that they both had a mutual desire to travel and do something out of the ordinary, and they chose Maine as their destination. Glancing sideways at her, he saw her face light up for just a moment, at the memory, staring out of the window as she related their adventure. They barely had any income at the time, she told him, and, as luck would have it, came across the old inn, its elderly owners anxious to sell. The two of them scraped together as much money as they could to buy and renovate the place. When The Colborne Inn opened its doors three months later, it was evident that they would do well. She told him that soon after they opened the inn, Patrick began going out on fishing trips with the local fishermen, sometimes staying out to sea for several days. Allie was silent for a few moments. She looked at him solemnly, as she added that her husband had died just months earlier in a horrible boating accident.

  "I'm very sorry you lost your husband," he responded quietly and sincerely, glancing over at her. He saw her blink and nod in reply. As he returned to watching the road ahead, he noticed that she had turned her head and was gazing out of the side window, lost in her own thoughts.

  There was no more conversation between them for the rest of the trip. Out of necessity, Allie pointed out to him the streets to turn onto, as they neared the village. At one point, as she extended her arm, Connor noticed that her wrist did not look as bruised today. He pulled over to the curb, as Allie directed him, in front of the small grocery store located on the main street of Gerard's Cliff.

  "Here we are, ma'am." Connor tried to sound cheerful, as he shut off the engine. He turned to Allie, who looked back at him with a solemn stare, and something else...her eyes were veiled now. "Will an hour be enough time for you to get everything you need?" He acted as though he hadn't noticed the change in her.

  "Yes, thank you," she replied quietly. He understood from her demeanor that their new-found ease with each other was now a thing of the past. Memories of her late husband occupied her thoughts now, Connor realized. He got out of the car, went around to the sidewalk, and opened the door for her. He held out his hand. She smiled at him, and clasped his hand as she climbed out of the low sports car.

  "See you in an hour." He started back around to his side of the car, got behind the wheel and started the engine.

  Connor made a right turn off the main street and slowly drove through the small, quaint village of Gerard's Cliff, looking for a parking spot. He was all too aware of the short time he now had given himself to get this job done. Finding a spot not too far from his destination, he eased his car into the small space. Once on foot, he headed toward Baskin's Cove. He crossed over the footbridge and onto the dock, looking with interest at the fishing boats moored along the piers. He walked quickly along the dock, glancing at his watch.

  Max's Bar and Grill, housed in a blue frame building with white trim, was located at the end of a row of other businesses in front of the dock. Above the entrance was an enormous sign depicting a large red lobster holding a bottle of beer in its up-raised claw. Connor was curious as to what this man, Jake Ayers, had to tell him. Compared to the scant information he had gleaned from the phone call, anything else would be a bonus. Ayers was the first link in a chain of very elusive links that Connor had to connect.

  The bar was pitch black. Connor squinted, and still had trouble seeing through the shimmering translucent clouds of smoke. After his eyes adjusted, he walked over to the long bar to his right and sat down on one of the leather covered stools. He looked around him, and as far as he could tell, the establishment had very few patrons. There were three other men seated further down from him at the bar. Maybe it was too early in the day, or...maybe this Jack Ayers was trying to lay low. Connor ordered a scotch, and, noticing that the balding, middle-aged bartender seemed friendly enough, motioned to him. The bartender walked back, leaned on one elbow toward Connor, and raised his eyebrows, waiting.

  "Have you seen Jack Ayers around here lately?" Connor asked, as low-key and casual as he could make the question, taking a sip of his drink. The bartender seemed to take a very long time thinking about the question and sizing up Connor.

  "He hangs out here sometimes, usually late at night,"he shrugged.

  "Thanks, I appreciate it." Connor finished his drink. After leaving his tip on the bar, he got up and walked out of Max's Bar and Grill, and stepped out into the dank, overcast afternoon. He noticed that it had begun to drizzle.

  Connor walked slowly back to his car. Damn. Now, he would have to return again tonight. He went over in his head the questions he wanted to ask Jack Ayers, and he hoped the man had the answers he needed.