Free A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

inquiries.”
    “Why, yes, Miss Parrish.” He sounded delighted to hear from her, even more by the subject. “Only one, actually, but I believe the party is sincere. He knew I represented Rosalind’s estate and approached me some time ago. I told him you were undecided with your plans.”
    “That hasn’t changed.” She continued to waffle over the decision, unable to make up her mind and break ties to a town that had brought her nothing but grief. “But I’m not averse to entertaining offers. I’m planning on contacting James Dixon of River Real Estate about selling, but wanted to give your contact an opportunity.”
    “I can work with Mr. Dixon. Perhaps you’d like me to make a discreet inquiry of the potential buyer and have him offer a figure? I’ll handle the settlement, and Mr. Dixon can handle the contract. No signs, no advertising, no marketing.”
    She bit her lip, worried she was making a mistake. “Why don’t you run it past your buyer and see what he’s willing to offer. Please keep everything confidential, especially until I have a chance to speak with Mr. Dixon. I don’t want word spreading I’m going to sell the hotel.”
    “Naturally.”
    After she hung up, Eve debated the wisdom of what she’d done. It was just an old hotel, not flesh and blood. It shouldn’t bother her to sign on the dotted line, wash her hands of the structure, and tuck the proceeds into her bank account. But she had people counting on her for employment. People like Katie and Nancy and the other employees she’d met that afternoon. At the very least, whatever her decision, she would look out for them.
    * * * *
    When four o’clock rolled around, Katie and Sam left. A short time later, Eve packed up her folder and headed for her car. Main Street was mostly deserted when she stepped outside, the lack of vehicles the norm with traffic diverted to the new Silver Memorial Bridge at the opposite end of town. The strange quiet preyed on her nerves, an eerie sensation that prickled her skin like the shroud hanging over a ghost town. It was strange to see the streets empty, yet hear the hum of passing cars a few blocks away. With that simple rerouting of traffic, the world had elected to pass by Main Street, relegating it to a shadow of another age. An antiquity.
    Eve slid into the car and set the folder on the passenger seat. She was in the process of inserting her key into the ignition when she spied a slip of paper pinned beneath her windshield wiper. Opening the door, she reached to the front of the vehicle, pulled the note free, and sank back into her seat.
    Typed in the center of the page was a single sentence that sent a chill cascading down her spine. You should leave before you get hurt.
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    With shaking fingers, Eve dialed the number on the business card, relieved to hear a masculine “hello” after the third ring. “Caden, this is Eve Parrish. I’d like you to repair the back door on my property. How soon do you think you can do it?”
    Maybe she was being paranoid, but the note had left her shaken. There’d been no one about on the deserted street, but she imagined the author lurking behind a building waiting to see her reaction. Frightened, she’d rushed inside the hotel to her office, fished Caden’s business card from her purse, and quickly dialed.
    “I already started it,” he said.
    “You did?” She wasn’t sure if she should be cross or grateful. “When?”
    The man, annoyingly short on words, exhaled a perturbed breath. “I told you earlier I would take care of it today.”
    “But I didn’t agree.”
    Silence.
    She twined the phone cord in her hand and paced from the desk to the window. “How did you get in?”
    He uttered a soft grunt. “Through the screened porch. It’s not secure, remember? Neither is the kitchen door. I’ve already got most of the work done. I just came home to grab a few tools before heading back to finish. Do you want it completed or