Free A Haunted Theft (A Lin Coffin Mystery Book 4) by J A Whiting

lifted the corners of the older woman’s mouth. “There is always something new to discover from the wood.”
    Lin walked over and stood next to her cousin.
    The woman’s gnarled hands stopped moving the strips of ash and looked up at Lin. She blinked several times. Her eyes seemed to bore into Lin and for a moment, Lin felt like the woman could see right through her.
    “Are you sisters?”
    Lin wondered what the woman could sense about them. The two cousins didn’t look alike until you got to know them and then, a resemblance might be noted, but it wasn’t really a physical sameness that the girls shared. Lin had long brown hair, was taller then her cousin, and her physique was slim and fit. Viv had chin-length light brown hair with golden highlights. She carried a few extra pounds and was shorter. They both had the same blazing, bright blue eyes though.
    Lin shook her head.
    “But you’re like sisters, aren’t you?” The woman cocked her head still studying the two young women before her.
    Viv smiled. “We’re cousins.”
    “What are your names?”
    “I’m Vivian Coffin and this is my cousin, Carolin Coffin.”
    Lin spoke up. “Everyone calls me Lin.”
    “I’m Lacey Frye.” The woman gave a nod that was very much like a slight bow. “What brings you in today?”
    “I love the baskets and I’ve never been in here before, even though I’ve lived on the island my whole life.” Viv chatted amiably. “I can’t understand why I never came by. Your place is sort of tucked away, I guess.”
    “My hours are often limited.” Lacey gave a sigh and a shrug. “I have some health problems. I don’t have the stamina I once had. But, I love what I do and I need to keep busy.”
    “We’re like that, too. We like to be busy.” Viv nodded to her cousin. “We both run businesses.” The conversation went on for a while as Viv told Lacey about the bookstore-café, her band and the gigs they performed, and how Lin worked part-time as a computer programmer and also ran a full-time landscaping business.
    Lin eyed Lacey to gauge her interest in Viv’s monologue and was relieved to see that she was enjoying the chat.
    Viv went on. “Lin is about to get a new contract to do the landscaping at the cultural museum.”
    “Well, maybe.” Lin gave a little shrug. “We’ll see how the proposal is received.”
    Lacey gave Lin a look that was hard to decipher. “Who invited you to bid on the job?”
    “One of the board members is a client of mine. She asked me if I’d be interested in the work and told me to contact someone about it.”
    “Who was the board member who asked if you’d be interested in the job?” Lacey asked.
    “Claire Rollins.”
    Lacey narrowed her eyes. “Who did she tell you to speak with?”
    “Nathan Long.”
    “I see.” A strange look flickered over the woman’s face.
    “Do you know Mr. Long?” Lin asked.
    “I know him.” The words sounded icy and brittle.
    “Have you worked with Nathan?” Viv seemed oblivious to the tone in Lacey’s voice. “I took a class with him recently.”
    “I worked with Nathan a long time ago. He’s made a quite a name for himself, hasn’t he?”
    Lin couldn’t put a finger on the emotion that was emanating from Lacey. Someone might think it was jealousy over Nathan’s successful career and notoriety, but Lin was sure that wasn’t the reason. It seemed to be something else. She concentrated trying to understand the currents that were floating on the air. Was it anger? Regret? Sadness? Lin had almost grasped the feeling when the sensation seemed to break apart and slip away.
    Viv’s voice brought Lin out of her focused state. “I’ve been learning to make the baskets for a few years. I don’t have a lot of time to devote to it, but maybe someday.” Viv pulled up a chair to Lacey’s table. “May I sit and watch you work for a little while?”
    “That would be very nice.” Lacey picked up a splint of ash and started to weave.
    Lin stood by