Free PH02 - Do Not Disturb by Kate Kingsbury Page B

the dig, but Baxter refused to rise to the bait. Worried now, she stared at him, and again he shifted his gaze to a point above her head.
    “If that is all, madam, I have some duties I’d like to get back to.”
    “Of course.” She hesitated, then, as he turned to leave, she added quietly, “Baxter, if there is something you’re not telling me that I should know, I would be most annoyed if I discovered it later.”
    He paused, his back toward her, and she saw him stretch his neck. “I do not wish to worry you unduly, madam.”
    “You worry me far more, Baxter, by not telling me what is on your mind. You should know that by now.”
    She waited while he turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “There has been more news from the lighthouse project this morning,” he said, rocking back and forth on his feet.
    “More news?” She felt a flash of irritation with him. He had a very annoying habit of making her drag every piece of information from him piece by piece, as if by not volunteering it all he wouldn’t have to tell her all of it.
    “Yes, madam. Apparently there has been a spot of bother up there.” Again he paused.
    Cecily gritted her teeth. “What kind of bother? Not another fight, I hope?” A thought struck her, and she gasped. “Oh, Baxter, not Ian again, is it? Did he get into more trouble?”
    “Not as far as I know.”
    “Then, what, Baxter? Would you please put me out of my misery and tell me what happened?”
    “Yes, madam. Apparently someone has sabotaged the project. From what I understand, the work that had been done on the lighthouse itself has been destroyed. Most of theequipment has been either smashed to smithereens or has been pushed over the cliffs into the ocean.”
    Horrified, Cecily stared at him. “Oh, my God, Baxter, who would do such a thing? Why? What is the point?”
    “I imagine the point was to delay the project for some reason. Apparently whoever was responsible achieved his goal. I understand it will be several days before they can replace the equipment, and weeks before they can repair the damage.”
    “I don’t understand it,” Cecily said, shaking her head. “The lighthouse is vital to the villagers. Most of them are either fishermen or make their living from working on the docks in Wellercombe. Who would want to destroy something that can only be a benefit to the village?”
    “I have no answer to that, madam.”
    She narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. “Baxter, you don’t think this has any connection with Colin Bickley’s death, do you? After all, he was the foreman up there.”
    Baxter’s intense gaze met hers. “I sincerely hope not, madam. If so, then it would raise a great many more questions.”
    “Yes,” Cecily murmured, feeling a tremor of uneasiness. “It would certainly seem that the lighthouse project has brought bad luck to Badgers End. I wonder what Madeline has to say about that?”

CHAPTER
7
    One of Phoebe’s greatest pleasures was a brisk walk along the Esplanade, providing the weather wasn’t too inclement, of course. It gave her the opportunity to dress up in the manner befitting her background, and as the mother of the vicar, she enjoyed a certain amount of deference from the local inhabitants of Badgers End.
    This particular afternoon the climate was most pleasant, not too cold, yet cool enough to wear the mink-trimmed coat that had been the mainstay of her winter wardrobe during her marriage to dear Sedgely.
    The light breeze was a blessing, since it meant she didn’t have to worry about her hat. The extremely wide brim with its frothy cloud of yellow tulle and ribbon roses was inclined to slip loose from its moorings when buffeted by the wind.
    Phoebe arrived at the entrance to the Pennyfoot Hotel infine spirits, and stepped daintily up the marble staircase to the huge double doors. She paused long enough to fold down her parasol, then pushed the doors open and swept into the lobby.
    As she crossed the ornamental