Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Charmed Summer by Kathi Daley (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📕

After I’d turned around at the fence and started back toward my cottage, I let my mind drift to the missing boys. I really hoped that there was news that all the boys had been found safe by the time I checked in with Jemma. I knew that the longer they were missing, the less likely it was that they’d be found alive. I had no idea how I could help, and I certainly hadn’t been asked to, but the knot in my gut that wouldn’t quite let me walk away was getting more intense with each day that passed without a resolution.

After I returned to the cottage, I fed the dogs, gave them fresh water, showered and dressed, and then headed to meet with Jemma. When I arrived, she opened the door and motioned me in, although I could see she was on the phone.

“Yes. I understand. I’ll get on it right away,” Jemma said to whomever she was talking to. “It won’t be a problem. Look for it in three or four hours.” With that, she hung up and looked at me. “I’m sorry. That was my boss. He needs a last-minute adjustment to some code I wrote months ago. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go with you to speak to the women on the list we’ve come up with.”

“That’s no problem. Is everything okay at work?”

She sighed. “Yeah. It’s fine. Even though I worked while I was away, I guess being gone for a month put me behind more than I thought. The changes my boss is looking for aren’t all that complicated. I can probably knock them out in a few hours, but he does want them today.” She handed me a piece of paper. “These are the phone numbers for the two women whose names I recognized from the list. Heidi Vargas works at Pretty in Pink, that cute little boutique on Seventh Street with the pink and black sign. I already called her and briefly explained what we were after. She said she’d be happy to talk to us if we wanted to stop in. I’ll text her and let her know you’re coming alone if you want to speak to her.”

“I’d like to speak to her. If she did the Bay to Boardwalk Run and Brewster’s Books Reading Challenge, she might know the woman we’re looking for.”

“Maybe. Heidi is around fifty-five, I’d guess. Since she was already married with children during the summer of ninety-six, she may not have been in the same peer group as the mother of your client. That’s assuming that your client is even on the right track and the woman who owned the bracelet actually was her biological mother, and we’re correct in our assumption that your client’s biological mother was actually younger than twenty-two at the time of your client’s birth. At this point, we’re operating on a lot of guesswork that we have no way of verifying.”

“Yeah. There really aren’t many, if any, known facts at this point, but I think it’s definitely worth having a chat with Heidi.”

“I thought you could take both lists along with you and ask her about some of the other names as well if she isn’t too busy.”

“Okay. I can do that. Did you also speak to Olive Brown?”

“I did. Olive works at the mini-mart down near the marina. She’s willing to speak to us too, although she sounded less certain that she’d remember anything. She was just seventeen during the summer of ninety-six, which in my opinion, most likely puts her closer in age to the owner of the charm bracelet, so maybe something will come to her.”

“Okay, thanks,” I said after accepting the lists and slipping them into my pocket. “Good luck with your work stuff today.”

“Thanks. Call me later,” Jemma said. “I’m interested in how everything works out.”

“I will. And thanks again.”

Deciding to head to Pretty in Pink and speak to Heidi first, I checked on the dogs one more time and then headed toward the parking area. Pretty in Pink was a cute boutique with light pink walls and black accents, providing a chic and sophisticated feel. I’d thought about checking the place out a few times in the past when I’d driven by, but, so far, I never had.

“Heidi Vargas?” I asked after entering the shop.

“You must be Ainsley.”

“I am. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.”

“Nineteen ninety-six was a long time ago, but if there is anything I can do to help you find the woman you’re looking for, I’m happy to help.”

I quickly explained why I was interested in women who’d participated in the Bay to Boardwalk Run and Brewster’s Books Reading Challenge in nineteen ninety-six and then showed her the photos of the charms.

“I can’t say that I remember anyone wearing a bracelet such as this. There was a group of us who earned book charms for meeting the top goal. I didn’t even have a bracelet and just tossed my charm into a drawer. I suspect that the majority of winners from that group did the same.”

“Jemma identified seven names that were on both the list from the run and the list from the reading challenge. I wondered if you’d take a look at the list and see if you recognize any of the names.”

“I’d be happy to.” She held out her hand, and I handed her both lists. The seven names that showed up on both lists had been highlighted. “I see you have my name highlighted as well as Olive Brown’s. Have you spoken to Olive?”

“I’m planning to head there next.”

She seemed satisfied with that and looked back down at the lists. “Nancy Bayberry is listed as having participated in the run and completing the reading challenge.” Heidi looked up. “Nancy moved away at least a