would be shocked and embarrassed, and he’d feel betrayed. I couldn’t let that happen, so Shari and I had agreed that I’d talk to Dmitri. Jimmy. And hear his side before taking any further steps.
My hand shook as I lifted it in front of his cheery red door. His house was small. Instead of one of the Victorian cottages, he lived in an area of the island called Southville, where the woods were thick, and the homes looked more like log cabins. I could hear him whistling inside, and I thought about turning around and going back home. I didn’t want to know the details of his life before he came here. I didn’t want to know if he was a criminal. That wasn’t the man I knew. Then again, it seemed maybe I didn’t really know him at all.
I swallowed down my anxiousness and rapped on the door with one knuckle. The whistling stopped, and seconds later the door opened. No beekeeping hat. I guess he didn’t wear it at home. His hair was loose, and he was wearing cargo pants and a dark green shirt with a mosquito embroidered on it. Underneath the bug were the words BITE ME. Typical Dmitri.
“Brooke? Hello. Come in. What are you doing out in this dismal weather?”
I gave him a wan smile and stepped inside onto a well-worn rug. A few dozen jars of honey sat on his counter, with some labels next to them, and a small television sitting on a tiny entertainment center was turned to the home and garden channel. I’d been here before, lots of times, but had never paid much attention to the décor. Surely a jewel thief would have expensive tastes, but as I surveyed the room with a critical eye, nothing I saw looked remotely expensive. The couch was beat-up leather and had a hollow in one cushion where he must normally sit. The artwork, if I could even call it that, was faded prints of ducks and moose and snowcapped mountains. His watch was an old Timex, and his boots were standard issue. The same kind just about every other guy on the island wore. If he was rich, he sure knew how not to flaunt it.
“Hi, Dmitri,” I said as I peeled off my wet wool coat. He took it from me and hung it on a hook near the door. I had a canvas bag with me, too, with the letters inside, and fortunately I’d had the forethought to put them inside a plastic bag. That’s all I needed: to present Dmitri with a bunch of wet, smeared letters that he couldn’t read and some ruined photographs.
“Sorry to drop in on you unannounced, but I’ve got something pretty heavy on my mind, and I was hoping you had time for a chat.”
He nodded at me knowingly and patted my shoulder. “Is this about the kid?”
“The kid?” I gasped. Had Shari told him?
“Yeah, the bartender. Leo. Is he not behaving himself?”
Oh. The stress of this made me giggle, then giggle some more. If I didn’t get control of myself, I’d be hysterical in a second.
“No, Dmitri, this isn’t about Leo. It’s about . . . something else. Can we sit down?”
“Sure. I just made some coffee. You want some?”
“Coffee would be great.”
We sat down a few minutes later, each with a hot mug. I took a sip then set mine on the pine coffee table.
“Okay, let’s have it. What’s on your mind?” he said, stretching out his legs. He looked so casual and comfortable. Dmitri was like home to me, and I was about to take everything and throw it into an emotional blender.
“You know I consider you one of my closest friends, right?”
“Sure.”
“And I’d never do anything that might hurt you or get you into trouble.”
A frown creased his forehead. “Is this about the pie I took from Gigi’s house after Thanksgiving? I know I should’ve asked her, but she was knee-deep in a conversation with Gus, and I knew she’d tell me I could have it.”
“No, Dmitri, this is not about you stealing a pie.” I sighed. “It’s about you stealing . . . jewelry.”
His face turned white and then just as quickly flushed pink. He half coughed, half laughed. “Jewelry? I’m not much of a jewelry wearer, honey. I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Are you Jimmy Novak?”
He seemed to grip his cup more tightly even while his gaze remained steady. I knew him well enough to know I’d struck