Penned In - Lynn Cahoon Page 0,16
air head and they’ll hire you if you’re under thirty.” Thaddeus sighed. “It’s not even like I need the money, but I sure miss going to work every day. I’ve been looking for a new place ever since I was laid off three years ago. I think they see my age when I walk into an interview and my résumé gets thrown in the circular file.”
“Too bad you’re not a chef. I could use a strong hand in my kitchen.” She shot a look at Estebe. “One that I could trust.”
“I’d burn water.” He smiled holding a card up in the air and considering his choices. He threw it on the discard pile. “My late wife used to tell me that all the time. I’d burn water. She’s been gone for a few years now. I’m glad she’s not here to see what happened to me. Now, all I have time to do is genealogy. It’s kind of interesting finding out who you are by going back in time.”
“So who are you related to? Anyone famous?” Angie leaned forward, focusing on her fake excitement. She couldn’t over do this.
“Nah. Not really famous. Kind of a local big shot, but no one as big as Simplot or anything.”
Simplot was the local potato king who’d made his money selling frozen fries to McDonald’s. Now, the massive company he’d built had a whole line of produce-based products. They took the basic potato and processed it so it lost its flavor and natural goodness. But maybe that was just her farm to table mentality kicking in. She brushed imaginary lint off her jeans, looking bored. “Oh, that’s nice.”
He frowned, probably realizing he’d lost her attention. “But I can tell you that you’d be amazed if you heard. It’s kind of funny me being in here where it all started.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Angie didn’t want to sound too greedy, but she had the feeling that Thaddeus was telling her something important.
“You’ll find out sooner or later.” He winked at her and then stood. “I need to find the little boys’ room.”
She watched him walk away and replayed the conversation in her head. Apparently, Thaddeus found out that he was descended from someone important. Maybe someone who had been an inmate here?
Felicia waved at her from the other table. “I thought you said ten minutes?”
Angie joined the others at the table. “Anyone get anything interesting?”
“Nick used to be an MMA fighter. He gave it up when he met Sara.” Ian said in a low voice.
“Sara said they got a call from the historical society and they were gifted free tours because both were part of the paranormal investigator group. Whoever gifted them the tour thought it would be cool to have them here on Lyda’s night. That’s what they call tonight since most of the sightings happen this date.” Hope shook her head. “You should talk to them. They are convinced this is all about the death of the real guard so many years ago.”
“That’s stupid. Why would a ghost kill a fake guard? So yeah, he was a jerk, but so are a lot of other people. I talked to Sara after you did, Hope. She, on the other hand, isn’t a true believer but her husband Nick is. She’s hoping to wean him from this hobby now that they’re married.” Nancy shook her head. “Never marry someone you’re going to try to change. Love them like they are or just move on.”
“Personal experience with that?” Felicia asked but with a smile.
“Definitely. Although it was my husband trying to change me.” Nancy sipped her coffee. “Didn’t work.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a paranormal groupie in your free time?” Estebe asked.
Nancy barked out a laugh. “What free time? No, he wanted me to be a stay at home mom and make an amazing life off one income. No matter how small his check was. He didn’t get that braces cost money. Not to mention college.”
Hope nodded her head. “My folks have been drilling ‘College isn’t a free ride’ into our heads for so long. I’ve had a summer job since I could babysit. And, because of the money they set aside and my earnings, I left school without any student loan debt. I want to buy a better car, but I’m saving for it because I don’t want a loan.”
“That’s great Hope. Now, did Sara say anything else?” Angie gently steered the conversation back to the suspects.
“Not anything that seemed strange.” Hope smiled, “She does