Bad Moon Rising Read online

  “Ivy and Asbury are very competent. I’m sure they can handle things while you’re gone. We’ll be here for a few days after the wedding, and we could stay for the full two weeks if you’d like.”

  “That won’t be necessary. We gave them your phone number, and Andrea’s, in case of emergency. I think they can handle anything that comes up, though. This old hotel is basically very sound, and the plumbing and electrical were updated before Stefan took over. There won’t be any problems.”

  We heard another knock at the door. “That must be Laszlo. What time is it?”

  “It’s seven.” Maggie opened the door.

  Laszlo stood there in a jacket and tie, looking spiffy. He was no longer wearing jeans; instead, he’d put on a good-looking pair of slacks. Here I was in my polyester pants and shirt that I’d worn for the trip to the hotel, and planned to wear out to eat. “Andrea went for a walk, and she isn’t back yet.”

  “She’s waiting for us in the lobby. Let’s go on to the lodge, and the others will join us there.”

  I gathered up my purse as Maggie scurried out the door to go upstairs and change. We collected Andrea, still wearing her hiking boots and jeans and looking great in spite of that, and went out the front door. Laszlo escorted us to a big, black Cadillac at the edge of the parking area. I headed for the backseat, and he opened doors for us. I settled into what I thought must be leather. Of course, I’ve never gotten acquainted with leather car seats, so I’m not positive they were leather. Whatever, I was impressed.

  We waited in the lobby of the lodge for only a few minutes until the others showed up. We were introduced to Franz and Erika, and all congenially insisted on first names. After all, we were going to be relatives of sorts. Franz was also in a jacket, but with no tie. He looked a lot like his brother, but lacked the charming scoundrel aura that Laszlo exuded. Erika looked neat and trim in a brown suit that was probably silk, with a scarf tied just so at the neck. She had short blonde curls and blue eyes that radiated intelligence and friendliness.

  As usual, I was feeling the inadequacy of my polyester wardrobe. I knew Andrea was having no such misgivings about what she was wearing. As I said before, she’s brimming with self confidence, and in addition, she’s one of those people who look elegant, no matter what she puts on.

  The seven of us sat down at a table for eight, and Laszlo made a point of squeezing into a chair between Andrea and me. I was across the table from Erika, a spot I liked for finding out more about the family.

  I ordered the London broil, something from the mid-range-priced items on the menu, in case there was a hullabaloo over who would pay for what and Andrea and I ended up being guests of someone else. Andrea ordered the vegetable strudel. Finally, all the orders were taken, and we settled down to chat about the wedding, about everyone’s travels to the valley, and about who else might be coming.

  “It seems that Maggie and Stefan have things well in control,” Erika said.

  “Yes, I’m proud of them. They know what they want and seem to have it all organized,” I said. “We asked Ivy if there was anything we could do to help, but she said most everything’s taken care of. Of course, when it comes time to prepare the food, we’ll help her in the kitchen.”

  “Is Ivy the lady at the desk?”

  “Yes. She does a good job there, and her husband, Asbury, is most useful as a handyman.”

  “I must tell her that I’d be delighted to help also. I’ll just plan on being in the kitchen Saturday to do whatever is needed. But where is the kitchen?”

  “From the lobby, you go through the alcove where the ice machine’s located and the kitchen is just beyond. There’s a laundry room off that alcove, too, if you need to wash clothes.”

  By this time I had decided Erika was going to make a good mother-in-law for Maggie. She seemed bright and cheerful, which was half the game. As for Franz, he hadn’t said much, but now he looked at Stefan and said, “Did Agnes and Claudia let you know they’re coming?”

  Everyone glanced at Laszlo in what I thought was a rather intriguing manner, and then back at Stefan, who said, “Yes, Claudia emailed me. They’re arriving in Charleston tomorrow and will rent a car. They should be here before evening.”

  Stefan looked at Andrea and me, realizing we were being left out of the conversation. “Agnes was my nanny when I was a kid. She’s a lovely person. Claudia’s her sister. I was surprised they agreed to come, but I’m delighted they did.”

  He said this with such emphasis that I couldn’t help wondering just what complication involved Agnes and Claudia. Erika, bright smile on her face, changed the subject. “You must tell me about your little town of Pine Summit. Maggie tells me she was born there. It sounds very much like the little town where I grew up, in Bavaria.”

  Andrea spoke up from the other side of Laszlo. “Pine Summit’s a very small town. I think we had five thousand residents at last count. The town started as a farm on top of a hill. The owners named the place Pine Summit, and then the town grew up all around, and down to the river. It’s a hilly area, and great for hiking. The original farm is now a city park, and it has a hiking trail. It’s a pleasant place to live.”

  “It sounds heavenly. I miss the small towns. We live in London now, but as Stefan has probably told you, we’ve lived all over. It always seems to be big cities, of course, since Franz is with the diplomatic corps.”

  That cinched it. Erika was okay in my book if she liked small towns. I couldn’t help wondering about Franz, though, because he was so reserved. Could he be a spy? Then I gave an inward chuckle. My imagination tends to run wild when meeting the intriguing foreign types who come from Europe or the Eastern Seaboard and frequent the Canaan Valley. Franz definitely seemed to be an intriguing foreign type.

  By this time we had finished eating, declined dessert, and the men were hassling over the bill. Andrea and I tried to protest, saying we’d pay our own and wanted to pay for the kids, too, but Franz and Laszlo wouldn’t hear of it. Laszlo had his credit card out first, and that settled it. Franz demanded to be allowed to pay next evening, when it was assumed by the Novacek clan we’d all be eating together again.

  Maggie headed for the rest room, and I followed her, hoping we’d be the only ones in there. She was already in a stall, and we were alone. I stood next to the door and whispered. “I’m curious. What’s the big mystery about Stefan’s nanny and her sister?”

  “Is there anyone else out there?”

  “No, we’re alone.”

  “Stefan hasn’t told me too much about the situation, but he did say that Laszlo was engaged to Agnes at one time. That was years ago, of course. Turned out he had an affair with Claudia while engaged to Agnes, and that’s when it hit the fan.”

  I wished Maggie wouldn’t say things like that, but at least she hadn’t used the s---word.

  She went on, “The engagement was broken, and the sisters were estranged for years, but they finally made up and apparently started blaming Laszlo for the episode, as if he were the only one responsible.”

  “Good grief. I guess what you said was right. Someone needs to keep an eye on him.”

  “He’s seventy now and has heart problems. I hope he’s settled down some. Anyway, he came on the same plane with Franz and Erika and will be leaving with them, so they’ll be here all the time he’s here.”

  “I wonder why he rented a car, and they did, too. Seems like they all would have come together.”

  “I suppose they thought they might want to go their separate ways.”

  “The Cadillac’s luxurious. Did he rent it in Charleston?

  Maggie had come out of the stall by this time. “He probably arranged to have it delivered there if it wasn’t available in Charleston. Apparently, when Laszlo wants something, he can make it happen.”

  “It sounds like he has money.”

  She was washing her hands. “Bunches. He’s a wheeler-dealer from the word go. He’s lost plenty at times, but manages to recover, according to Stefan.�
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  “I wonder who he’ll leave all that money to.” I was fishing, as usual, and hoping it would be Stefan.

  “We don’t know. Maybe a home for ageing Casanovas.”

  By this time Maggie was drying her hands, and we walked out together, laughing. Finally, I thought, I found out some things before Andrea. I’d tell her when we got to our room tonight.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Helen Haught Fanick grew up in West Virginia and now lives in Texas, and both states provide settings for her novels. Her work includes cozy mysteries, suspense novels, a World War II espionage novel, and short stories, all available as e-books. The novels are also available in paperback.

  A short story impressed Helen’s fifth grade teacher, and she’s been writing ever since. She’s won several local and state awards and two national awards in the Writer’s Digest Competition. Moon Signs was a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. Helen is a graduate of UTSA and lives Antonio with her husband.

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