Page 41 of Buried Secrets

The cottage interior was warm and inviting, bookcases lining the walls, comfortable furniture arranged to maximize the ocean view. But it was the kitchen that clearly served as the heart of the home: copper pots hanging from a rack, herbs growing in planters along the windowsill, a large wooden table scarred with years of use.

“Sit, please,” Marissa gestured to the table, where three loaves of bread cooled on a rack. “Coffee? Tea?”

“Coffee would be great,” Matt said, settling into a chair.

“Just water for me, please,” Kaitlin added.

As Marissa prepared their drinks, Matt observed her carefully. He noted the slight tremor in her hands as she measured coffee and the way she kept glancing at Kaitlin.

“You worked at the mansion for quite a while,” Matt began once they all had their drinks. “Until it closed is that right?”

“That’s right.” Marissa settled across from them, her hands clasped around her mug. “I was the cook.”

“And you stayed on after the mansion closed?” Kaitlin asked, her voice still tainted with roughness from smoke inhalation.

Marissa’s eyes snapped to Katilin. “Yes. I’d fallen in love with the island by then. When the foundation shut down operations, I took a job at the Harbor Inn kitchen, then eventually opened my own bakery.”

“Tell us about your time at the mansion,” Matt asked. “What was it like to work there?”

The older woman took a long sip of her coffee. “It was a job, really no different from any other. I went in before sunrise for breakfast and came home early afternoon after prepping dinner.”

“Did you have much interaction with the residents?” Matt continued.

“It wasn’t encouraged. They kept to themselves pretty much, and I stayed in the kitchens.”

“You were there when it closed down. Anything you can tell us about the transition?”

A shadow crossed Marissa’s face. “There were… signs. Budget cuts. Staff reductions. Fewer girls coming in.” She traced the rim of her mug with one finger. “But no, no official warning. Just a notice one day that operations were being ‘indefinitely suspended.’ Most of the staff were let go within a week.”

“That must have been unsettling,” Kaitlin said.

“Unsettling?” Marissa’s laugh held little humor. She looked directly at Kaitlin. “You sound hoarse. Are you ill?”

Matt tensed slightly, watching Kaitlin carefully as she answered.

“Just a little hoarse,” Kaitlin replied smoothly. “The colder island air takes some getting used to.”

“I’d imagine,” Marissa said. “London’s climate is different, I’d expect.”

Matt frowned slightly. Had Kaitlin mentioned she was from London? Maybe her accent gave her away.

“Our information shows you worked with Jasper Holloway,” Matt said, redirecting the conversation. “And possibly his brother, Robert.”

Marissa’s attention finally shifted away from Kaitlin. “Jasper? Yes, he handled maintenance. Didn’t talk much, but he was a good worker, just as he is now. I see he still does work for Sullivan’s.” She hesitated. “Robert Holloway was the administrator. He handled the paperwork, the finances. Very precise man, very… controlled.”

“What about Dr. Whitaker?” Kaitlin asked. “Mrs. Jenkins at the nursing home mentioned him.”

“Penelope’s at Bayview now?” Marissa shook her head. “Poor thing. She was a good nurse, dedicated to those girls. We regularly worked together on menus and meal planning. Made sure the girls ate well.” She sighed. “Dr. Whitaker was… well I didn’t interact with him very much, but he was around quite a bit. He and Robert Holloway spent a lot of time together in the administrative offices. He died shortly after the shutdown.” She frowned as she said those words.

“Was there anything that bothered you about the way the mansion was operated?” Matt asked.

Marrissa stood and looked out the kitchen window, as though hiding her face from his view. After a few moments of silence, she said, “I was just the cook. I prepared meals, ordered supplies, managed the kitchen. What happened beyond those doors wasn’t my concern.”

“But you had concerns,” Kaitlin said quietly.

Marissa found Kaitlin’s gaze. “Hard to say, it was a long time ago. Lots of life has happened since then.”

Suddenly, Marissa marched back to the table and gathered their barely touched drinks. “I should get back to my baking. I’ve got to bring another batch to the church this afternoon.”