Chapter Two: "The Friendliest Village Since 1492"


"See? I shaved ten minutes off your estimation."

"I can tell you're really proud of yourself."

She'd said that sarcastically and I playfully stuck my tongue out at her. What Ami didn't understand apparently was that it was a thing with us men; a silent competition, so-to-speak. I don't know why or how it got started. Maybe, in the beginning, it became vital to be quick. 'Look, honey! I managed to bring home some meat and not get eaten by the huge dinosaur roaming about the neighborhood.' And then in the cave next to him, another caveman declared he could do it faster, and then another challenged that one. And on and on until finally, it came down to how fast I could drive us to Fort Bracken. It might not be a matter of life or death, but it was important!

"There it is. The first sign." Ami pointed. "Welcome to Fort Bracken, the Jewel by the Sea. Population 1,492."

"That's small. Would you ever want to live in a town that small?"

Ami carefully folded up the map and put it back into the glovebox. "I don't think I'd be very happy, so no. Everyone would know your business all the time. I wouldn't think there would be much privacy."

That's exactly what I was thinking. In the city, you could stand on the street corner and scream your lungs out and nobody would care. They would simply walk by you and mind their own business. And that's the way I preferred it. However, on the other hand, knowing everyone would have its advantages. You would know who to call if you locked your keys in your car, if your drain got clogged, or if you needed a cup of sugar or something.

"Jewel by the Sea," Ami repeated. "With a population that small, how could they boast such a thing? I mean, their tax revenue can't be that high."

"I'm expecting to see a lot of short, brick buildings and white-washed homes. I can't imagine why Mr. Quinn wants to stay there."

There was a row of cedar trees that blocked our view and we were unable to see the town until we drove past them and over a stone bridge. What we saw didn't match my expectations at all.

"Wow! I never would've imagined Fort Bracken would look like this!"

At the city limits was a landscaped entryway with the town's name carved in a large block of granite. Ivy had grown over most of it, although it seemed well kept. We kept driving and headed toward the main thoroughfare. Fort Bracken appeared to be stuck in the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Each building was different, although they seemed to be made out of the same raw materials. Stone and wood were the most common, and some of the cottages even had thatched roofs. Curiosity got the best of me and I pulled into a space in front of a store that sold dry goods.

Ami and I looked at one another and then hurried inside. The interior matched the exterior, although the products sold there were modern.

"Why good day to you both!"

A burly man with a full beard, wearing an apron approached us. He had wrinkles around his eyes which hinted that he enjoyed a good laugh. "What can I help you with today?"

"Nothing really," Ami replied first. "We're just passing through but simply had to stop. Your town is so quaint and cozy! You must love it!"

"Aye, yes. It is comfortable. I was born and raised here, ya' know. Have a look around and if ya' see something ya' like, be sure to come to see me and I'll get you a discount just for being here!"

The man winked at us before he walked away.

"Can you believe this place? I wonder if everyone here is as friendly as him."

"I doubt it." Whenever someone was that extreme with their emotions, I'd always been suspicious. Nobody can be that happy all the time.

"Now, come on, Ben. Loosen up. If Mr. Quinn is here, he probably stayed for the friendly atmosphere. I'll bet you've never met anyone like that in the city."

Maybe Santa Claus, although I didn't say so out loud. However, I was willing to test her theory. "Come on," I suggested. "Let's go check out another place."

We walked down the street to an interesting-looking building that ended up being the town's library. Inside was a group of children gathered around a table listening to a young woman read, The Velveteen Rabbit. Along the walls were arched windows of colorful stained glass depicting famous book characters. Charlotte and Wilbur were there, as well as Mr. Toad. I also saw Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, as well as Alice, Peter, and Mowgli.

"This looks like it used to be a church," Ami observed while studying the windows and intricately carved details in the trim which also revealed famous book characters.

"How very interesting," I added. "It even smells like one."

Ami swatted me with her handbag. "Be nice, but I guess you're right. It is a little musty in here."

"As every good library should be. Come on. We should visit the police department and find out if anyone has seen Quinn."

Ami slipped her hand into mine as we headed toward the exit. "Good idea. I imagine a stranger, especially one so tall, would stand out here."

"Hold on!"

The young woman who had been reading rushed over to us.

"You're new here. Hi! My name is Agnes though you can call me Aggi."

I would guess she was in her mid-twenties, about five feet, two inches. Her blue dress was plain but it matched her eyes. When she smiled, significant dimples appeared on both cheeks.

"What brings you to town? We don't get many visitors here."

She seemed friendly as well. Perhaps she'd be willing to answer some questions.

"Hello, Aggie. I'm Ben Noble and this is Ami Berrie. We drove down from the city early this morning to find a friend of ours by the name of Matthew Quinn."

"It's good to meet you. I hope you enjoy your visit. For dinner, I would recommend the lobster at The Crooked Swan. And if you plan to spend the night, the most comfortable beds are in the Horseshoe Inn. Both are just down the street. If you need any more assistance, you can find me here until 6:00. After that, I've gone home. I live in the first cottage on Crabtree Lane."

Perhaps, I needed to be more direct. "Aggie, have you seen our friend, Matthew Quinn? He's tall, has blue eyes and a slightly bent nose. He should've arrived here about four days ago."

"His hair is slightly graying at the temples, and for an older man, he's quite handsome," Ami added.

"Thank you for stopping by. If you wish to learn more about the architecture of the library, there is an informative tour at 10 a.m. every Thursday morning. Have a good day!"

Neither Ami nor I moved from our positions but rotated our heads simultaneously toward the other.

"That was strange," Ami commented.

"I agree, but you know what's even stranger?"

"What?"

I tugged on Ami's hand to lead her toward the exit and out onto the walk. Clouds had moved in and blocked the sun, and the breeze coming across the ocean made it feel much cooler than it was a few minutes ago.

"That you think Mr. Quinn is 'quite handsome."

"Oh, that," she chuckled. "Iris and I talk about it all the time. We're always trying to think of someone to set him up with."

Quinn had never mentioned any interest in tying the knot; not in the entire seven years I'd known him. "I always figured he was married to his job."

We began strolling down the street. It was getting close enough to the lunch hour to try that tavern Aggie had suggested, although I wasn't all that hungry yet.

"Thinking like that can lead to a terribly lonely life! What is he supposed to do when he retires? Who is he going to talk to? Fish?"

She had a point, although I wasn't in favor of matchmaking. Iris was terrible at it, and the one time I had allowed her to set me up had been a complete disaster.

"Maybe he has met someone here. That would explain him disappearing as he did."

"I don't know, Ben. I thought we were all pretty close. If he ever was serious about someone, I imagined he'd introduce us to her. Or at least to you."

We were walking slowly down the cobblestone path that appeared as ancient as the buildings rising above it. Anyone passing by smiled and either tipped their hat or said good morning. It was an odd experience. Nobody acted that way in the city. If they did, you'd think there was something wrong with them.

"Since we're now standing in front of The Crooked Swan, why don't we have a bite to eat and then try to find the police station? There's got to be one around here somewhere."

"I'm not very hungry but I am curious; about this place and these people."

"It's pretty sad that we're assuming they're strange just because they're friendly."

Ami lifted a brow at me. "It's more than that and you know it. Take Aggie, for example. You asked her a specific question and she completely ignored it. She was polite, but she acted like she didn't hear you. I find that odd."

"I'm not arguing with you. I agree although we shouldn't judge this place based on her actions alone. Let's eat, go visit the police, and then we can share more informed opinions."

"Sounds like a good idea."

The menu at The Crooked Swan was posted outside of the tavern.

"Can this be right?" Ami asked, pointing to a particular item. "A full lobster dinner for $1.29?"

"Let's go in and see. If it's not a mistake, we're each getting our own! What a bargain!"

"If we stay up all night with food poisoning, it's not."

It was difficult to believe I was going to have to be the optimistic one.

"Come on," I said, pulling on her hand. "I'm sure it's fine. We're right here by the ocean which means it's probably fresh and in good supply. That's why it's so cheap."

Ami smiled at me which offered some relief. "You're probably right. Let's go in."