Bodies in the Boatyard

by Ellen Jacobson

  Scooter sat on the stool next to me. “He can’t help it if his eyebrows resemble…what is it you always compare them to?”

  “Caterpillars. Fuzzy caterpillars. I can’t keep my eyes off them. They’re mesmerizing, but not in a good way.” I blew on my mocha to cool it down. “It wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t kept asking the same questions over and over.” I tried to imitate his gruff voice while raising my eyebrows. “What were you doing in the boatyard at that hour? Did you touch anything at the crime scene? Isn’t this the third murder victim you’ve found in Coconut Cove?” I took a cautious sip from my mug. Nope, still too hot. “It’s almost like he thinks I deliberately try to find dead bodies.”

  Scooter frowned. “Well, I don’t think it’s deliberate, but you do have a knack for it.”

  “Hang on a minute—”

  The ringing of the doorbell interrupted my retort.

  “What a charming little cottage,” a voice rang out brightly as the door opened before either Scooter or I could answer it.

  An overpowering smell of floral perfume wafted around the corner, followed by a woman who looked to be in her midthirties from a distance, but closer to her late forties up close.

  “Panda, this is Suzanne. Suzanne, this is my wife, Mollie.”

  “Panda. That’s adorable,” she said. “The only pet name my husband calls me is…well…I probably shouldn’t mention it in polite company.” She giggled, then extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you,” she said. “Your husband has been telling me all about you. Isn’t that right, Scooter, darling?”

  I was fascinated by her elaborate hairdo. Her auburn hair was piled on top of her head in a manner that could only be achieved with an endless supply of bobby pins and at least two cans of hairspray. She wore a formfitting sheath dress of white linen and teetered on impossibly high stiletto heels.

  “Here you go, all my details,” she said, handing me a business card. “What’s that heavenly smell?”

  “Do you mean my mocha?” I asked, although I wasn’t sure how she could smell anything over her cloying scent.

  “Mmm…yes. A skinny latte would be divine before we begin,” she said.

  “Don’t look at me,” I said. “Scooter is the resident barista.”

  “My, you’re such a talented man, aren’t you? A successful businessman, and you also make coffee. What else should I know about you?” she asked, squeezing his bicep.

  Scooter glanced down at the hand on his arm. “Uh, sure. One latte coming right up,” he said, escaping from her grasp.

  Suzanne flitted around the kitchen while her beverage was being prepared, regaling me with stories about her real estate career and gossiping about her clients.

  “Thank you, darling,” she said when Scooter set a mug in front of her. She swirled her latte with a spoon, then took a tiny sip. “This isn’t skim milk, is it?” She set the mug back down. “Never mind. Let’s have a look around, shall we?” she said as she edged past me into the living room. “Now, I believe you said this was a two-bedroom, two-bath, didn’t you?”

  “One-and-a-half-bath,” Scooter said.

  “Hmm. Well, that’s not ideal, but we’ll find some way to spin it,” she said breezily. “This is such a lovely space. So light and airy. I bet the view of the sunset over the water is just magnificent.” She pulled a notebook out of her bag and jotted something down. “I think that will be a top selling point.”

  She perched delicately on the edge of the couch and fiddled with the bracelets around her wrist, then delicately stifled a yawn. “Can you believe the police came to our house to question my husband and me last night? They kept us up so late.” She leaned forward and said dramatically, “You did hear about what happened at the marina, didn’t you? Someone was murdered!”

  “Here, why don’t you finish this?” I said, handing Scooter my mug, knowing that talk of homicide would be upsetting to him. “The chocolate should help.” He gulped it down in one swallow.

  “Yes, we know,” I said. “I was the one who actually found the body. Poor guy. He was so young.”

  “You found Darren? Simply ghastly! I can’t imagine how I would have reacted if it were me. Fainted, I suppose. It was a good thing you had such a nice strong man there to help you.”

  Scooter coughed and gave me a look.

  “Oh, I’m not the one who fainted. He did. He landed on the ground before I could catch him.” Scooter’s look turned into more of a glare. I was beginning to think he didn’t want me to tell people about what had happened.

  “I didn’t faint,” he said, giving me yet another pointed look. This one I was able to interpret easily. “I had just twisted my ankle. It went out on me, so I stumbled and fell down.”

  “That makes much more sense,” Suzanne said, her faith in male courage and bravery in the face of dead bodies restored.

  “Why did the police question you?” I asked.

  “Oh, didn’t I say? There was some silly fight at the marina earlier that evening, and for some reason, they thought my husband’s nephew might have been involved.”

  “Liam?” She nodded. “So that means that Norm’s your husband?”

  “That’s right. We’re coming up on five years. It’s a second marriage for both of us.”

  “So what do you know about Darren?” I asked.

  Suzanne sighed. “Well, I know him a bit. He graduated from high school with Liam and my son, Xander. The three of them used to hang out. We would see Darren at school events, football games, that type of thing.”

  “Didn’t Alejandra go to school with them too?”

  “Oh yes. Her family moved to Coconut Cove at the start of high school. She’s such a nice girl. She and Liam are really sweet on each other. Who knows, maybe wedding bells in the future?”

  “Really? It didn’t appear that way last night. She didn’t seem to want anything to do with him, especially after that fight between the guys.”

  “Well, just between you and me, Liam can be a bit of a hothead. He was constantly getting into trouble at school. My son would have been a much better match for Alejandra. They went to prom together, you know. But after graduation, Xander decided to move in with his father back in Arizona and go to college out there. I keep hoping he’ll come back to Coconut Cove and help Norm with his businesses. He’s got such a good head on his shoulders. Liam’s great at the grunt work, but what Norm really needs is someone who can take over when he retires.” She sighed. “But all Xander can talk about is how much he loves it out west, so I guess I shouldn’t get my hopes up.”

  Scooter showed her the rest of the house while I tidied up the kitchen. As I poured Suzanne’s latte down the drain, I thought about what she had said about Liam’s temper. Was it possible that jealousy over Alejandra had driven him to murder Darren?

  “This is such a charming house,” Suzanne said, interrupting my thoughts. “I love how you’ve decorated it, Mollie. The baskets with seashells on your nightstands are a cute touch. I’m sure I can get you guys a great price for it, assuming you’re willing to move quickly.” She set her purse on the counter. “Your delectable husband says you’re going to move onto your sailboat. That sounds so romantic. Me, I couldn’t do it, but you look like a woman with simpler tastes.” She eyed me head to toe the way they do on those TV shows that promise to turn someone frumpy into someone fabulous.

  “The only person thinking about moving onto the boat is Scooter. Not me. In fact, it was his idea to have you come see the cottage.”

  “Oh, don’t be silly. I don’t believe that for a second.” Suzanne opened up the patio door and took in the views of the beach, then turned back to me. “Do you know Leilani Choi?”

  “You mean Mrs. Diamond?”

  Suzanne furrowed her brow. “Who?”

  “Sorry, you mean the woman who broke her arm, don’t you?”

  “Yes, that’s the one. You should talk to her. She and her husband sold their house last year and moved onto their catamaran. I bet she cou
ld give you lots of tips about downsizing, having garage sales, paring down what you need to a minimum, that sort of thing. She’s a lovely young thing. A bit of a hippie, but a sweetheart. I don’t think she owns too many clothes, either. Fashion isn’t important to everyone, is it?”

  “Why exactly is the market so hot?” Scooter asked, trying to change the subject before I said something he thought I might regret. I’m not sure I would have regretted it, but I’m certain he wouldn’t have been pleased.

  “Oh, you know, just snowbirds who come down here every year, then decide to sell their property up north and make it a full-time thing. Besides, Coconut Cove is a darling town. We’ve got lovely restaurants, bars, shops…” She reached over and whispered, “You might check that new boutique out, Mollie. They’ve got some gorgeous dresses in the window. Men like it when we ladies make an effort.” Then in a louder voice she added, “And we’re close enough to the big city to stock up on things. It’s a wonder the town hasn’t grown. It’s ripe for development.”

  “But wouldn’t that ruin its charm?” Scooter asked. “My uncle used to own this place, and one of the things he loved about Coconut Cove was the fact that it was a small town. If you let large developers come in, it won’t be any different than any other place on the coast. Strip malls everywhere, heavy traffic, and no character. I’d hate to think that’s what selling this place would bring to the area.”

  “See, Scooter, we shouldn’t sell,” I said enthusiastically. “We don’t want that to happen here.”

  “No, no,” Suzanne said in a reassuring tone. “We have strict zoning laws. Nothing like that will ever happen here. It’s just that a few snowbirds will move down and splash their money around the town. It’ll be good for everyone.”

  As she went to pick up her purse, her wrist jangled against the counter.

  “Your bracelets are quite distinctive. That one in particular,” I said, pointing at a heavy gold one laden with charms.

  “Isn’t it? Every time I make a really big sale, I treat myself to a new charm. See, I even have one of a sailboat. Business has been so good lately that I’ll probably have to get another bracelet for my other wrist,” she said with a laugh.

  “Now, I’ll let you two get on with the rest of your day. I’m going to run over to the office and type up all the agreements.” She yawned. “Although a nap does sound tempting after all that police questioning.”

  “The chief does like to ask a lot of questions,” I said. “I bet he asked where you and Norm were when Darren was murdered.”

  “Oh, he did.”

  “And where was that?”

  Suzanne seemed annoyed. “At our office, dear. It’s in that building right near Penelope’s Sugar Shack. We were both there all night catching up on paperwork. You know how it is when you’re a successful businessperson, don’t you, Scooter, dear?”

  As we walked Suzanne to the door, she told us that she’d send the photographer out the next day to take pictures of the cottage.

  “Listen, Suzanne, I appreciate your coming out here, but Scooter and I have a lot to talk about before we move forward. If we move forward. So, no photographer,” I said.

  She winked at Scooter. “Everyone gets cold feet, but once you see that big, fat deposit in your bank account and move onto that cute sailboat of yours, you’ll be glad you sold this place.”

  * * *

  As the door to the Sailor’s Corner Cafe swung open, I could smell the aroma of burgers and fries. It helped clear the stench of Suzanne’s perfume out of my nostrils.

  Alejandra waved to us as she scooted past with a tray full of ice cream sundaes. “Hola. Pick any table. I’ll be with you in a sec.”

  We sat at a booth by the window looking out on Main Street. Scooter twisted around to read off the lunch specials from the board by the kitchen. “Okay, they’ve got minestrone soup, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, and something called ‘Ocean’s Delight Stew.’ Any of those sound good to you?”

  I crinkled my nose. “Ocean’s Delight? That sounds like the kind of cat food Mrs. Moto would eat. What do you suppose is in it?”

  After Alejandra described what was in the stew, we both opted for the grilled cheese.

  “What can I get you to drink?” she asked.

  “Root beer for me,” Scooter said.

  “I’ll have an iced tea, please,” I said.

  “Unsweetened, right?”

  “Yes, I get enough sugar elsewhere in my life.”

  “You know, chica, if you live down here in the south long enough, you’re going to have to start drinking sweet tea.”

  “That’ll be right after I start eating tofu.”

  Alejandra smiled as she made off with our menus.

  Scooter leaned forward. “Well, what did you think of Suzanne?”

  “You’re going to have to be a bit more specific. Her fashion sense? Her overuse of the word ‘darling’? Her admiration of your biceps?”

  Scooter flexed his arm. “Well, I do have nice biceps, but I was thinking more along the lines of her selling our house.”

  “I just don’t get why you’re so hot on selling the cottage? The one good thing about having her out this morning was that she pointed out all the great features it has, like the ocean view, how light and airy the rooms are, and how nicely I decorated the place. After hearing all that, why would you want to move onto a cramped sailboat?”

  “Because—”

  “And it has a washer and dryer. Did you know Leilani and Ken have to do their laundry in coin-operated machines at the marina?”

  “But—”

  “And don’t even get me started on what happens if you insert the wrong quarters.”

  Alejandra set our drinks down on the table.

  “Can I say something?” Scooter asked after taking a sip of his root beer.

  “Sure.”

  “Remember that article I showed you the other day in that sailing magazine? The one about that couple who sold everything to move aboard their boat, and how much they loved their new lifestyle?”

  “You realize that’s just propaganda, don’t you?”

  “No, it was a real story. You should talk to Leilani like Suzanne suggested. She’s not a propaganda machine. She can tell you what it’s really like. Besides, if we want to sail to the Caribbean or maybe even to the South Pacific, we’re going to have to move aboard the boat one of these days.”

  “Whoa, big fella. One step at a time. The longest cruise we’ve done on Marjorie Jane was from our slip to the Travelift. And you know how well that went. Why don’t we go slowly? First things first—we’ve got to fix up the boat. Then we can take her out for a day, maybe a weekend, and see what that’s like. You don’t have to jump into everything headfirst, you know.”

  Scooter smirked. “Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle black? Remember that time you signed up for skydiving lessons before you remembered you’re scared of heights?”

  “That was different.”

  “How exactly?”

  Fortunately, Alejandra came by with our meals before I had to explain how jumping out of a plane could come in handy in the future.

  While we ate our lunch, I looked out the window and noticed Ben and Liam having an animated discussion across the street. Ben threw his hands up in the air and walked over to the cafe. He saw Alejandra through the window and waved. She nodded and gave him a lukewarm wave in return before going back to taking an order. Undeterred, he came inside and sat down next to me.

  “Hey, what’s new?” he said as he grabbed a fry off my plate.

  “Daring move, Ben,” Scooter said.

  “Sorry, Mollie,” Ben said sheepishly. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

  Alejandra came over to top up my iced tea. “What can I get you, Ben?”

  “How about coming to the Tipsy Pirate tomorrow to hear me play?”

  “Uh, I can’t. I’ve got to catch up with…” She stared out the window and chewed on her pen, then continued. “With Nan
cy. We’re going to check out some new nail polishes that she ordered.” She finished filling up my glass and placed it back in front of me. “Did you want anything to eat, Ben?”

  Ben looked downcast. “Nah, I lost my appetite.” Alejandra shrugged and bustled over to the kitchen.

  “Is this the band you were telling me about?” Scooter asked.

  “Yeah. It’s me and some high school buddies. We call ourselves Eye Patches and Peg Legs.”

  “That’s an interesting name,” I said.

  “Do you like it? I had to convince the other guys in the band to go along with it. We play all sorts of stuff, from Jimmy Buffet to Bob Marley. Why don’t the two of you come?”

  Scooter nodded. “Sure, we’ll be there.”

  Ben smiled, slyly stole another fry, and scooted out of the restaurant.

  “Poor Ben,” I said. “He just doesn’t seem to get a break. First, he was sweet on Penny, and now he’s got a thing for Alejandra. There’s this girl in FAROUT who might be perfect for him. I think I heard her mention that she likes rum. That’s a pirate drink, isn’t it?”

  “No matchmaking, Mollie. Just stay out of it.”

  Screams of laughter erupted in the back section of the restaurant. I glanced over and saw Penny surrounded by several young kids banging their spoons on the table. “Ice cream, ice cream, we all want ice cream!” Alejandra rushed over and grabbed spoons from some of the more rambunctious children. It didn’t really help matters. They used their hands to beat on the table while they shouted, “Spoons, spoons, we all want spoons!” What they didn’t realize was that you could eat ice cream just as easily with a fork, provided you gobbled it up quickly enough. Trust me, it can be done. If I were them, I would have gone back to chanting about ice cream rather than spoons.

  “Look, there’s Katy,” I said.

  Scooter laughed. “Can you picture the expression on Nancy’s face if she were here and saw what a mess they’ve all made of the table? I can’t imagine she’d approve.”