Loading up the equipment, she returned to the cottage, putting the detector back in the closet but not hanging it on the pegboard. She intended to bring down a towel to clean it off, but then she had another idea.
Meg made a second cup of coffee when she went upstairs and put on her swimsuit for her morning walk. She put a towel in her market bag and nestled the pinpoint detector down inside, then loaded the larger detector in a child’s wagon and pulled it behind her down the beach.
The dunes and beach smelled fresh and clean from the storm of the previous evening. The sand was damp and packed solid.
It was hot and steamy as the sun moved higher in the eastern sky. Meg walked to the area where the crime scene tape had been. It was high tide, just as it had been the morning Echo’s body had been discovered. Meg began the sweeps at the water’s edge and walked back to the dunes. She moved a few feet to the left after she turned back toward the water, overlapping the sweep. By the time she had covered an area she thought would be adequate, Meg was drenched in sweat, but she found nothing.
There was an area between the dunes where the emergency vehicles had pulled in. Meg thought that was probably where Jean had spotted the white car when she walked Gizmo. She left the metal detector in the grass on the dunes and headed toward the flatter surface, doing a double take at a glint from the base of the grasses in a smaller dune. Meg saw the face of a watch as she got closer, the metal band buried in the sand. She pulled the towel from her bag and used it to pick up the watch. It was a man’s Rolex and the band was broken.
What kind of force would it take to snap the metal band of a watch?
As she cradled the watch in the towel, she continued scanning the dunes. A thin black object caught her attention. She stooped closer and saw what looked like part of a cell phone. Meg crouched in the dunes, using the edge of the towel to pry the phone from the packed sand. She placed both items in the center of the towel and folded it, pushing it down into the market bag.
As she stood, she heard a car slowing and turning onto the beach road. Meg headed back to the metal detector and picked it up, putting it in the wagon. She walked toward the cottage without looking back.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she turned and noticed a white car parked in the dunes where she’d just left. She’d already cleaned the metal detectors and hung them back in the storage closet. Someone, Rene maybe, had the same instinct to search the dunes. What in the world made me go down there? I’m so glad I followed Paul’s instructions and smoothed the sand back in place, but whoever is there will surely see my footprints and the tracks of the wagon.
Meg phoned Hendrix when she was back in the kitchen. The detective didn’t answer, but Meg left her a voice mail. She considered cleaning the sand from the watch and phone, but decided to wait until she’d talked with Hendrix. She took the towel from her bag and put it in the sink along with the empty coffee cup. She wanted to sit in the hot tub, but she didn’t want to miss the call. LaRue sat just outside the door staring in at her.
Picking up her cell phone and her bag of crochet, Meg headed to the deck to work on a receiving blanket while she waited for Hendrix to return her call. She glanced down the beach and noticed the white car was still there, but the dune grasses were so high she couldn’t see a person.
It wasn’t long before Meg heard a car. She slipped into her beach cover-up and walked to the edge of the deck. It was Hendrix.
“Hey there,” Meg called out when the detective got out of the car. “I called you earlier.”
“I just saw my messages and I was in the area, so I thought I’d stop by,” Hendrix said as she mounted the stairs. “I was hoping you could make me a cup of that delicious coffee.”
“Sure can,” Meg said. “I have some things I’d like to show you. I think they might be important.”
“Always ready to look at something important.” Hendrix gave Meg a toothy grin when she reached the top of the stairs.
After starting a cup under the Keurig, Meg asked Hendrix to step over to the sink, where she unfolded the towel and pointed to the phone and watch.
“What’s this?” Hendrix wasn’t grinning anymore.
“I found these on the beach this morning, back in the dunes close to where Echo’s body was found.” Meg explained that she’d run into Rene the previous evening in Charles Cove near the pier. She also told her about the metal detectors and her intuition about checking the beach. “Oh, and there’s a car down there now.” Meg took the binoculars from the top of the fridge and led Hendrix to the deck.
“I’m pretty sure that’s Rene’s car, or her husband’s.” Hendrix stared down the dunes through the field glasses. “I can’t make out the license plate, but that looks like the car. How long has it been there?”
“About forty-five minutes or an hour now,” Meg said.
Hendrix called for an unmarked car to monitor and follow the white vehicle. She talked on the phone while Meg returned to the kitchen to brew another cup of coffee. By the time Hendrix joined her, Meg had two mugs of coffee and cinnamon rolls on the island.
“I have some plastic baggies for those things,” Meg said, pointing to the towel in the sink.
“That’d be great. That phone looks like a burner phone, but it can still be useful.”
It occurred to Meg her number might be among those on the phone. “If it belongs to Linda or Tony, my number might be on there. Something else is peculiar to me, and I want to mention it. I’ve noticed the last two days that Rene and Tony both have injuries, cuts and bruises to their lower arms. It could be a coincidence, but I think it’s strange. They have stories about how the injuries happened.” Meg slid her mug to the stool side of the island and took a seat. “Linda’s been a basket case, drinking a lot to the point of passing out, incoherent. I had to call Jeff to come pick her up again. She’s more upset than I’d expect over Echo’s death.
“And a couple of ladies, Ginny and Evie, have befriended me. I mentioned Evie to you yesterday. They tell me Linda has what they call a different lifestyle. I hear she’s bisexual and has girlfriends and boyfriends.”
“That’s common knowledge.” Hendrix tilted her head, rolling her eyes.
“I’ve lived a sheltered life. This stuff just doesn’t make sense to me. I mean, it must be more than confusing for Linda, but make a choice and stick with it, for heaven’s sake.”
“Linda’s addicted to drama,” Hendrix said. “It’s the kids who break my heart. They seem to be good people, and so is Wanda. Linda must be more like Benet than she wants to admit. I appreciate the coffee, and I have a feeling those things you picked up on the beach are going to be important evidence. I would like a couple of baggies.”
“Sure. You know, we had quite a storm last night and they were covered in sand. Hopefully that won’t cause a problem.”
“It’s amazing what the lab can come up with.” Hendrix slipped on a pair of latex gloves and put the items in separate baggies. When they walked onto the deck, the white car was gone.
Twenty-Seven
MEG STARED AFTER Hendrix as she drove down the lane to the main road. She had been drawn to use the metal detectors, but in the end that wasn’t how she located the watch and phone. Convincing herself it had been Paul who spoke to her through those familiar items, Meg was sure that explanation wouldn’t make sense to anyone else. Ever since she’d met with Marsha, the medium at the Blue Santa Dickens Carnival, Meg was aware she could be more sensitive to her intuitions. Most of the time it was comforting, but occasionally it was downright eerie.
She picked up her cell phone and headed to the deck to call Jean. “Guess what I found this morning on the beach,” Meg said after they dispensed with greetings.
“Some sea beans and sand dollars. Please don’t tell me you found another body.”
“No, none of the above.” Meg explained about peering in the windows of the meth house in Charles Cove and startling Rene as she searched for something on the trail to the pier.
“Meg, I wished you wouldn’t venture off by yourself like that. Suppose one of those characters thinks you’re being too curious and gets it in their head to do something.” Jean’s tone was serious.
“She was more afraid of me than I was of her,” Meg said, but she knew Jean had a point. “Besides, Hendrix dropped by out of the blue this morning. I’m pretty sure there are unmarked cars out here all the time observing.”
“Still, be careful,” Jean insisted. “You know Paul and Dorie would tell you the same thing.”
“I know. You’re right. It was Paul’s encouragement that made me go back to the pier with a metal detector.” Meg continued to explain her search and being drawn to the dunes. She had Jean explain the location where she’d seen the white car again. They were convinced that’s where Meg had found the phone and watch.
“Jeez, Meg. Can you imagine what kind of pressure it would take to break a watch band?”
“I think it’s impossible,” Meg said. “There has to be some explanation for it being twisted against a hard surface or cut or something. Luckily we don’t have to figure that out. Hendrix has taken them as evidence, so the lab will have to worry about it.”
“So what do you think happened to Echo?” Jean asked.
“I don’t know. Rene made the ridiculous claim that Katie’s a suspect, but I asked Hendrix and she didn’t confirm or deny.”
Jean gasped. “That’s impossible, Meg. There’s no way that could be true.”
“After what Giselle and Geneva participated in with Lena, I never say never. However, I hope it’s not true. I really like Katie, and her grandmother is a nice woman. I visited with her.”
Meg stood and walked to the edge of the deck when she heard a vehicle approaching. It was a white car. “Jean, I’ll call you back later. I have company coming up the road.”
“Okay, but be sure to call, Meg. I’ll be worried unless I hear from you again in a couple of hours.”
“Will do.” Meg’s heart raced, but she realized Hendrix had called for an unmarked car to trail the sports car. She took a deep breath and somehow knew that would be the case, and she was in no danger.
Rene and Linda got out of the car, lifting their heads up to the deck of the cottage. Meg waved, watching as they approached. When they were closer, she started down the stairs. She didn’t want them to see the sandy towel in her sink or the coffee mugs still sitting on the island upstairs.
“Hey, girls. What are you two up to?”
“We wondered if you were out on the beach this morning and would mind if we sat with you for a while,” Linda answered.
“I was out earlier looking for shells and having my morning walk,” Meg said. “It’s getting too hot for me to sit in the sun. I was just going in to get a shower and head into Galveston. I have some books to pick up at the library. They called this morning to let me know they were in.”
Rene’s smile disappeared as she looked to Linda. “That’s too bad. We have a picnic and everything.”
“Isn’t that the beauty of the island? There are miles of public beach available for everyone to enjoy. Though my enjoyment has to take place in the early morning and sunset. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d be in the dermatologist’s office most of the time.”
“I understand,” Linda said. “Rene mentioned you were over at Charles Cove last night.”
Meg thought the remark sounded like an accusation. It was certainly the reason for their visit.
“Yes I was. I rode the bicycle over. The sunset from here is nice, but I wondered what it would be like to look across that bay. It really is beautiful, and I can’t help but think that little subdivision could still have promise. The view is stunning. I’m sure any second-floor deck on those houses would offer an amenity buyers would pay a premium for. Call me crazy, but I hope the Charles dream can come true.”
Linda gave a slight smile with misty eyes. “I wish that could be also, but there’s always something that derails a dream.”
“Don’t say that. Think positive,” Meg said. “It’s your legacy, for heaven’s sake. Think how proud your family would be if you could be the one to figure out how to save that plan.”
“That’ll never happen.” Linda shook her head. “I’m way down the list of anyone who could influence Charles holdings.”
Rene stretched her back and shuffled her feet. Meg was not cooperating in their quest to get information. Rene hadn’t said anything.
“Did I see your car on the beach this morning, Rene?” Meg smiled in her direction.
“Uh, yeah. I pulled over to check my phone.”
Meg nodded and smiled. “Well, girls, if I don’t get my shower, I’ll never get into town. I have several errands to run. It was good to see you.” She put her foot on the first step of the stairs to let them know she would be heading up and ending the conversation. She had noticed a black SUV make several passes by the cottage while Linda and Rene had their backs to the main road. Meg was confident it was Hendrix’s tail.
Linda’s shoulders dropped. “Okay, see you, Meg. We’ll try again another time, but maybe we’ll get here earlier.”
“Sure thing and call first.” Meg waved and continued to climb the stairs, going inside and watching out the kitchen window until Rene’s car was out of sight. She picked up the sandy towel and took it to the deck, shaking it out before taking it to the washing machine. She washed the coffee mugs and plate from Hendrix’s visit.
“It takes too much energy to lie,” Meg said when she called Jean back. “There’s mental exhaustion with having to think about everything I say. They wanted me to sit on the beach with them for a picnic, Linda and Rene. I’m sure they just wanted to grill me about Hendrix and what I found in the dunes.”
“You handled that like a pro, Meg. They left without anything they came for. If what you described is true, you probably spotted your protector in that black SUV.”
“I’m going to call Hendrix and verify that. It sure made me feel more secure knowing someone was watching.”
They’d been talking on the phone several minutes when Jean asked, “Are you really going into Galveston to the library?”
“Yes, I think I will. I did ask to be notified when some books I’m interested in were returned. A call came yesterday, and they’ll only hold them until tomorrow. I’m going to check out a couple of museums, too. I’ll just make an afternoon of it.”
“Sounds good. You can be a tourist and enjoy the sights.”
When they hung up, Meg saw she’d had a text from Hendrix. It said the black SUV was part of their patrol, and they were aware Linda and Rene had stopped by the cottage. Meg was relieved to know there were patrols active around Charles Cove and her cottage.
She spent the afternoon at the library reading recent issues of the local paper. There had been additional articles following Benet’s and now Echo’s deaths. History about the inception of Charles Cove was recounted, but Meg didn’t learn anything new that could help her figure out who might have murdered Echo.
There had been conceptual drawings of the master plan of Charles Cove in one of the articles. Meg could see the vision, and it could have been a beautiful setting for a small neighborhood. It planted a seed that made her want to go back and look at the houses one more time. She had a feeling that her time in the beach cottage was drawing to a close.
Twenty-Eight
“MOM, I JUST got home from my weekly checkup. By this time next week, you’ll probably be a grandmother.”
“What? Already? I had no idea.” Meg was caught off guard. She thought she had more time to prepare.
“I know, I might have miscalculated a little. The baby is already well over seven pounds, and I’m beginning to dilate. If labor hasn’t started by this time next week, I’ll be induced,” Dorie said.
“This is exciting. It won’t take me any time to pack up here and head back. Are you ready for me at your house? Don’t worry about it. I’ll do whatever needs to be done. Let’s see….”
Dorie laughed. “Mom, there’s no rush. It could be well into next week, and I’m feeling great. You don’t need to hurry back. I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“I don’t want to miss anything. Seven pounds? It’s a little person, Dorie!”
“Yes, the nursery’s almost finished. Michael will help me hang the window shades this evening, and it’ll be done. Your room’s ready, too. Michael’s mom was here last weekend, and she helped get it freshened before she left.”
“I’m ready. So, this is Wednesday. I’ll shoot for getting back there by Sunday. That should give me plenty of time to get settled there. I’d like to drop everything and head back right this minute.”
“It’s a waiting game here, so take your time. Unless you plan to rub my feet until I deliver, there’s not much to do.”
“Okay, I’ll take some deep breaths and get myself organized and be there by Sunday, probably Saturday afternoon.”
Meg paced after hanging up the phone. There was really nothing to do but pack her belongings. She took an armful of towels and dirty clothes to the laundry room and started the washer. The tub began to fill as she turned off the light and closed the door. The bicycle sat in the carport under the cottage, beckoning Meg to take another ride to Charles Cove. She had the image of the master plan in her mind.
The subtle colors of dusk were filling the western sky on a clear evening. Meg took a flashlight from the pegboard outside the laundry room and straddled the bicycle.
The front door on the green house stood open. Meg listened and looked around, seeing no one. Having parked the bicycle in tall weeds on the west side of the house, out of sight, she ascended the stairs to the deck, continuing to listen for any sound from inside the house. There was still ample light, the western view of the sunset over the water took her breath away. Benet Charles surely knew it would have been stunning.
Inside the front door, Meg found a clean and tidy living area. There were puddles of water on the tile inside the door. Meg assumed it was rain water. The furniture wasn’t current, but it appeared to be well cared for. The floors were free of debris and seemed to be recently mopped, no dust. The kitchen had no stove, but there was a refrigerator. Meg pulled the sleeve of her windbreaker down over her hand and opened the door to warm humidity, a musty odor, and no light. There were several candles on the counter in the kitchen.
Pelican Beach Murder Page 17
