Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Collection

by Angela K Ryan

  Connie's heart tightened at seeing the pain on his face. "Gallagher, did Natasha ever have a problem with drugs?"

  "No, absolutely not. Sugrue started those rumors to undermine Natasha's credibility. She was as clean as they come. In fact, she was a great support to me in the days after I gave up drinking."

  The two sat in silence for a few moments.

  "You know, I always had the feeling that Natasha had more evidence against Sugrue that she didn't share with me, but she never would admit to it. She insisted on keeping everything, so I don't even know where she hid it. As far as I know, it's lost forever. I wish I had it to show the police. Maybe it could somehow help them to put him behind bars."

  Connie exhaled deeply. She stood up to leave and put her hand on Gallagher's shoulder. "Jordan is not going to win. Not only for Natasha's sake, but for Victoria's, as well."

  Chapter 11

  Connie grabbed her phone on Saturday morning and sent a group text to Elyse and Stephanie. Yikes! My date with Zach is tomorrow, and my grand opening is one week away. I think I'm officially freaking out. Anyone free for a drink tonight?

  Within a few minutes she had two responses. Stephanie's was first: Wine and snacks at my house at 7? And a second from Elyse: I can make it. Emma will be at a sleepover. I'll bring the wine.

  A relieved smile spread across Connie's face as she read the responses from her friends. She texted them back. You guys are the best. I'll bring some homemade guacamole, salsa, and corn chips.

  Connie had slept later than usual, so as soon as she got up, she took a quick shower, threw on a pair of black capris, a white V-neck t-shirt, and some flip-flops, and took Ginger for a quick walk. Then she headed into the shop to get in a few hours of work.

  It was about 3:00 when Connie and Ginger returned home, so she had plenty of time before her plans with Elyse and Stephanie. With her mind still reeling from her conversation with Gallagher the night before, Connie decided to reread Natasha's diary and see if she could come up with any new angles. Maybe she would receive some fresh insight in light of the new information she had about the last few years of Natasha's life.

  Connie settled onto the couch with Ginger nestled on her lap and stroked her silky coat, while she started from the beginning of the soft leather diary.

  She was drawn to the section where Natasha described her favorite place to go when she needed to be alone to reflect. She remembered Penelope saying that on the night she disappeared, Natasha said she was going to her thinking spot.

  Connie read Natasha's description of a bench, where, seated beneath a palm tree, she could gaze at the ocean in the distance. Great, Connie thought, that could be anywhere in southwest Florida.

  Absorbed in her reading, Connie was startled by the ring of her cell phone, which she had left charging on the kitchen counter. She put the diary on the coffee table, scooped up Ginger from her lap, and checked the caller ID on her phone. It was her sister, Gianna.

  Connie hit "Accept."

  "Hey, Gi, how's it going?"

  "Hey, Connie, doing well. Just wanted to hear the sound of your voice. I miss you."

  Connie felt a twinge of guilt. She had been so busy between her sleuthing and setting up her condo and her shop that she hadn't had time to be homesick. But Gianna's voice brought it on. "I miss you guys, too. How are the twins?" Gianna had two-year-old twins, Hannah and Noah.

  "I wore them out this morning at the park, so they are both napping, which is no small miracle."

  "Aw, there's plenty of room here. Come down whenever you want."

  They caught up on each other’s lives, talking as if they lived next door. After swearing her to secrecy, Connie even confided in her about Natasha's disappearance and how she'd been asking around.

  "Another mystery in Sapphire Beach? You've got to be kidding," she said.

  "Natasha had a daughter who was the same age as the twins when she disappeared." Until she said it aloud, Connie hadn't realized that Victoria had been the same age as her niece and nephew. Perhaps that was one of the reasons the little girl tugged so hard on her heartstrings.

  "I can't imagine not being able to raise my babies," Gianna said, her voice choking up. "Do you think she could still be alive?"

  "Even though they haven't found a body, I tend to doubt it. I just don't believe she would disappear and leave her baby behind. Unless she's being held against her will."

  "You mean kidnapped?"

  "I suppose that's a possibility. And it's better than the alternative. But it's been about eight months since her disappearance, so it's hard to be optimistic."

  She heard Gianna sigh on the other end of the phone. "They are in my prayers, and so are you, Connie. I won't mention it to Mom and Dad, but please be careful. I want you to be there to see Hannah and Noah grow up. You can't change what happened to that young woman, as tragic as it is, so don't do anything crazy."

  "I promise. Hey, isn't it my job to worry about you? After all, you're my baby sister, not the other way around. When did you take on the role of big sister?"

  "I think it was somewhere around the time you started traipsing around developing countries, leaving your family at home to worry about you."

  "Oh yeah, I forgot about that," she said, teasing her little sister. "I always brought you back cool presents, though, didn't I?"

  "Yes, there were cool presents involved. I'll give you that," Gianna said, laughing. "But that's okay. I like worrying about you and living vicariously through you. There's only room for one adventurous sister in the family, so lucky for Mom and Dad, I took a safer path."

  "Love you. Tell the twins I miss them. I'll call tomorrow when they're awake."

  "Yes, please call. They will be so excited to hear from you."

  After her conversation with her sister, Connie had a light supper, then made the guacamole and salsa that she promised her friends.

  When she arrived at Stephanie's bungalow, Elyse's car was already in the driveway. Stephanie led Connie through the house and out to the lanai, where Elyse was sipping white wine and making herself at home on one of the wicker chairs. Stephanie set out snacks on the coffee table and poured Connie a glass of Chardonnay, which had been chilling in an ice bucket. Potted plants of various sizes, including Bismarck and Bamboo palms, Cordyline and other tropical vegetation, dressed up the lanai, and a warm breeze carried the scent of saltwater.

  "So, what's all this panic about?" Elyse asked Connie, cutting right to the chase. "You said you're ahead of schedule with the store."

  "I know. I was there today, and I'm really in good shape. I think it's a combination of everything - the grand opening, wanting the store to be a success after leaving everything behind, and my date with Zach tomorrow. When I woke up this morning, it all came at me at once, and I felt completely overwhelmed."

  "I remember when I quit my job in Ohio to move to Sapphire Beach," Stephanie said. "I didn't even have a job lined up yet, but I knew I needed a change. So, I just left everything and stayed with my mother while I got on my feet. It was terrifying at first, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Once I got a job and knew I wanted to stay, I bought this little gem," she said, referring to her bungalow.

  "With a little help from your ace realtor," Elyse added, pretending to be insulted at the omission.

  "Of course," Stephanie said, gently elbowing Elyse.

  Her friends' friendly banter brought a smile to Connie's face. Their friendship made the transition so much easier. "I know you guys are right. I'm not having second thoughts. It's just nerves. I'm happy to be with you both tonight. Sometimes you just need to know there are people around who are cheering you on."

  "As far as Zach goes, he's a great guy," Elyse said. "The two of you will have a great time parasailing tomorrow. The worst that could happen is you'll make a good friend."

  Connie had to smile. "That's true. I do like him. It's just that I haven't dated that much over the years. There was this one guy, Jeremy, when I was youn
ger. He was my first love, and we dated during college. We even talked about marriage down the line. He was supportive of my desire to go to Africa and promised he'd wait for me, but when I returned, let's just say he didn't wait. After Jeremy, I always figured that I was better off without the constraints of a relationship, so that I could follow my dreams without worrying about my heart getting broken. Besides, I was so busy at Feeding the Hungry that there really wasn't time."

  "Are you sure there wasn't time, or were you just scared?" Elyse asked.

  Connie chuckled at Elyse's insight. "Let's just say I was less afraid when I went hiking in the Kakamega Forest in Kenya at night," Connie said.

  Stephanie laughed. "I'm with Connie. We don't all meet the love of our life in high school, you know."

  "You guys are so dramatic," Elyse said, rolling her eyes and laughing. "I just don't want to see Connie miss out on a great guy."

  Connie looked at Elyse. "It seems that you're always pushing me to take chances. It was you who put the idea of opening a jewelry shop back into my mind to begin with in January." Connie would always remember that wonderful day when Elyse had taken her paddleboarding, then to look at a vacant shop where she pitched the idea of a jewelry shop. Elyse's instincts had been right that time, so what was she so worried about now?

  "You're welcome," Elyse said, with a satisfied grin.

  After enjoying the evening air a little longer, they encouraged Connie to get to bed early for her big day.

  "Let me know how parasailing is," Stephanie said. "I'm thinking of giving it a try."

  "Will do," Connie said as she left. "Thanks again for a great night."

  Chapter 12

  The 11:00 Sunday Mass was jam-packed with tourists and snowbirds, still lingering in Sapphire Beach, but Connie spotted Zach right away, seated toward the back. He turned around as if he had been looking for her. When they made eye contact, he smiled and motioned that he had been saving a seat.

  They didn't have a chance to say much, since Mass was beginning, but Zach handed her a copy of the bulletin, which he had opened to Connie's ad for the grand opening.

  Connie felt a surge of pride at the half-page ad, prominently placed, containing a collage of photos of the storefront and a selection of jewelry pieces, along with text noting that Connie was a parishioner and briefly describing the concept for Just Jewelry. Ready or not, the grand opening was happening in less than a week.

  After Mass, Zach walked Connie to her car, and they arranged to meet at Connie's condo in a half-hour. They each needed to go home to pick up their bathing suits for their lunch and parasailing date.

  Zach arrived right on time, and they headed straight to a restaurant on the beach, close to Sapphire Beach Boat Rentals, where Zach had made reservations for parasailing, and got a table on the deck outside. The temperature had climbed into the mid-eighties, with the sun strong in the sky, so they requested a table in the shade and ordered two lemonades.

  After they placed their order, Connie caught Zach up on her first two weeks as a resident of Sapphire Beach.

  "Sounds like you're keeping busy. Even with settling into your new home, preparing for the grand opening, and purchasing a paddleboard, I hear you've still had time to ask around about Natasha's disappearance," Zach said. "You just can't stay away from a good mystery, can you?"

  She was relieved that his tone was more playful than accusing. A stern lecture would not be the best way to start a first date.

  "I can't help but feel a sense of connection with Natasha. We both had a dream that led us to the same shop," Connie said.

  "That's an interesting way of looking at it. I suppose I should discourage you, but I doubt you'd listen. Besides, your attitude is refreshing. Most people don't want to get involved in other people's business. You know, 'I'm not my brother's keeper' and all."

  "I never thought of it that way," Connie said.

  "That's one of the things I admire about you." His gaze was intense, as if he was studying her. "It's probably what drew you into humanitarian work. You take others' concerns upon yourself as if they are your own."

  Connie chuckled. He had her number.

  "Some call it concern for neighbor," she said, "and others call it meddling."

  He laughed. "I guess it's a matter of perspective. But I admire that you spent time volunteering after college, and that you were so moved by what you saw that you dedicated your life to serving others."

  Connie had forgotten that she had shared so much with him when they had taken a walk together back in January. Elyse had been encouraging her to consider opening a jewelry shop, but Connie was torn, because, as much as she loved Sapphire Beach, she wasn't sure she was ready to leave her work with Feeding the Hungry. Connie was pleasantly surprised that he had been paying such close attention.

  "When we talked a few months ago," Zach said, "I was hoping you would end up staying in Sapphire Beach, but I respected your commitment to your work."

  Connie took another sip of lemonade. "I prayed and thought a lot about it, and when the idea of selling Fair Trade jewelry came to me, I was so excited. I just knew it was the right thing. I'm hoping that, as time goes on, I can dedicate more and more of the store to Fair Trade. While I still need to make a living, inheriting my aunt Concetta's condo put me in a position to fulfill this dream. In that sense, it's as much her shop as mine. Both the store and the condo are a constant reminder of her love for me."

  "I'm sure you will do her proud," he said, holding her gaze. "I, for one, will purchase gifts at Just Jewelry for my female relatives and encourage my friends to do the same," he said, as the server arrived with their food.

  Zach had ordered a grouper sandwich with fries, but Connie was afraid to eat anything heavy before parasailing, so she kept it light with grilled chicken Caesar salad.

  Zach reached across the table and took her hand while they said a quick blessing before they dug into their meals.

  "I understand your dilemma about which way to follow your heart," Zach said. "Before I became a cop, I considered becoming a priest. My uncle is a priest, and he spent a lot of time with our family while I was growing up. I was really torn for a while."

  Connie almost choked on her salad at his revelation. "Wow! What changed your mind?" she asked.

  "Well, kind of like you, I prayed and thought about it. The way I saw it, they were both ways to serve God, but I couldn't do both, so I just had to discern which way He was calling me. In hindsight, I know I made the right choice."

  "I haven't known you for long," Connie said, "but being a detective seems like the perfect fit. You have a lot of insight into what makes people tick and a strong desire to see justice served."

  He smiled thoughtfully and thanked her for the compliment.

  As they finished their meal, the conversation drifted back toward the case.

  "I keep going down false paths," Connie said. "I even kind of suspected poor Gallagher the other night."

  "Gallagher McKeon, the restaurant owner?" he asked with a smirk.

  "Yes. It turns out that Gallagher and Natasha were old friends, from before Sapphire Beach." She didn't mention how she discovered that, unsure of whether she should admit to snapping pictures of the diary.

  "That's right. They were both tangled up in Jordan Sugrue's cult up in the Panhandle. I went up to interview him after Natasha's disappearance. That place gives me the creeps."

  "Do you think he's involved in Natasha’s disappearance?" Then she realized he couldn't directly discuss the case. "Sorry, I forgot," she said.

  "Let's just say I can see why Natasha and Gallagher wanted to get out of there."

  Connie's heart broke for Victoria. That little girl was one of the main reasons Connie couldn't believe Natasha would have run away. She would never have fought so hard to leave, only to do something that would cause Victoria to have to return to her father. The words of the diary came back to her: I named my daughter Victoria to symbolize that my child would be victorious over the p
ast.

  While their server was getting the check, Connie pointed up at the parasailers. "I can't wait," she said.

  When they finished their lemonades, they headed to a nearby public restroom to change into bathing suits. Then they walked across the sugar-white sand to Sapphire Beach Boat Rentals, where Connie received a warm greeting from Ashley and Travis, who were ready for them, since Zach had called ahead for reservations.

  There were eight other people coming out with them - two groups of three friends and another couple. Parasailers had the option of going up alone or in groups of two or three.

  When everyone had arrived, they hopped into the speedboat, and Travis motored them about fifteen hundred feet away from the shore. Connie and Zach volunteered to go up first, so after a quick tutorial, he fitted them each with a safety harness, and they waited side by side in a seated position, as the sail gently lifted them up off the boat until they were floating high above the Gulf of Mexico.

  Once they reached what Zach jokingly called cruising altitude, a group of seagulls flew beneath them.

  Connie looked over at Zach, who was wearing a broad smile. "This is amazing," she said, leaning back into the blue sky.

  Zach nodded and pointed to a dolphin gliding across the waters below.

  After a few minutes, Travis skillfully brought them low enough for their feet to dip into the water, then they rose back up, and the world below became small once again as tiny sunbathers and umbrellas colorfully dotted the coastline.

  As the boat motored along, Connie's gaze drifted off into the distance. From her unique vantage point, she could see all of Sapphire Beach - Palm Paradise, the pier, the downtown shops. She even thought she spotted Stephanie's bungalow.

  Connie looked further into the distance toward Sapphire Beach State Park. The grass, palm trees, and areas of wild vegetation overlooking little inlets of seawater was truly breathtaking, reminding her that she hadn't taken a walk through the park since she returned.