Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Collection

by Angela K Ryan

  Connie's heart tightened as she thought of her own sister. "Poor Tracy. I can't imagine being in the position of having to do something unethical to save my sister's life. I can't imagine a worse predicament."

  Gallagher stared at the sidewalk pavement as they continued walking. "Knowing Sugrue, I'm not surprised. Now that you've seen his true colors, maybe you can understand why Natasha didn't want him anywhere near Victoria."

  "Do you think Tracy will tell him that we followed her?"

  "It's in Tiffany's best interest that he doesn't know, so she won't say anything."

  All Connie could do was hope that he was right. She was never so glad to live in a secure building like Palm Paradise. But just the same, she would be extra sure to lock the door as soon as she got home.

  When they arrived back at Just Jewelry, Connie invited Gallagher inside, but he declined. "I'd better get in there to help out," he said, pointing to the steady stream of customers heading into his restaurant. "But you have my number. Text or call if you need anything."

  She flashed him a grateful smile. "The same goes for you, Gallagher."

  Both Ginger and the store had survived the dog's first solo stay in the shop, so Connie decided to quit while she was ahead and call it a day. She had only worked for a couple of hours that day, but the store was in great shape for the grand opening. It wouldn't hurt to conserve her strength for the hectic days ahead. Besides, her encounter with Tracy had dampened her mood, and she felt like doing something that might clear her head.

  When she got back to Palm Paradise, she took Ginger for a stroll along the boulevard, then dropped her off at the condo so she could continue her walk along the shoreline. Connie could have taken Ginger, but she didn’t feel like giving her the bath she would certainly need after playing on the beach.

  The silky sand pressing between her toes and the scent of salty air did wonders for her spirit as she made her way along the beach. She walked on the hard sand where she could feel the rhythmic crashing of the waves over her feet. It was about 5:00, and there were still children playing in the water while sunbathers absorbed the weaker rays of the day. In a surge of ambition, Connie resolved to walk out to the pier, a mile from her condo.

  As she got closer, she noticed Mickey Miranda sitting next to the giant wooden structure with his knees pulled to his chest, gazing out at the water. His melancholy expression matched her mood. Not wanting to startle him, she approached him in silence and sat down a few feet away. It took some time for him to realize she was there.

  "Connie, I didn't see you. What brings you down here this time of day?" he asked, finally noticing her. He gave her a half-smile, then continued staring toward the horizon.

  She allowed her gaze to drift outward over the Gulf in the same direction as Mickey's. "I guess I just came out for a walk to think. I know I never met her, but I just can't get Natasha's murder off my mind."

  She turned to face him and saw that his eyes had filled with tears.

  "I just feel so guilty. That young woman was murdered, and all I did was give her grief about the rent." He pulled his knees closer to his body. "I really believed that she was doing drugs. But when I saw your shop broken into, and it was evident that the intruder was looking for something specific, it became clear to me that someone had been harassing Natasha, too. Who knows? Maybe she would still be here if I had given her the benefit of the doubt and dug a little deeper into Jordan Sugrue's accusations."

  Connie cringed when she realized that Mickey would probably feel even worse when he learned that Tracy was stealing from her. But at least it appeared as though her landlord wasn't a killer. That was something positive.

  "You couldn't have known all that, Mickey. Besides, whatever problems Natasha had, they predated her arrival at Sapphire Beach."

  "I did an online search for Jordan Sugrue on Tuesday after the break-in. I've been kicking myself, because I should have done that a long time ago. What I found was disturbing."

  Connie nodded. "I know. He's bad news."

  "I can't shake from my mind that smug look on his face. He seemed more normal when he came to talk to me last year about his suspicions about Natasha. I truly believed he was just a concerned father watching out for his daughter."

  Connie hated to think of him having custody of Victoria, but she didn't say anything, because she didn't want to make Mickey feel worse.

  "Did you see the look on the faces of his 'disciples' as he spewed his poison?"

  Connie nodded. "It was hard to listen to."

  "I couldn't help but get sucked into a few of the videos that the community posted this week. They were all gathered with him for several days at some retreat center in Colorado listening to him spout his nonsense. It made me sick just listening to the things he said."

  "Let's hope the police will somehow be able to stop him," Connie said.

  "Just promise me you'll be careful, Connie. He was obviously looking for something in your shop."

  "Wait, Mickey. Do you remember how long that retreat in Colorado was?"

  "The New Light website said they were there from Friday until last night."

  "If that's true, that means he probably couldn't have broken into my shop."

  Tracy had said that she thought it was unlikely that it was Jordan, but this news seemed to provide more confirmation that it hadn't been him.

  Mickey jumped up. "Oh my gosh, you're right. One of the talks was Monday night, so unless he flew, he wouldn't have had time to get back in Sapphire Beach later that night. I have to tell the police in case they don't know. Maybe they can check the flight manifests and find out for sure."

  Mickey ran off, stumbling across the sand, without bothering to say goodbye.

  She shook her head, smiled at the comical sight, and made her way back to Palm Paradise. The sun was setting, and she was ready to call it a night.

  Even after walking back home, Connie was still wound up from her conversation with Mickey, and it was too early for bed. She pulled out Natasha's journal, hoping to find some indication of who else, besides Jordan, could have had it in for Natasha.

  She wasn't ruling him out as the killer just because he likely hadn't been the one to break into her store, especially since she no longer suspected Mickey and Tracy. Even though he was likely in Colorado during the break-in, he could have been collaborating with somebody.

  She didn't have much luck with the diary. It was more about Natasha's own hopes and dreams for herself and her daughter and didn't dwell too much on the past. Besides 'Mac', who turned out to be Gallagher, she didn't reveal any names from her past life.

  Frustrated, she tossed it aside and instead got to work on the necklace she was hoping to complete before Saturday. Working with her hands always helped her to think, and it was better than sitting passively on the couch. At least she was being productive while she reflected.

  Whoever broke into Just Jewelry was clearly searching for something, most likely the evidence Emma had inadvertently discovered behind the wall with her volleyball. If that's the case, since Jordan couldn't have broken into the shop, then the intruder had to be somehow connected with Jordan. Why else would he or she be trying to get hold of the evidence that Natasha had against him?

  The other option was that the killer and the intruder were not connected at all. Perhaps somebody affiliated with New Light broke into Connie's store to find the photos, audio files, and key, but Natasha's death didn't have anything to do with that person.

  Connie was so deep in thought that, before she knew it, the necklace was complete. She looked it over, pleased with her work, and set it aside to take to the store the next day.

  With her task complete, she opened her laptop and pulled up some images and videos from New Light. Jordan had so many adoring fans, so anyone who wanted to please him could be involved. As she scanned the photos, she couldn't take her eyes off the sea of faces that seemed to hang on his every word.

  Connie looked again at the two women who seemed so
familiar and tried to place them. She studied both faces - first one, then the other, until she finally realized that one of them was Tiffany Peterson. Connie had recognized her from the photo that she saw in Tracy's foyer when she paid her a visit a couple of weeks ago.

  That explained who one of the women was, but she still couldn't place the second one, who was standing next to Tiffany. She scrutinized her face for a long time but to no avail. The answer stayed buried just beneath her consciousness.

  Eventually she gave up, hoping it might come to her if she put it aside.

  "I wish I knew what the key from the envelope unlocked," Connie said to Ginger, who was resting contentedly by her feet. "Perhaps that would answer some of these questions.”

  Chapter 19

  Thursday whizzed by in a blurry haze. In the morning, Connie and Grace worked hard taking care of last-minute details for the grand opening, and when Connie was finally able to convince Grace to go home and save her energy for the long weekend ahead, she spent the rest of afternoon creating some simple jewelry pieces and posting on social media to hype up the event on Saturday.

  On Friday, Connie arrived at the shop mid-morning, unlocked the door, and punched in the passcode to disengage the new alarm system. Ginger made a beeline to her new chew toy by her bed in the back of the store, and as she disappeared behind the counter, Connie heard footsteps growing quicker and louder on the pavement outside the shop.

  She positioned her keys in her hand, preparing to use them as a weapon if need be, pulled the door tight behind her, and locked it. Just as she was ready to turn the alarm back on, Zach's confused face appeared, peering in through the window. He was holding a bouquet of sunflowers.

  Connie quickly opened the door, laughing at the misunderstanding. "I'm so sorry, Zach," she said, stepping aside and motioning for him to come in. "I guess I'm a little on edge between the break-in and my big day tomorrow."

  "No worries," he said. "The last thing I wanted to do was scare you, but I'm glad to see you're being aware of your surroundings."

  "I'm trying, although I should have realized that robbers don't usually come with flowers," Connie said, smiling as she accepted the bouquet.

  "I'm on my way into work, but I wanted to stop by to wish you luck with the grand opening tomorrow. I plan to come by, but you'll probably be really busy, so I was hoping to catch you this morning."

  "Thank you, Zach. The flowers beautiful."

  While she went out back to grab a vase, Zach explored the store.

  "It looks great in here," he said when she returned. "I love that you gave the Fair Trade section such a prime location in the store."

  Connie put the sunflowers in a glass cylindrical vase and placed them in the middle of the table. "I'm hoping this endeavor is successful for so many reasons, but a major one is that it could provide some much-needed income for my overseas artisans."

  "My money's on you," Zach said.

  She wasn't sure if it was his confidence in her or his smile that melted her heart. Maybe a little of both.

  Since Zach had to get right to work, Connie walked him to the door. "Are you any closer to knowing who broke into my store on Tuesday?"

  "Unfortunately, we don't have any answers for you yet, but we do know it wasn't Sugrue. We were able to confirm that he was indeed in Colorado on Tuesday night, as Mickey suspected. His whereabouts are accounted for most of the night, and he wasn't listed as a passenger on any of the flight manifests. There is no way he could have been able to get to Florida and back."

  "Unless he sent someone else do his dirty work," Connie suggested.

  "We're looking into that possibility. Part of the reason I stopped by was to make sure you are being careful, since we still don't know who broke into your shop. Whoever the intruder is probably doesn't know that you found the envelope, so be extra careful," Zach said. "I know you installed the alarm system, but you might be better off not being here alone, especially at night, until we catch the person."

  That would make things difficult for Connie since, aside from Grace working part-time, she was the only person to work the shop. She was planning to hire another employee when things got off the ground, but she didn't know how long that would take.

  "Do you think the same person who killed Natasha broke into my shop?"

  "I shouldn't tell you this, but that's another reason you need to be extra vigilant. Jordan also has a solid alibi for the night Natasha was killed, so he is no longer a suspect in her murder."

  "He still could have had one of his people do it."

  "That's true, but we're leaning away from him. The local sheriff is keeping a close eye on him for other things, but we don't think he is responsible for Natasha's death. At least not directly."

  "What about the key we found?" Connie asked. "Do you know what it belongs to?"

  "We think it opens a safety deposit box. We'll be checking on some possible locations today."

  Connie took a step closer to Zach. "Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate your having my back."

  He took her hand and gently squeezed it.

  "You can thank me by staying safe."

  After Zach left, Ginger wandered to the front of the store, apparently tired of her chew toy.

  "Looks like we're back at square one," Connie said. Ginger looked up with her button eyes and seemed to agree.

  It was a good thing that Connie already had things ready to go for the grand opening, because about a half hour after Zach left, Elyse came in.

  Connie was thrilled to see her friend.

  "I thought you might be nervous about tomorrow, even though I know you're going to crush it. I figured I'd stop by to see how you're doing."

  "It turns out I'm ahead of schedule," Connie said. "Would you like to get an ice cream? We can take Ginger and eat it on a bench by the water."

  Elyse's face lit up. "Sounds perfect."

  The two women made their way down the street to Friendly Scoops. "Remind me to thank Zach for sending you here," Connie said with a smirk. "I'll bet you the necklace I just finished making that he sent you over, so I wouldn't be alone."

  Elyse laughed. "You got us. He texted me to let me know you could use some company. He said you seemed a little on edge when he stopped by earlier."

  "He was right. But it's nothing a cup of rum raisin with my BFF can't fix," Connie said, looping her arm through Elyse's.

  Elyse opted for the rocky road, and since the sun was gaining strength, Connie asked for a cup of water for Ginger, as well. Then they settled in on an empty bench under the shade of a palm tree.

  A young woman pushing a stroller stopped in front of them, just long enough to adjust the sunshade over her baby before continuing on her way.

  Elyse's eyes followed the stroller until it disappeared behind some people halfway down the pier.

  "I've been thinking about what you shared last week," Connie said. "About not being able to have any more children."

  "It makes me sad sometimes. Josh and I have so much love we could offer another child, and Emma would be such a great big sister."

  "I know what you mean," Connie said. "I'm thirty-four years old and not even in a relationship, so it's likely that I won't have any children. It seems the older I get, the more I think about it."

  "What about Zach? You never know what could happen there."

  "He's a great guy, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again, but we barely know each other. What I'm getting at is, even without having children, there are a lot of ways to be a mother. If I had a family, there is no way I could have devoted as much time as I have to Feeding the Hungry. I like to think my work helps make life better for children I will never even meet."

  Elyse put her hand on Connie's forearm. "There's not a doubt in my mind that that's true for you. My work is fulfilling in its own way, but not like yours."

  "I'm just saying that there is a reason for every desire in our hearts. Trust in that, and be open to what Providence might bring your way. That's
all."

  Connie looked down at Ginger's pleading eyes.

  "She's waiting to hear what you'll say next," Elyse said, laughing.

  "She's waiting for my ice cream to fall is more like it," Connie said, as she stroked the silky fur on the top of the dog's head. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but this kind isn't good for you."

  "Speaking of what's good for you," Elyse said, pulling her phone from her purse to check the time. "I'd better get back to work. I have a showing in twenty minutes."

  Connie walked Elyse back to her car, and she and Ginger returned to work.

  Connie double-checked her completed checklist. Confirm the delivery of appetizers. Check. Purchase beverages. Check. Assemble gift bags containing jewelry to be given away as door prizes. Check. Prepare posts for social media. Check.

  The one thing she hadn't counted on in her plan to have everything ready early was that she would have nothing to do but worry the day before the big event. All that was left was some final cleaning so everything would sparkle for the big day. She might even be able to leave early.

  When Brittany entered the store an hour later, with her toolbox in hand, Connie was grateful for the distraction. It had slipped her mind that she might be coming this afternoon to finish up the last few items on the punch list.

  "I hope this is still a good time," Brittany said. "I wanted to come yesterday, but Steve has had me running all over the place."

  Connie jumped up and greeted her with more enthusiasm than the situation warranted. She was glad for the company. "No problem at all. I'm just sitting here waiting for tomorrow to arrive."

  Brittany scanned the store. "Well, it looks amazing in here. I'm sure you'll be a huge success. I'll start patching the drywall out back," she said, and disappeared into the storeroom.

  While Connie waited, her thoughts once again wandered over to Natasha. Since everyone she suspected had been cleared, she was at a loss. She brought her computer over to the table and pulled up some of the videos of Jordan Sugrue.

  She clicked on a few different links. The more she looked at them, the more she realized that there seemed to be the same core group around him at his events, people who were always in the first row. She looked at the faces one by one before settling once again on the woman standing next to Tracy. Where had Connie seen her before?