by Emmie Lyn
Izzy would be safe with her mother and the others. I’d leave Jasper here, too, for extra security. A big barking dog definitely makes people think twice.
“Whatever you want is okay with me, Sunshine. I’m just glad you agreed to have dinner with me. And, by the way, I didn’t tell you before, but you look amazing.” His voice took on that deep smooth tone I loved. “Your silky blouse and that skirt… I’m speechless. Every head will turn when we walk into the restaurant. Thanks for walking at my side and not someone else’s.”
Heat warmed my cheeks. Relaxing with Hitch instead of trying to stay engaged with the others sounded better and better. I rubbed the gold sun pendant of my necklace and knew I’d definitely made the right decision.
Jasper draped her head over the front seat, panting her hot breath on me.
“Okay. Okay. I get the message. Time to let you out so you can find your new friend. Izzy will be thrilled that you’re here tonight.”
Hitch had my door open before I’d gathered my bag and jacket. His eyes shone as he held his hand out. “Ready?”
I took his warm, callused hand. “Ready,” I answered, thrilled at his touch.
Jasper trotted ahead of us, straight to the front door. She seemed to know someone important was waiting inside. Someone who needed her comfort.
Hitch sniffed the air. “Do you smell smoke?”
“Stacy,” I said and tugged Hitch’s hand. “Remember? Tilly caught her smoking outside the kitchen door. That’s the other thing Melanie told me. She’s scared of Stacy; none of the people in the bird group like her, and she and Andy had some bad arguments.” Part of me sent a warning to ignore her, but another part wanted information. “Let’s walk around and surprise her.”
We made our detour. Jasper whined then padded along with us.
Stacy startled as we rounded the corner of the house. “What are you two doing here?” Her angry tone set my nerves on edge.
“Coming for ice cream cake,” I said. “Ron invited us. Is he inside?”
She looked at me from head to toe like she was deciding whether I was properly attired for ice cream. “What’s with all this company? Someone was murdered yesterday. It’s not a time to celebrate.”
Okay, this felt odd.
“Nothing disrespectful, Stacy,” Hitch said. “Were you close to Andy?”
She puffed on her cigarette and looked away. “I barely knew him. But this is all so disruptive for Ron. He should be focused on Little Blue, not that little girl.”
Stacy’s cold vibes made me shiver. I moved closer to Hitch. “We won’t be staying long. Just dropping Jasper off, then we’ll be on our way.”
“The dog? You’re kidding! She’ll shed that black hair all over the rugs.” Stacy turned her back to us. “The door’s open. Let yourselves in; I’m not the doorman.”
Hitch opened the door, letting Jasper and me go in first. “Thanks, Stacy,” he said before the door had closed behind us. “For nothing,” he added for my benefit.
I snorted “Why’d you thank her?”
“Just trying to get on her good side. She knows something. I can feel it.”
“About the murder?”
“About something.”
Jasper made a beeline toward Izzy’s voice. “Jasper!” I heard her shout a few seconds later.
Footsteps tapped on the wood floor. “Sunny?” Tilly said when she appeared. “You came through the kitchen?” She’d changed her safari attire for a colorful skirt and blouse. “Did you run into the Sargent?” she asked.
“Sure did. We didn’t know the password, and she almost didn’t let us in.”
Tilly stared at me for about three seconds with her eyebrows creased in confusion, then she chuckled. “You got me. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Stacy did require a password to get inside. How’d you get past her?”
“With my charm,” Hitch said without a hint of sarcasm.
She cocked her head and gave us both a quizzical stare. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into the two of you, but something’s different.” Then she shook that confusion away and shrugged. “Come on. We’ve been waiting for you, especially Izzy. And Melanie showed up, too. Alone. Ron was surprised but couldn’t turn her away. You should have seen the glare she sent to Jess. I think that’s why Stacy excused herself to have a cigarette.”
“Why did Melanie come?” I asked, looking for a place to set my bag. Instead, I hung onto it for our quick exit.
Tilly glanced behind her like someone might be lurking to eavesdrop. “She entered all cheerful and la-di-da like. But when she got Ron off to one side, I heard her whisper that she’d discovered something concerning about Officer Walker and wanted to talk about it. In private.”
Interesting. She’d blabbered plenty to me earlier, so what did she know that was so concerning now? Or, was it just an excuse for her visit?
29
Hitch and I followed Tilly into Ron’s living room. The scene was cozy and peaceful but looks could be deceiving.
Jess picked at her ice cream cake and kept glancing at Melanie.
Izzy was sprawled on the rug with Jasper. She attempted to keep her huge piece of ice cream cake away from his lapping tongue.
Melanie chattered about an interesting bird she’d seen that day but hadn’t identified it yet. “There are so many new birds I’m discovering here in Pineville, Ron. You and the rest of the birding group have been so helpful, and you all make me feel right at home.”
“Where are you from?” Tilly asked, feigning interest in Melanie’s history.
“Well, that’s an interesting story. I’ve lived all over. Since I’m self-employed, my art allows me to live anywhere. In a way that makes it harder to settle down since I’m always looking for the perfect location.”
Tilly set her fork on the edge of her plate. “If anywhere is perfect, it’s Pineville. With the ocean on our doorstep, the White Mountains not far away in New Hampshire, and Boston just a hop skip and jump away, what more could you ask for?”
“I know!” Melanie sat forward enthusiastically. “I love the ocean, and Scott promised to take me out in his boat. He said he’s on the water every spare minute. He joked that it counts as work because he uses his explorations in his biology class.”
“Officer Walker loves boating, too. I imagine he’ll invite you for some sightseeing if he hasn’t already,” I said. “Hitch and I grew up with Mick. He probably spent more time on the water than land when he was a toddler, right Hitch?”
“Mick is the type of guy who tends to inflate his stories. He used to tell us about how he fell overboard when he was two or three, but his mother had him tied to a rope and just hauled him back on board like an anchor. Big exaggeration. I never believe anything he tells me.” Hitch stood up and stretched. He held his hand out toward me. “We’ve got dinner reservations, and I don’t want to lose our table to someone else. Ready to go?”
“Izzy can have my piece of ice cream cake. I don’t want to spoil my dinner,” I said. Her face lit up with happiness.
“Where are you two going?” Melanie asked. “I haven’t tried many of the restaurants yet, and I’m always looking for recommendations.”
I jabbed him in his side with my elbow. “Yeah, Hitch, where are we going?”
“Nice try, Sunny. You’ll find out when we get there.”
“How romantic,” Tilly said. “Now, I know what’s different with you two.” She grinned like she’d just uncovered the best kept secret ever. “Shoo,” she said waving her hands to get rid of us.
Ron walked us to the front door. “Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your meal.”
I leaned close to Ron. “What’s up with Melanie? She looks like she’s settled in for an all-nighter.”
He rolled his eyes which I translated as frustration. “I wish I knew. She has this really annoying habit of dropping in unexpectedly with some bit of gossip about someone that I’m really not interested in. Tonight, I was hoping to spend time with Jess and Izzy after bri
bing them with the ice cream cake to get them here. Now it looks like I’m stuck with Melanie, too. Any suggestions?”
I looked at Hitch. He must have read my thoughts because he said, “Okay, but you’ll owe me another dinner date. And, she’ll have to sit in the back.”
Ron looked at Hitch, then me. He had no clue what he’d just missed.
I walked back to the living room. “Hey, Melanie. Hitch is wondering if you’d like to come along with us. He said this is the one restaurant you need to experience. What do you think?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she hesitated. “I shouldn’t butt in on your date… are you sure you don’t mind.”
Tilly’s eyebrows shot up. I mean, so fast they almost flew off her forehead. She had to be wondering what the heck we were up to. “Hey, I’m coming along, too,” she said, catching me completely by surprise. “That way Melanie won’t feel like she’s the odd one out on your date.”
Now, both Tilly and Melanie would be the odd ones out. I’m not sure how that was any better than just one of them. At least Tilly looked presentable in her red tunic top over her mid-calf length Hawaiian print skirt. It beat her safari outfit hands down.
“Well, okay,” Melanie said, like she was mulling this offer over and comparing it to her other options. “That sounds like fun.” She looked at Ron who stood in the doorway. I think he’d been holding his breath. When he exhaled, relief flooded his face. As soon as Melanie turned away, he mouthed a silent thank you to me.
“I’ll get in touch with you tomorrow, Ron and we can chat then,” Melanie said, adding a raised eyebrow for emphasis.
“Tomorrow,” he said which could mean many things. The first thing that came to my mind was that now Ron was warned, he’d probably claim to be busy. At any rate, he opened the front door and politely said his goodbyes. When I walked past, he squeezed my arm. “Thanks. Jess and Izzy are staying in my guest room tonight, so enjoy yourselves and don’t worry about them. With Jasper here, Izzy will be safe.”
I stopped and waited for the others to get into the Camaro. “Ron? What’s up with Stacy? She doesn’t like Izzy and that worries me.”
“She’s a complicated person without much warmth or cuddliness, but I trust her with my life. And Izzy’s if it comes down to that. Believe me on this one.” He patted my shoulder. “Hurry up now. Hitch has those two other beauties in the car. You don’t want him to leave without you.”
“That, my friend, is not gonna happen.” I bounced down the step, then stopped. “You know, Ron, this is all your fault. Now, instead of a nice quiet dinner with Hitch, I’ll have to listen to gossipy Melanie while Tilly tops her with one of her own adventures. Geesh. What did I get myself into?”
“You’ll survive. You always do.”
Was Ron trying to tell me something?
30
Trouble started in the back seat even before we’d pulled away from Ron’s house.
“Why are we all driving together?” Melanie asked.
“Because,” Hitch said, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “This was planned as a surprise for Sunny, so just bear with me, okay?” He sounded calm enough, but I caught a hint of frustration.
“Stay on your side of the seat, Melanie,” Tilly said as she jiggled and squirmed behind me. “You’ve got my skirt crushed under your leg. Open your window, Sunny. It’s stuffy back here.”
I glanced at Hitch. He had his eyes fixed straight ahead and his fingers tight on the steering wheel. “Maybe they can sit at a different table,” I whispered.
“Or, I’ll lock them in the car while we enjoy dinner,” he answered between clenched teeth.
I had to do something to save the night. “Hitch, stop the car!” I turned around and looked at both of them. “You two sound like a couple of squabbling toddlers. Get out.”
“You’re joking, right?” Tilly asked, her face a shocked mask.
“No. I’m annoyed. Hitch and I were looking forward to a quiet dinner together, but we invited you both so Ron, Jess, and Izzy could have some peace and quiet after what’s been a couple of stress-filled days. So, adjust your attitudes or get out.”
I took a breath, preventing a complete boil over. Why, just when I’d taken the leap to move beyond friends with Hitch, did this big wrinkle get in the way?
Silence.
No move on Tilly’s or Melanie’s part to get out of Hitch’s car.
“Okay, then. Forget your little problems because they’re nothing compared to figuring out who killed Andy.” I faced forward. “I think we’re ready to go to the restaurant now, Hitch. That is if you still want to put up with us.” I gave him an out, just in case.
He looked at me, shook his head, and grinned. “More than ever, Sunshine. More than ever.” I took that as a compliment and patted myself on the back for taking charge of the situation.
“So, Melanie,” I said after we’d driven for several long minutes with only the wheels on the tar humming below us. “You never did say where you lived before coming here.”
“You’re trying to solve Andy’s murder?” she asked in a delayed reaction, completely ignoring my attempt to find a safe subject.
“If it helps Jess, yes. I don’t trust Mick Walker to keep an open mind when Jess is an obvious suspect. But, I’ll put my life on the fact that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not kill Andy.”
“Oh. Who do you think did kill him, then?”
Tilly jumped into the conversation. “Maybe you,” she said throwing a curve ball at Melanie. “You just showed up in town all friendly and playing the city girl thing to a T. How do we know you didn’t have a grudge against Andy? You said he took photos of you without permission. Maybe he had plans for those photos and was blackmailing you.”
Thank goodness. Tilly was back on track and had jumped into this game with both feet.
I glanced at Melanie, her mouth hung open.
“That’s such a pile of horse feathers, I don’t even know what to say. I mean, Andy did take photos of me, but when I called him out, he showed them to me. They were all tasteful, nothing blackmail worthy, that’s for sure. I just didn’t think it was ethical on his part. But then I realized that he took pictures of everyone and everything. He was a photographer, so I guess that’s what they do.”
“What about Little Blue, then?” Tilly managed to get back to her original motive for murder. “Maybe you’d like to have that rare bird for yourself.”
I heard Melanie’s gasp. “Did you all invite me along so you could spin these conspiracy theories?” She turned her head away from Tilly and looked out the window. “The truth is, I’m one hundred percent behind Ron’s plan to send Little Blue to the breeding program he found. It’s the right thing to do, and I believe she’ll be going there very soon. Don’t tell Ron, but Andy gave me one of his photographs of Little Blue. I’m working on a painting for Ron. I want to surprise him when it’s done.”
Could we have misjudged Melanie?
Hitch pulled into the parking lot of the new and very popular seafood restaurant in town, the Fisherman’s Hook. I should have guessed this would be his choice—romantic seating with candles and flowers, a view of Blueberry Bay in all its glittering glory, and a five star chef who’d moved up from Boston to get out of that rat race. My mouth watered in anticipation from everything I’d heard about this new hot spot.
Before we got out of the car, I asked, “Where were you yesterday morning, Melanie?”
“Yesterday? Saturday? Um… let me think.” She pursed her lips and tapped her cheek with her long red nail. “Oh yeah, Scott had asked me to meet him at one of Ron’s trails to look for shore birds, but I said I was too tired. I had a lazy morning at my house, drinking coffee and painting.”
That basically fit with what she’d told me earlier. “Did Scott go anyway?” I asked.
Melanie shrugged. “Probably. He loves the shore birds. Actually, he told me that he loves anything to do with the ocean and spends time either on the trails or on
the water whenever he can. He has a boat, you know.”
I did know that detail, and it made me wonder more about Scott Coyle and what else he might be up to on and around Blueberry Bay.
“Ready to go inside, ladies?” Hitch asked. “I’d better warn you, though. I only made reservations for two, so Melanie and Tilly might have to wait out here if there’s not enough room for two more at our table.”
Was that a wishful gleam of hope I caught in Hitch’s eyes?
Tilly marched ahead of us. “Nice try, Hitch, but there’s plenty of room if we sit outside. And look how inviting it is with all the lights twinkling off the water.”
She was right. We had our choice of tables on the stone patio at the side of the restaurant. To top it off, the posts wrapped with little white lights, the waves crashing on the shore with a mesmerizing rhythm, and boats bobbing at their moorings offered a more romantic atmosphere than the dining room inside. “I agree with Tilly. Let’s sit outside.” I pulled my sweater tighter. “Are you okay with that Melanie?”
“Sure. The view is one in a million.”
“That’s settled then,” Hitch said as we followed him to change our reservation. The clink of china and silverware along with the low hum of conversation against the background of quiet piano music filled Fisherman’s Hook. The mixture of aroma’s made my stomach rumble.
Hitch gave his name and asked for outside seating for four.
“Follow me,” the perky hostess said. She grabbed four menus and led us outside. “Choose any table you’d like. Most guests are sitting inside tonight.
Perfect, I thought. I didn’t want to be crowded in with everyone else. Not tonight. I needed space around me.
Before we made our table choice, Melanie pointed to the pier jutting out in front of Fisherman’s Hook. “Look over there. Scott just pulled his boat into one of the slips. Lana is with him.” She looked at me. “Do you mind if I invite them to eat with us?”
