Seagrass Pier

by Colleen Coble

  “Yes. He wanted to marry me anyway. I think he wanted to prove he could beat Marc. He never had a good thing to say about him after that.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry if I sound critical of Tim. I don’t mean to. He was good to Josie and me.”

  Abby’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “I would disagree with that, Elin. You live in a rose-colored world, honey. Tim was demanding and short with you. He was often impatient with Josie. It was hard to bite my tongue.”

  Elin looked at her in surprise. “You’ve never said anything.”

  “Would it have done any good? I didn’t want to make your life any harder than it was. You were Tim’s drudge. It was guilt, wasn’t it? You let him treat you like that because you thought you deserved to be punished.”

  Elin couldn’t hold her sister’s gaze, and she looked down at the ground. “Maybe.”

  “I shouldn’t say this, but I was glad when Tim died, Elin. I thought that finally you’d be free to be happy.”

  Elin bit her lip. She wasn’t ready to admit she’d had a stab of relief herself. It wasn’t something she was proud of. Her tears had mostly been for Josie, who would grow up fatherless. She hadn’t minded the way Tim treated her. At least most of the time.

  Abby took her arm and steered her to join their mother and Josie. “I bet Marc was livid. Most men would be.”

  “He was taken aback.”

  Abby studied her. “He’s strong and driven. It’s clear he wants to protect you and Josie.”

  “I wish he didn’t have to.” She rubbed her head. “If only I could remember that man’s face. I get bits and pieces, then it fades into mist. I did remember the name Theo. Marc is checking it out.”

  “Don’t wait on Marc to find it out. You’re good at that kind of thing. I don’t want you waiting around while the killer gets closer.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll do some digging.” She hugged her sister. “You’re always good for me, Abby. Now let’s get home.”

  The sunset threw gold and red colors over the sand. Marc leaped for the volleyball and spiked it over the net for the winning point. He raised a victorious fist at Curtis and Ben, who returned the gesture. They shook hands with the other team, all other Coasties.

  Curtis slapped him on the back as they turned toward the parking lot. “You’re a good player, Everton. It’s all or nothing with you, isn’t it?”

  Marc grinned. “I don’t like to lose. Ben didn’t seem to either. Did you see how ripped that guy is? He must work out every day.” He rubbed the towel over his perspiring face.

  “He’s big into martial arts. I wouldn’t want to take him on in a dark alley.”

  “I’m pretty rusty with my training. I should get back to it.” They reached the parking lot. “Thanks for inviting me. I needed to decompress.”

  “How’s the investigation going? Learn anything new?”

  “Not enough.” Marc leaned on the hood of his Tahoe and told Curtis about trying to get Elin to remember the night of the murder.

  “Man, that was extreme.”

  “Yeah. If my boss gets wind that the guy shot me with an arrow, he’ll have my hide.”

  “Sara said your partner died while investigating this. I’m sorry, man.”

  “Me too. He was a good man. Left two little kids. I have to find his killer.”

  “Yeah, you’re tenacious, Everton. I could see that just watching you play volleyball. That guy doesn’t have a chance. But, dude, you seriously think your boss won’t hear about this?”

  “You’re right. I probably ought to call and tell him.” Marc didn’t relish the reaming he was going to get. “It might actually convince him my partner’s death wasn’t an organized-crime hit.” Or it might get him fired.

  “Anything I can do?”

  Marc shook his head. “Just have Amy keep feeding Elin those herbs. She has more color in her cheeks and more energy. She can’t reject that heart. We need it to work a long, long time. Josie needs her.”

  He hadn’t voiced his worry about that heart to anyone, especially not Elin. She had enough worries, but he bet this was one of the reasons for her nightmares too.

  “Amy is confident she can keep it ticking along. She’s a marvel.”

  Marc raised a hand. “See you next week, same time, same place.”

  “Tell Elin we’re praying for her.”

  “Will do.” Marc slid under the wheel and dug for his keys. As he slid it into the ignition, he spotted a yellow sticky note on the steering wheel.

  The block letters screamed at him. IF YOU DON’T STAY AWAY, I WILL KILL YOU. Marc jumped from the SUV and looked around. The parking lot was deserted.

  The glow of the computer lit the dark office. Elin had been so engrossed in her research she hadn’t turned on the light. She rose and stretched out the cramps in her muscles, then went to open her window and smell the night scent of the sea on the breeze.

  The moon glimmered on the peaks of the whitecaps. The only sound she heard was the lull of the waves. Nothing moved in the house either, so Marc had probably gone to bed too. The green glow of the clock blinked to midnight.

  She turned and stared at the glowing computer through bleary eyes. She’d gotten a copy of the ship manifest and had looked up all the Barbaras. Only one was the right age, and she lived in Virginia Beach, close enough for her to pay a call. But Theo’s face still eluded her. Was he the same as the killer? She wished she knew for sure.

  Her cell phone chirped, and she picked it up, realizing it was connected to the wireless network in the house that allowed the text to come through. She swiped it to look at the message.

  I can smell your fear. Shall I take Josie first?

  The very thought that he knew her daughter’s name took her breath away. She nearly dropped the phone, then tightened her grip on it. No, she wouldn’t let him terrify her. He fed off her fear. The text had no cell number associated with it, so he must have used an online messaging service. Could she text him back? Would it go through?

  She texted the message: You’re smelling your own fear of being caught. And you will be.

  With a defiant stab of her finger, she sent it on its way, but it bounced back almost immediately. Fueled by anger, she hunched over her laptop again and began to search. She would find him and bring him to justice. But a niggling of fear lifted the hair on the back of her neck. She couldn’t let him hurt Josie. Would he really? Surely he was just trying to terrify her.

  When a tap came on the door to her office, she straightened with a gasp, then curled her fingers into her palms. “Who is it?”

  “It’s just me.” Marc’s deep voice came from the other side of the door. “I saw the glow under the door when I got home and thought maybe you forgot to shut off the computer.”

  She threw open the door and flipped on the light, then blinked in the sudden glare. “I was just doing some research.” He brushed past her close enough for her to smell the scent of sun and surf on him. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. “You’ve got Max.”

  He rubbed the little dog’s head as he approached her laptop. “He was whining like a banshee at the back door.” He must have felt her tense because he shook his head. “He heard a bunny or some other animal. I checked. All is quiet on the home front.” He put Max on the floor, and the dog went to curl up under her desk. “See, he’s not worried.”

  She smiled. “That’s a relief.”

  He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

  “Your eyes are shadowed, and your lips are trembling a little.”

  She pressed her lips together to show him she was fine before giving up and reaching for her phone. “I got a text.” She showed him the message. “I tried to text him back but it bounced.” She lifted her chin. “But I’m not letting him terrify me. I’m going to track him down.”

  His jaw flexed, and a fire burned in his gaze. “I won’t let him hurt you, Elin. Or Josie or Abby either. We’ll find h
im.” He reached out and gripped her arm.

  The warmth in his touch brought heat to her cheeks. She could feel every whorl of his fingertips against her skin, and it took all her strength to keep from rushing into his arms. This unwanted emotion had to stop. The only reason he was here was because of Josie.

  She shook off his grip and turned back to the computer. “I think I found our Bambi. The only Barbara young enough lives in Virginia Beach. She’s thirty.”

  “Let me get into a confidential database.” He logged out of her screen and went to another site where he entered a username and password. “Here she is. Look familiar?”

  He turned the laptop around to show her a young woman with blond hair. There was no other color on the tips in this picture, but she might have done the dye job just before the cruise.

  Something lurched in Elin’s chest. “That’s her!” She leaned in closer. “I remember that birthmark by her eye too, now that I see it.”

  What were these emotions churning in her when she looked at Bambi’s picture? It felt very much like jealousy. Elin rubbed her forehead. Oh, why couldn’t she remember Theo’s face? If only she could bring it into focus, it might help her know if he was the killer.

  “Mommy?”

  She turned to see Josie looking a little pale as she swayed in the doorway. “What’s wrong, sweet girl?”

  Josie clutched her midsection. “My tummy hurts.” She folded over and vomited all over the gleaming wood floor.

  Elin leaped forward, but Marc got there before she did. He scooped up Josie out of the mess and soothed her as she broke into noisy sobs. She vomited again, all down the front of him.

  “I’ll clean her up.” He took her across the hall to the bathroom. “Can you grab her some other clothes?”

  She rushed up the steps to her daughter’s bedroom and yanked open her pajama drawer. When she got back to the bathroom, Josie had quit crying and was lying quietly on his bare shoulder with her eyes closed. Her soiled pajamas were at his feet along with his shirt. When he saw her, he sat on the toilet seat, and she helped him pull on the clean pjs.

  “I think she’s asleep.” His hazel eyes held a shadow of worry. “Do we need to take her to the ER?”

  “Children often get intestinal upsets.” She touched her daughter’s head. “She doesn’t have a fever. I think she’s fine. Just put her back to bed, if you would. I’ll clean up the mess in the office.”

  “I’ll do it when I come back down. I think I need to learn father-type things.”

  She gaped after him as he carried her daughter back to bed. She’d known he was a good man, but this was above and beyond the call of duty.

  TWENTY-ONE

  After his shower on Saturday morning, Marc finally got the last trace of vomit odor out of his nose. He popped a mint as he poked his head into Josie’s bedroom and saw Elin slipping flip-flops on Josie’s small feet. The little Yorkie lay stretched out beside them. Beautiful mother, sweet daughter, and dog. All that was needed was the father to complete the picture of a perfect family.

  “Mr. Marc!” Josie escaped her mother and ran to cling to his leg.

  He hugged her tightly, her tiny form already so familiar. She’d taken complete possession of his heart. He picked her up, and she hugged his neck. “You feeling okay?” He looked to Elin for confirmation too.

  She smiled and nodded, looking downright alluring in her close-fitting denim capris and green tee. Her feet were bare, the toes tipped in pale orange. “I slept with her, and there was nary a peep all night. Just a tummy upset.”

  He averted his gaze from the V where her T-shirt plunged. “Glad to hear it.” She was too darned cute for his peace of mind. If he wasn’t needed to protect his daughter, he’d be out of here so fast, he’d leave a wake behind the boat.

  Josie wiggled to be put down, and he set her small feet on the floor. She ran for the door calling Abby. He started to follow her, but Elin spoke his name, and he turned with a lifted brow.

  She took a step closer. “I just wanted to thank you for last night. Most people can’t stomach cleaning up a sick kid, especially if they aren’t used to it. You didn’t even retch once.”

  He grinned. “I held it in, but I admit the stench about brought me to my knees.”

  She inhaled, and her gaze locked with his. “I think I’m about ready to tell her the truth.”

  He felt the impact deep in his gut. His little girl would know he was her father. How would she react? Was he even ready for it himself? The thought of disappointing his daughter caused him pain.

  Elin’s aqua eyes took on a shadow. “You have a funny expression. You don’t want to tell her?”

  He straightened. “Of course I do. I just hope she’s not upset. She loved Tim.”

  “She doesn’t really remember much about him. Only what she’s been told. And she knows his picture, of course. She loves you already, Marc. You don’t need to worry.”

  Abby’s voice called down the hall. “Hey, you two, I could use some help out here.”

  Marc’s pulse kicked. Was Josie throwing up again? He rushed down the stairs with Elin on his heels. In the kitchen, he found Abby with her hands in bread dough. Josie held out dough-coated hands to Max, who eagerly licked at them.

  Elin scooped up the little dog. “He shouldn’t be eating flour.”

  “Tell me about it.” Abby swiped a lock of hair out of her eyes with her forearm. “After you get her cleaned up, could one of you get started on putting potatoes in the oven?”

  When Abby looked at him, Marc realized this was going to be up to him. When was the last time he had more than pizza and takeout? It was about time he learned his way around the kitchen. When Josie came to stay with him, she needed more than breaded chicken strips and French fries.

  He hooked Josie’s waist with his arm and carted her toward the half bath off the entry. She smiled up at him, her dimple flashing, then planted a doughy hand on his cheek. “Hey, you did that on purpose.”

  She giggled and nodded. “I can make you look like a ghost.” Her hand went toward his face again, and he flinched back. His instinctive movement made her giggle harder, and he had to grin. “You little scamp. I should dunk you in the bathtub.”

  “What’s a scamp?”

  “It’s a playful little girl.” He set her on the bathroom floor and turned on the water, then put her hands under the stream.

  By the time they were done, he had more water on him and on the floor than he’d expected. He backed into the opposite wall and knocked off a vase sitting on a wall shelf behind him. It shattered on the tile floor, and he bent to pick up the pieces.

  “Mr. Marc, what’s that say?” Josie pointed to a decorative mirror above the shelf.

  The smile on his face vanished when he saw words written in lipstick. The garish shade of red added to the ominous tone.

  It’s cold in the grave. He will soon find out.

  Another threat, this one directed at him. Had the killer left it there Thursday night when he shot the arrow? This bathroom wasn’t used often, and the vase might have covered up the message. “It’s just lipstick.” He dried her hands and hustled her out of the room.

  When he headed through the living room, he saw Ruby knitting in her chair. “There’s Grandma. Why don’t you keep her company a little while? She could probably use some help holding the yarn.”

  Josie ran to her grandma and climbed onto the sofa beside her. Marc left them and went back to the kitchen. “Have either of you used the half bath under the stairs lately?”

  “What’s wrong? Is it a mess?” Elin started for the door, but he grabbed her arm. She stared at him with wide eyes. “What is it?”

  “I broke a vase. The one on the shelf.”

  Relief lit her eyes. “That’s fine. I’ll get the broom and dustpan.”

  He released her arm and shook his head. “There was something written in lipstick on the mirror.” He told her about the message.

  Her eyes widened, and she gulped. �
��He was in here?”

  “Looks like it. I’m praying he hasn’t been here since the other night, that this isn’t a new message.”

  “Max heard something last night,” she reminded him.

  He nodded. “I didn’t see anything though. Unless one of you moved that vase when you dusted, I think it’s safe to assume he was here on Thursday night and wrote that note.”

  “I haven’t even been in that bathroom,” Abby said. “This is scary though, Elin. I still think you should come stay with me when I leave this afternoon. I don’t like you being out here alone.”

  “I’m not alone. And this threat seems to be against Marc, not me.”

  The concern in her eyes made his pulse stutter. But maybe Abby was right. What if he couldn’t protect Elin and Josie? Being in town might be better, though home invasions happened even more often in cities. Still, someone might respond to a cry for help.

  Or not.

  He pulled out his cell phone. “I think I’ll call and get some alarms on the doors and windows.”

  This skirt wouldn’t do. It was much too short. Sara changed for the third time, this time pulling on a pair of black slacks that weren’t too tight. The pink-and-white sleeveless top showed just a hint of cleavage, so maybe it should go too. She flung open her closet and surveyed her options. The white jacket over the top would hide her curves a little better.

  She yanked it on and turned to survey herself in the fulllength mirror on the door. Just the right touch in the nick of time since she heard footsteps on the walk outside. She quickly slashed on a bit of pink lip gloss and hurried to the living room as the doorbell pealed.

  Ben smiled through the screen when she opened the entry door. “I’m five minutes early, but I couldn’t wait any longer.” He held up a bouquet of daisies. “These seemed the kind of flower you’d like. Not pretentious but with a beauty all their own.”

  Smooth, very smooth. She hid a smile as she pushed open the door. “Come in and let me put them in water.” She took the flowers from him.