by Rose Pressey
I arrived at my apartment building and couldn’t wait to get inside and get out of the wet clothing. I parked the car and headed across the street toward the building. It was always difficult to find a parking spot around here. That sensation of being watched followed me as I headed for my apartment. Don’t tell me the man had followed me here too. That was when it hit me.
Could the voice really been a woman? It could have been a woman trying to sound like a man, though it had really sounded like a man trying to sound like a woman. I was so confused. I needed to push it from my mind because I was never going to find the person anyway. Then again, would I really give up that easily? I was tougher than that.
I hurried my steps, but the faster I walked the more the feeling of being watched stayed with me. Someone grabbed me from behind and I screamed. As I spun around I started punching.
“Whoa, Maggie, it’s me, Jake.”
After a couple seconds, I realized what was happening and I stopped swinging at Jake. I released a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.”
He looked me up and down. “Why are you all wet?”
I hadn’t planned on seeing Jake this soon. Therefore, I hadn’t come up with my explanation yet. I hadn’t decided if I was telling him about what had happened. I supposed I had to share with him. He would be angry if he found out. I wouldn’t blame him for being upset. I would feel the same way.
He stared at me, waiting for an answer.
I couldn’t stall any longer. “Okay, here’s the thing. I fell into the ocean.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “You fell? From a boat?”
“No, from the pier.”
His eyes widened. “Wow. That is quite a feat. How did you manage that?”
I sighed. “Someone pushed me into the water.”
“What?” he snapped. “Who did that? And why would they do something like that?”
He was reacting just as I’d thought he would react.
“I got a strange phone call asking me to meet the person at the pier. He… or she, or he—I don’t know. Anyway, the person wanted me to meet them at the pier because they said they had something to tell me. Plus, there was something they wanted to show me. When I got there someone snuck up behind me and then shoved me in the water. I suppose the thing they wanted to show me was the ocean.”
“You should have called me. I would have gone with you. That is dangerous.”
“I don’t need a police escort,” I said.
He looked me up and down. “I’m thinking that you do.”
“I swam all the way to the shore. It was scary, to say the least.”
“I can imagine. Are you hurt?” Jake asked.
I waved off the question. “I’m fine. That’s not all.”
Jake ran his hand through his thick hair. “There’s more? You’re still alive, thank goodness, so I guess it can’t get any worse.”
“I think I saw someone I recognized while I was there. What are the odds that this person would be there? Though it looked like two different people I know.”
“Who are they? It sounds like you might have been delirious from all the swimming.”
I sighed. “I don’t think so, but I suppose it could have been the case. I thought it looked like Cora, but then again, I thought it looked like Abby from behind too.”
I hadn’t told Jake about my lunch with Abby and how she’d run away from the men who’d almost hit us. I still didn’t know what to think about that.
“Abby would never do something like that to you,” Jake said.
I’d had a feeling he would say that.
I smiled. “I know, it was a crazy thought.”
“It has to be Cora,” Jake said.
I wasn’t convinced. Though I was suspicious.
“As long as you’re okay, but we need to write up a report.” Jake touched my chin with his fingertip.
“I’m so exhausted. Plus, I have to get out of this clothing.” I gestured.
“Okay, why don’t you change? Then I’ll take you to dinner.” Jake smiled.
“That sounds like a good idea.” I pulled seaweed from my hair.
Night had settled around us. I was glad that Jake was here and that I didn’t have to be alone right now.
“I’ll wait out here. I need to make a phone call,” Jake said, pulling out his phone.
I knew that he was calling someone to tell them about what had happened to me. I wondered if he was calling Abby. Would she tell him about the men who’d almost hit us? This could be related. Maybe they’d been trying to hit me. I had to tell Jake about what had happened. He wouldn’t believe it. Talk about bad luck.
I hurried into my place and got out of the wet clothing. I put on a new pair of denim shorts and a white t-shirt. I slipped into my flip-flops. I hoped Jake didn’t want to go anywhere where I had to dress up. When I stepped outside I overheard Jake on his phone.
“I told her you wouldn’t do anything like that.” When Jake glanced over and saw me, he said, “Listen, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
I smiled. “Talking to your partner?”
“Um, we were just taking about the case.” Jake gestured with his phone.
I nodded.
“You look great,” he said.
“Much better, right?”
“You always look great, but better when you don’t have remnants of seaweed in your hair.”
I laughed. “You don’t like the mermaid look?”
“It wouldn’t be convenient to walk if you were a mermaid.” Jake took my hand in his. “I’ll drive.”
I was glad because after what had happened I kind of wanted to sit and calm down. My nerves were on edge and my thoughts were still racing a bit. I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have happened.
Jake and I walked toward his car. At least the feeling of being watched had gone away. The palm leaves swayed in the warm breeze. Jake held the car door open for me and I slid onto the seat.
He got in, but paused before starting the car. “I’m sorry if you didn’t want me to mention anything to Abby.”
I shook my head. “She’s your partner. I understand.”
He studied my face. If I told him now about the scene at lunch would he believe me?
“There was something I need to tell you.”
“What’s that?” Jake asked.
“Abby and I had lunch today. Did she tell you?”
Jake looked surprised. “No, she didn’t mention it. I’m surprised. I didn’t think you all were on friendly terms.”
“It’s not that I don’t like her. It’s that I don’t think she likes me. You know that,” I said.
Jake started the car. “She has an odd personality. She’s a good detective though.”
“Odd is a nice way to put it,” I said.
“Was that all you wanted to tell me?” Jake asked. “Did something happen at lunch?”
“You could say that,” I said.
He glanced over. “Uh-oh, this doesn’t sound good. What happened?” Jake continued driving toward the restaurant.
“Lunch was awkward, of course. Once we came out of the restaurant we were walking to her car and this car almost hit us.”
“Are you serious?” Jake asked.
“Then Abby grabbed me and we hurried into this store. She literally hid in the dressing room. She was really shaken up about it. Which is understandable since the car almost hit us, but it was still odd. She almost acted as if she knew the men. I thought one of them was the one seen with Cora. I guess she didn’t tell you about any of this.”
Jake pulled into the parking lot. “No, she didn’t say a word about it,” Jake said as he pulled into a parking space.
“I don’t know why she didn’t tell you, but I figured you should know. After what happened to me today.”
“I wish you had told me sooner,” he said.
We got out of the car and headed into the restaurant. The hostess guided us to a table and left the menus
. Once at our table we ordered and then Jake kept glancing at me from over the top of his menu.
“What’s going on, Jake?” I asked without even placing my menu down.
“I’m just thinking how glad I am that you’re here.”
How sweet. I was surprised he said that. He wasn’t one for sentimental talk. He was more of a no nonsense kind of guy.
“So is there anything else you can tell me about either event? What kind of car? Were there any other strange people around the pier?” Jake asked.
I told him the type of car, but that was about the only other information that I had. “I wish I had more to tell you,” I said.
Before the waiter brought over our food I excused myself for the restroom. As I stood at the sink washing my hands.
I overheard a woman. “Yes, the boat just blew up. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t involved.”
I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. I knew she had to be talking about Cora. The woman approached the sink. She still had her phone up to her ear. She forced a smile when she saw me watching her.
“Listen, I need to call you back.” She clicked off the phone and started washing her hands.
I couldn’t let her get out of here without talking with her.
“I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation, but I couldn’t help but overhear. Were you talking about Cora Shears?” I asked.
She glanced over at me. “Yes, do you know her?”
“Yes, I do.”
Her eyes widened. It appeared this woman enjoyed gossip.
“I just think it is odd that her husband died like that,” she said.
“So you think she was involved in his death?” I asked.
“Absolutely. She wanted to be away from him anyway.” She washed her hands.
“So that she could have a relationship with the doctor? Dean Perriman?” I asked.
She laughed. “No, so she could have a relationship with the much younger boyfriend.”
“Who is that?” I asked.
“I believe it’s Garrett Smith.” She tossed the paper towel into the trash can.
That explained a lot, but it also left me with a lot of questions for Cora.
“I’ve heard the name Garrett,” I said.
“I think she wanted to get rid of her husband so she would get the insurance money and be with her little boy toy.”
“Wow. That’s really something.”
“I hope the police catch her.”
“Yeah, me too,” I said. “My name is Madelyn Davidson.”
I had to make up a name at the last minute. I didn’t want her to know that I was a private investigator working for Cora.
“Nice to meet you, Madelyn. I’m Angelica.”
“Thank you for the information, Angelica,” I said, rushing out the door.
I hated to chat and run, but I had to tell Jake about this. Hurrying away from the bathroom, I sat back down at the table.
Jake stared at me. “You seem exited. Was the trip to the restroom that exciting?”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I spoke with someone who knows Cora.”
“Really?” Jake asked.
“Crazy, right? I overheard her on the phone. She was taking about the boat explosion.”
“So you started talking with her about it, right?”
“Of course,” I said. “She suggested that Cora did it for the insurance money.”
“We have been leaning toward that theory,” Jake said.
“Then she said Cora had a boyfriend. I know you’ll be surprised to hear this, but it’s not the doctor.”
“Who is it?” Jake asked.
“The guy who I thought had kidnapped her is named Garrett Smith, but you know that.”
“So you really think it was her in that car.”
“I know it was. Now why that woman who looked like her came out of the apartment, I don’t know.”
The waiter brought over our food. Jake and I continued talking about the case as we ate. I supposed this wasn’t the most romantic dinner chat. Nonetheless, it was something that Jake and I had in common and I thought that was romantic. We’d almost finished the meal when I noticed Jake’s surprised expression as he looked across the room.
Chapter 21
When I looked over my shoulder to see what he was looking at I spotted Abby. What was she doing here? I instantly became nervous around her. I couldn’t remember for sure, but it even looked as if she was wearing clothing like I’d seen on the woman at the pier.
“Did you invite her?” I asked with a frown.
“It must be a coincidence.”
Was it a coincidence that Abby was looking around the room as if she was searching for someone? At that moment she spotted me. A frown came over her face. Was she not expecting to see me here? Maybe she’d thought she would only see Jake. Her gaze traveled to the left and she spotted Jake.
Too bad he’d been looking at me when she frowned. I wanted him to see her reaction. He looked at Abby and she immediately smiled. Ugh. Now I wouldn’t even be able to finish my meal. Her behavior made me nauseous. Abby headed our way. There was no way I was inviting her to sit at the table with us. I would tell her no without hesitation. Okay, I would be slightly nice about it. I tried hard never to be rude unless completely unavoidable.
“I didn’t know she would be here,” Jake whispered.
I forced a smile.
Abby approached our table. “Jake, I didn’t know you would be here,” she said in a super-sweet tone.
Yeah, right. Did she expect me to believe that?
She cast a glance my way. “Good evening, Maggie. Don’t you look lovely this evening.”
Now I knew something was wrong. She was acting like nothing was wrong and she never did that. She’d never exactly been friendly to me. I hoped Jake picked up on that too. A flash of falling into the water popped into my head.
“What brings you this way?” Jake asked with a smile.
“I’m meeting someone here,” she said.
I looked around the restaurant. I didn’t see anyone who looked as if they were waiting for her. She must have noticed that I was looking.
“He’s not here yet,” she said.
I smiled. “A date?”
Did I sound too happy about that? I hoped she was really telling the truth.
“Yes, he’s a friend,” she said.
“I think that’s great. You should get out more,” I said.
She stared at me. I knew she wanted to make a snarky comment, but she refrained in front of Jake.
“Yes, I should,” she said with another big smile.
She was being so sweet to me. Usually I would start questioning whether I had read all her other behavior incorrectly, but not this time. The frown on her face when she’d first seen me here had told me all I needed to know. I wouldn’t let her trick me like that. I wanted to ask her about being at the park, but I didn’t want to do it in front of Jake. If Abby had lured me to the park and pushed me in the water, then why hadn’t she just shoved me in front of that car the other day? Oh, that was right, I had been the one who’d grabbed her. I still thought those men had been after her. This was all so confusing.
Abby was now chatting with Jake about something unrelated to the case. I looked at my phone. How much longer would she stand here chitchatting? I was beginning to doubt whether she really had a date at all.
Abby looked out across the restaurant. She smiled and I scanned the room to see who she was smiling at. A tall good-looking man had entered the room. Oddly enough, he looked somewhat like Jake.
She waved at him. “It was nice seeing you again, Maggie.”
So she had a date after all.
“Nice seeing you too,” I said with another forced smile.
I had forced it so much that my mouth hurt. I watched as she walked away and met the man. They moved over to a table across the room.
“See, I told you she would never do anything to you,” Jake said.
�
��Yes, but you didn’t ask her,” I said.
“I didn’t know that I had to.” Jake frowned.
“Well, I said I thought it looked like her.”
“Yes, Maggie, but there is no way Abby would do that.”
I stared at him.
He leaned back in his chair. “You’re right. I shouldn’t assume. I’ll ask her tomorrow where she was yesterday at that time.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Now I really was questioning what I’d seen. After all I’d thought it was Cora at first too. In reality it was probably neither of them.
“Did I tell you about the man’s strange voice?” I asked.
Jake took another drink and then said, “Yes, you told me.”
I rubbed my temples. “I think I just need to go to bed.”
“It’s been a long day. You should get rest.”
Once we finished eating, Jake and I stood from the table. We’d almost made it to the door when Dorothy walked inside the restaurant. Morton was with her.
“What is going on here?” I ran over to her.
Dorothy had a panicked look on her face.
“Dorothy, is everything okay?”
At that moment Dorothy realized it was me talking to her. She reached out and hugged me. “Oh, Maggie, I’m so glad to see you.”
“Dorothy, what is wrong?” I asked.
“You haven’t answered your phone. I thought you were dead.”
Oh, yeah, I had forgotten that my phone no longer worked. Dorothy had probably sent a million texts by now.
“How did you find me?” I asked.
She blushed. “Never mind that now. All that’s important is that you’re okay.”
“Yes, my phone stopped working. I have to get a new one.”
I wouldn’t tell her right now that it wasn’t working because I’d been knocked into the ocean.
“And you didn’t think to use Jake’s phone to call me?” She placed her hands on her hips. “That doesn’t explain why he didn’t answer his calls either.”
“I turned my phone off so that Maggie and I wouldn’t be disturbed during dinner,” Jake said.
Dorothy waved her finger at Jake. “Well, you shouldn’t do that.”
