Dead in the Water_A fun and fast-paced private investigator cozy mystery/beach read

by Rose Pressey

  He could be calling from a different phone. Maybe he was in trouble. Or it could be Dorothy. She’d been known to lose her cell on occasion. She could be calling for help too. What if she needed me to save her? I definitely had to answer the phone.

  I held it to my ear. “Hello?”

  There was no answer.

  “Hello?”

  Still no one said a thing. I moved the phone from my ear and looked at the screen. The call hadn’t been dropped. Whoever was on the other end was still there. They just weren’t speaking. I put the phone back up to my ear.

  “Hello?” I repeated.

  Still there was nothing, but I heard someone move on the other side. Maybe they just couldn’t hear me. Seconds later the screen said the call had been dropped. I wasn’t sure if it had been on purpose or if there was just a bad connection. Maybe I should call Jake and check on him. Who should I call first? Dorothy or Jake?

  I should definitely call Dorothy first. Jake could take care of himself. Surely he would just call another officer if he needed help. It wasn’t like he didn’t know any law enforcement. Just as I picked up the phone ready to dial Dorothy‘s number, it rang again. This time it was more of the same. No number appeared on the screen. This was making me a nervous wreck.

  I touched the screen and held it up to my ear. “Hello?”

  Once again there was no answer. I was becoming extremely frustrated.

  “Look, I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but I’m not hearing you. So perhaps you should just text me and we can chat that way.”

  The phone call ended again. I stared at the screen waiting for a text message to arrive. After thirty seconds and nothing, I decided to dial Dorothy’s number. If it wasn’t her calling, then a phone call at this hour would totally freak her out.

  Nevertheless, I called Dorothy’s number. I wasn’t even sure if she kept her phone on at night. She was under some impression that if she left it on it would charge her a fee. I’d tried to explain that wasn’t the case.

  “Maggie, what happened? Do I need to come to get you? Are you in jail? How much is bail? You know I don’t have a lot of money,” Dorothy said when she answered my call.

  “I’m not in jail. Calm down, Dorothy. I just wanted to see if you called me. I got a call and I wasn’t sure if it was from you.”

  “No, it wasn’t from me. Why did you think it was from me?”

  “It said unknown caller,” I said.

  “Well, if it didn’t have my phone number then how could it be me?” Dorothy asked.

  “I thought maybe you had a different phone.”

  “Why would I have a different phone?”

  Okay, clearly it wasn’t her who had called.

  “I’m sure it was just a wrong number,” I said.

  “Well, all right. Are you okay though?” she asked.

  “I’m fine, Dorothy. I’m just going back to bed now. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

  “You know you can call anytime, Maggie,” Dorothy said.

  “Love you, Dorothy,” I said.

  “Go to bed, Maggie.” The call ended.

  It was nice to know that I could count on Dorothy. Thank goodness Uncle Griffin had been smart enough to hire her. I decided against calling Jake because I assumed if he was really in trouble he would just call someone for backup. There was no need to be the paranoid girlfriend.

  I crawled back in bed. Thank goodness this time I fell asleep. No other phone calls woke me and no one came to the door. The rest of the night went by uneventfully. I woke up feeling much less stressed and ready to start the day. Like I said, in the daytime here everything was fine.

  I was in a rush to get things started so I hurried into my khaki shorts, a white t-shirt, and flip-flops. I grabbed my tote bag and headed out the door. I’d stop by and grab some coffee and breakfast on the way to the office. As I walked down the sidewalk toward my car and past the pool area I noticed something on the ground. I reached down and picked it up.

  A single black glove? What was that doing here? I was in Miami and I didn’t think anyone here even owned gloves. This find sent a shiver down my spine. Since seeing that figure last night, the glove made me think that this had to belong to that person. Even though I’d been under water, it seemed as if the person had been dressed all in black. Why would the person wear gloves unless they didn’t want to leave fingerprints?

  Was the person dressed all in black because they wanted to blend in with the dark night sky? Had the person been here to do something to me or were they just trying to break into an apartment? Either way, it was bad. I needed to tell Jake about this. It could be serious. The more I thought about it the more I figured it definitely was someone trying to break into an apartment. They probably didn’t want their fingerprints found.

  I supposed when the man saw me at the pool he decided to leave and not carry out his plan. No wonder I’d felt so uncomfortable last night. Plus, the weird phone calls. I shoved the glove into my purse and hurried toward my car. As soon as I reached the office I would call Jake.

  A short time later I pulled into the parking lot for the coffee shop. As soon as I stepped inside I stopped in my tracks. Jake was at the counter. I shouldn’t be too surprised. We’d encountered each other here before. He knew I was a repeat customer.

  When Jake turned, he locked eyes with me immediately. A big smile spread across his face. He had two coffee cups in his hands. How did he look so rested after a stressful day like yesterday? Had he even gotten sleep? As usual Jake was dressed for business with his white shirt and black trousers. He wore the red tie I’d given him for good luck. He’d asked why it was good luck and I’d told him because I’d given it to him. I walked up to him and he held one out to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “It’s your coffee,” he said.

  I smiled as I took the paper cup. “How did you know?”

  “I just had a feeling,” he said. “And if you didn’t stop here I was coming to visit you.”

  “I guess this makes up for the handcuffs.”

  “Oh, you’re lucky I have my hands full now or I might have reached for the cuffs.”

  “Funny,” I said, biting back laughter.

  “I’m surprised you’re not wearing sunglasses and a hat,” Jake said.

  I quirked an eyebrow. “It’s a bit overcast at the moment, although I’m sure that will change in a few. Why do you say that?”

  “You know, so the paparazzi won’t recognize you. You’re a star now.” The side of his mouth tilted up into a grin.

  Now I wanted to hide. “You saw that?”

  He nodded. “Abby caught it and showed it to me.”

  Jake’s partner Abby Zahn was one of the last people I’d wanted to see that interview.

  “Even better,” I said.

  “Don’t worry about it, Maggie. Just try not to talk to the press. And don’t quit your day job.”

  Jake had been a lot more understanding than I’d expected. Maybe I didn’t give him enough credit.

  Chapter 8

  The employee called out Jake’s name and held up a bag. “Two croissants?”

  A smile crossed my lips. “Breakfast too? How’d you remember?”

  He shrugged his muscular shoulders. “I know what you like,” he said.

  Unfortunately, I was too predictable. I couldn’t say no so I took the bag and pulled one out.

  “I need to get going. But we’re on for tonight?” he asked and then took a bite from one of the croissants. “You’re over the whole handcuffs thing, right?”

  “I forgive you for the handcuffs, but don’t let it happen again.”

  “Well, don’t be accused of murder again and I won’t have to.” He flashed his sexy smile again.

  “Before you go I want to show you something. It’s out in my car,” I said.

  “Lead the way.” Jake gestured.

  Jake and I stepped out of the coffee shop and he followed me over to my car. I took out the p
lastic bag containing the black glove.

  He quirked an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

  “Potential evidence,” I said.

  He had a strange look on his face. “Potential evidence for what?”

  “The current murder investigation?”

  “I thought you said you weren’t getting involved in that.”

  “I never said that I wasn’t getting involved. And if I did, then I made a mistake. I don’t know, Maybe the glove isn’t for the murder investigation. I don’t know what it’s for.”

  Now I sounded clueless.

  “If you don’t know then why am I looking at a bag with a glove in it?”

  “Last night after I got home I went for a swim. I thought someone was hanging around. You know, creeping.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked.

  I held my hands up. “You were busy and I didn’t know for sure if it was anything. I didn’t want to disturb you for no reason.”

  “All right, so where exactly did you find the glove?”

  “When I went outside this morning there was a glove right there on the ground. I thought it was odd considering we’re in Miami. I know Floridians pull out the winter gear when it hits sixty degrees, but still.”

  Jake examined the glove. “Well, it’s military-issue. So maybe someone just moved into the building and they were recently discharged from the military. That would explain why they would have a glove. Maybe it fell out of a moving box.”

  “I haven’t seen anyone moving in,” I said. “And especially not at night.”

  “Maybe the glove had been there since early in the day and you didn’t notice. I wouldn’t put much thought into it,” he said. “But the next time you’re worried about someone being around there call me. I’ll be over right away to check things out.”

  “Why, because you think I can’t handle it on my own?”

  “No. Because I think you will handle it on your own.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “It just means that everyone needs a little backup, right?” He winked.

  “Yes, I suppose that’s true,” I said, taking the bag containing the glove back.

  “Okay, enough about the glove. Any new cases for you this morning?” he asked, taking a bite of his croissant.

  His voice was tinted with a mocking tone. Now he was teasing me. I narrowed my eyes. He was on thin ice right now. Perhaps I would cancel that date after all.

  “As a matter of fact, I do have an important case,” I said as I walked around to the driver’s side of the car.

  Jake came around the car and opened the door for me. I supposed that was sweet of him.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’ll be busy,” he said.

  Yeah, he was glad that I’d be busy so that I wouldn’t mess with the murder investigation. He figured I wasn’t currently working a case since my last target had been arrested. Jake had no idea that my client wanted me to find the real murderer.

  “Don’t forget your croissant,” he said, handing me the bag back.

  “Thank you again,” I said.

  I slid behind the wheel and started the engine. Jake closed the door and then leaned down to kiss me through the open window. He brushed his full sexy lips across mine.

  “I’ll talk to you soon,” he whispered in my ear.

  Jake watched as I drove away. Little did he know that I was headed to my office to pick up Dorothy and then we were going over to Brigette’s neighbor’s house. I was going to find out why she had been following me last night.

  I pulled into the parking lot and hurried for my office door. I knew this would cause an issue because of the birds but relented and shared the croissant. If I did that I knew they’d assume I was just like Dorothy. I’d never get rid of them. My car was always covered with bird droppings as it was. I supposed I was just going to have to live with it. I picked off pieces of my croissant and dropped them along the way. Just as I reached for the door, it opened. Dorothy strolled out with her big pocketbook looped on her arm.

  “It’s about time you got here,” she said as she marched toward my car.

  On the way there she didn’t let the birds clamoring for the little pieces of croissant go unnoticed.

  “I knew I’d get you eventually,” she said with a click of her tongue.

  I had no comment.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” I asked.

  “We’re going to the neighbor’s house, right?”

  “Well, yes,” I said.

  “All right then. Let’s go. We have things to do. No time to waste.”

  Dorothy never forgot a thing. At least when she reached the car she went around to the passenger side and didn’t try to drive. She was already perched in the seat with her pocketbook on her lap waiting for me when I made it to the driver’s side door.

  “I had to stop for coffee and a croissant,” I said as I turned the ignition.

  “Well, you can use the nourishment.” She pulled out her knitting needles.

  My anxiety grew as I navigated the traffic. When I drove down the street toward the neighbor’s house, the adrenaline kicked in. Visiting her home was intimidating. It was something about her body stance and the way she’d glared at me as if she was going to attack me at any moment. I had to stand tall and not let her know that I felt threatened at all. Plus, I had Dorothy with me for backup. Dorothy could let her have it.

  Of course I didn’t park in front of the neighbor’s house. I wasn’t that dumb. I stopped down the street so that she wouldn’t see my car. Dorothy and I could walk down the sidewalk to the woman’s house. I wouldn’t sneak around this time. This trip was just to see if she was outside and ask her questions.

  “I’ve been thinking about this plan of yours,” Dorothy said.

  “What about it?” I asked.

  “I think it’s terrible.”

  “Well, Dorothy, do you want to tell me how you really feel? What’s wrong with my plan?” I asked.

  “It’s not a plan at all. You’re just hoping that this woman comes out. I think you’re scared of her,” Dorothy said.

  “Of course I’m scared of her. Have you seen the way she stares?” I imitated the look.

  “I didn’t get a very good look at her,” she said.

  “Well, trust me, it’s not good.”

  “Based on your impression it seems scary, but I’m not afraid of her,” Dorothy said, puffing her chest out and pushing her small shoulders back.

  “What should we do? Just go up to the front door and ask if she was following me? That’s rude,” I said.

  “The fact that she was following you is what’s rude,” Dorothy said, stopping and placing her hands on her hips.

  I paused beside Dorothy on the sidewalk. “What should I do?”

  “Go up to the door and ask her why she was following you,” Dorothy said. “You have every right to question her because of the case.”

  “Yes, I suppose you do have a point there. Okay, I’ll do it,” I said with renewed confidence in my voice.

  Well, maybe I wasn’t all that confident, but I was getting there. Just as we’d taken a couple more steps I spotted the neighbor. She was walking out her front door and headed for the car. She hadn’t even noticed us. Dorothy and I exchanged a look.

  “What do we do now? She’s getting into the car,” Dorothy said. “We have to hurry back to your car and follow her. You have every right to know what she’s doing.”

  “You’re right. We should do that to get to the bottom of this.”

  “What do you think she’s up to?” Dorothy asked as we turned and headed for my car.

  “I have no idea. I just hope that we can keep up with her and don’t lose her.”

  I didn’t want to wait much longer to speak to her. We rushed into the car and I stomped the gas just as the neighbor pulled out of her driveway. Good thing for us it didn’t seem as if the neighbor had any clue we were behi
nd her. It was easy to keep up with her and traffic wasn’t bad. That made this detective thing much easier.

  A brief time later she pulled up to the small office park. She whipped her car into a spot near the door. I hung back for a bit and then pulled into an available spot on the edge of the lot.

  “Where’s she going?” Dorothy asked.

  “Looks like she’s going into that building right there.”

  On the outside of the brick office building I noticed the words ‘attorneys at law.’

  “A lawyer?” Dorothy asked with a quirked eyebrow. “What are the names?”

  “Louis, Samuels, and Boles. Wait. I recognize that name,” I said.

  “Which one? Louis, Samuels, or Boles?” Dorothy asked.

  “Boles,” I said. “I’m almost certain that’s Brigette’s lawyer.”

  “Oh, this certainly changes things, doesn’t it?” Dorothy said.

  “Yes, it certainly does,” I said. “Why is she coming here to see the lawyer?”

  “I don’t know, but I think we should find out,” Dorothy said.

  Dorothy and I got out of the car and headed toward the building. This was probably a bad time to walk in and speak to this woman considering she probably had an appointment with the lawyer. But I was curious.

  Maybe I could just go in and ask the lawyer some questions. After all, his client was in jail now. More than likely he wouldn’t want to talk. He’d make me get an appointment. But just walking in there and seeing what the neighbor was up to would be enough. Wouldn’t she be surprised to see me there? Now the tables had turned. I was the one following her. But not in a creepy way. I prided myself on being a total professional.

  When Dorothy and I reached the door, I paused. “Okay, we’re going to ask to speak to the lawyer.”

  I hoped Dorothy didn’t argue over my plan.

  “I’ll go along with whatever you say,” she said.

  “Since when?” I asked.

  She placed her hands on her hips. “I always do, don’t I?”