by Tina Kashian
Jose set down his toolbox. “Smithfield’s? Wait a minute. Now that you mentioned it, I remember her saying her dad wouldn’t be happy when he noticed the surfboard missing.”
Lucy contemplated this news. If Sharon was worried about her father, did that mean they’d taken the surfboard from the store without paying for it? Had Neil promised Sharon he’d pay for it and then not made good on his promise?
It certainly raised the stakes. Neil hadn’t just borrowed money for his surfboard, he’d stolen it.
CHAPTER 24
Mac’s Irish Pub was packed with locals. The pub was a hometown favorite and known for its large selection of microbrews and beers on tap. The smell of beer and fried bar food always lingered in the place. A long mahogany bar, polished but nicked from years of use, ran the entire length of one wall. A large flat-screen TV was mounted above the bar and neon signs advertising beers were scattered on the walls. Two pool tables, which were in use every time Lucy visited, were in the back, and a low stage was in the corner. Tonight, a number of tables had been moved to face the stage.
A band was setting up their equipment on the stage when Lucy and Azad walked inside. The front of one of the drums read THE BEACH BUMS in bold block letters. The Beach Bums were a wildly popular local cover band, and they played everything from Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe to Green Day and Pearl Jam to current pop music.
Azad pulled out a seat for her at a table. “The band warms up in a half hour.”
A waitress approached with an empty tray in one hand. “What can I get you to drink?”
They ordered two beers and sat close together so they could hear each other above the din of the already-busy pub. A table occupied by men drinking beer and watching a baseball game on the large-screen television called out to Azad and waved.
Azad waved back. Another couple passed by and the man slapped Azad on the back to greet him.
“Do you know everyone here?” Lucy asked.
“A lot of folks. I wasn’t the one who left town for eight years.”
“Not fair. I was working.”
He squeezed her hand. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I only meant that Kebab Kitchen has a funny way of drawing you back in, doesn’t it? After working at the restaurant in high school, I never thought I’d end up back there as head chef. The place calls to you, just like Ocean Crest. They are both like old friends that you can’t let go.”
Like old friends.
It was true. Kebab Kitchen was in her blood. Her father had often used the phrase, but she’d discovered the truth behind his words when she’d returned home and discovered her parents had wanted to sell the restaurant. Unthinkable, was her first reaction. It took a couple of months for her to sort it all out, but she realized she wanted to stay and manage the place. She couldn’t bear the thought of her parents selling it.
As for real-life friends, Ocean Crest was the place to find them, or at least, return to them. She’d never replace Katie, Sally, or her own sister, Emma. She’d even grown close to Lola from the coffee shop and Susan from the bakery.
During all the years she’d spent in Philadelphia, she hadn’t made a lot of friends. Lawyers weren’t very social, as they worked long hours. Sure, she’d made some friends, but those acquaintances couldn’t compare with what she had with Katie and the others.
The tug to return home had been strong, and she hadn’t regretted the decision.
As for Azad, he’d shown her that people could change, and she had changed as well. She was no longer a lovesick teenager or college student; she was a mature woman.
“I suppose you’re right about the restaurant. It does suck you back in,” she said.
“And us?” he asked.
She bit her lip. “I wasn’t the one who broke us up.”
He reached across the table to tuck a curl behind her ear. His touch lingered and his gaze captured hers. “You’re right. But I won’t make the same mistake again.”
There it was. His ability to make her pulse pound in her throat, and a sizzle to zing through her veins as if she’d touched a white, hot electric wire.
“Azad, I—”
The loud thump of a drum and the screech of an electric guitar interrupted her as the Beach Bums started warming up. The waitress returned to the table, carrying a tray full of drinks. She plucked two beers in frosted mugs from the tray, set them down on cardboard coasters advertising domestic brews, and then sailed off to deliver the rest of her drinks.
Lucy sipped her cold beer and sat back to enjoy the music and the company. It was an entirely different date from the quiet, romantic ambience of Le Gabriel, but enjoyable in a different way.
The band began to play a Dave Matthews Band song and she tapped her feet to the beat. Azad was attentive, and he soon had her singing and laughing along with him. People started to crowd the dance floor, and Azad pulled her to her feet. They moved to the rhythm and clapped. His arms encircled her as they danced and he twirled her once or twice.
They returned to their seats, laughing. She hadn’t had this much fun at a bar in a long time. They ordered more drinks, and soon Lucy needed to visit the little gal’s room. She motioned to Azad above the noise and headed for the back of the bar. Male and female stick figures indicated the right doors.
Lucy was washing her hands, when a woman approached next to her and reached for the automatic soap dispenser. Lucy looked up in the mirror and froze.
Vanessa.
She wore a tank top with sequin stars, skintight jeans that looked painted on, and high-heeled wedge sandals. Her brown hair was pulled back in a braid that revealed perfect cheekbones and heavily lined eyes.
What on earth was she doing here? Just as that question crossed Lucy’s mind, another followed. Was she here with Ben?
No one else was in the ladies’ room. She would never get a better chance to talk with the woman.
“Hello,” Lucy said.
“Hi.” Vanessa never even bothered to glance at her. She dried her hands and reached in her bag for a tube of lip gloss and started applying it to her big lips.
Lucy wasn’t easily deterred. “I’ve seen you before with Ben Hawkins.”
Vanessa’s hand froze in midair, the tube of lip gloss in her hand. Her eyes flew to Lucy’s in the mirror. “You must be mistaken.”
“I don’t think so.”
Vanessa put the cap on the lip gloss, shoved it into her bag, and turned to face to Lucy. “I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“I’ve been to the Pussy Cat,” Lucy lied.
Vanessa arched an eyebrow, and her gaze swept up and down Lucy. “You?”
“That’s right. I saw you together in the club, and then when I was leaving, I saw you get into Ben’s car. You kissed him.”
Vanessa’s face paled, a feat Lucy didn’t think was possible with all the heavy makeup she was wearing.
“Who are you?” Vanessa asked.
“An acquaintance.”
“Of Ben’s? I sure as hell don’t know you.”
“Yes, I know Ben,” Lucy said. “I also know he’s running for Ocean Crest mayor.”
A dim flush raced like a fever across Vanessa’s face. “I know what you think. That Ben paid me to . . . to get into his car with him. But it’s not like that.”
“I didn’t think that at all. I assumed you were in a relationship.”
“Yes,” Vanessa said, her tone hopeful. “We are. I care for Ben.”
“Still?”
“Of course. We happened to meet at the club, but that’s all. We have feelings for each other, but we are forced to keep it secret.”
Lucy tilted her head to the side. “That must be difficult for you. If news of your relationship leaked out, I know a lot of town residents who wouldn’t be as understanding. Chances are Ben’s political campaign would suffer.”
“I know! That’s why we don’t go out in public.”
Just how far would the two lovebirds go to keep it secret? Did Vanessa encourage Ben to bre
ak into Archie’s boardwalk store to try to find the blackmail pictures? Did they shoot Archie?
“I won’t tell a word, if you tell me what I want to know,” Lucy said.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s that?”
“Did anyone else find out about you two?”
Vanessa opened her mouth, then shut it.
“If I know, then I can only assume other people know as well,” Lucy said.
Vanessa shifted on her wedge heels. “There was someone else. But he’s not a problem anymore.”
No, Archie wasn’t. He was six feet under. But he’d left behind pictures. Very vivid and telling pictures. But Lucy couldn’t reveal that to Vanessa.
“Who?”
“Archie Kincaid.”
“The dead guy who was found shot under the boardwalk?” At her silence, Lucy pressed. “How convenient.”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed in outrage. “What are you suggesting? That I shot him? Well, I didn’t. Ben didn’t either.”
Lucy wasn’t convinced. As far as she was concerned, Vanessa and Ben ranked high on the suspect list. She couldn’t admit she knew about the blackmail pictures. That was going too far and would raise a slew of questions. But she could ask about what was public knowledge.
“Archie’s shop was broken into twice. Did he have something on you two? Were you responsible?” Lucy asked.
Vanessa’s eyes widened. “No! We’d never do anything against the law.”
The band started a new song, something that involved a drum solo. The walls nearly shook from the pounding. Azad was waiting for her, probably wondering what was taking so long. She’d gotten everything she could out of Vanessa. She wasn’t sure she believed her denials, no matter how fervently they were delivered.
“My lips are sealed.” Lucy said.
“Thanks.” Vanessa looked deflated as she worried her bottom lip. “I’m with friends and need to get back.” She opened the door and sailed out.
Lucy waited a minute, her thoughts turning. She didn’t need to speak about Vanessa’s affair with Ben. Detective Clemmons had the incriminating envelope. She only hoped he’d do his job, thoroughly investigate Ben and Vanessa, and drop Katie from the suspect list.
Or was that wishful thinking?
CHAPTER 25
“I had a great time,” Lucy said.
“Me, too.”
Azad had driven her back to Kebab Kitchen where her car was parked outside. He guided her forward, and the mere touch of his hand on her lower back sent a warming shiver through her.
They stood awkwardly for a moment, then Azad gathered her into his arms and held her snugly. His breath was warm against her face, and her heart raced. She wound her arms inside his jacket and around his back. He lowered his head and captured her lips. His mouth slanted over hers as she parted her lips in a sigh.
He pulled back to gaze in her eyes. “I’m glad we’re together. I’m sorry if I acted like a possessive jerk.”
The tenderness in his eyes made her heart turn over in her chest.
She wanted to kiss him more. It didn’t matter that they were standing in the restaurant’s parking lot beneath the lights. She inched closer, parted her lips, and pressed them against his.
He groaned, then finally met her in a hot kiss. Her palms moved to press against his chest, not to push him away, but to feel the pounding of his heart and the tantalizing muscles through his shirt. Her fingers traveled upward to caress the strong tendons in the back of his neck as she kissed him back.
“Hey, Lucy!”
They broke apart at the sound of the male voice. It was coming from behind the fence that separated the restaurant from the bicycle rental shop next door. She recognized the owner before Michael stepped around the path and came into view.
He stopped in his tracks when he spotted Azad with Lucy.
“What the hell does he want now?” Azad mumbled under his breath.
Lucy shot him a glare before waving Michael over.
“What is it?” she asked him.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you were with someone. I heard a car and assumed it was yours.” Michael glared at Azad.
Azad glared back.
Lucy lost her patience. “It’s okay. What is it?”
“I found the gun.”
“What gun?” As soon as she asked the question, she knew the answer. “The gun that shot Archie? Where?”
“I was setting up the fire pit on the beach when I spotted it under the jetty. It must have washed ashore. I called the police and they collected it. They couldn’t say for certain if it’s the actual murder weapon, but I overheard Detective Clemmons say to another cop that it’s the same caliber. I thought you’d want to know.”
“Yes! Thanks for coming over.”
If the gun Michael found was the same weapon that had killed Archie, then that meant the gun that Neil fired at her the night she’d broken into Seaside Gifts wasn’t.
She couldn’t jump to conclusions until both guns had been tested by the State Police forensics lab, but she had a feeling in her gut that Michael had found the murder weapon.
“Sorry to disturb you,” Michael said, then turned and disappeared behind the fence.
“I guess our evening is over?” Azad asked.
“I’m sorry. I want to get home and talk to Bill and see what they’ve learned,” Lucy said.
Azad looked frustrated. She couldn’t blame him. Michael had interrupted them in the past when they were about to kiss. She gave Azad a quick kiss on his lips. “Thanks for tonight. I had a lot of fun.”
* * *
That night, Lucy and Katie waited up for Bill to get home from his shift at the station. Lucy had informed Katie all about the evening including her confrontation with Vanessa and Michael’s surprising announcement that he’d found a gun beneath the jetty. Of course, she’d omitted her heated kiss with Azad.
No need to talk about that in detail.
Katie had brewed a pot of green tea and handed Lucy a steaming mug. Lucy sipped the tea and they sat at the kitchen table snacking on homemade chocolate chip cookies. Lucy was on her third cookie when they heard the key slide in the front door. They both jumped out of their seats as Bill strode into the kitchen.
“We heard they found a gun that had washed up on the beach. Is it the murder weapon?” Katie asked.
Bill halted in the process of removing his hat. “Well, as far welcomes go, that was pretty bad.”
“Sorry,” Katie said as she approached and gave him a brief kiss. “Michael told Lucy he found the gun.”
“What can you tell us?” Lucy asked.
Bill placed his hat on the counter and ran his hand through his cropped brown hair. “Thankfully, Michael had the good sense not to touch the gun. It’s in police custody and will be sent to the State Police lab for testing. But the salt water has made it difficult, if not impossible, to test for fingerprints. And the serial number had been filed off. Nine times out of ten this means the weapon was illegally purchased.”
“But it’s the same twenty-two caliber,” Lucy said.
“Yes.”
“And if you had to guess?” Katie asked.
“I don’t like to guess,” Bill said.
“But if you had to?” Katie asked.
“I’d place my bet on it being the murder weapon. The killer tossed it into the ocean from the jetty, but it looks like it was stuck in a fisherman’s netting,” Bill said.
Lucy took a deep breath. “Then that means the gun Neil fired at us isn’t the murder weapon.”
“That’s right,” Bill agreed.
“What about the pictures of Ben with Vanessa? Has Clemmons questioned either of them?” Lucy asked.
“He’s spoken with both of them, but he hasn’t made any arrests,” Bill said.
“What’s he waiting for?” Katie asked.
“He’s in close contact with Prosecutor Walsh. If she was certain she had sufficient evidence, then I don’t doubt one or both would have been
charged by now,” Bill said.
Clemmons was one thing. Prosecutor Walsh was another entirely. The woman was smart as a whip and, a while back, Lucy had looked up her professional record. The prosecutor rarely lost a trial. Which meant if she didn’t give Clemmons the green light to arrest Ben or Vanessa, then that could only mean one of two things: either they were innocent or the prosecutor required more evidence of their guilt.
A heaviness centered in Lucy’s chest. “Then we’re back to the beginning, and no closer to finding the killer.”
CHAPTER 26
The doors to Kebab Kitchen opened to a lunch rush. Lucy was pleasantly surprised at the increase in business, but as she helped seat the customers, she realized they were mostly locals. News of the murder had chased many tourists away.
“The mayor is at table three.”
Lucy turned at the sound of Emma’s voice at her side. “Is he alone?”
“No. He’s with Ben Hawkins. They were talking about politics when I seated them,” Emma said as she righted a pile of menus at the hostess station.
Lucy glanced at her sister. Did she know something was going on between the two? She felt a bit guilty for not confiding in Emma about her involvement in Archie’s murder.
A flicker of apprehension coursed through Lucy. She’d had a nightmare last night about gunshots zinging past her head. No doubt it was due to learning that a gun, most likely the murder weapon, had been found under the jetty.
Emma pulled a waitress pad out of her apron pocket. “Sally’s busy with a large table. I’ll wait on them.”
“No. Let me,” Lucy said.
“Why? You’re the manager. You’re not supposed to be the waitstaff.”
“I know. But I’d like to talk with the mayor and the mayor-to-be.” At Emma’s questioning look, Lucy was quick to add. “It’s about the canceled beach festival.”
“Okay,” Emma said hesitantly, then handed Lucy the waitress pad.
Lucy halted as Emma touched her sleeve. “I forgot to tell you—Jose came by early this morning to check on the wiring for the fans he installed. Dad was here and let him in. Everything looks good, and Jose left some tools in the storage room. He’ll be back to finish the job later.”
