Dead Reckoning (Lantern Beach Mayday Book 2)

by Christy Barritt

  Kenzie knew that Cassidy was still at the marina, and Ty—Cassidy’s husband—had mentioned earlier that he was doing a training exercise with Blackout this evening. That meant no one was inside other than Kujo, their dog.

  She and Jimmy James stood there a minute, the ocean breeze flooding over them and the reassuring scent of saltwater slowing her pulse.

  She touched his arm and saw him flinch.

  That’s when she noticed the cut on his arm.

  “You’re hurt,” she murmured.

  He glanced down. “It’s nothing.”

  “That’s not nothing. You need to clean that up.”

  “Really, it’s—”

  “Come inside a moment and let me help. I insist.”

  Jimmy James didn’t argue as she unlocked the door and slipped inside. Kujo greeted them as they entered.

  “You stay with him while I go get the first aid kit,” Kenzie murmured.

  Jimmy James was still standing near the front door when she returned. She pulled out some gauze and spread some ointment on it before dabbing his cut.

  It was probably only three inches long and not too deep. Still, it needed to be treated.

  When she finished, she pulled out a bandage and pressed it on the edges of the cut.

  “There you go. All better.”

  Jimmy James’ gaze caught with hers. “Thank you.”

  She felt something pass between them as she looked up, realizing she was probably standing entirely too close.

  She couldn’t look away from the tenderness in his eyes.

  When she’d first met him, Kenzie would have never guessed Jimmy James would be the type to have a tender side. Although he was rough and tough on the outside, he was a teddy bear at heart.

  At least, he was when it came to her.

  The warmth inside her seemed to spread from her heart all the way to her extremities as she stared at Jimmy James’ face. At the stubble on his cheek and chin. At the depth of his gaze. At his crooked, handsome smile.

  Spontaneously, she reached up and ran her fingers across his cheek.

  He sucked in a breath at her touch, and his gaze captured hers, something unseen seeming to lock them together.

  “Thank you for everything tonight,” Kenzie whispered, her voice scratchier than she’d anticipated.

  “Of course.”

  They’d been hanging out since their charter ended, and Kenzie had thoroughly enjoyed every moment of their time together.

  Jimmy James hadn’t tried to make any moves yet, although he had taken her for ice cream and dinner and had shown her around the island. Kenzie had almost expected him to try to take their relationship to the next level, but he hadn’t.

  Part of her was tired of waiting. The man wasn’t shy. So, what was his holdup?

  “Jimmy James . . . you’re a diamond in the rough,” Kenzie said softly. “I just wanted to let you know that.”

  Part of his lip quirked up in a grin. “Really? I wasn’t expecting that. But I’ll take it.”

  “I really mean it.” Her throat tightened. “I’m glad God brought you into my life.”

  His eyes widened as their gazes connected, something unseen linking them together. “Kenzie . . . you represent everything I’m not.”

  Her breath caught as she wondered where he was going with this. “Like what?”

  “Everything good.”

  She tilted her head. “You don’t think you have goodness in you?”

  He shrugged. “The goodness I have is like a boat that’s been beaten beyond repair.”

  “Nothing’s beyond repair. It just takes time and energy.”

  He shook his head, a touch of disbelief in his gaze. “You deserve so much better than me. I don’t have anything to offer you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to offer me anything.”

  Another emotion flashed in his gaze. Was that . . . affection? Desire? Both?

  His eyes went to her lips.

  The next instant, his hand slipped behind her head, and he dipped his until their lips met.

  When they did, everything disappeared from around Kenzie as pure bliss filled her veins.

  “You should probably go,” Kenzie murmured several minutes later.

  Blood still warmly coursed through her veins, and her lips tingled from their kiss. Despite her statement, she remained in his embrace, relishing the feel of his arms around her.

  Jimmy James leaned toward her as if he wanted to kiss her again, but he stopped himself. “Probably a good idea.”

  “Probably.” Her throat felt tight as she said the word—especially since all she craved was to get closer, to feel his lips against hers again.

  She’d dated before. But something about that kiss . . . it blew all the others she’d ever received out of the water. Maybe it was because she felt like Jimmy James genuinely cared about her.

  He pulled her toward him and planted a long kiss on her forehead before stepping back. With one more wave, he stepped from the cottage.

  As Kenzie stepped outside to watch him leave, her heart pounded out of control.

  What was she doing?

  She hadn’t come here looking for romance. But what if romance had found her anyway?

  Touching her lips, she grinned.

  She liked the thought of that.

  When Jimmy James’ truck disappeared from sight, Kenzie scanned the beach in the distance, her eyes drawn to the area for some unknown reason.

  She shivered.

  Why did she feel like she was being watched? It didn’t make any sense that someone would have followed her here . . . unless this person had seen her face and knew she’d witnessed a murder that wasn’t supposed to happen.

  She nearly stumbled into the door behind her.

  Scanning the shoreline one more time, she didn’t see anybody or anything. Maybe she really was being paranoid.

  Paranoid or astutely observant? Either way, Kenzie needed to get inside. Needed to be somewhere where she felt less exposed.

  If the killer did see her, then she wasn’t safe right now.

  Chapter Five

  Jimmy James felt like he was walking on clouds as he headed away from Chief Chambers’ house.

  As he stared out the windshield, he couldn’t stop thinking about Kenzie. About how undeserving he was that someone like her would be interested in someone like him. Was it too good to be true?

  He wasn’t sure. But there was no way he was going to walk away from an opportunity like this. An opportunity like Kenzie.

  She was everything he could ever want and more.

  As he continued down the road, doubts tried to claim his thoughts. Doubts about how compatible the two of them would be together in the long run. He pushed his uncertainties away.

  Not now. For now, Jimmy James would enjoy this moment.

  Instead of heading back to the cottage he called home, he veered to the marina. He’d worked there for so long that the place felt like his domain.

  It wasn’t.

  But Jimmy James had worked as a dockhand for many years as well as a first mate on fishing charters, and he’d done various other tasks as needed. He was Harbormaster Stevie-o’s right-hand man. Over the past several months, he’d worked hard to get his captain’s license, which had required time away and on the water. He’d done that in the winter months when things were slower here at the harbor.

  It was a simple life, but he enjoyed it. However, he did want more for his future. That’s why he’d taken the job as captain on the charter Kenzie had worked on. The original captain had been murdered and then the backup captain got the stomach flu.

  Plus, Kenzie was going to be onboard, and he’d suspected trouble might follow her.

  Even though it was the middle of the night, he parked at the marina and sauntered toward the docks. As he did, he paused near the water and stared at Seas the Day. The police had gone and everything seemed quiet.

  What exactly had happened tonight? Kenzie was a smart girl. She was
n’t the type to give into paranoia or to see things that hadn’t happened. She’d been in med school before she came to Lantern Beach, so she was clearly intelligent and level-headed.

  So, what happened? Why couldn’t the police find any evidence of a crime on this boat?

  It didn’t make any sense to him.

  He stared across the water and saw movement in the distance.

  Was that a boat out there without any lights on?

  It was too dark outside to say for sure.

  His heart pounded faster.

  He stepped closer, his eyes latched onto the water.

  Someone was definitely out there. It couldn’t be the marine police. They would have their lights on.

  There might be a simple explanation, like somebody who’d gone flounder fishing in the dark.

  Or could this boat have something to do with tonight’s events?

  It was impossible to say at this point. Jimmy James was tempted to jump on his Bayliner and check it out. But by the time he did that, the boat would be gone.

  Either way, his back muscles tightened.

  Something was going on here. Jimmy James needed to figure out what.

  Kenzie had awoken surprisingly early the next morning. Instead of hopping out of bed, she pulled out her laptop and sat in the bed of her temporary bedroom. She looked up any missing women reports in the area, but there were none.

  Next, she moved onto researching Abe Sampson and Senator Luke Williams.

  She didn’t discover anything about them that particularly surprised her. Sampson owned a real estate empire in the Raleigh area but had been moved to go into politics after he’d grown distrustful of government policies. He had a passionate fan base.

  Williams had a long history in politics. He’d started as a lobbyist twenty years ago and had grown into a fixture in the DC area. His wife, Lori, was often in the photos with him, smiling and looking like a beautiful armpiece for the picture-perfect senator. The two looked like they were made for each other.

  When that research led nowhere, Kenzie looked for anything she could find about Thatcher Davenport.

  The man was an attorney. She and Jimmy James had been correct. He had his own law firm, he liked to boat and golf, and he often posted pictures of himself on fancy vacations. He was listed as married, but Kenzie didn’t see any pictures of the man’s wife.

  As Kenzie dug deeper, she found a notation on a political website that Thatcher had donated to Abe Sampson’s campaign. Her gut feeling told her he might be personally working for the senate hopeful, but she couldn’t find confirmation online.

  She stared at the computer screen until her eyes got blurry. Then she showered, got dressed, and wandered into the kitchen. The tantalizing scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the air, and Kujo—a golden retriever—came over with a wagging tail to greet her.

  Kenzie rubbed the dog’s head, instantly missing her own dog, Milo—a mini-labradoodle.

  Ty and Cassidy were making breakfast together, both standing near the stove and talking in low tones. Ty had his arms around Cassidy’s waist, and the two of them laughed softly about something.

  Kenzie stepped back, suddenly feeling like she was interrupting a moment.

  The floor squeaked beneath her feet, and they twirled around. When they spotted her, they parted. But both had grins on their faces.

  They made an adorable couple and stirred a longing inside Kenzie. She wanted to share that same connection with someone someday.

  Jimmy James?

  As she remembered their kiss last night, she fought a grin.

  Maybe.

  Cassidy’s sweatpants and T-shirt showed off her growing belly more than her police uniform did.

  Kenzie knew just how excited the two of them were about having a baby. Their due date was only a few months away now.

  “Good morning.” Ty flipped a piece of bacon. “Don’t mind us. Cassidy thinks she knows the secret to making crunchy bacon, but I beg to differ.”

  Kenzie pointed behind her. “Do you want me to come back later?”

  “Don’t be silly.” Cassidy picked up a glass of orange juice. “Have a seat.”

  Ty grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee before handing it to Kenzie.

  She thanked him and then sat at the kitchen table. Kenzie hadn’t seen either of them before she went to bed last night, so she hadn’t had any time to chat.

  Cassidy—the police chief had told Kenzie to call her that when she wasn’t on duty—lowered herself across the table from her. “Jimmy James told me about the car that almost hit you last night.”

  Kenzie nodded. “Talk about an eventful evening . . .”

  “But you’re okay?” Cassidy studied her face.

  “I’m fine.” Kenzie waved a hand in the air.

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I don’t suppose there have been any updates?” Hope trailed from Kenzie’s voice as she stared at the police chief.

  Cassidy frowned and took a sip of her orange juice. “I wish there was something I could tell you. But there’s nothing.”

  A question danced on the tip of Kenzie’s tongue. She almost feared asking it, feared the answer. But she couldn’t let her worries stop her.

  “Do you think I made this up?” She held her breath as she waited for Cassidy’s response.

  “I definitely believe that you think you saw something. You have a good head on your shoulders.”

  Kenzie played with the rim of the coffee mug, comforted, she supposed, by the affirmation. “I’m not going to be able to stop thinking about this until I have answers.”

  “You let us handle it.” Cassidy locked gazes with her as if to make it clear she was taking this matter seriously. “We’re going to continue looking into this. I’m not going to let it drop yet.”

  Ty sat down beside Cassidy and handed her a plate.

  Kenzie felt better knowing that Cassidy wasn’t brushing her off. But she wasn’t ready to wrap up this conversation yet. Not until she shared what she’d learned. “Did you realize that Thatcher is affiliated with Abe Sampson?”

  Cassidy nodded, no signs of surprise in her gaze. “I did some research last night and discovered that.”

  Kenzie relayed to Cassidy the conversation Thatcher had with her and Jimmy James, careful to mention how abrasive the man was and his implication that Jimmy James was somehow responsible.

  Cassidy picked up a piece of toast and shook her head. “I can’t believe the nerve of that guy.”

  “Jimmy James and I were pretty shocked also.”

  “I’ll keep digging,” Cassidy assured her. “You just promise me that you’ll stay out of this. If someone was murdered . . . then the person responsible probably won’t hesitate to kill again.”

  Kenzie rubbed the rim of her mug again before nodding. “I’ll do my best.”

  Chapter Six

  Jimmy James had only gotten a few hours of shut-eye last night. Thankfully, that was all he needed. He’d never required a lot of sleep.

  He’d gotten back to the marina early this morning and had already done a sunrise fishing charter, helping one of his friends who had a twenty-eight-foot Wellcraft.

  As he had been out on the water, he’d kept his eyes open for anything amiss. But he hadn’t seen anything suspicious.

  They returned to the dock at eleven. After he’d helped the guests disembark to brag to everyone about their catches, he turned to his friend. Tom Weathersby was in his forties, though his wrinkles made him look older, and he was an avid fisherman, who’d even been featured in National Geographic once.

  Jimmy James nodded toward Seas the Day. The boat floated peacefully in the marina as if it were innocent of any wrongdoing. “Do you know anything about the guy who owns her?”

  Tom shrugged as he collected the fishing gear and studied each piece, making sure it would be ready for his next guests. “I’ve talked to him a couple of times. Don’t care to talk to him again.”

  “I had that
impression also.” Jimmy James grabbed a water hose so they could spray down the interior of the boat. “You know anything else about him?”

  “I heard he was a lawyer. Why are you asking?” Tom paused and stared at Jimmy James, curiosity gleaming in his gaze. “You’re not the type who usually takes this much interest in others.”

  Jimmy James shrugged. “Kenzie thought she saw something happen on his boat last night.”

  “Kenzie? That the girl I’ve seen you with?”

  “It is.”

  “You look as if you feel like a million bucks when you’re with her.”

  Jimmy James grinned. “I do.”

  “Good for you, man. Just remember—bad company corrupts good character. She’s going to be in big trouble.” Tom let out a loud, belly-deep laugh as if the thought were hilarious before punching Jimmy James’ arm.

  Jimmy James felt his breath catch. He didn’t want to let his friend’s words get to him. But was there any truth to them?

  He shoved the thought aside for another time. “Could we get back to Thatcher?”

  Tom’s laughter died, and he continued checking his gear, wisps of laughter popping up every few seconds. “Of course. What did your girl think she saw last night? Illegal fishing or something?”

  “I wish it was something as simple as fishing. Truth is, someone may have . . . fallen off the boat.”

  “Fallen off?” He raised an eyebrow.

  Jimmy James shrugged, not wanting to sound too dramatic. “After being strangled.”

  His friend let out a low whistle. “That’s a pretty big accusation.”

  “It is. The police can’t find any evidence of it. But she’s sure of what she saw.”

  Tom shook his head before shrugging and placing his final fishing pole back into the rod rack. “I don’t know. That guy seems like someone who’d sue a person up and down without thinking twice of it. But killing them? He doesn’t seem like he has it in him. But, again, that’s just my opinion.”

  Jimmy James bit down. He had to admit that his friend’s assessment sounded right.

  Thatcher probably wasn’t the type to murder someone in cold blood.