Dead Reckoning (Lantern Beach Mayday Book 2)

by Christy Barritt

Then again, maybe the best criminals were the ones people never suspected being capable of violence.

  At lunchtime, Kenzie headed toward the marina.

  She made a stop on the way at The Crazy Chefette to pick up some sandwiches. The restaurant featured unique food combinations that drew foodies up and down the East Coast to visit. She got a green goddess sandwich for herself and a classic club for Jimmy James.

  Jimmy James didn’t know Kenzie was coming, but she knew it was nearing time for his lunch break. She planned to surprise him.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about their kiss last night. Warmth flooded through her every time she mentally replayed feeling his lips against hers.

  Could their kiss have been any better?

  She didn’t think so. She was excited to see what the future might hold for the two of them.

  That afternoon the crew of Almost Paradise was meeting to discuss the upcoming charter and whether it would happen. Eddie had called the meeting since he was the main contact right now with Bill Robertson, the boat’s owner.

  Mr. Robertson planned to find a new captain before the charter could be confirmed. That was the last Kenzie had heard, at least. But, if that was the case, a lot needed to be done before their charter left tomorrow.

  She was thankful she was able to stay at Cassidy and Ty’s place in the meantime. Otherwise, most of her paycheck would have been eaten up by paying for housing. Ordinarily, the crew would be able to stay on the boat, but, after the last charter, the yacht had to be inspected and searched.

  As she pulled into the harbor, a rush of nerves swept through her. Images of last night’s events filled her mind.

  A woman had been killed here last night.

  She sighed and pushed down the heaviness in her chest before grabbing the paper bag filled with their lunch. She climbed from her car and strolled across the gravel lot toward the docks, scanning everything around her as she walked.

  She spotted Jimmy James hosing down a boat at the end of the dock.

  She couldn’t miss him. He was taller and broader than most of the other guys here. Even in his dark-blue swim trunks and white marina shirt, he still looked edgy and tough.

  A smile lit his face when he looked up and saw her. He muttered something to the guy next to him before starting toward her.

  Seeing him caused her heart to both flutter and do flips at the same time.

  They met halfway, and Jimmy James flashed a grin as he stepped closer. “I’d say good morning, but I guess it’s lunchtime now, isn’t it?”

  “It is. Did you have a good charter?” She nodded toward the boat she’d seen him come off. Part of her felt like this conversation was entirely too normal. The other part welcomed the routine, the illusion that last night’s events hadn’t happened.

  “The guys caught a few tile fish, five mahis, and eight groupers. Not too shabby.” He nodded down the docks to where the men displayed their fish and took pictures of them.

  “Good for them.” She turned back to Jimmy James and held up the bag in her hands, the aroma of melted cheese and toasted bread floating out. “I was hoping that you might want some lunch.”

  A knot formed between his eyes. “You brought me lunch?”

  She shrugged, suddenly wondering if this has been a bad idea. Was she being presumptuous? Jumping in too quickly? What if Jimmy James was having second thoughts after their kiss last night?

  “I did. I figured you needed to eat.”

  “Aren’t you the sweetest thing ever?” A grin stretched across his face. “As a matter fact, I’m famished. I’m sure whatever you brought is better than the peanut butter and jelly I packed for myself.”

  As relief washed through Kenzie, she offered him a soft smile, one that felt almost shy.

  Shy? She’d been called a lot of things in life but never shy. What was going on with her?

  She shoved the thought aside and said, “Perfect. Anywhere in particular you want to eat?”

  He glanced around the marina. “I’d say on my boat, but it’s pretty sweltering already today, and the bugs are bad. I’m sure Stevie-o wouldn’t mind if we used his office if that would be more comfortable for you . . .”

  “I’m okay with the heat. The picnic table over there has some shade. How about eating there?” She pointed to one of two tables that had been set up near the back of the parking area, close to a small patch of trees bordering the other side of the marina.

  “Perfect. Can you give me ten minutes, and I’ll meet you there? I need to wash up.”

  “That works.”

  Kenzie strolled toward the picnic table and set out their sandwiches, chips, and drinks. She perched on the wooden bench and waited. Here in the shade, it felt a good ten degrees cooler.

  But Jimmy James was right. The hot day held no breeze, which always brought the bugs out. Kenzie had learned that in the brief time she’d been here on Lantern Beach.

  As she waited, she glanced around again.

  Her breath caught when she saw Thatcher Davenport pull up in his slick silver Mercedes. He unfolded himself from the driver’s seat and headed across the parking lot toward the marina office, walking as if on a mission.

  Kenzie continued watching as a gruff-looking man with a scraggly dark beard stepped outside to meet him.

  It was Stevie-o. Thatcher said something in low tones to the harbormaster before glancing around. The next instant, Stevie-o motioned for Thatcher to follow him inside.

  Kenzie frowned. What was that about?

  The interaction could be nothing—simply a business matter since Thatcher was docked here at the harbor.

  Or it could be something.

  Kenzie nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought about the possibilities.

  She almost wished she’d agreed to eat inside after all. Maybe she would have been privy to more information if she had.

  Chapter Seven

  “This is really good.” Jimmy James took another bite of his sandwich and swallowed. “Thank you for coming to see me. That’s really sweet.”

  Kenzie’s gaze wandered briefly behind him again before jerking back to meet his. Was she looking for someone? Most likely, this had something to do with last night’s events.

  She plastered on a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes as she turned back to him. “Of course. I wanted to make sure I saw you before things got busy.”

  He narrowed his eyes, sensing the source of her distraction and cutting to the chase. “You’re talking about the charter?”

  Kenzie seemed to snap back to the present as she frowned at him, her distraction disappearing for a moment. “I’ll find out today if it’s still on or not. The crew is supposed to meet here at three o’clock.”

  Jimmy James wished he could be on that boat with Kenzie again. But she was a grown woman, and he had to trust that she could handle herself.

  Despite his reasoning, he still wished he was on that boat with her. Maybe for more than one reason. Maybe simply because he liked being around her.

  She pointed to the office in the distance before popping a french fry into her mouth. “Stevie-o . . . is he a pretty nice guy?”

  Jimmy James slowed his chewing. “Yeah, he’s pretty nice. Rough around the edges at times—not that I have any room to talk.”

  “Do you think he’s pretty honest?” Kenzie glanced up at him, her wide eyes full of curiosity.

  Jimmy James tilted his head. “What are you getting at?”

  “Nothing really.” Kenzie shrugged. “I just saw Stevie-o earlier. He was talking to Thatcher. Whatever they were speaking about seemed hush-hush.”

  Jimmy James glanced back at the office. “It was probably nothing, just business.”

  Kenzie nodded quickly—a little too quickly, almost like she was trying to convince herself that was true. “That’s what I thought also. There’s just something about Thatcher Davenport I don’t like.”

  “I can see that. I asked around about him here at the harbor.”

  “H
e’s a lawyer,” Kenzie quickly said.

  Jimmy James raised his eyebrows before grabbing a napkin and wiping his mouth, buying time as he formulated his response. “You’ve been looking into him too, huh?”

  She shrugged again as if her curiosity was casual, but Jimmy James suspected it wasn’t. He suspected Kenzie had been doing everything she could behind the scenes to find information. Unanswered questions had a way of haunting a person like that.

  “I just want some resolution.” She didn’t finish her sandwich and instead crumbled the rest of it in the parchment paper wrapping. “It’s driving me crazy not knowing what’s going on.”

  “I understand that.” He reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

  Jimmy James still couldn’t believe that Kenzie returned his feelings. He planned on relishing every moment of her affection.

  In fact, he felt a dopey smile on his face every time he thought about their kiss. She was entirely out of his league . . . but he wasn’t complaining.

  As Jimmy James heard footsteps crunching across the gravel, he glanced behind him and spotted a man he’d never seen before walking toward them. He had dark hair that was graying at the edges, a slim build, and olive skin.

  He almost resembled . . .

  “Mackenzie?” The man paused at their table.

  Kenzie quickly withdrew her hand from Jimmy James’ as she gasped. “Dad?”

  A knot formed in Jimmy James’ throat.

  What was her dad doing here?

  Suddenly, all his warm feelings vanished.

  “What are you doing here?” Kenzie jumped to her feet, still in disbelief that her dad was in Lantern Beach.

  She knew she shouldn’t feel appalled at his appearance. Yet that was the best word to describe how she felt.

  She hadn’t seen her dad in more than a month, and every conversation since then had been tense.

  Her father put his hands on his hips. “I came to find you.”

  “To find me? You knew where I was. Here in Lantern Beach. Why take the long trip?”

  His intense gaze burned into hers. “I came here so I could take you home with me.”

  Outrage flushed through Kenzie. Her father had a lot of nerve. A lot of nerve.

  She pressed her feet into the ground. “I’m not going home. We’ve been through this.”

  “I’m not going to let you throw your life away like this. You have a bright future. That doesn’t include you hopping on boats and waiting hand and foot on other people.” The words came out with a touch of bitterness and a whole lot of disdain.

  “I told you I don’t want to be a doctor.” She crossed her arms and shook her head. “You’re not going to change my mind.”

  Her father’s gaze traveled across the picnic table to Jimmy James and his eyes narrowed. “Who is this?”

  Jimmy James stood and offered his hand. “I’m Jimmy James.”

  Kenzie’s father only stared at his outstretched hand before turning up his nose.

  Finally, Jimmy James lowered his arm back to his side.

  But as her father’s gaze went back to Kenzie, she saw realization wash over him.

  His fatherly instincts seemed to pick up on the fact that she and Jimmy James were more than friends.

  “You’re going to throw away everything for this guy?” The words came out like a bark as her father threw his hands in the air in an unusual display of emotion. “Is that what this is about?”

  The sharpness of his words caused Kenzie to suck in a quick breath. Her heart hammered into her chest. “Dad . . . don’t do this.”

  He looked back at Jimmy James again before scoffing. “What are you? A fisherman? A dockhand?”

  “Don’t answer that, Jimmy James,” Kenzie rushed. “It’s none of his business.”

  “Jimmy James, huh?” Derision dripped from his voice as he repeated the name. Her father turned back toward her and shook his head. “What are you going to do, Mackenzie? Live in a little shack with this guy? Have a future where you’re always worrying about where you’re going to get money for food and where your next paycheck is going to come from?”

  “Dad, that’s not fair—”

  Her father shook his head again, not bothering to hide his vast disappointment in her choices. “Why would you want that for your future? You’re too smart for that.”

  She felt the fire in her gaze grow stronger. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. My future is mine to decide. Not yours.”

  Jimmy James pointed behind him. “I should get back to the office. Unless . . . you want me to stay.”

  Kenzie shook her head. It was better if Jimmy James wasn’t here for this conversation anyway. Who knew what kind of insults her father might continue to throw out?

  “I’ll talk to you later,” she rushed.

  “Thank you for lunch.” He picked up their trash and nodded, an unreadable expression on his face.

  As he walked away, she and her father stared at each other, and she knew a battle of wills was coming.

  Chapter Eight

  As Jimmy James strode toward the marina office, he tried not to let Kenzie’s father’s words bother him. But how could he not?

  Especially since they were true.

  He didn’t want to admit it. He didn’t want to think that the man’s predictions might be correct. But he’d be a fool if he denied the truth in Dr. Anderson’s statements.

  Kenzie could have a great life with a successful, stable career while living in a nice house. Where she could raise children who would go to top schools and get all the best things in life.

  If she stayed here with him in Lantern Beach and remained on course with the plans she’d made, her life would be much different. There would be few luxuries. Probably a lot of struggles. But she’d have a community that surrounded her and supported her through it all.

  Besides, what about what Tom had said earlier? Bad company corrupts good character. Jimmy James would never want to corrupt Kenzie. But was that exactly what he might do?

  He tried to put the thought out of his head. He really needed to get back to work. Plus, he sensed that Kenzie could use some privacy with her father.

  Their talk should be between the two of them, and Jimmy James had nothing to do with it. Nor had he and Kenzie been together for long enough for Jimmy James to have any kind of say-so.

  But those platitudes didn’t stop the heaviness from pressing on his heart.

  He opened the door to the marina office and paused when he heard voices drifting from the harbormaster’s office.

  “I don’t want anyone to find out about this,” Stevie-o muttered.

  “My lips are sealed.”

  Jimmy James glanced over in time to see Thatcher hand Stevie-o an envelope. Stevie-o opened it, revealing a wad of green bills.

  Thatcher was paying Stevie-o to do something secret for him.

  Jimmy James felt his muscles tighten. He quietly stepped back outside and shut the door. He composed himself before stepping back in, trying to make it look as if he’d just walked up.

  Thatcher paused in front of him before giving him a dirty look. “I was hoping I wouldn’t see you again.”

  Jimmy James felt his muscles tighten. “Ditto.”

  “If you’ll excuse me.” Thatcher stormed toward him.

  As he did, Jimmy James threw out his shoulder. Thatcher collided with it and scowled before continuing past.

  When he was gone, Jimmy James turn to Stevie-o. “Everything okay?”

  Stevie-o rubbed his beard and nodded. “Of course.”

  But his actions and words didn’t match up.

  What exactly was going on here? Someone was hiding something.

  And Jimmy James was feeling more and more determined to figure out who and what.

  “I’m not talking about this anymore.” Kenzie stared at her dad from across the picnic table. “I’m sorry you came all this way, but I’m not changing my mind. I can’t believe you thought I would.”
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br />   Her father frowned, disappointment practically dripping from his gaze. “I had to give it a shot. I’m really worried about you. Is it because of Leesa?”

  Kenzie felt her lungs tighten at the mere mention of her stepmom’s name. “You have to know that she doesn’t like me.”

  “That’s not true. She likes you.” But even her father didn’t sound convinced as he said the words.

  “She wants you all to herself, Dad. And frankly, I’m tired of fighting this battle. You shouldn’t have to choose between the two of us.”

  “But Mackenzie . . . you’re my daughter . . .” He reached for her but dropped his arm instead.

  “You picked Leesa to be your wife. I’m out of the house now, but you have to live with her.” The words sounded harsh, but they were true. Kenzie had forced herself to come to terms with them not long ago. She’d had more peace in her life since then.

  Her father opened his mouth and then shut it again. There was nothing he could say. Kenzie’s words were true, and he couldn’t deny them.

  “Please, think about this.” His voice cracked. “Don’t give up everything—especially not for that guy.”

  She drew in a sharp breath at his words. “That guy?”

  “You know what I mean.” He rolled his eyes to the side.

  “I just met that guy. I didn’t come here to be with him. I didn’t take this career to be with him. Jimmy James is just a bonus.”

  Her father raised his eyebrows. “A bonus? If anything, I’d think someone like him would be a detriment.”

  “Someone like him?” Kenzie practically screeched. “Do you have any idea how entitled you sound?”

  “I’m just speaking the truth.” He shrugged unapologetically.

  Defensiveness rose inside her until she felt like she couldn’t breathe. “You don’t know him. He’s a good man.”

  “All I have to do is look at him, and I know enough.”

  Kenzie shook her head, unable to believe that her father would act like this. Yet he was.

  She stepped back, making no effort to hide her disgust. “I have to get to work. Our charter should be leaving tomorrow.”