by Sarah Fox
“I’d appreciate it if you left me and my daughter alone from now on.”
“Of course.”
I could feel her eyes on my back as I met up with Ivan on the sidewalk. Without saying a word, we struck off in the direction of Ivan’s house. It was only once we’d reached the end of the street and had turned the corner that one of us spoke.
“Did you get what you needed?” Ivan asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “To be honest, I’m more confused than ever.”
“Then let it rest.”
I figured he probably meant let it rest for good, to let the sheriff untangle the mystery and find the killer. I wasn’t sure I could do that, but I suddenly felt weary from all the confusion and didn’t mind the idea of putting the investigation aside for an hour or two at least. Maybe a swim in the ocean and time lying on the beach was what I needed.
When we reached the end of another street, I paused and Ivan came to a stop next to me.
“Thanks for coming with me,” I said.
Ivan gave me a curt nod and said, “Be careful.”
Then he strode off toward his house.
I turned in the opposite direction, walking slowly, thinking as I went. I considered phoning Chloe to tell her that Ida wasn’t her blackmailer, but I quickly decided against it. I didn’t want to upset her by letting her know that the person who’d left her the note was likely still alive and able to threaten her again in the future.
As I followed a curving road toward the edge of town, the rumble of a lawn mower grew louder. A few properties down, I caught sight of a familiar figure guiding the machine around the front yard of a white Victorian.
I hesitated and considered making a detour, but it was too late for that. When Brett turned the machine in my direction, he saw me and cut off the motor with a grin. I tried my best to mirror his expression.
“Hey, what brings you to this part of town?”
“I’m just heading home from talking with Sheryl Haynes.”
Brett’s grin faded and the appearance of that familiar crease between his eyebrows conveyed his concern. “About the murder.”
“Yes.”
“Marley,” he said after a brief hesitation, “are you sure it’s a good idea to be getting involved in the investigation?”
“I want to clear my name, to find the real killer.”
“Of course you do, but you might be doing yourself more harm than good.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, suddenly wary of what he’d say next.
“You’ve got a cloud of suspicion over you,” he reminded me unnecessarily. “Your meddling could be seen as an attempt to manipulate the investigation.”
“Meddling?” The word came out heavy with indignation. “I’m not trying to meddle. I’m trying to help.”
I hated that my last word wavered, that it revealed the hurt I was feeling.
“Marley—” Brett said, but I didn’t stick around to let him continue.
Instead I stormed off along the sidewalk. Brett called my name again, but I didn’t slow my pace. When I reached the end of the street, I heard the lawn mower’s motor start up again. I kept up my pace until I reached home, and it was only then that I regretted my actions.
Picking up Flapjack, I cradled him in my arms and rested my cheek against the top of his head.
“What am I doing, Jack?” I said over the tabby’s rumbling purr. “I should be making things better with Brett, and instead I’m making them worse.”
Flapjack offered no wise counsel, but his presence at least helped to calm me down. I changed into my swimsuit and headed for the ocean, wishing the salty water could wash away my regrets. It didn’t, of course, and I was still in low spirits when I returned to the house after my swim. As I changed back into my shorts and tank top, I wondered how I could take my mind off my woes. I didn’t come up with any bright ideas, and ended up slouched on the couch, wallowing in my gloomy mood.
I was still sitting there twenty minutes later, as dispirited as ever, when I heard footsteps on the back porch. Brett appeared in the open doorway, stopping at the threshold, hesitant. His blue eyes met mine, and I could see that his regret was as strong as my own.
My heart clenched and I suddenly couldn’t stand the space between us. I left the couch behind and wrapped my arms around Brett. He pulled me close and held me, speaking into my hair.
“I’m sorry, Marley.”
“Me too.”
“I know you have good intentions. I just worry that other people won’t see it that way. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
I stepped back so I could look up at him, my eyes misty. “I know, and I’m lucky that you care.”
He pulled me close and then kissed me, a deep and lingering kiss that left me breathless and ready to float away.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, resting his forehead against mine.
I smiled. “Same here. Can you stay a while?”
“Definitely.”
We spent the next hour or so cooking, putting together fish tacos for our dinner and simply enjoying each other’s company. We ate out on the back porch with Flapjack for company. I filled Brett in on my visit to see Bentley at the vet clinic, and he told me he planned to pay a visit of his own the next day. Later in the evening, we wandered down to the beach and settled on a log. Brett wrapped his arms around me and I leaned against his chest.
Thoughts of clues and suspects had stayed at the back of my mind for the last couple of hours, and that’s where they remained. I was glad of that, wanting only to focus on Brett at the moment. I remembered my conversation with my mom, and a hum of unease crept through my body. Although I wanted to open up to Brett, I wasn’t sure where to start, so I stayed quiet as we listened to the lapping of the ocean waves and watched the tide creep slowly up the beach.
After a while, Brett gave me a gentle squeeze and kissed my temple. “Everything okay, Marley?”
I should have known that he’d notice my unease, even if it was subtle. My first instinct was to tell him I was fine, but I stopped myself, not wanting to go down that path again. Instead, I took a moment to appreciate how safe and happy I felt in his arms before responding.
“The other day when you asked if there was something on my mind, I didn’t give you the full answer.”
Although the change was slight, I felt his muscles tense.
“It’s nothing bad,” I hurried to assure him, not wanting him to think I was unhappy in our relationship, especially after our rocky afternoon. “I’ve just been a bit scared lately.”
“Because there’s a killer on the loose?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t have anything to do with that.” I paused to search for the right words.
“Marley?”
I knew I had to explain, whether I had the perfect words or not.
“I’ve been scared of us,” I said finally.
I tipped my head back so I could see his face. It didn’t surprise me that there was a crease between his eyebrows. He was probably confused as well as concerned at the moment.
“Maybe it’s more accurate to say I’ve been scared of how I feel about you,” I said, trying to do a better job of explaining. “I know we haven’t been together all that long yet, but I’m already crazy about you. And the closer I get to someone…”
“The harder it is to lose them,” he finished for me.
“Yes.” I looked down at his hands, held in my own. “Does that sound silly?”
“Not at all, especially after what you’ve been through.” He kissed my temple again. “I can’t promise that nothing bad will ever happen, Marley, but I’m crazy about you too, and I think we’ve got the makings of something really good between us.”
I smiled, warmed by his words. “So do I. And I don’t want to let fear ruin things. I won’t let it. But I wanted you to know what’s been going on in my head so you don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I’m glad you told me.”
&n
bsp; I hadn’t realized that I was tense, but I relaxed with his words, resting more of my weight against his chest. “So am I.”
He ran his thumb back and forth over the knuckles of my right hand, and together with the breaking of the ocean waves, his touch soothed me into deeper relaxation. I still didn’t like keeping Chloe’s secret from him, but I was relieved that I’d finally been open with him about everything else. I was even more relieved by his understanding, and my feelings for him were now even stronger because of it.
As the sun slowly dipped toward the western horizon, I sat up and shifted on the log so I could kiss him. Maybe it was because I’d shared my fears with him, or maybe it was because I’d finally managed to push those fears into the background, but our kiss was even sweeter and deeper than usual. When it ended, I rested my head on his shoulder.
“I don’t want you to go,” I said with a sigh.
He spoke quietly into my hair. “I don’t have to.”
I took his hand and raised my head to meet his eyes. “Then stay.”
Chapter 17
The following morning I woke before my alarm went off. Daylight was streaming in through the cracks in the curtains, and I could hear the ocean and birds singing through the open window. At this hour, before the sun was high in the sky, the ocean breeze was cool and pleasant, making the curtains dance and billow about. When I rolled onto my side and found Brett’s blue eyes watching me, I couldn’t have kept the smile off my face if I’d tried.
“Morning,” he said with a smile of his own as he brushed my tangled curls out of my face.
I snuggled up against his side. “Morning.”
He kissed the top of my head and ran his hand down my back.
I snuggled closer to him, but my alarm chose that unfortunate moment to go off, filling the room with music. With a groan, I reached over and shut it off.
“I guess that means it’s time to get going,” Brett said.
I rested my head on his chest. “Normally I wouldn’t mind, but today I’m not so eager for the day to start.”
“Believe me, the feeling is mutual.”
Flapjack jumped up onto the bed, landing on my legs. He meowed, walking over me and rubbing his cheek against my face. When I didn’t move, he meowed again, this time head-butting my chin.
“All right, I get the message,” I told him.
With no shortage of reluctance, I climbed out of bed and quickly showered and dressed. I met Brett down in the kitchen where Flapjack was in the middle of eating his breakfast, too intent on his meal to even glance my way when I entered the room.
“I gave him some food and fresh water,” Brett said.
“Thanks. I’m sure you’re his friend for life now. Do you want some coffee? Breakfast?”
“That’s all right, thanks. I’ll grab something when I get home.”
I decided I’d have my breakfast later too, at The Flip Side, so I said goodbye to Flapjack and got ready to leave for the day.
Brett and I walked hand-in-hand along the beach, enjoying the beautiful summer morning and the last few minutes of each other’s company before the workday started. When we reached the promenade, we stopped to share a kiss before parting.
“Can I take you out for dinner tonight?” Brett asked after the kiss.
I kept hold of his hand. “I’d like that.”
My phone buzzed in my bag. I fished it out and checked the screen, surprised to see that I had a text message from Lisa when it wasn’t yet six in the morning.
Someone tried to break into Ida’s house last night. The sheriff caught him. Thought you’d be interested!
“Again?” I said once I’d read the message.
“Again what?”
I showed the message to Brett. “Last week there were two prowlers either on Ida’s property or interested in it. And now someone tried to break in.”
“Maybe one of the prowlers was scared off the first time and came back to finish whatever it is he wanted to do.”
“Could be,” I agreed. “I think one of the prowlers might have been Mitch Paulson.”
“From the bank?” Brett sounded surprised.
I quickly filled him in on everything I’d learned about the Paulsons recently. “But there was another prowler before Mitch, one who didn’t fit his description.” I shook my head. “This case just keeps getting more complicated.” I checked the time on my phone. “I guess I’d better get a move-on.”
“I’ll pick you up around six?”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
With one last, too-short kiss, I left Brett on the promenade and let myself into The Flip Side. Once in the office, I booted up the computer, and while I waited for the machine to get going, I sent a reply to Lisa’s text message.
I’m definitely interested! Any idea who it was?
She responded while I was checking The Flip Side’s email.
No, sorry. I’m off to my first early morning yoga class. I probably won’t be able to move tomorrow!
I wished her luck with her class, and then turned my attention to business matters. As I worked, however, Lisa’s news wasn’t far from the forefront of my mind. I wanted to know who’d tried to break into Ida’s house, but I wasn’t sure how to get that information. I didn’t know if Ray would be willing to divulge the person’s identity or not, and I didn’t want to get lectured about my involvement in the investigation. I had a sneaking suspicion that Brett’s concerns had been triggered by words from his uncle.
As it turned out, I didn’t need to worry about how I’d get the information. Shortly before the pancake house opened at seven, Brett called to say he’d spoken with his uncle.
“It was Ida’s husband, Terry Winkler, who was breaking into the house last night,” he said.
“I didn’t know she had a husband.” The only family of hers I’d known about was her nephew, now in prison.
“He was in prison for a couple of years. Just got out recently. I think they might have separated before he went away, though.”
“Jail time seems to be a theme in that family.”
“You’re not kidding. Anyway, it sounds like he was wandering around the property while drunk, rather than actually breaking into the house.”
“Would he even need to break in? Is it his house too?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is that he was only kept in custody for a few hours while he sobered up.”
When Brett and I ended our call, it was time to open the restaurant. Leigh and Sienna had both arrived, so I headed across the dining area to unlock the front door. As I approached it, I noticed a piece of folded paper stuck to the outside of the glass. Once I had the door open, I reached around and pulled off the paper, held in place by a small piece of tape.
I unfolded the sheet and read the short typed message. Then I read it again.
If you want to know who killed Ida Winkler, meet me by her garden shed at 1 p.m.
There was no signature, no indication of any kind of who’d left the note.
Was it for real or was it some kind of devious trap set up by the killer?
I didn’t know, and I was afraid there might be only one way to find out.
“What is it, Marley?” Sienna asked when she noticed me staring at the paper.
Heading for the kitchen, I gestured for her to follow, along with Leigh. “Come see.”
Once we were in the kitchen, I showed the note to everyone.
“Don’t go,” Ivan said right away.
“He’s right,” Leigh said. “It could be dangerous.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured them, “I have no intention of going on my own. Maybe not at all. I’ll tell the sheriff about it and see what he has to say.” In these circumstances I had to risk a lecture.
Everyone agreed that telling Ray would be the best thing to do.
The first customers of the day came into the restaurant as I exited the kitchen with Leigh and Sienna. I was relieved to see them, their presence helping to ease my
concerns about business declining, but the place was still relatively quiet so I retreated to the office to make the phone call.
As soon as he heard about the note, I had the sheriff’s full attention.
“And you didn’t see who left it on the door?” he asked.
“No. I just bought a security camera, but it’s not set up yet.” I gave myself a mental kick for that. I could have caught the author of the note—and possibly the killer—on camera if I’d installed it right away.
“I’d like to come by and have a look at the note.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be here all morning.”
When I hung up, my stomach gave a good rumble to remind me that I hadn’t yet had breakfast. Once I’d addressed that issue with a serving of Ivan’s scrumptious strawberry vanilla pancakes, I tied my red apron around my waist and gave Leigh and Sienna a hand out in the dining area. Sheriff Georgeson entered the pancake house half an hour later, Deputy Rutowski right behind him. As they removed their hats, I gestured for them to follow me into the office.
I offered them coffee, but they declined, so I got right down to it and showed them the note.
Ray gave it a quick look, then handed it over to his deputy and addressed me. “This could be a prank of some sort.”
Anticipating his next words, I said, “But it could also be meant as a trap.”
“That’s certainly a possibility.”
“Should I go?” I asked. “With you guys watching, I mean.”
“We’ve been considering that option,” Ray said. “But by no means do I want you to feel obligated. Deputy Rutowski and I would do everything possible to ensure your safety, but there would still be an element of danger.”
I didn’t hesitate. “I want to do it. If there’s a chance it could help you catch the murderer, I’ll go.”
Ray gave me a nod of acknowledgment. “You’ll be wearing a wire, just in case this person reveals some incriminating information. Rutowski will get you set up with that. And we’ll both be stationed nearby, keeping an eye on things.”
“All right.”
Ray returned his hat to his head. “We’ll be back in plenty of time to get things set up.” He paused by the door. “Marley, I don’t want you to take this as encouragement to get involved in the investigation in other ways.”
