I hauled myself out of bed. I needed to get going. And not because I was at Freddie’s beck and call, but I really wanted to know what had happened to Lyssa too. Not just for my curiosity, but for Candace. She needed answers.
I pulled on some clothes and tiptoed down the hall. I didn’t want to wake my mother. She needed her sleep. I stopped in the kitchen to write her a quick note saying I’d be back asap then headed for the door. I could get some coffee at the Dawg before I made my way to the sheriff’s department.
I opened the big wooden door to the lodge, slowly and carefully. It was the screen door that led outside that was going to be the problem though. It always made this screeching sound when the spring stretched. I opened it as slowly as I could and eased my way onto the porch. I then turned and carefully guided it back into place so it didn’t make its signature bang!
Made it.
I turned. Now, all I needed to do was—
“Holy, fricking … Zaki!”
Man. Zaki.
I mean, man—guessing it was Zaki—just sitting on the porch.
It had to be the best-selling guru author we had been expecting. He was wearing a relaxed black T-shirt and jeans and was sitting on what I was guessing was a meditation mat. Those seemed like self-help guru-type identifiers. He also had a really nice watch. That was probably the best-selling part.
Totally hadn’t seen him at all.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile.
“Good morning,” I said, shaking my hands out. They had been balled into fists probably because I had just done a jerky sort of shadow-boxing dance on the spot. “You … you must be Zaki!” I fake-yelled his name in intimation of my earlier exclamation then chuckled awkwardly.
He smiled. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I smiled back. Best I could. I was very startled. “Why are you…? I mean, I’m so sorry you’ve been sitting out here. We didn’t realize—”
“My flight was early. It is such a peaceful morning. I didn’t want to wake anyone.”
I nodded. I couldn’t help but wonder how he had gotten over to the island. Either Red had been up early or Zaki was a good swimmer. He had the build for it.
“You must be Erica, the ever-powerful and honorable ruler. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
I blinked. “I am? You are?”
He laughed. It was a nice sound. It went with his nice face. He looked a little like a middle-aged Indian George Clooney. “The meaning of your name. It is a hobby of mine. I often look up the meanings of people’s names before I meet them. Helps me to remember.”
“Right,” I said with a slow nod. “Cool.”
“You seem to be headed out. Is that the case? Or would you care to join me?” He gestured to a free mat by the wall. “I was about to meditate.”
I waved a hand out. “Thanks, but meditation isn’t exactly my thing. I’ve always had a monkey brain, you know,” I said, hopping my fingers around in the air. “I can’t stop my mind from jumping around.”
He laughed again, and I swear the birds stopped singing to listen to the sound. “Well, the practice of meditation has been known to help with that.”
“Guru sarcasm,” I said with a slow nod and a smile. “Nice.”
His eyes twinkled. Actually twinkled. Like he could do it on command.
“Thank you for the offer and—and I’m sorry to, uh, scream and run—but I do have to get going,” I said, hurrying down the first couple of steps.
“Enjoy.”
I stopped. “Well,” I said, hopping back up the steps. “Thank you, again, but I wouldn’t describe this as the type of day one would enjoy.” I wasn’t quite sure why I had taken the time to clarify that.
“Would you like to talk about it?” Zaki asked, gesturing toward the mat.
“Oh no, no, no,” I said, waving a hand in the air and trotting back down the steps. But strangely, part of me did want to talk to him. He had a certain … charisma? Maybe all the best-selling types do. “I should really get going.”
“Of course.”
“Right,” I said, nodding but not moving. “I’ll be back though.”
“Seeing as you live here.”
I wagged a finger at him.
He smiled.
“Okay, bye.”
“Good-bye, honorable Erica.”
* * *
A minute or two later, I was gliding along the lake. It really was a beautiful day. I passed a couple of other boats, one with someone waterskiing. I didn’t recognize any of the people, but shot them all a friendly wave anyway. They might be holiday renters—the summer season was just starting—or maybe new neighbors in one of the luxury homes MRG had built. Either way, life was too short not to be friendly—
—and bam, just like that I was picturing poor Lyssa riding that bull.
It just seemed impossible that she was gone.
I started replaying the night in my mind—I had been doing that a lot since I’d heard she was dead—trying to see if there was anything I missed. But nothing stood out. Lyssa had been so happy … and full of life. Again, I didn’t know her, but I did envy the way she had just grabbed that bull by the horns. She didn’t care what other people thought of her. She was just … free.
I sighed, then blinked and looked around the shoreline.
Um … where was I going?
In all my thinking about Lyssa, I hadn’t been paying attention, and, for some reason or another, I seemed to be headed for Grady’s house!
Stupid subconscious.
I didn’t often drive by Grady’s part of the lake. Didn’t really have any reason to. Most of the time, I was only going back and forth between the island and town or Freddie’s—and I didn’t need to go by Grady’s to get to either. So it would have looked pretty weird if I did go by there a lot—probably like I was stalking him or something. So even if I really wanted to know what he was up to, or say, just wanted to see his place because, I don’t know, it made me feel closer to him or something ridiculous like that, I usually resisted. I mean, I didn’t want to be weird to the outside world … even if things were really weird in my head.
But it was cool. There was no way he’d be home. With everything going on, he would have been at work at the crack of dawn—if he didn’t sleep at the sheriff’s department overnight, that is. So maybe just this once I could drive by … and if I just so happened to look over at his place, well, that was cool too.
Totally normal. Not at all sad.
And if I slowed down a little—which I totally was right now—well, that was just responsible. I had seen at least one snapping turtle near Grady’s dock, and I didn’t want to hurt any turtles, even if a snapping turtle would most likely hurt me given half a chance.
I slowed the boat just a little more as I got closer. Yup, still looked like Grady’s place. No visible differences. Not sure what kind of difference I was expecting to see. A sign maybe that read ERICA, COME BACK TO ME? No, no, that would be weird. I mean, not so weird that I wouldn’t do it, but still weird. I’d have to talk to him about it … after doing other things. Oh my God? What was wrong with me?
I gave my head a good shake then—
—uh-oh.
Was that Grady sitting on his porch?
Suntanning?
Grady didn’t suntan. He had a lot of trouble with any activity that involved sitting still and, well, relaxing. But he looked very relaxed. Sunglasses on. Face tilted up at the sun.
That was very strange.
Why wasn’t he at work?
I frowned. And you know what else was strange? He wasn’t watching my boat go by. What kind of sheriff didn’t stare suspiciously at every person who passed by just to keep an eye on things? Grady had always been on alert when we were together. Well, not that time he had visited me in Chicago, but …
Oh no.
What if he had a woman in there?
No. No. That didn’t make sense. Why would he be sunning himself on the porch
with a woman inside? Unless she was showering. Or making them a snack. Wine with, like, a little sampler tray of delicious things … like spicy cheese and fruit! Oh my God, I hate those chicks who know how to make sampler trays. Although it was a little early for wine and a sampler tray. What if she was making them coffee and eggs! I hated those women too. Well, technically, I was probably one of those women. Coffee and eggs wasn’t a big deal, but … but I knew what I meant!
I gripped the steering wheel. This was why I shouldn’t drive by Grady’s. It was none of my business if he had some culinary-type woman inside. It wasn’t even my concern if he was wearing sunscreen. I really hoped he was wearing sunscreen though. You didn’t mess around with—
Wouldn’t you know, just as I had the thought, I spotted him squirting some sunscreen on his chest and rubbing it all over his pecs and stomach, and even lower to—
Well, wasn’t that just terrific.
Good luck getting that image out of my head anytime soon. Thanks a lot, Grad—
Just then a boat horn ripped through the air.
Crap!
I wrenched the wheel to the right. I had been heading straight for another boat. Anchored. People picnicking.
I waved a sorry hand in the air, but seriously, wasn’t it a little early for a picnic too?
Now, what were the chances Grady hadn’t opened his eyes for that?
I looked back at his cabin.
Zero.
Definitely zero. He was sitting up in his chair, staring directly at me by the looks of it.
I sighed.
Okay, well, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to Grady right now what with his chest all shiny and glistening—Freddie was right, he often pointed out that Grady’s physical perfection was annoying—but I also didn’t want him thinking I was just doing a drive-by like the weirdo I was.
I steered the boat toward his dock before slipping it into neutral.
Well, this was going to be awkward.
We hadn’t actually spoken in a long time. I didn’t include the five times he had said, “Erica,” in his very formal greeting voice when we bumped into each other on the street.
As I said, after things had come to a head at New Year’s, it was like we had both given up. For me, it felt like the more I wanted things to work, the worse I made everything, and I just couldn’t do it anymore because every time I thought the pain couldn’t possibly get worse, I discovered I was wrong. I had had to embrace a “some things are just not meant to be” outlook since then. I mean, wasn’t it Einstein who said doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result was the definition of insanity? Well, I had been beating my head against the Grady wall for years now … and I probably had the brain damage to prove it.
I got out of my mother’s boat and tied it off to Grady’s dock. I could see out of the corner of my eye he was coming down from his porch to greet me … or maybe preemptively arrest me given that he had already probably guessed Freddie and I were looking into Lyssa’s death. Wouldn’t be the first time.
My heart thudded in my chest.
I couldn’t move from my spot beside the boat on the dock.
Nope, I couldn’t seem to even take a step.
He would have to come to me.
“Hey, Grady.”
“Erica.”
Chapter Six
“Were you … going swimming?” I asked.
“I was.”
“Good. Good.” Many moons ago, Grady used to swim by my mother’s dock to see if I was there, but that memory was kind of ouchie, so best not to dwell on that.
We nodded at each other.
“So…” I said, swaying a little on the balls of my feet, “kind of thought you’d be at work.” Dammit! I had totally just blown my “coming to see him” alibi for my creepy drive-by crime.
“Nope. Not at work.”
“Right.”
“You’ve probably already guessed why I’m here.”
He raised his brow in question.
I frowned at him. “Candace’s maid of honor drowned yesterday?”
He nodded. “Right. Right. I was really sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, Candace was sorry to hear it too. Especially from Amos.” Okay, that felt a little like an unnecessary cheap shot, but that didn’t stop my mouth from saying it.
Grady sighed. “Probably was pretty rough for Amos too, but it is part of the job.”
I frowned at him. “Okay, what is going on here?”
“What do you mean?”
“A premature death happened in your town, less than forty-eight hours ago, and you’re talking about it like … like it’s some natural disaster halfway across the world.”
He frowned. “No … I mean, I do feel terrible for Candace.”
“But what about you?”
“You think I should feel bad for myself?”
“No, what about your responsibilities in this matter?”
“Oh,” he said with a big nod. “I don’t have any.”
“You don’t have any?”
“Not right now.”
“Not right now?”
Even when we were standing two feet away from each other we had problems communicating.
“I’m on vacation.”
“You … you don’t go on vacation,” I said, looking at him sideways. “Especially not when something like this has happened.”
“Well, I’ve had it planned for a while, and—” Just then he leaned toward me, hand outstretched, fingers reaching for my temple. What was he doing? I couldn’t let him touch me. Grady’s touch had a powerful effect on me. I might start crying or declaring my undying love for him if he touched me. So before I could figure out what he was doing, or what I was doing, I swatted at his hand, stepped back, forgetting about the bit of rope lying behind me on the dock, and fell hard onto my butt. At least I didn’t shout, Who are you? And what have you done with my ex-boyfriend?
“Erica!” he said, reaching a hand down to me. “Are you okay? There was just a deerfly and—”
I waved his hand away. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
I popped to my feet. “Just bad … flip-flops.”
He nodded. “Anyway, I wish I could help you out with the investigation—I’m guessing that’s why you’re here. But I’m off for the next two weeks. Sorry.”
“Okay, seriously, what the hell?”
Grady’s eyes widened, but the smile returned to his face. “What? I don’t understand.”
“You’re sorry you can’t help me with the investigation?”
“Well, OLS is a legitimate business now, and you have Rhonda working with you, so I guess … I trust you. Where is Freddie?” Grady said, looking behind me as though he might suddenly appear.
My jaw dropped.
“You trust us?” I repeated.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Grady said with a shrug.
“Liar,” I near shouted. “Okay, what is really going on?”
Grady laughed some more. “Okay, look, I can see that you are a little surprised, so let’s just say … I got some good advice not so long ago and I’ve decided to run with it.”
“Advice.”
“Yeah, advice. You know, I’m trying not to sweat the small stuff.”
Okay, I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of Grady’s whole new attitude toward life, but I didn’t exactly like how it made me feel. Grady and I hadn’t stood this close to each other in a long, long time and here we were just behaving like perfectly neutral acquaintances. Okay, well, one neutral acquaintance, and one freaking-out acquaintance. Actually no, this Grady wasn’t even an acquaintance. He was a brand-new person. Like a stranger. And while it wasn’t like I was expecting him to fall to his knees overcome with emotion—well, okay, maybe I was hoping for that—and I certainly didn’t want to fight, this whole beige thing we had going on was not pleasant. It was actually kind of painful.
“Murder,” I suddenly said.
“Murder?” Grady asked.
Finally I had him repeating something I was saying.
“Murder is not small stuff.”
“I didn’t think the cause of death had been established yet,” Grady said with a frown. Then he shrugged. Shrugged! “But your sources could be better than mine.”
I scratched my forehead. “So let me get this straight, crime-fighting is on holiday because the sheriff’s on vacation?”
“Amos can handle it with—”
I started laughing.
Grady didn’t join me though.
My laugher died. “Oh, you’re serious.”
“You don’t have to worry. Amos isn’t alone. I’ve asked Sheriff Bigly from North Country to watch over this case.”
“But … but what about Candace?” I asked. “You don’t care at all about her?” Okay, some people might find that strange coming from my mouth because, you know, Candace and Grady dated, and Grady and I dated, but in my mind it made perfect sense. One because Candace was a really good person, and two, I would expect him to have a little more regard for his exes.
“Of course I care about Candace. I thought … didn’t I just say that I felt bad for Candace?”
“Who cares how you feel.”
Grady raised his eyebrows as a hint of a smirk came to his mouth.
“No, I just mean, don’t you want to do something about it?”
“I can’t fix all the world’s problems.”
“What world? I’m talking about Otter Lake!”
“Do you want to come in for a coffee?” Grady asked, jerking back a thumb.
I put a hand to my head. “No. I … I think I gotta go.”
“Okay, well, good luck.”
I shook my head side to side. “You need to stop saying stuff like that. You’re really freaking me out.”
“Sorry,” he said, putting his hands up.
“Stop apologizing too,” I said, getting into the boat and untying it from the dock.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you around,” Grady called out. “Oh, and say hello to your mother.”
Chapter Seven
Down the Aisle with Murder Page 5
