by Maci Grant
“I’m here because I heard what you did today at the police station.”
“Of course you did. The police chief is your uncle, right?”
“Yes.” He grimaced. “That’s not something I like to advertise, though.”
“So, are you here to warn me too?”
“No.” He met her eyes. “I’m here to offer you my help.”
“Why?”
“Sam was a good guy. He didn’t deserve this. If he was murdered, then whoever did it should be brought to justice. If you’re bold enough to see to that, I can be brave enough to help you.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.”
“I know. I’m here to offer it.”
“What do you know?” Blu locked eyes with him.
“Look, it’s hard to keep a business afloat here without catering to certain clientele.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that there’s more to the Beach Bum than meets the eye.”
“I don’t understand.” Blu raised an eyebrow.
“There’s an upstairs. It’s only open to the wealthy—it’s considered a VIP lounge of sorts.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “All employees have to sign a non-disclosure agreement when they’re hired.”
Chapter 16
Blu smiled at AJ. “So there’s an entire hidden bar upstairs? That’s intriguing.”
“It’s not exactly a bar. It’s more like a restaurant. Nothing too wild, just a place for the people from the beach houses to unwind without having the riff-raff around.”
“Riff-raff?”
“Sure. You know—the help, the lifeguards—all of that.”
“Wow. I’m surprised you support that.” Blu shook her head.
“I don’t exactly. I inherited the bar from my father, and the routine has been established for so long, that it’s hard to just shut it down. Besides, it doesn’t hurt anybody and the waitresses make great tips.”
“Like Kayla? Is she one of the waitresses?”
“How did you know that?”
“She seemed to have a lot of anger toward the summer crowd. I’m guessing she hasn’t had the best experiences upstairs.”
“No, not the best. People can be cruel when they don’t get things exactly the way they want. Kayla was on probation because of a few complaints.”
“Did she mess up orders?”
“No, it was nothing like that.” He frowned. “That’s what I came here to tell you. I could lose the bar over this, so I need to know that you’ll be cautious with what I’m sharing with you.” He looked into her eyes. “If I lose the bar, I lose everything.”
“I’ll be careful. I promise.” Blu held her breath and waited to find out what AJ had to say.
“Some of the elite crowd like the company of certain people.”
“What?”
“I mean, sometimes they see someone they want to spend time with and they make an offer. Then they can spend time with those people upstairs—no questions asked. It’s just drinks and meals. What happens after they leave is their business.”
“Just cut to the chase, AJ; who are we talking about here?” Blu leveled her gaze on him.
“Sam was a popular request. But he never took the bait. I’d make him the offer, he’d refuse. He just wasn’t the type. Plus, he was head over heels in love with Kayla, and he never wanted to do anything to jeopardize that.”
“Sweet.” Blu smiled a little.
“It was. Until someone made Sam an offer that he couldn’t refuse.”
“What do you mean?”
“A particular person really wanted some of his attention. She made a bigger offer than I’ve ever seen anyone make. I took it to Sam, and he accepted it. All he had to do was spend the evening with her—wine and dine her, so to speak.”
“Basically as an escort?”
“Sam was under no obligation. It was more like she offered him a gift, and he did this to say thank you.”
Blu rubbed her arms up and down. “That gives me the chills.”
“Maybe so, but it’s how things have been done around here for a long time.”
Blu frowned. “So, who was the woman?”
“I really shouldn’t say.” AJ grimaced.
“How about if I guess?” Blu narrowed her eyes. “Penelope Ross?”
His eyes widened. “How did you guess that? Did someone tell you?”
“I saw them arguing on the beach the night before Sam was found dead. AJ, do you have any idea what that argument might have been about?”
“Well, all I know for sure is that Sam took the money from her. He showed up, he wined and dined her, and then when she asked him to go home with her, he refused. She was furious. He offered to give her all of her money back. She shouted back that it wasn’t about the money and he knew that. She was—get this”—AJ lowered his voice—“In love with him. Can you believe it?”
Blu shook her head. “So Penelope fell in love, but Sam didn’t feel the same way about her. She must have tried again that night. Did Sam give her the money back?”
“I don’t know. After she left that night, I didn’t see her again. I’m only telling you this because I thought it might help your investigation.”
“I guess it will. Do you think Sam broke up with Kayla to be with Penelope?”
AJ shoved his hands deep down into his pockets. “He was in love with Kayla. I don’t think that’s something that you can just turn off.”
“But he did break up with her.” Blu began to pace in front of the door. “He has almost no money, his parents lose their home, then Penelope swoops in with this grand offer. He can’t resist taking the money. It will change his life, change his parents’ life. All for dinner and drinks?”
“He probably broke things off with Kayla because he didn’t want to cheat on her. Maybe he figured that if he took the money it would bother her.”
“Or maybe he told her about it. Maybe Kayla was the one who broke things off.”
“She’s told everyone who will listen that he broke up with her.”
“Hm.” Blu tapped her fingers lightly against the exterior wall of the house. “I think I need to have a talk with Kayla.”
“Good luck. She’s off the rails. No one’s seen her since the memorial.”
His comment reminded her of the last time that she’d seen Kayla. “Does that include you?”
“What do you mean?” AJ leaned against the wall beside her.
“I mean, what were you doing on the beach behind the restrooms?”
“Uh, am I under investigation now?” He chuckled.
“Should you be?”
“Really? After I came all the way over here and told you what I know—told you things that could risk everything I own?”
“Really.” Blu set her jaw. “Why would you tell me those things? You’re the man who runs a bar that has a secret upstairs for the elite—the man who looks the other way as people in his town are essentially employed as escorts. You’re the man whose uncle, the police chief, refuses to open an investigation into this crime. So why all of a sudden would you grow a conscience?”
“You think you’re pretty smart.” He lifted an eyebrow and held her gaze. “Have me all figured out, do you?”
“Maybe. So why were you there?”
“You tell me.”
Blu studied him. “Are you here to help me or not, AJ?”
“I am.”
“Then why were you on the beach?”
“I was there to see Kayla.”
“So you were the one she paid off?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s not what you think.”
“Then what was it?”
“It’s personal.”
“If you want me to believe you, you need to tell me the truth.”
“The truth isn’t yours to know. I’m willing to help—if there’s a way I can.”
“Maybe there is. You could get me into the elite section of that special little club of yours
.”
AJ raked his eyes over her loose khakis and sleeveless top. “You’re going to have to change.”
“I can do that.”
“Alright. I’ll wait out here for you.”
Chapter 17
Blu closed the door and locked it behind her. Once inside she caught her breath. She couldn’t get a straight answer out of AJ and she wasn’t sure what to think about it. One minute he seemed helpful, the next, evasive and certainly not trustworthy.
Blu tended to trust far too easily. She’d never been deceived by anyone before. Now it seemed as if she was being lied to by everyone she met. She ran into her room and looked through her closet. She only had her summer wardrobe at the beach house—nothing that would fit in at this so-called elite club.
She left her room and stepped into Rachel’s. As a rule of thumb she never entered her employer’s bedroom unless there was a good reason to. Borrowing clothes was not a good reason, but it was her only option.
She found a sleek black cocktail dress. When she pulled it on, it was skin-tight and uncomfortable. She looked in the mirror and decided it would do, but it looked very plain. She grabbed a scarf to toss around her shoulders and pinned her hair up in a messy bun.
When she stepped out through the door, AJ took a slight step back.
“Wow.”
“I’m not looking for compliments.” She did her best to hide a smile.
“I can’t help it. I didn’t expect you to—uh—to look like that.”
Blu quirked her eyebrow. “Okay…”
“But as beautiful as you look, I don’t think those shoes are going to work.” He looked down at her feet.
Blu looked down as well. Only then did she realize that she was still in flip-flops.
“Oops. One more second.” She ducked into the house and stepped back out in heels.
“That’s better.” He nodded. “I’ll drive you over.”
“I can walk.” She started to take a step forward, but the heel of her shoe caught in the welcome mat in front of the door. Her ankle twisted and she had to grab on to AJ’s arm to keep from falling over.
“Not in those you can’t.” He smiled and tucked her arm under his.
Blu couldn’t exactly argue that point. She leaned on him for support as he led her to his car. When he opened the door for her, she hesitated. Was it safe to get in?
“What? Do you want to drive?” He grinned.
Something about AJ’s boyish expression disarmed her.
She shook her head and settled into the passenger seat. The short drive to the Beach Bum was awkward. Blu did her best to keep her eyes on the window. AJ didn’t attempt to make conversation.
Once they parked she opened her door before he could even turn off the car. She stepped out and started toward the front door of the bar.
“Not that way.” He steered her away from the front door and walked her around to the back. He pointed out a set of stairs that was nearly hidden from view by an extension of the building. “This is the VIP entrance.”
“I have to climb in these?” Blu looked down at her high heels with concern.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you.”
“For some reason that doesn’t make me feel better.” Blu fixed her eyes on his for a moment, then turned and walked up the stairs.
At the top, AJ reached past her to open the door. “Remember, don’t breathe a word about who you are.”
“I won’t forget.” Blu tugged at the skirt of the dress. She wasn’t handling how tight it was very well.
AJ led her into the main area of the lounge. It was set up more as a casual living room than a bar—with overstuffed chairs, small tables, and a few flat screens hanging on the walls. It wasn’t what she’d expected it to be.
AJ took position behind the bar and Blu settled onto a bar stool after wrestling a bit with her dress. It wasn’t easy for her to sit in something so short. She couldn’t imagine how Rachel did it so effortlessly.
As AJ delivered her a drink she was very aware that there were eyes on her.
She returned the favor by surveying everyone in the room. One of the first people that she noticed was a tall man who sat at a table by himself. He had a bottle of beer in front of him, but his attention seemed to be focused on the people rather than the drink. She saw him gesture to AJ.
Chapter 18
When AJ walked over, the man leaned close to him.
Blu was close enough that she could still make out the conversation.
“Is Penelope coming in tonight?”
“I haven’t seen her.”
“It’s been a while.”
“I know. I think with Sam’s death—”
“Yes.” The man nodded. “I understand.” He sighed and finished his drink. As he stood up from the table he pulled out his cell phone, holding it to his ear as he walked toward the stairs. As he passed by Blu’s table he held the phone away from his ear to hang it up, but not before Blu heard Penelope’s voice recorded on a voicemail.
She had assumed all along that Sam was Penelope’s boyfriend. What if she was wrong?
She decided to follow after the man. When she hit the top of the stairs she got one of her shoes caught in the metal bars. She could see the man walking toward a car. With a growl of frustration she snatched her shoes off. She hurried down the steps with her shoes dangling from one hand. She didn’t think she would be able to catch up with him, but she had to try.
When she’d reached the bottom of the stairs she almost ran directly into someone who was just on their way up.
“I’m sorry.” She kept her head down but stole a glance at the person. When she saw who it was it sent a shock through her senses.
Brian Ross.
“Blu?” He offered an easy smile. “I didn’t know you were part of all this.”
“I’m not.”
“No? Shame.” He shrugged. “I’d invite you upstairs for a drink, but it seems that you’re on your way out.”
“I am.” She paused.
As much as it disgusted her to be thought of as part of the elite club, it intrigued her that Brian was there and that he was unafraid of inviting her up for a drink. It obviously wasn’t his first time.
If Penelope met Sam here, was it possible that Brian had found out? Maybe he’d caught the two together. He was a massive, muscular man, and could have easily held Sam under the water. It made more sense to her than the idea of petite Kayla doing it.
Then of course, there was always AJ, who was muscular himself and likely more than capable of pinning Sam down. He had also received some kind of payment from Kayla.
When it came to Sam’s death, the issue wasn’t so much that there were no suspects as it was that there were multiple people who likely wanted him dead and were capable of making that happen.
If she wanted to rule Brian in or out of the suspect list, then sharing a drink might be the best way to do it.
“Actually, I can spare a few minutes.” Blu ducked her head to hide her blush. She was already intimidated by Brian, and now she was putting herself into some kind of awkward position with him. She really hoped that it was going to pay off.
“Wonderful.” He took her arm at the crook of her elbow and led her back up the stairs.
When the two of them entered the bar, AJ looked up. His expression grew dark the moment he recognized the pair.
“AJ, can we get a table?” Brian draped his arm casually around Blu’s shoulders.
Blu had to bite into the side of her cheek to keep from gagging and squirming out from under him. This is for Sam, she reminded herself.
“Uh, we’ll be closing up soon.” AJ narrowed his eyes as he walked toward them.
“Relax, AJ, just a couple of drinks.”
“Okay.” His jaw rippled but he led them to a table and two chairs, then lingered to take their order.
“The lady will have a white wine.”
Blu didn’t protest. She crossed her legs and folded her hands in he
r lap. She had no idea how to appear casual when she was so twisted up inside.
Brian looked back at her and smiled. “I’m glad that you decided to stay for a drink.”
“Well, I was curious about how things are going with Maddie.”
“Oh yes, you were the one that recommended her to us, weren’t you?” He accepted his drink from AJ and handed Blu hers.
AJ lingered for a moment longer than he should have but Blu refused to look in his direction.
“Yes, I was.”
“She’s alright, I suppose. I mean—as nannies go.”
“You seem to enjoy her company.”
Brian smiled over the rim of his glass. “You noticed?”
“It’s hard not to.”
“Well, a man can’t be blamed for trying, can he?” He swallowed down the liquid in one gulp.
“I don’t know. What is your wife’s opinion?”
“Is that what this is all about?” He chuckled. “You think that I’m being disloyal to Penelope? How quaint.” Blu stared at him.
“I’m sure she doesn’t enjoy you putting your arm around her nanny.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t care.” He set his glass down on the table. “Penelope and I have an arrangement. It’s a personal thing, but it’s an arrangement that works for us. We both enjoy being with other people. So, as we please, we take other lovers. Have you never heard of that before?”
“Well, I—”
“I suppose not. You’ve never been married, have you, Blu?”
“No.” She frowned.
“Well, then you can’t know how impossibly boring it can be to wake up next to the same person every day. I mean really—is it even possible that people do that? Penelope and I appreciate having others in our lives, so that we can, in turn, appreciate one another more—it keeps things interesting.”
“Was Sam one of the men that Penelope was appreciating?” Blu leaned forward in her chair. “Were you aware that your wife offered him money?”
“Listen.” Brian narrowed his eyes and balled one hand into a fist, which he smacked into the palm of his other hand as he spoke. “Penelope and I have a very good reputation to uphold. She is well-known and well-respected, not just in this country, but in other countries as well. She has to be careful who knows what, and it makes it much easier to ensure silence if an agreement can be made prior to an encounter. If that agreement involves money or lavish gifts, that’s her business.”
