by Maci Grant
“Wait, wait. Let’s think this through for just a minute.”
“Oops, sorry. I already opened the door.” Blu nudged the door all the way open. “It’s too late to think it through now, isn’t it?”
“Blu!” He started to tug back on her hand, but Blu grabbed the doorframe. “Oh wow, you’re unbelievable.” He rolled his eyes.
“What if Cathy is tied up in there somewhere? What if she needs our help? We have to at least look.”
AJ sighed with a force that involved his entire body. “Fine, but we have to make it quick.”
“As you wish.” She winked at him and turned back to the door.
Chapter 22
When Blu pushed through the door of the house, she found herself swamped by an assortment of what she considered junk. Perhaps the beer can sculptures, battery-operated dancing toys, and various football statues were not junk to Betty and Wayne, but Blu saw no purpose to them. The house was in general disarray—clutter mingled with garbage to create a mess.
“I don’t know what you expect to find in here, but I’m not interested in digging through it.”
“Me either.” Blu used the toe of her shoe to lift up a piece of newspaper. A few roaches scuttled off when they were exposed to the light. “Ugh.” She shuddered. “Maybe you were right about this being a bad idea.”
“Maybe not. Look at this.” AJ pointed to a large banner on the wall above what appeared to be the kitchen. It was gold and red, with the letters A and L emblazoned on the material.
“What do you think the letters stand for?”
“Maybe a college, or a club?”
“Let me get a good picture of it.” Blu started to step back in an attempt to get a clear photograph with her phone. When she did, she bumped into the corner of a small side table. The table tilted enough to spill its stack of junk mail. “Oops. I’d better get that. They might know someone was here if I don’t.”
“Do you really think they’ll be able to notice?” AJ scrunched up his nose.
“Maybe not. But some people know where every pile is, even if it’s a wreck. I’d rather not risk it.” She scooped up the envelopes and papers. As she put them back down on the table, she noticed the top piece of paper in the pile. “Hm. This is interesting.” She picked it up and began reading it out loud. “Final notice of foreclosure.”
“They’re about to lose the house.”
“Yes, they are.” Blu tapped a fingertip against the letter. “This is motive.”
“How so? I doubt that a man like George had life insurance.”
“He probably didn’t, but he did have a retirement fund. That fund is now going to go to Betty.”
“Because their divorce was never legal.”
“Exactly. Maybe Betty and Wayne figured out that if they got rid of George they’d get another income.”
“But then why bother to set up the meeting? Why allow the waitress to see them?”
“Maybe they thought they were creating an alibi somehow.”
“Maybe.” AJ shook his head. “Something just doesn’t seem to add up about all this.” He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the door. “And I don’t think we should stay here much longer. It sounds like there’s a car driving back and forth out there.”
“You’re right. We don’t want to be in here too long. I think we’ve found everything we can anyway.” Blu pushed a few piles of trash out of the way to get to the door.
AJ followed after her. “I don’t see any car now. Maybe it was just me being paranoid.”
“Either way, it’s time to get out of here.” As Blu stepped down from the porch her foot rolled forward off the edge of the step. She gasped as she started to fall. The force of AJ’s strong arm wrapped around her and kept her upright.
“You okay? Did you twist it?”
“I think I’m okay.” Blu noticed that AJ didn’t let her go. She also did not try to pull away. She had to admit that it was quite cozy to be tucked into his arms.
The moment her muscles began to relax and she started to tilt her head up toward his, she was startled out of the fantasy that she’d stumbled into.
“Thanks, I’m okay.” She pulled away from him.
His fingertips trailed along the slope of her arm as she started to walk toward the car. She felt his presence just behind her until she reached it. Something had to be done to break the tension. Once they were inside the car she started the engine.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m still hungry.”
“Oh, is this the part where I actually get that date you offered me?”
“It wasn’t a date, just breakfast.”
“Hm.” AJ looked out through the window. “Sure, we wouldn’t want to make that mistake.”
“I didn’t say it would be a mistake. I just meant—it wasn’t officially a date.”
“How do you make it official? Do you have to apply for a license or something? Maybe it has something to do with getting a signature from a judge?”
“Ha ha, very funny.”
He looked over at her with a quirked eyebrow. “I’m serious. Trying to get a date with you feels more like applying for the FBI. Why is that?”
Blu turned down the street that led back toward the beach. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
“That doesn’t answer the question. Maybe if you told me the truth—if you were just clear with me—I could stop hounding you.”
“Maybe I like you hounding me.” She glanced over at him.
“That still doesn’t answer the question.”
Blu turned into the parking lot of the convenience store. “Maybe that’s because I’m hungry. Would you like to get an official doughnut with me?”
“Does it come with an official coffee?”
“That could be arranged.”
“What about an official answer to my question?”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Blu let her hand linger on the door of the car.
“Not likely.”
“You know, I’m starting to think—like uncle, like nephew.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He smirked and popped his door open. “But, that’s still not an answer.” He met her at the door of the shop and held it open for her.
As they looked over their pastry options Blu couldn’t stop the flutter of her heart. Every brush of AJ’s arm against hers, every subtle smile cast in her direction, summoned confusion. When they settled on their selection, AJ insisted on paying.
“I thought I invited you to breakfast?”
“You can pay me in another way.” He met her eyes, then took a bite of his doughnut.
“Let me guess—in answers?”
“Is it so much to ask?” They stepped back outside together. “Blu, I think I’ve been pretty laid-back about everything. But, time is running out. I need some idea of what’s on your mind.”
Blu noticed the way his eyes creased and the dip of his voice. For the first time she recognized that she wasn’t just a challenge for AJ. Her evasive behavior seemed to be hurting him.
“Okay, one question. Only one. And I promise, I’ll answer it truthfully.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.”
“I think you can handle it.” Blu leaned back against the side of her car and took a sip of her coffee.
“Fine.” He stepped down from the curb in front of her. “But once I ask, I expect an actual answer. No jokes, no tricks.”
“Okay.” Blu set her coffee down on the top of the car.
Chapter 23
Blu looked up into AJ’s eyes and tried to ignore the fact that his muscular frame was so close to her. Her heart slammed against her chest. “Ask away.”
“What are you so afraid of?” His gaze lingered on hers.
Blu willed herself not to look away from him. “I’m not afraid.”
“You promised to tell the truth.” He raised an eyebrow.
Blu took a deep breath and released it slowly enough to buy her
some time. When she reached the end of her exhalation, he still stood there, waiting.
“I guess I’m afraid of the impossibility of it all. I mean, summer is over. We’re not going to keep in touch. What if I’m hired by a new family in a different state or with different demands on my time? What’s the point of starting something that is only going to end?” She cleared her throat to cover the waver in her voice. “It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to go through something like that. Would it?”
“All of that is perfectly logical—if you think that anything could keep me away from you. The only impossibility, to me, is watching you walk away without ever giving me the chance to prove to you how much I care.” He reached out and brushed her hair back over her shoulder. His fingertips glided along the rise of her shoulder and lightly along the slope of her upper back.
Blu shivered at his touch and tried to focus on his words as he continued.
“The only thing I’m afraid of is living the rest of my life without ever giving this a chance. Doesn’t that terrify you, Blu? I don’t believe that you don’t feel it too—this thing between us. It’s been building all summer. And to be honest with you, I’ve been waiting for it to fade. I told myself that it wasn’t anything more than infatuation. But I was wrong. Because every single time I see you, it feels stronger.” He took a slight step back and looked at her intently. “I don’t think it will ever stop.”
Blu couldn’t resist a smile at his words. They were everything she’d hoped to hear, and at the same time, everything she’d been afraid of.
“AJ, all of the beautiful intentions aren’t going to stop the summer from coming to an end.”
He sighed and looked up at the sky for a moment. When he looked back at her she could see a faint glow in his eyes, as if he’d captured a bit of the sun.
“We’re more than the summer, Blu.” He locked his eyes to hers as he rested his hands against the roof of the car on either side of her.
She watched his chin dip and his lips part to draw a breath in. Her heart raced in anticipation for the kiss. She knew all she had to do was turn her head and he’d catch her cheek instead, but she was frozen by her desire to believe every word that he’d just said to her.
Just as their lips were as close as they could be without actually touching, the sound of a police siren made them both jump. The only thing that touched was their foreheads, and not lightly.
AJ straightened up while Blu rubbed her palm across her forehead.
Chief Pitman stared out the window of his patrol car at them. “Why did I get a report of two people who match your description entering a residence without permission?”
AJ reached up and ran his hand back through his hair. “I have no idea.”
“Who called it in?” Blu crossed her arms.
“I’ve had a car sitting at Betty’s house ever since I picked up Wayne to question him.”
“It might have been a good idea to tell me that, Uncle Paul.”
“I had no reason to believe that you would invade someone’s home. Did I?” He frowned. “Listen, Blu, I trust your instincts, and I appreciate your insight into the case, but you have taken things a little too far here. You could have, and should have, both been arrested for that stunt.” He paused a moment and stared from one to the other before he continued. “Luckily for you, the patrol officer contacted me to find out what I wanted him to do.”
“Thank you, Chief Pitman.” Blu flushed at the thought of being brought home to Rachel and Marshall in a police car. She wouldn’t have her job very long after that.
“Yes, thank you, but it would have been better if you’d told me in the first place,” said AJ.
“It might have been better if you’d let me in on the little plan that you two hatched, hm?” Chief Pitman stared at his nephew. “I don’t want to be left out of the loop about anything from now on. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Blu nodded. “We did find something that you might think is interesting.”
“What’s that?”
Blu pulled up the picture of the banner on her phone. “It matches the inscription on the ring.”
“That it does.” Chief Pitman stroked his hand down along his jaw and chin. “I think you might be on to something here. We still haven’t been able to pinpoint who the ring belongs to, but this banner might point us in the right direction. I’ll have the techs check it out, or should I just forward it to Maddie?” He tilted his head in Blu’s direction.
Blu’s eyes widened at his words. “You know about that?”
“There’s not much that happens in this town without my knowledge. I do have to say that Maddie is good at what she does, and any friend of yours is someone that I’m fairly certain I can trust.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll let her know that you’re a fan.”
“Blu, I just don’t know how I’m going to solve crime when you leave town.” Chief Pitman grinned. “It certainly won’t be as much fun.”
“Don’t worry, there’s a good chance I’ll be back next summer—in case you want to save all of the crime-solving for then.” Blu grinned.
“Something tells me that you won’t be able to wait that long. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that I’m going to be hearing from you before winter even sets in.”
“I’m not sure. I may need to hang up my detective hat. I owe Maddie a lot of homework help.”
“Ugh, homework.” AJ shook his head. “You couldn’t pay me enough.”
“Maybe if you’d gone to the tutoring sessions that I set up for you in high school—”
“Uncle Paul.” AJ narrowed his eyes.
“Right, right—all grown up. I get it.” He laughed. “You two enjoy the clambake tonight. I’ll be over there later to check in. Just be careful. The moment that you get involved in something like this, you take a risk. Stick together.” He winked at Blu.
“I won’t let her out of my sight.” AJ wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Blu shrugged his arm off.
“I think he’s telling me to look out for you, AJ.” Blu smirked.
“You two fight that out, I’ve got work to do.” Chief Pitman got back into his car and flashed the lights as he drove off.
Chapter 24
“Uncle Paul was talking about me looking out for you. You know that, right?” AJ raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know. I’m pretty tough,” said Blu.
“You think so?” He crossed his arms. “You don’t need a big burly man to protect you, hm?”
“Nope. Not one bit.” Blu set her jaw.
“Let’s just see about that.” AJ moved so fast that Blu let out a shriek of surprise as he scooped her right up off of the ground and into his arms. “Hm. You might need me to put you down, huh?”
“You’ll put me down if you know what’s good for you.” Blu wriggled in his grasp.
“I don’t know. This is rather enjoyable.” He tightened his grip. “You can’t get away from me now, can you?” He met her eyes.
Blu stared back into his arrogant smile. Suddenly she didn’t feel the need to fight.
He laughed and set her down on her feet. “It’s not so bad having me around, see?”
“Not so bad. But if you keep trying to prove what a big burly man you are, we’re going to miss the clambake.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the car.
Blu laughed as he opened the door for her with a deep bow.
“You’re right, I could get used to this.”
“I think you should.” He winked at her and walked around to the other side of the car.
As they drove to the clambake, Blu couldn’t help looking over at AJ. The more she thought about not seeing him again, the more her chest ached. He was more than just a romantic interest. He had become a close friend and a partner in her investigations. Was it right of her to even consider cutting off contact just because she had feelings for him too?
The two fell into a
tense silence as she wondered if his thoughts wandered in the same direction.
Blu parked the car and stared at the crowd that filled the entrance of the clambake. “Busy.”
“Very.” AJ looked out through the windshield but didn’t make a move to get out.
“Ready to go in?”
He glanced over at her. “I’m not sure.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that I’ve been looking forward to spending the day with you—without all the talk of the investigation, I mean. I feel like if we go in there, we’re just going to be investigating. I wanted our day to be special. Is that selfish of me?” He looked over at her.
“No, I don’t think so.” She smiled. “I’m sorry. I’ve been caught up in this case, and you’re right. We agreed to spend the day together. So, I’ll do my best to keep my mind off the case. It’s in your uncle’s hands now.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Blu opened her door.
AJ followed suit. He met her at the front of the car and slid his arm around her waist. A large archway was erected above the beach access ramp. Local kids had decorated it with ribbons, lights, and plenty of glitter. Blu took the time to appreciate it.
“I bet Marley loves this.”
“They did a great job.” AJ held out his hand to her.
Blu didn’t hesitate to take it. When they stepped through the archway, they were greeted by the delicious scent of the clambake already in progress. There were also many other food vendors set up along the beach.
In the distance, Blu could see a bounce house and game area set up for the kids. She could hear live music close by. Some people were dancing, others splashed in the water not far off. As packed as the beach was, it seemed that the entire community had come out for the clambake.
“Do you go to this every year?” Blu glanced at AJ.
“Just about. One year I was sick. Another year, we were away. Other than that, we’ve been here, taking part in all this. Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe that we could have grown up so differently. I spent my time surfing and you’ve spent yours curled up on a bale of hay.”
