Boats and Bad Guys (Dune House Cozy Mystery Series)

by Cindy Bell

  “Nothing's wrong with it,” Suzie admitted as she opened the back door so they could slide the painting in the back seat. “It's just that, well,” she cleared her throat.

  “Perhaps you have eyes for a certain captain?” Mary suggested with a smile.

  “Mary!” Suzie said with exasperation. “Be careful what you say, small towns have big ears,” she glanced around to be sure that no one was close enough to have overheard.

  “And what's so wrong if everyone knows?” Mary asked as she helped Suzie guide the painting into the car. “It isn't as if he doesn't have eyes for you, too,” Mary suppressed a laugh.

  “Look Mary, I have a lot on my mind with the B & B, and…” Suzie began to say but Mary cut her off before she could continue to make excuses.

  “And, you're a little afraid you might like him a little too much?” Mary suggested as she closed the back door of the car.

  Suzie pursed her lips and fixed her friend with an annoyed glare. Mary always had a way of knowing everything that was going on in Suzie's mind, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

  “I just don't know if I want to like him, or him to like me,” Suzie pointed out and shook her head. “Paul's a very nice man, but that doesn't mean that there should be anything between us,” Suzie bit into her bottom lip and frowned. “I mean we’ve only bumped into each other a few times. We haven’t even been on a date.”

  “Well, you should,” Mary said with a sheepish smile.

  “There's nothing wrong with taking things slow.”

  “No, not at all,” Mary agreed innocently as she opened the passenger door. Suzie walked around to the driver's side. Mary met her eyes over the top of the car. “Slow and sensual,” Mary added with a light wink and a faint growl.

  “Mary!” Suzie gasped but Mary had already ducked inside the car. By the time Suzie started the car they were both laughing. The truth was Paul was on Suzie's mind, quite often. A little too often. She had never let a man distract her from her work, but sometimes when she looked out over the water, and thought of Paul out there somewhere on his boat, she yearned to join him.

  As Suzie drove back to Dune House, she had another person on her mind, the artist of the painting.

  “I wonder what could drive a young woman to take her own life?” Suzie asked out loud as Mary gave up on finding any music she liked and turned off the radio.

  “Romance,” Mary said with a sage nod. “I am certain it was romance.”

  “Do you really think so?” Suzie asked and frowned. “What man could be worth that?”

  “It's not so much the man,” Mary said quietly. “It's more the moments.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Suzie asked curiously.

  “When you share certain moments with a person, those moments will always belong to both of you. My husband was there for the births of both of my children. I can't have that memory alone, to myself. It belongs to him, too. When that person you share such a special moment with, breaks your heart, you don't just grieve the man, you grieve the moment.”

  Suzie smiled sympathetically at Mary as she pulled into the driveway of Dune House.

  “I'm sorry, Mary, I know that you are going through so much,” she murmured.

  “Actually,” Mary managed a smile. “I'm just starting to feel free again. And I have to admit, it's a nice feeling.”

  “I'm glad,” Suzie said as she turned the car off and leaned over to hug her friend. “Just remember, the best part of life is that there are always more moments.”

  “I guess,” Mary laughed. “I'm pretty sure I know what my next few moments have in store for me. We better get this painting inside before I decide that I'd rather take a nap.”

  “Good idea,” Suzie agreed.

  Chapter Two

  Suzie and Mary managed to get the painting up the hill and into the house before they laid it on the floor.

  “Wow, that was a work out,” Suzie groaned as she wiped sweat off her forehead.

  “It was worth it, though,” Mary said as she tore away some of the brown paper. “It's as perfect as you said it would be.”

  Suzie stared at the painting after they had unwrapped it. She studied it for a few minutes, before she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She placed one hand on her hip and tilted her head slightly to the side.

  “Well, it is a very nice painting,” she said slowly.

  Mary looked up at her incredulously. “Suzie? What are you saying?” she demanded.

  Suzie tapped a fingertip against her bottom lip as she looked down at the painting and then up at the wall. “I'm not so sure it fits…” she began to say.

  “Oh no!” Mary said as she stood up straight so quickly that she had to reach behind her and lightly massage her lower back. “We just hauled that thing up here. It's staying. It's going on that wall!”

  “But Mary,” Suzie shook her head. “Something isn't quite right.”

  “What could not be right?” Mary asked with growing exasperation. She was usually incredibly patient, but it was clear that her patience was running thin. “You asked for the perfect painting, and we found it. It's nothing short of a miracle!”

  Suzie lifted her eyes to Mary's. She quirked a brow slightly. “A miracle in a hideous gold frame,” she pointed out.

  “Oh no…” Mary began, about to lecture her again and then looked down at the frame. “Oh well,” she sighed as she stared at the frame. “I guess you have a point about that.”

  “See?” Suzie said and crouched down in front of the painting. “The color is just going to clash with everything.”

  “Okay, okay, but wait,” Mary said as she paced back and forth. “We don't have to throw the painting out with the frame, if you know what I mean. We can always replace the frame with a different one.”

  Suzie was perfectly still as she thought about this. Then suddenly she stood straight up.

  “Mary, you're a genius!” she said gleefully. “We can get the perfect frame for it no problem!”

  “What about this one?” Mary pointed to the painting that was still leaning against the wall. “It looks like it's the same size, and it looked nice on the wall.”

  “That's true,” Suzie agreed as she glanced between the two paintings swiftly. “Yes, I think that could work! Help me get it onto the big table,” she requested. Together they guided the painting onto the big dining room table.

  Suzie carefully released the painting from the frame. She expected she might tear it a little, but it came free surprisingly easily. “I think this is going to work,” she said happily.

  “It seems like the painting has been in this frame quite long,” Suzie murmured as she lifted the painting carefully out of the frame. “I wonder how long ago the artist passed?”

  She was studying the painting intently, waiting for a response from Mary. When she didn't hear one, she glanced up at Mary. “Mary?” she asked. “What do you think?”

  “I think we should figure out what that is,” Mary replied in a whisper as she pointed at the frame.

  “Huh?” Suzie glanced down at the frame and her eyes widened. She nearly dropped the painting she was holding. Inside the frame, previously hidden behind the painting was a hand drawn map. It was designed just like a treasure map, with symbols and dashes to represent locations and movements. Suzie's heart began to race as she stared down at the map.

  “Do you think it's real?” she asked when she looked up at Mary.

  “Well I,” Mary reached up and brushed her hair back from her eyes as she frowned. “I don't know. I mean, are treasure maps ever real? It looks similar to the ones I used to make for the kids at their birthday parties.”

  “It could be real,” Suzie said in a murmur and ran a fingertip along the edge of the map. It lifted easily from the frame. “Why else would she go to all the trouble of hiding it?” she wondered aloud.

  “I don't know,” Mary said as she stepped closer to take a look. “Maybe it was just a sentimental thing. I mean, this
was the only painting they found of hers.”

  “That's true,” Suzie nodded with a hint of disappointment. “I used to love watching the kids go on those treasure hunts,” she mentioned quietly.

  “Watching?” Mary laughed and shook her head. “You used to try to beat them to the treasure!”

  Suzie smiled guiltily and locked eyes with Mary briefly as a flood of affection rushed through her. She had never wanted children of her own, but she had enjoyed being part of Mary's children's lives. Mary had always made sure she was involved if she wanted to be. It was one of those moments when she reflected on just how deeply Mary's husband had betrayed her. She was a fantastic mother, and a wonderful wife, but no matter what happened in her life, she had never stopped being an amazing friend to Suzie.

  “So, what do you think?” Suzie asked with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

  “Think about what?” Mary asked in return as she narrowed her eyes. “The painting? I think it will be perfect.”

  “No, the map,” Suzie said with a roll of her eyes.

  “What about it?” Mary asked with a look of confusion.

  “Don't you think we should see where it leads?” Suzie pressed impatiently.

  “Well, I'm sure it's just some kind of prank,” Mary said with a shake of her head. “Does anyone really make treasure maps anymore? Do you think a pirate drew this?” she laughed a little.

  “Mary!” Suzie said with some frustration. “Be serious for just a moment. Why would someone go to the trouble of hiding this if there wasn't something to be found by following it?”

  “It could be sentimental,” Mary pointed out with lingering hesitation.

  “It could be,” Suzie agreed. “But, even if it is, I'd like to discover that kind of treasure, too. Maybe it leads to a secret spring in the woods, or a tree with special carvings. What could it hurt to try to find out?”

  Mary nodded as she smiled mischievously. “I think you're right, it would be a lot of fun. Plus we'd get to know the area a bit more.”

  “Now, you're thinking my way,” Suzie grinned. She lifted the map carefully out of the frame. “I'd guess that it is the same artist who drew this map,” she said thoughtfully. “It looks like it was done by a similar hand.”

  “Well, that makes sense,” Mary nodded as she peered at the map as well. “But it doesn't make much sense.”

  Suzie laid the map out on the table beside the frame. Maybe it wasn’t even a map of an area around Garber. But there was no harm in trying to work out where it led, even if it amounted to nothing. Suzie studied the map a moment longer, very intrigued by the symbols included on it. But she knew that if she got engrossed in it right away she was going to lose track of getting the painting up on the wall.

  “Well, I suppose it's a mystery that will have to wait,” she said with some disappointment. “We need to get that painting in the other frame and hung up before anything can damage it.”

  “Yes, and we're losing natural light,” Mary said as she tipped her head towards the floor to ceiling windows. Dark clouds had begun rolling in along the water. It gave the splashing waves a desolate look. Suzie felt a twinge of sorrow as she wondered if the sea had looked this way the day that the artist of the painting had plunged into it. It was unsettling to think that such a beautiful sight could turn into something quite deadly.

  “Yes, you're right, I'm never going to be certain if I don't see it in natural light.”

  “Do you think we can use the same holes since we're using the same frame?” Mary asked hopefully as she squinted at the wall.

  “It should be fine,” Suzie nodded as she locked the painting into the frame from the first painting. “Wow, you were right, Mary this looks so much better,” she sighed as she studied the painting.

  “And it will be much lighter,” Mary laughed.

  “Do you think that there's anything hidden in the painting itself?” Suzie wondered as she gazed at it with a deep appreciation.

  “I think there are many things hidden in that painting,” Mary said softly as she studied all the faint faces that were barely visible etched into the water. She then climbed onto the stepladder.

  “Secrets that the artist took to her grave, I'm sure,” Suzie said as she helped Mary hoist it up onto the wall while trying to keep the stepladder as steady as possible. Her words were punctuated by a sharp clap of thunder. Suzie and Mary both gasped with surprise, even though they had been expecting the storm. Before they could even comment on the loud rumbling, there was a knock on the door.

  “Knock, knock,” a familiar voice called out as the door of Dune House swung slowly open. Suzie looked up with surprise and then smiled warmly as Paul stepped through the door.

  “I hope I'm not interrupting,” he said as he stepped forward quickly to help with the hanging of the painting. Suzie's heart fluttered faintly when Paul's hands brushed over hers to help grasp the frame of the painting. Once it was in place, he let his hands fall back to his sides, and they brushed past Suzie's hands once more. She quickly turned away to hide the heat she felt rising in her cheeks.

  “Thanks Paul,” Mary said as she made her way down the ladder. “Well Suzie, what's the verdict?” Mary asked as she took a few steps back to look at the painting.

  “It's hard to tell in this light,” Suzie said hesitantly. “But I couldn't imagine a more perfect painting.”

  “It is beautiful,” Paul said as he also took in the sight of the painting. “Had I known it was for sale I might have snatched it up myself.”

  “Did you know the artist?” Suzie asked quickly.

  “No, I'm afraid not,” he shook his head. “I don't spend a lot of time in town. I'm usually on my boat. Otherwise, I tend to keep to myself,” he added.

  Suzie was slightly intrigued by his revelation. She hadn't considered that he might be a loner. He seemed so friendly and warm natured. But perhaps that was only when he was around her.

  “Some storm coming in,” Mary mentioned as she glanced out the window at the brooding sky.

  “Yes, that's why I stopped by,” Paul said in a distant voice as if he was waking from a dream. “I wanted to make sure that you two had everything you needed in case you lose power.”

  “I think we're equipped,” Suzie said with a smile. “But thank you for checking on us.”

  “These summer storms can be fierce,” Paul added his serious tone returning. “This one should pass by tomorrow afternoon, but I wanted to be sure you didn't need help with anything.”

  “I appreciate that,” Suzie said softly, and then added quickly. “I mean, we both do.” Mary was still staring out at the rough waves. She was hugging herself as she stared.

  “Mary? Are you okay?” Suzie asked.

  “Sorry, I had almost forgotten how frightening the water can be,” she murmured.

  “In this weather it can be,” Paul agreed. “I'll be bunking on land tonight.”

  “Well, we have some rooms free,” Mary suggested innocently. Suzie sent her a withering glare when Paul was looking out over the water.

  “Thanks, but I have my regular place,” he said mildly.

  Suzie's chest tightened at that comment. She wondered if he was talking about a girlfriend's place. She hadn't even really considered that he might already be with someone. But then she told herself to stop being silly as he was probably referring to the motel where they met each other the first time when Suzie had just moved to town.

  “We found something inside the frame of the painting,” she said abruptly. She was a little surprised that she had mentioned it. She hadn't really intended to tell Paul, but once she had she thought it was a great idea. He would know the water and the beaches better than anyone else.

  “What did you find?” he asked curiously.

  “It's over there,” Mary gestured to the dining room table. He walked over with Suzie to take a look at the map.

  “Wow,” he said with wide eyes. “This is some piece of art,” he breathed out. “Reminds me of playing
with friends when I was a boy. We would hide treasure and draw maps in the sand for our friends to follow.”

  “Well, then you should be an expert,” Suzie said with a warm smile. “Just what we need, to find where it leads.”

  “Really?” he asked and looked right into Suzie's eyes. Suzie was startled by the sudden connection but relaxed the moment his lips spread into a smile of excitement. “I can't wait!” he announced. He looked back down at the map and then tapped his finger lightly against one of the images on the map. “I think I might actually know where this is,” he added in a murmur. “It looks like a place very few people know about.”

  “Are you sure?” Suzie asked with excitement.

  “I can't be positive,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “But, from these symbols,” he pointed to the open water depicted in the map, followed by three piles of rocks and a thin stream of water. “From what this shows, it looks like a little inlet that even a boat can't get near.”

  “How amazing that you might know where it is,” Mary said happily.

  “I could take you both out to find it?” he offered as he looked between the two women. “That is, if you don't mind sharing your treasure hunt.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Suzie said with a wide grin.

  “Unfortunately, with the weather this bad, I won't be able to take you until it clears,” Paul said. “It wouldn't be safe.”

  “That does not sound like fun,” Mary said with a grimace.

  “Mary's a little nervous about boats,” Suzie confided in Paul.

  “Oh well, that's all right,” he smiled as he looked over at Mary. “I promise not to let you fall off.”

  “That is not very reassuring,” Mary said with a short laugh.

  Their amusement was silenced by another strong roll of thunder.

  “Well, I better get going,” Paul said as he nodded to Mary and smiled at Suzie. “I'll give you a call tomorrow afternoon if the weather is clear. Is that okay with you?”

  “That's great,” Suzie nodded. “And thanks again for checking in.”

  “If you two run into any trouble, just give me a ring,” Paul said as he walked out the door. The rain had just begun pelting down.