by Dan Fairview
His comm unit chirped. It was Pedora.
"Anything wrong, is Clarissa ok?" John asked.
"Everything's fine. Are you coming home early? Some of my friends want to go out."
"Not sure yet," he said, "I'll let you know." She wasn't rude when he ended the call, but he could tell she wasn't happy.
John went out on the deck and sat his water on the railing. Kian walked up beside him.
"You know, there may be something you can do for me," John said.
"Just name it man."
"I could use a security system for my house."
"Hey, that's right up my alley. What kind of features are you looking for?"
"Cameras, motion sensors, you know, all the usual stuff."
"Give me a minute, I'll be right back."
Kian rushed behind the bar and brought back a small data pad. Before he could search for the info, Bill returned from his supply run with a full roamer.
"Kian. Get this stuff put up," Bill said as he came inside. "John. Good to see ya. How's the baby?"
"Mean as ever."
"When ya gonna bring her by again? Joy has been asking about her."
Kian unloaded the roamer while they talked.
"I'll bring her by after I get this Nanny situation under control."
"New girl not working out?"
"I'm trying to give her a break, but she's too young. I need someone older."
"I know what you're saying. It's hard to trust someone with your baby. Let's go fishing sometime. I know a great spot."
Kian returned after he had finished putting everything away. "Mind if I take a break? I've got something to show John."
"Go ahead, I've got the bar. See to ya later John."
Kian sat down next to John and showed him the info he had pulled up on his pad. "This has all the stuff you mentioned and isn't too expensive."
John looked over the features and then handed the pad back to him.
Kian pulled up a different option. "If money is no object, this would be the ultimate. You can control everything on your comm unit from anywhere on the planet. I will of course install it for nothing."
"I like the extra features, but I don't think I'll need them, let's go with the first one. How long to get it done?"
Kian thought about it for a moment. "I can get the stuff and install it today; my shift is almost up."
John transferred him the money and turned up the last of his water. "Sounds great."
"Give Katrina a chance, she's good people. You're perfect for each another."
"And you're an expert?"
"Well, maybe not. But I am a good judge of character. Look, I'm just saying you'd like her if you got to know her."
"Well, we have each other's number. We'll see what happens."
The sun was approaching the horizon when John made it home. He tied off in the boathouse and walked up the covered path. Pedora and Clarissa greeted him at the door. Pedora was ready to go. Clarissa held a paper close to her chest and her hands were stained with watercolors.
"Daddy," Clarissa said.
John swept her up in his arms. "Have you been minding Miss Pedora?"
Clarissa presented him with her paper. "Look what I did."
It was filled with colorful splashes of what looked like a boat on the water with a stick figure standing on the deck waving.
"Is that me on the boat?" he asked.
"yeah."
"The man that came to install the security system left just a little while ago," Pedora said. "Clarissa has already had her dinner."
"Thanks."
"Would you take me to Hishu marina? I can get a ride back."
"Go ahead and take the skiff, but make sure to refuel it before you come back."
Her eyes lit up.
"Thank you so much. I'll take good care of her."
"Don't stay out late. The keys are hanging in the kitchen by the coffee pot."
She grabbed the keys and darted for the boathouse. In a few moments she was speeding away, shrinking into the distance. He hoped he wasn't making a mistake. He wasn’t worried about her boating skills, he just didn't like the idea of sending her out alone. Next time, he would send her out with a weapon.
They walked up onto the deck and sat down to enjoy the sunset, or he did at least, Clarissa sat busy playing with her toy stove. After a while she looked up at John.
"When is mommy coming home?" she asked.
John stared at her a long moment. His wife had died a year ago.
"Baby, we've talked about this. Mommy isn't coming home.”
"I miss mommy."
His chin jumped. "I miss her too sweetheart, but she's still here with us in our hearts."
He scooped her up and squeezed her. The tip of the sun sank below the horizon.
10
John sat behind the wheel of his boat, trying to rub the grit from his eyes. It was a beautiful day. As he pulled into Bill’s bay, his comm chirped, it was Katrina.
"Hey you busy?" she asked. "The stonefish are hitting good this morning. You wanna go fishing?"
"Sure. Where do you want meet up?"
"I can be at Bill's in fifteen minutes."
"Meet you there."
John tied off at Bill's dock.
He didn't have long to wait before Katrina's boat came sliding up. They filled a cooler with ice and water while they waited for Warin to whip up some sandwiches, and in twenty minutes they were powering out of the bay in Katrina's boat.
"Where we going?" John asked.
"Trade secret. When we get close, I'll have to blind fold you."
She held a straight face for as long as she could and then burst out laughing. "It's up the coast to the north, we'll be there within the hour."
When they arrived, she slowed to a crawl, navigating a channel that brought them to a Toika tree rising out of the water. She cut the engine and slid an anchor into the water. In a few moments she had her fly rod out, tickling the water in front of the tree's roots with it.
John baited his line as she played her lure across the water. On the third whipping stroke, a stonefish exploded into the air and swallowed her lure. It seemed like it took forever to get it into the boat. It was as long as John’s forearm.
"Now that is a nice one," he said.
She unhooked it, and tossed it back. "They’re great fighters but taste awful. It's your turn. Cast out about the same spot I did. You wanna use my rod?"
"No thanks. I never could get the hang of that."
They fished till noon, catching and releasing half a dozen more, then stopped for lunch. John was more relaxed than he had been in a long time.
The soft supple skin of Katrina’s freckled arm brushed against his thigh as she reached into the cooler for a drink. John caught a whiff of jasmine soap as she rose and took a long pull from her beer. She spilled a bit down the front of her thin yellow blouse that loosely covered her white bikini top. Laughing, she wiped the excess off and rubbed her hands dry on her white shorts. “You aren’t drinking if you aren’t wearing it,” she said.
“You wear it well.” he said.
"Yeah right. I've been having so much fun, I almost forgot I had to work tonight."
"Do you go out a lot at night?"
"Have to earn it while I can. I have a few regulars that love to night fish."
"Thanks for inviting me out today. I've had a blast. Maybe we can do it again sometime."
She brushed up against him on her way to start the motor. "I'd love too."
Back at Bill’s place, Kian set a bottle of water down in front of John.
"Thanks for installing the security system," John said.
"Your welcome. Well, how did it go?"
John turned up his drink. "How did what go?"
Kian chuckled. "Okay. Be that way if you want, but I knew you two would get along great."
Kian went about his work while John sat watching the waves, enjoying the breeze, and reflecting on all that had happened today.
Victoria Sidewell walked up onto the deck and weaved through the tables towards John's. By the look on her face, John didn't think this was a social call.
"Glad to find you here. Your side healing ok?"
John's hand went to his wound and he realized it wasn't bothering him today.
"Doing alright, what brings you down here? You're not here to break up Kian and Warin again are you? They're behaving themselves today. So far."
She grinned, but it quickly faded. "No, is Bill around? I have some bad news."
Kian overheard and joined them. "Bill went out to pick up some things for Warin. What bad news?"
Victoria’s face turned grave. "Joy was killed in an explosion."
Kian slumped into a chair and Victoria sat down beside him. They sat there silent for a moment.
"This is gonna kill Bill," Kian said.
Kian got up to wait on a customer, and John could see the news had hit him hard. He could see it in the way he carried himself.
"An explosion?" John said.
"I'm having it checked out. I'll let you know when I find out more."
"I'd appreciate that."
When Victoria was sure no one could overhear, she whispered, "there were two couples on Joy's boat. I have to keep of one of them as quiet as possible."
John pulled his chair a little closer.
"Councilor Gerard Ashton was on that boat with his secretary Kay Coogan. I just came from informing his wife Amy Ashton of his death."
John nodded. "Do you think he was the target?"
"At this point your guess is as good as mine.”
"I can't see anyone wanting to murder Joy, but who knows." John twirled his water in front of him. "I'll check around and see if Joy had any enemies."
"I hoped you would say that. You can use methods that I can't. I have a couple of people I would like you to check up on. You'll get your regular fee of course."
"Sounds good. Any news on Cornwall's daughter and her lover?"
"Well," Victoria shifted in her seat, "they did get married."
"I thought so. What's wrong?"
"They were the other couple on the boat."
11
John called Pedora to let her know he would be working late.
"I was supposed to go out later," she said.
"Sorry, an important case just came up. You knew it would happen eventually."
"Did it have to be today?"
John took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Your friends can come to the house as long as there are no drugs, and everyone behaves appropriately. I mean it, no funny business around Clarissa."
She was silent for a moment. "That's cool. Darcy can bring everyone over in her boat. Thanks."
John ended the call hoping he wouldn't regret it.
From the conversations with his friends, John understood that Kisha Coles had had a falling out with Joy, so he took a walk to the marina to find her.
John walked the shell path from Bill's place until he reached the moving walkways. He stepped onto the entry pad. It accelerated until it matched the speed of the fast-moving walkway. Once safely on, he found a rail to lean on and enjoyed the ride. The walkway took him inland at first, and soon he was out of sight of Bill's bay. He passed through two shopping districts and a junction that headed back towards the shoreline before he reached the marina. The smell of briny saltwater welcomed him as he stepped onto the exit pad to get off.
He didn't know which boat was Coles’s, so he asked around until he found it.
She was scrubbing away at something on the deck. Her long blonde hair swaying with every stroke she made. She wore a yellow bikini bottom, with a tee shirt tied up exposing her navel. When she rose, he spotted the small pistol tucked into her bikini bottom. He stepped up to the boat and faked a slip, attaching a tiny tracking device.
He brushed himself off and stood up. "Sorry. Are you Kisha Coles?"
"What can I do for you?"
"My name is John Finder, I'm a private investigator and would like to ask you a few questions."
She stopped what she was doing and brushed back her hair. "About what?"
"About the death of Joy Walker."
"If this is a joke, I don't think it's funny."
"I assure you it's no joke. Can you tell me where you were yesterday morning?"
"Piss off."
"Is it true you owed Joy a lot of money? Money you used to purchase this boat with?"
She reached behind her and pulled out her weapon, pointing the barrel downward. "You better get the hell out of here right now."
John almost reached for his own weapon. "It would be in your best interest to answer my questions.”
She pulled back on the slide and released it.
People walking the dock stopped to watch. This was getting out of hand. He decided the best thing would be to leave and track her movements later.
"Asshole." He heard her say as he walked away.
12
Pedora called John on the way back to Bills.
"Mr. Finder, is it okay if my friends stay overnight? They brought camping gear," she asked.
"That’s fine, but don't keep Clarissa up late."
"Thanks so much."
When the call ended, he leaned against a rail on the walkway and video called Victoria.
"Anything new about Ashton?" he asked.
"Not yet, I'm hitting a wall. His records have been sealed since becoming a council member."
"Anything interesting in his past?"
"Actually there is. Ashton and Dick Taylor were arrested together once. And Taylor's construction company holds the contracts for all the government buildings on Hishu."
"That's sounds fishy."
"I can't go near Taylor without a search warrant, but you can. Will you keep an eye on him for me?"
"That I can do."
"Thanks. I'll send you Stan Coogan's records too. He is the husband of Ashton's secretary. He may have known about his wife cheating with the boss. Be careful. Both are dangerous, especially Taylor." Victoria did something off screen and he received a data burst on his device. "There you go. Happy hunting. You don't know a good way to get rid of a coffee stain do you?"
"Sure. Change shirts."
"Funny."
"Looks good on you, seriously." John smiled and ended the call.
When he got back to Bill's, he ordered dinner. His comm chirped as he sat down to eat. It was Katrina.
"What's the big idea of accusing Coles of murder?" she asked, practically screaming.
"What?"
"Are you going to deny that you accused her?"
"Calm down. I'll explain."
"Don't tell me to calm down. Did you or did you not accuse her of murder?"
He counted himself lucky that she wasn't here in person. She was livid. "I just asked her where she was yesterday. It's my job, nothing personal. I didn't know you two were friends."
"You don't go around accusing people of murder for no reason."
"Did you know she owed Joy a lot of money?" Katrina didn't say anything. "By your silence, I'm guessing you didn't."
"That's still no excuse."
"Look, all I did was ask her the same questions that security will, and she pulled a weapon on me. Is she usually like that?"
Another pause. "She didn't tell me about that."
"I had to leave before it got outta hand."
The conversation ended a few minutes later with her still angry.
Kian came over to John's table. "Something wrong with your food?"
"No. Katrina just chewed me out." John told him the conversation.
"Coles shouldn't have pulled a gun on you. That doesn't sound like her. Want me to get you something to take home?"
"No. Pedora has a bunch of friends over for a cook out."
"Don't worry about Katrina, she'll get over it."
John received yet another call as he was laying down to sleep. Damn thing never stops.
&nb
sp; He considered ignoring it, but picked up when he saw it was Victoria.
"You're calling awfully late, what's up?"
"I have bad news. I asked around about the hooker we were talking about earlier, she died today."
"Well I know someone who would say that was good news."
"That's just it. Your client killed her, then those thugs they call security shot her."
"Is she?"
"I'm sorry, she didn't make it. I thought you would want to know."
He thanked her and ended the call.
John sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head. He walked over to the window, and leaned against the glass. He stood there for a long while, then went and crawled in the bed.
John lay for another hour, wondering if he should have done anything different.
He couldn't change what had happened, but he resolved to take out drug dealers like Taylor.
13
John woke early and decided to go poke around Taylor's place. He had checked the records and learned that Taylor had a warehouse next to the water on the east side of Hishu. He wasn't sure what to look for, but figured he would know when he saw it. John parked his boat at Bill's place and took his roamer to the warehouse. When he got within sight of it, he parked in the shade and pretended to read a book. A few people were walking the shore, so at least he wouldn't stick out. He had brought fishing gear with him as an excuse to get close to the water entrance if he needed to.
Barges came and went, carrying building supplies and equipment. John wondered how much drugs could be hiding on those barges. At noon, he ate a small lunch that Warin had packed for him, then checked the tracer on Coles's boat. He pulled it up on his Comm unit, and was surprised by how close it was to his position. So close in fact, it was practically on top of him. A moment later he recognized her boat approaching the warehouse. He covered his face with the book as she drove her boat up the channel into the warehouse.
John was on full alert now. He had to see inside that building, but if he went nosing around there now, she would surely recognize him. He waited until she left.
