Telltale (Shelby Hope Book Two) (Shelby Hope Novels 2)

by Stephanie Parrish

  "I understand. Thanks for coming to tell me yourself about the…the escape."

  "You keep safe. And remember what I told you."

  I nodded without speaking, then walked slowly back toward the boat, turning to look back at Detective Fairholm once. He was watching me, his expression thoughtful and solemn. When I got back to the seawall, they were all waiting there to pounce, Duke with worry in his puppy eyes, Alex with a grin, and Jane with her hands on her hips and her foot tapping the concrete in disgust.

  "We’ve been talking," Jane said.

  "Imagine my surprise."

  "Detective Fairholm said he stopped by because he couldn’t get you on your cell phone, right?"

  "Yeah," I said.

  "And the police took down all your contact info the other night, right?"

  "I suppose, yeah."

  "So, they have Alex’s number."

  "Okay."

  "Well, my phone isn’t dead," Alex said. "He could have called my number if he really needed to talk to you, instead of driving out here to look for you."

  "How come, whenever I have any dealings with the police, I get someone who looks like Barney Fife, and when you do, you get someone who looks like Denzel Washington?" Jane demanded, blowing a stray wisp of hair away from her face. "I bet he wanted to…what’s the phrase? Go over your testimony?" she said, laughing and making air quotes. "How do you manage it, Shelby?"

  Alex finally seemed to clue in that something was wrong.

  "He gave you bad news, didn’t he?" he demanded. "Oh, Shelby, I’m sorry. Here we are teasing you, and something’s wrong. What is it?"

  I didn’t really want to talk about this in front of Jane and Duke. I liked Jane a lot, but it suddenly occurred to me that I didn’t really know her. I just took her word about herself. And the same for Duke. He looked harmless, but…he was still a stranger. And even if they meant me no harm themselves, well, people talk. Jane had already talked to the blond guy. Who knew what she’d said, in innocence or otherwise? And who knew if he was really a stranger to her? I hated feeling this paranoid, but…

  Jane, reading my expression, said, "Duke, how about you and me give these guys a little privacy?"

  Grateful for her tact, and at the same time feeling a little guilty about my sudden—and most likely unfounded—suspicions, I smiled at her.

  Duke looked uncertain and gave me a weak smile. "Uh, well, if somethin’s the matter, maybe I can help, huh?" Click click click click.

  "No," Jane said, taking him by the arm and leading him down the walkway. "Why don’t you walk with me up to the corner market? I could use a Coke. How about you?"

  He nodded, troubled, allowing himself to be coaxed along, all the while looking back over his shoulder toward us.

  Alex said, "Come on, let’s go below and talk."

  He took my arm and gently helped me back into the boat. Once we were aboard, he took my cell phone out of my hand and plugged it in for me, helped me sit down as if I were someone’s grandmother, and plumped a pillow for me to put behind my back. I smiled at him, grateful when he offered to fix a glass of iced coffee for each of us.

  "Okay, so what’s wrong?" Alex asked, when he’d sat down next to me and handed me the coffee.

  "Johnny Rumbar escaped."

  "When? Oh my God, what happened?"

  I told him what the detective had said. Alex’s eyes were round and shocked, and he slumped forward, his hands covering his eyes.

  "He really thinks this Rumbar guy is going to come after you?"

  I nodded.

  "Are they giving us police protection?"

  "He said they’d have a squad car drive by occasionally while we’re here," I said. "I don’t think they have the resources to have someone watch us all the time."

  "Do you want to fly home? We could leave the boat here."

  I sighed. The cowardly part of me did want to go home, pull my blankets over my head, and hide. The rest of me was mad, mad that a lowlife like Rumbar was having such an effect on my life and my friends’ lives. I straightened up.

  "No, I want to keep going. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. Early. We won’t tell anyone else when we’re leaving or where we’re heading. We’ll just go."

  Alex looked sheepish. "I’ve already told a bunch of people where we’re heading."

  "Don’t worry. We just won’t say anything to anyone else about our plans, okay?"

  Alex nodded, then said, "Look, I know you’re scared right now, Shelby, but maybe the detective’s wrong. Maybe the guy just wants you to feel afraid and maybe he figures that will be enough. He must know the police will be hunting him. He’s not going to come after you and risk getting caught again. He’s going to get as far away from here as possible. You can bet on it. That’s what I would do."

  His logic was good, and similar to what Matt had said about the Rumbar's accomplice. I felt a little better. I hoped he was right. I hoped that self-preservation would make Johnny Rumbar and his friend hide out somewhere, far away from me. Alex squeezed my hand and said, "It’ll be okay, Shelby. We’ll leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn. We’ll be gone, and you’ll be safe, don’t worry."

  ✽✽✽

  TWENTY MINUTES LATER, the phone rang.

  "Shelby, it’s Trish. Can you talk?"

  "Yeah. How’s Henry?"

  "He’s going to be fine. The doctor said he'd had a 'cardiac episode', but mostly he just needs to take better care of himself. They’re going to do a few more tests tomorrow but they think they’ll release him the day after that. Matt’s in with him now, so he wanted me to call you to give you an update."

  "That’s great news," I said, relieved.

  "How are you doing? Matt told me what happened. Are you okay?"

  I hesitated, not wanting to lie but also not willing to add to Matt’s burden right now by telling them about Johnny Rumbar’s escape. "I’m fine, thanks. We’re going to get underway tomorrow, first thing. Can you tell Matt for me? I’m not sure when I’ll be in cell phone range again."

  "Yes, I’ll tell him. You be safe, Shelby."

  "Thanks, Trish. And thanks for giving me an update. I’m really happy that Henry will be all right."

  "Yeah, me too. I love that old man. Well, listen, hon, I better go."

  "Okay, give Henry a hug for me and tell him to behave around the nurses."

  Trish laughed. "I will. I’ll give Matt a hug too. Talk to you later. Bye."

  Chapter 9

  We spent the rest of the afternoon getting the boat ready so we could get underway early the next morning. Around four, Jane knocked on our hull.

  "What are you guys doing for dinner?" she asked, standing on the finger pier and shading her eyes against the sunlight. Her blonde hair blew in wisps around her face.

  "Hm. I hadn’t thought about that yet. Probably we’ll just fix something here. You want to join us?"

  "Yeah, if you don’t mind. Want me to bring something?"

  "If you have an extra bottle of wine, that would be great. Just grab it and come on over."

  She returned about five minutes later, holding a bottle of wine. "I opened it already. Give me your glasses, and I’ll pour."

  Alex continued working in the cockpit while I went below for some glasses. Jane sat on the top companionway step, sipping her wine while I worked on dinner.

  "Shelby—"

  "Yeah?"

  "Look, I know it’s none of my business, but I could tell you were upset after that detective came by. And I’ve seen police cars driving by more often than usual. Do you want to talk about it?"

  I hesitated.

  "You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to," Jane said.

  "Well, I guess everyone will know sooner or later. And, really, I wasn’t thinking when we started making plans for dinner… I should tell you this anyway, in case you decide you don’t want to be around me after all. The detective said that the guy, the murderer," I paused, numbness spreading over me again. "The murderer escaped.
And, he may be looking for me…" my voice trailed off. "Anyway, I’m not sure that being with me is going to be the safest thing. You might want to change your mind."

  "Don’t be silly, Shelby, it’s daylight. The police are watching. The three of us will be together. And anyway, do you think he’s really going to hang around here? Even if he did figure out where you are, seeing the police everywhere is going to be a whatchamacallit—a deterrent."

  "That’s pretty much what Alex said too. He thinks this guy will be long gone."

  "He’s probably right."

  "I hope so."

  Jane sat and chatted to both of us while I finished making dinner. "Let’s eat outside. Can I pass up plates to you?"

  "Mmmm, that looks great." Alex said, as he helped get the food handed around. "Here’s to fair winds and following seas," raising his glass, "and to Henry, with our wishes for his speedy recovery."

  "Cheers." We clinked our plastic wineglasses together and drank to the toast.

  A while later, Jane said, "So, you guys are going to have to give me your email addresses and phone numbers so we can keep in touch. I want to hear all about the rest of the trip when you get home." Alex, who had gone below to dish seconds for everyone, heard her, so when he came back up, he gave her business cards from each of us. She grinned, tucking them into her pocket, and pulled out a few of her own.

  "They’re a little bit tattered," she said, apologetically. "I’m afraid they’ve taken a beating, rolling around in the nav station for months.

  "Thanks," I said, taking the dog-eared card and looking at the photograph of her boat on the front. "I want to hear about the rest of your trip too."

  "Does anyone want more wine?" Alex asked, holding up the bottle. I gave him my glass. "Just a little bit more, please."

  I had just taken the last bite of melon when my phone beeped, telling me I had a text message. I’d kept it next to me during dinner, and now I pulled it toward me, saying, "It’s probably Trish giving us another update." I opened the message and read it.

  And read it again, my hand shaking. My fingers lost their hold, and the phone dropped onto the seat and skittered toward Alex.

  "What is it?" Alex asked, picking it up and flipping it around so he could see the screen. "Oh, my God, Shelby!"

  Chapter 10

  The message was a photograph of me, sitting in the cockpit, my wine glass in my hand, holding it out while Alex poured. Underneath it were the words:

  I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, SHELBY HOPE.

  We stared at the picture. The picture had been taken not more five minutes ago. At the edge of the picture, I could see part of Alex’s profile and the back of Jane’s head.

  Five minutes ago.

  I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, SHELBY HOPE.

  "Shelby, are you okay?"

  "Yeah, just give me a second." I felt lightheaded; I leaned against Alex’s arm. He covered my trembling hand with his own warm one. Jane patted me on the knee.

  Alex said, "Let’s all go below. Right now. Shelby, you first. Jane, stay with us for a little while, okay?"

  We all went below, Alex coming last and bringing the plates with him, after he had a quick look around. Jane steered me toward the settee. "Does it show the number of who sent it?" I asked, finally.

  We bent over the screen to read at the message again. The number showed as restricted. We looked at each other, and I’m sure their worried faces were mirrors of my own.

  "Detective Fairholm gave me his card the other day. Let me see if I can find it." My voice shook as I reached for my purse and began hunting through it. I finally found the card and dialed the number listed as his cell phone.

  The phone rang three times. "Fairholm."

  Seven minutes ago. I know where you are.

  "Detective Fairholm? This is Shelby Hope."

  "Shelby. Has something happened?"

  I told him about the message. He was silent for a moment, then asked me to forward it to him after we hung up.

  "Where are you now?"

  "We’re here, aboard the boat."

  "Okay, stay there. Text me that picture, and give me a couple minutes. I’ll call you back."

  He hung up, and I forwarded the message to him.

  "I’m sorry about this, you guys," I said. "I’m sorry you’re all in this picture with me. I’m just…sorry."

  "We’re not worried about us, you ninny. We’re worried about you," Jane said.

  My phone beeped again. My hands shook as I pressed the button to get the message.

  No picture this time.

  THE COPS CAN’T WATCH YOU FOREVER, SHELBY HOPE.

  Alex asked what it said. Before I could reply, the beep came again.

  Feeling cold, I opened the next message.

  SOON YOU’LL BE MINE, SHELBY HOPE.

  Chapter 11

  Detective Fairholm called about ten minutes later. "Shelby, thanks for forwarding those other two messages. Are you doing all right?"

  "Yeah, I’m okay." My hands were still shaking though.

  "I talked to the officers on duty in that area. They haven’t seen anyone who looks like Rumbar. It might just be a prank."

  "You don’t really think that, though."

  A pause. "No, I don’t think that. But he wasn’t all that close, whoever it was. I want you to stay on board the boat the rest of the night and to leave tomorrow morning like you planned. Stay with your friends. Don’t go anywhere alone. The officers will drive by as often as they can until they see you leave."

  "Okay."

  "We’ll keep trying to track down the phone. Don’t worry, Shelby, we’ll find him."

  "Okay." We said goodbye and hung up.

  Jane gave me a hard hug before returning to her boat. I hugged her back. "It was great meeting you. I hope you have a good time at your parents’. I want to hear all about it later on."

  "You be safe, Shelby." She gave me a last quick hug, then hugged Alex, instructing him to look after me.

  ✽✽✽

  NEITHER OF US said much for the rest of the evening. Alex turned on some music and made us some cocoa. Despite the heat, the hot chocolate was comforting. We looked at the charts, plotting our course for the morning. After that, I tried reading a book, but after I found myself on the same page for forty-five minutes, I sighed, put the book down, and said goodnight.

  I crawled into the bunk in the aft cabin, where Matt had slept the last few nights. The pillowcase smelled like him. I burrowed into the pillow, breathing in his scent. I missed him, missed the comfort of his presence, and the feeling of safety I had when he was around. Then I felt selfish, wanting him here with me while Henry was in the hospital.

  I turned over, feeling wide awake. My thoughts drifted over the events of the past few days. I tried to tell myself not to let a few text messages get me rattled like this. But the truth was, I was scared. I kept remembering the cold-blooded way Johnny Rumbar had shot the guy in the parking lot. His brother. No hesitation. No second thoughts. What chance did I stand against that kind of ruthlessness?

  Worse, I was worried about Alex. And Jane. And maybe even Duke, or Grace, like Alex had suggested. What if just because they were near me, they got hurt too? This Rumbar guy wouldn’t care that they weren’t a threat. Perversely, that notion started to make me mad, and after a while, the anger dissipated the fear.

  At least a little.

  My thoughts returned to Matt. I couldn’t believe how much had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Just about this time last night, Matt and I were together. Now, Matt was back in Florida with his seriously ill grandfather, and a murderer had escaped and was looking for me. I wanted to rewind to last night, back to Matt’s hands on my face, back to the guilty pleasure of my attraction to the man who was my best friend. I felt the same gnawing indecision I’d felt ever since I’d realized my feelings for him. I knew I couldn’t stay in this emotional limbo forever. It was already driving me crazy.

  It all came down to what I was willing to risk: Cling to
the certainty of friendship, and risk missing out on a great relationship? Or take the chance that this time, the relationship would work out?

  Choose, Shelby.

  I lay awake for a long, long time, thinking it over. Round and round.

  And finally, I made my decision.

  I knew what I wanted to do.

  My mind felt clear, and I started to relax, listening to the night hush and feeling that sleep might be coming soon. The lines creaked, the water lapped softly against the boat while it rocked gently in the current. Just as I was drifting off, I was jarred awake by a noise.

  No. Not a noise. Voices.

  They were very faint, and I couldn’t make out any words. Men’s voices, rumbling.

  I sat up, listening intently. I still couldn’t hear what they were saying. Carefully, trying to keep the door from squeaking or banging, I eased it open and crept out into the salon. Behind the closed door of the vee berth, I heard a rhythmic snoring. Alex, at least, was sleeping through the nighttime visitors. I peeked out one of the portlights, but couldn’t see anyone.

  Could be anybody, I told myself. Could be a couple people coming home late from one of the bars.

  Could be Johnny Rumbar, that fearful little voice in my head said. He told you you’re not safe.

  The cops were close by, though. Weren’t they?

  My bare feet felt a little chilly against the wood sole of the boat, even though the air was still warm. I stood still, uncertain what to do. I hated to wake up Alex. He’d already been stressed out enough today and needed his sleep. Should I try calling the police?

  And say what, exactly? the rational voice inside my head demanded. Oh, I know! How about: ‘Officer, I think I hear voices.’ Nice one, Shelby. You’ll sound soooooo convincing.

  Finally, I decided to take a careful look outside. I stepped up onto the companionway steps, forgetting that the hatch was closed and clobbering my head.

  "Ow!" I said, involuntarily. And loudly.

  The snoring from the vee berth stopped abruptly, and I heard a sleepy voice call, "Shelby? You okay?"