“Come on, let’s get the box closer. It’s easier for them to carry the box than Bubba.”
“You know Bubba?” Ellery asked. Tinsley and Landry pushed the heavy wooden box into the alley as the men grunted and picked up Bubba.
“Sure. He was in Harper’s, that’s Gavin’s sister, front yard one day when I pulled in. Bubba didn’t let me get out of the car, and when I tried to drive away he bit my tire. Gator and Harper and some of her neighbors rescued me.
Tinsley and Ellery hopped back as soon as the men drew near. “Gil, open the box, will ya?” Gator called out. Gil ran over, pulled off the lid, and took out a bag of screws and a power drill.
The men’s faces were red as they worked to awkwardly carry the five hundred pound alligator and set him in the box. As soon as he was in, Gavin grabbed his bag, sent her a wink, and headed straight for Lyle.
“Sure, friends you call it.” Tinsley gave Ellery a look that left Ellery grinning. If only she could remember who she was and whether or not she was married or had a boyfriend. Until then she couldn’t reciprocate Gavin’s flirtations.
Gator closed the box and all the men were back to lift it into the back of the pickup. “You need help?” Gil asked.
“Nah. Turtle can help me when I get him to the swamp. Thanks for your help.”
“Send me your invoice,” Granger told him, shaking Gator’s hand.
The men began to disburse as Tinsley and Ellery watched Gavin patch up Lyle, and Lydia made her way off the roof of the Grab ‘n’ Gas and ran to her son. Meanwhile, the others had started a water war with the squeegees used to clean windshields.
“Hey,” Tinsley yelled at them. “Put those back and go get a juice box from my fridge. Don’t forget to get one for Lyle.”
The kids ran by them, crossed the street, and turned into an old building with a sign hanging that simply read “Art Gallery.” Ellery felt her breath hitch as she was drawn to the gallery. “This is your place?” she asked over her shoulder.
Tinsley turned and caught up with her. “Yes. I just opened it. I’m kinda new at this gallery thing, but my family convinced me to show off my work. If it was up to me, I’d still be hiding in the woods painting. Do you like art?”
“I love it,” Ellery said as they crossed the street and headed up the old cobbled sidewalk to her gallery. Ellery was about to open the door when the herd of kids raced out with juice boxes. Ellery stepped inside and gasped. It was as if she’d been pelted with memories. “I work in a gallery,” she said on a whisper as she visualized herself last night in the black dress placing a sold sticker next to a painting. She closed her eyes and tried to remember more. The faces were all a blur, but the art . . . the art she could see.
“You do?” Tinsley asked. “I admit there are quite a few galleries I haven’t been to. Which one do you work at? I wonder if I know it.”
“Excuse me,” Gavin interrupted. “Are you ready to go eat?”
Ellery could only nod because she felt like crying. She couldn’t remember the name of the gallery, but she knew something with certainty. She worked at one.
“It was so great meeting you. Please, stop by anytime to talk art,” Tinsley said, walking with them toward the door.
“Tinsley,” Ellery said suddenly, “you painted the beautiful art in Gavin’s house.”
“That’s right. Funny you’ve been there long enough to notice that. Have a nice date.” Then Tinsley turned and headed back into the gallery as she pulled out her phone.
“The family will be descending,” Gavin muttered. “She’s telling them all I have a new girlfriend.”
“Well, I learned I work in an art gallery. Now if I can remember if I have a boyfriend, then—” Ellery stopped suddenly and almost covered her mouth with her hand.
6
“Then what?” Gavin asked as casually as he could. He didn’t want to admit to himself how badly he wanted to hear her answer. He didn’t know why this woman had gotten under his skin. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. On top of that, knowing she didn’t have a boyfriend made it very hard not to be too forward.
“Um, then we’d know if this was really a date. Not that it is. I’m sure you’re only feeding me out of obligation.” Ellery was talking a mile a minute, and he knew she was embarrassed.
He reached for her hand and slid his fingers through hers as they began to walk again. “It’s a date, Ellery.”
Gavin enjoyed seeing her blush as they walked by the church. He pulled her to a stop and looked back to where Bubba was caught. “Across the street you saw the Daughters of Shadows Landing, it was one of the buildings Bubba was trapped between. Then next to that is Harper’s bar. And if you haven’t remembered where you live by tomorrow, then I’ll take you to Bless Your Scarf so you can get some clothes.”
“Main Street is lovely. It’s so historic,” she said as she gazed past the antique shop and at Stomping Grounds at the end of the street.
“It was settled in 1690 by rice farmers. Main Street was built by pirates in the 1700s. There was an old tavern that burned down in 1770, a hotel, which is now part of the courthouse, and small houses belonging to the pirates. Over time, they became rich from their smuggling, and by the late 1700s and early 1800s, these buildings were all built and here they still stand. They’ve been converted into businesses now.”
Ellery turned and looked at the tall church steeple. “I’m surprised they built a church if they were pirates.”
“Churches were sanctuaries. If the law ever showed up, they’d hightail it into the church. Now it’s a real church, but the reverend likes to remind everyone that the church will always be a sanctuary to those in need, since we don’t have too many pirates anymore.”
Gavin looked at the white church with the tall steeple covered in dark gray shingles. Light through the stained glass windows would be creating a breathtaking view inside the historic church.
“The reverend didn’t care that pirates were using it to hide out?”
“See those stained glass windows? How do you think a little church in the middle of nowhere could afford those? They still use the gold chalice for communion. A chalice that looks shockingly similar to one the Spanish say went missing when a boat of theirs disappeared in 1793,” Gavin said with a smile. He loved all the old tales of Shadows Landing.
“Really?”
“Really. Shadows Landing got its name because it was perfect to come in under the shadows to unload their stolen goods. The dock down at the marina has been there since they settled the area. The water is tricky and only those who knew the depths could navigate it with those big ships. So they’d wait until nightfall and slip past Charleston. Anyone who pursued them would get stuck as the pirates escaped up to Shadows Landing. They’d unload and wait for high tide to navigate their boats to the offshoot that runs behind Main Street,” he said, pointing behind the church. “The boats would then be hidden if anyone made their way up Shadows River.”
Gavin and Ellery began walking past the courthouse and the sheriff’s department. Ellery sniffed the air and sighed with pleasure. “That’s the Lowcountry Smokehouse,” he said, pointing to the pit smoked BBQ restaurant across South Cypress Lane. Main Street began at Palmetto Drive and ended on Cypress. If they’d turn left they could take South Cypress into Charleston. If they turned right they’d pass a law office, a beauty salon, and a couple of small shops before coming across some smaller houses built in the 1930s through 1950s. His cousin Wade, who was in the Coast Guard, lived there. About a mile up from Wade was their friend Edie. Past that was the school and then the road turned into North Cypress and led out to the country where Tinsley and Trent, Wade’s brother, lived.
“It smells so good. I’ll have to try them both out before I leave. Well, I assume I’ll eventually remember enough to leave. It’s not like I can live with you forever.” Again her face turned pink, and Gavin was gentlemen enough to not comment on the idea of her living with him, especially in the same bed. Since he’d seen h
er in the hallway dressed in Sadie’s borrowed clothes, he had to admit, he’d thought about it more than once.
“Well then, date number two can be barbeque,” Gavin said as they crossed the street to Stomping Grounds. People packed the booths and outdoor tables at Lowcountry Smokehouse, Stomping Grounds, and Pink Pig. Music played from their back patios and the small town was alive with laughter, fun, and friendship. For as small of a community as Shadows Landing was, they had a lot of people come from the surrounding towns to eat their famous barbeque. But Shadows Bar was the local hangout. Since there were no hotels, the tourists usually left after dinner and then the restaurants and shops would close and everyone would gather at Harper’s for a couple drinks.
“Sounds good,” Ellery said with a blush on her cheeks and a smile on her lips.
Gavin opened the door and ushered her in. Locals got first dibs on tables, and the waitress led them to the last available one. Televisions played the news on silent. During football or basketball season, sports were the only thing on, but summer was lean for sports so they were left with the local news.
“We have a shrimp boil tonight,” the waitress said as she handed them their menus.
“That sounds great,” Ellery said as her stomach rumbled again.
“We’ll have that then. Thanks, Mary Jane.” Gavin handed the waitress the menus back. Two mason jars of sweet tea were placed in front of them, then it was just the two of them.
“I’m so excited,” Ellery said, leaning toward him. “I remember I work in an art gallery. Now I wonder which one? And I wonder what I’ll remember next?” she asked with a large grin on her face. He was glad to see her regaining some memories.
“How are you feeling? Are you worn out from the walk?”
“A little, but I’m starving. I might climb over you to grab some of that guy’s dinner,” she said with a giggle as she looked at the giant plate of food at the table behind them.
“That’s good. Your body is healing.”
Ellery nodded her head as she looked at the coastal decorations and pictures of locals that hung on the walls. “So, do you have a large family?”
“Not overly large, although it’s recently gotten bigger. I told you about my sister, Harper, who owns the bar. Then you met my cousin Tinsley. Tinsley’s brother is Ridge. He’s a builder. Then there’s Wade and Trent. Wade is in the Coast Guard, and Trent makes stunning furniture. Last is Ryker. He’s the one who only lives here on the weekends. He runs a shipping company in Charleston.”
“Faulkner Shipping? That’s your cousin?” Ellery asked and then shook her head. “How do I remember that and not my last name?”
“Memories are strange things, you never know when something will pop back up. But, yes, that’s my cousin. You know him?” Gavin asked hopefully.
“I don’t think so. But I know he’s always in the Charleston Social Magazine. They ran a profile on him recently.”
“That’s right,” Gavin said, impressed she recalled that. The improvement in her memory was growing by the minute.
“Here you go, doc. And doc’s friend,” Mary Jane said with curiosity as she laid down newspaper before picking up a big pot and pouring out the shrimp, corn on the cob chunks, smoked sausage, and chunks of potatoes.
“Mary Jane, this is my friend, Ellery. Ellery, this is Mary Jane.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ellery said, even though Gavin could see her hand sneaking toward a plump shrimp. “Does everyone know everyone in Shadows Landing?” she asked when Mary Jane left. Ellery popped the shrimp into her mouth and groaned with delight.
“Yeah. We’re a very small town. It was annoying when I was growing up, but now that I’m older, I really appreciate it. They’re very supportive of each other and welcomed me and my practice with open arms, even though many of them have known me since I was born.”
“Do your parents live here?”
Gavin shook his head. “My parents, Jason and Jessica, along with my cousins’ parents, Brian and Amy, Paul and Kim, and Robert and Angela, all moved to Florida upon retirement. They bought a small hotel on the beach and are running it together. Although, I think they mostly go fishing.”
Gavin went to ask Ellery a question, but she was staring over his shoulder as if she’d seen a ghost. Gavin turned around and saw a picture of an old man and woman on the television.
“Tibbie,” Ellery said softly. “I remember her! She’s my neighbor.” Gavin smiled as Ellery’s eyes went wide.
“Mary Jane, turn it up please,” Gavin called out.
Mary Jane nodded and lifted a remote from the bar and turned the volume up.
“Mr. and Mrs. Elijah F. Cummings are asking for the public’s help. Their friend and neighbor has been missing since the hurricane,” the reporter said.
“Miss St. John?” Gavin heard Granger ask from behind him.
“Yes?” Ellery answered automatically as she turned her head from the television before jumping up from her seat. “That’s me! I’m Ellery St. John!” She threw her hands around Gavin’s neck and kissed his cheek.
“Miss St. John is five foot seven with golden blonde hair and blue eyes. If anyone has seen her, please call the police at—” the reporter said as the phone number was flashed across the screen along with her picture.
“Miss St. John,” Granger said again, stopping at the table, “we need to talk. Privately.”
Gavin looked around then and noticed people were watching them. “Mary Jane, a to-go box, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“Miss St. John, why don’t you come with me and Gavin can follow?” Granger suggested, holding out his hand for her to take.
“I’m not a criminal, am I?” Ellery asked, nervously.
“Granger, what’s going on?” Gavin asked as he dropped his voice.
“Not here,” Granger said under his breath as he smiled. “Poor girl can’t take a vacation without her friends worrying about her,” Granger said loud enough for the diners to hear. “Let’s go call them so no one is worried anymore.”
But that didn’t fool Gavin. Something was wrong—very wrong. And as Granger escorted Ellery from the diner and across the street to the sheriff’s department, he just hoped what Ellery had asked wasn’t true.
7
“Do I need a lawyer?” Ellery asked as Granger Fox led her across the street. She was sure if the locals hadn’t been gossiping about her being with Gavin, being escorted by the good-looking sheriff after she appeared on the news was sure to send tongues wagging.
“I don’t know. Something is going on though, and we need to get to the bottom of it. That starts with you and me having a little chat.” Even through the southern drawl, the tightness in his voice crept through.
Dread filled her as he opened the door to the courthouse and lead her down the hall before turning right into the sheriff’s department. There was a tall counter five feet inside, dividing the small lobby from the back of the department. A receptionist sat behind the desk. She was in her fifties with her hair, probably a red at some point but had lightened with age, pulled up into a bun.
“Brenda Baker, Ellery St. John,” Granger said as Brenda buzzed them into the back through the locked door on the far side of the counter.
“Hi, sugar. Boy, this is a real mess. I sure hope you’re not a killer. You look too sweet to be one,” Brenda said in her deep southern accent.
“A killer? I’m not a killer!” Ellery gasped as she whispered, “At least I don’t remember being one.”
“Brenda,” Granger said with disapproval, “have Kord meet us in interrogation. Also, show Gavin in when he arrives.”
“Yes, sir,” Brenda said, sending Ellery a wink. Well, at least the receptionist didn’t think she was a murderer.
Granger walked her down the small hall. There were two offices in the back, one with Sheriff Granger Fox and one with Deputy Kordell King written beside the door. Between them and the front desk were rows of filing cabinets, a couple of mess
y desks, a large oval table for meetings, and a dry-erase board set up on wheels. Currently there was a MISSING printout taped onto it with her picture front and center. Granger walked into the room at the back of the office space and flicked on the light. There was a small table, big enough to fit two people on each side. The carpet was worn and looked as if it had seen better days. The light was harsh, and it caused her head to ache as she covered her eyes with her hand to shield them from the bright glare.
“Could you turn down the lights?” Ellery asked as she cringed.
“Why? Do they make you uncomfortable?” Granger asked, leaning against what she guessed was a two-way mirror.
“I have a concussion and the lights are making my symptoms worse,” she said as the pain became stronger.
“Take a seat,” he ordered a second before the door opened and a young, maybe in his mid-twenties, deputy came in. His smooth dark brown skin lay over muscled arms. At least that’s all she saw as she kept her head down to battle the lights.
“Miss St. John was about to tell us how she got a concussion,” Granger said to the man. Ellery saw him cross his arms over his broad chest. The deputy had a flat stomach under his uniform. What, did they all play wide receiver in college? They were built for speed and strength for sure. He took a seat across from her, and his face finally came into view. His black hair was trimmed short, almost to his scalp, with perfect trim lines as if the barber used a ruler when he shaved it. His lips were full and his face angled. He was incredibly handsome, and by the little smirk he had right now, he knew it.
“Miss?” Ellery asked, keeping her eyes down to lessen the painful glare of the lights. “So, I’m not married?”
She heard the momentary pause. “No, you’re not married, ma’am,” Deputy King said. His voice was strong, yet warm. He wasn’t scaring her like Granger was. He was obviously the good cop in this scenario. “Did you think you were?”
“I didn’t know,” Ellery finally admitted.
Saving Shadows: Shadows Landing #1 Page 5
