by Esme Addison
“Celeste is my friend. And I’m going to help her if I can.”
A look of scorn twisted his features for a moment before he smiled at her. “I heard you fancy yourself a detective.” He chuckled. “Good luck with that.” He held up his bag. “I’ve been tasked with bringing dinner for me and Celeste. She’s been craving sweet potato pie mochi, I dare not disappoint.”
At the word “craving,” Alex thought of Neve and her impending pregnancy. “Any idea who Neve was dating in the past few months?”
His jaw tightened. “No, not all. In fact, to my knowledge, she wasn’t seeing anyone. Her schedule would’ve made that difficult.” He fixed an inquisitive gaze on her. “Why would you ask that?”
“Oh, no reason.” She looked over her shoulder. “One more question, if you don’t mind.”
He gave her a peevish look. “What is it?”
“Did you know Neve before she came to town?”
He didn’t blink, and his eyes looked directly into her own. “No.”
“I better get back to my dinner date as well.”
His smile was perfunctory. “Good night, then.”
Alex was on her way back to the table when she bumped into Yuko, who was staring worriedly at her phone.
“Hey, everything okay?”
The woman looked up, automatically smiling. “How was your meal? Everything okay there?”
Alex nodded.
Yuko’s gaze went back to her phone, and her eyes were filled with concerned. “Sorry, it’s my family in Okinawa. A horrible tidal wave hit the island a week ago, and now it seems another is on its way.”
“That’s horrible. I hope your family will be okay.”
“Yes, I’m sure they’ll be fine. My father says the Chinese government is behind it.”
“Behind what—the tidal wave? How is that even possible? It’s nature.”
“I’m not sure. They’re clever. Motivated. Maybe they’ve invented something that causes seismic activity, enough to create a tidal wave.”
Alex shot her a dubious look.
“In other news,” Yuko continued, “the battle over the Senkaku Islands is heating up again.”
Alex knew from watching the news that the ownership of the islands in the East China sea was in dispute, with Japan claiming ownership while both China and Taiwan insisted it belonged to them. After the discovery of oil under the island a few decades back, a cold war of sorts had developed between the countries.
“Apparently, while the mainland was dealing with the aftermath of the tidal wave, Chinese soldiers took up positions on the island, and now they won’t leave.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry—it’s a very old problem these islands.” She wiped away a tear. “Thank you for coming. Come again soon.”
By the time Alex made it back to her table, Jack was finishing up a call. He eyed her for a moment before speaking. “You’ll be interested to know that forensics came in, and we think Neve was hit in the head with some sort of rock. Two blows to the side of her head. Flecks of a rare mineral were found in her wounds. It’s so rare that our techs couldn’t identify it. They’ve sent it off to a lab in Raleigh for advanced tests.”
Alex sipped her tea. “No one just carries a rock around with them. It had to have already been in Jasper’s office, don’t you think?” Jack shrugged. “Someone picked up something already in Jasper’s office and in an argument hit her with it. So maybe it wasn’t premediated. It has the hallmarks of a crime of passion, right?”
“Yeah, like a jealous girlfriend who was confronting her boyfriend’s lover.”
“Jasper just spoke to me about Neve. There’s a photo of the two of them together on her website that says otherwise.”
Jack shrugged. “Sorry, Alex. He may be a liar, but he doesn’t have motive. At least none that I’ve found.”
Panic bloomed in Alex’s chest. There had to be another suspect. “Do you know if Neve was seeing anyone in town? Did you see her with anyone else on that footage?”
“You know I shouldn’t be sharing this with you, but she did spend a lot of time with Jasper, but also Dylan Wesley … and Montgomery Blue.”
“Montgomery?”
He nodded. “But Dylan and Montgomery brought her to town, so it’s not strange that they were together. Honestly, same for Jasper Collins. She was working with him on the museum exhibit.”
Alex’s stomach took a dive. “We’re back to Celeste?”
“Pretty much.”
“How long before you bring her in.”
“Why? What are you going to do?”
Alex was going to try to find another suspect, that’s what. But she couldn’t tell him that. She understood that he had a job to do, but she had one as well: protecting those she loved. She gave him a noncommittal look in response.
“Means, motive, and opportunity,” Jack said. “As the daughter of a former detective, you know how it goes. Celeste has motive—jealousy, well established by the video of her stalking the victim and the argument and slap that many people, including you, overheard at the museum.”
Alex wanted to cover her ears with her hands, but he wasn’t done.
“She does not have an alibi for the time that Neve was murdered. So, there’s opportunity. Physical evidence already places her at the scene of the crime.”
“I know,” Alex said, frowning. “I know …” She exhaled loudly. “So … the rock?”
“Yeah. I learned my lesson with your aunt. I don’t want to bring in the wrong person, so I’m waiting, hoping we can find the murder weapon that will hopefully have Celeste’s fingerprints on it.”
“Not hopefully,” Alex insisted.
“You know what I mean.”
“What about Jasper Collins? Does he have an alibi? If it was something from his office, his fingerprints would be on it. Maybe he was having an affair with her and wanted to keep her quiet once Celeste found out. How can you say for certain that it’s Celeste, but not him?”
“I’ve thought of that too. If Celeste didn’t already look guilty as sin, he’d be my number-one suspect.”
Alex stared off into the distance.
Jack groaned. “I don’t like that look.”
She returned her gaze to him. “What look?”
“The look that says you think you can do my job better than me.”
“Have you considered that there could be another motive?”
Anger shadowed his face. “No.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You know something I don’t?”
Alex played with her napkin for a moment, wondering how she could tell him about the mermaid gene and how Neve felt her life could be in danger. “Neve told me she learned something from one of the companies she worked for that could’ve put her life in jeopardy. A sort of corporate secret.”
“You’re talking about industrial espionage. Any proof of this?”
“No, not yet,” she said firmly.
He rolled his eyes. “Great. I’ve just given you your mission, haven’t I?”
She gave him an innocent look. “No. I’ll just let you do your job.” She smiled sweetly and patted his hand. “Sounds like you’re on the right track.”
He was annoyed—Alex could tell by the way his jaw was set. She paid the bill, and he left the tip and walked her to Minka’s car.
“Stay out of it, Alex.”
She faked a smile for his benefit. “How long before you arrest Celeste?”
“Alex, don’t be like this.”
“How long?”
“A few days. Maybe a week. Waiting on more forensic reports and hopefully for my officers to find the weapon.”
“You’re going to search Celeste’s home, aren’t you?” Alex said. Jack crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll find you another suspect,” she added.
“Alex,” he called to her, but she’d already jumped into her car, slammed the door, and revved the engine.
* * *
The next morning, Alex asked her aunt if she could have the d
ay off. She needed to find Jack a suspect—any suspect. First, she’d begin with Bryce.
Alex greeted Mac when she entered the Seaside B&B. He was seated behind the reception counter, reading the paper.
“Morning,” he replied, as he set the paper down carefully, folding it back in order.
Alex glanced down at the newspaper and then turned it around to read an article on the bottom of the page. There was a black and white headshot of a man in his mid-forties, smiling into the camera. Clean-cut. Glasses. Nice friendly smile. The headline stated, “Recent Software Engineer’s Death Still Unsolved.”
Mac followed her gaze and frowned. “A shame, isn’t it. By all accounts, he was an upstanding citizen with a good job, decent friends, and a normal life.”
“But it was a drug overdose, right?”
He shook his head. “It’s sad. Left behind a wife and kid. The article says none of his friends, family, or coworkers knew him to have a drug problem.”
“That is strange. But Detective Frazier is on the case.” She smiled. “He’ll figure it out soon.”
“Yes, that and the lady painter too.” He eyed her curiously. “What can I do for ya?”
She looked around the reception area. “Any chance that Bryce Greenberg is in his room?”
He pointed down the hall. “He’s eating breakfast.”
“Thank you. If you don’t mind, I’ll just pop in and say hello?” Mac nodded, already returning to his paper.
Alex went to the dining room and saw a long table full of family-style served dishes.
Bryce was sitting at a side table, his plate heaped with eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes. “You’re back. Join me?”
Alex poured herself a cup of coffee. She sat with Bryce and wondered the best way to get her questions answered.
“You’re ready to talk herbs?” he asked, grinning.
“Sure,” she said, and decided that if they talked about herbal remedies, she could steer the conversation toward his biotech company. “What’s your interest?”
He drained his cup of coffee and set it down. “Actually, business. My company has a pharmaceutical division—Bio-Tek. Our research team is constantly looking to nature for new product ideas.”
Alex almost choked on her coffee. He’d brought the subject up for her. She covered up her surprise by coughing.
“You okay?” he asked, lines curving around his eyes as he smiled at her.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She looked at him. “We have more in common than I thought.”
He nodded. “Yeah. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. In fact, Dylan said I should make a point of talking to you. I’d love to get a closer look at some of your products. Dylan told me how popular and effective they are.”
“Your company was recently acquired by Wesley Inc., correct?”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
Doing his best Godfather impression, with the accompanying face and hand gestures, he said in a gravelly voice, “Dylan made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Dylan always seems to get what he wants.” Alex laughed.
He winked at her. “Almost.”
“What was the deal? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“Triple the worth of the company, a position on the board, and a vice president position within Wesley Inc.”
“For their new division.”
“That’s right.”
“And this new division’s focus?”
“Defense.”
“Against?”” Alex asked.
“Against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
“And that includes pharmaceuticals.”
His lips moved into an impressed moue. “Wow. You don’t stop do you?”
“Let’s just say I’m motivated to find the truth.”
“So you’ll help me figure this out?” She gave him a pointed look, and he nodded. “Wesley acquired both divisions … for security?”
“I’m sure you know that biological products can be used as weapons.”
“Is that what you’re producing?”
He wagged a finger at her, amusement in his eyes. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you didn’t say you weren’t.” Why was he being so obtuse? It was almost as if he was hiding something. She felt like she was past the point of being impolite with him, but she couldn’t stop. “Why did Dylan buy a group of companies only to shut them down, but then keep yours open, dissolved into Wesley?”
Bryce shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him that.”
Alex focused on her mug, considering what she’d just learned. Dylan was up to something again. She remembered the mermaid gene. “Are you also working on genetic-based solutions?”
He lowered his voice. “Where did you hear that?”
“Around.” He looked skeptical, so she tried again. “Online. I’ve been reading the business trades lately. Speculation mostly.”
He rubbed a hand over his stubble beard. “Shouldn’t be any speculation. All of our employees sign NDAs. But I can say that medicines based on individual DNA is the next big thing in my line of work.”
It was possible his company worked on the mermaid gene. But also possible it was a company she’d never heard of … Was there a connection with Neve? There has to be, Alex mused to herself.
“Did Neve Ryland paint a mural for your company in Greensboro?” Alex held her breath waiting for the answer.
“No.”
She exhaled in irritation. She was getting nowhere with this case.
“It was in Morrisville, actually. Our Bio-Tek campus is separate.”
She tried to hide her surprise. There was a connection. He did know Neve. Morrisville, Alex knew, was a suburb of Raleigh and Durham, and part of Research Triangle Park. Bio-Tek had to be the company researching the so-called mermaid gene.
“What was the subject of the mural?”
He eyed her for a moment, then smiled. “Mermaids.”
Chapter Ten
Alex covered up her surprise with a cough.
“The ocean environment is integral to our research,” Bryce explained. “I wanted a mural that reflected our focus.” He stood. “I’m getting more coffee. Would you like some?”
“Yes, please.” Alex watched Bryce as he stood at the coffee bar, wondering if he was capable of murder. He had a motive—keeping Neve quiet. Surely he had the means. He was a healthy, able-bodied man capable of overpowering a woman. But would he have done it in such a manner? The brutality of the crime smacked of passion and impulse, and Bryce just didn’t seem the type. Of course, appearances could be deceiving.
He grinned at her over his shoulder. “Decaf or regular?”
“Regular,” Alex said, still distracted by her thoughts. Did he have opportunity? Where was he when the crime was committed?
Bryce returned with a fresh cup of coffee. “Thank you,” she said, smiling up at him. She poured cream from a small silver pitcher into her mug and stirred. “I’d love to hear more about your genetic research. It sounds very interesting.”
“I can talk shop all day long, but I am limited by the NDAs I’ve signed with our government partners. What do you want to know?”
“Obviously, I have mermaids on the brain,” she began lightly. “What with the mermaid festival planning and all. I’d love to know what a mermaid mural has to do with your research.”
“We’re working on a series of products—still in the research stage—based on marine life, algae, coral … things that could be used to help create cures and therapies for cancer, Alzheimer’s … I thought a mural of a mermaid under the sea would be a fun way to highlight our work.”
“Have you made any interesting discoveries experimenting with sea life?”
His eyes glittered. “Perhaps.”
She suppressed a groan. More ambiguity. “Anything you can discuss?”
“I could, but I’d have to kill you.” He raised one eyebrow, his expression bland. And then he dissolved into laughter. “I
love saying that. Never gets old.”
Alex stared at him, not sure how to respond. But then she cracked a smile. “You’re kidding?”
“Of course. I mean, yeah, I’m working for a government agency and I can’t discuss it. But I wouldn’t kill—” He stopped, smile sliding off his face for a moment. “Oh, you’re good.” He leaned back in his chair. “Wow.” He fiddled with his coffee cup. “I didn’t kill her, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Alex didn’t feel like lying, so she just smiled at him. “But she did paint a mural for your company. Did you brief her on your work to help … inspire her painting?”
He frowned slightly, as if he was trying to suss out her meaning. “Not me personally, but one of my employees did. He was enamored with her, if I recall.” He chuckled. “Why do you ask?”
“So she didn’t know the details of your project?”
His frown deepened. “She shouldn’t have, no. And there’s no way she could have …” He lowered his voice, a look of concern on his features. “Did she tell you something?”
“Of course not. She mentioned that she had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
His face cleared. “Oh yeah, our confidentially agreements are rock solid. When you sign a Pro-Tek NDA, you’re agreeing to take our secrets to your grave.” He stopped and looked at her, realizing what he’d said, and smiled. “You know what I mean.”
“Right.” She stood, picking up her dishes. “I better get going, but I’ve enjoyed our conversation. I’ll see you around.”
He winked at her. “Not if I see you first.”
He was joking, but Alex’s stomach flip-flopped a bit. Bryce had motive and means. But had he had opportunity? She had to talk to Dylan and see if his alibi was rock-solid.
* * *
Alex stood at the reception desk for Wesley Inc. She asked to see Dylan, and the young woman in a blue blazer told her she’d call him down.
Alex walked around the lobby, taking in the various pieces of artwork on the walls, when she heard a group of footsteps and animated talking. She turned to see a group of young people in smart suits, heels, and spit-shined loafers, crossing the lobby. Celeste was in the group, Alex noted. She moved toward the group and called to her.
