Photo Finished

by Dane McCaslin

  "You need to gather some things. We'll stay at my place tonight."

  "What did the detective say?" I asked, ignoring his words.

  "They found casings at the tree line in the backyard. No footprints. Nothing else to give them any indication of who could have done this." Jimmy sat heavily onto the couch, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

  He looked tired, and I wondered if I looked that way too.

  I sat down next to him and took his hand in mine. He laced our fingers together and tugged me until we were settled hip to hip.

  "At this point it could be anyone. Derrick, Patti, and Dax all saw you at the house. They all had reason and time to try to kill you tonight. And don't be mistaken, Autumn. Whoever did this—they had every intention of killing you. You're just lucky they're a bad shot."

  I shivered at the implications of his words. I could be full of lead right now, or worse, dead. But I wasn't. And I had to be close to figuring this thing out, or the killer wouldn't be worried about my questions and snooping.

  "What about Phil?" I asked, hoping to get our minds off my hypothetical dead body.

  "Phil's tox report came back full of heroin, just like Kailani. It looks like the killer drugged him then tied a rope around his neck and hoisted him up like a pulley."

  I cringed, and Jimmy tugged me tighter to him. "This isn't a game, Red. It's life or death. I just wish you'd leave it alone."

  I didn't respond. What could I say? I was more determined than ever to find who had done this. The killer had tried to take me out today. I was tired of feeling scared and looking over my shoulder. I planned to prove that the Stones and Dax were involved, and I knew just the way to do it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  I awoke the next morning around four a.m. I hadn't slept well last night since I wasn't in my own bed. Jimmy's place was a typical bachelor pad—no decorations, sparse furniture, and a queen-sized bed in his bedroom. His couch was hard as a rock, so we slept on his bed. Together.

  It wasn't the first time we'd slept on his bed. I'd once had too much to drink and had to stay the night. And even though we remained fully clothed, this time seemed different. More intimate somehow. So I'd lain awake most of the night, pondering the change in our relationship, while the bear slept soundly on the other side, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Not to mention, Jimmy was a big guy. The two of us on one queen bed was a tight squeeze.

  I got out of the shower, realizing too late that I'd left all my clothes in Jimmy's room. Praying he was still asleep, I wrapped the tiny towel—seriously, he was the size of a mountain, and he had the smallest towels ever—around my body and crept into the dark room. Rummaging through my bag, I heard a noise and jerked around.

  My gaze fell on Jimmy's. He was sitting up in bed, his bare chest reflecting the light from the bathroom. I could feel the heat of his gaze on every inch his eyes touched. Groaning, he lay back down, pulling the covers over his head.

  "I was worried when you weren't in the bed. Thought you'd left," he said.

  "No, I was just getting a shower. I have to be there early for the sunrise."

  "I'm right behind you. Let me know when you're done. We can go together."

  I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and hightailed it back to the bathroom.

  Rushing through my bathroom routine, I donned my swimsuit, short cotton shorts, and a yellow tank top. I'd be on a board part of the day or having my hair blown around by the ocean breeze. There was no sense in getting all dolled up for a day on the beach. I put on sunscreen, pulled my hair into a messy bun, and pronounced myself ready.

  Jimmy was up and making coffee when I left the bathroom. He looked me over from head to toe when I entered the kitchen, and grunted. Pushing past me, he went into the bathroom and closed the door. Moments later, the shower turned on. Someone was grumpy!

  Heat flooded my face as I thought about him being naked just in the next room. Shaking my head, I tried to steer the train of thought that was clearly going off track. "Get a grip, Autumn."

  I took a sip of the scalding coffee and grabbed a doughnut off the counter. I checked all my equipment and took it out to the car. When I finished and returned to Jimmy's apartment, he was standing in the doorway of his bedroom, his hair slightly damp from the shower, board shorts hung low on his hips, and a tight tank top stretched to its limits across his broad chest.

  I heard a sigh before realizing that it was from me. Embarrassed, I turned to top off my coffee and poured it into a disposable one. "You ready?" I said, my voice sounding strangled and weird.

  A light chuckle was Jimmy's response. He touched my lower back as he scooted past me into the kitchen, reaching up to grab another disposable cup to pour his coffee into. The intimate nature of us sharing a morning routine felt odd and yet strangely right. As if this intimate time together was exactly as it should be.

  "I'm ready. How 'bout you?" Jimmy asked, his voice close to my ear.

  I turned around and found him standing very close. My gaze shifted to his mouth, and I wondered what it would be like to kiss him. I bet he tasted of mint and coffee.

  With a grin—just a sideways tip of his mouth—Jimmy broke the moment and strode to the door. He opened it, turning to see if I'd followed. Scrambling to keep up—what had just happened?—I hurried out the door and to the car.

  When we arrived at the International Surf Classic, photographers and vendors were already there setting up. I took out my equipment and took my spot on the beach. Jimmy retrieved a board for me so that I could follow the surfers out into the ocean for closer shots. Sometimes there was just no getting around being in the water with them.

  Just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, I took picture after picture. Several surfers had begun warming up, and the shots I was able to get were simply stunning. Once the sun rose, the hustle and bustle began, and people flocked to the beach.

  I saw Juls speed walking with her clipboard in hand, hurrying from one person to another. I lifted my hand to her, and she nodded in reply. No time even for a wave, I guessed. I was finding that Juls was more of a perfectionist than I was. There was no doubt that every i had been dotted and every t crossed for the day's event.

  Jimmy stuck close by my side all morning. I knew he had work to do, but somehow, he managed to make it all happen within shouting distance of me. I had the amazing opportunity to make connections with the surfers and some of the sponsors. After a couple of hours, my pockets were full of business cards and phone numbers had been hastily written on the small notebook I'd thought to bring with me.

  I noticed the heavy police presence and thought that maybe Detective Ray took my words more seriously than he'd let on. I'd decided last night that I needed to find a way to get to Ecoboards' shelter, which had been temporarily erected for the event, and examine their surfboards. If I could find more of the boards like Phil's, then maybe I could alert the police and they could take them down today before the drop happened. But with the watchdog named Jimmy with his eyes on me all day, it was making it difficult to get away.

  Jimmy jogged over to me, his walkie talkie in hand. "Red, I have to go down the beach a little ways. There's a missing kid, probably just wandered away from her parents, but I need to go over and see if we can find her."

  "Of course. Go." I could only imagine the fear her parents were enduring at that moment. But I couldn't help the little twinge of excitement that I was going to have a few moments to do a little digging. I just hated that it was a little lost girl that was giving me the opening.

  "Don't go far, ok?" Jimmy asked, eyeing me with suspicion.

  "I won't." And I wasn't lying. Ecoboards' shelter was just a couple of hundred feet down the beach. That wasn't far.

  * * *

  I watched after Jimmy as he left and then turned my attention down the beach. I casually walked, taking pictures of the crowds and some of the surfers warming up. They were on a break, so it was the perfect time to do a little snooping.
/>   As I got nearer to Ecoboards' shelter, I saw Dax and Derrick with their heads together, standing right out front. I waited, hoping they'd leave so I could go in. Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, they disappeared around the side.

  Seeing my chance, I darted into the shelter, thankful it was open. I patted my camera bag, making sure I had the pepper spray Jimmy had given me last night before we'd turned in. In case we get separated, he'd said. I had to admit, it made me feel a little safer having it on me.

  The shelter was dark, smelling of wax and sunscreen. I would just take a look, see if the boards were there, and then call Detective Ray. I saw the board Dax had used at the beach. It was very distinctive, with its swirling strokes of teals and reds. It looked more like a high-dollar contemporary work of art than a surfboard.

  I moved quickly, running my hand along the side to find the little button for the secret compartment. Finding it, I pressed down, and the compartment opened. Feeling around, I pulled out a small brown package. I went to open the bag, when a sound caught my attention.

  I whirled around. Dax stood in the door of the shed.

  "What are you doing here?" he growled, angrier than I'd ever seen anyone.

  He lunged for me, and I tried to move away, but I wasn't fast enough. Grabbing at my arms, Dax tried to pull me up against his body. I broke free, and he grabbed my hair. Yelping, I found the pepper spray in the pocket of my camera bag. Spinning around, I wrenched my ponytail free of his grasp. Then with my hands lifted in front of my face, I sprayed him right in the eyes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  As soon as I knew I'd put enough space between us, I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.

  "Jimmy!" I shouted into the phone.

  "What is it, Red?" His voice sounded menacing, as if whoever might have put the fear he heard in my voice there better watch out.

  "Dax. I found drugs in his surfboard. He caught me and tried to hurt me, but I sprayed him with the pepper spray." The words came out jumbled, and I didn't have time to take a breath between phrases, so I gulped in air once I was done.

  "Where are you?" he asked calmly. Almost too calmly.

  "Back where you left me."

  "Don't move." He clicked off, and I looked at the phone, puzzled.

  After a few minutes, I saw Jimmy jogging up the beach toward me.

  I ran to meet him, and he scooped me up in his arms, burying his face in my neck.

  "I'm sorry. The little girl. Did they—"

  "We found her. She'd just wandered down the beach. Fortunately, she knew enough to talk to a lifeguard. Let's go someplace we can talk."

  I was confused as to why we needed to go somewhere private. And why wasn't he calling the police?

  "Don't we need to call Detective Ray and tell him?"

  "Just hang on, Red. I'll explain it all."

  I didn't understand his words or why we weren't notifying the police, but I didn't have a choice but to go along if I wanted answers. And I definitely wanted answers.

  We ducked into one of the security tents, and I found a chair and sat down. My legs were sore from the running I'd done. Maybe I should work out more. I brushed that thought aside. Not going to happen.

  Jimmy sat in the chair across from me.

  "Look, Autumn."

  It must be serious if he was using my given name and not my nickname he loved so much. I leaned forward, wary now of what he was about to tell me.

  Dax Toki burst into the tent, and I scrambled to my feet with a squeal. Reaching for the pepper spray again, I stopped when Jimmy put his arms up between us. "Calm down, Red. I can explain."

  "He tried to hurt me—" I yelled.

  "I was trying to help you," Dax said. His eyes were bloodshot, and snot was running out of his nose.

  That pepper spray really messed him up. Good. I snorted in disbelief.

  "He's telling the truth," Jimmy said.

  Shocked at his words, I turned. "What?"

  "Sit."

  "I'd rather stand."

  "Fine."

  "Fine."

  Jimmy took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "Dax has been working as an informant for the police."

  "What? You're just now telling me this?"

  "I couldn't tell you. It was police business."

  "You're not the police."

  Oops. Low blow. "Sorry, I just mean, you're resort security. And really good at it, I might add." I had to make up for my snide-sounding remark.

  "But why would they fill you in and not me?" Anger blurred my vision. "Is it because I'm a woman? It's because I'm a woman, isn't it?" I cocked my hip out and placed my hand there, hoping I looked angry and intimidating. By Jimmy's exasperated look, I wasn't doing a great job at it.

  "No, it wasn't because you're a woman. Geez, Red, will you shut up a minute so I can talk?"

  I started to get mad at his attitude but then met his eyes. The pleading there softened my response, and I took a seat and shut my mouth.

  "Detective Ray told me last night because I was getting ready to go over and beat Dax into a bloody pulp."

  "You could try—"

  "Shut up, Dax," we both said at the same time.

  A slight smile lifted Jimmy's lips at our precisely timed response. "Anyway, Detective Ray needed my help today with the security. They're planning to take down the whole ring. Not just the Stones but also the buyers. If they're assumptions are right, this could be a huge bust. The DEA is here too. My guys were just on the lookout for anything suspicious, and we have radio contact with all three departments. I couldn't tell you. Plus, I'd told you to stay put, so I didn't think you'd be in any danger, especially since I'd planned to stay by your side the whole day. Then the girl went missing, and you didn't cooperate—"

  I glared at him.

  "Sorry. It's just you can be so impulsive!"

  I glared harder.

  "I'm not helping myself, am I?"

  He bent down and took my hands in his. "I love that you're impulsive. And smart. And so damned beautiful it hurts my eyes. But keeping you safe is feeling like a full-time job these days." He smiled.

  I might have taken offense at his last assertion, except for the smart and beautiful comments. I was too rattled by the tenderness in his eyes and sincerity of his words. Jimmy cupped my face in his hands. "So do you forgive me?"

  I nodded. What else could I do?

  "Ok, so now that you know, it's important that you don't say anything. Dax's safety, as well as the officers' and agents' here, is at stake."

  "I won't say a word."

  "And please don't run off without telling me? The whole thing will be going down soon, and I don't want to be worried that somehow you'll be caught in the crossfire."

  "I won't."

  He squeezed me tight, and Dax made a gagging noise from behind him.

  "Shut up!" we both said again. Jimmy pulled back, a grin spreading across his cheeks.

  I glanced at my watch. "I have to go. The next competition is getting ready to start."

  Jimmy released me. When I passed by Dax, he stuck his hand out.

  I paused. "And you had nothing to do with the murders?"

  "I cross my heart. I'm just trying to help the police. I'll admit I've been working for Derrick for the past several months, but once Noe was killed and Detective Ray called me in for questioning, I agreed to go undercover in exchange for immunity."

  He looked ashamed, and I felt for him. Just a little. He was a young guy, not even old enough to buy alcohol. It was easy to get caught up in things.

  I shook his hand. "I'm sorry I scared you," he said.

  "That's ok. I'm sorry that I sprayed you in the face with pepper spray." I shrugged, and Dax laughed.

  "So if you aren't responsible for the murders, does that mean the Stones are?"

  "We don't know. Detective Ray has only told me to be careful. He hasn't shared anything pertaining to the deaths."

  And my plan to give the police the final nail in the
coffin had failed. Now what?

  * * *

  The second competition required me to be on a board in the water. I loved this part because the shots I could get were stunning. The down side was you had to have really good balance and fast paddling skills. Since I tended more toward the klutzy side of things and not the graceful side, this wasn't a part of the job I was particularly good at. Every time I went out was an improvement, though. I planned to kill it out there, no pun intended.

  I paddled out, following a particular surfer as he steered his surfboard along the swell. The guy was really good, but I wasn't sure what country he was from. I took the shots and continued on to another contestant. After clicking several amazing shots, I glanced down at my camera to see what I had.

  As I scrolled through the pictures—the only nice thing about a digital camera was instant gratification—my mind started to wander, and I tried to piece together what I knew.

  Derrick Stone was running drugs hidden in specially made surfboards. Patti Stone must know about it, hence the phone call she'd taken that day in the spa. Patti had a thing for Noe and Phil and was angry that Kailani had garnered both their attention. Jealous, unrequited love? Derrick knew that Kailani had known about the drugs and had photos of him and Dax in a compromising position. Did she threaten to go to the police? Was that why she was so scared the night she'd called me?

  I heard shouts behind me and looked up. A surfboard came out of nowhere, knocking me off my board. I tumbled head over heels under the waves, not knowing which way was up. Salt water went up my nose, and I tried to keep from inhaling it. I scrambled under water, my air supply running low. I was going to drown. I'd been run off the road and shot at in the last two days, but a rogue surfboard was going to be my undoing.

  Talk about bad luck!

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  I started to see spots. Dark shadows were closing in. Just as I gave up hope of ever finding my way to the surface, strong arms grabbed me around the waist and pulled me up, breaking the water.