A Deadly Pair O'Docks

by Nicole Ellis

  “They have been closer in recent years. I’ve been out of touch since getting married and then having the kids. I think Becca chose me though because we were roommates so long. We were quite close back then.” She looked wistful.

  “Has Lindsay always been like this?”

  “No. Even compared to earlier in the week, she’s become more unhinged.”

  “Unhinged enough to have murdered her husband?”

  “I don’t know.” Desi rummaged through her purse and pulled out a bar of chocolate. “Want half?”

  My stomach grumbled. We’d never eaten the snacks Becca had offered. And she was offering me chocolate. Enough said.

  15

  I’d set up interviews with two babysitters who looked promising and had arranged to meet them at the BeansTalk Café.

  “You look prepared.” Desi gestured to the two notebooks I held in my hands.

  “I want to make sure I select the right person to take care of Mikey and Ella.”

  “Ok, no judgment. I went through the same thing when we were looking for someone to help out. Luckily, the neighbor girl is usually available when my parents or the in-laws can’t watch the kids.”

  “I wish my parents lived closer.” Then again, I wasn’t sure I did want them to live near us. In June, my parents had announced their intention to separate after over thirty years of marriage. Their declaration had hurt, and as much as I tried to be ok with it, I was happy to have many miles distancing me from having to see them apart.

  “What time is the first person supposed to be here?”

  I looked at my watch. “In about five minutes. Can I please have a cup of coffee and a cherry Danish to eat here?”

  She rang me up and then set a piping hot mug of coffee and a plated pastry on the counter. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks, I need it.” I grabbed a napkin and sat down at a table near a window overlooking Lighthouse Park.

  Five minutes came and went. When it was twenty minutes past our arranged meeting time, I checked my e-mail. Nothing from the prospective babysitter. I logged onto BabySitNW.com and checked my account. I had the correct time. She’d stood me up. Well, cross that one off the list. The next person, a woman in her early twenties named Rachel, was due to arrive in fifteen minutes.

  At our appointed meeting time, Rachel appeared in the doorway to the café. She looked exactly like her picture on the website. She searched the room and I waved. She smiled and came over to me.

  “Hi.” She extended her hand to me. “I’m Rachel.”

  “Nice to meet you, I’m Jill.” I gestured for her to sit down.

  “Do you mind if I get a cup of coffee first? I haven’t had my caffeine yet for the day.”

  “Go ahead. This is my third cup.” I took a big sip from it and smiled at her.

  She bounced away with more energy than I’d ever had, even before having the kids. So far, so good. Rachel had been on time, seemed to have enough energy to play with Mikey, and she loved coffee. A girl after my own heart.

  When she returned with her coffee, she sat down across from me and pulled out a notebook. I stared at her.

  She noticed and said, “I like to be prepared and take notes so I don’t forget things.”

  Check, check. Maybe this finding-a-babysitter thing wouldn’t be as difficult as I’d imagined. It had started out rough, but things were improving. I went through my list of questions for her, including first-aid knowledge and work history. She passed them with flying colors. When I was through, I closed my notebook.

  “I think you and my kids will be a good match. Do you have time to meet them this evening?”

  “I’m sorry, I’m not available in the late afternoons and evenings. I’m taking nursing classes at the local community college.” She looked apologetic. “It was in my profile.”

  My heart sunk. I really needed someone who was available in the evenings too in case I had to work a nighttime event at the Boathouse. I must have missed that detail about her availability when I was digging through all the babysitters on the site.

  “Oh.”

  “But I’m available during the days.” Her face was full of hope.

  I couldn’t say no. Rachel was my dream babysitter. Adam would be home most nights in the future, and we’d have to figure out how to make it work.

  “How about we schedule a get-together for later in the week?”

  “Sounds good.” She smiled at me and pulled out her phone, ready to note our appointment on her calendar.

  We arranged a meeting time, and we both stood. I shook her hand.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting Mikey and Ella,” she said.

  “I’m sure they’ll like you too.”

  She left the café, and Desi came over to my table.

  “So did you find someone? You were talking to her for a while.”

  “I did. Unfortunately, she can’t work evenings, but we’ll work it out.”

  Desi nodded. “I’m glad you found someone. Now maybe you’ll be less stressed.”

  “I doubt that.” I looked through the window, past Lighthouse Park to the blue roof of the Boathouse. “Maybe when Declan’s murderer is caught and we can put this behind us, I’ll feel better about things.”

  “I’m sure that will be soon. I mentioned Lindsay’s prenup to Tomàs, and he said he’d pass the information on. He also gave me another lecture about not getting involved. But how can I do that when I’m in a wedding with all of them?”

  “I don’t know.” I bit my lip. “Maybe he’s right.”

  “Oh, stop.” Desi lifted her head and tilted it toward the counter. “I’ve got to help that customer, but stay for a few minutes longer if you can. I want to take a break, and I’d love some company.”

  She jetted off to help the new customer, and I pulled out my phone to check my calendar. It was jam-packed until after Labor Day. The achy feeling in my stomach returned, and I wondered if I had an ulcer. I pushed my coffee cup to the other side of the table.

  The phone vibrated in my hands, startling me. Adam. “Hey, what’s up? I’m so excited! I found someone to help with the kids. She’s great.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  “What’s wrong?” I immediately went into panic mode. “Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, honey, everything is fine. It’s just that I got roped into a last-minute business trip.”

  “When?”

  He cleared his throat. “I fly out tonight. I’ll be gone until Friday.”

  “But what about the kids? You were supposed to take care of Ella while I’m at work.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. I couldn’t get out of this.”

  “You’re supposed to be winding things down.” I could hear the panic and whininess in my tone, but I couldn’t help it.

  “I am.” His voice was harder. “Can’t you take Ella with you to work? Mikey has school most of the day, so he shouldn’t be a problem.”

  I didn’t know what to say. It had been fine to take Ella when she was younger, but now it was difficult to keep her occupied for more than an hour or so in my office.

  “I’ll figure it out.” I hung up the phone.

  He immediately sent me a text.

  I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you. Love you.

  My anger mellowed a little, but I needed to talk with someone before I let the feelings fester. Desi was slammed with customers on their morning coffee breaks, so I rang my mom.

  “Hi, it’s Jill.”

  “Hi, honey.” Her voice took a more concerned tone. “Is something wrong?”

  Motherly anxiety must be hereditary.

  “Everyone’s fine.”

  “Oh, good. You don’t usually call during the middle of the day.”

  “I felt like talking and I had a break.” I reached across the table for my coffee cup, forgetting about a possible ulcer, and wrapped my fingers around the smooth ceramic. The cup had grown cold, but talking with my mom warmed me.

  “Hey, honey, I’m
at the grocery store right now. Is it ok if I call you back in a little bit?”

  “Sure, talk to you later.” I sat at the table feeling very alone. I’d had the good fortune to find a babysitter, but the specter of Declan’s murder still hung over me like a dark cloud. I grabbed a discarded copy of the Ericksville Times from the table next to me. There was a huge picture of the Boathouse above the fold. I groaned. The article talked about how Declan’s body had been found in the Sound, but he was actually killed at Lake Elinor. I checked the byline. Niely MacDonald strikes again.

  I threw the paper down on the table next to me. I didn’t have the emotional capacity to read the article. Something like this would only push the Boathouse further into the spotlight.

  “I’m back.” Desi plopped down in the chair opposite me with a large mug that contained a mocha with a healthy dose of chocolate syrup creating a rich brown swirl across the foam. “Whew. It’s been busy today.”

  “That’s good though.” It hadn’t been that long ago that Desi had gone full-time at the café. It was great to see the business so successful.

  “So what’s new with you?” She eyed me and took a big sip of the mocha, licking the chocolate off her lips when she was done.

  “Adam just found out he’s leaving on a business trip tonight. I don’t know how I’m going to manage with both the kids and work.” I propped my elbow on the table and leaned on it, cupping my chin. “The police still haven’t discovered who killed Declan, and we got more cancellations today. I feel like I’m spending too much time trying to solve his murder and not enough time at the Boathouse. I should be doing damage control... or something to help.”

  “So you want to give up?” Desi raised her eyebrows. “I can’t do this on my own, and we have to figure this out. I’m too close to everyone in the wedding party to be objective. I’ve been friends with most of them for over ten years.”

  “I don’t know what else to do.”

  I didn’t want to look at Desi, so I turned my attention to the walls where she had hung artwork from local artists. At the end of the wall, near the door, was an antique photograph of the Boathouse, probably taken when it was first built in the 1920s. The property had been in Desi and Adam’s family that whole time. Beth and Lincoln had turned it into the premier event center that it was today and preserved that piece of family history. I couldn’t let anything happen to it—the Boathouse was too important for my family’s past and future.

  I took a deep breath. “Ok. I’ll give it another few days, but if we can’t find anything out by the time all the guests leave Lake Elinor on Sunday, I’m done. Deal?”

  She grinned. “Deal. I know we’ll find something we can give to the police to help with their investigation. I can feel it.”

  “I hope you’re right.” For a moment, having a plan of attack lifted my spirits. Then, I remembered my childcare dilemma. “Adam has to go on a business trip tonight, so I have Ella at work with me for the rest of the week. Beth won’t be back for at least another five days. What am I going to do?”

  “I can help,” Desi offered. “It hasn’t been that busy here. My assistant can handle the café for a few days.”

  The bell over the door chimed and a group of elderly women in red hats walked in, lining up at the counter to order. Desi’s assistant, Andrea, called out to her as she scurried around behind the counter, brewing the first beverage while taking the next order.

  I eyed Desi. “I think there’s your answer. You need to take care of the café—it’s your livelihood. I’ll be fine until Beth gets back, ok?”

  She regarded me dubiously. “Ok, but if things get sticky, I’m only a phone call away.” She picked up her plate and mug, then walked briskly over to the counter.

  I didn’t have time to work myself into a tizzy about things because my mother called me back as soon as Desi left.

  “Hey,” I said then was quiet.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “You said everything was ok, but I can tell it’s not.”

  I sighed. “Beth was visiting her sister in Portland and had some problems with her heart that landed her in the hospital.”

  “Oh, no,” my mother said. “Is she ok?”

  “She’ll be fine, but she needed surgery, so she’s stuck there for another several days. Adam was supposed to take care of the kids, but now he has to leave on a final business trip and can’t do it. I hired a babysitter, but she can’t start for a while and has a limited schedule, so I’ll have Ella with me at work for a while. Everything is blowing up at the Boathouse, and I don’t know what to do.” I realized how whiny I sounded and cushioned my words. “But I’ll figure it out, don’t worry.”

  “You’re not going to get much done with a nine-month-old hanging around. Do you want me to come out there? If I leave soon, I can get there by tonight.”

  “No, I don’t want to impose on you. I’ll figure it out.”

  “Honey, they are my grandchildren. It’s not an imposition, and it’s only a six-hour drive. I haven’t seen them in almost two months, and I miss them. I’m happy to do it.”

  I stared out the window at the lighthouse. Was something finally going right?

  “That would be great if you could come out here,” I said with relief. Having my mom around to help would make a big difference in my stress levels.

  “No problem. I’ll see you tonight. I love you, honey.”

  “Love you too, Mom. See you soon.”

  She hung up and I pushed my chair back from the table, carrying my empty plate and mug over to the dish tub by the counter.

  Having my mother bail me out was only a temporary solution and I didn’t want to stress Beth out by asking her to help watch the kids when she returned, so I had to figure our childcare situation out ASAP. If I could get that done and miraculously figure out who’d killed Declan, maybe life could get back to normal.

  16

  I awoke the next morning to the aroma of bacon and eggs. I passed by the kids’ rooms, but judging by all the noise downstairs, they were already awake.

  “Hi, Mommy,” Mikey called out in a sing-song voice. “Did you know Grandma was here?” Without waiting for a response, he said, “I’m showing her how I can do forward rolls like we learned in gymnastics at school.” He pitched himself across the carpeted living room floor in an awkward imitation of a somersault.

  My mother clapped and winked at me from where she was setting breakfast on the dining table. “He’s getting to be quite a good gymnast.”

  Mikey puffed up and said solemnly, “I’m almost ready for the Olympics.”

  I laughed. “Maybe in a few more years.” I directed him over to his seat. “This smells delicious. Can I help with anything?” She’d been busy this morning. Along with the bacon and eggs, she’d cut up a cantaloupe, and filled a bowl with strawberries and blueberries. She’d arrived last night after the kids were in bed, and we’d gone over my schedule for the next few days to confirm who would pick up Mikey at school each day.

  “Nope, we’re good. Sit down and eat before you have to leave.” She placed a mug of coffee in front of me on the table. I smiled gratefully and drank it as quickly as I could without burning my tongue. After finishing breakfast, I showered and dressed, then said goodbye to everyone. Mikey was so excited to have his grandmother around that he didn’t even seem to care that I was leaving.

  I had a routine doctor’s appointment for myself in Seattle that morning, so to make good on my promise to Desi, I made up an excuse to drive a few more miles from my doctor’s office to visit Jared at the dental office he operated with Bill and Declan. Mine was the first car in the parking lot, so I waited to see if he’d come in to work that day. I figured with Declan gone and Bill out for wedding preparations that week, he probably had more than a few patients to see.

  When he arrived, I got out of my car.

  “Hi,” I said, waving to him as he opened his car door.

  He cocked his head to the side. “Hi. Not that I’m not happy to
see you, but what are you doing here? Did we have an appointment?”

  “Sorry to show up like this, but I was hoping I could chat with you for a few minutes about your audio–visual needs for the best man’s speech.”

  “Ok.” He looked puzzled. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to do this over the phone? I feel bad that you came down here.”

  “Oh, no. It was no problem. I had a doctor’s appointment downtown, and I thought I’d swing by here and see you in person.” I made a show of looking at the building. “This is such a nice office building. And those flowers...” I swept my hands in front of me, over the manicured beds of rhododendrons and various perennials. They really were gorgeous and had a wonderful aroma. I sniffed deeply. “They’re so beautiful.”

  He seemed perplexed by my babbling, but at least it had taken his mind off my flimsy excuse to visit him. He got out of the car holding a laptop bag and a cup of coffee. A small ticket had attached itself to his foot, and it fell off in the parking lot.

  “Oh, you dropped something!” I dipped down to pick it up and held it out to him. Before he grabbed it, my eyes honed in on the text on the paper. It was a race slip from Azure Downs, the local horse-racing track, dated the same day as the rehearsal dinner.

  He ripped it from my hand. “Thanks. Now, what did you need to talk with me about?”

  “Your audio–visual needs for your speech at the wedding,” I reminded him.

  “Oh yeah. I’m planning on doing a video with music and playing it from my laptop. Do you have a projector and screen?”

  “We do.” I smiled at him. “That’s no problem, but I’m glad I asked. It can take a while for our crew to set it up.”

  “Great, great.” He moved toward the door.

  Before he could go in, I asked, “I noticed you arguing with Lindsay the other day. I’m not sure why, but she seems to have taken a dislike to me. Is there something bothering her, other than Declan’s death?”

  He scowled. “Lindsay is always after money. She wanted me to liquidate Declan’s share of the practice as soon as possible. I told her that wouldn’t be happening.” He kicked a small pebble off the sidewalk. “His share wouldn’t be worth much anyway. The business hasn’t been doing well.”