Sandie James Mysteries Box Set

by Tessa Kelly

  Dr. Huber spoke, his voice quieter but also urgent, “Ron, try to calm yourself. Don’t say or do anything now, not before the wedding. You can always settle matters after the ceremony is over.”

  “I don’t know that I can wait that long.” There was a long, heavy sigh, almost a sob. “I see him and my blood starts to curdle. Look at my hands, they’re shaking. Look!”

  The other clicked his tongue. “Remember your blood pressure. It won’t do to get yourself all worked up like this. What’s done is done. Come on, friend. Let’s take a walk around the grounds. If that doesn’t calm you down, you’ll need to take a sedative. You’re worrying me.”

  Footsteps approached the door. I sprang away and hurried down the stairs, the soft carpet silencing my retreat. My mind buzzed with questions that sent a new wave of worry through me. Who was Dr. Jennings talking about, and what did Dr. Huber mean by “settling matters?”

  Down at the dock, the others were boarding the sailboat, trying not to crowd each other. Even with some of the guests staying behind, it looked like we were going to be a large company of twelve.

  “Isn’t Pat coming?” I asked as I gave Nancy a hand up.

  “Oh, no! Pat gets horribly seasick. She said she was going to lie down. Unless...” She stopped as if struck by a sudden thought and a shadow of worry creased her forehead.

  “What is it, Nancy?”

  She shook her head and smiled. “You know, it’s probably nothing. I’m sure she’ll be fine. I’ll just check on her when we get back.”

  She didn’t sound too sure. I wondered what she was worried about.

  Next to me, Geraldine glanced over everyone present, then nodded to Timothy waiting on the dock to untie the mooring lines. “I think that’s everyone. We’re good to go.” Her gaze fell on Susan and she frowned. “I know Jennifer said she had some last-minute things to take care of for the wedding, but I’m surprised your brother isn’t here. Should we wait for him?”

  Susan tossed her head. “Carl’s not coming. And he’s not the only one, by the way. If you haven’t noticed, Leonie isn’t here either. I heard her tell that guy Eric that she wasn’t feeling well. But then I saw her going down to the guest quarters instead of the hotel.”

  Vincent sniggered and made suggestive gestures to show what he thought the two must be up to in the guest quarters. “Your bro’s got game! Took him less than an hour to hook that nice piece of—”

  Geraldine made a loud cough, stopping him mid-sentence. Vincent grinned, unapologetic.

  I decided we needed to change the subject. “I noticed you call your brother Carl, Susan. But your mother calls him Charles. It made me wonder what his real name is.”

  Susan flicked her eyes at me in a bored way. “His real name is Carlos. He was named after our dad but Mother won’t use that name anymore. She changed it when Carl was ten. I think that was just dumb.”

  “I think talking this way about your mother is disrespectful,” John said, coming up behind her with Henry.

  Susan rolled her eyes. “Fine. Sorry, Uncle John.” She spun on her heels and headed to the other side of the boat, towing Vincent after her by the hand.

  “This whole weekend is so lame,” I heard her whisper as they went past me. “We could be in Vegas right now, instead of this stupid place.”

  Vincent draped his arm around her shoulders. “No worries, we’ll get there.”

  John watched them go with a slight frown on his face. He and Henry exchanged a glance.

  Henry shrugged. “What can you do? Young people are always rebellious.” He put his arm around Geraldine and they smiled at each other in a way that only two people who made each other happy could smile. This was their weekend, and no amount of drama would darken it. I hoped their optimism would pay off, or that I was wrong about the clouds gathering over our heads.

  The boat left the dock and drifted smoothly out to sea. It was a lovely evening out on the water. The setting sun sprayed feathered clouds across the sky, like giant golden flowers that gradually turned mauve, while the wind quieted down to a gentle breeze. For a while, hardly anyone spoke as we watched the colors change. A few feet away from me, Tray took my sister’s hand. Even Susan and Vincent were quiet, sitting with their arms wrapped around each other.

  A deep sigh escaped me before I could stop it. Why couldn’t Liam be here to share this moment with me?

  We’d been seeing each other for months, but Liam still hadn’t said whether we were a couple. I kept telling myself I was fine with it. Who needed serious conversations about the future when we were both so happy in the present, right?

  “Quite a view out here. Don’t you think?”

  I turned to see John at my side. He wasn’t looking at the view, though. He was studying my face.

  “You don’t seem to be enjoying the outing,” he pointed out.

  “Of course I am. How could anyone not enjoy this view?”

  “But something’s bothering you,” he insisted gently. “You can tell me to mind my own business but...I’d like to help if I can.”

  Over at the wheel, Eric suddenly motioned for Timothy to take over while he hurried below deck. Majandra rose from the cushioned bench she’d been sitting on and put her elbow on Timothy’s shoulder. Arching her back like a cat stretching, she purred something into his ear, which made him grin. Neither looked concerned by Eric’s departure.

  “I hope we haven’t sprung a leak,” I whispered, half-joking.

  John smiled. “I’m sure we’re fine. Are you avoiding answering my question?”

  There was no point in trying to convince him everything was a hundred percent, but I didn’t feel like sharing my thoughts about Liam, either. Then I remembered the publishing editor’s email.

  “I got some bad news about my manuscript today. Another rejection.” I shrugged so he wouldn’t think I was completely broken up about it.

  John nodded with understanding. “Those things can be tough, I’m sure. I do hope it won’t deter you from trying again, though. Everyone goes through rejection in the beginning. It’s almost inevitable, or so I’m told.”

  “I’m just wondering how much more of it I can take before the whole thing goes sour. I’m starting to have doubts about my abilities as a writer.”

  Behind us, Vincent sidled up to Timothy and was asking him questions about the boat’s speed and whether he could take the wheel for a bit.

  “Can you sail?” Timothy asked, looking doubtful.

  “Vince has a sailing and a pilot’s license,” Susan boasted. Leaning against her boyfriend, she wrapped her arms around his middle.

  Timothy grinned. “Then, sure. Be my guest.” He moved aside to let Vincent take the wheel.

  Susan and Vincent exchanged gleeful looks. At least they were finding ways to have fun instead of grumbling.

  The waves were turning a deeper blue now that the last of the sunlight faded from the sky. Some of that light lingered in John’s eyes, a spark of an idea. He leaned sideways on the railing, angling his body toward me. “A good friend of mine in Boston is an editor at a well-known publishing house. I could send him your novel if you like.”

  My novel with a big publisher. From the corner of my eye, I saw temptation rearing up. I shook my head before it could grab hold of me. “That’s really nice of you, but I can’t. I have to get there on my own, not because I know someone who knows someone.” I glanced at him sideways. Was he offended by my refusal? He just laughed.

  “I must say, that’s very admirable of you.”

  Something in his voice made me look at him more closely. “What you mean is, I’m being silly. Right?”

  He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Not silly, no. But I’m sure you’re aware that when you’re starting out, it helps if someone can open the door for you.”

  “I know.”

  But knowing made little difference. I went back to staring at the water, wondering if I was being a stubborn fool for turning down his offer.

  There was
a sound of footsteps behind us and Eric came up on deck, looking pale but calm. A smile fleeted across his face at the sight of Vincent at the wheel. “I think I’ll take over from here if you youngsters don’t mind.” He waved at the rest of us. “We’ll be heading back to the hotel now, in case anyone wants to take some last-minute photos.”

  The boat made a large hook and took direction toward the shore.

  “How about this,” John said. “I’ll show your novel to my friend and ask him to give his thoughts, nothing more. Knowing him, he’ll give you his honest opinion, even if it’s brutal. Then, at least, you won’t have to wonder anymore if your work has publishing potential.”

  I thought about it, but there wasn’t anything to object to in his offer. “I could really use an opinion of a professional. I’ll send you the file once we’re back at the hotel.”

  “Good.” He smiled. “It’ll be in my friend’s inbox in the morning.”

  Over by the bow, Susan suddenly squealed and pointed at the ocean. “There’s a school of dolphins over there! Look!”

  She was right. Not ten feet away from us, several dolphins were leaping gracefully out of the water and plunging back in, one after another.

  “That’s not a school,” Timothy said, coming up behind her. “Dolphins travel in families called “pods”, up to fifteen animals in each. There’s usually several females with calves and adult males. Many times, a few pods will band together and then they become a “herd”. This way, it’s easier for them to fight off larger predators.”

  His voice was quite serious but his eyes, never breaking contact with Susan’s, were a different story. They had that indefinable something that makes some women forget common sense. Susan’s cheeks flushed. She sat hanging on to his every word. Vincent took one look at her and straightened to his full height, fixing the older man with a hostile glare.

  He wasn’t the only one annoyed. Majandra ambled over to them with a big smile frozen on her face and angled her body to Timothy’s in a way that put a barrier between him and the young woman.

  Nancy sidled up to us, looking scandalized. “Don’t get me wrong, this is a lovely outing,” she whispered, “but I could certainly do without...you know who.”

  John smiled noncommittally, too tactful to discuss his uncle’s guests.

  “I know Eric is Henry’s longtime friend and all,” Nancy continued, “but the others make me nervous. I wish that whole merry bunch just kept on sailing and never came here. Especially the tall one,” she added, meaning Timothy. “He’s already got himself one attached woman. Is that not enough for him? Now he’s moving in on Susan. He’s trouble, I’m telling you.”

  “Yes, but we’re only here for the weekend,” I said, trying to make light of it. “That’s not enough time to cause trouble. Besides, his type of charisma wouldn’t work on everyone.”

  John gave me a long sideways glance that was hard to read. He seemed on the verge of saying something, but his eyes traveled past me to stare at something over my shoulder.

  I turned to see what had riveted his attention.

  From his captain’s post, Eric stood watching Timothy with his wife, deep hatred etched in every line of his pale face. It seemed, if not for the necessity to stay at the wheel, he would spring on his crewman and tear him to pieces.

  Chapter 6

  Darkness fell by the time we reached the dock. Though the moon gave some visibility, Timothy and Majandra turned down the lights on the boat to make navigation easier. Then Timothy, as the more experienced sailor, took the wheel while Eric monitored the gauges and adjusted the throttle, relieving his crewman of the necessity to take his eyes off the shoreline.

  There was no danger of hitting any other boats. As a courtesy, the hotel had temporarily moved all its watercraft to the marina on the other side of the island.

  We docked smoothly and Eric got out first and tied the boat with the mooring lines. Then he and Timothy helped the rest of us to disembark. When everyone except Majandra was ashore, Timothy ran up the gangplank again and made as if to pick her up.

  “Gonna throw you overboard!” he threatened, grinning.

  She fought him off, laughing like a schoolgirl, then suddenly grabbed him by his shirt collar.

  Surely, she wasn’t about to kiss him? Not with her husband less than three feet away.

  She didn’t. Just pulled him close, talking in a low, seductive voice. But definitely not low enough for Eric as he sat crouching to double-check the ties on the mooring lines.

  “Are you two coming or not?” he growled after a moment.

  “Oh! Sure, honey-bunch.” Majandra moved to disembark, but Timothy lingered behind.

  “I’ll stay on the boat tonight,” he said.

  Majandra stopped, suddenly hesitant to leave. I stopped too, uneasiness a tight knot in my stomach.

  “Are you sure?” Majandra sounded worried.

  “Sure I’m sure! Babe, you know I like sleeping on the water better than the hotel.”

  “You sailors!” She laughed, but it sounded forced, unnatural. “You’re all the same. Can’t sleep in a bed unless it’s in motion!”

  With Eric’s help, she clambered out onto the dock, glancing back several times as the two of them walked slowly past me up and continued up the slope.

  I followed them, also looking back several times. Was it my imagination? The thought of Timothy alone on the boat overnight made my feet heavy with apprehension. At the hotel’s glass doors, I paused to look back again.

  Someone touched my arm, making me jump, but it was only Nancy.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she whispered. “That scoundrel has no trouble sleeping on land. He just wants to have the boat to himself. I bet he’s got a date lined up. I just hope it’s not with the young girl.”

  “You mean, Susan?” I peered over at her and almost burst out laughing. The ocean air had made her hair expand to twice its normal size and in the yellow light spilling from the hotel she looked like a giant, angry dandelion gone to seed.

  “I doubt Susan would start sneaking around with Timothy,” I assured her, trying not to smile. “Not with her boyfriend here.”

  Nancy sniffed. “Like I said, I wish that whole company had kept sailing and never came here. Geraldine doesn’t need all this drama on her wedding day.”

  I held the door open for her, hoping that would put an end to this conversation. I was feeling jumpy enough as it was. “You’re a good friend, Nancy. Geraldine is lucky to have you here.”

  Nancy’s face softened as she went in. Then she stopped and looked back at me. “Aren’t you coming in, dear?”

  “In a moment.”

  Lingering by the door, I wrapped my sweater tightly around my body and breathed in the salty air. With everyone inside, there was nothing but the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore to break the night’s stillness. It seeped into my pores, dispelling some of the anxiety.

  Maybe I was worrying for nothing, seeing dangers where there were none. Nothing but petty domestic intrigue.

  Plus, even if my fears were grounded, what could I do? Timothy had the right to sleep on the boat. Apart from setting up an overnight camp out on the lawn, my hands were tied.

  With a last long look at the boat, I went inside and the glass door closed quietly behind me. Despite my resolve not to worry, I couldn’t help thinking there was something funereal about the sound.

  Checking my phone as I went upstairs, I saw that Liam had sent me a “good night, I miss you” text.

  A glowing feeling kindled in my chest, warming me like a hot cup of tea after a long, dreary day out in the cold. I was being silly. Of course Liam cared about me! He might not have said anything about being a couple, but he showed his feelings in so many other ways.

  I stopped in the middle of the hallway and wrote a reply, telling Liam I missed him too. Then, remembering John’s offer to show my novel to his friend, I emailed him my manuscript.

  The sound of a shower going made me look u
p. I saw I was standing next to Vincent and Susan’s room and their door was slightly open. Inside, Vincent was pacing back and forth, a phone at his ear as he listened to someone on the other line.

  The water stopped. A moment later, there was a sound of a door opening. Vincent hung up and tossed the phone on the bed. He spread his arms wide.

  “Just talked to them and they said everything’s ready. Unless you’d rather head down to the boat and flirt with that old dude some more.”

  Susan’s voice sounded coy. “He’s not an old dude, Vince. Just mature. And very experienced, obviously.”

  Vincent’s hands fell to his sides.

  There was a tinkling of laughter and Susan threw her arms around his neck. “Don’t be silly, of course I’m excited! This is gonna be awesome!”

  I stepped away from the door, not wanting them to know I was privy to whatever antics they were up to.

  Once in my room, I undressed and took a shower, then climbed into bed, exhausted by the day. But I had barely closed my eyes when the commotion in the corridor woke me up again. It sounded like several people were talking loudly at once.

  I rolled over and peered at the clock on the bedside table. Four-thirty a.m.

  Someone ran past my door, the sound of footsteps dwindling down the hallway. They were followed by more hurried footsteps. My heart began to pound faster. Something wasn’t right.

  Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I threw on a terry cloth robe and padded across the carpeted floor to the door.

  Out in the hallway, Nancy, her hair in disarray, was hurrying to the stairs. As I stepped out, she made a beeline toward me.

  “Have you heard? Eric’s sailboat became unmoored during the night. Can you believe it? It’s missing with that Timothy guy on board!”

  The muscles at the back of my neck were suddenly stiff with tension. “Has anyone called the authorities yet?”

  “Oh, yes! They’re on their way. I’m going down to the dock. Everyone else was headed that way. Come on!”

  Almost everyone had gathered at the dock by the time we got there, including the hotel staff. Carl came running from the direction of the guest bungalows as we arrived.