‘Mom,’ Rose said, not caring that she wasn’t supposed to upset Pearl. To hell with that – she’d spoken of Reen instead of the person who’d taken care of her for years. Screw the rules; she wanted answers.
Pearl blinked, and then the clouds rolled in again. The movement of her hands over her long strands stopped, and they fell to her lap, one on top of the other. Her shoulders slumped, and she went away again, back into the recesses of her mind.
That was where she kept the important people in her life.
‘Pearl? Mom?’
Pearl swallowed a few times and then looked out at the ocean. Her lashes fluttered before a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Rose released a shuddering breath as if someone punched it out of her. Any memory that came to her mother was a good sign. Sure, it would have been nice if it reminded her of the good times that she and Mom had experienced, but at that point, she wanted to take what she could get.
A sick feeling rolled around in her stomach and a sudden rush of salty air burned in her nose. She stood up and walked away from Pearl, digging her arm against her stomach.
Rose stood like that for some time, listening to Pearl mutter to herself. Some of the words might have been coherent, but the whooshing sound of her heartbeat in her ears blocked everything out.
It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes before Jessie came over to check on them.
For once in her life, Rose allowed the guilt to swallow her up as she left her mother with the CNA. As much as she wanted to be strong, the mention of the sister who’d left them stirred up more than she could handle at that moment.
It hadn’t always been that way. Rose and Reen were close once, even with the age difference. But after Rose’s refusal to go into the water, a place Reen loved more than solid ground, the separation between them widened. It grew bigger throughout the years until Dad died and there was no hope of repairing it.
Instead, she turned her thoughts to the long-haired girl.
By the time Rose made it to downtown, it was early afternoon. Between the traffic and wanting to speak to Reen right away about what Mom had said, she was more distracted than ever. She almost pulled over several times to call Reen about why Pearl might have mentioned her. The last time she considered it – since she wasn’t moving toward The Burrow any quicker – a thought came to her. Maybe Reen had called or sent a letter? That was the only reason Rose could think of for why Mom would remember Reen over her. Reen had made it perfectly clear, more than once, that she wasn’t coming home.
Or was it because Pearl and Reen had a better relationship? While parents swear they love their children equally, Rose tended to pair with Dad most of the time. It started when she was eleven after Rose almost died that night in the ocean. In hindsight, it should have brought them closer together, but part of it had been Rose’s fault. Dealing with a scared kid often frustrated Pearl. It was Rose’s soft-spoken father who calmed her down after any confrontation with Mom.
When she finally reached the downtown area, she slid into the first spot she saw. After turning off the car, she reached for her phone. There was no way she could sit on that information and not want to check in with Reen. It was a huge milestone for Pearl to remember anything about their past. Though, it would be like her sister to not even think of calling Rose after checking in on Pearl.
Instead of calling her, Rose sent a quick text, giving Reen the opportunity to respond when she wanted. If Rose called and caught Reen off guard, the conversation would already start on a bad note.
Once she sent a quick, ‘hey, what’s going on?’ text, she shoved her phone into her bag and focused on the task at hand.
It was a good thing that the library was in the center of town. From there, Rose mapped out a route of places that the girl might have passed on the way to the pier.
A live band played in the center of the park. Each of the male members wore long, flowing wigs of assorted colors while rocking out on their instruments. Groups of tourists in variations of mermaid dress wandered down the streets toward the many activities taking place throughout the town.
Since it was a mermaid festival, most of the activities took place on the beaches. It was a good thing Rose avoided the sand in general. At least she hoped she wouldn’t run into any issues getting the information she needed.
The first stop was Burrow Beans and Sandwich Company, one of the few coffee and deli luncheon places in town. Since Rose could use a little fuel, it was the perfect spot to start. It was close enough to lunchtime that she felt lucky to get the spot she did.
Standing outside of her car, she peered across the small grassy area opposite the café. If the girl passed through there, someone had to have seen her. The trees were sparse and didn’t offer much cover.
Anticipation swirled around inside of her as she crossed the street.
The bell mounted on the edge of the door chimed as she walked into the converted Victorian home. The owners, Olivia and Roger Jennings, lived upstairs. Even though it was warm outside, the heat in the room enveloped her as she crossed to the front counter. The two massive chalkboards above the counter were the only menus for breakfast and lunch, the words written in colorful chalk and perfect script.
Several regulars glanced at Rose as she came into the main dining area. She offered a wave and greeted Harold Kenny, and his two daughters, Jenny and Elizabeth. Powdered sugar was smeared across their lips.
From behind the counter, Joe Richards gave Rose a two-fingered salute, and she smiled at him.
There were only a half-dozen tables, but it was a little awkward to move around during peak times. Teens usually spread themselves out across the thick brown leather couches in the corner of the room. As a kid, Rose spent the better part of her time away from home at the café. That was when Olivia’s father was alive and well.
Such was the case with a lot of townies. The close-knit residents of The Burrow saw no reason to leave.
Too bad Reen didn’t get that memo.
Olivia looked up from the small glass display case after placing another homemade crumb cake inside. Rose had to have a piece. ‘I have a feeling I shouldn’t close the case,’ Olivia said with a smile. She wore false eyelashes today, accentuating her pale green eyes. Glitter sparkled across her bright pink cheeks.
‘Your feeling is right. You know I’m a sucker for those.’
Using a set of tongs, Olivia grabbed two of the cakes inside. As she moved away from the case, Rose spotted her apron. It was the outline of a mermaid’s body, complete with a shell bra.
‘You like?’ she asked. ‘So much easier than renting something. I have a hell of a time keeping a costume clean after working an entire weekend here.’
‘I get it.’ Rose recalled the years when she, Reen, and Mom decorated their own costumes. Mom took it more seriously than most.
Olivia pressed her lips together. ‘How are you, Rose? I heard that you were there when that girl jumped.’ She lowered her voice for the last part, not wanting to scare off the locals milling around the store.
‘I’m fine.’
Olivia diving into the conversation made it much easier. She handed over the bag and went to the cash register. ‘Anything else?’
‘Coffee,’ Rose said. The line behind her grew by five in the time she’d been there. Hungry mermaids clamored forward to look at the menu.
‘Cream? Sugar?’ Olivia asked, even though she didn’t need to.
‘Cream,’ Rose said, eyeing the straight-faced guy attached by the arm to a teen girl. She wasn’t wearing much, and it didn’t look like he was pleased about it. ‘Did anyone see that girl around here?’
‘I didn’t,’ Olivia said, her eyes focused on the steaming hot carafe of coffee in her hands. ‘We were prepping for this weekend. I had a ton of deliveries.’
Rose’s heart sank, but she kept a smile on her face. She had to appear unfazed, but this was the start of her journey. It wouldn’t be much of one if she got all her answers at the first stop, right?
‘If it were me, I’d want to forget it.’ Olivia made a show of shivering by rocking her shoulders and pulling a face. ‘Let’s hope what she did doesn’t affect the bottom line this weekend.’
The silky material of Rose’s skirt bunched in her hands. ‘Good thing it wasn’t you, then,’ Rose said and dropped a ten on the counter. ‘Keep the change.’
As the door closed behind her, Rose remembered why she stopped going there. Olivia rarely had tact. Nothing new since high school and she doubted it ever would change.
Crumpling the top of the bag in her hands, Rose glanced down both sides of the street before crossing. She might receive a heaped serving of karma if she wasn’t too careful. She could blame the rain for not seeing the girl, but there wasn’t any rain when the girl stood atop the railing on the pier.
The knots in her stomach tightened, and the coffee cake didn’t seem as appetizing as she’d thought.
She was about to open her car door when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The feeling beckoned her to pay attention.
A police car cruised down the street. As it approached, she knew who the driver was before Shane turned his head in her direction. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but she knew he saw her. She fished her keys from her bag and opened her car door, suspicious that he’d been following her or somehow knew what she was doing.
But the car drove by. There was no reason for him to question her anyway. She hadn’t done anything, and from his side, it looked as if she was getting something to eat. It was completely innocent.
Though, she couldn’t help watching until he turned around the corner and drove out of sight.
Chapter 5
Instead of taking Main Street, Rose drove through the roads on the outskirts of The Burrow. If the girl intended to head for the pier, she might have walked the path of least resistance.
It was only after her second stop that her stomach settled enough for her to finish the lukewarm coffee and the pastry. As much as Olivia annoyed her, she was a damn good baker.
The coffee cake boosted her energy enough to walk down the small strip of stores. Cafés, consignment shops, and craft stores lined the street. The doors were wide open, welcoming locals and tourists alike. Mermaid-themed flags and banners rippled with the breeze.
She smiled and waved at the older townies setting up folding chairs, reserving their spot for the parade that would take place later that day. Rose hoped to be home by then.
First, she stopped into the florist. The white French doors were open wide, allowing a light breeze to ripple through the petals of the flowers. She grabbed a small vase, intending to give it to Mom, while also giving her an opportunity to start a conversation with Mrs. Jones, the owner.
After several stops, her arms filled with flowers, books, and a beach sarong she never intended on wearing, Rose quickly realized she wasn’t getting anywhere.
While everyone she’d talked to had heard the news, no one had seen anything out of the ordinary. Was there any point of finding this girl or was she on some wild goose chase that would lead her to a dead end?
Her resolve started to falter, but she had to see it through. At least until she reached the pier. Then, she could give up if she wanted to.
Rose kept a slow and even pace as she drove through town. It helped that she was hyper-aware of the newcomers, so there was no fear of people beeping their horns as the car crawled down the road.
She didn’t bother to stop at The Siren. Missy would ask what she was up to and Rose wasn’t sure if she had the strength to lie about it. Under Missy’s piercing gaze, most people couldn’t help telling her the truth. It was as if her best friend could see through someone’s eyes into their heads. If Rose had that superpower, she wouldn’t have to question everyone in town to figure out if she was the only person to see the girl before or after she’d jumped.
During the summer months, the townies clung together, each morning talking about the tourists who behaved out of the ordinary, yet a beautiful young girl came into town, and it was as if she was a ghost, haunting Rose. As the only witness, she was a key person in the investigation into the girl’s reason for jumping. She wasn’t ready to admit it was a suicide. Other than what passed through the gossip mill, it appeared as if no one else in town knew anything more than she did.
Cars packed the assigned lot for the pier. After circling twice, she pulled onto a patch of grass on the edge of the lot. Once she turned the car off, she glanced in the rearview mirror at the ocean behind her.
An elderly couple walked by the pier, slower than she would have liked. But she waited for them to walk further before getting out of the car. It wasn’t the younger folk in town that she had to be careful of, it was the bored older generation who loved to spread dirt around town. Rose never liked listening to it, and she preferred to stay out of it entirely.
A quiver in her stomach accompanied her on the walk to the pier. In the past, it was all she could do to avoid getting close to the water. She’d overcome that feeling a bit more since she’d moved out of her family home, but she preferred buildings and fences between her and the ocean. The scent of the sea didn’t bother her anymore. She’d gone nose blind to it years ago.
Her heart pounded in her chest in time with her steps, closing in on the pier. She buried her fear as much as she could and went to the spot that she’d last seen the girl.
Without getting too close, she stood at the edge of the pier, not too far from where the girl jumped. Her pale outline had stood atop the railing. Her hair had billowed in the breeze, and she’d lifted on her toes before leaping into the water. There wasn’t a splash that time.
The railing looked unassuming and innocent. There was no sign of anything other than knots in the surface. Rose wasn’t sure what she was looking for: a carving of the girl’s name and why she’d flung herself off the edge? Or something less obvious, perhaps?
Her stomach churned, and she pressed her fingers over it, desperate to calm the storm inside of her. She leaned against the opposite railing, pulling from her memory. Was there something she’d missed? Staring out at the wooden railings, she stood there, waiting for something, even though she was unsure what. She considered the last sight for the girl who’d decided that no life was better than living.
Several groups of mermaids walked by the pier. Rose didn’t recognize any of them, but she did pull enough strength to say hello to them. Some were responsive; others gave her a side-eye before moving on. It wasn’t anything new. Tourists came from all over, some from New York. She found them mostly wary of stranger contact.
Just like Shane.
A breeze lifting from the waves tickled the hairs on her arms, forming goose bumps. Anytime she came close to the ocean her body waged an internal war. There was an urge to be closer to it at the same time as wanting to be as far away as possible. Dad had been the only person to understand what she went through when it came to the water; while Mom and Reen splashed in the surf as often as possible, even pushing into the colder months.
‘How did I know I’d find you here?’
She froze in place. Shane’s rumbling voice burrowed deep within her core. He came up beside her and crossed his arms, cocking his head to the side.
She cleared her throat. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I’ve been to a lot of crime scenes,’ Shane said, staring out at the ocean. ‘People involved always find their way back.’
‘You think I’m involved in this?’ Even as the words tumbled out of her mouth, she couldn’t believe them.
He turned so quickly on her that she stumbled back, the railing pressed into her side. ‘I think you know more than you’re telling me.’
Heat radiated off his body, and Rose’s legs trembled. ‘I don’t.’ His nearness stirred something inside of her.
‘Then why are you here? Why are you questioning people about the victim?’
Rose glanced at the ocean. Her throat squeezed, but she wouldn’t allow Shane to see th
at he unnerved her. If it were Patrick, he would have shared information to ease her mind. He would never accuse her of anything.
‘Now you have nothing to say? You’ve been making your way around town all day.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘I’m a cop, remember? It’s my job.’
There was no point in lying to Shane. He already suspected she was guilty or at least not as innocent as she appeared to be. In her quest to find out more information, she’d placed a target on her back. She was innocent, but she wasn’t about to make an enemy of the new police chief.
‘She follows me everywhere,’ Rose said, staring out at the ocean.
‘Who does?’
Rose indicated the railing across the way. ‘You might think I’m ridiculous, but I can’t get her out of my mind.’
‘It’s not ridiculous,’ Shane said, leaning his arms over the railing. For once, it seemed as if he was relaxing, but Rose spotted the movement of his muscles tightening under his skin. ‘You saw something traumatic. It’s understandable for you to be curious. But that doesn’t mean you need to interfere with a police investigation.’
‘Is there anything to investigate?’ she asked. ‘No one saw her, and it doesn’t look like anyone has seen her since she jumped. Unless you found her and aren’t telling me.’
‘In this place, you’d know if we found her.’ A brief smile lifted his lips, but it quickly fell. ‘At this point, it’s doubtful that we will. So, I suggest you don’t worry about it anymore.’
‘If only it were that easy,’ she said. ‘Have you ever seen someone jump?’ The moment the words slipped from her mouth, she regretted them. Even more so when he answered her.
‘Yes, a few,’ he said.
‘Sorry, I – I shouldn’t have asked.’
He put up a hand to stop her. ‘Don’t worry about it.’
Heat rose up her neck, and she glanced at her car. The urge to flee overwhelmed her.
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