Last Gasp
Author: S.C. Wynne
Date: 2021-10-29 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Mystery; M M Romance; Contemporary; Cozy Mystery; Romance; Lgbt; Fiction; Crime; Mystery Thriller; Murder Mystery
Description: Kip O’Connor lives a simple life in the little seaside town of Pearl Bay. Unless it’s tourist season, things tend to be pretty peaceful. There is, however, one never ending source of irritation in the form of Police Chief Merrick Dawson. Merrick is Kip’s older brother’s BFF, and nothing seems to bring Merrick more joy than nagging Kip about silly things. You’d think a Police Chief would have more important things to do than lecture Kip on parking tickets and picking up pet waste, but somehow Merrick always finds the time. Kip decides to take an art class at the local community college, and he’

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

OTHER BOOKS BY S.C. WYNNE

Copyright (c) October 2021 by S.C. Wynne

Last

Gasp

By S.C. Wynne

“I did not care what it was all about. All I wanted to know was how to live in it. Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what it was all about.”

Ernest Hemingway

Chapter One

I was enjoying a nice cup of Earl Grey tea in my mother’s cozy kitchen, when she spoiled the moment by saying, “They found a body down at Murre Bay.”

I bugged my eyes and almost spit out my mouthful of tea. Once I’d swallowed, I said, “Excuse me? What did you say?”

“It’s true.” She shivered and as she set the warm beverage down, the china cup chattered against the saucer. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“You’re actually saying they found a body? You mean… like one that isn’t breathing?” A chill went down my spine at her words. I’d been down at that beach area just a few days ago, walking my client’s dogs. It was a beautiful spot, but very secluded.

“Yes. A dead body.”

“When did this happen?”

“Yesterday. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it.”

“I crashed when I got home. I was beat,” I murmured. “Do you know who it was?”

“The police don’t think it was anyone local.”

Uneasiness rippled through me as I asked, “Was it natural causes?” It had to be, right?

She sighed. “They don’t think so.”

“They don’t think so?” My voice went up an octave. “You’re telling me someone was murdered at Murre Bay?”

Grimacing, she said, “Well, they haven’t said it was murder. Not yet. They simply know it wasn’t a natural death. It could have been accidental.”

“God, that’s awful.”

“I know. Mrs. Munson told me when I went to pick up my dry cleaning yesterday evening.” She shook her head. “I’m still in shock. Pearl Bay isn’t the sort of town where dead bodies just turn up.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t call me and tell me.”

She sighed. “I just didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. You’ve seemed so down lately.”

I didn’t respond to her comment about my mood. I didn’t think I’d seemed any worse than usual. “So you don’t know exactly how that person died?”

“No. Mrs. Munson didn’t know many details. She just said they’d found the body of a man, and the police didn’t think it was natural causes.”

“Maybe it was a homeless person. I noticed a few makeshift tents on the beach when I was down there the other day.”

“Maybe. There are homeless people all over the country.” I could feel my mother watching me from beneath her lashes. “Some people have no one. No family. No husband or wife.”

“That’s very true.”

“Life is so short,” she said. “Don’t you think?”

“It can be.”

“One day you’re here, and then… poof.”

“It goes fast, I guess.” I wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but suspected she had something she wanted to talk about. My mother usually had an agenda. A project. Generally, that project was me.

She cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking.”

Here we go.

She tapped her french tip against the china cup. “We need to do something about your non-existent social life.”

Scowling, I said, “How did we get from some poor soul’s death to my social life?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not really.”

She leaned toward me, resting her elbows on the oak table. “Honey, you could die tomorrow, without ever having really lived.”

I raised my brows. “Well, that’s grim.”

She sighed. “I know. But I’ve been worrying about it a lot lately.”

“You don’t need to.”

“What if something happens to me?”

I frowned. “Nothing is going to happen to you. Don’t be silly.”

She studied me intently. “We need to do something.”

I laughed uneasily, holding my Mother’s assessing gaze. “We don’t have to do anything about my social life.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear.”

“I don’t think I am wrong. I’m pretty sure I’d know.”

Her expression was deceptively innocent. “You work, you sleep. You work, you sleep. When do you ever have any fun?”

I said skeptically, “So you’re worried about me having fun? That’s all this is?”

“Yes.”

“That’s it? There are no ulterior motives to this conversation?”

“Of course not.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I only ask because sometimes you poke your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

She sputtered, “I do not.”

“If you say so.”

“It’s just… I worry because you spend so much time with those smelly animals.”

“It’s my job. My business.”

“Yes, but that’s my point. All you do is work, work, work. Where’s the joy in your life? I never see you just going out and having a good time.”

“I do stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Well… I… I… uh… I’ve signed up for an oil painting class at the college.” I leaned back in my chair, holding her gaze. I’d only signed up for that class on a whim. I’d even been planning on dropping it. But now I was glad I hadn’t. “That’s neither sleeping nor working.”

“True. I guess.”

“So, problem solved, right?”

“Well…”

I patted her hand. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m happy.”

“I don’t believe you. I think you’re simply making due because you don’t want me to worry.”

“Not true. I know that you’ll worry regardless of what I say.”

Her lips curved in a grudging smile. “It’s my job to worry about you.”

“That’s why I don’t bother to discourage you. But you should focus on your own life, not mine. I’m doing just fine.”

She studied me, a line between her smooth dark brows. My mother was in her mid-sixties and still very attractive. Her black hair was cropped short and her porcelain skin unlined. I hoped I’d age half as well. “Have you gone on any dates lately?” she asked softly.

I groaned. “I knew it.”

“What?” She gave a sheepish smile.

“You’re butting into my love life again. This has nothing to do with me having fun.”

She sighed. “Nonsense. Love is fun.”

“I really can handle this part of my life just fine on my own, Mother. I’m twenty-nine. It’s weird that you’re so concerned with my dating life.”

“It’s not weird. You could be a hundred and I’d still care.”

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that she wasn’t doing this out of spite. I was her youngest son, and she was just worried about me. “I promise you, I’m doing okay. Life isn’t perfect, but when is life ever perfect?”

“It’s just that since you broke up with that Carson fella, you’ve been so introspective. Almost brooding even.”

I winced, wishing she hadn’t brought up my ex. I still felt guilt over how that had ended. “I don’t think I’ve been brooding. But once Carson… moved on… it seemed like perhaps some self-examination was in order before jumping into another relationship. I want to figure out why I keep choosing the wrong guys.”

“I understand that. But it’s been three months and you haven’t gone on any dates that I’m aware of. Are you being too picky?”

I lifted one shoulder. “It’s not like there are men banging on my door to date me.” Not exactly a surprise, considering where I lived. The population of Pearl Cove barely bumped the 1000 souls mark. Available men my age were scarce and available gay men my age were even scarcer.

“You know, June says Merrick isn’t seeing anyone at the moment.”

It took a lot of self-control not to recoil. June was my mom’s best friend, and also the mother of my arch enemy, Merrick Dawson. I’d known Merrick since my teens, and to say we hadn’t gotten along would be an understatement of epic proportions.

I took a calming breath. “You can’t seriously be suggesting Merrick and I should go on a date?”

She shrugged. “You’re both single.”

“Yes.”

But not desperate.

It wasn’t that Merrick wasn’t attractive. He actually was extremely good-looking, and he even had a good-paying job, by Pearl Cove standards. He was the Police Chief of this little town. No, the issue wasn’t money or looks. The problem was I disliked Merrick with the power of a thousand suns, and the feeling seemed to be mutual.

“Merrick is Thomas’s friend, not mine,” I said patiently. Thomas was my older brother. It was his fault Merrick was even in my life. If they hadn’t become besties in high school, I’d never have had to put up with Merrick Dawson at all.

She sighed. “Yes, I know technically he’s Thomas’s friend, but there’s no reason you two couldn’t date each other.”

My laugh was borderline hysterical. “There’s actually a huge reason; I dislike the guy intensely.”

She waved her hand at me dismissively. “Oh, poo.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Are you going to hold a grudge forever? Yes, he played some pranks on you when you were kids. You need to let that go.”

“Do I?” I laughed gruffly. “Says who?”

“If you want to be happy, holding on to such nonsense is not the way to do it.” She crossed her hands on top of the table. “Now, June and I have discussed this at length.”

“I’m sure you have,” I murmured.

“She’s just as frustrated as I am. You’re both single, attractive young men, looking for love. It just makes sense you’d date each other.”

I laughed and pushed back my chair. “You’re single, Mother. You’re attractive. Why aren’t you going out on dates?”

Her cheeks tinted pink and she sputtered, “Oh, well, that’s different.”

I stood and took my cup to the sink. “I don’t see how.”

“I’ve been married. When your father died, I never planned on loving anyone else ever again. You, however, have never had a serious relationship. It’s high time you did.”

“I’ve had serious relationships.”

“You’ve had long-term relationships. Frankly, I don’t think any of them were very serious.”

She had a point. I was never eager to take that next step with anyone. That was one reason Carson and I had imploded. He’d wanted me to go with him to LA and I’d wanted to stay here in Pearl Cove. Moving to another city with your lover was a huge commitment. I’d been unable to make that jump with Carson. “Maybe I’d rather be alone, than with the wrong person. Did you ever think of that?”

“That’s depressing.”

“I don’t agree. I’d rather not date someone simply because they’re around me. I want passion and true friendship with whoever I end up with. I refuse to settle.”

“But you have so much in common with Merrick.”

I shook my head. “What do Merrick and I have in common, other than you and his mother are best friends?”

“Well…”

I lifted my brows. “Our gayness?”

She laughed sheepishly. “That is a factor.”

“I need more than that to make a love connection with someone.”

“I think you and Merrick would be wonderful together… if you two could just stop trying to one-up each other.”

“I don’t try to one-up him. He’s the one who’s always picking at me. I just wish he’d leave me alone. I’d be happy if I never saw Merrick ever again.”

“That’s a horrible thing to say.”

I shrugged. “But it’s the truth.”

“You’re such a stubborn boy.”

“I’m not a boy, I’m a man. I know what I want and don’t want in a partner.” I returned to her and leaned over to kiss her cheek. Straightening, I smiled down at her. It was impossible to be angry with her, but I definitely needed to be firm. “I know you mean well, but pigs will fly before I’d go on a date with Merrick Dawson.”

Frowning, she watched me move to the door. “Where are you going? I thought we were having tea?”

“I have a new client stopping by the shop.” I tugged on my jacket and opened the door.

“Are you running away?”

“Nope. As I said, I have work.”

“We’ll continue this conversation later,” she called out.

Gritting my teeth, I mumbled, “Of that, I have little doubt.” I left her small yellow house and hopped down the brick steps that led to the sidewalk. I pushed away my conversation with my mother. Otherwise, I’d get agitated and possibly even depressed. Little did she know it also bothered me that I seemed unable to find my person.

It will happen when it happens.

Instead of fixating on what my mother had said, I focused on what a beautiful day it was. It was fall and the leaves of the oak trees that lined the street were gold and burnt orange. Many of the houses in the area were white cottage-style homes, with sky blue shutters and flower boxes filled with cobalt tinted lobelia and pink mums. The breeze was tinged with a faint fishy scent, but I was used to that. Living next to the ocean had its perks and its disadvantages. Pearl Cove was always beautifully picturesque, even if it didn’t always smell so great.

I needed to remember, whether I was in a relationship or not, life was still good. I climbed into my Toyota pickup and headed in the direction of my business. I was the proud owner of The Red Leash Dog Walking Service. I’d started it on a whim five years ago, and it was now thriving. While Pearl Cove was small, almost everyone had a dog. Even in little towns, people were often too busy to walk their pets. I’d accidentally stumbled onto a lucrative business, simply because I loved dogs.

I parked in front of the long gray building that housed my business. I got out of the truck and made my way toward the front door. A small red car parked beside my truck, and a petite college-aged girl got out of the vehicle. When she saw me she waved and smiled cheerily.

“Hey boss,” she said as she neared.

“You’re early today, Charlene. You have a whole three minutes to go. Don’t you usually drag in two seconds before your shift?”

She grinned. “I’m turning over a new leaf.”

“Riiight.” I smiled and held open the heavy mahogany door to let her pass. I followed her into the building to the sound of dogs barking excitedly from the back room. We didn’t just walk dogs, The Red Leash also boarded dogs and cats short-term. That made for a very noisy environment.

There was a small white desk against one blue wall, where posters of dogs and cats were hung. A stout, middle-aged woman with short sandy hair sat at the desk, typing furiously on a laptop. Without looking up, she said, “Mrs. Ribald had to cancel for the third time this week, and Fred Wimbley called to say Sparky has fleas. He’s gonna get that taken care of and reschedule.”

“Thanks, Helen. Do you know why Mrs. Ribald had to cancel?”

Helen shook her head and her dangling red earrings jangled. “Nope. She didn’t say and I didn’t ask.”

“I think I know why,” Charlene said with a sly smile. “Rumor has it she’s got a new boyfriend.”

I frowned. “Why would that make her cancel dog walking appointments?”

“Because apparently her new man enjoys walking the dog with her.” Charlene smirked and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “You might lose a customer there, boss. Love-interruptus.”

“I think it’s nice that she’s found someone.” Helen sighed. “Love just makes everything better.”

“Does it though?” Charlene said. “Sometimes it’s a headache.”

Helen frowned. “But when you have someone in your life, even mundane chores can be fun.”

“I guess.” Charlene looked unconvinced.

Since I had little to add to the conversation, I headed into the backroom. The dogs in their wire pens began barking even louder when they spotted me. “I know. I know. I’ll let you out in just a second.”

“I’ll take them outside.” Charlene followed me into the backroom. She moved to the nearest dog cage and unhooked the door. “You’ve got a meeting soon, right?”

“Yeah.” I glanced at my watch. “Mr. Wilcox should be arriving any second.”

Helen glanced up from her laptop and peered at us through the doorway. “Apparently, the scuttlebutt is that Mr. Wilcox just moved to town. I heard he barely had any furniture or personal things. Supposedly he’s a teacher and he’s single.”

I raised my brows. “How do you find out so much about someone so quickly?”

Grinning, Helen said, “I have my ways.”

“You certainly do.” I shook my head and began to help Charlene open the cages. Gossip spread quickly in Pearl Cove and Helen always knew things way before me. It sometimes came in handy.

“Did you guys hear about the body?” Helen called out.

I winced. “Yes, my mom told me. Dreadful news.” I led a hyperactive Irish setter to the back door and released him into the yard. “I’d rather not think about that at work.”

“Oh, sorry. I just wanted to make sure you knew about it,” Helen said.

“Unfortunately, I do,” I murmured.

“My friend Lucy said the body was mutilated.” Charlene shuddered. “She said it might be the work of Satanists.”

Helen scowled. “That’s not true. My friend works at the police department and she’d have mentioned that, if that information was legit.”

“Well, I don’t know why Lucy would lie,” groused Charlene. “Lucy said her friend Carlos heard from his brother’s girlfriend that the body was disfigured.”

“See, this is how rumors get started.” Helen sighed and went back to typing on her laptop. “You should keep that to yourself, Charlene. Don’t spread that around until you’re sure it’s the truth.”

“Helen is right,” I said. “We shouldn’t fan the flames of gossip. I’m sure the newspaper will have actual details soon.”

“I hope so.” Charlene grimaced.

I lifted one shoulder. “There’s no point in freaking out until we know the facts.”

“Okay,” Charlene said agreeably. “You’re right.”

Relieved she’d acquiesced so easily I went back to helping with the dogs. One by one, we took the dogs outside where there was a wide-open area with grass and trees. It was fenced in for safety, but the space was so huge, the dogs barely noticed they were corralled. Once all the dogs were loose, I leaned against the wall near the back door, and watched Charlene toss tennis balls to the excited animals.

The sun was warm on my face, and in the distance the sound of seagulls and boats in the harbor came to me. I had to pinch myself sometimes that this was my job. Working in a stuffy office had never been a good fit for me. Straight out of college, I’d worked for Mr. Herzberger at his accounting business. That job had been my mother’s idea, but for me it had been a soul-sucking experience. The buzzing fluorescent lights and the constant phone calls had given me headaches. Thank goodness I’d found a better way to make a living. So long as the people of Pearl Cove had pets, I’d be okay financially.

From inside the building I heard the jingle of the bell over the door, then Helen’s voice, followed by an unfamiliar male voice. It seemed Mr. Wilcox had arrived. I reentered the building and went into the reception area. There I found a tall, bookish-looking guy about my age, with auburn hair. He held a young Dalmatian, who was wiggling in his arms.

“Calm down, dog. Geez.” The guy met my gaze and gave a frazzled smile. “Sorry, Spot slipped out of his leash when we got out of the car.”

“No problem.” I walked toward him.” Go ahead and set him on the floor.”

The guy did as requested and the Dalmatian ran around the room, sniffing everything he could get his nose on. I smiled down at the dog when it sat at my feet, and patted its soft head. “You’re a good boy, Spot.” I glanced up at Paul and held out my hand. “I’m Kip O’Connor, by the way. I assume you’re Mr. Wilcox?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He took my hand in a brief clasp. “I guess I should’ve introduced myself.”

“No worries.” Spot got up and once more resumed his sniffing duties.

“We don’t need to be formal. You can call me Paul.”

“Okay, sure. Feel free to call me Kip.”

“Thanks.” He smiled tentatively. “I recognized you from your picture on your website. You look younger in person.”

“Do I?” I laughed.

“Yep.” There was a spark of something in his brown eyes. Wariness? Attraction? I wasn’t sure.

I cleared my throat. “So, I understand you need someone to walk Spot?”

“Yes. I won’t have time and as you can see he’s a high-energy dog.” Spot stopped sniffing things for a moment and pricked his ears, as if he knew we were talking about him.

“Have you ever hired anyone to walk Spot before?”

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncertain. “Is that a problem?”

“Not at all. I just like to know what I’m dealing with. He seems friendly.”

Paul rolled his eyes. “Oh he’s friendly all right. He needs to say hello to just about everybody he meets.”

“Better too friendly, than unfriendly.”

“Good point.” He nodded. “Although… I was kind of hoping he’d be more of a watchdog.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah.” He dropped his gaze to the dog, frowning. “But he likes people too much. I really wished he didn’t.”

“He’s still young. He might become more protective or territorial as he gets older,” I said.

Paul nodded. “Yeah. Maybe. I don’t know much about dogs.”

I wasn’t exactly surprised by his admission. Although, I did wonder why he had a dog since he didn’t strike me as a dog person. “Is he a rescue?”

“Kind of.” He gestured to the curious dog who was once again busy sniffing every inch of the room. “Spot belonged to a friend. My friend… uh… died.”

“Oh, God.” I grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“Shit happens, right?”

“Uh, right.”

That seems a bit callous.

Paul twisted his lips. “The dog is way more work than I realized. Sometimes I regret taking him in.”

“Lucky for him, you did. He might have ended up in the pound.”

“Yeah.”

“Where are you from?” When Spot came over to me, I knelt down and rubbed his head.

“Florida.”

“Whoa. That’s a long trip to California.”

“Tell me about it.” Paul laughed.

I smiled down at Spot. “It probably felt twice as long with this bundle of energy in the car.”

He glanced at the dog. “Oh, uh… definitely.”

“Do you have family in town?”

“No.”

“Friends?”

He shook his head and avoided my gaze. “Nope. It’s just me and my faithful dog Spot.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure you’ll make friends in no time. The citizens of Pearl Cove are a welcoming lot.” That wasn’t exactly true and I only said it to put him at ease. The reality was many of the townsfolk were standoffish and didn’t warm up easily to outsiders. But I certainly couldn’t tell him that, seeing as he already seemed on edge.

“It’s fine if they don’t like me. I uh… like to keep to myself.”

Unsure of how to respond, I gave an awkward laugh.

He grimaced. “Anyway… your website says you do pet-sitting as well as walking the dogs?”

“That’s right.” I nodded. “We’re a full-service operation here.”

“Thank goodness. I’ll probably be pretty busy in the beginning.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a teacher.”

“Are you?” So Helen’s sources had been correct. I should have known never to doubt her. She’d have made an excellent spy. “What do you teach?”

“Art. I just got hired at the community college.”

I raised my brows. “Is that right?”

“Yep.”

“I signed up for an oil painting class this semester.”

He laughed. “Did you? Then you’re probably in my class. Unless there’s more than one oil painting class.”

“I doubt it. We’re lucky any art classes were offered. I know the college was struggling to replace Mrs. Crag after she retired. She was the art teacher there for over forty years.”

“So then, I guess you’ll be my student.”

“I guess so.”

“It’ll be nice to have a familiar face in class.” That spark was back in his eyes.

“I agree.” I smiled, but then realized I was getting sidetracked by his pretty, brown eyes. “Uh, how many days a week did you need Spot walked?”

Paul rubbed his chin. “I’ll be teaching four days a week. Two of those days I’m gone from morning until late afternoon. Is four days too much?”

“For what?” I gave a confused laugh.

Paul grimaced. “To saddle you with my dog.”

“If you think I’m gonna complain about you giving me too much of your money, you’re sadly mistaken.”

Paul winced. “Yeah. I guess that was a stupid question.”

“And if you also need pet sitting, we’re happy to do that too.” I made a cha-ching sound.

Paul chuckled. “Hopefully I can get a discount because I’m such a good customer.”

“Probably. Let’s go to my office and discuss the details. We’ll get you and Spot on the schedule for next week.” I gave what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

“Thanks, Kip.” Some tension seemed to leave his face. “You’ve been so easy to talk to. I think maybe I’m going to like it here in Pearl Cove after all.”

That time I was positive I saw some interest in his eyes. My stomach fluttered a tiny bit because he was attractive. Intelligent. Was it possible my romantic prospects were looking up? A

As I led the way to my office, I had to smile to myself. Mom and June could go jump in a lake if they thought I was going to get stuck dating Merrick. I’d just as soon go out on a date with Spot than spend an evening with Merrick Dawson.

Chapter Two

Besides Helen, I had three people who worked for me; Charlene, Scott, and Andrew. They were freshmen in college but they weren’t taking very many classes. That was bad news for how quickly they’d earn their degrees, but good news for me because they had many hours available to work.

I didn’t tend to have to walk the dogs personally these days, but when Charlene called in sick Thursday morning, I decided I’d cover her shift myself. It was Paul Wilcox’s account and Charlene’s first shift with him. I wanted to keep him happy and bailing on him the first day didn’t seem conducive to that. Plus, it was easier for me to just work the shift than try to rearrange everyone’s schedules.

I headed over to Paul’s house and parked in front of his bungalow. Because he’d just moved to town he’d decided to rent until he was sure Pearl Cove was a good fit. That seemed logical to me. Who wanted to buy a house in a city they hated?

I rang the doorbell of his rental home and could hear Spot barking excitedly from inside the house. When Paul opened the door, he was dressed in a suit and tie. The suit was a bit baggy and, for an art teacher, it seemed like overkill. But who was I to judge? It was his first official day of class and he was probably nervous. I would, however, steer him toward the town tailor if I remembered. If you were going to wear a suit, it needed to fit.

Paul frowned when he saw me. “Kip? I was expecting Charlene.”

“She’s sick.” I grimaced, petting Spot when he jumped up on me. “I’m afraid Spot is stuck with me for the day.”

“Spot, get down.” He eyed the dog with a disgruntled expression. “Judging from the greeting he’s giving you, he won’t mind. I’m sorry Charlene isn’t feeling well.”

“I don’t think it’s anything serious.”

“Hopefully she’ll feel better soon.” He stepped aside. “Uh… would you like to come in?”

“Sure.” I entered his home and immediately noticed how barren it was. There was one couch, gray in color, and a side table with a lamp missing its shade. There were no paintings on the walls or photos of family on the mantle. One wall at the far end had a stack of boxes, but it didn’t appear as if Paul had bothered unpacking much of anything.

Paul gave an uneasy laugh. “I haven’t done anything with the place yet.”

“Is that because you haven’t decided whether or not you’re staying in Pearl Cove?”

“Kind of.” He bit his lower lip. “I guess I’ll know more once I get the first week of work under my belt.”

I hadn’t seen Paul since the day he’d come to my business to hire me a week ago. He still had that same nervous energy buzzing beneath the surface. Of course, he was about to go to his first day of a new job. I’d have been nervous too.

“I’m sure you’ll do fine today.” I smiled. “I have my class with you tomorrow night. I’m excited to see you in your element.”

He dropped his gaze. “Now I’ll feel nervous.”

“I’m sure you’re a pro.”

He shrugged, still avoiding my gaze. “I guess.”

The sound of a horn honking near the street caught my attention. The front door was still open, and I was able to see out to the street. I noticed a dark sedan parked next to my truck. With a feeling of irritation, I recognized the car as that of Merrick Dawson’s.

“What the heck does he want?” I grumbled.

“Do you know that person?” Paul stood on tiptoe peering out the door.

“Unfortunately.”

“Who is he?”

I sighed. “That’s Pearl Cove’s illustrious police chief.”

Paul gave a sharp intake of breath, and when I glanced at him he seemed pale. “What’s the police chief doing in front of my house?” His voice wobbled.

I wasn’t sure why Paul looked so rattled, but I was distracted by Spot circling my legs. I untangled myself from the energetic pup and stepped out onto the porch. “I’ll go see what he wants.”

“Should I go with you?” Paul didn’t look thrilled about the idea.

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Looking relieved, Paul said, “Okay. I need to get going in a second anyway. Maybe I’ll just leave. Do you think he’ll think that’s suspicious?”

“Suspicious?” I frowned. “Why would he be suspicious of you?”

“I don’t know. I’m a stranger.”

“Just ignore him. I’ll handle him. If you need to split, go ahead. Just be sure to leave me a note with any special instructions.”

Giving Merrick an uneasy glance, Paul asked, “Will you be working the exact schedule Charlene would? She wasn’t just walking Spot, she was also pet-sitting.”

“Absolutely. Don’t worry. We have you covered.”

Paul slumped with relief. “Oh, great. I wasn’t sure if because you’re the boss you were too busy to sit here all day with the dog.”

“It’s my responsibility and pleasure to cover Charlene’s shift. No matter what that is.” I glanced toward the street as Merrick gave another honk on the horn. Gritting my teeth, I said, “God that man is a pain.”

Paul gave another uneasy laugh.

“Remember, leave me a note if you need to take off.” I moved down the steps, anger prickling the back of my neck. As I neared the dark sedan parked near my truck, Merrick unfolded from the driver’s side. He was tall, lean, and he looked irritatingly pleased with himself. His light green eyes were lit with amusement and his full lips curved in a smirk.

“What do you want Merrick?” I stopped in front of him.

“Hello to you too, Kip.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m working. I don’t bother you when you’re working.”

“Well… of course not.” His laugh was derisive. “I have a real job.”

I knew it was a comment designed to annoy me, so I didn’t want to show him he’d succeeded. I was sick and tired of Merrick pretending that my job was a joke, but knew that if I engaged with him, it would only bring him pleasure. “You’re such a funny guy.”

His smile widened. “I agree.”

“Again, what do you want?” I asked through clenched teeth.

He stepped around me and walked to the sidewalk. “I just happened to be driving by, and I couldn’t help but notice that you’re parked in front of a fire hydrant.”

“No, I’m not.” Frowning, I joined him.

“Then what do you call that?” He wiggled his fingers toward the bushes near my truck.

“What are you talking about? You’re pointing at plants.”

He sighed. “Look closer, Kip.”

“You’re just trying to hassle me. There’s no hydrant here.” As I spoke, I pushed aside the shrubbery. My stomach sank at the sight of a yellow hydrant buried among the foliage. “Well, I… I… Nobody would have seen that.”

“I saw it.”

Heat rushed into my face. “How could you have possibly seen that?”

He shrugged. “It must have been the angle.”

“It’s invisible to the naked eye. You already knew it was there, didn’t you?”

“How I knew about the hydrant isn’t important. The point is you can’t park there.”

I scowled. “The city should trim back that plant.” I waved toward the overgrown star jasmine. “The hydrant is completely grown over.”

He clucked his tongue. “Whether that’s true or not, I should write you a ticket.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“You broke the law, Kip.”

I squinted at him, anger nipping at me. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Nah. I’m just trying to protect our fine city.”

“From me?”

“Well, you did park in front of a fire hydrant.” He pushed his hands into his pockets, studying me. “What if there was a fire? You’d interfere with the fire department’s ability to do their job.”

“There is no fire. I’ll just move my truck.”

“But see, no one else would have that leeway. If I hadn’t honked my horn and alerted you to your blunder, you’d have gotten a ticket.”

“Okay, but you did alert me. Why bother if you’re just going to give me a ticket anyway?”

“Why should I let you skate?” He gave a long-suffering sigh. “You haven’t exactly been nice to me.”

“I haven’t been nice to you?” I sputtered.

“That’s right. Your tone is always very snippy when you address me.” He leaned against my truck, smirking. “You know, just because I’m the chief of police, that doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings too.”

“You’re unbelievable. Do you follow me around or something? How could you possibly just happen to be driving by?”

“I was visiting a friend.” He looked like he was trying not to laugh.

“Yeah right.”

“You don’t believe me?”

This was going nowhere. I still had things I’d have liked to discuss with Paul, but instead I was standing on the sidewalk bickering with Merrick. “Look, I’m with a client right now.”

“Is that right?” He smirked. “Is he hidden in the bushes too?”

“Ahhh, your wit, it’s astounding.”

He grinned but didn’t speak.

“This is how this is going to go,” I rasped. “I’m going to move my truck and you’re going to go away. There is no fire. There is no problem.” I didn’t wait for his response. I moved around my vehicle and climbed inside. I started the engine and without waiting for him to stop leaning on my truck, pressed the gas. He was nimble enough that he was able to move away easily. Unfortunately, I was so aggravated, as I re-parked my truck, the tires scraped the curb. I had to try again a few times to get it right.

Merrick raised his brows and stared pointedly at the curb.

I ignored him and climbed from the vehicle. “If you keep harassing me like this, I’m going to file a complaint.”

“With who?”

“I don’t know. The stalking people or whatever.”

He frowned. “I don’t know what you think is going on here, but I assure you I’m not following you. You’re acting like a victim, but you were indeed parked in front of a fire hydrant. City parking regulations clearly state no vehicle may be parked within fifteen feet of a hydrant.”

“Well, I’m not parked in front of a hydrant now.”

He studied my truck. “No, however, your front and back wheels are supposed to be parallel, but you’re all askew. Plus, your tires should be within 18 inches of the curb.”

“Merrick,” I growled. “If you don’t leave ASAP, it might be the homicide detectives that have to deal with me, not the parking department.”

His smile was white and unflustered. “Oh, Kip. How you brighten my day.”

I clenched my jaw and marched back toward Paul’s house.

“Hey, Kip, say hi to Thomas for me,” Merrick called out. “Tell him Friday at the Purple Pelican sounds awesome.”

“Go to the Devil, Merrick. I’m not your secretary,” I yelled over my shoulder.

His husky chuckle taunted me, but then I heard the sound of his car engine starting, and he drove away.

When I entered the house, Paul was hovering near the door. He watched me warily. “What was that all about?”

“Oh nothing,” I grumbled.

“Was that really the chief of police?”

“Yes.”

Paul nodded, looking thoughtful. “I thought he’d be way older.”

“Yeah. He moved up fast. He was top of his class in college and the police academy. He’s one of those guys where everything always seems to go his way.”

“You sound annoyed by that.”

I shrugged. “He’s my brother’s best friend, but I’ve never gotten along with him.”

“No? Why not?”

I really didn’t want to get into any of the details with Paul, so I decided to play it down. “It’s no big deal. Thomas and him used to play pranks on me when I was younger. I guess Merrick still enjoys yanking my chain from time to time.”

“He sounds like a jerk.”

I sighed. “I think he is, but I seem to be the only one who has problems with him. Everyone in town loves him.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, enough about me. I have Charlene’s key and you just do what you need to do. I’m gonna take Spot for a walk now.” I forced a smile, even though my face felt as tight as a rubber band. “I hope your first day goes swimmingly.”

His eyes warmed. “Thanks, Kip.”

“My pleasure. I don’t want you to worry about anything.” I slipped the leash over Spot’s head. “Have a great day.” I moved down the steps.

“Oh, you too.”

As I headed down the sidewalk, my stomach churned from my little run-in with Merrick. Maybe one of these days he’d find someone new to pick on, but for now, he was a thorn in my side that showed no signs of disappearing.

****

I enjoyed a pleasant day with Spot. I played with the pup and walked into town with him. He was a good-natured dog, and I truly liked spending time with him. He seemed calmer with me than he did around Paul. Perhaps he was picking up on the nervous energy of his master. Paul did seem to have a lot of anxiety simmering inside.

Paul returned home around 4:30 p.m. He looked more relaxed than when he’d left in the morning. “How was Spot?” he asked, as he entered the house. Spot circled his legs, whining for attention, but Paul mostly ignored him.

I stood, preparing to take off. “He was great. We had a fun day together.”

He eyed Spot and finally patted the dog’s head. “Uh, I’m glad.”

“How was your first day?”

“It was good. I worried for no reason.”

“I figured you’d do well.” I smiled.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” He dropped his gaze and an awkward silence fell.

“So, uh, Charlene should be here tomorrow.” I took a step toward the door. “But if not, we’ll make sure you’re covered.”

“Great. Hey, uh… would you want to join me for a drink?”

“A drink?” Surprised at the offer, I hesitated. I found Paul attractive and the idea of getting to know him better was intriguing, but he was my client. It could be tricky if things got too personal between us.

“I thought maybe we could have a celebratory drink. Because it’s my first day and all.”

Was he lonely? I felt bad leaving if he was looking for company and someone to talk about his day with. He probably didn’t know many people in town yet. Guilt nudged me, so I asked, “Do you mean here or did you want to go somewhere?”

“Either is fine.”

I glanced down at Spot. Leaving again, when he’d just returned home wouldn’t be very nice for the dog. I didn’t get the impression Paul cared about that, but I was a softie when it came to animals. “How about we stay here? You just got home and I’d hate for you to immediately leave Spot again.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.” It was obvious from his expression he truly hadn’t thought about how leaving again might bother the dog.

“I feel sorry for Spot.” I gave a sheepish laugh.

He watched me with a quizzical expression. “You have a kind heart.”

“I guess.”

“I suppose I’m not used to being a pet owner yet. You’re right. We should have our drink here.”

“Great.”

Paul rubbed his hands together. “Now the important question is; do you want beer or wine?”

I pursed my lips. “Beer sounds good.”

“Excellent choice. The only wine I have is cheap and, frankly, disgusting.” He grinned.

I laughed. “I should bring you a good bottle of wine next time I see you.”

His gaze flickered. “Sure. Although, the next time you’ll see me is tomorrow in class. You probably shouldn’t hand me a bottle of wine. People might get the wrong idea about us.”

“Good point.” I still wasn’t completely sure if he was gay or not. I had a strong suspicion he was. Maybe he was still in the closet because of his job? Or maybe he was straight and I was completely misreading the signs. Perhaps he just didn’t like to drink alone.

“I’m going to go change really quick.” He looked down at his suit and tie. “I’m not even sure why I wore this monkey suit. It seemed like something a teacher might wear.”

“Well, you would know.”

“Right.”

“Maybe it was first day jitters? You were dressing to impress.”

“Maybe that’s it.” He sighed. “I’ll be right back.”

He left the room, and I found it interesting Spot stayed with me, instead of following his master. Paul returned after a few minutes, wearing jeans and a T-shirt. As he entered the room, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at it, and his mouth thinned.

Pushing the cell phone back in his pocket, he gave a tense smile. “I’ll go get the drinks.”

The kitchen was close to the living room, and while I couldn’t see Paul, I could hear him. His phone rang two more times, and then I heard him talking softly, as if he was on the phone. I wasn’t sure what to make of his stealthy phone call. Judging from how quietly he was speaking, it was obvious he didn’t want me to hear his conversation.

It was probably ten minutes before he rejoined me. In fact, he took so long I started to wonder if maybe I shouldn’t just take off. When he returned though, he gave me a warm smile, so I relaxed a little. He handed me my beer and then he settled beside me on the couch, his leg brushing mine.

Interesting. Not exactly straight-guy behavior.

I held out my beer. “Congrats on surviving your first day.”

He laughed and clinked his bottle against mine. “Thanks.”

“So, you said it went well?”

“Yep. The students and fellow teachers were all very nice.”

“I’m glad.” I took a sip of beer, enjoying the cold, hoppy tang.

He leaned back, resting his head against the back of the couch. “I had no idea how hard it would be to teach art.”

“Oh, you haven’t always taught art?”

He seemed to tense. “Uh…” He kept his eyes trained on the ceiling. “I also taught… um… math.”

“Those two subjects are very different.”

“There’s no rule that says you can’t teach both.”

I grimaced. “Of course not.” I wasn’t sure why he seemed so touchy.

“Teaching anything is hard.”

“I’ll bet. It probably takes a lot of patience.”

“I guess.” He seemed uncomfortable talking about himself, which was perplexing. I’d assumed he’d asked me to stay and have a drink, so we could get to know each other better.

“I’m sure you’re good at whatever you teach.”

He grunted.

I decided to change the subject because he seemed uptight talking about work. “Were you sad to have to leave Florida?”

He frowned, looking momentarily confused. “Florida?”

I blinked at him. “You said you were from Florida. Did I misunderstand you?”

His laugh seemed forced and he sat up. “Oh, right. Sorry. Yeah. It was so sad having to move.”

“You’re brave to uproot your life for a job. I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do that.”

He shrugged. “It was no biggie.”

Things certainly weren’t going how I’d pictured they might. I’d been happy to get to know him, but his answers felt shallow and insincere. Our conversation was stilted. Why had he invited me to have a drink with him if he didn’t want to share anything about himself? “Would you say you’re a reserved person?”

He glanced over. “Do I seem reserved?”

I shrugged. “You seem reticent to tell me about yourself.”

“Oh.” He wrinkled his brow. “I guess I’m not a big talker.”

“It’s no big deal. If you don’t want to talk about yourself, that’s fine.” I was being polite, but his closed off demeanor was definitely a red flag. He was giving me mixed signals for sure. Sometimes he was easy to talk to, and other times I couldn’t help but feel he was hiding something. It made me leery of investing any time in getting to know him.

When he didn’t respond to my comment, the atmosphere became even more awkward. I gulped my beer, feeling compelled to hurry up and finish my drink. I was definitely confused by Paul. How close he sat to me and the way his gaze sometimes lingered on mine made me think he was definitely interested. But he wasn’t acting on it, or opening up to me at all. I had no idea what he wanted from me. If anything. Maybe he just wanted me to walk his dog and sit in silence with him.

He cleared his throat and said into the uncomfortable silence, “How about you tell me about yourself?”

I glanced over and found him watching me. “What do you want to know?”

“Well…” He twisted his body so that he was facing me more. “How long have you lived in Pearl Cove?”

I lifted one shoulder. “I’ve lived in Pearl Cove my whole life.”

“Have you?” He looked perplexed.

I laughed at his muddled expression. “I like it here.”

“But it’s so God awful quiet.”

“I take it you prefer big cities?” If so, that was just one more reason not to get involved with him. If he liked the urban life, he wasn’t going to stay in Pearl Cove.

“Yep.” He sighed. “Here, it kind of feels like everyone is watching my every move.”

I grinned. “That’s because they are.”

“God. Really?’ He raised his auburn brows. “That’s an awful thought.”

“Meh, you get used to it.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think I could. Where I come from, no one cares what anyone else is doing.”

I chuffed. “Yeah, you’re going to hate it here.”

“Probably.”

I frowned. “You must have known this is a small town. Why take a job in Pearl Cove?”

“Oh, um… I wanted to get back into… teaching, but wanted to get my feet wet first at a smaller college. It’s been a while.”

“You haven’t been teaching recently?”

“No.” That closed expression descended again. “I took a break.”

“I see.” I hoped he’d elaborate, but he didn’t, and I didn’t have the nerve to push for details.

We fell silent again and then he asked suddenly, “Why don’t you like that chief of police guy?”

His question caught me off guard, and heat prickled my cheeks. “I told you, it started when we were young.”

“Because he played pranks on you?”

“Yes. Our personalities just don’t jibe.”

“Hmmm.” He nodded. “Do you think he’ll come around again?”

I glanced at him, wondering why he seemed so concerned with Merrick. “I don’t think so. I don’t know why he would.”

“It’s possible he wasn’t here for the reasons he said,” he murmured.

I gave a confused laugh. “Why else would he be here?”

Paul flicked his guarded gaze to mine. “No reason.”

You sure about that Paul?

Seeing as my visit with Paul wasn’t going how I’d pictured, I decided it was time to head home. I finished off my beer quickly, and then said, “I should get going.”

“So soon?” He actually looked disappointed.

“Yeah, I have a bunch of phone calls to make.” I stood, feeling conflicted about my time with Paul. I’d hoped to get to know him better, but it seemed the more we talked the less I knew.

He stood too. “Will you be here again tomorrow?”

“I don’t think so. Charlene should be back. If not, I’ll have one of my other employees fill in.” I hesitated. “Either way, I’ll still see you tomorrow.”

He frowned. “Will you?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow is the art class.”

“That’s right. I keep forgetting you signed up.”

Nice to know I made a real impression.

Feeling a tad demoralized, I gave Spot a pat on the head and made my way to the front door. Paul followed, and when I opened the door, he touched my arm. When I turned, he was closer than I realized. “Oh,” I said, startled at the close proximity.

When he leaned in and kissed me, shock rolled through me. I stiffened, not because I wasn’t attracted to him, it was more because he’d caught me completely off guard. The kiss was quick. Pleasant. It didn’t make my toes curl, but it also didn’t repulse me.

When he pulled back, he gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’ve been wanting to do that since I met you.”

Really?

My face warmed. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“I really hope we can be friends.”

Once more, I felt confused by the message he was sending me. But I didn’t have the nerve to try and clarify things, so I simply said, “Have a good evening, Paul.”

“You too.” He continued to watch me with that enigmatic expression he so often wore.

I left his house and strode to my truck, feeling bewildered. After spending more time with Paul, things were about as clear as mud.

Chapter Three

After my weird visit with Paul, I wasn’t sure what to expect the next day in class. I was concerned it might be awkward between us, especially after that impulsive kiss. When I entered the classroom, Paul was at the front of the class writing on the dry erase board. He had his back to me, which was probably a good thing because it gave me time to gather myself.

The room smelled of acetone and linseed oil, and there were used canvases stacked along the far wall. The space was large and split into two distinct sections; one side with desks and the other side with easels where students actually got to paint. I glanced down the half-empty rows of chairs, trying to decide where to sit. When my eyes fell on Merrick sitting at one of the desks, I let out an unhappy squawk. Merrick simply smiled, appearing completely unfazed at the sight of me. Once I’d recovered from my shock, I glared at him and approached his desk.

I stopped next to him. “What are you doing here?”

He raised his dark brows. “Taking an art class, of course.”

“Why would you take an art class?”

Crossing his arms, he leaned back and the small chair creaked alarmingly. “I have as much right to be here as you do.”

Of course, he was right, but that didn’t soothe me any. “I’ve never known you to be artistic.”

“I have many hidden talents, Kip.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Did you know I was taking this class?”

He laughed. “You really do think the world revolves around you, don’t you?”

My face warmed. “There’s no way this is a coincidence. Did Thomas tell you I’d be in this class? Did you enroll just so you could ruin it for me?”

“Again, the world does not revolve around you.”

Other students were entering the class and the seats were filling up quickly. I decided it was more important to grab a desk than it was to lambaste Merrick. I hurried toward a chair that was as far across the room from Merrick’s as possible, without actually being outside the classroom. I sat down quickly, much to the chagrin of a girl with horn-rimmed glasses. She gave me a scathing look as she went off to find another desk.

“Everybody go ahead and find a seat as quickly as possible,” Paul called out from the front of the room.

People murmured and some grumbled as they struggled to find somewhere to sit. I was surprised that an evening art class was so popular. It was even raining tonight, which I’d thought for sure would discourage people from showing up. Perhaps it was because there hadn’t been any art classes offered since Mrs. Crag had retired. While I wasn’t taking this class for credit, most of the younger students probably were. They no doubt assumed an art class would be an easy A.

A guy in the corner caught my attention. He had on a black hoodie with red lettering, and his face was mostly hidden. His body language was hunched and anti-social, but a lot of artistic types weren’t hugely social. Perhaps his artistic temperament explained his unfriendly demeanor. It was odd though how his attention seemed laser-focused on Paul, and occasionally me. I was fairly certain I didn’t know him.

I heard laughter across the room. When I glanced over, Merrick was engaged in conversation with three college-age boys who stood around his desk. The adoring looks they gave him grated on my nerves. I couldn’t understand why Merrick was so well-liked by everyone in town. I found him abrasive and arrogant. But as the students around him threw back their heads with laughter once more, I was forced to accept that I was in the minority.

“Would everyone please take your seats?” Paul called out over the rumble of voices in the room.

There was a scraping of chairs as the remaining students sat down.

Looking uneasy, Paul fidgeted at the front of the room until everyone fell silent. He swallowed hard, and then said, “Hello everybody, my name is Mr. Wilcox. W… welcome to Oil Painting 102.”

Some of the students mumbled a self-conscious hello.

Paul picked up a large textbook from his desk. “I trust you all got the required reading material?”

Many of the students seemed to slide down in their seats. I had my book with me, but I hoped this course wouldn’t be heavy on that part of things. I really wanted to paint and refresh what skills I had.

“Well, if you don’t have your book yet, that’s okay.” Paul sighed. “Just try to get it soon. Do any of you have experience painting with oils?”

I nodded as did some other students, including Merrick.

“Good, so you’re not all beginners, although plenty of you are.” Paul flipped through the text book. “I feel like hands-on experience is more valuable than reading about painting. But there are some things the beginners need to know.”

“Maybe we should split up into groups,” one guy called out.

“Yes.” Paul nodded. “We may need to do that.”

“I’ve taken oil painting before,” said the girl with the horn-rimmed glasses. “I could help you, if you want, Mr. Wilcox. I can be your assistant or something.”

Paul smiled. “I might take you up on that.”

One older man raised his hand. “I’ve never even held a paintbrush. I’ll be no help at all.”

The class laughed.

Paul grimaced. “That’s fine too. I expect we’ll have all different skill levels.” Paul pointed at Merrick. “What about you, Chief? Do you have any experience painting with oil?”

Merrick cleared his throat, looking a little uncomfortable at being called on. “I’d say I’m an intermediate painter, at best.”

Considering how big Merrick’s ego was, I’d have expected him to brag more. He seemed to think he was God’s gift to Pearl Cove. But he didn’t add anything else to his humble statement.

“I see.” Paul nodded. There was a sheen of sweat on his forehead, and he definitely still looked uptight. “What made you take this class, Chief?”

Merrick frowned. “Oh, well, I thought it might be fun?”

“Fun,” Paul repeated softly.

“I’m just a student,” Merrick said. “I’m not the chief of police right now. I’m just one of your students, Mr. Wilcox.”

“Sure. Sure.” Paul nodded, looking completely unconvinced. “I’ll try to remember that.”

I wasn’t exactly sure why Paul seemed so intimidated by Merrick’s presence. But he did seem very uneasy. He kept looking at Merrick and clenching his jaw. Had he had trouble with the law in the past or something? I realized cops made a lot of people nervous, but we were all just sitting here wanting to learn about oil painting. Hopefully Paul could pull it together or this class was going to be a train wreck.

“If some of us are beginners and some of us are further ahead in skill, how will you teach us all?” A guy at the back of class asked. “I already know the basics. I’ll be bored out of my mind if I have to sit through that again.”

Paul grimaced. “I’ll figure something out. You’re right, there’s no reason the more experienced students should have to learn all of that again. But the new students do need to learn about priming the canvas and cleaning the brushes properly.”

“Sounds to me like splitting us into groups is definitely the best idea,” Merrick said.

“Yes, Chief Dawson, that might be the best way to go about this,” Paul said.

Merrick grimaced. “Uh… you can just call me by my first name.”

“Oh. Right.” Paul’s face flushed. “Sorry. It’s just… you know… you’re kind of a big deal in town.”

Smiling, Merrick said, “Not really.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Paul put his hands on his hips. “How about all the beginners gather on the right side of the room, and the intermediates do the same on the opposite side of the room near the easels.”

“Do we not get to paint just because were beginners?” one skinny kid asked, looking disappointed.

“You’ll get to paint,” Paul said. “But first, I need to go over some stuff with you guys. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” grumbled the kid.

I stood and joined the intermediate students. Black hoodie guy and Merrick also joined my group. I did my best to ignore Merrick though. I was determined to enjoy this class, whether he was around or not.

“I can’t believe the chief of police is taking an art class with me,” cooed one middle-aged woman with pink hair. Miranda Baker was a client of mine and the proud owner of a yellow lab named Peaches. “It’s like we have a celebrity in the class,” she added.

Merrick didn’t respond, but a muscle worked in his cheek. I’d known him long enough to know that expression was his frustrated face. I had a momentary nudge of sympathy for him. Even he probably needed to forget about his job sometimes. Whether I liked him or not, I could admit his job had to be extremely stressful.

“I think we should check our job descriptions at the door,” I said firmly, earning a surprised look from Merrick. “Our jobs don’t define us, right? We’re all just here to learn how to paint. Let’s focus on that.”

Miranda blinked at me, and then she gave a sheepish smile. “You’re right, Kip. Sorry, Chief, I mean, Merrick.”

Merrick smiled at her. “If you saw some of my paintings, you’d know why I need all the lessons I can get.”

Miranda giggled. “Me too.”

Paul came over to our group and began passing out medium-sized canvases and gesso. “Intermediates, go ahead and pick an easel wherever you want. Don’t forget to put on a smock.”

I took my canvas and gesso from Paul. Once I had my smock on, I headed to one of the easels in the corner. I hated it when people looked at my half-finished artwork and hoped a corner position would help discourage that. Merrick was one easel down from me. I’d have preferred he was farther away, but it wasn’t up to me.

Paul stopped near black hoodie guy and he said something to him. The guy shook his head vigorously and hissed something back to Paul. Looking annoyed, Paul left him and came over to me. His expression was pinched, but when he met my gaze, he forced a smile.

“Have everything you need, Kip?” he asked politely.

“Uh, I think so.” I noticed black hoodie guy watching us, and the guy’s dark gaze made me uneasy.

Paul surprised me when he leaned in and whispered, “I can’t wait for this class to be over.”

I laughed. “Uh… you can’t say that.”

“I know. But it’s the truth.” He grimaced.

“You’re doing fine.” I figured it couldn’t hurt to give him some positive reinforcement, whether it was the truth or not. He needed to have more confidence or the students would eat him alive. “It’s only the first class. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Paul gave me a grateful smile. “Thanks, Kip. I’m really glad you’re here tonight. I need the moral support. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I think it’s because the class is so full. All my other classes were way smaller.”

“Just relax. I’m here for you, man.” I grinned at him and he smiled back. Past his shoulder I noticed Merrick watching us. He had an odd expression, but when he noticed me noticing him, he looked away quickly.

“I can’t believe how many beginners there are in this class,” Paul whispered, looking disgruntled. “I kind of hoped people would already know what they were doing.”

That struck me as an odd thing to say, seeing as it wasn’t an advanced class. “It’ll all work out,” I said.”

“Hope so,” he mumbled. “I loathe hand-holding students.”

“Really?” I frowned.

“Yeah.”

Merrick cleared his throat. “Uh, excuse me, Mr. Wilcox.”

Paul glanced over at him. “Yes?”

“I hate to interrupt,” Merrick said in an annoyingly insinuating tone.

I scowled at him.

“That’s fine.” Paul shrugged. “We’re just talking about class.”

“Sure. Sure.” Merrick dropped his gaze to his easel. “Um… anyway… I think the canvases you handed out are pre-primed.”

“Pre-primed?” He looked confused by Merrick’s statement.

Merrick cocked his head. “Yes.” Observing Paul’s puzzled expression, he added, “You know, as in the company that made them primed them ahead of time?”

Paul widened his eyes and moved over to Merrick. “What? They aren’t just regular painting… things?”

I peered closer at my canvas, noticing the tell-tale sheen. I turned it over to be sure. “I… I think he’s right. It says ‘titanium acrylic gesso primed’ on the back.”

Grabbing Merrick’s canvas off of his easel, Paul scrutinized it. “Oh no.”

Miranda stopped smearing gesso on her canvas. “Does that mean we don’t need to put gesso on them?”

“I wouldn’t think we should,” Merrick said. “That’s kind of the whole point of pre-primed canvases.”

“Uh…” Paul’s face was red. “I’m sorry guys.”

“Damn, now my canvas is wet,” A curly-haired kid with glasses said.

Our intermediate group all nodded in agreement, looking disheartened.

“Maybe you can just give us another canvas.” Miranda shrugged. “No harm done.”

Paul winced. “I don’t have enough. There’s only two left.”

The curly-haired kid asked, “We can’t paint on top of the gesso until it dries, right?”

“But that could take hours,” Miranda wailed dramatically.

“Well, nobody panic.” Paul held out his hands. “This class is three hours long. We have time.”

Miranda set her brush down on the lip of her easel. “But what are we going to do to amuse ourselves while the canvases dry?”

“Uh…” Paul looked embarrassed as he grabbed a bottle of gesso. “Let’s see, it says it can take up to an hour. So… maybe it’ll be quicker.”

I was embarrassed for him, but mostly I wondered why he hadn’t noticed the canvases were pre-primed. He also seemed uncertain of how long gesso took to dry. He was an art teacher. Wasn’t that basic stuff to an art instructor?

Paul turned to me, his face pink. “I forgot that I ordered pre-primed canvases.”

How do you forget something like that?

“Really?” I gritted my teeth. “Did we ruin the canvases by putting gesso on them?”

Paul gaped at me. “Well… er…”

“No,” Merrick’s deep voice came from beside me. “It won’t hurt anything. It’s a waste of time though.”

I gave Merrick an annoyed glance. “What’s done is done.”

Merrick met my gaze. “True.”

“I’m super sorry guys.” Paul moved to the front of the class. “I really put my foot in it. I ordered the canvases so long ago… I lost track of what I ordered.”

I was willing to give Paul the benefit of the doubt. I still found it odd he hadn’t immediately noticed that the canvases he held in his arms were pre-primed, but mistakes happened sometimes. He must have been very distracted with nerves.

“I suppose I could just work from the book tonight.” Paul rubbed the back of his neck, looking flustered. “Like a lecture type of thing.”

Groans erupted from the class.

“I don’t think I can take three hours of a lecture on oil painting,” one guy said. “Maybe I’ll just take off.”

“Yeah, I wanted to paint,” another girl lamented.

“Oh, geez.” Paul gritted his teeth. “Does everybody feel that way?”

Some people shrugged, but the kid with curly hair and glasses said, “I have so many classes where it’s all lecturing. I was really looking forward to something different.”

Paul winced. “I see what you mean. H… how about I just cut class short and treat you all to hot chocolate or whatever you want at the Rusty Pier?”

“Really?” Curly Hair said, looking surprised.

Grimacing, Paul nodded. “Yeah. It can be my way of saying I’m sorry. But we’ll hit the ground running next session. I promise.”

Astonished he’d just invited the entire class out for a drink, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Most of the class looked thrilled at the idea, but I worried this was going to be a logistical nightmare. “The Rusty Pier is kind of small,” I said.

“Kip is right.” Merrick nodded. “We’ll never get a seat at The Rusty Pier this late in the evening. Not with a group this size.”

“Are you seriously offering to buy everyone a drink, Mr. Wilcox?” Miranda asked dubiously. “Or was that just a joke?”

“I am serious. I feel awful about goofing up tonight.” Paul winced.

“Well, in that case, we could try the Crab Palace instead? It’s way bigger,” Miranda suggested.

Paul shrugged. “Wherever you guys think is best. I don’t know the town well enough yet.”

The girl with the horn-rimmed glasses, who I now knew was named Priscilla, asked hesitantly, “Are you sure we can get hot chocolate there? I’m not old enough to drink yet.”

Merrick smiled at her. “I believe they have everything.”

I guess black hoodie guy wasn’t excited about the idea of joining everyone at the Crab Palace because he slunk out of the classroom without a word. The others seemed thrilled at the prospect of going to the Crab Palace, but I was on the same page as black hoodie guy. I’d had a long day. If class was ending early, part of me just wanted to go home. But I felt like doing that was abandoning Paul. He’d made it clear he appreciated and needed my moral support. If I didn’t join the group, I’d probably feel guilty all night. With a sigh, I resigned myself to sitting in a crowded restaurant for the next few hours.

“So does the Crab Palace sound good to everyone?” Paul asked.

“Sure.” Miranda grinned. “I’m game.”

The other students nodded enthusiastically and began to file out of the classroom, talking excitedly. I was about to follow them, but Paul pulled me aside.

“Hey, Kip. Do you mind giving me a ride over to the Crab Palace?” he asked.

“Uh, that’s fine with me.” He had a car, so I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to drive him. But I didn’t want to be rude and say no.

“Awesome.” Paul’s smile was tinged with relief. “I’m just going to finish up a few things. I’ll meet you outside in five minutes. Where are you parked?”

“I’m in Parking Lot B.”

Paul’s expression was clueless.

“It’s the closest lot to this building.”

“Oh, sure. That’s probably the same one I’m parked in.”

“I would think so.” Did he seriously not know what lot he’d parked in? “It wouldn’t make much sense for you to park across campus.”

“No. Now I remember it was Parking Lot B.”

“Okay, good.”

Paul grimaced, watching the students leave. “God, I really need to get my head on straight. Everyone is going to drop my class and I’ll be out of a job.”

“I’m sure they’ll forgive you.”

He smiled weakly. “I hope so.”

“It was a very nice gesture to buy everyone a drink.”

“I need them to like me. I can’t get fired this soon.”

“Or ever, hopefully.” I frowned.

“Right.”

“Don’t worry so much.” I squeezed his arm. “So long as they get to paint next class, they’ll be fine.”

He turned to me, his gaze grateful. “Thanks, Kip. You always seem to be talking me down.”

“My pleasure.” I smiled. “I’ll see you outside.” I started to leave, but then said, “You know what my truck looks like, right?” He should have known my vehicle, since I’d driven it to his house yesterday. But it was becoming clear to me that Paul wasn’t very observant.

“It’s a red truck.”

“That’s right. See you in a bit.” I left the room and walked down the hallway toward the front of the building. The school’s original structures had been built in 1938 and the art department was housed in one of the oldest buildings. It still had a strong Art Deco design, although it had been renovated and modernized over the years with new electrical panels and a new roof.

I left the building through the double glass doors, and braced myself against the chilly blast of air I knew was coming. I tugged my coat tighter as the damp air bit into me. The school was built near the water, and there wasn’t much shelter from the wind that often rolled in across the bay. Fortunately, it had stopped raining momentarily, but the sky still had clouds partially obscuring the moonlight.

When I reached Parking Lot B I made my way to my truck. I leaned against the hood, blowing on my hands to warm them. I was tempted to get inside the truck but worried Paul wouldn’t be able to find me. Maybe once the lot emptied out more, I’d get in the cab. If he missed my truck in an empty parking lot, I didn’t have the energy to deal with him.

One by one the cars left the area and headed into the heart of town where the Crab Palace was located. I watched Merrick confidently stride across the parking lot, glancing at his phone. He was far enough away that he didn’t notice me, but as he backed out of his parking spot, his gaze fell on me.

Rats.

Instead of just driving past me he stopped his car. I scowled at him, waving him on, but he ignored me. The reflection of his red brake lights lit the area, as he rolled down his window.

“Everything okay?” he called out.

“Yep. I’m just waiting for Paul—er—Mr. Wilcox. You don’t have to stop.”

He wrinkled his brow and shut off his car. I stifled my growl of disapproval as he climbed from his vehicle and approached. “Why are you waiting for him?”

“He asked me to give him a ride to the Crab Palace.”

Not that it’s any of your business.

“Seriously?” Surprise fluttered across his angular face. “Why?”

I laughed gruffly. “I don’t know. He asked for a ride and I said yes. I’d have given anyone a ride.”

“Even me?” He smirked.

I shrugged. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“If you had a flat tire or something, I’d give you a ride.”

He pursed his lips and moved closer. “But you wouldn’t do it out of the kindness of your heart?”

Frowning, I said, “You don’t need a ride, so who cares if I’d give you one or not?”

“I care,” he said softly.

My stomach fluttered oddly at his husky tone. Annoyed with my body’s reaction to him, I shrugged. “Fine. I’d give you a ride no matter what the reason. Satisfied? You can go now.”

But he didn’t go. Instead, he pushed his hands in his coat pockets and came even closer. His short dark hair whipped around in the wind, and I could smell the clean scent of his cologne. The half-obscured moon cast shadows over his features, and his eyes glittered. “Can I give you a word of advice, Kip?” he asked.

I studied him suspiciously. “About what?”

He hesitated. “About getting involved with your teacher.”

My face warmed. “I’m not involved with him.” One tepid kiss and a ride to a restaurant didn’t equal “involvement” to me. I still barely knew anything about Paul.

He chuffed. “Come on. I noticed the way he looks at you.”

“Nothing is going on. I’m not dating Mr. Wilcox,” I grumbled. “But even if I was, it’s none of your concern.”

“I don’t agree.”

I crossed my arms. “Why would any of this be your business?”

“Because Thomas is my best friend. I feel obligated to watch out for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t watch out for me. You nag me.”

He shrugged. “I can’t help how you interpret my actions.”

I sighed. “Look, surely you have more pressing things to worry about?”

He gave a tight smile. “What could be more important than watching out for my best buddy’s younger brother?”

“I don’t know, maybe the fact that the police found a body on the beach should concern you more? I’d imagine that would be all you could think about. Not my love life.”

His shoulders stiffened. “Of course I’m concerned about that. My detectives are working on that as we speak.” He gave a hard laugh. “My guess is you’re just bringing that up to change the subject from dating your teacher.”

“No. Everyone in town is freaked out. You should put your energies into that case, instead of getting sidetracked with my personal business.”

“As I said, the detectives assigned to the case are working hard.”

I studied him. “It’s a scary thing to have a body on the beach. Why aren’t the police sharing more details with the public? It might help calm the rumors.”

“When we have some actual information, we’ll be sure to have a press conference. But there’s no point in jumping the gun until we know something definitive.”

“People are nervous. We don’t know what to think. It’s been over a week and we still don’t know anything.”

“Rest assured, the Pearl Cove Police Department is working tirelessly to close the case.”

I hesitated. “Can you at least tell me if you guys think it was foul play or not?”

He shook his head. “I can’t discuss the case with you, Kip.”

“If it was nothing, you guys wouldn’t be so secretive,” I murmured.

“You shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

There was a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder sounded above our heads. We both looked up warily. A few drops of rain hit my face, and he grimaced and pulled his collar up to shield the back of his neck.

“You should go.” I gestured toward his car that still had its headlights on. “You’re going to drain your battery.”

“They shut off automatically.”

I shifted irritably. “Great, but you should still take off.”

“Can’t wait to get rid of me?”

“I’m just saying you don’t need to keep me company. I’m sure Mr. Wilcox will be here any minute.”

He glanced up at the sky, wincing as a drop splashed on his cheek. “Maybe I will go.” He twisted his lips as if trying not to laugh. “Shall I save you a seat at the Crab Palace?”

“Sure. Just make sure it’s as far away from you as possible.”

His grin was white in the gloom. “You never give an inch, do you?”

“Not where you’re concerned,” I muttered. “You’ll just go for the jugular if I let my guard down.”

He sighed. “Kip, you have this crazy idea about me. We’re not kids anymore. I’m trying to be your friend and look out for you. You don’t always need to be so defensive.”

“I guess it’s hard to be anything else with you, Merrick. I still remember all the times you made a fool of me.” I scowled. “Maybe if our positions were reversed, you’d get it.”

He shook his head. “You should stop living in the past. Grow up, Kip, like I did.”

“Yeah, right. You’re all grown up. That’s why you always have something obnoxious to say to me.”

He held up his hands. “Never mind. Stand out here in the rain waiting for your wanna-be boyfriend. You’re right, I shouldn’t care.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

He started to leave, but then he turned around and came back over. “Only, know this; that guy, Mr. Wilcox, he isn’t going to stay in Pearl Cove. You’re foolish if you sleep with him and let him use you like that. You keep wasting your time with these guys who don’t care about you, Kip. Wake up and smell the coffee, kid.”

I was so shocked by his angry speech, I just sputtered wordlessly.

He spun around and got in his car. He started the engine and sped out of the parking lot, tires squealing.

“What the heck was that about?” I grumbled.

“Was that Merrick I saw speeding away?”

I jumped and turned to find Paul standing behind me. “Yep.” I really hoped he hadn’t overheard our conversation.

“He sounded angry.”

“Oh, well, I guess.” Yanking open my truck door, I asked brightly, “You ready to go?”

He nodded and hurried around the vehicle to the passenger side. He got in the truck and, as I started the engine, clipped his seatbelt into place.

I was buzzing with irritation at Merrick’s lecture. Where did he get off commenting on my dating life? He was single too. It wasn’t like he’d had any more success than me. Besides, how much could he even know about my love life? It wasn’t like I shared that kind of stuff with my brother Thomas.

“Thanks again for the ride,” Paul said, as he drew a peephole on the foggy passenger-side window with his finger.

“No problem. Was there any particular reason you wanted me to drive you?” Maybe he didn’t like driving in the rain?

Paul glanced over. “You’re one of the few people in town who I feel comfortable with. I figured riding with you might calm my anxiety.”

I was flattered, although Merrick’s warning echoed in my head. However, regardless of what Merrick seemed to think, I was more than capable of deciding whether I wanted to pursue anything with Paul.

“Tonight was just a fluke. Next class, you’ll redeem yourself.” I gripped the steering wheel as a flash of lightning lit the horizon. The vibrant purple and blue sheets of color flickered above the ocean for a few seconds, as if being shown on a movie projector.

Paul gave a sharp intake of breath. “This storm is much bigger than I expected.”

“Yeah, as usual, the weather report was wrong.”

He didn’t speak for a moment, then he said softly, “Pearl Cove isn’t quite what I expected either.”

My stomach sank because his tone wasn’t complimentary. While I was still trying to make up my mind about him, if he left town, that would be the end of things for sure. “You really hate it here that much?”

“I don’t hate everything about Pearl Cove.”

“No?”

“I really like you, Kip.”

I smiled. “Is that right?”

“Yes.” He slipped his arm along the back of my seat, and his warm fingers brushed the nape of my neck. I shivered at his caress, feeling conflicted. One second he was saying how much he disliked Pearl Cove, implying he couldn’t wait to leave, and the next he was flirting with me. Maybe he truly liked me, or perhaps he just wanted to sleep with someone and since he didn’t know anyone else in town, I seemed like his best option?

“Part of me wishes we could just go back to my place,” he said softly.

My face warmed at the suggestive timbre of his voice. I wasn’t sure how to proceed with Paul. He was attractive, but he was my client and teacher. That made things more complicated. I cleared my throat. “You can’t very well bail on the evening when you’re the one who offered to pay for the drinks.”

“You’re probably right.”

Probably?

“I think you’ll enjoy yourself. The class has a lot of nice people.” As I spoke, I turned onto Main Street.

“They did seem nice.” He nodded. “After all, it’s not like we can’t still end up at my place later.”

Surprised by how persistent he was being, I laughed uneasily but didn’t speak.

When the silence stretched, he removed his arm from behind me. “Or maybe you’re not interested.”

Unsure of what to do, I said, “It’s not that, but I think I move slower than you.”

His voice seemed strained as he said, “No problem.”

My stomach churned. I’d never expected him to hit on me during the drive over. Now the atmosphere in the cab was so thick with tension, I could have cut it with a palette knife. “I’m not rejecting you,” I said softly.

“No, it’s fine. I get it.” He was saying all the right things, but I could sense resentment bubbling beneath the surface.

I grimaced. “I… I find you attractive. It isn’t that I don’t.”

“Don’t sweat it.”

I laughed uneasily. “I’d like to get to know you better. Hopefully, you’re still open to that?”

“Sure.” He stared out the windshield. “Unless I leave town.”

Frowning, I snagged a parking space right in front of the Crab Palace. I shut the engine off and the only sound inside the cab of my truck was the pinging of rain on the roof. “You wouldn’t leave before the semester is over, right?”

He turned to look at me. The inside of my truck was mostly dark, although there was some light from a street lamp overhead. I couldn’t see his eyes, but his mouth was a hard line. “Teaching art isn’t as easy as people made it out to be.”

That struck me as an odd answer, but before I could form a question, he opened his door.

“Let’s go party,” he said gruffly.

“Uh, sure.”

He climbed out of my truck, strode up to the front door of the Crab Palace, and disappeared into the restaurant.

With a grunt of frustration, I got out of the vehicle. “I’m sure the drive back won’t be awkward at all.”

Chapter Four

Feeling demoralized, I walk toward the brick building that housed the Crab Palace. There was a green awning over the door with the name of the restaurant printed in bold yellow letters. The sidewalk was wet, and a large neon sign in the window flashed the image of a crab. The orange light reflected through the iron bars on the window, onto the rain-slicked cement below. I had the distinct feeling I was being watched, but when I glanced around, no one was there.

I opened the door, allowing the sound of conversation and laughter to spill out into the damp night. It was a weeknight but the restaurant was still busy, not even counting all the students that had piled in moments before. The Crab Palace always seemed to be buzzing with customers, probably because their clam chowder bread bowl was the stuff of legends.

There were two large screen TVs over the dark wooden bar, where various sports games flickered. Every so often, a roar would erupt from the people seated on tall stools at the bar. Nearby, a waitress and two busboys were busy pulling long tables together for our group.

I spotted Paul across the room, talking to some of the students. When he glanced over and saw me, he turned his back. I felt like he was being a baby, but figured I’d give him some space to cool off. Merrick had arrived before us, which was no surprise since he’d left first. He too turned his back on me when he noticed me walk in. It seemed I was offending people left and right this evening.

Maybe I should have just gone home.

Even though Paul still seemed standoffish, when the time came to sit down he claimed the chair beside me. I hoped that meant he was thawing toward me. When the waitress came around we ordered our drinks, and Paul insisted on also buying several platters of hors d’oeuvres.

Paul didn’t speak to me much, but that was mostly because his time was occupied by the students who wanted his attention. I amused myself by chatting with Miranda. She had lots of stories about taking Peaches to the dog park, and how someone had stolen the license plates off her car.

I stuck to only one beer because, as far as I knew, I was still driving Paul back to his car later. If he’d made other plans, he hadn’t bothered to tell me yet. At one point, I made my way to the crowded bar to order a soft drink. I was surprised to notice Mrs. Ribald sitting there. Her companion was a man at least a decade younger than her. He was extremely attractive with blond hair and blue eyes. At first, I thought they were just acquaintances, but then he leaned in to kiss her. When the kiss ended, she looked around embarrassed and that’s when she spotted me.

“Kip?” She ran a hand over her short curly brown hair. “I didn’t see you there.”

Mrs. Ribald was a plain woman in her sixties and wasn’t someone who generally put any effort into her appearance. She’d never worn makeup in the past, and jeans and baggy sweaters had been her uniform the entire time I’d known her. Tonight, however, she wore a blue plaid skirt with a lacy top, heels, eyeshadow, and red lipstick. Even her short nails were painted with red lacquer.

“How are you, Mrs. Ribald?” I smiled at her.

“I’ve been wonderful,” she gushed, batting her lashes at the man who sat beside her. “This is Lewis. He’s my… boyfriend.”

Lewis held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I said shaking his hand.

“I keep meaning to call you, Kip,” Mrs. Ribald said. Her smile faded slightly as she held my curious gaze.

“Have you?”

She nodded. “I’m afraid I need to cancel my dog walking services.” She looked nervous, as if she thought I wouldn’t approve.

“Well, if you don’t need our help anymore, I’ll definitely let Helen know to close your account.” I smiled so she’d know there was no ill will. “Hopefully it wasn’t anything we did wrong?”

She put her hand on my arm and shook her head. “Oh no, nothing like that at all.” She smiled at her boyfriend. “It’s just, Lewis and I enjoy walking Raider together. Now that I have someone to go with me, it’s not such a chore to take the dog for a walk.”

I smiled. “That’s great.”

Relief fluttered through her gray eyes. “I was so worried you’d be mad.”

“Mad? Not at all. If you ever change your mind, just give us a call.”

“Thank you, Kip.”

Lewis leaned in. “Walking is a good way to exercise her. Sally I mean, not Raider.”

Mrs. Ribald laughed and smacked his arm. “It’s good exercise for all of us. Including you.”

Lewis patted his obviously flat stomach. “It’s true I’ve put on a few pounds since I got together with Sally.” He sighed and winked at her. “They say people who fall in love put on weight.”

Mrs. Ribald giggled. “I guess we’re both doomed to be fat and happy.”

She was practically glowing and while I was happy for her, I was a little curious about their pairing. To put it bluntly, Lewis was out of her league. Even with makeup, Mrs. Ribald wasn’t a beauty. She was average at best. Looks weren’t everything, of course, but Lewis struck me as the kind of person who was very concerned with looks. His hair was perfect. His tan was perfect. His teeth were perfect. Overall, he was just a little too perfect.

“What do you do, Lewis?” I asked. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d said he modeled. He was good-looking enough to be on the cover of a magazine.

“I’m between jobs at the moment.” He shrugged. “Before this little mini-vacation I did some work for Christie’s Auction House in New York.”

I widened my eyes. “Really?”

“Yep. I worked in their marketing department.”

“That’s amazing.” I laughed. “How did you end up in Pearl Cove?”

Mrs. Ribald smiled. “I’m afraid that’s all my fault.”

I frowned. “How so?”

“I met Lewis on a cruise last month. We had such an amazing connection, I talked him into following me here.” Her cheeks tinted pink. “It was love at first sight.”

“That it was,” said Lewis.

I was still puzzled by Lewis’s attraction to Mrs. Ribald. She wasn’t rich by any means. She’d worked as the head librarian at Pearl Cove Community College for the last three decades. I wanted to believe he was enamored of her for all the right reasons, he certainly seemed attentive. But he just didn’t seem like the type of guy who’d be happy living in a little town like Pearl Cove. I found it impossible to picture him staying here permanently.

“What made you leave Christie’s?” I asked.

He grimaced. “It was a very high-stress job. Even working in the marketing department was brutal.”

“I see.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it was an honor to work there. But I needed a break.”

I smiled. “I can understand that.”

“I’m trying to talk him into opening a bookstore coffee shop kind of place here in Pearl Cove.” Mrs. Ribald bit her bottom lip. “Our little town could use somewhere like that to just relax. I’m thinking of retiring next year, and I could help him run the place. After all, books are my life.”

Lewis grinned. “And I love coffee.”

They both laughed, gazing into each other’s eyes.

I was a little uncomfortable watching the two of them together. I definitely felt like a third wheel. “What do you plan on doing until Mrs. Ribald retires?” I asked.

A line appeared between Lewis’s pale brows. “I… I’m not sure.”

“I keep telling him not to worry about getting a job.” She sighed. “I’ve been so busy with the remodeling of the library, I’m afraid we’d never see each other if he had a job. I mean, it was wonderful that Gloria Montgomery left all her money to redo the college library. I certainly don’t mean to be negative. It’s just that it’s been a real challenge working with the city.”

“You’re not being negative.” Lewis touched her arm. “You work twelve-hour days and weekends. You have every right to feel tired.”

She sipped her martini, and then said, “I just want everything to be perfect. Who knows when the library will be remodeled again? And she gifted that beautiful collection of Ernest Hemingway books to the school library. I just want them to have a home worthy of them.”

I raised my brows. “She left an Ernest Hemingway collection to the school?”

“She did indeed. Apparently, she had no children. She wanted others to be able to enjoy those beautiful books.” Mrs. Ribald sighed. “She was very generous.”

“I look forward to seeing those books once the library has reopened.” I smiled.

“It’s intimidating having them around.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I mean, to actually hold a 1926 copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises in my hands was beyond moving.”

I whistled. “That must be extremely valuable.”

“Oh, yes. Naturally, we had to have everything valued for insurance purposes.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “That book alone is worth $87,000.”

My mouth fell open. “That one book?”

She nodded. “Yep. The others are extremely valuable as well. They’re being housed in very special cases to help preserve them. It’s a lot of responsibility keeping them safe.”

Lewis put his arm around her shoulders. “I worry about her working late into the night at the library alone.”

I frowned and addressed Mrs. Ribald, “Why are you alone?”

She laughed. “I hate keeping the assistant librarians late. I mean, some of them have families to tend to.”

“I keep telling her she deserves to leave at a reasonable hour as well.” Lewis sighed. “But that library is her life.”

She grimaced. “No. You’ve shown me that the library is just a job.”

Lewis grinned. “A job that you adore.”

Laughing, she said, “Yes. But I adore you more.”

When they went back to gazing into each other’s eyes again, I decided I should give them some privacy. Not only was it awkward for me to witness, but it just reminded me of how painfully single I was. I took my soda from the bartender when he brought it, said goodbye to the happy couple, and made my way back to my seat at the table.

I was annoyed to find Merrick sitting in Paul’s chair. He glanced over when I took my seat, but I ignored him. The chairs were so close, his shoulder bumped mine, and since I felt like I was crowding him, I scooted my chair away a little bit.

“Someone took my chair. That’s the only reason I’m sitting here,” Merrick said.

I glanced over at him. “I didn’t say anything.”

“No. But you moved away as if I smell or something,” he grumbled.

“You’re being paranoid. I was just giving you a room.”

He tipped his head back and drained his beer bottle. He set the empty on the table and stood. “I’m gonna take off.”

I stared up at him, wondering why he looked so irritable. “You’re not gonna stay and say annoying things to me?”

He smirked. “Maybe tomorrow.” Without another word he left me and pushed his way through the crowd toward the door.

I watched him go, wondering what was bugging him. I found it impossible to believe his feelings were wounded by anything I’d said or done. I leaned back in my chair, wondering how much longer Paul wanted to stay. If he didn’t want to leave soon, I was tempted to suggest he take an Uber back to his car. I had to work tomorrow so staying out late wasn’t a great idea.

As if on cue, Paul returned to his seat. “I paid the bill and I’m ready to go when you are,” he said.

“Great. Let’s go then.” I stood. “I’m definitely ready to call it a night.”

He rose and we made our way out of the bar. The rain had stopped, but it was still cold and damp. We climbed into the truck and I started the engine.

“You were right, that was a nice group of people.” Paul gazed out the window at the still busy restaurant.

“It was a kind gesture to buy them drinks.”

“I felt like I had to do something. I goofed up royally tonight.” He sighed and glanced over at me. “I think I goofed up with you too.”

“Nah.”

“Sorry I was so pushy earlier,” he said softly.

“It’s fine.” I was surprised he was apologizing, seeing as he’d seemed miffed before.

“I really like you.” He sighed. “But you’re impossible to read. One minute I think you’re into me, but then the next I think you’re not.”

I had no idea how to respond. I felt like he was describing himself, not me. He was the one who seemed to give mixed signals.

He laughed. “Charlene says you only chase after guys who don’t want you. Is that true?”

“What?” I practically screeched. Heat flooded my face and I dug my fingers into the steering wheel. “First of all, that’s not true. Secondly, why are you gossiping about my private life with my employees?”

“She volunteered the information.”

“That’s not the point,” I rasped, turning into the college parking lot. I stopped next to Paul’s silver car and gave him a hard look. “How would you two even get on the subject of my dating habits?”

He shrugged. “I mentioned I was interested in you, and she said something like then don’t show that to Kip or he won’t want anything to do with you.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t chase after men who don’t want me.”

“Okay. Okay. I believe you.”

I grimaced. “Please don’t talk about me with my employees. That’s completely out of line.”

He held up his hands. “All right. I meant no harm.”

I let out a shaky breath. “If you want to know how I feel about things… just ask.”

“Fair enough.” He opened his door, but hesitated. “I didn’t mean to upset you. That’s the last thing I wanted.”

I sighed. “I’m fine. I’m more annoyed with Charlene than you.”

“Okay, good.” He gave a weak smile. “Thanks again for the ride.”

“My pleasure.” I really hoped he wasn’t going to try and kiss me again. I was in a bad mood. I had a headache and I just wanted to go home and sleep. This night had been long and exhausting on so many levels. “I’ll see you next class.”

His gaze flickered. “Okay.” He shut the door and headed to his car.

I watched him go, feeling depressed. When I’d first met Paul, things had seemed promising, but now, I wasn’t so sure. He ran hot and cold, and the gossiping about me with Charlene thing really got under my skin.

Once I was sure his car had started, I drove home. I parked in my driveway and climbed from the truck. As I made my way onto my porch, movement on the side of the house caught my eye. The hairs on the back of my neck stiffened, and I faced the shadow.

“Is someone there?” I called out, annoyed when my voice shook.

There was no response, but I continued to stare at the corner of the house. I wasn’t sure if I’d really seen something or if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I decided, either way, it was best to get inside. I turned back to the door and my fingers shook as I tried to hurry up and get the key in the lock. When the key finally slipped into the lock, and the door opened, relief washed through me.

I slipped inside and closed the door firmly, locking the deadbolt. I listened with my ear pressed to the door, straining to hear the sound of footsteps or any sign that someone was walking around outside my house. My heart thumped loudly, making it harder to hear. After a few minutes, I decided I’d imagined the shadow I’d seen. It was still cloudy after the rainstorm and maybe a cloud moving across the sky had tricked me into thinking I’d seen movement.

Feeling a little calmer, I went into my bedroom and changed into sweats and a soft cotton T-shirt. Every little creak of the house set my nerves on edge. It was at times like these I wished I had a dog. Just another pair of eyes and ears to keep watch would be comforting. I’d actually owned a black lab named Chelsey, but she’d died last year. I’d had her for so long, I hadn’t felt ready to take on a new pet. But lately, I had been thinking maybe it was time to get another dog.

I headed toward the kitchen, intent on making myself a cup of chamomile tea to help calm my nerves. When the doorbell rang I stopped walking and stayed in the hallway, frowning toward the front door. It was after 10:30 p.m. and definitely late for someone to drop by uninvited. My stomach tensed when whoever it was rang the doorbell a few more times in an agitated fashion.

Part of me felt a little foolish, cowering inside my home, but something felt off. Why would anyone be ringing my doorbell so urgently at this time of night? My nearest neighbor, Gladys Archer, had my cell number. She wasn’t the type to just come over without calling first. In fact, anyone who knew me knew I didn’t like people just dropping by.

When the person at the front door abruptly stopped ringing the bell, I waited apprehensively to see what they’d do next. I really hoped they’d just gone away. I strained my ears, listening for any sign the individual was still around. When I heard the handle of the door in the kitchen jiggle, real panic set in. I hurried into my bedroom and scooped my cell from the top of the dresser. I also grabbed a baseball bat out of the closet for good measure. I dialed the number of the Pearl Cove Police Station as I crept into the hallway.

“Pearl Cove PD. Officer Parks speaking,” a bored voice over the phone announced.

“Hi, this is Kip O’Connor at 4432 Beachcomber Lane.” I was embarrassed when my voice wobbled. “I think I have a prowler.”

“You think you have a prowler?” Officer Parks asked, sounding livelier.

I swallowed hard. “I’m sure they’re trying to get in. Someone tried to open my kitchen door.”

“Okay, just stay calm, Mr. O’Connor. I’m sending a unit over there now.”

“Thank you.” I continued to listen for any signs that the intruder was having success at getting inside the house.

“The officers should be there shortly. Stay inside with all the doors locked.”

“No worries,” I muttered. “I’m not going outside.”

I jumped when somebody banged on the kitchen door, and my heart began to thump wildly. I gripped the bat tighter, and sweat broke out on my brow. “Please hurry. They’re definitely trying to get in.”

“We have an officer on your street. It’ll just be a matter of minutes Mr. O’Connor.”

I didn’t own a gun. I wasn’t opposed to guns, but I’d never felt the need for one living in Pearl Cove. Tonight, I was wishing I at least had pepper spray. I was a healthy man, in fairly good physical condition, but hand-to-hand combat wasn’t really my specialty. I felt embarrassingly vulnerable as I waited for the cops to arrive.

“Officer on scene, Mr. O’Connor. They’ll identify themselves as PCPD through the front door.” Officer Parks abruptly ended the call.

“Wait! How will I know it’s really the police?” I hissed at the beeping phone.

I jumped when somebody pounded on the front door. “Kip? Everything okay in there?” Merrick’s familiar voice came through the thick wood.

“Merrick?” Shocked that of all people he was on my doorstep, I ran down the hallway toward the front door. Whether I liked Merrick or not, he was a cop and I was comforted by his presence. I threw open the door and found him standing there looking alert.

“You okay?” he asked brusquely.

“I’m fine,” I said breathlessly. “But someone was trying to get in through the kitchen door.”

“Okay. I’m gonna check around the side of the house. Lock the door.” Without waiting for a response, he headed down the porch and disappeared around the corner of my house.

I slammed the door closed, locked it, and leaned against it. My heart was pounding so fast it was unsettling. I hoped Merrick would be careful, but then reminded myself he was a policeman. While someone like me found this terrifying, Merrick hadn’t seemed scared. If anything, he’d seemed eager.

I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, so I perched on the arm of the couch. It probably took about fifteen minutes for Merrick to return. He knocked on the door and called out that it was all clear. Since I recognized his voice, I opened the door.

Merrick looked confident and commanding, standing on my porch in his Navy peacoat. I had no idea why he’d responded to my prowler call instead of a regular police unit. But he’d arrived so quickly, I wasn’t about to complain.

“I was expecting the police,” I said in a shaky voice.

“I am the police.”

I grimaced. “Right. I meant a patrol car.”

“I was in the area.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s so good to see you.” I peered uneasily over his shoulder at the darkness behind him. “Did you see any signs of a prowler?”

He hesitated and then nodded. “Yes. There are gouge marks in the frame of your back door. I suspect someone was trying to force the lock.”

The blood seemed to drain from my head to my feet. “Oh God. Really?” I’d been hoping that I was just being paranoid. Even though, I knew I’d heard someone trying to break in.

“It’s okay, Kip. It might have just been kids.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket. “But I’ll have a crime scene tech come dust for prints, just to be safe.”

“Okay.”

He walked away, phone pressed to his ear. When he returned a few minutes later, he came inside the house. “My forensic tech, Stan is on his way over. If this person left prints, Stan will find them.”

I blew out a shaky breath. “What scares me the most is that my truck was in the driveway. Whoever it was must have known I was home.”

He nodded. “I’ll admit, breaking in when you’re home is brazen.”

“God. I was hoping you’d say that happens all the time.” Shivering, I moved to sit on the couch because my legs felt like they were about to give out. He followed me, and I was surprised when he perched next to me on the arm of the couch.

He studied me with a thoughtful expression. “First thing tomorrow, you need to call a locksmith and have them put a deadbolt on that kitchen door. I suspect the perp went to that door because often the side doors are the weakest.”

“But, this person rang the doorbell first.”

His gaze flickered. “They did?”

I nodded. “Is that bad?”

As he studied me, and I could see the wheels turning. He probably didn’t want to be too honest with me in case he scared me more. “I wouldn’t say it’s bad.”

“But it’s weird, right?” I shuddered. “What do you suppose they wanted to do to me?”

“There’s no point in going down that road. They didn’t get in. You’re going to take steps to see that they never get in.” He sighed.

“Burglaries are rare around here.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t understand why they’d pick me. I don’t have a bunch of fancy electronics or anything.”

“It was probably random.” He rubbed his jaw. “Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary lately?”

“Like what?”

He shrugged. “Like newspapers missing, or maybe flowerbeds trampled beneath windows. Just general indicators that someone has been poking their nose around your property.”

I gulped. “I haven’t noticed anything like that.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.” He pushed up onto his feet.

I widened my eyes. “You’re leaving?”

He laughed gruffly. “This is a first. You’ve never been sorry to see me go before.”

I smiled weakly. “We may not always get along, but I know you could take down the bad guy without breaking a sweat.”

“I don’t know. My job is mostly administrative these days.” He sounded disgruntled.

“You miss working the streets?” I frowned.

He shrugged. “I actually always loved being a patrol cop.”

Narrowing my eyes, I said, “I can’t believe my ears. You didn’t become police chief by accident. You had to accept that position from the mayor.”

“True.” He dropped his gaze. “I had a lot of people expecting big things from me. Whether I wanted them or not.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d always pictured Merrick as power-hungry, but the man standing in front of me right now was basically admitting he’d climb the ladder because it was expected of him. “I thought you loved being chief of police.”

He straightened looking almost embarrassed. “Don’t get me wrong, I definitely love my job. I deserve my job. I worked hard to get where I am, and I’m great at what I do.”

“Ahh yes. There’s the Merrick I know.”

He gave a tight smile. “I can’t help it if I made a great patrol cop and I make a darn fine police chief. I see no reason to be humble.”

“Naturally. Humble isn’t your thing.”

He shrugged. “False humility is a waste of everyone’s time.”

“Right.” I stood. “On second thought, you don’t have to stay with me. I’m fine now.”

He moved to the door. “I was waiting for Stan to get here. I guess I can just wait in my car.”

Guilt nudged me. “Oh, well, you don’t have to wait in your car.”

“It’s fine. I need to make some phone calls.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “I’m just going to take a quick look at that lock on the kitchen door.” He headed toward the other room.

I followed and watched him examine the lock. He straightened. “Yeah, this is a wimpy lock. I’m kind of surprised he wasn’t able to get in.” At my sharp intake of breath, he winced. “Sorry. I was thinking out loud.”

“That’s the lock that came with the house.” I frowned. “I never thought to change it. What’s the kind of locks crooks can’t get past?”

He grimaced. “That lock doesn’t exist. A determined thief with an angle grinder and enough time can get through any lock.”

“That’s a horrifying thought.” I wrinkled my brow. “Then, why do people bother buying expensive locks?”

“Because a good lock slows the thieves down.”

“But they’ll still get in?”

“Eventually. Yeah.”

I shuddered. “I’m definitely getting another dog.”

He nodded. “You should. Dogs are the best alarm system there is. Considering how much you love animals, I’m surprised you don’t have a dog.”

I shrugged and leaned against the counter. “I guess it felt like if I got another dog too soon, it was like I was trying to replace Chelsey.”

His expression softened. “She was a good dog. I remember her. I was always impressed by how you could take her with you everywhere.”

I smiled. “She really was a great dog.”

“She always liked me. I seem to recall that annoyed the heck out of you.”

I sighed. “It made me doubt her people reading skills.”

“Ha. Ha.” He shook his head and straightened. “Okay. Well, I’ve done all I can do here. Stan will be here soon. I’ll text you when he arrives, so you know who it is at your kitchen door.”

“Okay.” I hugged myself. “I can’t stop thinking about what might have happened. If I’d opened the door when that person rang the bell—”

“Why didn’t you open the door?”

“Something in my gut told me not to.”

“Good. Listen to your instincts.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s too late now, but I’ll send a patrol car tomorrow to talk to your neighbors. It’s possible someone saw whoever was sneaking around your house.”

“Thanks.” I laughed gruffly. “I’m surprised at how… nice… you’re being to me.”

He narrowed his eyes. “That’s because I am a nice guy.”

“If you say so.”

He studied me with a funny expression. “Why is it easier for you to think I’m a jerk?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Prove me wrong, Merrick.”

He hesitated and then said, “Why bother? You’ll believe what you want to believe.” He cleared his throat. “Lock the door behind me.” Without another word, he left my house, closing the door hard.

Chapter Five

Stan was a short man with a puffy white beard. He was oddly chatty, especially considering the time of night. He didn’t seem annoyed at all about being called out so late. I had to wonder if that happened to him a lot. Pearl Cove didn’t have a lot of crime, but sometimes the forensic guys were loaned out to nearby cities. Not only was he congenial, he also worked fast. It only took him about an hour to dust the front and back door, and the window sills.

Once I was alone again, I rechecked all the windows and doors, and then went to my bedroom. I was tempted to sleep with a light on but decided that was too embarrassing for a man my age. I shut the light off and pulled the comforter up to my chin. Every shadow looked like a human form, and all the little creaks of the house made my heart race. In the end, sleep was impossible, and around 4:30 a.m. I gave up and went in to make a pot of strong coffee.

I downed a few cups of Kona and went into my office to check emails. I felt less jumpy once the sun came up, and that gave me the courage to shower. Once I was washed, I dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. I went back into the kitchen, where I filled a to-go cup with more java for the road. It was going to be a long day at work, and even after all the caffeine I’d already consumed, I still felt like a zombie.

I left my house and as I walked to my truck, was surprised to spot Merrick’s sedan parked a few houses down the street. Taken aback at the sight of his car, I set my coffee on the hood of my truck and I walked down to his vehicle.

When I reached his car, I found him with his eyes closed and his lips parted. Even from outside the car, I heard definite sounds of snoring. I couldn’t help grinning at him because he sounded like a hibernating bear. When his eyes flew open, I was embarrassed that he’d caught me watching him sleep. Then I remembered he was the one who should be embarrassed.

He sat up abruptly, honking the horn accidentally. He wiped at his mouth as if he was afraid he’d been drooling, and he opened his door. “Hey, Kip,” he said gruffly, as he climbed from the vehicle.

I tried to keep a straight face, but in the end, I couldn’t help laughing. “What are you doing sleeping in your car?”

He cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes roughly. “I wasn’t here all night.”

“You sure about that? You were sound asleep.”

He smoothed his palm down his wrinkled shirt front. “Of course I’m sure. I got here about an hour ago.”

I smirked. “Were you here to protect me?”

His mouth tensed. “Well, you were acting like a scared little girl last night.”

That comment wiped the smile off my face. “I was not.”

“You’re right, that’s an insult to little girls.”

I twisted my lips with distaste. “Just because you’re embarrassed I caught you sleeping outside my house, that’s no reason to be mean.”

He ignored me and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Do you have any coffee?”

“Coffee?” I frowned. “Do you think I have an espresso machine in my pocket?”

“I’m just saying I sure could use a cup of coffee.”

I grimaced. “Well, I’m on my way to work.”

“I see.”

“I obviously have coffee in my house, but I’ll be late if I get you coffee.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Oh, well, don’t let me keep you. I wouldn’t want to put you out or anything.”

I sighed impatiently. “I know you don’t think my job counts, but I have people depending on me.”

“I’m not trying to bag on your job.” He sounded exasperated. “I seriously just need some coffee, Kip. Geez.”

He sounded so sincerely desperate for coffee, my heart softened. After all, he had slept in his car to watch over me. I guess it was the least I could do to get him some caffeine. “Come inside. I’ll make another pot.”

“Are you sure?” His eyes glittered with amusement. “I hate to be a bother.”

“Yeah. I can tell.” I left him and crossed the street toward my house. I grabbed my cup off my hood and quickly texted Helen to tell her I’d be a little late today. She responded immediately telling me not to worry and that she had everything handled. Knowing Helen, she truly did have everything in hand.

I let us back into my house and led the way into the kitchen.

Merrick hesitated near the doorway. “Mind if I use the restroom?” he asked.

“Go for it,” I said, scooping coffee beans into the burr grinder. Once the beans were ground, I put them in the machine and poured the water into the reservoir. By the time the pot was half full, Merrick returned.

He looked refreshed as he took a seat at the kitchen table. “I hope you don’t mind, I used some of the face cleanser you had under the sink to wash up.” He touched his cheek. “It’s good stuff. My face feels clean but not dry.”

I laughed. “No problem.”

He leaned back, clasping his hands over his flat stomach. “So did you get any sleep last night?”

“Nope.” I rested against the counter.

“I didn’t think you would.” He sighed. “Stan should have the results by the end of the week. I asked him to put a rush on it.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, Thomas would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you seem more concerned about me than Thomas does? I mean, if he’s so worried about me, why isn’t he the one popping up everywhere? It’s always you.”

He didn’t answer my question. Instead, he asked an annoying one of his own. “So did Mr. Wilcox put the moves on you last night?”

My face warmed. “No.”

“You probably wouldn’t tell me if he did.”

“Probably not.” I shrugged. “But obviously I was home, or I wouldn’t have known that person was trying to break into my house.”

“True.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why don’t you like Mr. Wilcox?”

“Who says I don’t?”

The coffeemaker beeped and I turned to fill a mug for him. “You just seem to have a certain tone in your voice whenever you mention him.” I added cream to his coffee and carried his cup to the table.

He nodded his thanks. “I don’t know anything about Mr. Wilcox.”

“I just get the feeling you’re not a fan of his.”

He lifted one shoulder. “Something about him seems off.”

I knew exactly what he meant, but I had no desire to tell Merrick that. He already thought he knew everything in the world. “He’s a nice guy. He’s just uptight because he’s new in town.”

“Seems like more to me.” He sipped his coffee. “Oh, that’s good stuff.”

“It’s Kona. It’s sixty dollars a pound. It better be delicious.”

He widened his eyes. “What?” He glanced at the coffee in his mug. “That’s a ridiculous price.”

“It’s the going rate.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t just serve me the cheap stuff.”

I sighed. “I’m all out right now.”

He laughed. “Otherwise you would have?”

I smirked. “Probably.”

He gave a grudging smile. “You’re such a punk.”

I joined him at the table and sat across from him. I needed to thank him for his help last night, even though I hated doing it. But it was the grownup thing to do. “I um… wanted to thank you for coming to my rescue last night.” I frowned. “You didn’t have to bother, but you did. That means a lot.”

Lifting his dark brows, he looked nonplussed. “Uh… no problem.”

“How did you happen to be so close to my house?”

He avoided my gaze. “I was on my way home from the Crab Palace.”

“But… you left before me.”

He cleared his throat. “I had to stop and get gas.”

“I see.” He was lying. The only gas station open that late at night was clear across town, closer to where he lived. He’d have had no reason to be near my home. But it was obvious he wanted to hide what he’d been up to, so I decided to let it go. “Well, I’m just happy you were available.”

“Me too.” He let out a tired breath.

I studied him, taking in his aristocratic nose, full lips, and thick dark lashes. He was a very good-looking guy. I couldn’t help wondering why he was still single. He was sexy and he held a powerful job. That was usually like honey to bees with people. Did Merrick pick the wrong guys too? Or was that just something I did?

He glanced up and caught me watching him. “Did you call the locksmith yet?”

“Uh, not yet. I planned on doing that this morning.”

“Don’t put it off.” He glanced toward the kitchen door. “That lock is about as effective as having a rubber band keeping people out.”

“It worked though. The person didn’t get in.”

He grimaced. “That’s because he got scared off by my arrival.”

Gritting my teeth, I said, “Don’t say things like that. You’re freaking me out.”

He laughed. “Sorry. I’m trying to motivate you.”

“Trust me, I’m motivated.”

He glanced at his watch and then gulped down the last of his coffee. He stood and took the cup to the sink. “I need to get moving.”

“Me too.”

“Thanks for the coffee, Kip.” He smiled. “Maybe now I can stay awake.”

“No problem.” I led the way to the front door, and he followed. Once outside, I locked the door behind us.

“I’ll let you know when we get the fingerprint results.”

“Will you?” I asked, surprised.

“Sure. If we get a name, I want to know if it’s someone you recognize.”

“Oh, right.”

As he strode across the street toward his car, he called out, “Keep your eyes and ears open, kid.”

I hated it when he called me ‘kid’ but decided to let it slide. “I will.” I got into my truck, and he sped off down the street in the direction of the police station. I was grateful to him for helping me last night, but something was fishy about his reason for being near my house. I knew there was no point in pushing him for answers though. Merrick could be as stubborn as a mule sometimes.

When I got to work, Helen and Charlene were understandably horrified to hear about my prowler adventure.

“Why would anyone break into your house?” Charlene asked, wide-eyed. “You don’t even own a big-screen TV.”

“I know. I have no idea why they’d target me.”

Helen bugged her eyes. “Maybe it was a crazy sex maniac.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I highly doubt that.”

She stretched her lips over her teeth. “You never know. Those things can happen in a small town too.”

I sighed. “It was cold and rainy last night. Maybe it was just a transient person who wanted shelter. Maybe they were drunk, so that’s why they were so insistent about trying to get in.”

“Hmmm, maybe.” Helen sounded dubious. She probably still preferred her crazy sex maniac theory.

I met Charlene’s worried gaze. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be at Mr. Wilcox’s house today?”

She nodded. “Yeah. He canceled.”

“He did?” I frowned. “Do you know why?”

“No idea.” Charlene shrugged.

Helen adjusted her reading glasses. “He left a message on the machine before we even opened, saying he didn’t need Charlene today.”

Thinking back to last night, he’d seemed fine. He hadn’t had that much to drink either. “Huh. I hope he’s okay.”

“He sounded kind of weird on the phone. Muffled.” Helen wrinkled her brow. “Maybe he has a cold or something. He didn’t sound like himself.”

“I hope he’s okay,” I murmured. Even if things had been a bit awkward last night with Paul, I still liked him. “If he’s sick he doesn’t have anyone to help him. Do you think maybe I should go check on him? See if he needs anything?”

“Maybe. He probably doesn’t know many people in town yet.” Helen chewed on the end of her pencil. “It might be the right thing to do, Kip.”

“Perhaps I will just pop over.”

Charlene giggled. “Are you sure you just don’t want to go see him because you like him?”

Heat prickled my cheeks. “I’m sure.”

“He seems very into you,” Charlene said slyly.

I frowned. “That reminds me, I don’t want you gossiping about me with the clients.”

Guilt shifted through her eyes, but she asked innocently, “Wha… what do you mean?”

“Charlene, I know you told Mr. Wilcox stuff about me. Inaccurate stuff, I might add.”

Her face fell. “I didn’t mean to. It just kind of happened.”

“How does volunteering my personal business just happen?”

Her face was pink. “He said he liked you and he wanted to know more about you. I didn’t mean to gossip, I swear. I just thought you two would be cute together.”

“My dating life isn’t anything you should be involved in.” I tried to sound firm, but not angry. Still, she seemed to wilt.

“I’m sorry,” she wailed. “I meant well, boss.”

It was impossible to be mad at her. Charlene wasn’t a malicious person and I knew she truly was sorry. “It’s okay. Just… try not to share my personal stuff with clients.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely. My lips are sealed. You know… from now on.”

I smiled. “Good.”

“Are you going to go check on him?” Helen asked, looking up from her laptop.

“You’re sure it won’t come off as pushy? If he’s not feeling well, maybe he’d rather not be bothered.” I rubbed my chin. “When I don’t feel good, I just like to be left alone.”

“Yeah, but you’re strange,” Helen said brightly, as if what she’d said wasn’t the least bit insulting.

“Thanks.” I frowned.

She waved her hand at me, laughing. “Oh, you know what I mean.”

Do I?

“I think you should go check on him. Spot is a bundle of energy. Since he didn’t get his usual walk, I’ll bet he’s driving Mr. Wilcox crazy right now. Especially if Mr. Wilcox isn’t feeling well.” Charlene sighed. “I already don’t think Mr. Wilcox likes Spot very much.”

“He’s not used to owning a dog.” I’d also picked up on some unhappy vibes from Paul toward Spot. It definitely wasn’t a match made in heaven.

“He strikes me as more of a cat person,” Charlene said. “Or maybe a no pet at all person.”

“You might be right.” I glanced at my watch. “Maybe I will go check in on him. Just to see if he wants me to walk Spot or pick up something from the store.”

“Yes.” Helen nodded. “That sounds like a very neighborly thing to do.”

“I suspect when he canceled today, he wasn’t thinking about how hard it would be to be trapped the whole day with Spot.” Charlene grimaced. “Go save him, boss.”

I smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

“Take all the time you need,” Helen called out. “I’ve got things handled here.”

I waved and headed to my truck. I was a little nervous about just dropping in on Paul, but if he was sick, he might appreciate the gesture. Possibly. When I reached his place, I parked on the street. This time I made sure my truck wasn’t anywhere near the hidden fire hydrant.

Feeling a little self-conscious, I made my way to Paul’s front door. Inside, Spot was barking. I gritted my teeth, positive the dog must be driving Paul insane by now. I hadn’t even rung the doorbell yet and Spot was already wound up. I decided against ringing the bell in case it made the dog worse, and instead knocked on the door.

As my knuckles connected with the wood, the door swung open. Surprised, I frowned and peered inside the house. The living room was deserted, and Spot was still barking somewhere from inside the house.

Uneasiness shifted through me, and I called out, “Paul? It’s Kip.”

Silence.

“Paul?”

More silence.

I stepped warily into the house, trying to ignore the anxiety nipping at me. “I just came by to see if you needed anything.” When Paul still didn’t respond, I began to worry he’d passed out somewhere in the home. I moved into the living room, and down the narrow hallway that led to the back of the house.

Spot’s barking grew louder as I approached what I believed to be the master bedroom. I stopped in front of the closed door, and I knocked softly. “Paul? I’m sorry to bother you. I just came by to be sure you were okay.”

No response.

From the other side, Spot began whining and scratching at the bottom of the door. I was beginning to actually worry about Paul. The fact that his front door had been open, and he wasn’t responding to me verbally made me uneasy. Nervous or not, I forced myself to open the bedroom door. I gave a startled screech when Spot lunged out of the door, bolting past me down the hallway.

The bedroom was dark, with the curtains drawn. I could just make out a queen-size bed in the middle of the room. There were some boxes stacked near the closet, but there didn’t appear to be any other furniture in the room besides the bed. I inched toward the bed, feeling apprehensive. If Paul was simply sleeping very deeply, I’d feel like a jerk waking him up.

I stopped near the bed and as my eyes began to adjust to the dim lighting, realized the bed was empty. The sheets were rumpled and the comforter thrown back as if the bed had been slept in. I turned and headed toward the master bathroom, listening for sounds of movement. The bathroom door was slightly ajar and I pushed it open more. I took a step inside the small room and was horrified to find Paul lying face down on the tile floor.

“Oh, my god, Paul,” I rasped.

I assumed he’d fainted, and rushed to his side. I knelt over him, and gently took hold of his arm. “Paul? Are you all right?” As I touched him, I was immediately aware of a lack of body heat and slight stiffness. A feeling of dread spread through me.

I’d never seen a dead body before, but as I turned Paul over I knew instantly he was indeed dead. That fact was cemented when I realized there was something jutting from his forehead. At first, I hadn’t noticed the weapon, because his hair was hiding it to a degree, but now I recognized the curved handle of a palette knife. My stomach heaved as I took in his wide sightless eyes and the smear of blood between his brows.

“My God,” I whispered.

Spot had returned and was circling us and licking at my face nervously. I pushed the dog away and got to my feet. With shaking hands, I dug my cell out of my pocket. I dialed 911 and the operator came on the line. I explained what happened and that I was certain Paul was deceased. She sounded so calm as she reassured me the police were on the way. I certainly didn’t feel calm. Was the murderer still somewhere in the house?

I grabbed the plunger from beside the toilet, thinking perhaps I could use it as a weapon. Then I followed Spot out of the bedroom. Terrified, I made a quick search of the house, clutching my plunger with shaking hands. I prayed the dog would bark if someone was lurking in one of the rooms. Hopefully. When I found no one in the home, I returned to the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed in a daze, distractedly petting Spot and waiting for the cops to show up.

As I stared at the bathroom door that was slightly ajar, I was definitely in shock. Paul’s feet were visible, and I shivered, feeling numb. Why anyone would kill Paul was mystifying to me. He’d seemed so harmless. He hadn’t even known anyone in Pearl Cove. Who could have wanted him dead?

When Spot started barking toward the doorway, I froze with fear. But it wasn’t the murderer returning to the scene of the crime, it was the police. Three nervous-looking patrolmen stumbled into the room, weapons drawn. The one in front was older than the others, with short silver hair and hard gray eyes.

The minute he saw me, he growled, “Keep your hands where I can see them.”

I stared at him, bewildered by why he seemed so aggressive. I lifted my hands slowly into the air, holding his steely gaze. “I didn’t do anything. I just found him. I’m the one who called you.”

He reached behind himself and tugged a pair of handcuffs free. I watched him warily as he stopped in front of me. “Put your hands behind your back,” he barked.

I did as he requested, but mumbled, “You’re arresting me?”

“You’re not under arrest,” he grated as he clamped cuffs on my wrists. “But I don’t know who you are.”

“But… didn’t you hear me? I’m the person who called you. Why would I call you if I’m the murderer?”

He didn’t respond. He tugged me to my feet and led me down the hallway and out of the house. I squinted against the sun, feeling lightheaded with shock. There was a crowd of people gathering on the sidewalk. They stared at me, whispering and pointing. Things had definitely gone from bad to worse. While the cop had said I wasn’t under arrest, something about his tone had implied I soon might be.

The cop had me sit in the back of his patrol car, as he talked into his shoulder radio. At least he left the door open, which was a good thing because I was on the verge of hyperventilating. I had no idea what was going to happen to me next. I couldn’t get the image of Paul with that palette knife in his forehead out of my mind. Every time I thought about it, my stomach rolled.

I will not be sick in this police car. I will not be sick in this police car.

Within minutes, Paul’s yard was crawling with people. Most of them were cops, some of them I recognized as reporters for the local newspaper. I longed to call someone who knew me; either my brother Thomas or my mother. The way everybody was looking at me was mortifying. It would have been nice to have someone with me who knew I wasn’t capable of murder.

When Merrick’s car pulled up, I was slightly relieved. Unfortunately, he didn’t come over to me. He went straight to a group of cops on the front lawn. After talking with them for a few minutes, he put on little booties and went inside the house. After a while he came outside, and the policeman who’d put me in cuffs went to him. With their heads together, they spoke quietly for a few minutes. Every now and then the cop pointed toward me, but Merrick never seemed to look in my direction.

By the time Merrick finally strolled over to me, I was pretty exhausted from worrying. I couldn’t tell anything from his expression, as he stopped next to the patrol car.

“How about you tell me your side of things, Kip?” Merrick’s tone was emotionless.

“My side of things is I found Paul murdered.”

“Could you maybe give me more details? Why were you in his house?”

“Why?” I gaped at him. “You must know I didn’t murder Paul.” I sounded vaguely panicked even to my own ears. “I wouldn’t —I’d never—”

Merrick’s voice was steady as he said, “Take a deep breath, Kip. Just tell me what happened.”

“Okay … well… I came by to check on Paul because he was sick. I… I found the front door open.” I swallowed hard. “The dog was barking like a maniac, and I went inside to see if Paul was okay.”

“I see.”

“He wasn’t okay.” I rubbed my face roughly. “I found him in the bathroom. He was dead.”

“Did you touch anything?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? Wait, yes, I touched Paul’s arm and a plunger.”

“A plunger?”

“I was going to use it for a weapon.” At his bewildered expression, I muttered, “Never mind.”

He exhaled roughly. “God.”

“Obviously, I didn’t murder Paul,” I mumbled. “I have no idea why that cop handcuffed me.”

He studied me. “I’m sorry Officer Lawson cuffed you. He was just following procedure. It’s a murder scene and he had no idea who you were.”

“Okay, well, what are the odds he’ll un-cuff me soon?” I tried not to sound as angry as I felt. I knew the cop had just been doing his job, but I was traumatized by finding Paul dead. I didn’t feel charitable.

“Stand up.” Merrick gestured for me to get out of the car. Once I’d done that, he said, “Turn around.”

I did as he asked, and Merrick took hold of my wrists. His warm fingers lingered on my skin, and I found that human connection comforting. I heard the click as the cuffs disengaged, and I gave a sigh of relief. When I turned, I found Officer Lawson standing behind Merrick.

“Just doing my job, kid,” Officer Lawson said gruffly.

I rubbed my throbbing wrists. “Right.” I didn’t have it in me to forgive him just yet. I still felt humiliated by the accusing looks I’d received from the people gathered on the sidewalk. In fact, many of them were still staring at me accusingly.

Merrick glanced toward Officer Lawson. “You can go. I’ll handle it from here. You didn’t do anything wrong, Fred.”

“Thanks, Chief.” Officer Lawson headed toward the house.

Merrick turned back to me. “I need to ask you a few questions, then you can go too.”

“Really? That’s it? No apology for being treated like a criminal?”

His gaze flickered. “Kip, I told you he was just doing his job. He didn’t know you from Adam. Of course he had to make sure you weren’t a danger to him or his officers.”

I ran a shaky hand through my hair. “Of course I’m not a danger.”

He sighed. “I know that.”

“I hope so. I was doing the right thing by calling the police. I could have just taken off.”

“That wouldn’t have been very smart. If anyone had seen you fleeing the scene, then you’d definitely be a suspect.”

“Well, it’s a moot point because I didn’t leave.”

He sighed and seemed to regroup. “Okay, you said Paul was sick. How did you know he was sick?”

“Paul canceled his dog walking services today. Helen thought he sounded sick on the phone. I came by to check on him to see if he needed anything.”

Merrick nodded. “I see.”

I shivered. “I still can’t believe it. Who would do something like that? Paul was an art teacher. How is someone like that murdered?”

“Anyone can be murdered.”

“How reassuring.”

He sighed. “Just for the record, you should have stayed out of the house when you felt like something was wrong. You should have called the police from outside.”

“I sensed something was wrong but had no idea he’d been killed. I knew he was sick and I worried maybe he’d passed out.” I grimaced. “I never in a million years…”

“I’m sorry. It’s obvious you’re very upset.”

“Yeah. Probably the worst day of my life.”

He glanced around. “Obviously, the ME will be the one who definitively tells us the time of death. But judging by the body temperature I observed, Paul died many hours ago.”

“Oh God,” I mumbled.

He cleared his throat. “When you drove Paul back to his car last night, did you go straight home?”

“You know I did. That’s when I saw the person lurking around my house.”

“There might have been a half-hour leeway in there somewhere.”

My face warmed. “What are you implying?”

He shrugged. “Just trying to get the facts.”

“The facts are I dropped Paul off at Parking Lot B, made sure his car started and went straight home.” I held his enigmatic gaze. “We didn’t have a quickie in the back seat, if that’s what you’re insinuating.”

He pursed his lips. “Of course, we’ll have to pull the parking lot security tapes just be sure.”

“You can’t just take my word for it?”

“Of course not. I need to be sure you both left the parking lot alive.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t kill Paul. I wouldn’t kill anyone.”

A muscle worked in his cheek. “I know, but I can’t just go by my gut. There has to be an investigation.”

“Yes. I’m glad there will be an investigation. Paul’s murderer needs to be found. But as you well know, I was at home dealing with a prowler.”

“An alleged prowler.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m just saying, sometimes people use the police as an alibi.”

I widened my eyes. “Is that what you think I did?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think.”

I sputtered, “There were gouge marks on the back door. You saw them with your own eyes.”

He shrugged. “Anybody with a butter knife could make those marks.”

“I was obviously terrified.”

“You could have been acting.”

My mouth fell open. “I can’t believe my ears.”

He glanced around and then stepped closer. “Kip, I don’t believe you’re a murderer,” he said softly. “But I have to investigate you, just like I would anyone else.”

“But I’m not under arrest?” I asked breathlessly.

“No. Not at this time.”

“But you may arrest me later?”

Merrick sighed. “Only if that’s where the evidence leads.”

I scowled. “Of course the evidence won’t lead to me.”

His expression was impossible to read.

“Am I free to go?”

He nodded slowly. “I assume it goes without saying not to leave town.”

“I have no intention of leaving town,” I muttered. Past him, I saw Spot tied to a tree in the front yard. “What’s going to happen to Paul’s dog?”

Merrick glanced toward the dog. “Probably have to take him to the shelter.”

I recoiled. “No. Please. Can I take him?”

Frowning, Merrick asked, “You want to take the dog?”

“The dog knows me. I’m sure he’s traumatized.” I remembered Paul had said Spot’s first owner died. Now the poor dog’s other master had died too? Best case scenario would be if I took care of Spot. At least temporarily. “The poor dog will think he’s been abandoned if he goes to the pound.”

“I have no objection to you taking the dog.”

“Great.” I met his gaze. “You said I could go?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks,” I said curtly. I strode across the lawn toward Spot. The dog looked demoralized with its ears flat to its head. He was shaking, but as I knelt beside the dog it wagged its tail. “Hey, Spot. How about we get out of here? Would you like that?” As I spoke I loosened the leash from the tree and the dog perked its ears.

As I led the dog to my truck, Merrick called out, “Hey, Kip. There will definitely be more questions for you.”

“You know where to find me,” I yelled back. I ignored the curious stares of the neighbors and got in my truck. Spot was understandably confused about what was happening, and he licked my face excitedly as I started the truck. “It’s okay, boy. Go sit down.”

Spot whined and sat down in the passenger seat as if he understood my request.

I maneuvered carefully past the news vans and cop cars. Eventually, I was on the main road, and I headed straight for my brother Thomas’s house. After the ordeal I’d been through, I needed to talk to someone I trusted. I’d thought of going by my mother’s place, but didn’t want to upset her. Thomas tended to be less emotional and a better listener.

When Thomas opened the door, he didn’t look surprised to see me, but he did look surprised to see Spot. “You brought a dog?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Oh. Sure. Come in.” He closed the door behind us. “Is that Paul’s dog?”

“So you’ve heard the news?”

“Merrick called me.” Thomas was four years older than me. He was a fireman, and he had the build to go with it. He was tall and muscular, with cinnamon-brown hair and eyes. He looked like our father, whereas, with my blond hair and blue eyes, I didn’t look like either of our parents.

“Did your buddy Merrick tell you they handcuffed me?” I grumbled.

He laughed. “Yes. Merrick told me. He also said you looked like your head was ready to explode.”

“I’m glad you two can get a good laugh out of this.”

Thomas’s smile faded. “Hey, sorry. I know this is a hard time for you.”

I grimaced. “I’m still in shock.”

“When Merrick called and said your boyfriend had been murdered…” He shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it.”

“For the record, he wasn’t actually my boyfriend. We were just friends.”

“That’s not what Merrick said.”

“Well, Merrick is wrong. Paul was a nice guy, but I barely knew him. Maybe we could have moved in that direction, but we hadn’t gotten that far yet.”

Thomas put his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s sit. You’ve had a shock. I’ll get you a shot of whiskey.”

“Sure. I could definitely use a drink.” I wasn’t too proud to admit I needed something to steady my nerves.

I sat on his brown suede sectional while he went and got the whiskey. As I waited for him, naturally my thoughts drifted to the horrible scene at Paul’s house. I still couldn’t believe Paul was dead. He’d been so full of life just last night. If I’d gone back to his place with him, would he be alive… or would we both be dead?

Thomas returned and he handed me a shot glass filled with amber liquid. He sat across from me, and he put his feet up on the coffee table. “Relax. You look ready to pass out from stress.”

I sipped the whiskey, wincing as it burned a trail down my throat. Spot sat at my feet, and as I rubbed his fur, I could feel him trembling. He was sticking close to me as if he was afraid to let me out of his sight. I couldn’t blame him. His track record with his masters wasn’t very good.

“Merrick said you had a prowler last night.” Thomas studied me.

“Did he also tell you that he accused me of making that up?”

“No way.”

I widened my eyes. “I’m not lying. He said people use the police as their alibi all the time.”

He sighed. “That’s just the cop in him talking. He has to think like that.”

“He’d better not think I killed Paul.” I took another small sip of my whiskey. “I wouldn’t hurt a fly. I certainly wouldn’t kill a human.”

Thomas smiled. “You always were a softie.”

“I don’t know about that, but I’m no murderer.”

“I know.” He shrugged. “Merrick knows that too.”

Does he?

Thomas must have seen something in my expression because he said, “Merrick has to be careful. Sure, he’s the chief of police, but he could get in a lot of trouble if he just lets his friends off the hook because they’re his friends.”

“I wouldn’t exactly say Merrick and I are friends.”

Thomas studied me, his expression odd. “I’m surprised how long you hold a grudge.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re still angry with us for stuff we did all the way back when we were young.”

“You guys were pretty awful to me when I was a kid.”

Thomas sighed. “Come on, man. We were stupid teenagers.”

“Maybe so, but Merrick was even worse than you. He’s never once apologized to me.”

Grimacing, Thomas said, “That because he’s got a lot of pride. I know he feels bad about all that stuff because he’s told me so.”

“Gee, it sure would be nice if he told the person he tormented.”

“Why can’t you just drop it? Were grown up now. Let bygones be bygones.”

I scowled. “You don’t understand because it didn’t happen to you. Have you forgotten that time Merrick invited me on a bike ride with his friends? I was so excited to finally be allowed to join in.” I curled my lip. “But I was just a gullible idiot. Merrick and them didn’t invite me along because they wanted to be my friend. They were just toying with me. Then they broke my bike chain and abandoned me two hours from home. I had to walk back the whole way, dragging my broken bike. You don’t think that deserves an apology?”

He winced. “Of course it does.”

“Well, I’ve yet to get one,” I muttered.

He sighed. “You’ve got to remember Merrick was just trying to fit in too.”

“All I’m saying is, I’d have a lot more respect for the guy if he’d apologized. But he didn’t. In fact, he still picks on me.”

“Oh he’s just trying to get through to you. He wants to be your friend, Kip.”

I laughed dryly. “I don’t need that kind of friend.”

Thomas shrugged. “Well, because of Merrick trying to watch out for you, you have an alibi for last night. You should be thankful for that.”

“You mean the alibi he thinks I orchestrated?”

“Well, no matter what he said to you, he is indeed your alibi.”

I grimaced. “He was only there for short time. I’m sure he thinks I had plenty of time to go murder people.”

Thomas raised his brows, looking like he wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure he should.

I frowned. “What does that look mean?”

He laughed gruffly. “I shouldn’t tell you this, in fact, Merrick will murder me if he finds out.”

“Tell me what?”

Sighing, Thomas said, “You actually have an alibi for all night.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes. You have Merrick.”

“No. When the fingerprint guy arrived, Merrick left.”

He laughed. “That’s what you think.”

“What? I saw him go.”

“He didn’t leave.”

I squinted at him. “But…”

“By the way, if you tell him I told you any of this, I’ll put glue in your underwear.”

I blinked at him. “I have no idea what you’re getting at.”

“I’m saying you have an alibi for the entire night because of Merrick. He stayed, but he didn’t want you to know he was there. He was in his car.”

“Wait. Are you saying… Merrick stayed on my street all night?”

He nodded.

“But… he said he didn’t.”

He sniggered. “I’m sure he did say that. He has pride you know. Of course he doesn’t want you to know he stayed on your street, keeping you safe. That doesn’t go with his aloof tough guy act.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Merrick Dawson had camped out in his car all night to protect me from a prowler? How was that possible? Merrick was a jerk. He picked on me and loved to make fun of me. He wasn’t my protector. He was my adversary. Right?

“Why would Merrick do that?” I frowned.

Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Merrick loves to rag on me.”

“Yeah, he does.” He twisted his lips. “He’s a puzzle. Even I can’t figure the guy out where you’re concerned.”

“You’re wrong. He must have gone home. No way he spent the night in his car just to watch out for me. That’s nuts.”

“I’m not lying.” Thomas’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and laughed. “Speak of the devil.”

“That’s Merrick?”

He nodded. “Texted me to see if you showed up here.”

“Well,” I sputtered. “That could just be because he wants to keep track of his main suspect.”

“Just keep telling yourself that, little brother.”

I could tell Thomas believed everything he was saying, but I certainly didn’t. There was no way Merrick felt anything for me other than a desire to torment me. Not counting how he’d been last night, he was generally a pain in my side.

“Maybe you’ll change your mind when Merrick arrests me for murder,” I muttered.

“That won’t happen. Not unless you were like some clueless person in a murder mystery who touches the murder weapon.” He glanced over. “You didn’t touch the murder weapon, right?”

I shivered. “Of course not.”

“Then I’m sure you’re fine.”

“I guess we’ll see.” I took another swig of whiskey, hoping the alcohol would help dull the ache in my heart at Paul’s murder, and the fear at possibly being accused of killing him.

I had a feeling I’d need a lot more whiskey.

Chapter Six

The next few days were a blur. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Paul had been murdered. Obviously, the art class was canceled. There was no one to replace him, so the school had no choice but to terminate the art program.

Even though I hadn’t been officially named as a suspect in Paul’s murder, I got some funny looks in the grocery store. I was worried that some of my clients might quit on me, but it seemed, so far, people were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt.

Merrick was scheduled to give a press conference later today. Rumor had it he was going to address the body found on the beach, and also Paul’s murder. The entire town was abuzz wondering if the two deaths were connected. It was impossible not to wonder about that. Pearl Cove wasn’t a place where murder was common, so the fact that two people had died under suspicious circumstances in the space of a week was unsettling.

The first day after Paul’s murder, I’d lived in fear of the police coming to arrest me. But so far, the only thing the police had asked of me was that I come into the station to give a written statement. I’d done that yesterday, but I hadn’t seen Merrick. Instead, Officer Lawson had been the person who’d taken my statement. Awkward wasn’t a strong enough word for how that meeting had been.

I was in town having lunch at the Golden Spoon family restaurant when Sally Ribald walked in. She took the stool beside me but didn’t seem to notice me at first. She didn’t look quite as perky as when I’d seen her the other night with Lewis. She was still dressed nicer than usual though and had on makeup.

“Hello Mrs. Ribald,” I said.

She glanced over startled. “Oh, Kip. Sorry I didn’t see you there.”

I smiled at Belinda the waitress, as she set my tuna melt and fries down in front of me. “How’s the library remodel going?”

“Really well. We’re supposed to have the grand reopening in a few days.” She grimaced. “I don’t mind saying I don’t feel ready.”

“No?”

“There’s just so much still to do. One of my assistant librarians is having personal problems, so she’s scatterbrained as all get out. I swear, some days she’s doing more harm than good.”

“Oh no.” I laughed uneasily. “I’m sorry.”

She sighed. “I’m probably being too hard on her. She’s going through a divorce, and I just have so much to handle, I’m not very patient. I’m used to a slower pace at work.”

“I’m sure the opening will be a huge success. I’m really looking forward to seeing those Hemingway books.”

She nodded and seemed to brighten. “Yes. I think everyone is excited about that.”

I took a bite of my sandwich, and once I’d swallowed asked, “How’s Lewis?”

Her eyes flickered and a line appeared between her brows. “Oh, he’s great.”

I frowned. “Are you sure? You seem a little down.”

She laughed nervously. “It’s not Lewis. He’s amazing. It’s just… his cousin is staying with us.” She studied the menu with great intensity. “Frank is… very different from Lewis.”

Her tone wasn’t flattering, and it made me curious about this mysterious cousin. “Why is he staying with you?”

“I guess he doesn’t have much money. I didn’t want to be inhospitable to Lewis’s family.”

“That’s very generous of you to open up your home. Especially since you and Lewis are such a new couple. I’d think you’d want your privacy.”

Her cheeks tinted pink. “Yes. It was wonderful in the beginning.” She cleared her throat. “But I’m sure once Frank leaves things will go back to the way they were.”

“I’m sure they will. Lewis seemed very taken with you the other night.”

Her smile was strained. “He’s a wonderful man. Things were so perfect before… Frank arrived.”

“Maybe you should suggest Frank stay in a hotel? The Yellow Rose Hotel isn’t that pricey.”

“I don’t think Lewis would like that.” She frowned, but then patted my hand. “Don’t worry about me, dear. I’m just being silly.”

I decided to change the subject since she seemed tense. “Are you going to watch the press conference later today?”

“Definitely.” She nodded and gave her order to Belinda when she came over. Once she’d handed her menu back, she glanced at me. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing fine.”

“It must’ve been so shocking to have your boyfriend murdered.”

I grimaced, pushing down the irritation her comment brought up. For whatever reason, the rumor around town was that Paul and I had been hot and heavy. I couldn’t seem to convince people that we’d barely known each other. We’d shared that one kiss and that was it. I realized rumors spread easily in a small town like Pearl Cove, but usually there at least needed to be some grain of truth to the story. My desire to explore a romantic relationship with Paul had never even gotten off the ground.

Channeling what little patience I had, I said, “Paul wasn’t my boyfriend. We were just friends.”

She raised her brows. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“I could have sworn I heard you two were more.” She frowned.

I sighed. “I’d love to know who told you that. It simply isn’t true. Paul and I were just getting to know each other.”

“Is that so?” She looked skeptical.

“I’d have no reason to lie.” I forced a smile. “We were just friends. Perhaps it could have turned into more in the future, but we hadn’t gotten that far. Someone is spreading that false story around, and to be honest, it’s rather frustrating for me.”

“Oh, yes. I imagine it would be.” She studied me. “I mean, if it’s not true.”

Seriously?

“Do you mind telling me where you heard that rumor?” I was amazed at how patient I managed to sound.

She looked uncomfortable, but said softly, “Well, I heard it from Judy down at the stationery store. She said she’d heard it from her friend who’s a bartender at the Purple Pelican.”

“Really?” I scowled.

“Yep. Apparently one of the customers was complaining that his boyfriend had left him for you.”

“Excuse me?” I widened my eyes. “Who was this person?”

“I’m not sure.”

“How do you know that guy was even talking about Paul?”

She raised her brows. “How many boyfriends do you have, Kip?”

I scowled. “None. That’s my point.”

She shrugged. “I believe Judy said the guy’s boyfriend was an art teacher.”

I chewed on a crispy fry, trying to think who would have bothered to spread a lie like that about me and Paul. I wasn’t generally the subject of town gossip. I led a quiet life and kept to myself as much as possible. I said tersely, “I didn’t steal Paul away from anyone. Like I said, we hardly knew each other.”

She looked relieved and she gave me a tentative smile. “I’m certainly glad to hear that.”

“Even if I liked Paul romantically, I don’t poach other people’s boyfriends.”

“I’ll admit, the rumors surprised me.” She took her salad from the Belinda and generously poured ranch dressing over the crisp green lettuce. “Things seem so weird in Pearl Cove lately. It all started with that body on the beach.”

“Yeah. That does seem to have been the catalyst.”

“I can’t help but feel paranoid lately. There was this guy hanging around outside the library a few nights in a row, and he just made me so nervous. I was probably overreacting, but it was hard to calm down.”

“There was a guy hanging around?” I frowned. “The library isn’t even open now, right?”

“No. Maybe that’s why he seemed so out of place.”

I frowned. “Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”

She frowned. “Perhaps. I couldn’t see his face, but he wore very distinctive shoes both nights. They were turquoise cowboy boots. You don’t see that every day.” She laughed. “Especially not in Pearl Cove.”

“No. Flip-flops are more common than cowboy boots.”

“But I didn’t see him last night. Maybe he’s gone away.”

I nodded. “I can see why you’re on edge. With everything going on anything out of the ordinary makes me nervous too.”

“I think having those Hemingway books in my custody is making me even more paranoid. I feel a great responsibility that nothing happens to them.” She sighed. “I was so excited when they were first gifted to the library, but now they’ve become such a source of stress for me.”

“I assume you have security in place to keep them safe?”

“Yes. The cases they’re housed in have alarms. The school also put in a new security system for the library. It’s state-of-the-art, so hopefully, that would discourage any would-be burglars.”

“Pearl Cove isn’t usually a place thieves are drawn to. Who would even know those books are here?”

“Only locals at the moment. The school does plan on promoting that we have them. They’re hoping it will generate tourism for Pearl Cove, but they haven’t done it yet.”

I wasn’t sure if the books would actually be a huge draw for tourism, but you never knew. It was possible. If nothing else the citizens of Pearl Cove could be proud we had something of such literary value in our humble library.

The conversation turned to more mundane subjects, and eventually we both left the diner to go back to work. When I reached the office, I did payroll and answered emails, and when it was time, Helen called me in to watch the press conference on her laptop. Charlene had returned from one of her pet-sitting jobs, so she joined us too.

Mayor Roberta Rodriguez spoke first, hoping to calm the citizen’s fears. She was a gregarious woman in her fifties, who always wore a pink hat. It was her signature accessory, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was supposed to say about her. Regardless of her questionable headwear, she was a wonderful mayor. She was warm and truly concerned about our city. Even the city council adored her, and they didn’t seem to like anyone.

Once Mayor Rodriguez finished speaking, a very serious-looking Merrick took the podium. He had a commanding presence in his jet black uniform and gleaming badge. I didn’t usually watch his press conferences, but the one today definitely interested me. I was hoping to get some real answers as to who would have harmed someone as innocuous as Paul.

“Dear Citizens, I appreciate your patience the last few weeks,” Merrick said in a solemn voice. “I can assure you the Pearl Cove PD has worked tirelessly to get you the answers you deserve. Last week, as most of you know, the unidentified body of a male was discovered at Murre Bay. Due to the condition of the body, the identity of that person remained unknown until two days ago. With the generous help of the BFS and their resources, DNA testing was done to discover this unknown person’s identity.”

A murmur ran through the crowd gathered in front of the podium. Many of the reporters pushed their microphones closer to the lectern, and several cameras flashed, causing Merrick to wince.

Once the buzz of voices had settled down, Merrick cleared his throat and continued, “The body discovered at Murre Bay has now been identified as that of Paul Wilcox, a thirty-year-old resident of Tampa, Florida. Mr. Wilcox had recently been hired to teach art at Pearl Cove Community College, and had only arrived in town shortly before his untimely death.”

At first, I thought I’d heard Merrick wrong. Then I wondered if perhaps he’d confused his two cases. But it soon became clear that wasn’t what was happening. Merrick continued to discuss Paul’s background and the reality of what he was saying began to sink in.

“He’s saying the body on the beach was Paul Wilcox?” I mumbled. Shock had my knees trembling and I decided I’d better sit in Helen’s office chair before I embarrassed myself by falling down.

“I… I think he did.” Helen stood beside me, frowning at the screen.

“But how is that possible?” Charlene muttered. “Mr. Wilcox’s body was found in his home.”

Helen stared at the screen, looking puzzled. “Is he saying there were two men named Paul Wilcox in Pearl Cove?”

Charlene’s face scrunched with confusion. “And they both died?”

I finally found my voice. “He seems to be saying the man we knew as Paul Wilcox was not… Paul Wilcox.”

“What?” Charlene yelped. “Well then, who was he?”

“I have no idea.” I shook my head, shock rippling through me.

Helen made shushing motions. “Let’s see what else Chief Dawson says. Maybe he can help clear things up.”

I returned my attention to the screen, feeling dazed.

Merrick continued, “As for the murder victim previously identified as Paul Wilcox at 694 Poppy Drive, the deceased has now been correctly identified as William Smith, a twenty-eight-year-old resident of Tucson, Arizona. For reasons unknown, it appears Mr. Smith assumed Mr. Wilcox’s identity after Mr. Wilcox’s death. Both deaths have been pronounced homicide.”

“Good Lord,” Helen said.

“Why did it take so long for them to identify the body on the beach?” Charlene looked pale. “You think my friend Lucy was right? Maybe the body really was mutilated by Satanists?”

“Who knows?” Helen looked flustered. “Anything seems possible at the moment.”

I was still reeling from the news that the man I’d known as Paul Wilcox had been an imposter. Little things began to make sense now though; like why he’d been so reticent to talk about himself, and why he hadn’t known anything about teaching art.

“At least now I know why he seemed so secretive,” I said quietly.

Charlene nodded. “He definitely didn’t like sharing details about himself.”

“What kind of a crazy world is it we live in?” Helen shook her head.

“Do you think… William… killed the real Paul Wilcox?” Charlene’s eyes were as big as saucers. “Or did he just stumble on the body and take advantage of the situation?”

“Hopefully, the police can clarify that. I always thought Paul… or the man I thought was Paul, was extremely private. But he didn’t seem violent.” Maybe I’d been wrong though. Maybe William had been hiding his true nature all along. Remembering that kiss we’d shared, I had to wonder what sinister plans he might have had for me. Maybe he’d never had any actual attraction to me at all. Perhaps it had all been a con.

“Even if William did kill Paul, who killed William?” Helen asked, looking uneasy.

“God only knows,” I said.

“At least they won’t think you’re a murderer anymore, boss.” Charlene gave me a weak smile.

“Or maybe they’ll just think I murdered both of them.” I groaned.

“No.” Helen frowned.

Charlene hugged herself. “I can’t believe I walked a murderer’s dog.”

“We don’t know that William fellow killed the real Paul Wilcox,” Helen said.

“True. But it doesn’t bode well for him that he assumed another person’s identity. That isn’t normal behavior.” Charlene grimaced.

I murmured, “I wonder if Spot was Paul Wilcox’s dog and that’s why Spot never seemed that attached to the imposter.”

Helen raised her brows. “You think that’s the case?”

“It seems likely.” I nodded. “I wonder why William took the dog.”

“It wasn’t because he was a dog lover, that’s for sure.” Charlene sighed.

Helen snapped her fingers. “Maybe Spot is chipped and the imposter worried if the dog was found wandering alone, people would start asking questions about the owner?”

I nodded. “That makes sense. I can have Spot checked, then we’ll know for sure who he belonged to.”

“Oh, God, so then… I walked a murder victim’s dog?” Charlene wailed.

“You didn’t know.” Helen grimaced. “None of us knew.”

“Either way, it’s creepy.” Charlene shivered.

I glanced at the laptop just in time to see Merrick leaving the podium. “Darn. We missed half of the stuff he said.”

“Oops.” Helen frowned.

“The world’s gone mad,” Charlene said, wringing her hands. “Are any of us safe?”

“Now calm down.” Helen gave Charlene a motherly look. “We don’t know that anyone else is in danger. Those two men must have known each other.”

“Yes.” Charlene nodded. “But… but… at least one killer is at large.”

“And was the attempted break-in at my house connected to these deaths?” I frowned. “Did Merrick say how the real Paul Wilcox died?”

Helen looked sheepish. “I don’t know. I was busy talking.”

“Me too.” Charlene grimaced.

Helen brightened. “Hey, Kip. You should call Merrick and ask him. I mean, it couldn’t hurt to ask, right?”

“If he didn’t mention it at the press conference, he won’t tell me anything.” I frowned.

“But maybe he did. We don’t know because we were talking.” Charlene sighed.

“You could give it a try.” Helen shrugged. “What’s the worst he could do? Tell you to mind your own business?”

I winced. “I don’t really like asking Merrick for favors. We don’t have that kind of relationship.”

Helen gave a funny smile. “Oh come on, Merrick has a soft spot where you’re concerned.”

I scowled. “That just isn’t true. Why does everybody keep saying things like that?”

“Because he can’t seem to stay away from you.” Charlene laughed. “Surely that means something.”

“Yeah. It means he likes making my life difficult.” I stood and headed toward my office. “I’m sure the newspaper will have all the details of the press conference tomorrow. We’ll probably get a lot of answers then.”

“But, I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.” Helen frowned.

“Oh, well.”

“You’re really not gonna call Merrick?” Charlene looked disappointed.

“Definitely not.” I sat down at my desk and opened my email program.

“Boo,” Helen called out.

I smiled and then jumped when my cell rang. Without looking at the caller ID, I answered and said distractedly, “Hello?”

“Kip O’Connor?”

“Speaking.”

“It’s all your fault,” a gravelly voice rasped.

I hesitated. “I… I’m sorry?”

“This isn’t over.”

I frowned. “What isn’t over? Who is this?”

“His blood is on your hands,” the voice growled.

A chill went through me. “Whose… blood? What are you talking about?”

There was heavy breathing and then, “I’m coming for you.”

“What in the world?” Startled, I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at the caller ID.

Paul Wilcox.

I dropped my phone and it clattered on the top of my desk. I stood quickly, and my chair rolled across the tile floor, banging into the wall.

“You okay in there, boss?” Charlene called out cheerfully.

I stared at my phone as if it were a rattlesnake. Whoever it was had hung up, and the screen now said “Call ended”.

Charlene appeared in the doorway. I’m must have looked upset because her smile faded and she advanced quickly into the room. “What’s wrong?”

I pointed at my phone, moving my mouth but no words came out.

She peered at my phone. The screen was black and since there was nothing for her to see, she looked understandably confused. “Did you get a crank call or something?”

Or something.

I swallowed hard. “Someone called me.”

“Okay.” She frowned.

“They threatened me.” I clenched my jaw and picked up my discarded phone. “The caller ID said it was… Paul Wilcox.”

“Huh?” Charlene widened her eyes. “But… that isn’t… possible.”

“No,” I murmured. “It’s not.”

“You need to call the police.” Charlene moved closer, worry glittering in her eyes.

“Why does he need to call the police?” Helen appeared at the doorway. “What’s going on?”

“He got a phone call,” Charlene said softly. “It was from Paul Wilcox’s phone.”

“Oh.” Helen widened her eyes. “Yeah, you should definitely call the police.”

I stared at my phone, trying to decide if the voice on the phone had been at all familiar. I didn’t think it had been. “That had to be the killer, right? Who else would have Paul’s phone?”

Charlene nodded animatedly. “Oh. Oh. I remember now. Chief Dawson said both victims’ phones were missing.”

I glanced at her. “Did he?”

“Yes.”

“Why in tarnation would that… person… call you?” Helen looked bewildered.

“I don’t know.”

Helen came over. “You should try calling them back.”

“What? Why in the world would I do that?”

“Well, because…” she trailed off.

I shook my head. “I’m not calling them back. The last thing I want to do is antagonize that person.” I shuddered. “The guy sounded extremely agitated.”

“Oh, dear.” Helen patted my back.

“He said it was all my fault. That ‘his blood’ was on my hands. Whose blood? William’s?” I frowned.

“This person is not right in the head.” Helen gritted her teeth. “You have to call the police.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Use the landline,” Helen said. “The police might want to take your phone for some reason. Best not to use it.”

“Take my phone?” I frowned.

“Sure. To trace that call or whatever.” Helen spoke brusquely.

“I don’t think they can trace a call after the fact.” Charlene grimaced.

“No. They’ll see where the call originated from with cell towers and stuff,” I murmured.

“Well, what are you waiting for. Call the cops.” Helen waved toward the cordless phone on my desk.

I picked up the receiver and dialed the Pearl Cove Police Department. I wasn’t sure who to talk to, but the girl at the front desk put me through to a Detective Jones. Unfortunately, Detective Jones was away from his desk. I left a message and hung up, feeling uneasy.

“Call Merrick,” Helen urged.

Frowning, I said, “I don’t think I should bother him. He’s got a lot on his plate right now.”

“Sure, but what’s on his plate is this murder case. You might have just had a phone call with the killer,” Helen sounded exasperated. “I have a feeling he’d be interested to know that.”

I sighed. “You think so?”

“Of course,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s a lead, right?”

“I suppose.” I really hated calling Merrick, but he probably would want to hear this news. Gritting my teeth, I scrolled through my contacts until I found his number. I pushed the button and waited for him to pick up.

“Chief Dawson,” he said curtly when he answered.

“Oh…” His abrupt tone threw me off. “Hi, uh…”

There was a short silence and then, “Kip?”

I grimaced. “Yeah. It’s me. Kip.”

Another brief silence and then he asked, “Did you need something?”

I laughed awkwardly. “Yes. Well, I don’t need anything, but I have something to tell you.”

“Okay.”

“As you know, Paul Wilcox is dead.”

“Uh, yes.” He sounded slightly impatient. “I just had a press conference about that.”

“Yes. I saw it.”

“Look, Kip, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m kind of busy.”

“Right. Sorry.” I winced. “Actually, Helen and Charlene insisted I call you. I… I got a very weird phone call just a few minutes ago.”

“What was weird about it?”

“The caller ID said it was Paul Wilcox.”

Silence followed my announcement and then he said quietly, “Where are you?”

“I’m at work.”

“Stay there. I’ll be there in ten.” He hung up.

I set the phone on the desk. “He’s coming here.”

Charlene smiled. “Oh, that’s so like Chief Dawson. He’s so hands-on.”

Helen rolled my office chair closer to the desk. “Honey, you just sit down. I’m going to make you a nice hot cup of tea. Everything is going to be okay.”

“I still don’t understand why that person called me.”

“Seriously, dear, you should sit. You look a little pale.” Helen squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She left my office.

Charlene leaned against the doorjamb, watching me. “How did that person have your number?”

“Paul had my number in his contacts.” I took Helen’s advice and sat down.

“Oh, yeah. Duh.”

“I’d love to know why William pretended to be Paul Wilcox.”

“Remember how empty his house was? Now I guess I understand why he never unpacked. Maybe none of that stuff was his, so why bother?”

“A lot of things are falling into place.” I sighed. “He wasn’t great at teaching, which makes sense seeing as he apparently wasn’t a teacher.”

“What do you suppose his goal was?”

“I don’t know. He said once that teaching art wasn’t as easy as he’d thought it would be. Perhaps he thought impersonating the real Paul Wilcox would be easy money?”

Charlene grimaced. “That’s a laugh, considering how horribly teachers are paid.”

“True. He should have impersonated a stockbroker or something.”

“If he didn’t have a job I suppose some money would be better than none,” Charlene murmured.

The dogs in the other room all started barking wildly, and I knew Merrick had probably arrived. Sure enough, I heard Helen greet him, and then he walked into my office.

“Hey, Chief Dawson,” Charlene said brightly. “We sure are glad to see you.”

Merrick smiled at her. “How are you, Charlene?”

“Oh, I’ve been better.” She left the room, giving me a sympathetic smile.

Without waiting to be asked, Merrick sat in the chair I had for clients. His gaze was serious as he studied me. “So tell me about this phone call.”

I glanced at my cell that lay on the desk. “Well, I’d just finished watching your news conference. I came in here to do some work and that phone call came through.”

“Did you recognize the voice?”

“No.”

“What did they say?”

I cleared my throat. “Um… I’m not sure I’ll remember it verbatim.”

“Just do your best.”

“Okay, well, they made sure it was me.” I frowned. “They said something about it being all my fault, and that it wasn’t over.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Huh.”

“Then they said ‘His blood is on your hands.’” I shivered. “I don’t know who they meant, although I’m guessing they were referring to William. I never met the real Paul Wilcox. At least, I don’t think I did.”

Merrick pulled his phone from his pocket. He scrolled through it for a few moments and then held it out to me. “Do you recognize him?”

I squinted at the photo on his phone. The picture was of a plain-looking man, with red hair and glasses. “That’s the real Paul Wilcox?”

“Yes.”

I sighed. “He doesn’t look familiar.”

Merrick tucked the phone back in his pocket. “He has a vague resemblance to William Smith. Maybe that’s why William thought he could get away with impersonating Paul. No one in town had ever met the real Paul Wilcox. IDs often bear no resemblance to what we really look like in person.”

“True. My license photo looks like I’m of Arabian descent.”

Merrick smiled. “Yeah, mine isn’t much better.”

“Did William have an accomplice?” I frowned. “Otherwise, I can’t imagine who called me.”

“We believe he did.”

“Okay.” I studied him. “So, you already knew that… before this person called me.”

He nodded.

“Did you already know he was upset with me?”

Merrick grimaced. “No.”

“Well… do you know why he’s upset with me?”

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Merrick looked reticent to speak.

I scowled. “I deserve to know what’s going on, Merrick. This guy threatened me. I have no idea why he’s mad at me, but it looks like you might.”

He sighed. “From what we can tell, William and this other person were in a relationship.”

“And?”

He sat up straighter in his chair. “As we’re piecing things together it’s becoming clear William’s lover was… possessive.”

My heart beat faster as I held his gaze. I knew him well enough to know he was trying to put things in a way that wouldn’t scare me too much. “So, he was controlling.”

“Yes.”

I asked breathlessly, “Was he… violent?”

A muscle jerked in Merrick’s jaw. “We believe he was.”

Trying to keep control of my ever-flourishing fear, I asked, “Is he the one who killed the real Paul Wilcox?”

His mouth tensed. “I’m afraid I can’t divulge that information.”

My stomach sank. “That sounds like a yes to me.”

He shifted uneasily. “Look, the truth is, we don’t have all the answers yet.”

“How did you know William had an accomplice?”

He sighed. “There’s a witness.”

I widened my eyes. “To the murders?”

“Not exactly.” He grimaced. “I shouldn’t even be telling you any of this.”

Feeling frustrated, I said, “Of course, that’s your right. But I’m terrified, Merrick. You didn’t hear this guy’s voice on the phone. He wasn’t fooling around. It would be comforting to know you have some leads. Otherwise, I feel like… I’m next and nothing can stop him.”

He shook his head. “No. You’re going to be fine.”

“You say that, but two people are dead.”

“Look, Paul Wilcox was naive. From what we can tell, he picked William and his boyfriend up hitchhiking. You’re not dumb enough to do something like that.”

“There are plenty of ways to kill someone. You don’t have to pick up hitchhikers to get murdered,” I muttered.

“I’m not worried about your safety, and neither should you be.” He was saying the right things, but I could just tell from his voice he was in fact, concerned.

I rubbed my face roughly, trying to calm down. “You said you had a witness. Who is this person?”

“That I can’t tell you.” Merrick frowned. “I can say he saw Paul Wilcox with two other men at Murre Bay the night of Paul’s death. One of the men matched William’s description.”

“Did he get a look at William’s boyfriend?”

“Possibly.”

“God,” I groaned. “So, he could be anybody.”

Merrick leaned forward, his expression serious. “Kip, calm down.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“Not really. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” His gaze flickered. “Or any of the citizens of Pearl Cove.”

“How am I supposed to be calm? There’s a violent maniac out there with a grudge against me. He’s probably already killed twice and, to make matters worse, I have no idea what he looks like.”

“He isn’t a local. That will help us narrow down the search.”

I swallowed. “Sure, but it’s not like I know what every single person in Pearl Cove looks like.”

“My suggestion to you is to stick close to home. Only hang out with people you know well. Now is not the time to go on any blind dates.”

I scowled. “What about new clients? Am I supposed to refuse new business because there’s a psycho out there who wants to hurt me?”

“If you set up a consultation with a prospective client, only meet in the office, for now. Or if you have to meet somewhere else, call Thomas to go with you.”

“He’s not at my beck and call.”

“I’m sure he’d be willing to keep you safe.”

“I guess.” I shivered. “Please tell me you’re at least close to catching this guy?”

“We’re definitely making progress.” His gaze dropped to my cell. “I’m going to need to borrow your phone. Hopefully, we can figure out where he was when he made that call to you.”

“You really think he’s still there just waiting for the cops to arrive?”

“Of course not. But maybe he was in a public place and someone will have noticed him. Maybe there will be CCTV and we’ll be able to get a physical description of him. Knowing where he called from can give us a ton of useable information, Kip.”

I nodded, feeling a little better. “Okay. Yeah, that all makes sense.”

He studied me. “It doesn’t feel like it to you, I’m sure, but the fact that he reached out to you is good. It gives us an idea of where he might be headed next.”

“God, don’t say that. That’s a terrifying thought because he’s apparently headed toward me.”

“But we can be waiting. If he hadn’t called you, you’d be more vulnerable. Less wary.”

“You’re a glass-half-full kind of guy, aren’t you?” It would have been nice if I too could feel optimistic. But it felt like things were closing in on me. What sane person could feel calm when a crazy person had a bead on them?

His gaze was dark and serious. “Kip, you’re going to be fine.”

I exhaled roughly. “I wish I had your confidence.”

“You got that lock on your kitchen door fixed, right?”

“Yes. I have Spot with me now too, so he can alert me to things.” I’d considered having an alarm put in, but figured Spot would do a better job since he could alert me to intruders and he had sharp teeth. “Unfortunately, if this person gets inside, I’m not sure how that will go. Spot might know him, so he’ll be no help.”

“He’s not going to get inside.”

“Tell that to William.”

“You know you can call me anytime, right?” Merrick’s gaze was earnest. “If you get nervous.”

“What and you’re going to rush over to save me?”

“Something like that.” His lips twitched.

“I appreciate the offer.” I probably wouldn’t take him up on it though. I felt stupid enough now because he knew I was frightened. I still remembered his “scared as a little girl” remark. For whatever reason he was offering me comfort right now, but secretly he was probably judging me. “I’m sure you’re right. I’ll be fine.”

“Well, the offer stands.” He hesitated. “By the way, we didn’t get any prints from your kitchen door. The person must have worn gloves.”

“Awesome. A glove-wearing lunatic tried to get in my house. That doesn’t make me the least bit worried.” I groaned. “I don’t understand why any of this is happening to me. I’m a good citizen. I mind my own business.”

“Sometimes things just happen. Don’t let it get to you.”

“Sure.” I laughed gruffly. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Also, Detective Jones talked to your neighbors. I’m sorry to say they didn’t see anyone around your house.”

“Of course not. That would be too helpful.”

He stood. “I’ll get your phone back to you as soon as possible. Tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“Okay.” I watched him move to the door. “I appreciate you coming by.”

He shrugged. “I’m the chief of police. It’s my job to keep the citizens of Pearl Cove safe.”

“Right.” His offhand comment reaffirmed what I already knew; that anyone who thought Merrick Dawson had a soft spot for me was insane.

Chapter Seven

Through the thick glass, I studied the beige and black cover of The Sun Also Rises, taking in the small tears and worn spine of the novel. It was unbelievable to me that such a treasure was in our Pearl Cove Community College library. It was one of several Hemingway books donated to the library, and the only way to actually touch the books was if you made a special appointment. But nobodies like me were still out of luck. The big wigs in town had instantly snapped up those limited appointments. Naturally.

The reopening of the library had been yesterday, but I’d given it a miss. Instead, I’d dropped by this evening, hoping to avoid other people. I hadn’t wanted to be in a large crowd of strangers. Not when I still felt so uneasy about that threatening phone call from the other day. Merrick had returned my phone to me as promised, but so far I hadn’t received any other menacing calls. I wanted to believe the killer had fled town, but my more pessimistic side told me that was wishful thinking.

“It’s crazy to think our little library is home to such a work of art.” A young blonde woman appeared beside me, gazing down at the books with an expression of wonder. I recognized her as Alison Watson, one of the assistant librarians.

“It was a generous gift,” I said.

She sighed. “Sometimes when I feel depressed, I come over here and look at the books. It makes me feel better for some reason.”

“Maybe it reminds you there are still beautiful things in the world.”

She smiled. “Yes. I do get so caught up in the little problems of life sometimes.”

“Don’t we all,” I murmured. I wondered if maybe she was the assistant librarian Mrs. Ribald had said was having personal issues.

Alison tugged a cotton cloth from her sweater pocket and rubbed away a tiny smudge on the glass case. “I’m so glad the grand opening is over. Poor Mrs. Ribald was ready for a nervous breakdown.”

“It went well I hope?”

“Yep. We were packed. I’ve never seen so many people in the library.”

I smiled at her, and past her shoulder noticed a guy lurking by the Self-Help section. He seemed to be watching us, which made me uneasy. Of course, I didn’t want to make a spectacle simply because someone looked at me. I told myself to relax, and I went back to examining the displays. Other people were allowed to be in the library too.

“What time does the library close tonight?” I asked casually.

Alison glanced at the delicate gold watch that adorned her slender wrist. “Five minutes from now.”

“Do you think I have time to run to the restroom before you guys lock the doors?”

She smiled. “Of course. It takes us a while to do everything we need to do. Plus, I’m sure there are other people in the library still wandering around.”

I once more glanced toward the guy in the Self-Help section. “Yeah, I see a few.”

“Take your time. We’ll make an announcement before we lock the doors.”

“Thanks, Alison.” I left her and headed toward the long staircase that led to the upper level. The library had ripped out all the old stained carpeting and put in beautiful faux marble tile. The sound of my shoes echoed as I strode toward the stairs. As I reached them, I heard footsteps behind me. When I glanced over my shoulder I saw the guy from earlier following me. He slipped quickly down an aisle as if trying to stay out of sight.

Frowning, I continued up the stairs, feeling uneasy. The upper level was deserted, and the restrooms were at the back of the building where it was even more secluded. The stealthy way that guy was acting didn’t comfort me, but I didn’t want to overreact. After all, maybe that guy needed to use the restroom too, and I was being silly.

I made a beeline toward the bathrooms. Behind me, I heard the sound of shoes on tile. I quickened my pace and hurried into the men’s restroom. Because I was feeling uneasy, I went into one of the stalls. I listened to see if anyone followed me inside, but didn’t hear anyone come in. I used the facilities, washed my hands, and left the restroom.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw somebody hovering near the drinking fountain. They had their back to me, so I couldn’t tell if it was the same man I’d seen earlier. It kind of looked like the same guy, but he’d been rather average-looking. I told myself to relax and made my way back toward the stairs. I took the steps two at a time on my way down, and when I glanced over my shoulder I didn’t see anyone. Breathing a sigh relief I slowed down as I reached the ground floor.

That threatening phone call I’d received was what had me so jumpy. It was a horrible feeling to know someone out there wanted to hurt me, yet I had absolutely no idea who they were. Every stranger I passed could be that person.

The library felt deserted as I passed the Hemingway display. I didn’t see anybody near the Self-help section now, and Alison was nowhere to be seen. As I rounded one corner on my way to the front door, I came face-to-face with Lewis. There was another man with him, around the same age as Lewis, but nowhere near as well-groomed.

“Kip.” Lewis smiled, although he looked startled to see me. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see the Hemingway collection.” I gave his companion a curious glance.

“Oh, yeah?” Lewis noticed my inquisitive look toward the other man. “Uh, this is my cousin, Frank.”

I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Frank.”

Frank hesitated, but then held out his hand. He wore black leather gloves, and as we shook he said gruffly, “My hands get cold easily.”

“It’s definitely been chilly lately.” Lewis laughed a little too loudly. “Frank is from Arizona. It’s warmer there right now than here.”

Frank mumbled, “Yeah, kinda makes me wonder why I’m here.”

Lewis gave him a look.

I eyed Frank. “I heard Mrs. Ribald was kind enough to give you a place to stay?”

Frank nodded but didn’t speak.

“That’s nice of her. Hotels can be expensive.”

“Yes, Sally has been so hospitable to Frank.” Lewis gave another one of those awkward laughs.

The more I studied Frank, the more I saw no family resemblance. Lewis was as good-looking as I remembered, whereas Frank had blunt features and was slightly overweight. Even if Frank had been in great shape, it was obvious his gene pool was different from Lewis’s.

“Are you here to help Mrs. Ribald close up for the night?” I asked.

Lewis looked befuddled for a moment, but then he nodded. “Yes. Definitely. That’s why we’re here.”

Frank said nothing, he simply tucked his hands into his pockets and leaned back on his heels. He definitely wasn’t a talkative fellow, and the way he avoided eye contact discouraged me from trying to draw him into the conversation.

“Well, it was good seeing you again,” I said. “I guess I’ll see you guys around sometime.”

“Absolutely. Have a good evening, Kip.” Lewis seemed relieved I was leaving.

I headed toward the front doors of the library, wondering why Lewis was being so awkward.

Alison was at the front counter stacking books, and when she saw me she smiled. “Are you taking off?”

“Yep. Have a good night.”

“You too,” she said merrily.

It was definitely a chilly night, with the salty sea air blowing in off the water. I gave a wary glance over my shoulder, just to be sure no one was following me out to my truck. I didn’t see anyone, so I continued to the parking lot. When I reached my truck, I noticed a slip of paper tucked beneath one of the windshield wipers. Frowning, I pulled it out and read it.

Stay away from my wife. Or else.

I scowled at the paper. “What the—?” I glanced around, but there was no one to be seen. I had no idea who the note was from, or who the wife in question was. First everyone had thought I was hot and heavy with Paul Wilcox a.k.a. William Smith, now I was being accused of going after people’s wives? What in the world was going on in this town? And why did I seem to be at the center of it all?

I crumpled the paper and opened my truck door. Tossing the note on the floor, I got behind the wheel and slammed the door closed. I started my truck and headed home, feeling grumpy. I was tempted to stop and get food, but I decided to go straight home because Spot had been alone for a few hours already. I liked bringing him with me places, but the library had been a no-go.

I parked my truck in the driveway and let myself into my house.

Spot bounced around, barking happily at my arrival. “Did you miss me? It sure seems like you did.” I patted his soft head and led the way into the kitchen. I scooped some dry food for him and put it in his bowl.

While he devoured his meal, I opened a can of vegetable soup. I was too lazy to heat it on the stove. Instead, I put it in the bowl, covered it, and put it in the microwave. I leaned against the island, watching the ceramic bowl circle around inside the appliance. I was glad Spot was with me tonight. Some nights I didn’t mind being by myself, but tonight I felt kind of lonely. It was nice having his energy in the house.

While fake Paul and I hadn’t been in an actual relationship, it had been nice having someone interested in me again. Of course, I’d had no idea he’d been lying to my face about everything, including his actual identity. But ignorance had been bliss, and I’d felt less isolated for a time. Now I was back to feeling downhearted about my romantic prospects. I loved Pearl Cove, but living here was limiting when it came to partners.

When the microwave beeped, I took the bowl of soup carefully out with potholders and set the dish on the kitchen table. I sat down and stirred the steaming soup, smiling when Spot came over and put his head on my thigh. “You don’t get any of this. You already had dinner.”

Spot whined and wagged his tail.

I laughed. “Nope. That won’t work on me.”

As if he understood me, he laid down at my feet with a grunt. I shook my head and scooped some soup. I blew on the spoon, realizing I’d way overdone how long I’d needed to heat the soup. Once I felt the soup wasn’t the temperature of lava, I took a bite. It was low-fat low-sodium, so the bland flavor was about what I expected. But it was food and it would fill my belly.

While I ate, I surfed the internet on my phone, trying to find something to entertain me. When I heard a crash from the living room, I almost dropped my phone in my soup. Spot jumped up and immediately began barking as he bolted into the front room. I followed more cautiously, heart pounding. When I entered the room, I saw that the front window was broken, and in the center of the room lay a brick.

I stared at that red piece of stonework, bewildered. I considered going outside to confront whoever had thrown the brick, but then thought better of it. It was possible the brick through the window had been done purely to lure me out front. The prudent thing was to stay safely inside and call the cops. With shaking hands, I dialed the Pearl Cove Police Department. The way things were going lately, maybe I needed to put them on speed dial.

When they answered, I told them what had happened. The officer assured me they’d send a unit right away, and I hung up. I stayed away from the window and waited for the police to show up. After about five minutes, a unit pulled up in front of the house with its red lights flashing, but no siren. I went outside to meet them. To my dismay, it was Officer Lawson who got out of the car. He looked about as thrilled to see me as I was to see him.

“Mr. O’Connor.” He gave a polite nod. “I understand you’ve had a disturbance?”

“Someone threw a brick through my window.” I led the way into the house and over to the brick that lay on the floor.

“Any idea who might be upset with you?” Officer Lawson tugged a small notepad from his pocket along with the pen.

You mean other than you?

I cleared my throat. “Well, I did get that threatening phone call.”

“Oh yeah. I forgot that was you.”

I frowned wondering if he’d truly forgotten or just didn’t care. “I have no idea, of course, if this is connected to that call.”

He scribbled something on his pad, nodding. “I’ll definitely let Detective Jones know about this incident. He’s the one handling that other case.”

“Should I tell Chief Dawson too?”

He glanced up and his gray eyes flickered. “Why would you bother him with this?”

My face warmed at his bewildered tone. “He’s been very involved in all of this. I assume he’d want to know.”

“He’s a busy man. I wouldn’t think he needs to concern himself with something this… petty.”

I lifted my brows. “Petty? A brick through the window isn’t trivial.”

He tucked his pad and pencil away as if he was done taking notes. “I’ll take some pictures. This was probably kids. I assume you’re insured?”

“Of course I’m insured. Is that really the point?” I scowled. “You don’t know that this was done by kids. Even if it was, is it okay for kids to just throw bricks through people’s windows?”

“No.”

“This might be connected to that malicious phone call I got. I feel like you should take this more seriously.”

“Mr. O’Connor, I’m here aren’t I?”

“Well, yes. But you don’t seem very concerned. I have a broken window and I’ve received a threatening phone call. Something weird is going on. In fact, just tonight someone left a threatening note on my truck.”

“Really? Can I see the note?”

I grimaced. “It’s in my truck. I… crumpled it up.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You crumpled it up? So then, you must not have been too worried about it?”

“Well, no one had thrown a brick through my window yet. I didn’t think that note was for me.”

“Then why mention it?”

“Because of the brick.” I waved toward the stone. “Now I think maybe whoever left me that note threw the brick through my window.”

He rubbed his chin, studying me. “Mr. O’Connor, would you say you’re the kind of fella who gets himself into trouble a lot?”

Heat returned to my face. “No.”

“You found a dead body, you get threatening phone calls and notes, and now someone threw a brick through your window. You sure you’re not the kind of guy who gets into trouble a lot?”

“Look, I know what you must be thinking but, until recently, I’ve never been in trouble at all.”

He arched one silver brow. “Never?”

I shook my head. “I’m very squeaky clean.”

“Hmmm.” His radio crackled and a female radio operator said a string of numbers. I had no idea what those numbers meant, but he immediately perked up. “My advice to you Mr. O’Connor is to call your insurance company ASAP. They’ll fix up your window for you.” He spun around and hurried toward the front door.

“Wait. Where are you going?” I followed him.

“Sorry, Mr. O’Connor, I’ve got a more serious call.”

“But,” I sputtered. “A brick through my window is serious to me.”

“I’ll file a report. Odds are we wouldn’t get any prints off that brick even if we checked. I’m sure it was just kids, but either way, I have to go. Our department is short-staffed at night around here and we have to prioritize calls. I apologize, but I’m needed at the library.” He turned without another word and raced to his patrol car.

I frowned. “The library?” I watched him zoom away, bewildered by his behavior.

Mystified by my interaction with Officer Lawson, I went back inside the house and called my insurance company. I had to leave a message, but my agent Dan Spencer called me back within ten minutes.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get your call, Kip.” Dan sounded apologetic. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”

I sighed. “I’m not hurt but I have a broken front window.”

“Heavens, do you know why you were targeted?”

“No idea.” I didn’t see the point of telling Dan all my theories about people sneaking around libraries and leaving me nasty notes. The bottom line was I needed to get my front window fixed, and that was my priority.

“Take pictures. I’ll give you the number of my window guy, Craig Zimmerman. He’ll come by tonight, he’s great about that.” He rattled off a phone number. “I’ll drop by tomorrow morning to take pictures as well and to go over all the paperwork with you.”

“Thank you, Dan.”

“No problem. I’d come over right now, but I’m over at the library. You probably heard all about that already.”

I frowned. “I haven’t heard anything. Did something happen?”

“You haven’t heard?” He sounded incredulous. “Somebody robbed the library. They tied up Mrs. Ribald and poor Alison, shoved them in the closet, and made off with the Hemingway collection.”

My mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“But… I was just there an hour ago. Everything was fine.”

“Oh my goodness. You must have been there right before it happened.” I heard raised voices behind him. “Look Kip, I’m so sorry, I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow, I promise.”

“Okay.” He hung up before I could add anything else. I raked a hand through my hair, trying to grasp all the things he’d said to me. Someone had tied up Mrs. Ribald and Alison and shoved them in the closet? That seemed rather heartless.

I was dying to know more details, but the first thing I needed to do was call Dan’s window guy. I gave Craig Zimmerman a jingle, and once we’d settled on a time for him to come by this evening, I hung up and called Helen. I was dying to get the scoop on the library heist and she’d no doubt already have every detail of what had happened.

Helen answered on the first ring. “Kip, can you believe it? I’m in shock.”

“The thieves didn’t hurt Mrs. Ribald and Alison, right?” It made me sick to think of those two women bound and gagged while terrified for their lives.

“Apparently not.” She sighed. “The crooks were mostly focused on grabbing the books. From what I understand, they tied up the librarians, smashed the cases, grabbed the collection, and ran like literal thieves into the night.”

“Do they have any idea who it was?”

“Not yet. They wore masks and oversized coats.”

I grimaced. “Mrs. Ribald is going to have a nervous breakdown. Thank goodness she has Lewis to comfort her.”

Helen said, “I guess. But regardless this is a horrible way for her to end her career. She was going to retire soon, and now this is what everyone will remember about her.”

“I don’t think that’s true, do you?” I frowned. “She was a wonderful librarian for thirty years. Surely people will remember that as well?”

“You know how fickle people are.”

“Yes. I suspect I do.” Judging by the weird looks I’d gotten from people ever since I’d been unlucky enough to discover William’s dead body. “I had a little excitement here tonight myself.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Someone threw a brick through my front window.”

“What?” She screeched. “Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?”

“Because it pales in comparison to Hemingway’s books being stolen.”

“Not to me. You could have been hurt. Are you okay?” She sounded like a mother hen.

“I was in the kitchen. I didn’t get hit by anything, but it freaked poor Spot out.” I patted the dog’s head as he lay at my feet. “I also got a note on my car when I was leaving the library to stay away from some guy’s wife.”

“What?” She spluttered. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it wasn’t someone who knows you.”

I laughed dryly. “Apparently not.”

“You’re having quite a month.”

“That I am. In fact, Pearl Cove in general is having quite a month.”

“True.” She sighed. “Oh, I’m getting another call. Can I call you back later?”

“Don’t bother. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

“Okay, talk to you later.” She hung up.

Spot seemed wound up after all the excitement. The window guy was due in a half-hour, but the poor dog needed to burn off some energy. I decided a short walk was in order. I slipped the leash over Spot’s head and left the house. I didn’t go far from the house, since the window was broken. Just far enough down the block to let the dog stretch its legs.

It was impossible for my thoughts not to wander to the robbery at the library. Mrs. Ribald had mentioned all the new security measures the school had put in place, but most of those had been to stop someone from breaking in after hours. It had probably never occurred to her or the higher-ups that anyone would rob the library when it was open. Frankly, that hadn’t occurred to me either. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard of a library being robbed during business hours. Certainly nothing like that had ever happened in Pearl Cove.

I thought about the guy I’d seen loitering in the Self-Help section. Was it possible that had been one of the thieves, casing the joint? Perhaps that guy had been waiting for me to leave, and once I’d gone, he’d pounced? Had Lewis and Frank left the library already, or had they been there during the robbery? Helen hadn’t mentioned them. It was unsettling to think I’d been there right before the robbery happened.

Sometimes it felt as if Pearl Cove was being circled by a black cloud of doom lately. As far as I knew, robbery in our little town was extremely rare. The last time the local bank had been robbed was in the 1930s. Violent crime just wasn’t really a thing in Pearl Cove. Until recently. We seemed to be making up for lost time with two murders and now a shocking theft. God, poor Mrs. Ribald.

And poor me too.

I certainly had my share of problems to contend with. Like that false rumor about me stealing William away from his boyfriend. From what Merrick had hinted at, William’s boyfriend had been a violent, possessive guy. That lie about me was possibly the reason William had been murdered and I was in danger.

Mrs. Ribald had said the jilted guy had whined to a bartender down at the Purple Pelican. Did the police know about that? Had they interviewed the bartender? Would that guy still be hanging around that bar? People were creatures of habit, and if he hadn’t left town yet, he might very well still frequent that bar.

My attention was diverted when I noticed a white van with Zimmerman Glass painted on it, parking in front of my house. I tugged the leash and hurried up the sidewalk toward my home. Craig was opening up the back of his van when I reached him.

Craig was a solid-looking older man, with his gray hair in a man bun. “Mr. O’Connor?” he asked when he spotted me.

I was breathless from running up the sidewalk, but I nodded and held out my hand. “That’s me.”

He patted Spot’s head. “I don’t get many calls for bricks through windows.”

“Yeah, I’ve never had that happen before.” Contrary to what Officer Lawson probably thought. “I truly appreciate you coming out tonight.”

“Can’t leave a broken window unattended.” He smiled. “I’d be too guilty to sleep.”

I laughed. “I’m glad. I’ll go unlock the house.”

“Perfect.” He went back to grabbing things out of his van.

I opened the front door and left it wide-open. Then I went into the kitchen, mostly because I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I didn’t want to hover while he worked, but it also felt weird to just ignore him. I was probably overthinking things, as usual.

Craig carried in what he needed, and I did dishes and pretended to be busy in the other room. I was amazed when he finished the job in just over an hour and a half.

He joined me in the kitchen and he held out a clipboard. “Just need your signature.”

“You’re already done?”

He smiled. “You were lucky. I just got a shipment of IGU glass in today. I had your size ready to go. I was pretty familiar with what you’d need. I’ve fixed a few of the front windows on this street.” He grimaced. “Not because of bricks being tossed through them, but just because of age.”

“I’m relieved you had the glass. It’s nice that something went right.” I sighed and scribbled my signature.

“The sealant will take up to twenty-four hours to fully harden. So don’t touch the glass or anything.”

“I won’t.” Did people usually go touch the glass as soon as he left?

He tore off a copy of the paperwork for me. “Any idea why someone targeted you with a brick?”

“Not really.” I wasn’t about to go into detail about the note on my car. I wasn’t sure if that was even related. Maybe it actually had just been kids, like Officer Lawson assumed.

“Well, things happen sometimes.” He moved toward the front door. “You have a good evening, Mr. O’Connor.”

“You too, and thanks again for coming so quickly.”

“My pleasure.” He left the house, closing the door behind him.

I glanced down at Spot who was sitting near me. “Well, we have a new window. That’s great, right?”

Spot wagged his tail at the sound of my voice.

I smiled and glanced at my watch. It was almost 10:30 p.m. I wasn’t sleepy and my mind was buzzing. I couldn’t shake my curiosity about whether or not the police had talked to the bartender at the Purple Pelican. I was well aware it wasn’t my place to interview the bartender, but someone definitely should have.

I gave another glance at the time, tempted to call Merrick and ask him if he even knew about where the rumors about me stealing William away from his boyfriend had originated. If that guy complaining was the boyfriend of William, he could be the killer. Would Mrs. Ribald have volunteered that information to the police? Probably not. If they hadn’t asked her about it, it had likely never occurred to her it was even relevant information. Maybe it wasn’t relevant.

Why hadn’t I thought of any of this sooner?

The most frustrating thing about my situation was the sitting around waiting for things to happen part. The case had already been moving like molasses, and now the cops would be distracted by the theft at the library. I understood why too, but did that mean the stalkerish threats I’d received would be put on the back burner now? Detective Jones didn’t exactly seem like someone who was excited about his job. The one time I’d spoken to him on the phone, he’d sounded harassed. He hadn’t even recognized my name at first. That certainly hadn’t given me confidence he’d get to the bottom of things.

I studied my phone, still tempted to text Merrick just to find out what he knew. The bartender at the Purple Pelican could be the key to a lot of doors. If he could recognize the guy who’d been complaining about me, wouldn’t that be huge? He might have actually seen the killer in person.

I decided it couldn’t hurt to tell Merrick what Mrs. Ribald had said about the bartender at the Purple Pelican. Worst case scenario, he’d tell me they’d already talked to the guy. Maybe I’d get some information back from Merrick if I opened the door of communication. Right?

I sat down at the kitchen table and I wrote out a short message.

Hey, did you ever hear about the bartender at the Purple Pelican?

It took him about twenty minutes to respond, but eventually, he did.

Is this like a guy walked into a bar kind of joke? Because if so, I don’t have time for this, Kip.

I scowled at my phone. No. I’m asking a serious question. Mrs. Ribald said some guy was complaining to a bartender at the Purple Pelican about someone, me I think, stealing his art teacher boyfriend away.

The dots bounced for a few minutes, then, At the Purple Pelican?

“Finally, I have your attention,” I muttered. Yes.

I’ll pass it along to Detective Jones.

I groaned. That guy?

He’s a good detective.

Is he? I responded.

He’s the detective assigned to the case.

I frowned at his rephrasing. Was he aware of how lackluster Detective Jones was at his job? Merrick kept assuring me I was going to be fine, but all the while he knew the guy in charge of the case was subpar? What the heck was that about?

Thanks for nothing. I’m sorry I bothered you.

Kind of have my hands full here, Kip.

I rolled my eyes. Yeah. Message received. I tucked my phone away, feeling disgruntled. What were the odds Detective Jones would follow up on that lead? Probably nil. I understood the police had their hands full with two murders and a robbery, but I was kind of hoping I wouldn’t be the third murder. If I left things solely up to Detective Jones, I might be out of luck.

An idea came to me. It wasn’t necessarily a good idea, but it was an idea. I knew instinctively Detective Jones wasn’t going to act on what I’d told Merrick quickly. If at all. What harm would it do if I went to talk to the bartender? I wouldn’t be there in any official capacity, but maybe I could have a casual chat with the guy. There was no law against me talking to people. Perhaps I could get a vague description of the person he’d talked to. Problem was, I didn’t know the name of that bartender and, with all that had happened at the library tonight, I couldn’t exactly ask Mrs. Ribald to ask her friend Judy for the name.

Plus, there was also the teeny tiny problem of the killer possibly still hanging out at that bar. He probably knew what I looked like. That was a scary thought. Perhaps I could disguise myself? I wasn’t going to wear a wax mustache or anything drastic, but I could easily wear a hoodie. I also had some nerdy glasses from when I was a teenager, pre-Lasik surgery days. Between the hoodie and the glasses, it was very likely no one would recognize me.

I realized this was a risky plan, but felt like I had to do something to get things rolling. Waiting around for a faceless attacker to make his move was getting old. It didn’t seem to matter what happened to me, the police kept dragging their feet. If a threatening phone call from a possible killer and a brick through my window didn’t motivate them, I wasn’t sure what would.

I went into my bedroom and pulled out my baggiest hoodie. It was black and it featured Pikachu on the front. I hadn’t worn it since high school, but I hadn’t had the heart to toss it. Even at twenty-nine, I still had a soft spot for all things Pokemon.

Next, I dug out my old glasses. I slipped on the dusty specs and stood in front of the mirror, examining my blurry reflection. I didn’t think anyone who didn’t know me well would know it was me; not unless I pulled down the hoodie and took the thick-framed glasses off.

I decided to bring Spot with me because he enjoyed riding in the car. Obviously, I couldn’t bring him inside the bar, but I wouldn’t be inside very long. Maybe just an hour or so. It was very possible the bartender I wanted to talk to wasn’t working tonight. If memory served, the Purple Pelican had two full-time bartenders, one male, and one female. I didn’t know either of them, but I knew it was the male bartender I wanted to talk to.

My heart was racing as I left the house, but I reassured myself that was just adrenalin. I had no reason to worry about being in danger. I wasn’t going to do or say anything stupid. I’d just try and have a casual conversation with the bartender, if he was working. If I felt uncomfortable at any point, I’d just leave. After all, I’d be in a room full of people. No one was expecting me, so they wouldn’t be looking for me. I’d just slip in, and slip out. No one would be the wiser.

If I was really lucky, I’d dig up some crucial pieces of information. Maybe I’d even be responsible for solving Merrick’s case. Then I could rub that fact in his smug face for the rest of his life.

Chapter Eight

It was a weeknight so I was surprised at how busy the Purple Pelican was. I considered aborting my plan for a moment when I wasn’t even able to get a seat at the bar. I decided to stay and keep my eyes open for a seat at the bar to open up. Ignoring the funny looks my Pikachu hoodie got, I grabbed a small table near the door.

I hadn’t factored in how hard it would be to see with my old glasses on. When the waitress came over to take my order, I just asked for what beers were on tap because I couldn’t begin to read the drink menu.

I was relieved to see the bartender was a male. At least something was going right. When the waitress set my mug of beer on the table, I paid her in cash. I leaned back in my chair, and peered over the top of my glasses, taking in the crowd. Most people were in groups or were couples, only I and a few other guys were flying solo.

One positive about being dressed like I was; no one hit on me. Generally speaking, when I went to a bar I got a lot of attention. But tonight, no one approached me. Granted, the Purple Pelican wasn’t a gay bar, but still, I’d usually at least get a few nibbles. I wasn’t complaining though, this way I could focus on people-watching.

After about fifteen minutes of nursing my beer, a seat opened up at the bar. I practically tripped over my feet in my quest to grab the chair before anyone else. Once I was seated at the long mahogany bar, I took a deep breath to calm myself. I needed to think of a way to strike up a conversation with the bartender that didn’t feel contrived. It didn’t help any that the bartender was extremely busy. He didn’t have time at the moment to chat.

So far, my plan is a bust.

I sipped my beer, trying to think of a way to rescue my plan. Several people left the bar, and new people sat down. At one point I glanced over and found a middle-aged woman with curly red hair sitting beside me. Judging by the awkwardness between her and her companion, I guessed she was on a blind date. Her date was quite a bit older than her, and he never seemed to stop talking long enough to let her get a word in. She put up with his verbal diarrhea with a good attitude though. Personally, I have made an excuse to leave long ago.

When he got up to use the restroom at one point, she slumped and let out a heartfelt groan. I couldn’t help but look over and laugh. She grinned and shook her head. “This is what I get for letting my mother set me up on a blind date.” She sipped her margarita and then turned back to me. “You like Pikachu?”

I blinked at her for a second, then remembered my attire. “Oh, yeah.” My intention hadn’t been to interact much with the patrons of the bar. I was just here to talk to the bartender. But since she’d asked me a direct question, I couldn’t very well ignore her.

“I love Charmander.” She giggled. “Of course, I’d never tell my date that.”

“I doubt you’d be able to get a word in to tell him.”

“Right? He’s nice, but I don’t think he can read facial cues.”

I smiled and let the conversation lull. I was kind of hoping maybe she and her date would leave. I didn’t want to be rude to her, but I also didn’t want to get caught up in a big conversation. I had a mission to carry out.

“Are you from around here?” she asked.

“Yup.” I reached for my mug of beer and almost knocked it over. My depth perception was completely off with the glasses. By some miracle, the beer didn’t spill, and I took a sip to stall talking more.

She sighed. “I don’t get a lot of nights off. Owning your own business can be so much work. It’s been great, but I put in so many hours, finding a boyfriend willing to put up with that is difficult.”

I sympathized with her. I ran into the same issue often. People liked the idea of dating someone who owned their own business because the perception was we made our own hours. But no one really made their own hours. My hours were dictated by the needs of my clients. I assumed it was the same for many self-employed people.

“Yeah.” I needed to stop interacting with her, but she seemed so nice, it was hard to be cold to her.

Focus.

I needed to remember my actual reason for being here. I was only here to try and have a conversation with the bartender. That already wasn’t going to be easy. The last thing I needed was to be distracted by this woman. No matter how nice she was, I hadn’t dressed up like an idiot just to come make a new friend. Talking to the bartender. That was my goal.

“What do you do?” she asked, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

I was saved from answering when her date returned. He sat down and immediately started talking at her. She nodded and laughed in all the right places, but I could literally see the life being sucked out of her. How did he not notice she hadn’t said a word in ten minutes? Didn’t the constant droning of his own voice eventually sink in?

When the bartender stopped in front of us, I froze. Now was my chance, but my mind was a blank. I couldn’t think of a way to start the conversation I wanted or any conversation for that matter. Part of the problem was, my glasses were so blurry, I couldn’t really tell where he was looking.

“Need another drink?” he asked.

Is he looking at me? I have no idea who he’s talking to.

“Oh, yes please.” The woman beside me laughed. “Keep ‘em coming, barkeep.”

The bartender grinned. “You’ve got it, Judy.”

Judy? Her name is Judy?

I think I let out a Scooby-Doo sound at the mention of her name. Judy was the name of Mrs. Ribald’s friend. The one who was friends with the bartender. The bartender I wanted to talk to. My heart began to thump as I watched them laughing with each other. Judy was a fairly common name, so that alone wasn’t a guarantee this was the same Judy. But she did seem to be awfully buddy, buddy with the bartender.

“I’ll have another drink,” I blurted out.

They both looked at me. Of course, I couldn’t accurately read their expressions because of the blurry fishbowl effect of the lenses.

“Somebody’s thirsty,” Judy said, laughing.

“The same thing again?” the bartender asked.

I nodded. “Yes, please.” I was still in shock at my luck. Why the gods had smiled upon me so, I’d never know. But the fact that Judy had sat down next to me tonight was amazing. Now I just needed to figure out how to start a conversation about the guy who’d mistakenly thought I’d stolen fake Paul away. It might be easier now though because Judy was so easy to talk to.

I really wished I didn’t need to wear the glasses and the hoodie, but my concern was if William’s violent boyfriend was in the bar, he’d know what I looked like. I was here to try to get information about him, but I didn’t want to actually meet him. That didn’t sound like a very healthy prospect for me, considering two men were already dead.

Judy said, “Did you guys hear about the library?”

I perked up. “Yes. Shocking.”

The bartender set our drinks in front of us. “What kind of monster ties up and gags a sweet lady like Sally Ribald?” he asked. “I can’t even imagine how terrified she was.”

“Don’t forget, Jason, Alison was tied up too.” Judy shook her head.

Jason. The bartender’s name is Jason.

“That’s true.” Jason nodded, pouring a shot of tequila into a glass.

“I had no idea how valuable those books were until Sally told me. She said the insurance was outrageous.” Judy sighed.

“They had a bunch of security too,” I offered. “Bet that cost a pretty penny.”

“A lot of good it did,” Judy’s date murmured. “That was a pretty brazen heist.”

I cleared my throat. “There’s a lot of weird things happening in our town right now.”

“There surely is.” Judy nodded.

“What do you think about those murders?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

Judy shivered. “I’m terrified. I don’t even know what to think.”

“I heard somewhere one of the murders was motivated by jealousy.” I winced inwardly because my voice sounded so scripted. I hated that I couldn’t see their expressions because I had no idea if they thought my statement was weird.

“That’s what I heard too.” Judy leaned closer. “Jason thinks he might have talked to the killer.”

This is good.

Excitement buzzed through me. “Is that right? Did… did you go to the police and tell them that?”

Jason shook his head. “No way. I don’t want to get involved. That psycho might come after me next.” Scowling, Jason added, “He was definitely upset at that other guy though. He was convinced his boyfriend had been seduced.”

Hardly.

“I get why he’d be upset, but to kill someone over that?” Judy shivered.

I kept my voice even as I asked, “Have you seen him around lately?”

“Nope. He came in a few times, but not recently.” Jason wiped the bar down with a towel. “I hope I never see him again either.”

“What did he look like?” I asked.

Jason stopped wiping the bar down. “Why do you ask?”

I forced a laugh. “Well, so I… I can avoid him, of course.”

“Oh I’m sure he’s long gone.” Judy shrugged. “He must know the cops are looking for him.”

“Sure, but he thinks that guy stole his boyfriend. Don’t you think maybe he might go after that guy?” I did my best not to sound accusing.

“Nah. If he killed his boyfriend, he’s probably halfway to Mexico by now.” Jason left us to go help another customer.

I was frustrated with how the conversation was going. I really wanted a physical description of the possible perp, but Jason wasn’t cooperating. It occurred to me that since Jason had said the killer hadn’t been back, my disguise wasn’t necessarily needed. But at this point, suddenly revealing myself would be incredibly awkward. If Jason or Judy read the local newspaper, they’d have probably seen my picture on the front page when I was handcuffed. Not my finest hour, but it would live on forever because of that darn newspaper.

I turned to Judy, hoping to influence her in some way. “Don’t you think Jason should give the police a description of the guy who was in here? I mean, if he was the killer that would be pretty useful information.”

Judy shrugged. “I’m not gonna guilt Jason into doing something that might get him killed.”

Gritting my teeth, I said “Sure, but if the police knew what the guy looked like then they could arrest him.”

She turned to study me. “You sure are awful worked up about this.”

My face warmed. “Well, of course I am. There’s a murderer on the loose.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I hear you. But Jason’s stubborn. He’s not gonna volunteer to talk to the police. I know him too well.”

“That’s a shame. Considering he might be the only person who knows what the killer looks like. Do you know if this bar has security cameras?”

“Cameras?” she sounded muddled.

“Yeah. Then we’d know what—”

“Oh!” Judy swiveled on her stool suddenly and gasped. “My goodness, Chief Dawson, is that you? I haven’t seen you here in a while.”

Merrick is here?

I froze like a deer in the headlights, afraid to turn around. Merrick would murder me if he discovered me going behind his back like this. Sweat broke out on my upper lip, as I tried to think of how I could slip out of the bar without being noticed.

“It really has been too long,” Merrick said from behind me.

I had to resist the urge to slide off my stool and crawl out of the bar. I tried to tell myself I was an adult, and that I could go to any bar I wanted without Merrick’s permission. But the fact that I was wearing a disguise didn’t bode well for my motives.

“Can I buy you drink, Chief Dawson?” Judy asked, smiling up at Merrick.

“I’ll just have a club soda.” He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you introduce me to your friend, Judy?”

A bead of sweat slid down the side of my face. How was I going to get out of this? My disguise was only good enough if you didn’t know me. But this close to Merrick, he’d recognize me right away. Disguise or no disguise, I knew I’d be busted.

Judy put her hand on my arm. “Wait, I don’t even know your name.”

I coughed and lowered my voice. “Harry. My name is Harry.”

“Harry, huh?” Merrick sounded stilted. “Are you from around here… Harry?”

I grunted.

“We were just talking about the theft at the library.” Judy sighed. “And the murders.”

Keeping my head down, I plopped a twenty on the bar and slid off my stool. “Excuse me, I need to use the can.” I made sure to use that same growly voice from before.

Before anyone could say anything, I headed toward the hallway where the bathrooms were located. I knew there was an emergency exit at the end of the long hallway, that wasn’t hooked up to an alarm. People went out there to smoke all the time. I pushed open the door and slipped out into the night. I let out a sigh of relief and pulled off my glasses, so I didn’t break my neck stumbling over something. I really thought I was in the clear until I rounded the corner and almost ran into a very angry looking Merrick.

“Oh!” I recoiled.

“What in God’s name are you doing?” Merrick snarled. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I was so shocked to see him standing in front of me, it took me a second to find words. My face was burning with embarrassment because, obviously, my disguise had failed miserably. “I… you know… was having a drink.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Do not lie to me right now.”

His anger was so intense, I wilted. “Well, I tried to get you guys to come talk to the bartender. You weren’t interested.”

Through clenched teeth, he said, “I told you I’d pass the information along to Detective Jones.”

“Pfft. Exactly. You blew me off. The guy has no interest in this case.”

“That isn’t true.”

I scowled. “It is true.”

His face twitched, and he still looked furious. “You are not a cop. You have no business questioning witnesses, or putting yourself in harm’s way.”

“Somebody has to do it,” I snapped. “And I’m already in harm’s way because of your department’s lackadaisical attitude toward this case. If you guys don’t make some progress, I’m going to end up like William and Paul.”

“We are making progress.” His breaths were visible in the chilly air. “We’re not lackadaisical. We take those murders very seriously. What do you think I’m doing here?”

I waved my arms. “I didn’t know you were gonna be here. Obviously.”

A muscle worked in his cheek, and I could see he was struggling to control his temper. “Listen, Detective Jones is working hard on this case. However, he has a big workload. That’s why I came down here to check out what you told me. You’re not supposed to be checking that out, the police are.”

“Well, I feel like time is running out.” I raked a hand through my hair. “Did you know somebody threw a brick through my window tonight?”

I could tell from his expression; he’d had no idea that had happened. “When?”

“Does it matter when?”

He sighed. “Did you call the police?”

I laughed humorlessly. “Yeah. I called. Guess who came to my house? My favorite policeman in the whole wide world, Officer Lawson. Take a guess how seriously he took everything.”

His gaze flickered. “Well, the robbery at the library was all hands on deck.”

“Sure. I get it. Who cares if there’s a murderer running loose, or people are throwing bricks through my window? Finding those dusty old books is way more important.” I was obviously just letting off steam. I too was mortified that the Hemingway collection had been stolen. But I was feeling rather frazzled about the lack of concern on the part of PCPD toward the threats against me.

“Kip,” Merrick said gruffly. “I’m not gonna let anything happen you. That’s why I came down here tonight.”

“I didn’t know you were going to come down here, Merrick. It felt to me like you were blowing me off.” I released a shaky breath. “I’m freaking scared. I have no idea if that lunatic is still in Pearl Cove. If he is, I’m not safe. You know that.”

“I do know that.”

“But,” I sputtered. “No one is doing anything to help me.”

“Listen, I’m going to go talk to the bartender in just a second. I’m going to get every detail I can out of him. I can ask him anything I want. I don’t have to dress up and try to figure out a way to trick him into telling me things. That’s why you let the cops handle it. We can get more information than you’re ever going to get playing dress-up.”

Heat prickled my face. “I wasn’t playing dress-up.”

Okay, I totally was.

He didn’t speak, but he rolled his eyes.

“I’m happy to let the cops handle it. But you have to actually handle it. You guys can’t just say you’re handling it.”

“I understand your frustration,” he said quietly. “Now go home and let me solve this case.”

“What about Detective Jones?” I grumbled.

“I’m going to personally step in on this case. Detective Jones can work the library robbery. I’ll take over here.”

“Seriously? You keep telling me how busy you are.”

He gave a tight smile. “I’m never too busy to help my best friend’s little brother.”

As I held his glittery gaze, most of my anger drained away. “I didn’t mean to cause you trouble,” I mumbled. “I just don’t want to die.”

His cheek twitched. “I don’t want that either.”

“Are you really going to help with this case?”

“Yes.”

“What about all your other duties?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.” There was no denying just hearing Merrick say he was going to help with the case soothed me. Whether he rubbed me the wrong way or not, he was a great cop.

“Go home and get some sleep. I’m going to go talk to the bartender.”

I turned, about to head toward the parking lot, but I hesitated. “How did you know it was me?”

“You mean inside the bar?”

“Yes. I didn’t think my disguise was that bad. You didn’t even see my face.”

He smirked. “I’d know your Pikachu hoodie anywhere, Kip. You wore it almost every day of your freshman year.”

My face warmed. “Lots of people had Pikachu hoodies back then.”

He shrugged. “You stood out to me.”

For some reason, his words gave me a weird warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. But he’d already turned away to go back inside the building. I watched him go, wondering why it was I trusted him to keep me safe. But I did. Instinctively I knew, whether Merrick and I butted heads a lot or not, he’d protect me. And that was a pretty good feeling.

****

The town was a twitter with the news of the theft at the library. Mrs. Ribald and Alison were questioned extensively by the police. There was always the question of whether or not a theft was an inside job, and the police had to make sure that wasn’t the case here. From all accounts, Mrs. Ribald was innocent and devastated.

I wondered if she’d told the police about the man loitering outside the library. I would think that deserved mentioning. It wasn’t unusual for thieves to study the place they planned on robbing, looking for patterns and weaknesses. Perhaps the man with the turquoise cowboy boots was our robber.

I didn’t hear from Merrick the next few days. I had to trust that he truly was running down leads. I didn’t get any more notes under my windshield wipers, or bricks through my window. I had no idea if any of those things were connected to the threatening phone call. Maybe I’d never know.

I stopped by Mom’s one morning for our weekly tea get-together. When she greeted me at the door, she gave me a huge hug. Generally speaking, she wasn’t overly demonstrative, so the fact that she was openly showing me affection meant she was worried about me.

“You look like you’re working too hard,” she said, her searching gaze pinned on me.

“No more than usual.” I wasn’t sleeping well though. Maybe that was what she was picking up on.

“Please tell me you haven’t gotten any more of those horrible phone calls.”

“No. So far, it’s been quiet.” I followed her into the kitchen, and we sat at the table. She already had the tea poured and a plate of cookies on the table.

“Would you tell me if you had gotten another call?”

I shrugged. “Probably.” It was more like I’d tell Thomas and he’d tell Mom.

“I thought you’d bring Spot with you. He’s so cute. I was looking forward to seeing him.” She laughed.

“I was going to, but he had shots earlier today and he was super sleepy. I’ll bring him next time.”

“Good.” She took a bite of oatmeal cookie, studying me as she chewed. Once she’d swallowed, she asked, “Do you miss Paul?”

Surprised at the question, I flinched. “His name was actually William, and no. Not now that I know he was a con-man.”

“I can’t believe he wasn’t who he said he was.”

“Me neither.” I’d come to terms with the fact I’d been fooled, but it wasn’t easy on the ego. I still had no real idea why he’d flirted with me. I’d probably never know if I’d simply been a mark to him, or if he’d actually liked me.

“Merrick stopped by yesterday.”

“Really?” He was close to my mom, and I knew he visited her often. But I’d assumed he was too busy with everything going on in town lately to keep up with his monthly visits with her.

She smiled. “Yeah. He made time.”

“I’m making time too.”

She laughed. “This isn’t a competition.”

“I know.” Why did it always feel like one though? Maybe because she seemed so impressed with everything Merrick did?

Her smile faded as she watched me. “He’s worried about you.”

“You mean because of the murder case?” I frowned.

“No. He said you’re depressed. Is that true?” She leaned forward, her gaze intent. “If anything is bothering you, you know you can talk to me, right?”

I smiled. “Yes.”

“Are you depressed?”

I considered her question. I did feel a bit blue lately. Even before the thing with William had happened I’d been struggling. Finding out he’d been a fake had made things worse, naturally. I already wasn’t the most trusting soul in the world, and I felt even less so now. “It will pass. It always does.”

“I think it’s sweet that Merrick noticed, don’t you?”

It wasn’t really that surprising to me. Merrick had always been keenly observant. I probably wasn’t hiding my depression that well. I’d never experienced anything like what had happened recently. Hopefully, it would make me a stronger person. Or maybe it would just make me into a recluse who trusted no one.

“Merrick is observant,” I said.

“Yes. He is.” She sipped her tea, and then asked, “Did you really like that man?”

My cheeks warmed. “You mean William?”

She nodded. “Yes. I saw a photo of him in the newspaper. He wasn’t nearly as good-looking as Merrick.”

I grimaced. “Uh… this is a weird conversation.”

“It’s just that June and I are mystified by why you’d have preferred that man over Merrick.” She shrugged. “Merrick has everything going for him.”

I scowled. “Does Merrick have to suffer through this too?”

Pink tinted her cheeks. “Why, whatever do you mean?”

“Does June do this whole spiel with Merrick too? Does she hound him when he goes to see her? If so, you both need to stop. We’re more than capable of choosing our partners.”

She arched one sleek brow. “Are you though? You were dating a con-man. For all we know he was also a murderer or at the very least an accomplice.”

Gritting my teeth, I said, “I wasn’t dating him. We were just friends.”

She sighed. “We’re just concerned for you boys. It’s not good to be alone at your age.”

And here we go again.

I took a big gulp of tea, trying to keep my temper. After a moment, I said calmly, “I appreciate that you and June love us and want what’s best for us. But I can assure you, Merrick has no more interest in being with me, than I have in being with him.”

“You’re so obtuse, Kip. It really is astonishing.”

I frowned. “I’m not obtuse.”

“You can’t see the forest for the trees.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

She pressed her lips tight. “Never mind. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

That makes two of us, dear Mother.

“How about we talk about something else? After what I’ve been through, I have no interest in dating. I’ll need time to work through what happened.” I sighed. “Have you heard any new details about the robbery?”

She shrugged. “No one has a clue where the books are being kept. I also heard Mrs. Ribald and Alison have been exonerated. The police searched both of their homes and found nothing suspicious.”

“Well, that’s wonderful news, at least.”

“It truly is. Of course, we all knew neither of those women were involved.” She picked up her china cup and watched me over the rim. “The very idea of either of them being thieves is ludicrous.”

“I agree. But the police have to be sure.”

She smirked. “You weren’t nearly so understanding when the police were investigating you.”

I laughed. “No. I wasn’t.”

“I really hope they find that person who killed… your… friend. It’s scary to think he’s still out there.”

“Merrick is helping with the case. Maybe something will finally happen now.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “He told me he’d stepped in. I feel much better knowing he’s helping.”

I did too.

“Where do you suppose those books could be?” Mom asked.

“No idea, but I certainly hope whoever has them is treating them carefully.” It was a horrifying thought that those gorgeous, valuable books had managed to survive all this time, only to be accidentally damaged by clueless thieves.

“June doesn’t trust Lewis and his cousin.” She glanced around, as if someone was lurking, and lowered her voice. “She thinks the timing is suspicious.”

I frowned. “She thinks Lewis stole the books?”

“Not exactly, but she thinks he’s using Sally.” She shrugged. “You must admit, it’s odd. That man is… way too young for her, and… other things.”

I assumed she was referring to his extreme good looks. “I do think they’re an odd couple, but love is blind, right?”

She squinted at me. “Is it though?”

I laughed. “Maybe.”

She sighed. “Anyway, I’m miffed because I never even had a chance to see the Hemingway collection. I couldn’t go opening day.”

“I like to think the books will be found.”

“What are the odds? By now the thieves must be trying to sell them on the black market or the dark web.”

I grinned. “Listen to you.”

“Oh, hush. You know what I mean. No one professional would steal those books and then stay in Pearl Cove.”

“No, they’d probably try to get them out of town ASAP.”

She brushed cookie crumbs from the front of her blouse. “Our little town sure has had its share of crazy lately.”

“That it has.”

We chatted about less nefarious things for about an hour, and then I needed to get going. I had to talk to the owner of Golden Goose Ranch Supplies about our weekly order. I could have done that over the phone, but I also wanted to get Spot a new collar and maybe some chew toys. It was kind of fun owning a dog again and I liked pampering the pup.

I kissed Mom goodbye and went out to my truck. My preferred way to the feed store was along Flamingo Highway, a scenic four-lane road that hugged the ocean bluffs. The sea looked choppy today and a blustery wind buffeted my truck. I was lost in my thoughts when I noticed a black pickup truck riding my tail a little too closely. It wasn’t your typical truck. This one had heavy-duty suspension and gigantic tires. It kind of looked like one step down from a monster truck. The truck rumbled loudly behind me, as the driver revved the engine impatiently.

I wasn’t going slow, so I wasn’t sure why the driver seemed so agitated. I also wondered why he didn’t just go around me. I couldn’t see the driver clearly because the cab of his truck was so high, but when he began honking his horn it was clear he wasn’t happy with me. I didn’t recognize the truck, and I didn’t think I’d cut him off at any point. The truck wasn’t the kind of vehicle you could miss easily.

When the truck inched closer, it made me uneasy. We were going at a fast clip and any kind of bump could have caused me to lose control. I couldn’t ease up on the gas though, because he was following me so closely. Anxiety spiraled through me, and I pressed the accelerator. My truck jumped forward as the wheels sped over the pavement.

Unfortunately, the other truck sped up too, and soon he was once again only a foot from my bumper. We were about a half-mile from my turnoff when he decided to come around on my driver’s side. He pulled even with me, and when I gave a quick glance over I found him glaring down at me. I still had no idea who he was, or why he was upset with me.

He gave a sudden yank of his wheel and his truck veered toward mine. With a yelp, I also jerked my wheel so that my truck could avoid being sideswiped. Somehow I managed to keep control of the vehicle, but I felt like it was only a matter of time before we wrecked. Swearing under my breath, I pressed the gas.

There were no other cars on the road today, which was a blessing and a curse. Maybe if someone had seen what was happening they’d have called the police. As it was, I’d have to handle the situation by myself. Since I didn’t recognize the man driving, I had to wonder if perhaps he was the person who’d called me after William’s death.

I’m coming for you.

The memory of his cold words sent a shiver through me. When he tried ramming me two more times, I began to feel hopeless. He seemed to have no concern whatsoever for his own safety. He was hell-bent on driving me off the road and didn’t seem to care if we both went over the side. The highway was built above the sea, and it was a sheer drop down to the stony beach below. There were guardrails, but at this speed, I had a feeling my truck would break through them like they were made of aluminum foil. It didn’t happen often, but the few times cars had driven off these cliffs, there had been no survivors.

I gripped the steering wheel, eyeballing the person beside me. His truck was more powerful than mine, and I was already going faster than I was comfortable with. As I saw my off-ramp nearing, a tiny spark of hope sprang inside of me. If I could just get off the freeway, and maybe make it to the feed store, perhaps I could call the police. There might be safety in numbers. If I ran into the store, people would probably help me.

I didn’t signal that I was getting off the highway. Instead, I waited till the last second and zipped off the freeway. I must’ve caught him by surprise because it took him a second to react, but then he drove across the dirt divider and followed me off the freeway. There was a red light at the bottom of the hill and I ran it, hoping to shake him off my tail. Unfortunately, he ran it too, and almost collided with a station wagon. The two vehicles somehow missed each other and he was once more on my trail.

The driveway of the feed store came into view. I was way too afraid to slow down all the way, so I took the sharp turn way too fast. It felt like the vehicle was tipping, and the screeching tires filled me with panic. By some miracle, I didn’t tip the truck, and I slammed on the brakes and came to a violent halt. A cloud of dust surrounded my vehicle, but I threw open the door and bolted toward the feed store.

The black truck followed me into the parking lot, and just as I reached the sidewalk, the vehicle stopped a few feet from me. The driver flung open his door and did a Tarzan-like swing down out of his truck. Obscenities flew out of his mouth as he landed, and came barreling toward me.

“If you think you can just ignore me, you’ve got another think coming, Sherman,” he shouted. The veins bulged in his face and throat as he ran at me.

Sherman? Who the heck is Sherman?

I didn’t think asking him that question was a great idea, so I sprinted toward the automatic doors. I guess rage gave him speed because the guy tackled me just as I slipped inside the doors. We went down in a tangle of arms and legs, and he started punching at me and swearing. I elbowed him and called him a few choice names myself, but he definitely had the upper hand.

The owner of the feed store, Jackson, came running over. “Tony, what in the world are you doing?” Jackson cried, trying to yank the older man off me.

“I’ll show you what happens to a man who tries to steal another man’s wife,” screamed Tony.

In the distance, I heard sirens and I really, really hoped they were coming in our direction. There was no question Tony had the advantage. He was about twenty pounds heavier than me, and I was face down with him on top of me. My cheek was pressed against the cold linoleum floor, and when we’d fallen I’d had the wind knocked out of me. I kept trying to throw him off of me, but the angle was awkward and I couldn’t get any momentum.

Jackson wasn’t having much luck either, and thankfully a couple of guys who worked in the back came running out to help. Next, the cops came storming in the doors, and somebody eventually succeeded in getting Tony off of me.

Jackson help me to my feet, and I tasted blood. I wiped my mouth, seeing a smear of red on my skin. My head throbbed and I was bristling with fury. I was positive I’d never seen Tony before, and I had no idea why he apparently wanted to kill me.

“What is your problem?” I yelled at Tony.

Tony was struggling against the guys who held him and cursing out the cops who were trying to cuff him. I was breathing hard and feeling lightheaded. Jackson was still holding my arm, which was probably a good idea since I felt ready to keel over.

At one point, Tony tried to kick one of the cops, and my eyes were drawn to his footwear.

Turquoise cowboy boots.

My eyes narrowed as I remembered Mrs. Ribald had mentioned a guy with those boots loitering outside the library. Was this the same man? Even if it was, why was he so angry with me? I was positive I’d never laid eyes on him before.

Jackson scowled at Tony. “Why are you attacking Kip? Have you lost your mind, Tony?”

“He’s been fooling around with Alison.” Tony’s eyes bulged.

I scowled. “Alison? You think I’m having an affair with Alison?”

“I’ve seen you at the library talking to her.”

“Yeah, I’ve talked to her. She works there.” I shook my head.

Tony sneered. “Don’t act all innocent. I know you two are seeing each other.”

“You’re wrong,” I said angrily. “You’ve got the wrong guy.”

“Not likely,” snapped Tony. “I have eyes.”

Jackson guffawed. “You’re barking up the wrong tree there, Tony. I guarantee Kip isn’t fooling around with your wife.”

Bearing his teeth, Tony hissed, “I told you I’ve seen him. His flashy red truck and dyed blond hair ain’t hard to miss.”

I scowled. “My hair isn’t dyed.” Not that that was the most important thing at the moment.

Tony curled his lip. “Tell it to your hairdresser, buddy.”

“You have a screw loose.” I shook my head.

Jackson said, “Lots of people have red trucks, Tony.”

“Exactly.” I wiped my lip again, relieved to see the bleeding seemed to have stopped. “And I’m definitely not fooling around with your wife.”

“You’re a liar!” Tony roared.

Jackson’s sounded exasperated as he muttered, “He’s as stubborn as a mule.”

“Tony, not that it’s any of your business,” I grumbled. “But it’s fairly well known around town that I’m not into women.” In my wildest dreams, I’d never pictured having to make a public announcement about my sexual orientation. I wasn’t ashamed of being gay, but I was a fairly private person.

Tony stopped struggling. “What?”

“I don’t date women.”

Grimacing, Tony mumbled, “What exactly are you saying?”

“What the heck do you think he saying?” Jackson said, shaking his head.

“You’ve got the wrong guy,” I said curtly.

A flush swept Tony’s fleshy face. “But I saw you in the parking lot.”

“What exactly did you see? I’ll tell you one thing, you didn’t see me with Alison, that I know for a fact. I’m blond and I have a red truck. Newsflash, Tony, I’m not the only blond guy in town.”

“Well… I thought sure…” Tony definitely looked embarrassed now.

“You thought wrong.” I scowled. “You could have killed me, and you didn’t even have the right person.”

“But… but.”

“For goodness sake, Tony.” Jackson gave the other man a disgusted look. “You’re making a fool of yourself.”

“I… I was protecting what’s mine,” mumbled Tony.

“I’m afraid you took it too far, this time, Tony.” The cop who’d cuffed him shook his head. “You assaulted Mr. O’Connor with a deadly weapon. You’re under arrest.”

With his face beet red and his eyes bloodshot, Tony looked humiliated. He didn’t say anything else though, he just let the cop lead him out of the building.

Jackson turned me. “Shall I drive you to the ER?”

“That’s okay. I don’t need to go to the ER.”

He frowned. “I’ve got a first aid kit in the back. How about we see to your cuts?”

I shook my head and instantly regretted it. Pressing my fingers to my temple, I said, “I’m just gonna go home and put some ice on my face.”

“You okay to drive?” Jackson frowned. “I’ll get one of the boys to take you home.”

“No. I think I’m fine. My shoulders took the brunt of it.” That wasn’t completely true, and I was going to have a roaring headache very soon. But I didn’t think I had a concussion or anything that serious. I really just wanted to go home and get some pain medication in my system.

“I sure wish you’d let me tend to your scratches.” Jackson grimaced.

I gave a weak smile. “Nah. Thank you though.”

“Well, if you’re sure.”

“I was actually on my way here when Tony came after me.” I sighed. “Just wanted to say we’ll need our usual order this week. I was also going to grab a few things for my dog, but I think I’ll do that another day now.”

“Oh, sure. No problem.”

“Thanks for your help, Jackson. I wouldn’t have been able to fight him off alone.”

“I’d say it’s my pleasure, but I don’t think either of us enjoyed that.” Jackson’s smile was wry.

“Not really.”

A young female police officer walked up. “Um, we’ll need your statement before you go, Mr. O’Connor.” She seemed to brace herself as if expecting me to throw fit.

Of course the police would need my statement. It showed how rattled my brain was that I’d forgotten that piece of the equation. “Sure thing.” Headache or not, I wanted Tony punished for almost killing me.

She looked relieved when I didn’t argue. “Oh, great. Just follow me.”

I spent the next half hour by her patrol car, telling her my side of the story. Once I’d told her everything I could remember, she had me sign my statement, and then I was free to go. I got in my truck and drove home, grateful I hadn’t brought Spot with me today. I didn’t want to think about what that whole debacle would’ve been like with a dog in the truck.

When I got home, my head was pounding. I let myself into the house, and Spot greeted me with excited little yips. I patted his head and moved past him toward the bathroom. Usually, I’d spend a little more time saying hello to the dog, but I was hurting. I went into the restroom, wincing when I caught a glimpse of my battered face in the mirror. The damage would’ve been a lot worse if I’d been face up.

The good news about my run-in with Tony was, I was positive he wasn’t the guy who’d threatened me over the phone. He hadn’t sounded anything like the man on the phone. The bad news was that meant that guy was still out there somewhere.

I grabbed an ice pack and laid down on the couch. Then I called Helen to tell her what had happened and why I wasn’t returning to work. She was horrified and offered to come over, but I turned her kind offer down. She couldn’t do anything for me, so it was best I just rested.

Spot was confused and uneasy. He must have sensed I was in pain because he kept trying to lick my face, and he even crawled up on the couch with me. I didn’t have the heart to kick him off the furniture, so instead I just let him stay. His warm furry body against mine was comforting, and I rubbed his head and closed my eyes.

I must’ve dozed off because when somebody rang the doorbell, I jerked awake. I winced and sat up slowly, as Spot barked and growled at the door.

“Kip? It’s me, Merrick.” His voice was muffled.

Groaning, I forced myself to stand and go to answer the door. When I opened the door, and Merrick saw my face, he recoiled. “You should see the other guy,” I mumbled.

“Ouch.” Merrick studied me. “You look worse than I thought you would.”

“Well, that’s what getting assaulted will do to your good-looks.” I turned and headed back toward the couch. “You can come in if you want.”

He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Spot was thrilled to see him, and Merrick was nice enough to give the excited pup some attention. Then Merrick followed me and stood near the couch. “I hear you’re a wife stealer.”

I chuffed. “Yeah. That’s me. I steal women. I steal men. I’m apparently really busy.”

“Doesn’t Tony realize how many red trucks there are in Pearl Cove?”

“I didn’t get the impression Tony was a thinking man.”

He smiled. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”

“That’s about all I have.” I leaned back against the couch and put the ice pack back on my head.

He watched me for a moment, then he said, “Maybe some good news will cheer you up.”

“I could definitely use some good news.”

“We finally have an artist sketch of William’s boyfriend.”

I widened my eyes. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “Yep. Courtesy of Jason the Friendly Neighborhood Bartender.”

“That’s fantastic.”

He moved closer to perch on the arm of the couch. As he leaned over to show me his phone, I got a whiff of his clean citrusy cologne. Something inside of me warmed at the familiar scent. It was kind of comforting to be around someone who knew me so well. I didn’t have to put on an act with Merrick, and right now, that was exactly what I needed.

“He’s got distinctive features,” Merrick was saying. “I’m circulating this drawing all over town. If he’s still here in Pearl Cove, I think we’ll be able to get him.”

“I can’t believe Jason didn’t come forward of his own volition.”

Merrick sighed. “Unfortunately, people are selfish.”

“Yeah.” I studied the drawing, taking in the square jaw and steely gaze of the man in the picture. “I feel sick looking at his face. Maybe William was a liar and a con-man, but still… he didn’t deserve to die like that.”

“No.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry you lost someone you felt close to.”

“Close? We weren’t close. I’ll never know what was real and what wasn’t between us.”

Merrick’s gaze was probing. “But you liked him. You felt something for him?”

I shrugged. “I found him attractive. I guess I wanted more in the very beginning but started to pull back some because I found him confusing.”

“I see.” Merrick’s jaw tensed and he stood abruptly. “Anyway, I just came by to show you the drawing and make sure you were okay.”

I was surprised he was leaving so quickly. I was also surprised to feel a nudge of disappointment. “You don’t have to go right away.”

He looked amazed at my words. “Either you have a concussion, or maybe my charm is finally sinking in.”

“I’ve had a really rough day,” I said quietly. “I’m feeling a little fragile. It… might be nice to have some company.”

He didn’t say anything for a few moments, then he peeled off his suit jacket and laid it over the back of the closest chair. “How about I make dinner?”

Now it was my turn to be amazed. “You’re gonna make me dinner?”

“I’m going to make us dinner.”

“My jaw is kind of sore.” I laughed sheepishly. “Can you make soup?”

He shrugged, giving his customary smirk. “I can make anything.”

For some reason his conceited attitude didn’t bother me tonight. Perhaps it was because I didn’t want to be alone, and he was my only option. Or maybe it was because I was too tired to get annoyed. Or maybe it was because a small part of me was actually starting to like Merrick Dawson.

Chapter Nine

“So, sweet little Alison Watson was having an affair?” I stared at Merrick in disbelief. “I thought maybe her husband was just crazy.”

“He might be crazy, but Alison has admitted to having an affair with Sherman Jamison.”

“And I’m assuming Sherman is blond and drives a red truck?”

Merrick spooned cream of broccoli soup into his mouth and nodded. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “The thing is Alison has been separated from Tony for three months. She just hadn’t told anyone.”

“I see. Shocking, considering how charming Tony is.”

He smiled. “Yeah. Well, he’s in big trouble now. There were always rumors that he was borderline abusive to Alison. But she refused to press charges. Now though, he’s gone too far. He came after you in a way that he can’t get out of.”

“So he’s the one who left that note on my windshield?”

“Yes. He also threw the brick through your window. Apparently, he followed you home.”

“He admitted to that?”

“He did.”

I shivered. “I should have noticed. I know there’s a possible killer out there with a grudge against me, but I didn’t even notice Tony following me home.”

Merrick grimaced. “You’re not used to having to be on guard.”

“No. I’m not. But if that’s the only way to stay safe, I need to be better at it.”

He didn’t respond, he just finished his soup. Once we’d both cleaned our bowls, Merrick put the dishes in the dishwasher. It was interesting watching him putter around my kitchen, being domestic.

“Have you had any breaks in the library robbery?” I asked.

“We haven’t found the books if that’s what you’re asking.” He sighed. “I never for a minute thought it was an inside job. We had to be sure, but I knew there was no way Sally would rob the library. That place is her life.”

“It was. Before she met Lewis.” I leered. “Now it’s smooches and rainbows.”

“You don’t believe in true love?” He had his back to me, rinsing a plate.

“I don’t know. Maybe? I’m not sure I trust that Lewis is with Sally for the right reasons. They seem like an odd couple.”

“Have you met Frank?” He glanced at me over his shoulder.

Nodding, I said, “Yes. I suspect either he was adopted or Lewis was adopted. Because there’s no way those two come from the same bloodline.”

“What a snob.”

I laughed. “I’m not a snob. I’m just making an observation.”

“I will admit, meeting each other on that Lonely Hearts singles cruise seems a little too good to be true. I mean, what are the odds Sally would just run into the love of her life on that ship?”

“I have a very hard time believing it.”

“Me too. I’d think she had better odds of being struck by lightning.”

I laughed gruffly. “God, why are we so bitter?”

He grinned. “Maybe we’re not bitter. Maybe we’re wise.”

“Potato, potahto.”

He shook his head and closed the dishwasher. “I’m done with my chores, Mom.”

I laughed. “Remember when you’d sleepover at our house as a kid, and you’d always volunteer to do the dishes?”

“Of course I remember. I was the only ten-year-old with dishpan hands at school.”

I smiled. “Mom always said you were half angel.”

His lips twitched. “Does that mean the other half is devil?”

“You’d have to ask Mom. My theory is, you’re all devil.”

He tossed the dishtowel at my head. “You’re such a punk.”

I caught the towel, smiling.

We fell silent for a bit, but when he came over to the table, his expression was serious. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Uneasiness shifted through me. “Okay.”

“The witness who thought he saw someone with Paul and William that night at Murre Bay has fallen through.”

I frowned. “Fallen through? Did he get cold feet?”

“No. He has horrible eyesight. A defense attorney would have a field day with him if we ever went to court.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, if we pick up William’s boyfriend, it’s going to be hard to prove he killed Paul or William. We don’t have any DNA evidence, fingerprints, and now we don’t have a reliable witness that puts him at either murder scene.”

“You know the location where the threatening phone call originated from. Didn’t that yield any results?”

“Unfortunately, no. The call to you was placed from Jamison’s Pier, but we don’t have the guy on the security footage. Even if we did, all we’d have him for is making a malicious phone call. Not murder.”

“But he’s hiding. Would he do that if he was innocent?”

Merrick shrugged. “He might hide if he’s afraid he’ll be blamed for something he didn’t do. Innocent people run too.”

“That’s disappointing to hear.” I curled my hand into a fist. “I guess if he murders me, check under my fingernails. I’ll be sure to scratch him before I go, so you can get some DNA evidence.”

Merrick’s mouth thinned. “Don’t be negative.”

“It’s hard not to be.”

He sighed. “The problem is William wasn’t dating this guy when he lived in Arizona. We don’t know anything about him. We’ve interviewed William’s neighbors in Tucson and no one has any idea who the guy is. I suspect William met him on the road somewhere between Arizona and California.”

“It’s like I’m being stalked by a phantom.”

“I know. The good news is, he hasn’t contacted you again. I’m hoping that means he’s moved on.”

“Great, so he can go kill people in other places.”

“Obviously, we’d love to get him. But I’d be relieved if you weren’t his target anymore.”

I chuffed. “What a very un-police-like thing to say.”

He shrugged. “This case has been more personal than most. I don’t always think like a cop.”

“The Great Merrick Dawson is human after all.”

He frowned. “Obviously.”

I felt incredibly tired all at once. “I appreciate your honesty. I guess I’d feel worse if you sugarcoated everything and I found out the truth later.”

He came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “This has been an incredibly frustrating couple of weeks for all of us. I’m not giving up, but I wanted you to know what’s going on.”

His hand felt nice through my shirt. Comforting. “Thank you. I know you’re doing your best.”

“I am.” He leaned over and his sea-green eyes were very serious. “Trust me. It’s going to be okay, Kip.”

Maybe it was the stress of the last few weeks hitting me suddenly, but for whatever reason, my eyes stung at his reassuring words. I was mortified to realize I’d have loved for him to just put his arms around me, and tell me everything would be all right. It was a childish need for comfort, and I was embarrassed by all the raw emotions bubbling up inside of me.

Gritting my teeth, I scooted back my chair and stood. “I’m exhausted. I need sleep.”

He frowned and straightened. “Sure. I’ll… just… get going then.”

“Okay.”

His frown deepened, but he didn’t say anything. He went into the living room and grabbed his suit jacket. As he slipped it on, he watched me. The emotions glittering in his eyes were difficult to discern. He gave Spot a friendly pat on the head, and then said, “I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” His voice was impersonal now.

“Sounds good.” I followed him to the door.

He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “Have a good night, Kip.”

“You too.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks for dinner.”

“No problem.” He walked to his car, shoulders squared.

I closed the door before he even got in his car and drove away. I’d felt something different toward Merrick tonight. I had no idea how to categorize the emotions though, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.

****

The next few days passed uneventfully, which was a welcome relief. The police were still trying to figure out who’d robbed the library, and the murders remained unsolved. I didn’t see Merrick around as much, and I assumed that was because he had his hands full fighting crime.

Halloween was right around the corner, and that meant the Buttons and Bows Carnival was in town. They came down the California coast every fall, and always made a point of setting up in Pearl Cove for a week. The town even kept a big shed near the pier for the carnival to store excess equipment in all year long. I think the city council would have had a collective stroke if the Buttons and Bows Carnival skipped even one year.

When I’d been a kid, I’d always been so excited to see them setting up the colorful tents and rides. As an adult, I still got a little tingle of excitement in my belly, although I no longer spent every waking moment scheming about how many corn dogs or cotton candy I could talk my mom into buying me.

I was in my office at the end of Saturday when Charlene tapped on the doorjamb. “Hey, boss. Are you going to the carnival tonight?”

I frowned. “Not sure.”

She widened her eyes as if I’d said Christmas was canceled. “But, it’s opening night. You always go opening night.”

She was right. I’d only missed one opening night ten years ago, and that was when my father had died of a heart attack. Candied apples and cotton candy hadn’t even crossed my mind that gut-wrenching night at the hospital.

“You have to go,” Charlene’s plaintive voice cut into my depressing thoughts. “It won’t be the same if you’re not there. Who will I go on The Death Tornado with?”

I grimaced. “Surely you can find someone.”

She scowled. “Who? Scott is afraid of heights and Andrew is bringing his girlfriend. She won’t let him go on any rides with anyone but her.”

Guilt ate at me. “What about Helen?”

“Oh, no,” Helen called from the other room. “You’re not getting me on that death trap! What person in their right mind rides something with the word death in the name?”

Charlene slumped. “See? You’re my only hope.”

I was horrible about saying no to people and taking in her crestfallen expression, I felt myself weakening. “If I go I won’t stay long.”

She brightened. “That’s okay. We’ll just ride all the hairy rides first, then maybe I can get Helen to ride the slower rides with me later in the night.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Helen called out, but she sounded amused now.

With a groan, I relented. “Fine. But when I say I’m going home, I don’t want you to try and convince me to stay longer, okay?”

“You got it.” She grinned. “Yay. I can’t wait.” She left my office practically skipping.

“I glanced over at Spot. “That means you’re having a night alone tonight, pup. I don’t think you’d enjoy the carnival anyway.”

Spot wagged his tail as if to say he understood. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

I left Helen to close up the office because she insisted, and I went home to shower and get ready for the fair. It was a brisk fifty degrees at the moment, and I knew it would only get colder as the sun went down. I decided layers were the way to go. That way, if I got too hot after going on a few rides, I could begin to shed my extra clothing like a caterpillar.

When I arrived at the carnival, it was already dark. The sparkling colored lights that adorned the rides made everything look magical. It always amazed me that even at my age, the carnival was exhilarating.

I gave the woman at the gate my ticket and entered the grounds. The smell of fresh popcorn and cotton candy filled my nostrils, as I made my way down the center lane. On either side of me were coin toss booths and shooting arcades with brightly colored stuffed animals hanging above, to entice guests to try their luck. Above me, the screams of people purposely terrifying themselves on rollercoasters filled the night.

Families walked past with happily squealing children tugging their parents toward the rides of choice. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the sights. I was glad Charlene had talked me into coming. It would be good for me to try and let loose and have some fun tonight. I’d been in my head way too much lately.

I spotted Charlene near the entrance to The Death Tornado, and she waved happily when she saw me approaching.

“You made it,” she squeaked, barely able to contain her excitement. “I was afraid you’d change your mind once you got home.”

“Nope. I’d never stand you up.” I looped my arm through hers. “Ready to scream yourself hoarse?”

“You know it.” She laughed.

We got in line to wait our turn. To pass the time, Charlene told me about a difficult client she’d had to deal with today. I listened and tried to give her advice on how to handle the woman. Eventually, it was our turn, and we climbed into the big red bucket and pulled the safety lever down.

The guy running the ride was about seventeen and bored out of his mind. In the old days, people had worked on carnivals until they’d dropped. I had a feeling this kid could barely power through a four-hour shift. He did perk up slightly when Charlene smiled at him, but then went back to looking morose.

We rode The Death Tornado four times, and then went on the Pharaoh’s Fury, a sixty-foot tall swinging ship. Charlene dragged me onto numerous other rides that spun, twirled, and generally rattled my brain. It was almost 9:00 p.m. by the time I was ready to sit and catch my breath. Charlene was still raring to go though, so she and Helen went off to partake of calmer rides, and I headed straight for the beer garden.

I got a small beer which cost over ten dollars and a big salted pretzel. I’d already consumed three corn dogs and fries earlier and was really just looking for a snack to help soak up the beer. I snagged a small table in the corner and started one of my favorite past times: people watching.

While the carnival enticed families, it also attracted large groups of single people. There were giggling hordes of high school girls, and teenage boys pretending to ignore them while doing their best to act cool. I couldn’t help remembering being that age, and all the angst that had accompanied my teen years. I guess I still felt like that confused kid much of the time, although I looked older, so people expected me to have it all together. Lately, I felt like I was going backward.

A guy in a black hoodie, standing outside the beer garden fence caught my eye. Although his face was hidden, something about him was vaguely familiar. I’d really only noticed him because I’d felt his stare. Unless I was wrong about that because with his hood up, it was difficult to see exactly where he was looking.

My attention was drawn away from him by a table of rowdy guys. When I recognized my brother Thomas sitting with the group, I slid down in my chair. He’d called me a few days ago, asking if I wanted to go to the fair, but I’d declined. I’d really considered giving the carnival a miss this year until Charlene had guilted me into it.

Of course, Merrick was there, sitting across from Thomas. He’d been one reason I hadn’t wanted to accompany my brother. I’d known that where Thomas went, Merrick usually also went, and the other way around. Ever since that night at my house when he’d cooked dinner, I’d given Merrick a wide berth. My recent feelings for him confused me, and I didn’t want to deal with them. I guess that wasn’t the mature way to handle things, but I had too much stress as it was.

I studied Merrick under my lashes, noticing he was smiling at the guy next to him. Merrick looked happier than usual. More relaxed. I hadn’t seen that side of him in ages. I’d assumed it was because of the stress of his job, but watching him now, maybe I’d had that wrong. As he grinned at the guy beside him, he seemed almost carefree. Why did he always seem so tightly wound around me? What was it about that other guy that had Merrick looking so happy?

A weird knot formed in my gut as I watched Merrick interacting with that other guy. I was dying of curiosity to see what this other guy looked like. Unfortunately, he had his back to me because he was only focused on Merrick. Why did I find it so annoying that Merrick was also focused solely on him?

Why is any of this my business?

I slid down even further in my chair, afraid Thomas would notice me. I didn’t want him to see me because I probably looked like a loser. They were over there merrily laughing and having the time of their lives, and here I sat with my overpriced beer and soft pretzel. I took a big gulp of beer because I wanted to get out of the beer garden now. Unfortunately, you could only drink the alcohol in the fenced-in area. I’d have abandoned my beer if it hadn’t cost a small fortune. I was determined to finish it and get my money’s worth.

When a few minutes passed and Thomas didn’t notice me, I relaxed a little. Overhead, fireworks started, and I rested my head against the back of my chair and watched the vibrant colors explode in the sky. Tonight it would have been nice to have a significant other. Moments like these were fun when you had someone’s hand to hold. It wasn’t nearly as enjoyable to watch the show alone.

Carson would have loved this carnival.

I didn’t think about my ex Carson very often, but tonight I missed his companionship a bit. He’d have probably gathered a big group of his pals to come with us to the carnival. I’d have probably been annoyed by that too. He’d been far more social than me, which had caused friction at times. Carson had been fun, but he’d never really understood me. He hadn’t been my person. My person would have understood why I hadn’t wanted to move away from my family and friends, or from a town I’d loved living in since I was a child.

Things had ended badly between us. I couldn’t blame Carson for being hurt that I’d chosen Pearl Cove over him. Painful though the split had been, it had been the right decision. In my opinion, if true love existed, it would be strong enough to make me go to the ends of the earth for a person. I hadn’t even been willing to move within my own state for Carson.

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I glanced over. Black hoodie guy had moved closer, although he was still outside of the beer garden. He leaned against a tree a few feet away, smoking a cigarette. He was watching me in that way people did when they were trying not to let you see that they were watching you.

Uneasiness rippled along my spine, and I made a point of looking at the guy. I didn’t want to come off wimpy, in case he was thinking he could steal my wallet or something. I’d always heard it was important to move with confidence to discourage criminals from choosing you as their victim.

After a few moments of staring at each other, the guy tossed his cigarette down, crushed it under his black boot, and walked away. I felt a sense of accomplishment that I’d successfully given off a “don’t mess with me” vibe. I sipped my beer and ate my pretzel, and went back to watching the fireworks.

At one point, I became aware of someone calling my name.

Thomas.

Annoyed that he’d spotted me, I tried to ignore him, hoping he’d give up. Of course, I was underestimating Thomas’s inability to feel embarrassment. When I continued to disregard him, he just yelled louder. My face warmed as people nearby turned to look at me. Groaning inwardly, I looked in Thomas’s direction and pretended to be surprised to see him. When he waved me over, I grudgingly got to my feet.

I stopped near his table, avoiding looking toward Merrick and that other guy. I’d known Merrick a long time and had seen him with guys plenty of times. I wasn’t sure why this time it was weird for me. But it was.

“Why are you sitting over there all alone?” Thomas asked, slurring slightly.

“I’m not alone.”

Thomas burst out laughing. “You got a mouse in your pocket?”

The group of guys at the table sniggered.

I scowled. “I mean I wasn’t alone. I’m not here alone. I mean… I’m in the beer garden alone but…” I grimaced. “I’m here at the carnival with Charlene and Helen.”

Thomas frowned. “Where are they?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter though because I was just about to head home. I’ve been here a long time already.”

“No, sit down.” Thomas waved toward an empty chair at the end of the table.

“Oh. No. I’m fine. I’m seriously tired.” I really didn’t want to sit in that chair because it was way too close to Merrick.

Thomas looked insulted. “You’re not gonna sit and have a beer with your bro? You don’t have to work tomorrow, right?”

Gritting my teeth, I said, “No. I don’t work tomorrow.”

“You should sit,” the guy next to Merrick said. “We have way too much beer.”

Because Merrick’s pal had spoken, now I was forced to make eye contact. He had dark hair and dark eyes, and a warm friendly smile. I wasn’t sure why I disliked him instantly.

“Oh, thanks, but I should just go,” I said.

Merrick shifted uneasily and didn’t encourage me to sit.

“Listen to Peter,” Thomas said. “Although, I don’t think there’s any such thing as too much beer.”

Peter laughed. “Not sure that’s true.”

Merrick once more shifted, cleared his throat, and said gruffly, “Yeah, Kip. You should join us.” He sounded so unenthusiastic, it was almost worse than if he’d said nothing.

I forced a tight smile and shook my head. “I appreciate the hospitable offer, but I really am going to just go home.”

Thomas looked annoyed. “You’re such a party pooper.”

My face warmed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t rag on him, Thomas,” Peter said.

“He’s my little brother, it’s my job to rag on him.” Thomas grinned.

“Anyhoo,” I said, moving away from them. “I’ll be going now.”

“Kip, wait—” Thomas called out.

I ignored him and left the beer garden. My good mood had evaporated so suddenly, even I was surprised. I texted Charlene and Helen to tell them I was leaving, and Charlene responded with a sad face. I ignored the guilt her depressed emoji made me feel and headed toward the exit.

It was even more crowded now, and I had to push my way through the people to make my way out of the fair. Most of the booths had people cheering and laughing, and the food and drink lines were longer. I finally made my way out into the parking lot. When I saw how packed in the cars were, I was glad I’d remembered not to park close to the main entrance. If you picked a spot too close to the front entrance, that almost guaranteed you’d be stuck in a long line trying to get out of the parking lot later. Of course, the downside of where I’d parked was that it wasn’t well lit.

I glanced around to be sure I wasn’t being followed, but I didn’t see anyone. I gazed up at the big buttery moon and tugged my collar up against the chilly air. The night hadn’t gone exactly how I’d hoped, but I had enjoyed myself a lot earlier in the evening. The memory of Merrick smiling at Peter made my stomach churn, so I pushed those thoughts away.

When I heard raised voices, I glanced over and saw two men near a white van. I was surprised when I recognized the men as Lewis and Frank. They were arguing, and their angry voices split the night. Frowning, I kept walking because it wasn’t any of my business. It was odd though, to see Lewis screaming in Frank’s face. He usually seemed so even-tempered. I also found it strange that Sally wasn’t anywhere around. Had Frank and Lewis come to the carnival without her? That seemed bizarre.

I got in my truck and when I went to start the engine, there was just a clicking sound. Scowling I tried again but had the same result. I knew I had plenty of gas and my battery was only a year old. Wasn’t that just perfect? I was exhausted and just wanted to go home. Of course I’d have car trouble.

I popped the hood and climbed out of my truck. I had a flashlight on the end of my keyring, and I shined it over the engine block, hoping I’d see something obvious. I wasn’t that lucky. I tugged my phone from my back pocket and dialed AAA. The operator told me someone would be there as fast as possible, but also warned that it could be an hour or more.

Frank and Lewis had disappeared from sight, and the lot felt eerily deserted. Climbing back in my truck, I locked the doors. I watched the brightly lit rides in the distance, as I waited for the tow truck. With all the scary things going on lately, even a simple thing like car trouble felt ominous.

It was probably only five minutes and a tow truck came driving up. The driver parked the rumbling truck in front of mine and used his headlights to light up the area. An older man in a red coat climbed out of the truck, and I got out to meet him.

“Are you Mr. O’Connor?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“Yep. I thought you were going to take way longer to arrive.”

He nodded. “You’d have had a longer wait, but I just finished a call nearby. I figured since I was close, why not come on over?”

“I sure am glad to see you.”

“People usually are.” He smiled as he pulled on thick leather gloves. “The operator said your car won’t start?”

“That’s right. It was fine on the way over here.” I led him over to the truck. “But now I just get a click when I try to start the engine.”

“Hmmm.” He leaned into the engine compartment and wiggled some cables. “Any chance you’re out of gas?”

“No. I just filled up yesterday.”

“Okay.” He got down on the ground and scooted under the truck. He was down there for no more than five minutes, and then he stood again. He once more leaned into the engine area, and then he laughed gruffly. “Well, I think I see the problem, Mr. O’Connor.”

“Yeah?” I perked up.

He straightened. “You’re timing belt is missing.”

I frowned. “Missing?”

He nodded. “It’s gone.”

“What?” I scowled. “But, if it broke while I was driving, the engine would have died. Plus, I didn’t hear a thing.”

“Maybe it broke when you shut the engine off. I had that happen once.”

I leaned down, looking to see if the belt was anywhere around. “Wouldn’t the belt be on the ground though?” There was no sign of the belt anywhere.

“Huh.” He knelt down again. “Yeah, I’d think it would be around here somewhere.”

We both stood.

He scratched his head. “Well, either way, I’m going to have to tow you to the shop. Without a timing belt you’re dead in the water.”

“God.” I scowled. “This is all I needed.”

His gaze was sympathetic. “Sorry. I know this is a crumby end to your evening.”

I smiled weakly. “It’s not your fault.”

He moved to his tow truck and started preparing to tow my vehicle. “You got a ride home?” he asked. “I’m not supposed to take passengers for liability reasons.”

“I have friends at the carnival. I’ll ask them for a lift.”

I heard the sound of a car approaching and when I glanced over, I saw Frank driving a white van past me. Lewis was in the passenger seat, but they both kept their faces straight forward. There was no way they didn’t see me, so it was strange that they were purposely pretending not to notice me and the tow truck.

Thanks for your concern, guys.

Once the tow truck driver had my pick-up attached to the yoke of his truck, he had me sign some paperwork, and then he drove off with my baby. I watched him go, feeling depressed. I couldn’t seem to catch a break lately. I was grateful the timing belt hadn’t flown off while I was driving and destroyed my engine, but I was still bummed.

I headed back toward the carnival, pausing only to text Charlene and Helen about needing a lift. Once I’d sent the texts off, I tucked my phone away and kept walking. My breaths were visible in the frigid air and I shivered. When I was about twenty feet from the main gate, I noticed two guys hugging to the side of the entrance. My heart froze when I recognized Peter and Merrick.

I put my head down, praying they didn’t notice me, and just strode past. I had no idea if they’d been kissing or what, and I didn’t want to know. Just seeing them holding each other was more than enough. Once again my gut stirred with some unpleasant emotion I couldn’t quite name.

I found Charlene and Helen at the frozen lemonade stand. “How can you eat that when it’s freezing weather?” I laughed.

Charlene grinned. “Because it’s delicious.”

Helen nodded, although I swore her teeth chattered.

“I’m sorry to drag one of you away from the fun.” I grimaced.

“Don’t be silly,” Helen said.

“Who’s the lucky duck who gets to drive me home?”

Helen held up her hand. “Charlene is going to stay. She ran into some of her friends from the community college.”

Charlene said, “I could drive Kip home really quick and come back. Save you a trip, Helen.”

“No need.” Helen glanced at her watch. “I was ready to head home anyway. It’s after 11:00 pm. I need my beauty sleep.”

“If you’re sure,” I murmured.

“I’m sure,” Helen said. “Let’s vamoose.”

I put my arm around Helen’s shoulders. “What would I do without you?”

She grinned. “Take an Uber?”

The three of us laughed, said our goodbyes, and then Helen and I headed out of the park.

“I really do appreciate this, Helen.”

“No problem at all.” She zipped her coat up all the way to her chin. “Truth be told, I was freezing. I was relieved when you texted.”

“Charlene has the energy of youth.”

“Pfft. Don’t talk like your old. You’re in the prime of your life, Kip.” She led the way down a row of cars.

“A lot of good it’s doing me,” I muttered.

She glanced over. “Something bothering you?”

“You mean other than the fact that I have a psycho mad at me and my car just broke down?”

“Yeah, I mean other than that.” She laughed.

I shrugged. “I’m sure I’d feel better if the police had caught either the thieves or the killer. But it seems like both cases are stalled.”

“We wouldn’t know though. The cops never tell us anything until the case is over.” Helen stopped near a white Chevy four-door. She pulled out her key fob and unlocked the doors.

I opened the passenger side door and slid inside. It was freezing inside the car, and when she started the engine, she turned the heater on full blast. Unfortunately, all that came out was cold air. I blocked the vent with my hand, letting out a yelp.

She shut the heater off and laughed sheepishly. “Sorry. I jumped the gun.”

Shuddering, I hugged myself. “No problem. You wouldn’t happen to have an ice pick would you? I think my face is frozen solid.”

Chuckling, she backed out of her parking spot. “It was a good turnout tonight. Just about everyone in town came to the carnival.”

“Yeah. I think everyone did. I even saw Lewis and Frank there.”

“Did you?” She peered over the steering wheel, cautiously pulling out onto the main road.

“Yep. They were arguing.”

“What about?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t hear.”

She frowned. “Huh. That’s weird.”

“They also drove right past me and the tow truck, as if we were invisible. You’d think they could have stopped and at least pretended to care.”

“True. Maybe they didn’t recognize you.”

I grimaced. “I don’t think that’s it.” I had no idea what their reason for not stopping had been, but I was sure it wasn’t because they hadn’t known who I was. “How long is Lewis’s cousin staying?”

“No idea.”

“I’d be embarrassed to mooch off of my cousin’s significant other.”

She sighed. “Me too, but not everyone is as prideful as us.”

“Very true.”

She turned onto my street and accelerated slowly down the tree-lined road. “Maybe you should take a vacation.”

Surprised at the sudden change of subject, I gave her a sharp look. “Why do you say that?”

She shrugged. “Well, you haven’t taken one in years and you’ve been under a lot of stress. You trust me to run things while you’re gone, right?”

“Of course. But I have Spot now. I’d feel bad leaving him.”

She laughed. “You’re using your dog as your excuse?”

Heat prickled my cheeks. “It’s a valid reason.”

“Not really. I’d be happy to take care of Spot while you were gone. Charlene would be thrilled to help out too.”

“I appreciate that, but still…”

She pulled into my driveway, and the headlights lit up the front of the house. “Think about it. It would do you good to get away from here for a while.”

I opened my car door. “Maybe.” The idea of a vacation by myself didn’t really appeal. I didn’t see the harm in waiting until I had someone to go on vacation with. “Thanks again for the ride.”

“My pleasure. See you Monday.” She waved and I closed the door.

I watched her back slowly out of the drive, and then she gave a little honk and sped off down the road. As I made my way toward the house, I was struck by how depressingly empty my driveway looked.

I heard Spot whining from inside, and I hurried to unlock the door. When I opened it, Spot bounded toward me, whimpering and barking. He almost knocked me over with his enthusiastic welcome. I got down on my knees and hugged the exuberant pup. His tongue swept my face, and he practically crawled in my lap.

Love came in all forms. Sally had Lewis. Alison had Sherman. There was an unpleasant possibility Merrick might have Peter. And I had Spot.

Judging by how love usually turned out, Spot and I had much better odds of staying together than the others.

Chapter Ten

“You blew it, Kip.” Mom shook her head, a line between her brows. “They’ve been seeing each other for a whole week. When was the last time Merrick even asked anyone out on a second date?”

“Mom—”

“You had Merrick wrapped around your little finger, and you just let that other fella swoop in and steal him.”

“Mother—”

“I mean, June and I are just sick about this. June couldn’t even do our jazzercise class this morning she was so depressed.” Mom dropped a sugar cube in her tea. “Now you’re left high and dry.”

I groaned. “For the millionth time, Merrick and I were never going to be a thing.” I wasn’t about to admit to her that I too was disturbed by the fact that Merrick was actually seeing Peter. For real. I didn’t know what to make of those feelings, but I knew better than to tell my mother about them.

She continued as if I hadn’t spoken, “And to make matters worse, Thomas is the one who introduced them. Your own brother stabbed you in the back.”

I waited until she stopped talking to take a sip of tea and then said, “Listen, I know you and June are upset that your plans have been ruined. But Merrick and I are like vinegar and water.” I swallowed and forced myself to say, “I met… Peter… and he’s a very nice guy.”

Mom widened her eyes. “Nice? Nice? Merrick doesn’t want nice!”

“Apparently he does.”

She pinched the skin between her brows. “I feel a migraine coming on.”

I was very careful not to laugh at how dramatic she was being. When my mom got like this, she had zero sense of humor. “Look on the bright side, at least the cops in Arizona think they might have caught the killer.”

She looked up. “True.”

“We should count our lucky stars that the guy was dumb enough to go to William’s home and try to burgle it.”

She sighed. “But the man they arrested doesn’t look anything like the drawing that bartender gave the police.”

“He does a little.”

“Not really.”

She had a point, but that could have been because Jason gave poor instructions to the sketch artist. “Well, he had William’s wallet.”

Nodding, she picked up her teacup. “Yes. That is damning, I guess.”

“If the police think he’s the guy, he’s the guy.” I shrugged. “I for one want to believe the killer is in custody.”

She watched me under her lashes. “Have you talked to Merrick about the case recently?”

“No.” I hadn’t talked to Merrick since the night of the carnival, and I hadn’t really even spoken to him that night. He’d been so very busy making goo-goo eyes with Peter.

“Maybe you should call him. See what he thinks.”

I scowled. “Mom, I’m sure he thinks what everyone thinks.”

“But you don’t know that.”

I threw my head back, letting out a pained groan. When I returned my gaze to her, her cheeks were pink. “What do you think will happen if I talk to him? He’ll be overcome by feelings for me and stop seeing Peter?”

She winced. “Maybe?”

I rolled my eyes. “If he’s happy with that guy, then I’m happy for him.”

“Really?” She pouted. “That’s depressing.”

I sighed. “No, what’s depressing is that you think I need you to help me find love. Why can’t you just accept that I’m fine? I’m sure my person is out there somewhere. Sometimes it just takes a while to find them.”

“I just want you happy.”

“I know. I’m happy enough, okay? We can’t keep having the same conversation over and over. It’s driving me insane.” My phone buzzed in my pocket and I saw a text from Charlene.

Can you come pick me up? I have a flat tire.

I frowned and murmured, “Charlene needs me to pick her up.”

“Really?” Mom wrinkled her brow.

“I can’t really say no. She’d give me a ride in a heartbeat.”

“Well, she must have other people she can ask.”

I gave Mom a chiding look. “She reached out to me. I have to go get her.” With a sigh, I texted Charlene back.

Sure. Where are you?

On the road somewhere between Murphy’s Garage and the Crab Shack.

On my way. I’ll see you shortly. I sighed and got up to rinse my cup at the sink.

Mom watched me, pouting. “But, you just got here.”

I smiled. “I’ve been here an hour.”

“Still.”

I arched my brows. “Shall I just leave her stranded, and tell her Mom wanted me to have more tea?”

She gave a sheepish smile. “No.”

“Then I need to go play the hero.” I kissed her cheek and headed to the front door. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. Or you could call Merrick instead.”

“Bye Mom.” I left her house quickly, closing the door fast so she couldn’t say anything else.

I needed to pick Spot up from the groomers soon. I figured by the time I got Charlene back to town, it would be exactly time to go get him. Charlene had the day off and I was curious to hear why she was all the way on the outskirts of town today. That deserted stretch of road had a nice patch of beach where there were lots of shells. Charlene loved making gifts with shells, so maybe that was why she was out there today. Helen’s birthday was coming up. Knowing Charlene, she had a craft project planned for that.

I headed for Murphy’s Garage, taking in the cloudy gray sky. We were getting a lot more rain than usual this year. Luckily it hadn’t rained while the carnival was in town. They’d just moved on to their next destination yesterday, and missed this storm by a hair.

I drove past Murphy’s Garage and slowed down searching the side of the road for Charlene’s car. I finally spotted it, parked way off the road next to an Andy Gump. That struck me as an unpleasant place to park, but maybe she’d had to pull over quickly. I parked my car a few feet from hers and got out.

“Charlene?” I called out. “I’m here.”

When she didn’t respond, I frowned and went to her car. It was locked up tight and her front left tire was flat. I called her name a few more times, and when that didn’t work, decided to text her. It was possible she’d wandered down to the beach to continue looking for more shells. She lost track of time easily, that was one of her little quirks.

I sent the text and was puzzled when I heard a phone ding nearby. Frowning, I walked in the direction the sound had come from. There was a thick wall of scrub oak near me, and I could have sworn that was where the sound came from. I walked into the tall grass, feeling uneasy. I hoped Charlene wasn’t playing a prank on me, but then remembered she really did have a flat tire on her car.

I sent another text and once more that pinging noise came from somewhere in the trees. “Charlene?” I yelled. “Are you in there?”

And if so, why?

I heard a rustling sound from inside the thicket, and also what I thought sounded like a low moan. My heart picked up speed and I moved quickly into the trees. It was possible Charlene had fallen and hurt herself and she needed my help. As I continued to search, I was frustrated by how thick the trees were. They blocked out a lot of the sunlight making it difficult to see. I heard another moan and the hairs on the back of my neck pricked.

“Charlene?” I was embarrassed when my voice broke. I sent another text and the sound came from my right. I headed in that direction, and when I rounded an old palm, was horrified to see Charlene lying on the sandy ground. “Oh, my god,” I rasped.

I ran over to her, scrambling over the grass and rocks. Her arm moved, so at least I knew she was alive. When I reached her, I knelt beside her. Only then did it occur to me what I was actually seeing; her ankles and wrists were bound with rope. Dread shot through me as a shadow fell across us. Before I could turn, something smacked into my skull and everything went dark.

****

When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black. The memory of Charlene hogtied on the ground came rushing back. I tried to get to my feet but realized my ankles were bound, as were my wrists. Grunting, I struggled against my restraints.

“Charlene? Are you in here?” I shouted. I strained my ears to hear if anyone was breathing somewhere in the room. “Charlene?”

Nothing.

I somehow managed to sit up and tried to focus my eyes on my surroundings. Judging by how my voice had reverberated, I seemed to be in some type of small building or shed. I shimmied across the floor toward a faint strip of vertical light. The shed was packed full of things, and I had to worm my way around bulky items. My ankles were bound tight, but the cord around my wrists felt looser. I started scissoring my arms up and down, trying to put pressure on the rope.

I was sweating and breathing hard by the time I bumped into what felt like a wall. My head was pounding, and I was thirsty. I had no idea how long I’d been unconscious. I didn’t know if it was better or worse that Charlene didn’t seem to be in this shed with me. I prayed she was safe wherever she was.

I continued to work on the ropes around my wrists. Whoever had tied me up had tied my arms in front. That made me suspect this person wasn’t a professional kidnapper. It would be easier for me to get my arms free since they weren’t behind my back. A pro would have known that.

My head was throbbing so much, it was hard to think. The Arizona police had been certain they’d nabbed William’s boyfriend. If that were true, who had grabbed me and Charlene? Why would anyone else grab us? Was it possible the cops in Arizona were wrong and they didn’t have William’s killer in custody? What were the odds some other random psycho had just grabbed me?

I tried peering out the slit in the walls. I could see the ocean, but not much more. I couldn’t make out details like buildings or things like that. I wasn’t sure if I was in town, or on a deserted stretch of the coast. It was cold and my coat was missing, as was my cell. Real fear began to take root. I was trying to stay calm, but if this was William’s boyfriend, my odds of survival weren’t great. He’d already proven himself to be more than willing to kill.

It felt like it took hours, and maybe it did, to get the ropes off my arms. My wrists throbbed painfully from the rough rope rubbing against my flesh. Once my hands were free, I began to feel slightly more hopeful. I untied my ankles and then began to feel my way along the wall, still tripping over bulky items.

Eventually, I felt what seemed to be hinges on the wall. Praying they were part of a door, I continued groping around until I found a handle. My heart sank when it turned freely, and when I yanked on the door it didn’t budge. That meant there was some sort of lock on the outside. I couldn’t say finding the door locked was a big surprise, but it was disappointing that I couldn’t get to the lock.

I continued feeling around on the wall and eventually found a light switch. I flicked it on and the area was bathed in a dreary greenish-gray light. I turned my head to take in my surroundings, and let out a yell. There was a life-sized statue of a grinning clown next to me. The figure was painted in black, orange, and purple. Its smile was like something out of a horror movie, red thick lips stretched over uneven gray teeth. Its eyes were lifeless and cold, staring blankly at me.

While I found the clown statue terrifying, it clued me in to where I was probably being held. I was most likely in the shed the Buttons and Bows Carnival used to store things in between visits to Pearl Cove. Knowing where I was didn’t make me safe, but at least I now knew I wasn’t being held out in the middle of nowhere. The pier would have people on it, and if I could somehow get their attention, I might be saved.

Giving the menacing clown statue a resentful look, I turned back to the door, wondering if maybe I could take the hinges off. Glancing around the area, I saw a beat-up carousel horse in one corner, and poles piled everywhere. There were generators, spare parts from some of the rides, and worn posters from years past.

There was also a wooden chest near the door and I hoped it contained tools. Maybe something I could use to take the hinges off the door. I had no idea how much time I had, but instinct told me I needed to work fast. There was a padlock on the chest, but it didn’t look very heavy-duty. I went over and grabbed one of the loose poles. I brought it back over and slammed it as hard as I could on the padlock. It looked like a cheap lock, but it was stubborn. I was worried it wasn’t going to break, but I just kept pounding the lock relentlessly, praying it worked.

When the mechanism suddenly popped open, I fell to my knees with relief. With shaking hands, I opened the chest. Expecting to see tools, my mouth fell open when I saw a pile of books inside. The blue and brown dust jacket of The Old Man and the Sea was the first thing I noticed. Then the worn cover of Green Hills of Africa, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. I blinked in disbelief, and also horror, at how the books were just thrown in the wooden box.

As I gazed at those treasures, I felt like I must be dreaming. I almost forgot about my dire situation for a moment as anger at how the books were being treated hit me. What kind of idiot would store such rare, fragile books in a damp shed near the sea? It was glaringly obvious, whoever had taken the books was no professional thief.

I ran my hand gently over the cover of one of the volumes, feeling breathless. Had the person who’d stolen the books also kidnapped me? Was that person William’s boyfriend? Perhaps William and his boyfriend had planned all along to steal the books?

It occurred to me I was wasting precious time theorizing about my situation, when what I needed to do was get the heck out of this shed. I gently moved the books aside, looking beneath them for tools. There didn’t appear to be anything in the chest but old carnival tickets and the Hemingway books.

Gritting my teeth against the panic rising inside of me, I grabbed a pole and stood, facing the door. That weathered slab of wood was what stood between me and freedom. Was it possible to pound off the doorknob or maybe the hinges? It wouldn’t be easy, and I was feeling rather shaky and weak. My head hurt so bad I felt nauseous. But I couldn’t just stay here and not at least try to escape.

I was contemplating what to do next when the handle of the door rattled. Someone was coming in the shed. Fear like I’d never known shot through me, and I gripped the pole, hoping I could use it as a weapon. I raised the pole like a spear, and when the door swung open, I found myself face-to-face with the black hoodie guy.

He looked shocked to see me on my feet, but he barely hesitated before lunging at me. He’d moved so fast, I wasn’t prepared and the momentum and his moving body took me down to the ground hard. He may not have been good at tying people up, but he was very good at beating them up. He swung at me with his fists, making contact with the side of my head. I blocked his blows as best I could, and tried to hit him back. But he was really quick. I got the feeling brawling was something he was used to, whereas I was not.

I did my best, but he was too strong. At one point, he yanked me up on my feet by my collar and he pushed his face into mine. “Alone at last,” he growled, and his breath smelled like stale tobacco.

I tried to hit him again, but he blocked me easily. “What do you want?” I panted, holding his angry stare. There was no question I was scared, but I didn’t want him knowing that. I got a sense that he’d feed off my fear.

“What do I want?” He narrowed his eyes. “Revenge.”

“For what? I don’t even know who you are.”

“Oh but I know who you are, Kip. I know you seduced William.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No I’m not. He couldn’t stop talking about you. Kip this and Kip that. He always was a little flirt and I guess you took him up on it. You slept with him and filled his head with all kinds of ideas.”

“No. I didn’t. I barely knew him.”

He sneered. “Then why was he talking about staying in town? You had him convinced he could actually teach. He never even finished getting his GED, but you had him thinking he could be a teacher.”

“Look, I don’t know what he told you, but I swear I hardly knew him. We were just friends.”

He curled his lip. “I saw you kissing.”

My face warmed. “That was nothing. It was just a peck.”

“That was the problem with William. He got attached to people too easily. He got emotionally involved with that Paul guy too. I swear if you gave William any attention he was like a pathetic puppy, begging for more.”

I felt sick staring into his cold eyes. “So you killed him just because he liked me?”

His eyes flickered. “You wouldn’t understand.”

I swallowed. “You’re right. I don’t understand psychopaths.”

His mouth thinned. “You think you’re better than me? I loved William, but he refused to obey the rules.”

Feeling sick, I asked, “What rules?”

“When I pick you, you’re mine. Forever.” His eyes glittered with malice. “Till death do us part.”

“So you killed Paul and William?” I asked softly.

“Paul was no big deal, but I didn’t want to kill William. I gave William many chances. He was my pretty little gingerbread boy.” His eyes hardened. “But I saw you two in class. The way he looked at you made me sick. After that kiss and the way he was acting, I knew what had to happen.”

Nausea rolled through me. “What are you going to do with me?”

“Take a wild guess.”

“You should’ve run. The cops know what you look like now.”

He laughed. “Haven’t you heard? They’ve got their man already.”

My stomach sank. “We both know they don’t have their man.”

He shrugged. “So long as they think they do, what do I care? Lucky for me William lived in a bad neighborhood. He got burgled, and I’m off the hook now.”

“You’re not gonna be able to just kill me and get away with it. Not this time.”

“Oh yeah?” He shoved me down and I fell onto a pile of metal poles, and the loud clanging sound was jarring.

I stayed where I was, looking up at him. Distance from him seemed like a good idea. “Why did you steal the books?”

He blinked at me. “What?”

“The Hemingway books. Was stealing them always part of the plan?”

He narrowed his eyes. “You mean the ones from the library?”

“Yeah. Was that why William pretended to be Paul? So he’d be near the books?”

He laughed. “Why would I want a bunch of old dusty books? Besides, those things are as hot as fire right now. Unloading them will be impossible.”

Confused, I studied him. He didn’t appear to be lying.

“Anyway,” he rasped. “We’ve talked enough. I’m dying to get out of this stinkin’ little town.” He pulled a knife from his back pocket.

“You don’t have to kill me,” I said, scrambling to my feet.

“I want to though.” He smirked. “I’ve waited a long time for this. It’s been fun stalking you, but now the good part is here.”

“You’re evil.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

I grabbed one of the poles beside me and jabbed it at him. He laughed and batted it away like it was as threatening as a pixie stick. He lunged forward, stabbing at me with his knife. Hissing, I jumped back and kicked at him, managing to connect with his hip. He stumbled backward, scowling. When he came at me again, I swung the pole clumsily but missed and it flew out of my hand. I turned and tried to clamber away from him. Unfortunately, the poles beneath my feet slipped, making me look like a cartoon character running in place.

There was a sound near the open door, and when I looked over Lewis and Frank were standing there looking shocked. When black hoodie guy swung around to face them, he growled, “Who are you?”

Frank scowled and took a step inside the shed. “Who are you?”

Waving the knife toward Frank and Lewis, he said, “If I were you, I’d turn around and leave.”

At the sight of the knife, Lewis let out a frightened yelp. “Oh, God. He’s got a weapon.”

“I noticed,” Frank muttered.

“He’s trying to kill me,” I shouted. “Call the police.”

Frank scowled. “Not likely, pal.” As he finished speaking, he lunged toward black hoodie guy. Black hoodie guy also flew forward, and they collided like rams engaging in battle.

“Frank, you’re going to get killed,” Lewis yelled.

Frank didn’t respond, he just kept grappling with black hoodie guy. I decided I’d had enough, and bolted toward the open door while I had the chance. While Frank might have saved my life by brawling with black hoodie guy, it hadn’t been out of the goodness of his heart. I had a sneaking suspicion I now knew who’d put the Hemingway books in the shed. Frank was protecting his loot, not me.

As I brushed by Lewis, he grabbed hold of my arm. “You can’t leave us,” he wailed.

Wanna bet?

“Do you have a phone?” I barked. I prayed he did because that would be way faster than me trying to hunt down a phone on the pier.

Lewis nodded, and then looked over uneasily at the two men rolling around on the ground cursing. “Who is that man?”

“He’s the murderer, Lewis,” I shouted with exasperation. “Give me your phone. We need to call the police now.”

Looking bewildered, Lewis pulled his phone from his jacket and held it out to me. His passive behavior was surprising, but a good thing. If he’d had the normal instincts of a crook, he’d probably have tried to subdue me so I couldn’t call the police. But I didn’t get the feeling Lewis was violent. In fact, he looked completely mortified by the two brawling men.

“What’s your passcode?” I growled, my hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped the phone.

“SALLYFOREVER, all caps,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” I punched in the code with trembling fingers.

His face was pink. “Why? I’m in love with Sally.”

“You conned her,” I mumbled. “That’s not love.”

“The love part just happened. It wasn’t a part of the plan.” He slumped.

“But stealing the Hemingway books was.”

He sighed but didn’t respond.

Giving him a puzzled look, I dialed 911. I told the emergency operator where we were and what was happening. Then I hung up, tossed Lewis his phone, and I bolted toward the pier. I heard Lewis shouting behind me, but I didn’t stop. I had no idea who was going to win that vicious fight, but I didn’t get the feeling Frank would be nearly as submissive as Lewis had been. I wasn’t going to trust my luck that, if Frank won, he’d let me go. And I knew if black hoodie guy won we were all dead.

It didn’t take long for the police to show up. In fact, I’d never seen so many uniformed police in one place. They flooded the pier and surrounded the storage shed like black ants on a picnic blanket.

Even Merrick showed up. He screeched into the parking lot and stopped his car haphazardly at the end of the pier. When he spotted me standing alone, I was surprised that he ran over to me. His face was tense and his eyes a darker green than usual. I was even more shocked when he put his arms around me and tugged me against his body.

His breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, “Thank God.” He didn’t say anything else, he just held me for a few moments and then let me go abruptly.

I steadied myself on the railing, trying to ignore the strange feelings going through me. “The Hemingway books are down there.”

“That’s what I was told.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “Do you need to see a doctor?”

I blinked at him. “Uh… I don’t think so.” I hesitated. “Charlene. Is Charlene okay?”

“Yes. She was treated for minor lacerations. She’s home.” He cleared his throat. “You’ve been missing since yesterday.”

“I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out,” I said softly.

Blowing out a shaky breath, he said, “Thomas and your mom have been going nuts. You should call them right away.”

“I will.” I frowned. “As soon as I have a phone.”

Without a word, he handed me his cell. “I’ll get it back at the station.” He left me and went down to where Lewis, Frank, and black hoodie guy were being dragged out and cuffed.

I watched the police activity as I dialed Mom’s number.

When she answered, she blurted, “Merrick is it good news?”

I swallowed. “It… it’s me, Mom. Kip.”

She started crying, and then Thomas got on the phone. We didn’t speak long, but it was a decisively emotional call. We arranged to meet at my house, as soon as I was through giving my statement to the police.

Merrick didn’t approach me again at the scene, but he arranged for an officer to transport me to the station. I walked into Pearl Cove Police Station to some claps and hoots of congratulations. I felt like I’d won the Super Bowl, not survived a near-fatal attack from a psychopath.

An officer put me in an interview room and gave me a bottle of water and a packet of Cheetos. I consumed both in record time, but then I was left with orange fingers. I decided after all my pants had been through the last few days, a little cheese dust wouldn’t hurt them, so I wiped my fingers on my jeans.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever been so bone tired. I could hardly keep my eyes open waiting for someone to come in and take my statement. At one point I lost the battle, and when the door opened I must have been sound asleep. I woke up with a start and found Merrick standing in the doorway. He had the oddest expression, but then it changed into a polite mask.

“Would you like more water?” he asked.

“Actually, yes,” I said gruffly. I’d have liked three more bottles, but I didn’t want to be greedy.

I was given more cool water and then Merrick pulled up a chair and sat down across from me. He was all business now, and it was almost hard to believe he’d hugged me earlier. But if I looked closely, there were definite weary lines beneath his eyes.

He had a manila folder with him and he opened it and met my gaze. “Mr. O’Connor, just so you know our interview is being recorded.”

“Okay.”

“Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened to you.”

I grimaced and rubbed my eyes. “Well… Thursday morning I got a text from Charlene saying she needed a ride.” I continued from there, telling him as clearly and as concisely as I could, everything I remembered. When I finished speaking, he nodded and closed his folder.

“I appreciate you coming in, Mr. O’Connor. I know you’ve been through a lot. We might bring you in tomorrow to ask you some more questions. I think at the moment though, we have as much as we need. You should go home and rest.”

I grimaced. “I’m just hoping that it’s all over.”

“I’m sure it’s been very traumatic for you.”

I sighed. “Yeah. To put it lightly. You don’t think anyone else is out there who wants to hurt me, right?”

“We don’t believe so.”

“But you don’t know for sure?” I grimaced. “Never mind. You won’t tell me anything.”

His gaze flickered as he studied me, and then he pressed a button under the table. He seemed to relax a little, and he leaned forward on his elbows. “We’re not being recorded now.”

“Oh, okay. Is the interview over? Can I go?”

“Hang on just a sec.”

“Okay.” I frowned in confusion.

“I wouldn’t usually share what I’m about to share, but seeing what you’ve been through, I think it’s only fair to tell you what has happened. The newspapers will have the story by morning anyway.”

“I’m happy to hear anything you’re willing to tell me.” I drank some water and then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

He cleared his throat. “I’ve interviewed Lewis and he’s admitted that he and Frank stole the Hemingway books.”

“He just admitted it?”

“He didn’t have much choice. He was caught red-handed.”

“True.”

“Apparently, Lewis and Frank con women on a regular basis. Just your basic pretend to be in love and then pilfer money kind of scheme. They went on the Lonely Hearts Cruise looking for women to con.”

“And they met Sally Ribald?”

“Yes.”

“Why did they pick her? She’s not rich.”

“No, she’s not. But she confided in Lewis about the Hemingway books being donated to the school library. From there him and Frank came up with the scheme to steal the books.”

“Did Lewis ever actually work for Christie’s?”

“No. But he still knew that those books were valuable.”

“I see.” I winced. “Sally must be heartbroken.”

“Yeah and embarrassed.”

“I saw Frank and Lewis at the library the night it was robbed. I didn’t think much of it because he was dating Sally. But they were acting weird.”

“I wish you’d told me that.”

“It didn’t occur to me Lewis would be involved in anything like theft. I guess he fooled me too.” I sighed. “Lewis told me he really loved her.”

“Yes,” he said crisply. “He told me the same thing. I’m half inclined to believe him.”

I frowned. “How could he tie her up and gag her if he loved her?”

He winced. “From what I’m gathering, Frank handled all the rough work.”

“Still, if I loved someone I wouldn’t just stand by and let that happen.”

He shrugged. “Lewis is a different breed.”

That was an understatement. “Why didn’t they leave town after they took the books?”

“Lewis says they were trying to line up buyers, but Frank says Lewis didn’t want to break Sally’s heart. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.”

“I saw them arguing at the fairgrounds.”

“Yeah, Lewis says that was because Frank wanted to split town, but Lewis wasn’t ready yet.”

“Did they come to the shed to get the books and leave Pearl Cove?”

Merrick nodded. “Yes.”

I winced. “That probably saved my life.”

“Probably?” A muscle jerked in Merrick’s cheek. “There’s no probably about it. If Frank hadn’t assumed you guys were trying to steal the books, he might have just left you in Jeremiah’s clutches.”

“Jeremiah? Is that William’s boyfriend.”

“Sorry, yes. Jeremiah Quinn. He has a rap sheet for violent crimes as long as both my arms.”

I shivered. “He’s a monster. Those cold dead eyes.”

He stared at me as if trying to gather his thoughts. “William’s downfall was meeting Jeremiah. William was just a petty thief before that. I can’t help but feel kind of sorry for him that he got caught up with a hardcore thug like Jeremiah. Once he was in, there was no getting out.”

I swallowed hard. “Well, not alive.”

“Right.”

“After meeting Jeremiah face to face, I feel more understanding of why the bartender Jason didn’t want to get involved. I swear I could feel evil radiating off of him.”

“Yeah, he’s a piece of work. He was determined to get to you. He wasn’t going to stop until he succeeded. That’s what he said. He was obsessed with making you pay.”

I shuddered. “The night William was murdered, was Jeremiah the person trying to get in my house?”

“Yes. He wanted to kill you both.” Merrick’s mouth tensed. “He saw William… kiss you… and that set him off.”

My face warmed. “Yeah, he mentioned that.”

“He tried again the night of the carnival.”

“He did?” I frowned, feeling startled. “When?”

“He cut your timing belt.”

A chill went through me. “What?”

“He cut the belt and was planning on grabbing you.” Merrick shifted uneasily. “But the tow truck came way faster than he expected, and he had to think up another way to try and get you alone.”

“So he grabbed Charlene?”

“Yes. He’s been watching you. He knew all the people you were close to. He picked the most trusting person, Charlene.”

“God, poor Charlene.” I groaned.

“It’s not your fault, Kip. You unwittingly caught the eye of a lunatic.” He shrugged. “Wrong place, wrong time.”

I leaned back in my chair, feeling deflated. “Will Pearl Cove ever be the same?”

He tilted his head. “Of course.”

Will I be?

He cleared his throat. “It was rough yesterday. You just… disappeared.” He kept his gaze down as if he was embarrassed to be so candid. “The groomer called your mom complaining you’d never picked up Spot, and then everything just seemed to spiral.”

“I’m sorry. I know you all must have been worried.”

“Like I said, it’s not your fault.” He flicked his enigmatic gaze to mine. “But it was a horrible twenty-four hours.”

“Yes,” I said softly. “I thought I was going to die. I really did.”

“But you didn’t.” His smile was gentle. “You’re right here, alive and breathing.”

“Mostly.” I winced.

He looked like he wanted to say something more on the subject, but instead he pushed back his chair and stood. “You better go see the people you love, before they come here and take you by force.”

I smiled. “Okay.”

“Officer Leoni is waiting outside to take you home.”

“Thanks, Merrick,” I said quietly. “Thank you for always looking out for me.”

“Don’t thank me. I dropped the ball on this one. You could have died. I told you to trust me, and I failed you.”

I frowned. “No, you didn’t. The cops in Arizona thought they had the guy.”

“I should have known,” he said softly. “Something just felt off.”

“I’m fine. It all worked out.”

He nodded and forced a smile. “Yes.”

“I guess I’ll see you around,” I said.

“Yep.” He turned his attention to the manila folder.

I moved to the door, feeling oddly reticent to leave his company. But Mom and Thomas were waiting for me. Even Spot was waiting for me. Merrick most likely had Peter waiting for him.

With that surprisingly distasteful thought in my mind, I left the interview room.

Epilogue

Pearl Cove recovered surprisingly well from the drama of two murders, one robbery, and one attempted murder. In fact, people treated me like a bit of a celebrity for a week or so after my traumatic kidnapping.

Sally Ribald surprised everyone in town when she stood by her man. Even though Lewis had tricked and betrayed her, Sally refused to turn her back on him. It was sweet in a truly dysfunctional way. But if she was willing to visit him in prison once a month, who was I to judge? Maybe what they had with each other was true love. I guess they’d know better when Lewis got out in five to nine years.

It turned out that Frank and Lewis weren’t related. Not exactly a surprise to anyone with eyes, if you asked me. Frank had met Lewis years ago when they were both doing time for drug charges. Frank was unrepentant about the library theft, whereas at least Lewis had expressed remorse.

Jeremiah was a more terrifying case of once a psycho always a psycho. The local newspaper, Spilling the Tea, dug up lots of stuff about Jeremiah, including how he’d grown up in the foster care system. None of the families he’d lived with had ever been able to handle him, so he’d bounced from home to home. Lord only knew how many people Jeremiah had killed. He didn’t seem to see anything wrong with what he’d done, and even in court, he’d announced that given the chance, he’d slice my throat.

Life settled down after a few weeks, and things once more fell into a well-worn routine. Funny thing was, after the trauma of the last month, the boring old routine was a welcome relief.

It was Friday night and Thomas had insisted I join him for a drink with his buddies. I’d made sure Merrick wasn’t going to be there because I wasn’t in the mood to watch him and Peter gazing into each other’s eyes. Not that they did that, but I was always worried they might start any minute. I was told Merrick had to work, so the coast was clear.

When I arrived at Percy’s Bar and Grill, Thomas was already there with three of his firefighter friends. I’d forced myself to come out tonight because I’d barely left my house for weeks, other than for work. I needed to get back out into the world and spread my wings. Such as they were.

Thomas looped his arm around my neck and shoved a shot of tequila at me. “Everyone, this is my little brother, Kip.” Judging from his 80 proof breath, I realized he’d been drinking way before I arrived.

I winced as his friends and half the bar, turned to gaze at me. I waved. “Hey.”

Some people laughed, but most people just went back to drinking. Thank God.

I sipped the shot of tequila and got a chiding look from Thomas. So I picked it up and tossed it back, wincing. The second I set the shot glass down, Thomas refilled it.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I asked.

“Maybe.” Thomas grinned. “It’s been a while. You’re so tightly wound.”

I sighed. “I did almost get murdered.”

Thomas shuddered. “God, don’t say stuff like that.”

I shrugged and drank the second shot without hesitation. That earned me a proud smile from Thomas. Naturally, he refilled the shot glass. As much as I wanted his macho approval, I wasn’t going to do shots all night. I’d end up with my head in the toilet. Instead, I ordered a beer so that I could pace myself.

It ended up being a nice evening. I hadn’t spent much time with Thomas recently, and it was good to catch up. We were very different, but close. Especially now that we were older. He was always lively and fun and that was what I needed tonight.

As the clock crept up on midnight, I was feeling very tipsy. I’d laughed until I was hoarse, whether I thought the jokes were funny or not. I was determined to be a fun guy, even though I didn’t really feel fun lately. But I’d always heard you should act how you wanted to be perceived, so I laughed louder than anyone else and did my best to be one of the boys.

None of us were fit to drive, so I ordered everyone an Uber, on me. That got me lots of backslaps and “We love you, dude” comments. By the time my Uber dropped me off at home, I was exhausted and drunker than I’d been in a while.

I let myself into the quiet house and immediately regretted having Spot stay over at Charlene’s tonight. She’d insisted and I hadn’t wanted to be a spoilsport. I think she’d hoped I’d pick someone up and bring them home with me, but sex was the last thing on my mind at the moment.

After washing up, I sat in the kitchen and ate half of a pecan pie, just because it was there. I was making interesting life choices tonight, but I didn’t care. Maybe this was how I should always have lived my life. Being careful and responsible hadn’t exactly given me everything I wanted.

I rinsed my plate and then headed toward the bedroom. When the doorbell rang, I froze. Terrifying memories came flooding back, and I pressed against the wall of the hallway, staring at the front door with trepidation. Normal people didn’t ring your doorbell at midnight. That was just a fact.

“Kip?” Merrick’s voice came through the door. “Open up, it’s me.”

Shock rippled through me. “What the—?”

I padded to the front door and opened it. I found Merrick standing there with his tie undone, and his hair messed up. He grinned when he saw me and he held out an open, half-full bottle of champagne. “Congratulations,” he crowed.

I blinked at him. “For what?”

“For having me as a guest.” He laughed and took a swig off the bottle.

“Uh, okay.” I frowned. “Why are you here?”

He didn’t answer, he pushed up on his tiptoes and peered past me. “Can I come in? Or do you have someone here?”

I frowned. “I don’t have anyone here.”

“So, can I come in?” He gave me one of his charming smiles. The ones he usually reserved for everyone but me.

I sighed and stepped aside. “I guess.” Otherwise, he’d probably just ring my doorbell all night.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t drive here. I took a taxi.” He moved past me with surprising grace, and I caught a hint of his cologne. Why that scent did weird things to me lately, I wasn’t sure. He’d worn the same cologne since college. You’d think I’d have been sick of it by now, but I was getting to like it more and more.

“That’s good. It wouldn’t look good for the chief of police to get a DUI.” I closed the door and followed him into the living room. He sat down on the couch, and he gave me another one of those charming smiles.

I laughed. “What is with you tonight?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought you were working. Thomas said so.”

He frowned. “Is that why you decided to join him for once? Because I wouldn’t be there?”

Guilt fluttered through me, but I said innocently, “No.”

“Liar.” He took another sip off the bottle, and then he held it out to me. “I’m sorry, did you want some champagne.”

“No thank you. I’ve had enough booze for one night.”

“Yeah, me too.” He sighed and set the bottle on the coffee table.

I studied his handsome face, wondering what had brought him to me tonight. “So, were you not working?”

“I was. Then I had to go to an official function.” His tone was mocking. “God, sometimes I just want to scream at those things. Everyone is so fake and everyone is trying so hard to be perfect. It makes me sick.”

I widened my eyes. “I thought you loved rubbing elbows with those people.”

“Pfft. I’m a good actor, Kip.”

This was fascinating. I was seeing the real Merrick for once. He was always so careful and flawless, but this guy, this guy was different. “Why don’t you quit and just become a beat cop again?”

He pointed at me. “That is a great idea.”

“Yeah?” I was still just drunk enough to also think my idea was great.

“I’ll give my notice first thing tomorrow.” He closed his eyes. “Who cares if my family disowns me, right? I still have Thomas. And your mom loves me.”

“Yeah, she does.”

He opened his eyes, and they seemed dark and brooding. “You don’t love me though. You don’t even like me.”

If he’d said that to me a month ago, I’d have agreed. But now… now I kind of did like him. Not that I wanted to tell him that. His ego was big enough. Instead, I smirked, and said, “You’re okay lately.”

He sat up, looking hopeful. “Yeah?”

“Yep.”

He nodded. “I’ve tried to be better with you.”

“It’s working.”

He said softly, “I’m really sorry for that time.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What time?”

“You know what time.” He rubbed his face and groaned. “God, I just wanted Bobby Grant to like me, and I didn’t know they were going to break the chain on your bike. Swear to god I didn’t.”

It hit me what he was talking about. My mouth fell open and I stared at him. He’d actually apologized? I couldn’t believe it. I cleared my throat. “You swear you didn’t know they were going to do that to me?”

He winced. “I swear.”

“I’ll admit, that really hurt. I felt foolish for thinking you guys wanted to be my friend.”

He sighed. “I did want that. I still do. But you always close the door when I think we’re getting somewhere. I just want you to let me in a little.”

“I close the door because it’s hard to trust you, Merrick. Once bitten and all that.”

“I’m different now. But I should have stood up for you. I would now.”

“So you’d stand up to bullies now?”

He nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Even if it was me getting picked on?”

His expression gentled and he said softly, “Especially if it was you, Kip.”

Warm gooey feelings swirled inside of me at his husky tone. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said Merrick and I were having a moment.

He closed his eyes. “Oh, boy. I am really drunk.”

I laughed and moved over to him. “Lie down.”

He watched me warily. “You’re not going to perform a sacrifice, right?”

“No.”

He lay down, still watching me suspiciously.

When I tugged off his shoes, he looked puzzled. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making you comfortable.” I went into the hallway and grabbed my softest blanket from the cupboard. Then I returned to him and I spread it over him. “You’re sleeping here tonight. Nobody wants to call for an Uber this late.”

He still looked nonplussed.

I moved toward the hallway. “I’ll leave you a spare toothbrush in the guest bathroom.”

His signature smirk appeared. “You’re not going to try and take advantage of me, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sweet dreams, egomaniac.”

“Sweet dreams, kid,” he said softly.

I shut the lights off and went into my bedroom.

Leaving the door open.

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Copyright (c) October 2021 by S.C. Wynne

Last Gasp (Book #1 Kip O’Connor M/M Mysteries)

All rights reserved

Warm proofreading thanks go to

Leonie Duncan for her keen eye and helpful observations.

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No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from S.C. Wynne at scwynne@scwynne.com

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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