by Cindy Bell
“Are you doing all right?” Jason asked as he studied her from a short distance.
“I'm a little shaken up,” she admitted without looking away from the water. “If you three hadn't shown up when you did…”
“But we did,” Jason reminded her. “I'm sorry I didn't listen to you in the first place.”
“I hadn't given you a whole lot of reason to trust me,” Suzie replied with a sigh.
“Well, everything is going to be fine, now,” he promised her. “Dominic is on his way to the hospital, and they think he will be fine. Lucky for us Baylor panicked when we surrounded him, so he misfired and only struck Dominic's shoulder. Dominic has already agreed to testify against Bob Baylor, and several of his clients. His business will be completely shut down. It won't bring his daughter back though,” he shrugged a little.
“What about Summer?” Suzie asked with some concern. “He's not going to include her, is he?”
Jason stared hard at her for a moment. “You knew about that too, hmm?” he asked with a frown. “Why does it seem like I'm the last one to know things around here?”
“She was just taking care of her family, Jason,” Suzie explained.
“I know. Don't worry, he's going to keep Summer and her family's name out of it,” Jason said softly. “I made sure of that.”
“Jason, I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything,” Suzie frowned and finally turned to face him.
“You were in a tough position, I know that now,” Jason said. “If you thought there was any chance that Daria could be saved, I understand why you didn't come to me. I just hope that you know that you always can.”
“I do,” Suzie smiled fondly. “I'm very glad I can.”
“Good,” he nodded. “Now, I'm beat. I'm going see Summer and then head home. Besides, I think you have someone waiting for you,” he tilted his head towards Paul who had just finished his interview with Kirk.
“Get some rest, Jason,” Suzie said as she gave him a quick hug.
“You too, Suzie,” he said sternly. “Tomorrow, we'll get together, and I'll tell you some stories about that passage.”
“I'm sure they are stories that I'd like to hear,” Suzie laughed a little. Jason nodded and walked over to a few other officers to make sure that everything was getting wrapped up.
Suzie watched Paul for a long moment. It amazed her that he had no idea she was in danger, and yet when she had needed him, he was there. When she walked over to Paul, he turned towards her with warmth in his eyes and his arms already open. He embraced her, his strong grasp soothing to Suzie as she was still trembling from the confrontation. She sighed against his chest and reveled in his warmth.
“It's okay now,” he murmured beside her ear. “It's all over now.”
Suzie had never felt so secure before. She was used to fighting her own battles, but she had to admit that having someone else to lean on for comfort was very soothing.
“I'm so glad that you came home,” she said in a whisper.
“So am I,” he replied and nuzzled her cheek. “I just wish I had gotten here a little sooner, maybe then you and Mary wouldn't have been in such a terrible position.”
“It was my fault,” Mary sighed as she walked over to the two of them. “I thought we could trust Dominic.”
“So did I, and we weren't wrong,” Suzie pointed out. “He didn't kill his daughter. It was Baylor that did that. Maybe without Baylor in his life, Dominic could have been an entirely different person.”
“I guess it's possible, but with his family history I doubt it,” Mary nodded. “And getting involved with him sure put us in a bad position.”
Detective Brown made his way over to the trio. He nodded to Paul, to Suzie, and smiled warmly at Mary.
“Quite an adventurous evening,” he said. “The important thing is that you both made it out safely,” Detective Brown said with a sigh of relief. “Things could have gone very differently.”
“They would have, if it weren't for our heroes,” Mary said and gave Detective Brown's hand a light squeeze.
Detective Brown blushed a little. “Just doing my job,” he said quietly.
“You didn't have to look out for us,” Mary pointed out. “You went the extra mile to make sure that we were safe.”
“I just wanted to make sure no one got hurt,” Detective Brown explained. “I'd hate to see such a lovely, kind woman as yourself get mixed up in such a dangerous situation.”
“Oh, well, thank you,” Mary said, obviously flustered.
Suzie raised an eyebrow and winked at Paul. Paul pursed his lips and then smiled.
“Detective Brown, perhaps you could join us for a celebratory dinner tomorrow?” Suzie suggested. “At least now we know that Antony and Daria's killer will be behind bars.”
“I'd like that,” Detective Brown agreed. “But it's Wes, call me Wes.”
“Wonderful, Wes,” Mary said. “We can meet at Dune House if you'd like.”
“I would,” he nodded. “Maybe we could take another shot at that walk on the beach?” he suggested. “It always helps to calm my nerves.”
“Mine too,” Mary admitted.
As the two walked off together, Suzie felt her protective instinct kick in. She wasn't sure if she trusted Detective Brown. She wasn't sure if he was the right man for Mary to be interested in. Like a big sister, she wanted to shield Mary from any more hurt. She tensed in Paul's arms.
“Shh,” Paul murmured with a faint chuckle. “I can see your mind whirling.”
“Can you?” Suzie asked and met his eyes.
“Sometimes, my sweet Suzie, things have to slow down,” he murmured.
“But that seems impossible when my mind is going a million miles a minute,” she sighed.
“I can help you with that,” he assured her. Suzie looked at him skeptically, but in the next moment his velvety lips were pressed against hers. She melted into the kiss, and her mind slowed until the only thing she could think of was his arms around her. When she surfaced from the kiss, her first instinct was to look for Mary. She found her in a patch of moonlight that was playing along the sand. She was wrapped up in Detective Brown's arms, her lips lightly caressing his. Her auburn hair streaked with silver was drifting back from her neck, catching the moonlight perfectly. With the sea sprawled out beside them, Suzie was struck by how the scene looked exactly like the cover of a romance novel. But Mary would never know that. She would never need to. She didn't need to see a picture on a cover of a book, when she was living out the story.
Suzie closed her eyes and rested comfortably in Paul's arms. She was starting to think the life of a fisherman might be a little less eventful than the life of a bed and breakfast owner and operator.
The End
Copyright © 2015 Cindy Bell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
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Chapter 1
Dune House was still. It was very quiet. So quiet that Suzie was sure her footsteps were excessively loud. With the phone in her hand Suzie crept around the corner of the hallway and into the dining room which overlooked the beach. She pressed the phone close to her ear.
“Ma'am, ma'am, are you still t
here?” a woman's voice was asking.
“Yes, I'm here,” Suzie replied in a whisper.
Suzie curved the phone close to her lips. She whispered again into the receiver. “I just want to confirm the flights I reserved,” she explained.
“Excuse me, ma'am?” the voice on the other side of the phone asked. “Can you speak up a little?”
“No, I can't,” Suzie said with a hiss. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Mary hadn't stepped inside. She noticed Mary and Detective Wes Brown walking along the beach, hand in hand, she breathed in slightly. “Okay,” Suzie said with a sigh of relief. “Sorry about that, it's a surprise,” she explained.
“Okay,” the woman on the other end of the phone said with a hint of annoyance. “So, what can I do for you?”
“I just want to confirm the flights for two passengers,” Suzie explained. She lowered her voice once more and spoke the names of the passengers. She was doing everything she could to keep this surprise a secret.
“Yes, the flights are reserved and paid in full,” the woman replied politely.
“Wonderful, thank you,” Suzie said before hanging up the phone. She was so excited at the thought of seeing Mary's children, and she knew that Mary would be as well. With them both being in college, she wasn't expecting anything special for her birthday. After all Mary had been through with her difficult marriage, Suzie wanted Mary's first birthday as a free woman to be a great celebration. A few minutes later the side door that led to the beach swung open, and Mary stepped inside. Suzie smiled when she saw her.
“How are you this morning?” she asked.
“I'd rather not say,” Mary replied sullenly and walked into the kitchen.
“Mary?” Suzie asked as she followed after her. Mary was usually always cheerful. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine,” Mary sighed and started a pot of coffee.
“You don't seem fine,” Suzie pointed out. Then she paused a moment. She remembered how depressed she would get around her birthdays. Suzie didn’t like growing old, and she could understand that Mary might be a little down about turning another year older. “Is it your birthday?” she asked. “You know that you’re only as old as you feel. You’re still beautiful, and you will be beautiful for years to come.”
“Thank you,” Mary said with a small smile. “But that's not it,” she shook her head. “I've never dreaded getting older. Now, especially when I have the chance to start my life over.”
“Then what is it?” Suzie asked with concern. “I know something is wrong, Mary. You know that you can't hide it from me.”
“I know,” Mary smiled fondly at Suzie. “I never have been able to.”
“So, out with it,” Suzie demanded. “What's going on?”
“It's Wes,” she explained hesitantly. “I know that things are different now, than they were when I was dating so long ago. But he just seems distant lately. He's always taking these phone calls. Even now when we were walking, he stopped to talk. He always makes sure I can't hear him when he does,” she sighed. “I guess I thought my second chance at romance, was going to be real romance. You know the kind that sweeps you off your feet. A man who stares deeply into your eyes, and whispers in your ear, not into his cell phone.”
“I'm sorry, Mary,” Suzie said softly. “Maybe he's working on a case,” she suggested. “You know they have to be pretty private about that.”
“I don't think so,” Mary frowned. “I asked him if he had been busy at work, and he said that it had been very slow.”
“Well, I'm sure there's an explanation,” Suzie insisted. “Wes is a good guy, I don't think he would be stringing you along.”
“So, what if he's not?” Mary shook her head. “Then he's just bored with me?”
“Who could be bored with someone like you?”
“Maybe I'm just expecting too much,” Mary muttered and finished her coffee.
“Maybe we just need to have some time out of this house,” Suzie suggested. “We haven't been to the library in some time. I have some books to take back, do you want to keep me company?”
“I'd love that,” Mary agreed with a small sigh. “Maybe I just need a new perspective on things.”
Suzie nodded and patted her hand lightly. As they headed out to the library she kept her eye out for any sign of Detective Brown lurking around the property. She knew that Mary had some of the best instincts she had ever known, and Suzie was highly protective of her. As they drove towards the library, Mary had a vague look of sadness.
“Mary, cheer up, it's your birthday soon,” Suzie said. She turned the car onto the main street of town.
“I know,” Mary sighed. “I'm sure we'll have fun. I guess it's these times of the year that make me feel a little left behind.”
“You're not left behind,” Suzie argued. “You're running your own business…”
“Your business,” Mary pointed out.
“Our business,” Suzie said firmly. “You know the bed and breakfast wouldn't exist without you, Mary. Don't you?” she glanced over to meet her friend's eyes.
“I guess,” Mary replied. “Don't get me wrong, I love Dune House, it's just a transitional time for me.”
“I understand,” Suzie said. She wished she did. Mary's life had always been so different from her own, and yet they had always been able to connect, even when Suzie was off in some foreign country chasing down a story and Mary was debating cloth or disposable diapers. They were more than friends, they were sisters, even if they didn't share blood. “But this could be a good transition,” Suzie pointed out. “You get to choose what comes next.”
“I thought I would love that,” Mary laughed. “It's a lot harder than I expected it to be.”
“You'll figure it out,” Suzie said with confidence. “I know it’s just words, but I know that you will find your way.”
“I appreciate that,” Mary said and nudged her arm lightly. “If I get lost, at least I'll have you to snap me out of it.”
“Oh, I will,” Suzie chuckled. “Trust me, I will.”
The parking lot of the library was mostly empty. It wasn't the most popular place in the seaside tourist town. The local museum and wide variety of restaurants were much more popular. For that reason it was fairly small. But because of the head librarian, it had one of the best collections of books. Suzie had yet to find anything she couldn't get at the library. She held the door open for Mary as they walked inside. Suzie knew that something was up when she walked into the library. Louis usually had his nose buried in a book, but today he was pacing back and forth. He had a glow in his cheeks. His eyes were shining behind his glasses.
“Hi Louis,” Suzie said as she walked up to the desk. Mary offered him a friendly smile.
“Hello ladies,” Louis said with a wide grin. “I'm so glad that you're here. I have some amazing news.”
“What is it?” Suzie asked, her own excitement building.
“A few months ago a mentor of mine passed away. He and I were good friends in college,” he explained.
“How is that good news?” Mary asked with surprise.
“That's not the good news,” Louis said sharply. “They finally got his estate straightened out. I had no idea he intended to leave me anything. But he did. I might as well have won the lottery!”
“That much money?” Suzie asked, her eyes wide. “What a windfall!”
“Oh, it is quite a windfall, but it isn't money,” Louis smiled. “It's a book.”
“A book?” Mary shook her head. “You're this happy about a book?”
“It's not just any book,” he sighed. “It's a rare antique book, one of a kind. Collectors all over the world fight over the chance to get their hands on this book, and Richard left it to me,” he said proudly.
“Congratulations, Louis,” Mary said warmly. “That really is a treasure.”
“It isn't just the book,” Louis admitted. “It's that Richard chose me to give it to. I didn’t see him for a few months before he died.
I tried to visit him, but his family kept him very secluded. It means the world to me that he thought enough of me that he wanted me to have the book.”
“I'm very happy for you, Louis,” Suzie said. “I'd love to have the chance to see it sometime.”
“That would be lovely,” Mary agreed.
Louis stared at them both for a long moment. Then he nodded shortly. He gestured for them both to follow him. Mary and Suzie exchanged confused looks, but they followed after Louis. Louis paused beside the employees’ only door, and looked back at them both.
“Now, this is completely against the rules. I'm trusting you both not to get me into any trouble,” he raised an eyebrow as he looked at them.
“No trouble,” Suzie promised.
“Quiet as mice,” Mary added with a genuine smile.
“Okay,” he sighed and opened the door. Suzie swept her gaze over the large office that they walked into. It was set up more as a living room than an office, with overstuffed furniture as well as many coffee tables. There were piles of books all over the room. On one table, there was a large wooden box.
“Nice place,” Suzie said with a smile. “I had no idea all of this was in here.”
“It's a retreat,” Louis explained. “Just a place where the staff can go to enjoy a book.”
“What's this?” Mary asked as she peered at the box.
“Careful,” Louis warned. “That's where the book is.”
Mary and Suzie raised eyebrows at each other. Suzie thought it was quite a lot of trouble to go to for a book.
Louis carefully lifted the lid of the box. Then he picked up some rubber gloves and slid them on his hands. He reached inside the box and cautiously lifted the book out of the box. Suzie didn't know what to expect, but with all of the fanfare she was thinking it might be jewel encrusted or carved from marble. Instead it was a simple leather bound book that could have been on any shelf. It appeared to be old, but it didn't appear to be special.