by Mary Ellis
‘Or they’re working together.’ Nate pushed away his slice of pie. ‘No way could the skinny woman we saw on Sunday kill Detective Sanborn by herself.’
‘Two lawyers teaming up to cover up a murder – what a scary thought.’ Beth slumped down in her chair.
‘That’s why we must get to Jacobs and Ensley before they get to one of us.’ Michael reached down for his wife’s hand. ‘You ready, Beth? I don’t know about anybody else, but I’ve had enough of this room for one day.’
Nate pulled Izzy to her feet and then helped up Nicki. ‘Let’s all get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow it’ll be our turn to search the island. And I will insist that Nicki stays indoors with Izzy and Beth.’
Surprisingly, Nicki didn’t argue with him. In fact, Nate wasn’t sure if she even heard him. As they filed through the doorway, Nate said quietly to Michael, ‘You and I will do whatever it takes to find the last two suspects.’
NINE
St Simons Island. Wednesday a.m.
When Kate awoke on Wednesday to a clear, starry sky and a gentle breeze, she took it as a good omen. The first pink streaks of dawn were still thirty minutes away, but Eric had the coffee brewing and the condo’s living room in a better condition than how they had found it.
‘Wow,’ she exclaimed, noticing dust-free furniture and vacuum marks on the carpeting. ‘You will make some lucky woman a good husband one day.’ Kate arched up on tiptoes to peck his cheek.
‘I hope she doesn’t marry me solely for my cooking and cleaning abilities.’ Eric planted his kiss smack-dab on her mouth. ‘Want me to make us something for breakfast?’
She shook her head. ‘We shouldn’t run the owner out of his last few supplies. Besides, Greg Dotson told us to get there by first light, which means we should leave now. We’ll just grab whatever the Price team left behind.’
Thus, their breakfast consisted of one sleeve of crackers, the last two slices of cheese from the party tray and an apple. But Kate knew better than to board a boat without something in her stomach. She’d only been seasick once, but that one time had taught her a valuable lesson.
At this hour, the sleepy island was barely waking up, let alone out and about. Although most inhabitants were yearlong residents, many were retired or worked from home. Enjoying the drive through quiet streets, Kate almost forgot what she and Eric were about to do – show up on an island that for some reason they had been excluded from.
What reason could Julian Frazier have for cancelling the boat? And why hadn’t Nate contacted her about what was going on? Elysian Island was visible on a clear day from the top of the St Simons lighthouse. With communication possible between NASA and astronauts on the moon, surely he or Beth could’ve texted … or sent a carrier pigeon by now. Each time she considered her former mentor’s assertiveness, Kate knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, Beth and the others were in trouble.
‘Penny for your thoughts,’ said Eric as they left the village behind.
Kate glanced over at the love-of-her-life. ‘Step on it, Manfredi. I’m thinking you and I are all that stands between the Price team and disaster.’
‘Then they’ve got nothing to worry about.’ Stomping on the gas pedal, Eric’s SUV shot down the two-lane highway.
When they pulled into Dotson’s gravel driveway and braked to a stop, Eric leaned over and hugged her. ‘It’s been good, Weller. I have no regrets.’
Kate stared at him, utterly flummoxed. ‘What’s gotten into you? You just said the Price team had nothing to worry about.’
‘I’m talking about the twenty-two miles of water between here and there.’ Eric pointed at the cabin cruiser where Dotson had already started the engine. ‘If that boat starts taking on water, no way can I swim back, not even with a life jacket.’
‘Will you stop worrying? I’m telling you a Chris Craft is a top-notch vessel, as long as she’s been maintained.’ Kate grabbed her tote bag and climbed out.
‘Like I said, Weller, no regrets,’ Eric teased as he followed her down the rickety dock.
‘Good morning, Kate, Eric,’ Dotson called. ‘You’re right on time.’
‘Morning, Captain. Weather looks good, no?’ Kate tipped her baseball cap.
‘Weather looks perfect. Climb aboard, mates. I’m just warming Betsy’s engine.’
Before Kate stepped from the floating gangway onto the boat, she checked the brass plate on the stern. Beautiful Betsy – just like she figured.
Eric remained on the dock to untie the ropes and then stepped aboard at the very last moment. ‘Whew, that was close,’ he muttered when he dropped down on the seat beside her.
‘You did good, landlubber,’ Kate said to Eric as she stowed her bag under the bench. ‘Was Betsy your high school or college sweetheart?’ she asked the captain.
Greg guided the boat carefully into deep water. ‘Yes and yes. I met Betsy in high school. Then we both attended the University of Georgia. We were married thirty-five years before she passed.’
‘I’m so sorry for your—’
Keeping one hand on the wheel, Greg held up the other like a traffic cop. ‘Don’t feel sorry for me, young lady. Betsy and I had what many couples only dream about. Thirty-five years ain’t chump change.’
Eric tightened his grip on her hand. ‘You’re not kidding, Greg. So speaking for both of us – even though Kate went to the University of Florida – go UGA!’
Dotson pumped his fist in the air while everyone laughed. ‘Take a bite out of those gators!’
Kate leaned forward to get out of the wind. ‘Did you always live on St Simons?’
‘No, I grew up across the river in Brunswick. My father was a commercial fisherman until the day he died. Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but there was less and less money to be made and so much competition from commercial fleets. Now that I just fish to put dinner on the table, I enjoy fishing a whole lot more.’
Kate settled back against Eric’s shoulder to watch day break over the Eastern Seaboard. Before the sun completely cleared the horizon, Captain Greg slowed the boat’s engine to a crawl. ‘Elysian Island, mates.’ He pointed a crooked finger at the green mass straight ahead.
‘We’ll circle around the island. Hopefully there’ll be a good spot to pull up.’
‘What if there’s no dock on that side?’ Eric shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare.
‘I’m sure there won’t be, landlubber. I’ll run the bow up the beach and let you climb out. Then you can push me back into deeper water. Make sure you call when you want me to pick you up.’
Eric saluted his superior officer. ‘Sounds like a plan, Captain.’
Yet Greg’s well-laid plan didn’t come close to fruition. The Beautiful Betsy was still two hundred yards off the coast when they heard popping sounds coming from Elysian.
Kate jumped to her feet. ‘Is that what I think it is?’
At first no one answered. But with the next round of rat-a-tat-tat, they saw a line of shots hit the water next to the starboard bow.
‘Yep, that’s gunfire all right.’ Captain Greg turned the wheel in the opposite direction and accelerated to full throttle.
‘Can we go around to the other side?’ Kate asked. ‘Maybe if you just get us to shallow water, we can wade ashore.’
Greg shook his head. ‘No way. Sorry, folks, but those were warning shots to stay away. The owner of that island is serious about his “no trespassing” signs. Next time the guy with the long-range rifle will start blowing holes in my boat. And my wood hull doesn’t take kindly to bullet holes.’ Captain Greg didn’t ease up on the throttle until well out of range.
Kate waited until the engine wouldn’t drown out her words. ‘I’m so sorry. It wasn’t our intention to put you or the Beautiful Betsy in harm’s way.’
Greg smiled over his shoulder. ‘I know that, Kate. Besides, this wasn’t the first time Betsy and I have been shot at.’ The captain winked with such exaggeration that Kate didn’t know if he was teasing or not.
&n
bsp; ‘Got any suggestions on how we might reach our friends on Elysian?’ she asked.
He stroked his beard while considering. ‘I suppose if you rented scuba gear, I could drop you off out of range of that nutcase’s sharpshooter.’
Eric, who’d been quiet for a long while, decided to speak up. ‘I’ve never been scuba diving in my life. Is this something I can learn fairly easy?’
‘It’s sweet of you to offer.’ Kate wrapped an arm around his waist. ‘But a person should learn to snorkel first and then learn scuba in a swimming pool. An ocean’s unpredictable currents and strong undertows can be tricky even for experienced divers. Besides, I haven’t gone in so long my certification is probably out of date. No one will rent me equipment without certification.’
On the way back from Elysian Island, all three were deep in thought. Yet when they reached the saggy dock, only Greg had come up with an idea. ‘If you really think your friends are in danger, I would go straight to the police. They’ll notify the coastguard if someone reports a crime on the water, but either of them can get on the island.’
While Eric hopped out to catch and secure the lines, Kate collected their belongings. ‘What have you heard about the nutcase owner, Mr Frazier?’ she asked after Greg killed the engine.
‘Not too much. I know he’s very rich, eccentric, and a stickler for privacy. But to my knowledge he’s never really shot anyone, only warns off potential trespassers.’ The captain grabbed his thermos, climbed out, and offered Kate a hand. ‘Apparently, Frazier went off the deep end after his wife was murdered.’
Kate and Eric stared at each other. ‘Did you say murdered?’ she asked.
‘The Julian Frazier who manufactured auto parts in Atlanta … that multimillionaire?’ Eric asked.
‘Yeah, I guess so. How many reclusive millionaires can there be?’ Greg double-checked the lines on his beloved boat. ‘The story about his wife made all the papers.’
‘That story must not have reached Charleston,’ Eric said as they followed him up the dock.
‘I guess Frazier had a reason to go off the deep end. Thank you, Captain, for risking the Beautiful Betsy for a pair of strangers. We’re grateful for your attempt.’ Kate extended her hand.
Greg shook hands heartily. ‘Let me know if you change your mind about scuba diving, or if you’d just like a pleasant afternoon of fishing. We could drink a few beers and grill whatever we catch for dinner. After your friends are safe, of course.’
‘We might take you up on that.’ Eric pulled out his wallet and handed over the agreed-upon amount. ‘Thanks, Captain.’
Greg tucked the money in his pocket. ‘Just remember, you two aren’t strangers anymore. Stop back any time.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Kate called, feeling a surge of pity as the widower walked away.
‘Where we heading, boss?’
She climbed in the SUV, lowered the windows, and closed her eyes. ‘Take me back to the airport on St Simons,’ she said, slapping her forehead with her palm. ‘If not by land or by sea, then by air. Let’s find someone with a helicopter that’s willing to take us to Elysian Island.’
Unfortunately, she celebrated too soon. The helicopters landing or taking off from St Simons airport were privately owned and not available for hire. There were two companies on the island giving sightseeing tours, but neither wanted to land someplace else. When they checked other airports, they found a helicopter pilot at the Jacksonville airport who took tourists to barrier islands, but he refused to take them to Elysian.
‘That’s a restricted airspace,’ he said. ‘I know that every drone flying over gets shot down. So I won’t take a chance on landing and getting my helicopter impounded by the police. This bird is my breadwinner.’
‘What if you didn’t exactly land?’ Kate asked, unsure where she was headed.
The pilot laughed good-naturedly. ‘Do you and your partner know how to repel from a hovering aircraft like a Navy Seal? Because I won’t get any closer than that.’
‘What’s the plan now?’ asked Eric, as soon as Kate had thanked the pilot and hung up.
‘The Glynn County Police Department. Time to get law enforcement involved, because after all somebody just shot at us.’
The Glynn County Police Department in Brunswick included all of the Golden Isles in their jurisdiction. Kate and Eric arrived a little before eleven, but without an appointment they had to sit for an hour and a half on a hard bench in the hallway.
Finally, the officer led them to a cubicle to take their statement. ‘You told them at the desk that someone shot at you from Elysian Island?’ He flipped to a new page on his tablet. ‘What business do you have out there?’
Kate stole a quick glance at Eric before answering. ‘I work for Price Investigations with offices in Natchez, New Orleans, and Savannah.’ If she thought that information might impress the young officer, she was mistaken. ‘My boss set up a retreat for his employees and spouses on St Simons at his friend’s condo. It was supposed to be half retreat and half vacation. But at some point, Mr Price received an invitation from Julian Frazier to have our retreat there. Mr Frazier own Elysian Island,’ she added.
‘I’m aware of that.’ The officer tapped his pen against the paper. ‘Please go on.’
‘Unfortunately, my boyfriend and I …’ she hooked a thumb at Eric, ‘… were detained in Charleston and missed Mr Frazier’s boat on Saturday when it took everybody else to the island. We didn’t get to the dock until Monday morning. Then we got a text from Captain Burke – he works for Mr Frazier – that the currents were too strong and that he would try again the next day. We tried calling and texting my boss and the other employees, but our calls didn’t go through.’
‘Cell phone coverage can be iffy out there.’
‘On Tuesday, we went back to the town pier at the end of Mallery Street.’
‘I know where the town pier is, Miss Weller, but usually only tall freight haulers pick up navigation pilots at the fishing pier. Boat passengers are picked up at one of the marinas.’ The officer sounded like he was losing patience.
‘I’m just telling you our instructions. Yesterday we waited for another hour, but Captain Burke never showed up. And again, no message from my boss or anyone else.’
Kate hoped the cop might jump in with a comment, but no such luck. ‘This isn’t like them,’ she continued. ‘The other employees are my friends. One of them is my best friend.’
‘I understand why you’d be disappointed.’ Without an ounce of subtlety, he checked his watch, and Kate realized her window of opportunity was closing.
‘So this morning we paid Captain Greg Dotson to take us out to Elysian.’
The officer leaned back in his chair. ‘How did that work out, Miss Weller?’
‘Not very well. We barely got within a hundred and fifty yards of the beach and someone fired at us. If those shots had hit the hull of Captain Dotson’s boat, the Beautiful Betsy would’ve sunk and we would’ve drowned.’ Kate emphasized the danger of the situation.
Sergeant Mercer straightened up. ‘I’ve warned Mr Frazier about firing at watercraft to enforce his no trespassing signs. But he assured me his security staff only fires warning shots. They have never sunk a boat yet.’
‘What can be done here?’ Eric asked, his own patience waning. ‘Isn’t this assault with a deadly weapon?’
The sergeant pondered for a moment. ‘I don’t think so. Now let me ask you a question: didn’t you see the “No Trespassing” signs posted all around the island?’
‘Yes, we saw them, but—’
He didn’t let Kate finish. ‘No buts, Mr Frazier has a right to keep his private island private. If he didn’t enforce the request, people would soon be crawling all over the place.’
‘But Eric and I received an invitation to Elysian Island. Can’t you please help us?’
‘Help you do what? Seems to me your invitation expired on Saturday when you failed to show up. You were given a second chance on Monday, but a
fter that … you’re plum out of luck.’ Sergeant Mercer tapped the papers on his desk into a neat pile.
‘All we want to do is make sure our friends are OK. We’re worried about them.’ Kate’s voice rose in volume.
‘Do you have any reason to believe someone’s in danger other than no one answering your calls?’
‘No, but I don’t think those were warning shots. Something bad is happening out there and they don’t want anyone finding out.’
The cop shook his head. ‘From what I hear, Mr Frazier is really a nice guy who donates millions of dollars to charity. Plenty of people would move mountains for an invitation to one of his parties. You’re mistaken if you think either the police department or the sheriff’s department is going to storm the beaches just because you showed up two days late and missed the boat.’ Sergeant Mercer stood, signaling an end to the interview. ‘Take my advice – enjoy yourselves on beautiful St Simons. When your pals get back from the retreat, they can show you photos of whatever you missed.’
‘Well, I guess he sure told us,’ Eric said as they stepped outside. ‘Shall we grab a bite to eat?’
Kate reeled around to face him. ‘Why do you sound so amused?’
‘I’m not amused, but I do see the possibility that Sergeant Mercer is right.’ Eric rested his hands on her shoulders. ‘Maybe nothing is wrong on the island.’
She sighed. ‘That crossed my mind too, but my gut tells me something different.’
Eric lifted her chin with his finger. ‘If your gut still disagrees after we eat lunch, we’ll figure something out … even if it means I have to take up scuba diving.’
And for a long moment, Kate couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat.
Elysian Island. Wednesday a.m.
The Price team ran out of patience Wednesday morning at breakfast. The five of them waited in the dining room for forty-five minutes before Mrs Norville showed up with two carafes of coffee, the days of silver urns long gone. Then they waited another fifteen minutes before Frazier and his ever-present assistant showed up.