Martin stared at my weapon, his eyes widening. “Rylee,” he cautioned, then disappeared when I raised my arm, threatening to throw it. Even though I was going to regret what he’d done later, I couldn’t help smiling when I remembered the shocked look on Lavender’s and Trudy’s faces.
If nothing else, I’d gotten him to use my name. After returning the cup to the shelf, I inhaled several deep breaths, which did nothing to relieve my frustration. I was determined, more now than ever, to find Pete and hurry their trip to the afterlife.
***
By the time Max and Chloe had returned, and I’d joined my friends for our prearranged lunch, my irritation with Martin had subsided, but not by much.
Ye Olde Angler had the best fish and chips in town and was one of the most popular food places located near the pier. I walked underneath the hand-carved wooden sign with the restaurant’s name and a large fish about to swallow a hook, then turned the corner of the building leading to their outside patio.
Luckily, Shawna and Jade had arrived early enough to snag a large table in the corner, complete with an overhead umbrella. They’d also placed our order, the waitress delivering the food when I’d arrived.
My friends were wearing brightly colored outfits and looked as if they’d stepped out of a crayon box. Shawna’s blue shirt matched the streaks in her hair, and Jade wore a teal dress enhanced with a shiny black belt.
Since neither of them had mentioned Nate would be joining us, I was a little surprised to see him sitting next to Shawna with his arm draped across the back of her chair. If they were officially dating, it was possible she’d forgotten to mention it.
“I got you your favorite.” Shawna pointed at the platter containing a cod sampler special sitting on the table next to a vacant seat.
“She even got you extra French fries.” Jade unfolded a paper napkin, then placed it on her lap.
Since this lunch was supposed to be the three of us, the extra food was Shawna’s way of apologizing for dragging Nate along. It didn’t bother me near as much as it would have if the rest of the spoofers had shown up.
My stomach rumbled as I took a seat. “Thanks.” I snatched one of the curly potatoes with special seasoning off my plate and took a bite. If Nate hadn’t been sitting with us, I would have moaned my appreciation for the delectable morsel.
After a few minutes where the only noise was the sound of food being consumed, Nate asked, “So how’s the sleuthing going?”
I was pretty sure Shawna was the one who’d blabbed, and I reconsidered whether or not the additional food was a good enough bribe.
“What?” She waved a fry in Jade’s face after being nudged with her elbow. “I didn’t say anything. He figured it out all by himself.”
“Shawna’s right.” Nate pushed his long bangs off his forehead. “All she did was tell me your uncle owned the saber used to kill Jake, and I assumed you guys would try to find out who did it… Like you did the last time.”
Since he hadn’t mentioned Martin’s ghost, I was confident he didn’t know, and I wouldn’t have to hurt my friend for sharing secrets.
“The sleuthing isn’t going as well as I’d hoped.” The one clue I’d gotten from Chloe about Lucas still seemed lame, so I decided to wait and share it with my friends later.
Shawna dipped a piece of fish in her tartar sauce. “You know how the experts are always saying a criminal returns to the scene of a crime?”
“Yes, why?” Jade asked.
“Maybe the murderer showed up after the police arrived,” Shawna said.
Nate snapped his fingers. “That’s entirely possible.” He glanced at the three of us in turn. “Can any of you remember who was standing in the crowd on the dock?”
“I noticed a couple of shop owners, but I think most of the people hanging around were curious tourists.” Jade reached for her drink, then stopped before taking a sip. “Oh, and I remember seeing Chloe and Lucas, but they were working in the tour shack and probably came outside when they heard the commotion.”
“What about the day Max and Jake had their argument?” Shawna glanced at me. “Can you remember who was there?”
“Not really.” I’d been too busy trying to stop Martin after he’d doused everybody. “It was mostly tourists that day too. Grams was leaving for her appointment with Nadine, and she might have seen something.” I picked up another fry. “Though I doubt it.”
I’d just finished swallowing and was reaching for my soda when the chair next to me moved by itself. A few seconds later, Martin appeared in the seat.
Other than open-mouthed stares, I had to give Shawna and Jade credit for not reacting. Nate, not so much. He jumped to his feet and was backing away from the table. “I, I… Jessica’s not back, is she?”
I grabbed the back of the chair, pretending I was the one who had moved it as I glanced around to see if anyone sitting at the nearby tables had noticed.
Shawna shot Nate a disbelieving glare. “No, it’s not Jessica.” She looked as if she wanted to wrestle him to the ground when she grabbed his sleeve and tugged him back towards his seat. I had a feeling the mention of Nate’s ex might put a damper on their future dating. The shoulder shrug and knowing glance Jade gave me said she was thinking the same thing.
Cheeks flushed, Nate sat back down and did his best not to stare at the empty seat, which was a little hard when Martin scooted the chair closer to the table.
“What part of inconspicuous don’t you understand?” I whispered sarcastically at Martin, my irritation with him renewed.
“Me apologies, Lass.” Martin grinned, then propped his elbows on the tabletop. “Will the lad,”—he tipped his head toward Nate—“also be helpin’ with our quest?”
I gritted my teeth and glared in Nate’s direction. “Not if he doesn’t stop staring.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” Though Nate focused his attention on his empty plate, he continued to shoot curious glances towards the empty chair. “Are you going to tell me who’s, you know…visiting?”
Now that Nate knew we weren’t alone, there was no reason not to tell him who it was. Sharing with Nate also meant Bryce and Myra would find out a lot sooner than I’d hoped.
After receiving a reluctant, yet approving nod from me, Shawna leaned closer to Nate and whispered, “It’s Martin Cumberpatch.”
“No way, that’s so…”
Jade interrupted by clearing her throat. “Not to change the subject, but is anyone surprised that Jake’s death hasn’t slowed down business for the Sea Witch’s tours?” She directed her gaze to the shop on the opposite side of the street.
She was the best when it came to keeping us all on track, and had even perked Martin’s interest. I shifted slightly to get a better look at the building housing my uncle’s competition. Arlene, the supposedly grieving widow, had arrived. She was standing outside, her face beaming as she spoke to Braden. With Jake gone, did it mean the two of them were now business partners?
“Arlene doesn’t seem too broken up about losing her husband, either.” Jade wrinkled her pert nose. “He’s only been dead a couple of days, and she’s not even wearing black.”
Jade constantly tried to improve my wardrobe, and I should have known she’d noticed anything out of place when it came to fashion. Even I had to agree that the tight-fitting red dress with matching heels seemed a little too much for the new widow. Though, judging by the once over glance Braden had given her, I was pretty sure he disagreed.
Shawna took the last fry off her plate and wiggled it in the air. “You know, it’s a known fact that most murders are committed by the spouse or a close member of the family.”
“I’ve heard that too.” Nate agreed a little too enthusiastically, possibly trying to make amends to Shawna for bringing up Jessica.
It seemed to work because Shawna smiled. “Notice Arlene’s body language, the way she’s leaning closer to Braden and attentively listens to what he says.”
“Yeah,” Nate said, paying closer attenti
on to the couple.
Arlene’s overdramatic display was enough to make me nauseous. It was even worse than the tantrum she’d thrown the day she’d blamed Max for Jake’s murder.
Shawna pushed her plate aside. “How much do you want to bet those two are doing it, and probably conspired to get rid of Jake?”
“What be they doin'?” Martin furrowed his brow, his glance jumping from my friend to me.
I coughed, nearly choking on the piece of fish I’d swallowed. I wasn’t about to explain the intricacies of modern-day interactions between men and women with a centuries-old ghost in front of my friends. “We’ll talk about it later.” It was a conversation I didn’t want to have in private either and hoped he’d forget about it. Or better yet, I’d make Shawna tell him since she was the one who’d brought it up in the first place.
I glanced at the watch on my wrist, noting the time and glad I could use the time to change the direction of the conversation before Shawna blurted out something even more embarrassing. “I should probably get going.”
“What about discussing the plan to help our mutual friend?” Shawna gazed in Martin’s direction.
“It will have to wait. I need to cover so Chloe can help Max with his next tour.”
Nate’s disappointed sigh was louder than Shawna’s. I’d assumed Martin’s silence while he watched Braden and Arlene was due to disappointment or his lack of anything to add to the current conversation.
“I believe I understand Shawna’s reference to doin' it.” A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes and his grin widened. “Perhaps the scoundrel requires a lesson about chivalry 'n abstinence when it comes to another man’s wench.”
I was glad to hear that Martin’s pirating past left him with a few morals. Although I wasn’t happy when he disappeared without moving his chair and reappeared next to Arlene. Yelling at him to stop whatever he was thinking about doing would only draw Arlene and Braden’s attention to my friends and me. The last thing I needed after the Trudy episode was to be anywhere near what appeared to be a magical event to anyone who couldn’t see Martin.
The couple sitting at the table next to us got up to leave, the man taking the Styrofoam cup containing his drink with him. They continued their conversation as they strolled away from us and toward the spot where Martin was standing. The second the man walked past Arlene, Martin grabbed the drink out of his hand and poured it along the front of Braden’s pants.
“No, no, no,” I muttered, then gripped the edge of the table when Braden and the unsuspecting guy shared some heated words. Obviously proud of the chaos he’d caused, Martin chuckled, then with a wink and another one of his exaggerated bows, he had the audacity to disappear.
I wasn’t one for swearing, but I was tempted to start. Martin had to be the most exasperating ghost I’d ever met, not that I’d met many. It was a darned good thing he was already dead; otherwise, I’d be willing to dig a grave for him myself.
“Maybe we should do something to help.” Nate scooted his chair away from the table.
I glanced at Shawna and Jade who looked equally concerned and prepared to intercede if necessary. Chances are anything we did would make things worse. We couldn’t tell the two men that a ghost was responsible for spilling the drink out of a misguided chivalrous notion. Though I doubted being honorable was Martin’s real motivation.
Even though I wasn’t to blame, I still felt responsible and turned to get out of my seat. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Rylee, wait.” Shawna jutted her chin. “It looks like it’s under control.”
Whatever Arlene said before dragging Braden inside the building had ended the exchange. Relieved that no one had gotten hurt, I removed my death grip on the table. “Martin’s gone, so now might be a good time to leave.” With a silent consensus, everyone got out of their chairs and moved and headed for the main sidewalk.
While Shawna and Nate headed toward the lot where they’d parked, Jade pulled me aside and said, “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Nate, but you know who we should be asking for help, right?”
“I do.” I hated to admit she might be right. I hadn’t wanted to involve any more people, but if anyone could find out more information about the jeweled eye patch belonging to Pete, it would be her brother Bryce. “Let me think about it, and I’ll get back to you.
Chapter Seven
I didn’t mind working for my uncle, but one day turned into two, and I was glad when Max phoned to tell me Lucas was returning, and he no longer needed my help. According to Grams, with the festival only a couple of days away, things at the shop had been busy but manageable.
Even though I’d arrived early, I hadn’t been much help because it was mid-afternoon by the time I finished catching up on the pile of paperwork stacked on my desk. I’d heard the bell above the door jingle numerous times and knew if things got crazy, Grams and Jade would let me know.
After placing several files in the lateral cabinet sitting next to the wall opposite my desk, I headed for the front of the building. I’d barely reached the checkout counter when I heard a murpy meow, which sounded more like a shrill battle cry. Seconds later, a flash of fur filled my peripheral, and Barley landed on the display case next to me.
He’d launched himself from a shelf on the wall. The ledge was so high and out of the way that I needed a tall ladder to reach it. Since I’d never actually witnessed him making the ascent, I couldn’t figure out how he continued to get up there.
He strutted toward me, wearing a burgundy vest and a cat-sized hat embroidered with a white skull and crossbones in the center of the black fabric. While I’d been away from the shop, my friends had turned my beloved pet into a miniature pirate. Even worse, Barley didn’t seem to mind. “Whose idea was it to dress Barley in a costume?” My inquisitive gaze jumped from Jade to Grams.
“Shawna ordered the outfit for him.” Jade walked up and scratched him behind the ears. “Cute, right?”
“Oh, yeah…adorable,” I groaned. The holiday season would be starting in a couple of months, and I dreaded to see what Shawna had planned for the furry creature during Halloween. Though I should be thankful my friend hadn’t decided to dye his fur with blue streaks to match hers. I didn’t voice my fear out loud just in case Jade jokingly mentioned it to Shawna.
Jade picked up Barley and set him on the floor. “Now that Nate knows about Martin, it’s only a matter of time before he tells Bryce if he hasn’t already. Have you given my suggestion about asking him for his help any thought?”
“I have, but I want to visit the Booty Bizarre first to see if they have the eye patch before we involve the spoofers.” I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Myra. She’d been extremely skeptical when she heard I could see Jessica’s ghost. I could only imagine what her reaction was going to be once I told her about Martin.
I’d been so preoccupied with my ponderings that I hadn’t heard the bell or noticed our newest visitor until Grams spoke a little louder than normal. “Good afternoon, Detective. What can we do for you?”
My grandmother’s tone was sweeter than usual. Her being overly nice to the man who suspected her son of murder made me wary.
“I was hoping to speak with Rylee.” He glanced around the room until he spotted me.
I associated the intense gaze that held mine with his detective mode and assumed he hadn’t stopped by to say hello. The excited flutter I felt when he’d first entered the shop quickly turned into an uncomfortable knot. “Is this visit personal or business-related?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t the latter.
The ends of his lips lifted into an amused grin. “A little of both, but mostly business.”
Even though I was disappointed, I had to give the guy points for being honest.
“Do you have time to get a coffee?” Logan asked.
“Of course she does,” Grams said.
“Go.” Jade smiled, then gave me a gentle nudge in Logan’s direction. “We can manage without you for a while.”
“I guess so,” I said, then followed him outside. When it looked as if he planned to go across the street to Mattie’s Coffee Shop, I took his hand and pulled him to the right. “I know a better place if you’re looking for a little privacy.”
Mattie’s place had the best coffee and served a wide selection of tasty home-baked goodies, including my favorite cream cheese muffins.
If it wasn’t for my grandmother’s penchant for getting into trouble and always conspiring to find me a boyfriend, I wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity to visit the shop. The last thing I needed was her best friend Mattie spying on Logan and me, then reporting what she’d seen or overheard back to Grams.
Logan didn’t argue, nor did he release my hand until he stopped to open the door to the ice cream shop a block away. They didn’t do the same amount of business that Mattie’s place did, so there was hardly anyone waiting in line.
“Two coffees,” he said to the teenage girl working behind the counter. She’d been dreamily eyeing him since we’d walked inside. Not that I could blame her, I’d been guilty of doing the same thing myself.
“Do you need any cream or sugar to go with these?” she asked as she sat two Styrofoam cups on the counter.
Logan gave me a questioning glance, which I answered with a shake of my head.
“Black is fine, thanks.” After paying for the drinks, he urged me toward an empty table in the corner away from any other customers.
I hadn’t seen Martin since he disappeared after dousing Braden. Hopefully, I’d get lucky, and he wouldn’t make one of his surprise appearances and intrude, then complicate my time with Logan.
After taking a sip of his drink, Logan studied me as if deciding the best way to start a conversation. “I understand the day before you found Jake that he was arguing with your uncle on the dock near his ship.”
Sabers, Sails, and Murder Page 7