by Amy Saunders
“See, you were hiding them.” Kyle didn’t wait, tearing open the box. “I would never have gone into that cabinet.”
“It’s not my fault you’re kitchen illiterate.” She watched as her twin tore off the cupcake wrapping and unhinged his jaw to fit the cake and two stories of icing into his mouth at once. “You should enter a contest or something.”
He brushed crumbs off his shirt, a dab of icing on the tip of his nose. She started to say something about it, then decided he could figure it out for himself.
~ * ~
A few hours later, Belinda and Bennett risked visiting Southwood in broad daylight, standing on the landing of the second-floor apartment where Alex lived. But the place was dark and quiet.
“I don’t think anyone’s home,” Belinda said, glancing around the sleepy road while Bennett leaned over a railing to peek into the apartment. It was an unusually hot spring day and anyone not at work was probably goofing off.
“I’m not sure anyone’s here at all,” Bennett said. “It looks pretty barren inside.”
Belinda waved him aside to see for herself. Through the half-opened blinds, she could make out the living room they’d sat in, except it looked stripped clean of pillows and knickknacks. The kitchen looked devoid of life as well.
She leaned back, meeting Bennett’s eyes. “Do you think she’s flown the coop?”
Bennett took her hand, forcing her to follow him back down the stairs to the car. “For lack of a better way to say it, yes.” He opened her door, nudging her into his truck, then hopped into the driver’s seat.
“Are we leaving?”
“Unless you want to call Jonas from outside of Portside.”
Belinda wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Bennett revved the engine, guiding them out of Southwood. Once they were safely inside Portside’s borders again, he called Jonas through the truck’s Bluetooth, telling him about Alex.
“I know she’s not there,” Jonas said, not commenting on their trip outside Portside.
Belinda traded a curious glance with Bennett. “What do you mean you know?” Belinda said.
Jonas sighed, speaking low. “I mean she’s dead.”
Belinda’s eyes went wide. “Where?”
“Portside. Look,” Jonas said, his voice muffled, “I can’t talk right now. I’ll be around later to explain.” With that, he ended the conversation.
Belinda rubbed her forehead, staring out the window, wondering if this was somehow her fault. She may have led the killer right to Alex’ door.
“Don’t worry about it,” Bennett said, almost answering her thoughts. “I think there was more going on with Alex than we know yet.”
Belinda nodded, knowing he was right. For all they knew, Alex was involved with the other murder–or even Lawson’s death. If nothing else, she may have been involved somehow with the document thefts.
“Do you think Marie Sinclair was telling us the truth last night? About the theft?” Belinda watched as Bennett shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s tough to say. Though it is a strange story to pull out of your hat. I’d venture to say there’s some truth in it.”
“What do you think we should do now?” Belinda gazed out the window as Bennett curved around a gaggle of beach-goers dragging all their chairs and coolers down the street. Portside was still relatively quiet, but any warm day meant tourists.
“How about the beach?”
Belinda snapped her head his direction. “Seriously? We get that announcement and you want to go hang out at the beach?”
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do now. I think we just have to wait. Plus, it’s hot today.”
Belinda smiled, agreeing with that. “Well, you know I won’t refuse an offer like that.”
Soon thereafter, they found an empty spot on the sand to drop a chair and a bag. Bennett tore off his T-shirt, running and swan-diving into the surf while Belinda adjusted to the water temperature one piece of anatomy at a time. It may have been a hot day, but the water temperature hadn’t caught up yet. Bennett surfaced a little distance away, shaking his head, his almost-black hair now matted around his face.
“Come on,” he yelled, bobbing over a wave. “It’ll be tomorrow by the time you get in at this rate.”
Belinda stuck out her tongue, perfectly okay with her rate of entry. He disappeared under the water again and Belinda ventured a little farther when something grabbed her from underneath, hefting her into the air. Belinda squealed, tumbling off Bennett’s shoulders into an oncoming wave.
She came up for air, blinking to see Bennett all smiles in front of her. She splashed him playfully, not able to hold back a laugh. It wasn’t all the time he smiled that wide. “Happy now?” she said, smoothing her hair out of her face so she could see again.
“Sort of,” Bennett said, still grinning. He grabbed her by the waist, giving her just enough time to lock her arms around his neck before he spun her around between waves. She temporarily forgot (or grew numb to) the biting water, ignoring the shouts of the other brave kids and adults also pretending the water was warm. “See, this was a good idea.”
Belinda held tight as he spun the opposite direction. “Only if you don’t keep doing that.” She laughed despite her head starting to spin on its own.
He stopped short, his face going slack. “Sorry…the accident…”
“It’s fine.” She stroked the back of his head. “I’m fine.”
Bennett kissed her, his lips as frozen as hers felt, then swept her up and carried her back to shore. Goosebumps popped up all over her as they hiked back to their spot on the beach.
Bennett stretched out on a blanket to dry in the sun, his glistening chest and carved abs not a bad sight at all, while Belinda toweled off and wrapped herself up in it. She sat back and admired Bennett, smiling to herself, when a figure knelt beside her, scaring her half to death.
“Jonas!” Belinda said, relieved it was him and not some creepy beach patron. Bennett twisted around to see.
In a suit and sunglasses, Jonas smirked as the breeze blew his brown hair around.
“How did you find us?” Belinda said, pretty sure they didn’t tell anyone about the beach.
“I have my ways,” Jonas said, a satisfied smile still on his lips.
Belinda thought about the possible police guard again, wondering if they had a guard waiting in the parking lot.
“In any case,” Jonas went on, “I was passing this way no matter what. I assume you guys have a minute.”
Bennett looked back at Belinda. “Yeah…I think we do,” he said.
“Is it about Alex?” Belinda said, turning to see Jonas more comfortably.
“Sort of.” Jonas took a seat on the blanket, forcing Bennett to sit up. “I can’t tell you that much yet. But a cousin found Alex. Alex had asked to stay with her for a little bit. The cousin was out this morning, and when she got back, Alex was on the floor with a blow to her head.”
Belinda tilted her head. “Downtown Portside?”
Jonas nodded.
“What about Alex’ roommate?” Belinda said.
“There’s no sign of one. I think she just made that up for some reason.”
Maybe because of fear? Alex had been one of the people hurt at Lawson’s house, so she may have wanted to thwart any ideas that she was an easy target. Or, if Alex was the document thief, she may have been worried she’d be caught.
“Well, I told you about what Marie Sinclair claims about some company secrets Lawson had secreted away in his home,” Bennett said.
Jonas took a bag of chips Belinda offered, happily ripping it open. “Sinclair’s on my list, but I’m actually more interested in checking out Alex’ finances. If she was involved in anything like that, there’s a money trail.”
“Marie indicated that the right person could make money from selling the company documents.” Belinda refused the chips aimed her way. “And Alex was hurt in one of the accidents at the
house.”
“We know. She had an injury on her arm that was older.” Jonas handed the bag back to her, wiping his hand on the blanket, then pushed up to his feet.
“Leaving already?” Belinda said, squinting up through her sunglasses.
“Unfortunately, I can’t hang around.” Jonas gazed out at the water with longing.
“I guess you’ve got work waiting for you.” Belinda felt guilty about hanging out at the beach while Jonas had to investigate a murder.
“Right now, I need food.” Jonas grinned. “But, yeah. Work too. I have to warn you, though, the Southwood police probably know you visited Alex. I’ll work on Suter, but I think he’s gonna be hard to crack. Mind you, you guys don’t have a motive, but that doesn’t mean you’re still not persons of interest.” He gave Belinda a reprimanding look. Even if she couldn’t see his eyes, she could feel the intent.
“So the warning is…” she said.
“Stay. In. Portside. If you’re wandering around Southwood and they catch you…I don’t know that I can help that much. Claiming you as consultants probably won’t work.” Jonas pointed at Bennett. “And stop encouraging her. Surely you can investigate in the bounds of Portside for a while.”
Bennett raised his hands defensively. “When we started this, no one was officially murdered yet. And, technically, going back to Southwood was my idea, not Belinda’s.”
Belinda half smiled at his attempt to defend her. But it was her idea first. “Look, we’re pretty invested in this case now, and we want answers. But I think we can safely stay in Portside now that things have shifted this direction.” And they’d probably found everything they were going to in Lawson’s house, considering everything had been removed.
“Is that your sworn oath that you won’t leave Portside until this is over?” Jonas said.
Belinda held Jonas’ unwavering stare, not moving a muscle. “I don’t know that this requires that much drama, but if you like, yes.”
His eyes still didn’t move for what felt like an eternity. “I’m holding you to that, Kittridge.”
“Duly noted.” She smiled brightly.
“In fact, I’m holding both of you to that.” Jonas’ finger shifted from Belinda to Bennett. Bennett just shrugged casually. Satisfied, Jonas saluted and fought his way through the sand back to the parking lot.
Once he was safely out of sight, Belinda shook like a wet dog to get rid of the jittery feeling creeping through her.
“What was that?” Bennett said, watching her from his seat on the blanket.
“I feel stiff,” she said flatly. And sometimes Jonas could still make her nervous, despite knowing him so well. “I’m fine now.”
“That’s a relief.”
Belinda waved at him dismissively. “Just go back to what you were doing.”
Bennett obeyed, sliding back down, resting his head on his hands. “You’re content to just sit here and leave things to Jonas?” He watched her from upside down, but Belinda’s eyes were on the steady waves rolling in.
“I don’t see why I shouldn’t be for the moment.” Belinda readjusted the towel wrapped around her. “Besides, I think a break is in order. And now that I’m here, I’m not inclined to leave.”
It was nice watching the kids trying to ride the waves, others plopping down to breathe in the salt air, and a few taking a jog. And their dip into the sea had certainly cured how hot she’d felt earlier. Bennett grinned up at her, obviously not in a rush to get on with anything himself. After all, it wouldn’t be Portside without a little diversion.
“We may have a gelato emergency after this,” Belinda said, closing her eyes, the glare of the sun a little too much.
“I was waiting for it,” Bennett said, his voice drowsy. “You haven’t had one in like, what? Three days?”
If she wasn’t so sleepy, she would have bumped his shoulder with her foot. But he was too far away for that and she was happy where she was. “Gelato is a necessary part of life. Everyone knows that.”
“If you say so.”
Belinda wasn’t sure if she responded or not as the sounds and smells around her faded little by little until all she knew was dreams of walking to the gelato shop downtown.
Chapter 27
A seagull squawked right in her ear and woke her up. Belinda jolted awake, not even aware she’d fallen asleep. She certainly didn’t intend to.
The sun was lower in the sky than before, but not gone, which was a relief. Belinda felt around for her bag, discovering everything was right where she left it. Except when she blinked back to life, she realized Bennett was missing from his spot on the blanket.
“Are you awake?”
Belinda looked around for the voice, still blurry-eyed and confused. Had she ever fallen asleep in a public arena like that? She didn’t think so, and she supposed the late nights were catching up.
“I fell asleep,” Belinda said, relatively aware that wasn’t the appropriate response to the question.
A paper cup wet with condensation was thrust in her face. “This should help.” Bennett plunked back on the blanket, scooping frozen lemonade into his mouth.
Belinda held hers in a stupor for a few seconds before following suit. “How long was I out?” she said, diving into the slush with more fervor.
Bennett shrugged. “Don’t know exactly. I conked out too for a while. Maybe thirty minutes?”
“That’s it?” Belinda pushed the damp towel off her shoulders, which now only made her feel chilly. “It felt like days. When did you wake up?”
“Not too long ago,” Bennett said between slurps.
“I think a seagull woke me up.” Belinda glared at the bird eyeing her, no doubt with some malicious plan to steal her frozen lemonade.
“My phone woke me up.”
Belinda glanced over her cup. “Yeah. Who called?”
“It was actually a text.” Bennett scooched closer. “Or I should say a series of texts.”
“Anything important?” Belinda was almost afraid to ask.
Bennett rested his cup on his knee. “It was Jonas. He just wanted to let me know he got word about your car finally.”
Belinda stopped eating, her heart stopping. “And?”
Bennett took a moment before answering, maybe trying to determine how to say it, or what to tell her, which she didn’t like. “It was your transmission.”
“That’s all he told you or is that all they know?”
Bennett licked his lips. “They don’t think it was just the car going nuts. They believe it was tampered with.”
Belinda let out a breath, not surprised, but not happy either. Colleen’s first guess had been right after all. “And?” She could tell he was holding out on her.
Bennett leaned in, resting his arm on the chair. “They tested for fingerprints. Of course, most of them are because of car maintenance, but…” he trailed off.
Belinda pursed her lips, growing impatient. “This is not a new thing for me. Unless you’re about to tell me somebody I like or care about is trying to kill me, just spit it out.”
He listed his head to the side. “I’m trying to be nice here.”
“I know. But I can take it. Just tell me.”
Bennett studied her a moment longer, but finally said, “They found one set of useful prints on the engine. They belonged to Alex.”
After taking that in, Belinda nodded. “Go on.”
Bennett shrugged a shoulder. “That’s about all they know right now. She probably had gloves on but took them off for some reason and that was that. But they’ve dug through her electronics and found Internet searches and video tutorials related to this in her search history. Of course, she’s also been killed, so I’m not sure how much this helps.”
Belinda wasn’t sure either. Nor was she positive knowing who may have tried to hurt her helped either. On the other hand, it did lend support to their theory that Alex was somehow involved. “I don’t know that we have anything to suggest Alex may be the murderer, but this
does point to her doing something naughty.” They had the possible thefts, of course, but there was something else. “Maybe like the accidents at the house.”
Bennett arched his brows. “She was the first victim.”
“I know. But think about it. She was barely hurt. No one witnessed it and even Alex couldn’t really tell us what happened. Plus, she was in the perfect position to stage them. She worked at the Lawson house and had for a while, so she would have known what to do.”
Bennett drummed his fingers on the chair arm. “That might explain why she was fired, too. Remember how Elizabeth Hall looked after the shed accident?”
Belinda nodded fervently. “Like some pieces clicked together.”
“Exactly. I think Hall knew who was responsible–Alex.”
Belinda sat up straighter, shedding the remnants of her sleepiness completely. “Okay, but now Alex is dead too. So, someone else has to be tied into all of this. Even if Alex did kill the Warden because she’d figured out Alex was responsible for the accidents, she either wasn’t working alone or…I don’t know, ticked somebody off?”
“Or was carrying out orders.” Bennett glanced around. “It would be helpful to know if the thefts really happened. Alex might have been tied into that and simply lost her value for some reason.”
“Or had become a liability. Maybe she was scared and threatening to expose them.” And Belinda and Bennett had talked to Alex after the accident. It could be that, if she was working for someone else, Alex was a potential threat. “Alex could have easily damaged the shed attic so it would collapse too. And she was supposed to be there, so I doubt anyone would have thought a thing of her coming and going. I hope her finances shed some light on what she was really doing.”
“Me too.”
Belinda paused, another thought coming to mind. “Is there any hope for my car?”
A small smile lit Bennett’s face and he cupped her hand in his. “I think it’s salvageable.”
“Really? You’re sure?” Not that Belinda was usually overly attached to things like cars, but this one…well, it had been with her through many adventures the past year.