A succession of emotions crossed Selkie's face before something indefinable settled upon his features. He wrapped his arms around her again, gently this time. "You sure you're okay?"
It was a serious question requiring serious thought. The furniture was back in place, but it would be awhile before any semblance of normalcy returned to the apartment. Her aquarium was destroyed. Her fishes killed. Someone had rummaged through her underwear. No. She wasn't okay. Not even close.
Selkie squeezed her shoulder. "What do you need?"
"Your trashcans."
"I meant you. What do you need?"
She shrugged off his arm. "Ten minutes with whoever did this."
Bijoux snorted. "That hardly seems adequate."
Mer rummaged through several desk drawers before locating a pencil on the floor. "It's all the time I can spare. I have a dinner to make."
"You can't be serious," Selkie said.
"Of course I am."
"At least have it at my place. It'll be a lot easier."
It would be easier. And maybe on a day when she hadn't invested so much in an outcome, she'd welcome the opportunity. Today wasn't that day. She wouldn't allow the burglars to take that from her, too.
She placed her hand on his chest and looked up into his face. Willed him to understand. "Please. May I borrow your trashcans?"
He clasped her hand and sighed as he brought it to his lips. "Be right back."
Mer found the pad of paper. She needed a plan. A list to wrangle her scattered thoughts and force them into some semblance of order. "If we focus on the kitchen counters first, that will give us a workspace."
She stepped over a broken plate and rescued a sponge from the sink.
Bijoux grabbed the broom. "At least let me clear you a path so you don't step on something that slices through your flip-flops."
"The way my luck is going, I'd hit an artery."
Chunks of glass and china clinked discordantly as Bijoux gathered them into a pile. She stooped and rescued several canned items.
The kitchen was barely large enough for the two of them to work at the same time and they danced around each other as Mer poked through the cabinets. Most of the plates and glassware had been destroyed.
Selkie returned with two trashcans and a flat-edge shovel. Leaving one can outside, he dragged the other fifty-gallon monster into the apartment. The women stepped out while he made short work of the pile Bijoux had created.
Free of large debris, a sticky cocktail of syrup, ketchup, and orange juice covered the floor, and sucked noisily at her sandals when she returned. She eyed the salvaged items. Not much to play with. "How's spaghetti sound?"
"Like Thanksgiving at the Gambino house," Selkie said.
"It's either that or pickled beets and pumpkin puree over tuna fish."
"Spaghetti sounds lovely," Bijoux said.
Selkie pushed the can toward the door. "You know you can raid my cupboards."
"I hope I don't have to take you up on that, but thank you." She pulled out her cellphone and opened a browser. "Walgreens is open. Do you mind picking up paper plates and napkins?" The photograph of her family stared at her from the desk. She pried open the little tabs on the back and removed five one-hundred dollar bills sandwiched behind the photo. She handed one to Selkie. "And a couple of bottles of red wine, too. The bastards stole the pinot."
Bijoux leaned against the broom. "At least that's one less thing we have to clean up."
"Your relentless optimism is really annoying." Mer smiled as she said it.
"I will happily go to Walgreens for you." Bijoux snatched the bill from Selkie's hand. "Call me if you think of anything else you need."
"An industrial strength espresso machine with a frothing wand and a barista to operate it."
"Walgreens has Folgers."
"A sad day for us all," Mer lamented.
When Bijoux left, Selkie gathered Mer into his arms again. "At least you weren't home."
"What kind of a simpleton breaks into someone's house on Thanksgiving?" She leaned back to look in Selkie's face. "Everyone's home on Thanksgiving."
"Which when you think about it, leaves a lot of vacant houses if you're traveling to family elsewhere."
"This has something to do with the coin. I know it. I just need to figure out why."
"You don't have to figure out anything. That's what the police are for."
"Great. According to Deputy Cole, I'm their number one suspect in a new drug trafficking cartel."
"Josh is smarter than that. Besides, he likes you."
"Detective Talbot arrested me three months ago."
"Ancient history." He kissed her forehead. "You've redeemed yourself since then."
"Lucky me."
"What's next?"
"Figure out the coin's provenance. The names on the list were a dead-end, but since the list was the one thing stolen in addition to my laptop and wine, it must have some importance I haven't discovered yet."
"I meant what's next in the apartment?"
"Oh." The kitchen wouldn't be earning a Michelin star anytime soon, but it was a step closer to functional. She heaved a sigh. It was time for a harder task.
10
Together, Mer and Selkie lifted the broken fish tank. The rock liner formed a coarse sludge across the bottom of the aquarium that sloshed as they carried it outside. Everything else could be fixed or replaced, but not this.
A yellow VW bug pulled into Selkie's driveway and parked under the carport.
They set the tank down and Selkie tipped it on the edge of the grass to drain. "Be right back."
Selkie's younger sister, Fiona, barely had her feet on the pavement before Selkie swooped her up in a bear hug and swung her around.
"Put me down you big ox." She pounded on her brother's shoulder. "You'll hurt the baby."
Selkie nearly dropped her. "Baby? Wha—"
She skipped out of his reach. "You're so gullible. How'd you ever earn that degree of yours?"
"So, that's how we're going to play, eh?" He lunged for her.
Fiona darted behind Mer. "Save me from this madman."
Mer laughed. It felt good. "You've got more experience than I do."
Selkie threw up his hands. "One at a time, maybe. The two of you together? I've got more smarts than that."
"A new acquisition that I credit to your neighbor." Fiona gave Mer a hug. "Happy Thanksgiving."
Freckles played across Fiona's pale skin. Strawberry blond waves, so different from her brother's darker hair, brushed her shoulders and framed eyes that shone with a thousand laughs. "Oh, I almost forgot. I've got something for you."
She retraced her steps to the car and lifted an insulated wine tote out of the trunk.
"A sophisticated dry Riesling for Mer, a brash Beaujolais for my brother. And champagne for me. Cuz I like the bubbles." She crinkled her nose.
"I see you're still matching wines to the drinker and not the meal," Selkie said.
She handed the Beaujolais to her brother. "Be nice or next time I'll bring you vinegar."
"Duly noted."
She raised herself on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you."
"I'm looking forward to missing you again." He turned to Mer. "I'll be back in a flash. I forgot something next door."
"Don't let him fool you, he's probably checking the score on the game." Fiona said to Mer. "Now, what can I do to help?"
Mer led her into the apartment. "Funny you should ask."
At the threshold Fiona gasped, but quickly regained her composure. She indicated the trashcan. "Interesting design element. Very avant-garde."
"It's temporary."
"Glad to hear." She sidestepped the can and stashed the two bottles in the refrigerator. "Wine's chilling. What now?"
"Can you find a locksmith willing to respond on a holiday?"
"One locksmith coming up." Fiona slipped out onto the patio with her phone.
Bijoux returned laden with bags. Leroy
and Maggie arrived a few minutes later.
Leroy's gaze swept the room and his frown deepened. "Good thing I told Maggie to bake pies." He placed a wicker hamper on the dinette and Mer could have sworn she heard the table legs groan.
Maggie bustled forward and enveloped Mer in a hug that smelled of cinnamon and sympathy. "Don't let him fool you. He doesn't tell me to do anything." She opened the lid. "Bijoux called and warned us. I whipped up a few things to go with spaghetti. I hope you don't mind."
Garlic perfumed the air as Maggie handed Mer two long loaves of bread wrapped in tinfoil. "The one with parsley is plain butter."
"Thank you."
Fiona pulled open the rear slider doors and called across the small bedroom. "Locksmith will be here after he eats and finishes watching the game." She approached the group with her hand out. "Hi, I'm Fiona."
Mer completed the introductions. "Let me set the table outside and you can enjoy some wine while I start dinner." She grouped the box of crackers and a can of tuna fish together, then set about finding her can opener. "I'll bring out some appetizers in a minute."
"Quite the traditional—"
Maggie jabbed the stack of paper plates into her husband's belly as she addressed Mer. "That would be delightful. I also grabbed some cheese I had in the back of the fridge." She excavated a wheel of Brie and a wedge of Parmesan from the carrier along with a grater. "Just on the off chance you needed this."
"How did Leroy ever land you?"
"Oh, child." She placed the items on the table. "He was bigger than life and twice as handsome. It was all I could do to reel him in."
Leroy nuzzled her neck. "She baited the hook with pie."
"Shush." Maggie swatted her husband playfully and returned her attention to the basket. She removed a divider, and then two pies. One had a lattice crust, the other a meringue topping. "Leroy said you wanted me to bring these."
Mer turned accusing eyes on her captain.
He shrugged. "One bite, you'll be thanking me."
They left the pies inside, but gathered the other items and carried them into the backyard.
The main house above Mer's apartment also covered her patio, and the cozy space bore none of the scars of the break-in. The chairs had all their cushions; the table remained undamaged. For a moment, Mer reveled in the normalcy of it.
Leroy set the plates on the edge of the table. "Nice view you've got yourself."
The vista never grew old. Four brightly painted Adirondack chairs dotted an expanse of lawn. Soaring coconut palms, dense thickets of sea grapes and clusters of colorful bromeliads created an impenetrable hedge between the neighboring homes. A series of cragged coral boulders dotted the edge of the grass where it met the sea, and a break in the stone created enough space to launch a kayak. Beyond that yawned the diamond-dotted Atlantic.
"I've got many reasons to be grateful." She placed the two bottles of wine on the table and came to a sobering realization. "Having glasses isn't one of them at the moment."
Maggie patted her on the shoulder. "You just worry yourself with dinner. I'll set out the cheese and crackers. It'll all work out."
Mer managed a tight smile. "I had everything planned."
Selkie arrived, carrying a large carton. "I brought over a few things I thought you might need." Crystal clinked when he placed the box on the table and he handed Mer a vase before turning to Maggie. "It's good to see you, Maggie." He bent over and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Hi, Sugar."
Mer peeled back the box flaps and gaped. "Wine glasses? I'm not sure what I did to deserve you."
He leaned close to her ear. "You must have been very naughty in a former life."
Her face flamed and she busied herself unloading the glasses. The last thing she drew out was an eighteen-year-old bottle of Jameson.
Selkie promptly relieved her of it. "All things considered, it seemed like a fine idea."
"I'll leave you to it while I get dinner started." Mer retreated to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Bijoux entered. "Here." She thrust a glass of whiskey in front of Mer. "I know it's meant to be savored. But not today."
They clinked glasses and shot the amber liquid. The Jameson burned a trail down her throat and settled in a warm puddle in her gut. "That's vile."
Bijoux set down her glass. "Not to aficionados, it isn't."
They stood next to the stove. A film of olive oil slicked the surface of the water set aside for the pasta. Another pot held a mixture of diced tomatoes and tomato paste.
Mer put her palms on the counter and leaned forward as if she could press her troubles into the Formica. "They killed my fishes." She spun on Bijoux. "What kind of jackass does that?"
"You are going to need some time off. Get things settled."
Mer paced the confines of the small kitchen. "I won't leave you in a lurch. It's a holiday weekend."
"Taylor can work the boat. Oscar starts tomorrow. If I have to, I can pull Kyle into the store. We'll survive."
"Leroy needs me." The walls closed in around her. Caged her.
"How very pretentious of you," Bijoux said.
Mer stopped mid-stride and pivoted to face her friend. She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled noisily. "That was, wasn't it?"
Bijoux indicated the rest of the apartment with her hand. "You will have enough to do the next several days."
Mer slumped against the counter. She picked up a long-handled spoon and tapped it against her palm. She couldn't expunge the idea that a coin, a list of names, smugglers, and burglars were somehow all bound together and she was trapped in the middle. "I'm so angry," she whispered.
"Of course you are. I'm angry for you. When you are ready to cry, call me. In the meantime, there is pasta to make and I am hungry."
A light knock on the door caused both women to turn.
Mer glanced at the clock. "It's seven o'clock already? No wonder you're hungry." She left Bijoux in the kitchen and answered the door.
Oscar held out a handful of wildflowers. "I found these behind the church." His bewildered gaze flitted around her home.
"Thank you. I'm glad you could make it," Mer said. "I'm sorry, things are a bit messy. Someone broke into my home."
"That is terrible."
He'd slicked back his hair and his jeans had a slight crease as if he'd tried to press his pants with an iron that refused to get hot.
"I know you were looking forward to a traditional dinner, but I hope you don't mind spaghetti."
"This is a feast of gratitude, no?" He pushed up his glasses. "Does it matter what is on the table?"
Laughter from the patio carried into the apartment.
"No," she answered. And it didn't. But for just a moment, she wished she'd bought the pot pies.
* * *
Every creak, every palm frond scratch against the house startled her into wakefulness. Selkie had wanted Mer to spend the night at his house, but after all that had happened, it was important she slept in her own bed. She had to or she'd never overcome her fear.
They'd eventually reached a compromise and his deep breaths next to her lent some comfort. Beyond his sleeping form, a tiny bit of moonlight slipped through the curtains and glinted on the steel barrel of his Springfield Armory 1911 pistol on the nightstand.
But even with Selkie next to her, sleep had been elusive.
The morning shadows hid the lingering devastation of the day before—the furniture that needed repair, the drapes that needed mending, her tattered confidence.
Lavender scented the freshly laundered sheets, washed clean of the intruders' touch, along with her underwear, bathing suits, anything else that ever brushed her skin.
But she couldn't wash away the violation.
At thirty-three, Mer had an education, the prestige of being a doctor. She'd lived on both coasts, traveled to foreign continents, immersed herself in different cultures, and explored four of the seven seas.
But.
She didn't own a home,
wasn't married, didn't have children. All the things that made her question her career choices and nudged her to consider life beyond academia—in Key Largo.
Maybe she'd made the wrong decisions. To date, life in the Keys hadn't worked out so well.
Selkie stirred.
Or had it? Maybe it was all within reach, but she was too scared to grab it.
The sheets trapped her in their folds. She eased out of bed, not wanting to disturb Selkie. His arms had found her throughout the night. Calmed her when she'd cried out. He deserved to sleep.
The edges of the room lightened to gray as the first hint of day crept past ruined drapes—ruined because of what?
In the half-light, her thoughts from the day before coalesced, and she made a new decision.
This was more than a break-in. Someone had shot at her. Ransacked her home. She had no idea what was so important about a coin that someone was willing to kill her in order to reclaim it.
But it was time to find out.
11
"I need your help," Mer said.
One side of Selkie's mouth curled. "Mark the calendar, this is a day of firsts."
They had relocated to Selkie's for breakfast. The morning sun flooded the breakfast nook with warmth and light and an extra helping of sarcasm to go along with the omelet cooking on the stove. Bacon drained on a folded paper towel.
"I ask for help all the time."
He tilted the pan to allow the egg to spread. "Name one time."
She considered the question seriously. "I let you open the champagne bottles."
"You let me," he teased. "Give me an example that's meaningful."
"That is meaningful. Popping the cork scares me."
"Corks. Not on the top of most people's what-scares-me list."
That particular list had grown in the past several days. "Are you going to help me, or not?"
"What exactly am I helping you with?" he asked.
"For starters, figuring out who broke into my home."
"For starters."
"After we learn that, I'm sure it will be a snap to figure out how the coin plays into it all."
Beached_A Mer Cavallo Mystery Page 7