Seagrass Pier

by Colleen Coble

  She went to the door and hugged her friend. “You’re okay?”

  “Yep.” Her smile was brilliant. She wore a sleeveless white top over a full skirt that swirled around her knees.

  “I want to hear everything.” She gestured to the hall. “Marc is in the office. We might be on to something.” She led Sara to the office and pulled a chair up for her beside the desk.

  Marc barely looked up. “Hey, Sara.”

  She smiled. “Is that the best you can do when I nearly died Friday night?”

  He looked up then, and his slow smile emphasized the dimple in his right cheek. “Sorry. Distracted. Did Elin tell you what happened?”

  “No, just that you might be on to something. What’s up?”

  “I had a threatening message come up on my computer. It was when I was in a secure OPO website, so Marc thought maybe the killer is another representative.”

  Sara’s levity vanished. “How bizarre. I hope he’s wrong.”

  Marc looked up. “I’m not. There was one on the ship.”

  “You’re kidding! Who was it?” This wasn’t something Elin really wanted to hear. Work would never be the same again.

  “Kerri Summerall. Know her?”

  Elin nodded. “Quite well. But she’s the nicest person you’d ever meet.” She turned to Sara. “You know Kerri. She was instrumental in getting me the new heart.”

  “And we know the killer is a man, so this is a dead end,” Sara said.

  “It wouldn’t hurt to at least talk to her,” Marc said. “Maybe she saw something.” But his voice held little enthusiasm.

  “I’ll talk to her.” Elin looked at her computer screen. “So we’re back to a master hacker. Can we research the people on the manifest and see if there are any computer experts on it?”

  “It will take time, but yeah, I can work on that. I’ll get my assistant to start running checks.”

  Sara rose and walked to the window. “I wondered if the two of you would like to have a celebratory dinner with Josh and me tonight.” When she turned back toward them, her smile beamed.

  “Only if you tell me what you’re celebrating.” Elin wanted to hear the whole story from her friend. “I bet I can guess though. The idiot finally came to his senses.”

  “Hey, that’s my future husband you’re talking about.” Sara’s smile grew wider. “We’re getting married in a month.”

  Elin leaped up to hug her. “A month! Isn’t that a little fast?”

  Sara’s smile was bright enough to light the room. “Neither of us want a big wedding, and I’ve waited on him for way too long as it is. I want to nab him before he changes his mind.”

  Marc hugged her too. “I hope I get to give you away.”

  She clung to him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. And Elin will be my maid of honor.”

  At least the horrible evening had brought something good with it.

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  The moon glimmered on the waves as they rolled to shore. Elin’s flip-flops smacked on the old boards as she and Marc walked out to the end of the pier. Marc kicked off his flip-flops and dangled his feet off the end of the pier. She lifted her face to the fresh sea scent as she settled beside him. A dolphin leaped out of the water and splashed back down a few feet to their west.

  A good omen for what she intended to tell Marc.

  Her heart thumped in her chest. Maybe it was too soon for this decision. Maybe it was the wrong decision, and she would regret it.

  She turned her head and looked at the lights gleaming out through the house. “I wonder what this place looked like in Georgina’s day. I think it was about the same size. I haven’t seen any obvious additions. Of course, she probably didn’t have electric lights out here for a long time. Maybe when she was older, electricity made its way this far.”

  “Still no sign of the leather pouch you’re looking for?”

  She shook her head. “I wanted to hope Mom really found it, but I think it was just a hallucination. I’m sure it’s long gone.”

  “She said Kalianne found it. When the police pick them up, hopefully we can get it back. If it even exists. The city hasn’t been found though, so maybe it does.”

  “True.” She lay back on the grayed boards with her legs still dangling over the edge of the pier and stared into the night sky. A million stars twinkled down on her, and the moon looked as big as a hot-air balloon.

  “Gorgeous night.”

  “It is.” What was she doing making small talk when she’d suggested this walk for a specific purpose? Her cowardice disgusted her.

  Marc lay back too, then rolled on his side to stare at her. “Okay, Elin, what gives? It’s not like you to suggest a romantic walk on the beach, so you must have something up your sleeve. You remembered something about the killer?”

  She rolled to her side too, and they lay nose to nose about a foot apart on the cool boards. His spicy cologne mingled with the salt air. It felt way too intimate for what she wanted to say, but she wasn’t backing out now.

  She propped her head on her hand. “It’s not about the murderer. I’ve been thinking about what you said about raising Josie together.”

  His eyes widened, and he propped his head on his hand too. “You’ve made a decision?”

  “Sort of.” She wet her lips. “I’ll accept your suggestion.”

  “That’s great!”

  A little stunned at the light in his eyes, she shook her head. “Don’t agree too quickly. I have one caveat.”

  “Name it.” No regret lingered in his eyes, no trepidation.

  Now came the difficult part. She could already feel the heat building in her cheeks. What kind of woman said what she intended to say?

  “You look frightened.” His words were soft. “You can tell me anything.”

  He was much too close and much too enticing. Unable to look into his eyes, she sat up and drew her knees to her chest. “What do you think of me, Marc?”

  He sat up too. “I think you’re strong and courageous. You see a glass half full no matter what is going on in your life. I love the way you think about other people first.”

  “I didn’t phrase that right. How do you feel about me?” She wasn’t sure she’d even be able to hear his answer over the pulsing blood in her veins. Surely that kiss meant something. Marc wasn’t like some men. He wouldn’t have kissed her like that unless he felt something.

  The moonlight illuminated his face as he turned toward her. “I don’t want to tell you because it might change your mind.”

  Her chest hitched, and pressure built behind her eyes. She would not cry. “I see. You feel nothing for me but friendship?”

  He frowned. “I didn’t say that. Heck, I might as well get it all out in the open.” Reaching over, he twisted a long lock of her red hair around his finger. “I love you, Elin. I didn’t want to, but when I’m around you, I feel somehow bigger and more capable. More whole.”

  Her throat closed, and her mouth went dry. Was he saying what she thought he was? She was afraid to look away in case the warm light in his eyes would disappear when she looked again.

  “Nothing to say?” His rueful smile wobbled a little. “You going to change your mind now that you know I’m crazy about you?”

  Moisture gathered on her lashes, and she shook her head. “I love you, Marc. Everything about you—your tenderness for Josie—did me in. When I saw how much love you were capable of, I began to want a piece for myself. My caveat was that I wanted us to at least have a date once a week and see if there was any spark left on your side.”

  His hand plunged into her hair, and he pulled her into his arms. His familiar male scent made her burrow closer. She could feel his heart thudding under her ear.

  He touched her chin and tipped her face up, then his lips claimed hers. Warm and persuasive, the sweet pressure of his mouth made her wrap her arms around his neck. He loved her! Wonder filled her, and she returned the passion in his kiss with all the pent-up loneliness of the last five ye
ars.

  He ran his thumb over the tears on her cheek and then passed the back of his hand over the other side of her face. “Why are you crying?” A shadow hunkered in his eyes.

  “I’m happy, so happy,” she whispered. “I never thought you would say you loved me. I never dared hope for it.”

  “I looked up that verse last night, the one in Corinthians about love.” He fumbled in his pocket with one hand. “I wrote it out and was going to give it to you when I proposed with a ring, but you derailed my plans.” He pressed the paper into her hand. “Love is always supposed to protect, trust, hope, and persevere. I want to show that kind of love to you and Josie.”

  More tears spilled from her eyes. “What do you think Josie will say?”

  His tender smile beamed. “She’ll ask if she can be the flower girl. But enough of Josie. Kiss me again, woman.”

  So she obliged. The taste of him wasn’t anything she was going to get tired of.

  Marc put down his suspense novel and wished he could go to sleep. He kept replaying the evening with Elin. They were going to be a family. He wanted to shout it from the rooftop.

  He wasn’t a warm milk kind of guy, but maybe a bowl of cereal would help. The kitchen was quiet, and he fixed his cereal, then carried it to the table by the window. He glanced down on the moonlit backyard. Silvery light bathed the flowers and trees all the way to the line of live oaks. He sat down and lifted the spoon to his mouth.

  The glass shattered, and wood splinters flew from the chair he was sitting in. That was a gunshot. He dove under the table as things exploded around him again. His gun was in his room. He had to get his gun before Elin became a target. Reaching up, he flipped off the light and crawled into the living room and down the hall to his room. He grabbed his Glock from the top shelf in the closet and raced to Elin’s room.

  She was in the doorway when he got there. “I thought I heard gunshots.” Her eyes were wide and frightened.

  “You did. Go to your room and lock the door. Call the sheriff too. I’ll go after the shooter.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Be careful, Marc. If he hurts you . . .” Her eyes swam with tears.

  He squeezed her hand. “I will. You won’t get rid of me so easily.”

  He raced down the stairs, then paused at the bottom and listened. The only sound that came to his ears was the wind. He dropped to his knees, crawled to the living room window, and looked out toward the water. Nothing moved but the waves and the trees.

  After checking to make sure the front door was secure, he crawled to the dining area. The breeze came through the broken glass and lifted his hair. The hammock on the deck creaked in the wind too. He went to the kitchen and cautiously peered out the window. Nothing out of order.

  The roar of a motor caught his attention, and he went to the living room again in time to see boat lights heading away from shore.

  On Tuesday morning Elin hurried along to Oyster Café in Hope Beach. Kerri waved to her from a table in the courtyard. She wore her auburn hair up in a ponytail, and the turquoise top she wore enhanced the green in her hazel eyes.

  Elin hugged her. “You got here early.”

  Kerri released her and sat back down. “You’re buying. And besides, I could hear the excitement in your voice when you called. You’re really going to marry Marc?”

  Elin couldn’t hold back the smile. “I am. I still can’t believe it. I can’t even tell you how happy I am.”

  “Where is the bridegroom today?”

  Elin told her about the attack the night before. “He took the bullets to the FBI office to check ballistics.” She rubbed her head. “I just want this over so we can get on with our lives.”

  “Me too. This is so scary. I’m glad you have Marc. But you said you had something else to talk to me about. What’s up?”

  Elin held up one finger as the server, a middle-aged woman dressed in shorts and a tank top, approached. They ordered coffee and she-crab soup. Once they were alone again, she pulled her chair closer to her friend. “Were you on the Seawind cruise? You never mentioned it.”

  Kerri went red, then white. She nodded. “I should have told you, but I didn’t want you to know how stupid I was.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Her friend slumped back in her chair. “Ben had been calling, asking if we might stand a chance of getting back together. At first I told him no, but he told me he’d booked us on that cruise. I thought, what the heck? It’s worth a try, especially if I got a free cruise out of it. Boy, was I wrong.”

  “What happened?”

  “He’d gotten us two separate cabins, but I found it almost impossible to get him out of mine. But not for the reason you might think. He only wanted to talk about you. He asked how you were since the transplant, if you were seeing anyone. I think he only wanted me to go so he could grill me about you. He never so much as tried to kiss me.” She blinked rapidly.

  “I’m sorry, Kerri.”

  She nodded and twisted the napkin in her fingers. “I should have known better. And it’s not your fault. He’s just a freak.”

  The server brought their coffee. Elin thanked her and stirred in the cream as her thoughts raced. Could Ben still be attracted to her? But no, he’d gone out with Sara and seemed very interested. And he hadn’t been by to see her, though she’d suspected he would.

  “Did you meet Laura at all? She worked in the medical facility. You probably wouldn’t have needed that, but I thought she might have been around for meals or something.”

  “I didn’t, no. I would have told you I was there if there’d been the least bit of contact.”

  “I thought so, but I wanted to ask.” Had Ben met Laura? Elin doubted Kerri would know.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you,” Kerri said. “It’s not a big deal. We tried and it didn’t work. End of story.”

  “Ben is here, on Hope Island. Did you know that?”

  Kerri shook her head. “But you know how he puts in for every fun assignment out there.” She stopped and bit her lip. “Wait, are you saying he arrived after you did?”

  When had he arrived on the island? Elin remembered back to what he had told her. “Actually, I think he got here before I did.” The realization eased her trepidation. “A month or so before.”

  “Well, um, I think I might have mentioned to him that you were moving here. You put the offer on your house two months before you moved in. He called after we got home from the cruise. I think I might have said something.”

  She pushed away her unease. “At least he hasn’t bothered me. It’s no big deal.”

  “I hope not.”

  Elin stared at her friend. “What aren’t you telling me, Kerri?”

  “Haven’t you ever wondered if he was a little obsessed with you?”

  “Obsession seems a little strong.”

  “What happened when he showed up after Tim died? You didn’t say.”

  Elin sipped her coffee to take away the chill she felt thinking about it. “He said in the Bible, the surviving brother took care of the widow, and he’d give me the children Tim couldn’t.”

  Kerri shuddered. “Okay, that’s seriously creepy. He tried to jump you?”

  “Well, he tried to kiss me, but I shoved him away. He got really mad. I thought he was going to hit me, and I locked myself in the bathroom with my cell phone. I told him to leave or I’d call the police.”

  “And he did?”

  She nodded. “I heard the door slam, then his truck started. I watched out the bathroom window until he pulled out of the driveway, then I ran to the front door and locked it.”

  “Did you see him after that?”

  She put her coffee cup down. “I saw him a couple of times at his mother’s. He acted like nothing had happened, so I did too. I chalked it up to distress over Tim’s death. I think it was just grief talking. And when I saw him here, things weren’t tense.”

  “That’s probably it.” Kerri looked unconvinced.

  “Enough about t
his. All I have to do is stay out of his way. I think I need to warn Sara though. He may have transferred his obsession to her. Someone said he’d told him he intended to marry her. He won’t be happy when he hears she’s marrying Josh.”

  “Definitely warn her.”

  The server brought their soup, and Elin tucked into it. Sara was smart enough to handle someone like Ben.

  Marc was getting coffee when his phone rang. He winced when he saw Harry’s name on the display. His boss had already gotten wind of the bullets he’d brought in for analysis. His gut tightened at the thought of being fired.

  He thumbed it on. “Everton.”

  “Well, you did it again, Marc.”

  Harry didn’t sound mad. “Did what?”

  “Ballistics of the bullets you brought in match the one that killed Will.”

  Marc’s heart leaped. “Same gun?”

  “Looks like it.” Harry cleared his throat. “Looks like I owe you an apology. But you still disobeyed a direct order. I should fire you.”

  “But you won’t.”

  “I’d be pretty stupid to fire my best agent. Find that guy, Marc. He murdered one of our own.”

  “I intend to. Thanks for letting me know personally, Harry.”

  “Least I could do. I’ll send a couple more agents your way tomorrow. There will be nowhere for him to hide.”

  “Thanks. I’ll touch base with you in the morning.” He’d barely disconnected the call when his phone rang again. A Norfolk number. “Everton,” he barked, expecting a sales call.

  “Mr. Everton?” a female voice quavered, then gulped.

  “Samantha?”

  “Yes. I hope you don’t mind me calling you.”

  He immediately remembered how pregnant she was. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She inhaled. “I know where Ryan is. He just called Dad, and I overheard him say he was at the cabin.”

  “Cabin?”

  “Yes, it’s near Roanoke, out in the woods.” She told him how to get there. “His family has owned it forever, and he’s been holed up there. I forgot about it.”