Love Notes in the Key of Sea Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #2 (Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series)

by Anna Celeste Burke

  “I am getting pretty good at it. Fortunately, that bell tower did the job for me. Come on, let’s eat!”

  “I take it you’ve been up for a while since you had time to order this lovely breakfast for us.” I followed Jack and sat down. I could hear the waves lapping at the shore, off in the distance. The surf was up this morning, and surfers were out in the sparkling blue Pacific, several riding aloft on the surging waters. A distant whoop of delight made its way to us.

  “Long enough to get an appointment with the local homicide detective. I scheduled a meeting with Mitchum in San Albinus while you take Meredith to that Chamber Made gunk-and-goop shop.”

  “Gunk-and-goop shop! That’s a good one, Jack.”

  “I’m not sure it's such a good idea to put anything she makes on your face.”

  “I doubt she makes anything herself. My guess is she does what a lot of shops like hers do—puts together expensive, designer label gunk-and-goop selected by her for you. Mainly, I want to give Meredith a chance to talk about how she’s doing. Maybe it’ll cheer her up to go home with a bag of goodies. She seems to be doing remarkably well. I was still a wreck after they released me from the hospital. I dropped out of college at that point. I didn’t want to go back until I knew what had happened to Danny. When fall rolled around, I still couldn’t go back to UC Santa Cruz, so I enrolled in cooking school instead."

  "I can understand that you didn't want to go back to Santa Cruz. Your chef's training was an excellent way to keep moving forward while your life was tied up by the mystery of Danny’s disappearance. Let’s hope Meredith doesn’t have to wait too long for good news about her friend Kat.”

  “I agree. Meredith is so close to finishing her degree. I’m hoping she can go back and wrap it up. That’ll be easier to do if Kat makes a speedy recovery.”

  “It’s hard to believe they never found any trace of Danny, or Tommy Harwell, for that matter. I could understand Harwell taking a hike. Depending on what went on that night, he could have been in a lot of trouble. Danny’s another story. I can’t believe he wouldn’t have gotten in touch with you if it was possible for him to do it. In fact, I can’t imagine him doing that to you unless…”

  “Unless he’s dead. It took me about five years, but I slowly came to the same conclusion. After going over everything, again, with the police when I visited for Jennifer's wedding, they said as much. It’s possible his body was swept out to sea rather than washing up on shore like Mark's.” I stopped eating and gazed out at the sunshine dancing amid the rolling waves.

  “Do you still love him? After all this time? Is that why you never married someone else?” I reached out and took Jack’s hand.

  “I love the idea I have in my head of Danny and the feelings we had for each other. I idealized him, and for a while, I’m sure I carried around unrealistic expectations about love. I’ve thought about this a lot and even worked on it in therapy. It’s not only that Danny was my first love—like Traci was for you. Danny and I never got past that initial rush of falling in love, the intoxicating sense of unbelievable luck that you’ve found each other. We hadn’t gone through any of the struggles that test love. If we’d stayed together, who knows what might have happened? I'm a loyal person, Jack. At first, I was afraid to give up on him, and before I knew it, months had slipped into years. When I came around to the idea that Danny must be dead, or he would have come back to me, I faced a different fear.”

  “What?”

  “A fear of falling in love again. It's irrational, superstitious even, but what if love invites trouble? That fear piled up on top of the fear of starting over, too.” Jack shook his head like he understood.

  “I went through something like that when my marriage to Traci ended. Even after getting 'back into circulation' as friends urged me to do, I felt burned by love. You were so young, Georgie, when Danny disappeared. You don’t like to date the men you work with, but you went back and finished your degree. There must have been lots of men in your life then.”

  “There were. I’ve told you about the demanding schedules chefs keep—almost as bad as the demands on detectives which must have put a damper on your efforts to circulate." Jack smirked at my snippy tone of voice. Nabbed. I poked at my food, taken aback that a sudden bout of jealousy had sandbagged me before I could hide it.

  "Work demands didn't help, but a bigger issue in my remaining single was the fact that I didn't run into anyone who captivated my imagination. Until recently, that is," he said, grasping my free hand. He broke out in a broad smile that amplified the thrill from kisses he placed on my palm. Jealousy fled, replaced by the urge to act on another of the school-girl emotions Jack evoked. I let my fingers brush the side of his face as I struggled to remind myself that I’m no school girl.

  "I understand what you mean. When I went back to college, many of my classmates were younger than me. It wasn’t only my age. After what I’d lived through, I had outgrown them.” Jack gave my hand a squeeze like he got it.

  “Even after I earned my degree and moved out of the kitchen, working for the Cat at Marvelous Marley World asked a lot—more like 60 rather than 40 hours a week. As a woman, I always felt compelled to do more than the men around me. It could be I used work as a way to avoid romantic relationships. So many things about that night remained unresolved. Those unanswered questions kept my life in limbo.”

  “That’s always true until a case is closed. Meredith is still in limbo, waiting for news about her friend Kat, as you have pointed out. It's fortunate that they apprehended the guy who did this to her and Kat, but if there’s a trial that’s an ordeal she may yet have to endure. There’s often a price to pay for closure, but it’s worse when a case goes cold like yours and Danny’s.” He stopped talking and poured us more coffee.

  “Enough of the Jack Wheeler third degree about your love life. My interests in you and your past are incredibly selfish. That’s true about my motivation to find out what happened to Danny Ferrell. I want to free you from the hold the past has over you. If you learn what happened to him, maybe that will do it.”

  “It’s like I have a song stuck in my head. Danny’s song. If I can play it through to the end, maybe it will stop. If Danny’s dead, Jack, how is it possible for someone to play that song he wrote for me?”

  “I intend to find that out. From what you’ve said, that bar was packed the night Danny played that song for you. He played it around town and at the beach other times. That might have been enough for someone musical, like Danny, to pick up the tune. Besides Jennifer and Meredith, who knew you were going to be here this weekend?”

  “Members of the staff here at the resort, of course, and Carolyn Chambers, maybe. She recognized me on sight. From that catty remark about my picture in the tabloids, I assumed that’s how she knew who I was before anyone introduced us. Meeting at the restaurant seemed like an accident, but maybe it wasn’t. Then why not say that? If she knew we were going to be there why feign surprise?” Jack shrugged in response to my question.

  “I suppose she could have felt awkward being blunt about purposely intruding. Especially if bumping into you at dinner had more to do with curiosity about you than working out plans for a trip to Wisconsin with her BFF Jennifer.” Jack shrugged.

  “After meeting her, I'd say if Carolyn knew I was coming to town, a lot of other people heard about it. She fits the bill, in my book, as the local version of the Gossip Girl.”

  “Yeah, I bet that’s true. I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily. It strikes me as a little too coincidental that not only does someone know Danny’s song, but arranges for you to hear it so soon after you turn up in Corsario Cove.” I felt a chill slip down my backbone. Had that guy with the binoculars been watching me, waiting for me to arrive? If that was the case, he now knew the room in which I was staying.

  “I understand what you’re saying. Coincidences bother me, too.” I still wasn’t ready to mention the candles.

  “Maybe Tommy Harwell’s not dead, after all
,” Jack offered.

  “I doubt his reappearance would have gone unnoticed in San Albinus, with or without Gossip Girl’s help. Do you suspect Carolyn is behind this somehow?”

  “I wish I knew. If the police had anyone else as suspects besides Danny and the Harwell brothers, I’m sure they would have mentioned that to you.”

  “True. That shakedown of the residents at Boardertown was the only effort they ever made to broaden the search for suspects.”

  “No one has harassed or threatened you since you left the area. The incidents must be related to your sudden return. Maybe someone’s afraid your return is an effort to dig into the past and they don’t want you to do that.”

  “Maybe Carolyn Chambers spotted you the moment you arrived and wants me out of the way so she can have you all to herself. Some kind of instant fatal attraction thing. ‘Have we met?’’’ I said in a mock vampy voice. Then mimicked those slashing motions the woman had made. Jack roared with laughter.

  “Let’s see what Detective Mitchum has to say about all of this. He’s going to do a quick review of records from the case before we meet. Maybe Tommy and Mark had a buddy or two with them that night and your visit is making the old guy anxious about his past.” That idea seemed as preposterous as killer candles or Carolyn taking on the Glenn Close role in fatal attraction.

  “I hate for Detective Mitchum to go to any trouble. I didn’t hear the music clearly, and it didn’t last long. What if I’m wrong?” The sight of those candles stashed in my trash can flashed through my mind again.

  “Well, I can’t confirm that it was Danny’s song, but your reaction was immediate, almost a reflex. I’m betting you heard right. Trust your gut, Georgie. Get dressed and we’ll take in the sights in San Albinus before our meetings. My plan is to catch up with you two at Carolyn’s little shop of horrors.”

  “I hope that’s not what it is. Little shop of wasted money, more likely. I’ve never been a big fan of cosmetics.”

  “That’s because you’re a beauty…no gunk and goop required! Not every woman is that lucky.”

  “And there you go with the blarney. Jack Wheeler's laying on the charm. I’m putty in your hands.”

  “I wish.” He wore such a sincere expression on his face, I laughed. I was kidding, but not completely. The temptation to believe all Jack’s sweet talk was compelling. Exciting, too!

  “You are one of a kind. There’s no one I’d rather have sitting here with me than you.” Jack smiled, grasped my hand again, and this time kissed each fingertip.

  “Glad you see the light,” he beamed.

  "Light" was the perfect choice of words for what I experienced in Jack’s presence. As I finished my breakfast, we chatted. Mostly, I pondered my feelings for Jack. Could this thing between us be the real deal? Odd to be wondering about a second chance at love as uneasy as I felt about being back in Corsario Cove. Everything about Jack charmed me and challenged me to reconsider my life as a single woman.

  Part of my conversation with Jack especially hit home as I headed back into my suite. No way was Danny still alive. He would never have left my side for long that night. Nor would he have left me wondering about him all these years. As I showered, a dozen images of Danny floated up before me. My tears mingled with the shower spray as I whispered a sweet goodbye to each one.

  When I stepped from the shower and wrapped myself in a bathrobe, new questions loomed. If Tommy Harwell had lived, or if one of his buddies was behind this, they’d all be older than me. That guy I had glimpsed standing on the beach with a pair of binoculars seemed younger. Jack was right that many people could have heard Danny’s song back then, but most of them would have been even older than Tommy Harwell, so also too old to be that man on the beach.

  Besides, why would anyone, then or now, bear a grudge against me about what went on that night? Why play that tune unless it had been intended to inspire fear or drive me away from the Cove? I could tell Jack was worried, but if someone meant to harm me physically what had prevented that from happening already? Why play all the mind games?

  I was still considering those questions when I entered the walk-in closet to dress. The silk pantsuit I had worn the night before was draped over a wooden valet. I checked it to make sure I didn’t need to send it out for cleaning before hanging it correctly. That card I’d stuffed into my pocket was still there. I pulled it out and checked the address for Chamber Made, and then flipped it over. My heart leaped into my throat. On the back, someone had scrawled a handwritten message:

  “Love Notes in the Key of Sea. I’ll never let you forget.”

  “Jack,” I cried out, trying not to yell too loud, as I dashed from my bedroom, through the sitting room, and banged on the door to our adjoining suites. When Jack opened the door, I thrust that card at him. “Jack, this is the card that fell on the floor last night.”

  “Yeah, I can see that. It’s Carolyn Chamber’s card. I noticed that right away. That’s why I handed it to you.”

  “Look at the back!” Jack took one glance, pulled his phone from his pocket, and placed a call.

  “Detective Mitchum, please. Tell him it’s Jack Wheeler and I need to speak to him as soon as possible.”

  6 Boom Box

  An hour or so later we were standing in Carolyn Chamber’s shop. Jack, Detective Mitchum, and I were staring at a wide-eyed Carolyn Chambers. As wide-eyed as her newly Botoxed brow would allow her to be. She examined that business card, turning it over and over. It was now in a small, plastic evidence bag. I wasn’t sure what crime it evidenced—stalking, maybe.

  “It sure looks like it’s one of my cards. One of my new ones. Beautiful, huh?” No one responded, so she continued. “I have no idea how the writing on the back got there. That’s not mine.” She handed the bag back to Detective Mitchum. The large mustache above his lip moved up and down a couple of times before he spoke.

  “Any idea how it ended up at the Dulces Campana shortly after you ran into Ms. Shaw having dinner there? That seems like an awfully big coincidence to me, Carolyn.” Detective Mitchum shifted his weight from one foot to another. He put his hands in his pockets and then took them out again.

  “Nope, Detective. I didn’t do it.” She smiled up at him through thick lashes. “Are you going to cuff me and haul me off to investigate me more thoroughly?” I tried not to roll my eyes. Mitchum chuffed and did an awkward little two-step. Since Mitchum appeared to be at a loss for words, Jack spoke up.

  “Nobody’s taking you anywhere, Ms. Chambers. It would be helpful if you’d take us more seriously for a few minutes.”

  Not to mention knocking off the vamp routine, I mused growing more irritated by the moment.

  “When you say the cards are new, what does that mean? How new?” Jack asked.

  “They came in the mail a few days ago—middle of the week. Some went into this candy dish, see? Anybody who comes in the store can help themselves. I hand them out in the shops around here, too, but haven’t had much chance to do that yet.”

  “Have you seen anyone take a card this week?” Carolyn thought about Detective Mitchum’s question.

  “No, but I can’t always watch everyone in the store the way I can right now.” I could understand that. I tried to be discreet as I looked around. We were the only people in the store. Carolyn caught me.

  “School’s not out yet. Once the summer crowd gets here in another week or so it’ll be much busier.” Something jumped out at me as I continued to scan the shop.

  “Jack, isn’t that a surveillance camera?”

  “Yes, it is. Is that hooked up, Carolyn?”

  “Of course, it is. What’s the point of having security equipment if you don’t use it?”

  “Are the recorded video files stored here on the premises?” Mitchum asked as he picked up one of Carolyn’s cards like he was going to take it, and then put it back down.

  “How should I know? That’s what I pay the security service to do. You’re welcome to have a look if you’d like.�
� The two detectives dashed in the direction Carolyn pointed, through a door behind her. I stood there, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Carolyn appeared to be on edge.

  “Maybe I should wait to ask until the detectives get back, but I have another question for you.”

  “Okay,” she replied, drawing out the end of that word.

  “Did you tell anyone that I was going to be in town this weekend?”

  “Why would I do that? Besides, what difference does it make?” She was now fidgeting almost as bad as Mitchum had been doing before he fled.

  “I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it—part of the ‘local girl makes good’ thing you were talking about at dinner. I didn’t leave town under the best circumstances, so it wouldn’t surprise me if my name came up among you and your friends.” She looked even more uneasy now.

  “Yes, I’ve heard something about what happened years ago. You and Meredith should stay away from beaches.” That effort to be flippant didn’t cut it, and she knew it. “Sorry. That’s not nice. What are the odds that someone would attack both of you on a beach? Are the two attacks related?” That possibility had occurred to me, but I had quickly dismissed it.

  “No, I don't believe so. It’s not as though the two incidents happened in the same place or time. It’s been nearly forty years since someone attacked me like Meredith. Who told you about the incident on the beach here in Corsario Cove?” More fidgeting.

  “My mom and some of her friends were talking about it. I told them Jennifer said you were visiting to spend time with Meredith since you had lived through something similar. I thought Jennifer meant that mess you went through on Valentine’s Day at Arcadia Park. That’s when Mom told me about the other trouble, years ago.” That answered my earlier question. Carolyn had spread the word. Her disclosure prompted a new question from me.

  “How did she know about that?”

  “Mom wasn’t from around here, but Dad was. That’s how she ended up moving here. Dad was a jerk—a real loser even before he ditched us. I don't remember much about him, but Mom says he used to talk about Corsario Cove like it was heaven on earth. When I left home, she moved here. After a while, I got sick of New York, decided to join Mom here, and opened my shop.”