by Kathi Daley
“Okay, you’re all set,” Tara said as she returned. “I’ll take you over to see Parker on his lunch break.”
“I hate to make him miss lunch,” Willow said.
“He doesn’t mind, and I’ll bring him a sandwich. We should be back in plenty of time for Cait to make the midday ferry.”
“Speaking of ferries, here comes the first one of the day,” I announced. “Everyone man your battle stations,” I joked.
******
Once the ferry crowd had cleared out and Tara and Willow had left for her doctor’s appointment I took a minute to check in with Cody. He’d met with Mr. Forrester, who was willing to work out a deal with Burt in exchange for Cody paving the way for him to obtain the building permits he was after. The problem had to do with the number of homes he wanted to build on the land he’d purchased. Based on the current ordinance, only 60 percent of the surface area of any plot could be covered with permanent structures outside of the area designated for commercial enterprises. The town council had adopted this ordinance to maintain the rural feel of the island. Mr. Forrester wanted to maximize the land he’d bought for development by building a greater number of homes. His plan called for smaller yards and homes built much closer together than was currently allowed. To continue with his development, he’d require a variance, something the town council hadn’t been inclined to grant.
When Cody first met with Mr. Forrester about Burt’s home he hadn’t seemed to be willing to even discuss the return of a house he’d ended up with for pennies on the dollar; when Cody let it slip that he was engaged to the sister of the mayor, suddenly he was all about mutual back scratching. Cody still had no idea how he could resolve the situation, but it was at least worth looking in to.
As for Willow and her situation, Cody hadn’t come up with any new leads, but he was still game to take the midday ferry to San Juan Island, so he arranged to meet me at the bookstore at two-thirty. I restocked the coffee bar once again and was about to go down the hallway to the storage room when Cassie walked in with Alex.
“Look who I found loitering out front,” Cassie teased.
“Alex,” I cried as I hurried across the store for a hug. “I’ve missed you. How have you been?”
“I’ve been good. Great, actually.”
I took a step back. “That’s awesome. I’m so happy you’re here for the holiday. We have to plan to get together for lunch or dinner. I’d suggest today, but I’m going over to San Juan Island on the midday ferry.”
“Then another day for sure.” Alex looked at his watch. “I should get going anyway. I hadn’t planned to stop by today, but I saw Cassie out front and had to take a minute to say hi. I just arrived on the island and there’s no food in my house, so I need to get to the market. Call me tomorrow and we’ll figure out a time to get together.”
“I will.” I hugged Alex again, before he turned and headed to the door.
“Is Tara here?” Cassie asked after Alex left. “I wanted to talk to you both about a job.”
“She took Willow for a doctor’s appointment, but they should be back soon. If you aren’t busy I could use some help restocking the coffee supplies.”
“I assume I’m on the clock?”
I shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
******
Tara and Willow returned a few minutes before Cody arrived to catch the ferry. I didn’t have a lot of time to ask questions, but I did find out Willow’s baby was indeed a boy, as she suspected and I already knew, and he was in perfect health, which was a relief to us all. Parker had given Willow prenatal vitamins and another appointment in a month. I wasn’t sure what Willow’s long-term plans would be, but I’d been toying with the idea of talking to Tara about keeping her on past the holiday, at least until the baby was born. Broke and homeless was no way to be when you had a baby to consider.
“I think the bar is a block over,” I said to Cody as we landed on San Juan Island. “Maybe we can grab something hot to drink while we’re there. It’s freezing today.”
“A hot toddy does sound good. I hoped it would be warm enough to walk around and enjoy the Christmas decorations, but I have a feeling we’re going to want to wait inside for the next ferry back to Madrona. I should have worn my heavier jacket.”
“I have one in my car back at the bookstore. If we decide to go into town we can grab yours as well.” I stopped walking and pointed down the street. “There.”
We began walking again.
“Have you planned ahead for when we get there?” Cody asked.
“Not really,” I admitted. “I guess we just strike up a conversation, then ask about Tim or Trace or whatever name he’s using. Willow gave me a drawing Tara made of him, and I’m hoping someone will recognize him.”
The bar was, thankfully, warm. It was nicely decorated, with garlands hanging from the bar and a tree in the corner. Cody and I sat down at the bar and ordered Irish coffees. Soft jazz played in the background, providing a cozy feeling to the already welcoming atmosphere.
“Can I get you folks anything else?” the bartender asked after setting our beverages in front of us.
“Actually, I was hoping you could help me find a friend I’m trying to track down,” I answered. “His name is Trace and he worked on Madrona Island this summer. I understand he might have been using the name Tim while he was here.” I slipped the man the drawing.
“We get a lot of folks coming in and out during the summer, but he does look familiar. Can you tell me anything else that might help him stand out in my mind?”
“I’ve been told he worked for a fishing operation based in Alaska for a while, though that lead didn’t pan out.”
“Alaska? Any chance he worked for a cargo hauler?”
“I don’t know. He might have. Unfortunately, we don’t know much.”
“I can’t be sure, but I remember talk of a kid named Tim who got himself mixed up in some dirty business involving a company that transported people and smaller yet more valuable cargo between the islands and Alaska. If the guy you’re looking for is the one I’m thinking of you should talk to Blackburn. He runs a cargo transport operation out of the local marina. Deals in high-dollar transports for customers willing to pay cash.”
“So, illegal property?”
“I didn’t say that, and you might not want to either. Still, if your friend was hauling cargo Blackburn would know about it.”
“Where can I find him?”
“Lives in a cabin near the marina. Go down to the end of this street, turn left when you get to the marina, and follow the road to the end. You can tell him I sent you, but whatever you do, don’t ask him about his own operation. Blackburn doesn’t take kindly to people nosing around in his business.”
“Understood.”
Cody slipped the bartender forty dollars and we were heading to the door when a man stumbled into the bar. He was totally hammered and certainly didn’t need another drink. I was about to step around him when he changed direction and bumped into me, almost knocking me to the floor. Cody grabbed my arm and steadied me. I was about to make a remark about his inebriated state when I realized he was the man Tara had hired to play Santa for Coffee Cat Books beginning the next day.
“You’re Bruce Littleton.”
“Yeah. What’s it to you?”
Cody grabbed my arm and led me out the door before I could respond.
“What’s with the manhandling?” I complained as he pulled me out into the cold.
“The guy was drunk and not thinking straight. I could tell by his body language that he was looking for a fight. I’ve seen it before. There are some guys who consider slugging it out with a total stranger to be some sort of therapeutic release. I’m sure I could have taken him if I’d been forced to engage, but I’m just as happy to avoid the confrontation altogether.”
“I guess you’re right. I need to call Tara, though. There’s no way that drunk is going to be our Santa.”
Tara confirmed that she’d verba
lly offered Bruce the job when he’d applied a few days earlier, but they hadn’t gotten around to filling out any paperwork. After I told her about the confrontation we agreed she’d call to tell him we were going in a different direction and his services wouldn’t be required after all. Of course, that left us short a Santa, but I reminded her that Alex, who had been the best one we’d ever had, was in town. Perhaps he wouldn’t mind helping us out for old time’s sake. Tara agreed to ask him.
Once that was settled, Cody and I headed to the marina. There were flurries in the air that were pretty, but I couldn’t help but long for the warmth of a crackling fire and a warm throw to snuggle under. Maybe Cody and I would just go back to my place when we got back to Madrona. The idea of cuddling under a blanket while we shared our dreams for the future was sounding better and better with every minute that passed.
Unlike most of the other buildings in town, Blackburn’s cabin lacked even the most basic of holiday decorations. It was getting dark and the blinds were drawn, but I saw a light shining through the crack between them, so we climbed the shabby stairs and knocked.
“Yeah?” a rough-looking man with yellowed teeth and a large scar on his cheek answered.
“My name is Caitlin Hart and this is Cody West. We’re looking for a friend and was told you might have seen him.” He just stared at me, so I continued. “I call him Trace, but I understand he could be using the name Tim. He might have worked for a cargo transport company that operated out of the marina over the summer, although we aren’t certain.”
“Skinny kid with a mop of dark hair?”
“Yeah, that sounds like him. Do you happen to know where he might be now?”
“I’m guessing dead.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Dead?”
“Kid was too big for his britches. It’s my understanding one of my competitors hired him on for a few long hauls. From what I heard, the kid was full of bad ideas and decided to do some transporting on the side. Most folks who hire a person to work on their behalf don’t take kindly to their employees cutting them out of whatever jobs might come their way.”
“Do you know what Tim was transporting?”
Blackburn shrugged. “Probably drugs or stolen goods. I don’t have all the details; I just heard some of my men talking about the fact that some dumb kid had come to the area thinking he was smarter than the man he worked for, but it turned out he was wrong.”
“Do you know the name of the man Tim might have worked for?”
“Goes by Trout, but I wouldn’t be asking him about your friend if I were you. Lots of ways to end up dead. Stealing from your boss is one of them; asking the wrong person the wrong question is another.”
Chapter 6
“What do you make of that?” Cody asked as we rode the ferry back to Madrona Island.
“I don’t know, but I think I need to talk to Aiden and Danny. They both own boats and know all the local players. I suppose I should have brought them in on this from the beginning. They might even have met Tim at some point over the summer.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. I know we’re trying to keep things quiet, but I have a feeling quiet isn’t going to help us find the guy.”
“I’m not sure I even want to. I’m afraid our search for the father of Willow’s baby won’t have a happy ending if Trace is dead. I hate to even suggest such a thing to Willow until we know for sure one way or another.”
“So don’t. At least not until we know more. We don’t even know with one hundred percent certainty that Trace and Tim are the same person.”
I looked out the window and watched as the falling snow hit the water. The heat from the overhead vent combined with the loud, steady hum of the ferry engine left me feeling lethargic, but my mind was in such turmoil I knew I’d never be able to relax enough to actually rest.
Cody put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Do you still want to go shopping?”
I turned to look at the man I loved. “Honestly, no. I think I’d rather head back to the cabin, build a fire, put on some music, and make that list we never got around to last night. Danny and Aiden should both be at Maggie’s; maybe we can pick their brains as well.”
“Do we need to stop by the bookstore to pick up the cats?” Cody asked.
“Cassie’s bringing them home. She’s off on break for the next two weeks and is going to work at the bookstore, so she offered to help out with the cats anytime I needed her.”
“That will help. It’s hard to know how things are going to work out, but it seems helping Willow has the potential to become pretty complicated.”
“It really does seem that way. I was thinking…” My thought was interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I looked at the caller ID before I answered. “Hey, Tara, what’s up?”
“Parker and I are going to grab a bite to eat. I figured the last ferry would be docking in the next ten minutes. Do you want to join us?”
I considered taking Tara up on her offer, then decided I was too cold and tired to go out for dinner. “I think we’ll pass tonight. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and am pretty beat. Another time, though.
“How’d it go on San Juan? Did your lead pan out?”
“Maybe. Cody and I found out that someone named Tim worked for a local cargo hauler named Trout. We don’t know that Tim and Trace are the same guy, but in the event they are, Cody and I plan to follow up with him. We’ve been led to understand he’s the sort who doesn’t like people poking around in his business, so we thought we’d have a chat with Aiden and Danny when we get back to the cabin. They know all the people who operate in this area.”
“As long as you’re talking to them, show them the drawing and ask them if they recognize him. If he worked on the water at all, chances are one of them ran into him at some point. Also, Willow remembered something Trace told her back in Seattle that may help. He told her that he chose to work on Madrona for the summer because his grandfather had told him so many amazing stories about the island. After she thought about it she said he made it sound like the grandfather had lived here at some point, although he’d since passed on.”
“If he lived on the island that could be helpful, but without a name I don’t know how good a lead it is.”
“I know it’s a long shot, but Trace said his grandfather was a carpenter who was known for his unique furniture designs. There aren’t a lot of furniture designers in the islands, so it might be possible to find the name of a carpenter who lived here around the time Trace was a kid.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to ask around. Maggie might have an idea who we’re looking for. If we could identify the grandfather that might help us figure out the legal first and last name of the man who fathered Willow’s baby. If we can do that we might have success with a Google search.”
“That’s what I thought. Will you be in tomorrow?”
“I’m planning on it. I’ll call you if something comes up, but for now I’ll see you in the morning.” I hung up and turned to Cody. “Tara has a lead regarding Trace’s grandfather that may pan out.”
“We may as well follow all the clues we come up with to their natural conclusion. The ferry’s about to dock. Let’s head down to the car.”
******
We picked up a pizza with the works and drove to my cabin. I let Max out for a quick run while Cody built a fire, plugged in the Christmas tree, lit some candles, and put on some music. By the time we returned the pizza had been warmed and the wine was open. We had the perfect setup for an evening of romance. Too bad we had work to do.
“While Max and I were out, I noticed everyone’s car is in the drive, which means everyone’s staying in tonight. I know we didn’t want to bring too many people in on what we’re up to, but we’re planning to talk to Danny and Aiden and Cassie and Siobhan already know at least part of what we’re doing, so I think we should just go ahead and bring everyone up to speed. Finn really should be in the loop, especially if it turns out this Trout guy is
involved, and Maggie always has her finger on the pulse of all the gossip on the island.”
“Fine,” Cody said. “We don’t need to mention the fact that Willow’s baby will grow up to play an important role in the future, but I don’t see the harm in letting the others in on the fact that we’re trying to find the baby’s father so she can proceed with the adoption.”
“Okay, let’s eat and then go over to Maggie’s. Siobhan is a wiz at keeping us all organized; maybe if we put our heads together we can figure out where the baby daddy is.”
When Cody and I arrived at Maggie’s everyone was gathered in the living room watching a Christmas movie. The movie, which I’d seen before, had only about fifteen minutes remaining, so I sat on the floor near Danny’s feet while Cody pulled a barstool up behind the sofa. As soon as the credits began to roll, I asked them if they’d be willing to help us with something we were working on. Before I could say Ghost of Christmas Future, Siobhan was on her way upstairs, dragging Finn and Danny behind her, to grab a whiteboard and the other things we’d need.
“I was hoping you’d decide to bring us in on whatever’s going on with Willow,” Siobhan said as she took her place in front of the whiteboard.
“It’s sort of a delicate situation, so I needed to check out a few things first, but I think you can all be helpful,” I answered. “Willow came to the island to find the father of her baby. We don’t have a lot to go on because she didn’t know him well, but finding him is important because he has to sign off on the adoption Willow has arranged.”
“She isn’t going to keep him?” Siobhan’s face fell.