by Kim Allred
AJ blinked. “Adam.”
“Yep. Out of the blue, he asked what I thought of him. I mean, doesn’t he already know? He signed a deal with Adam’s company. But he said they only investigate the company itself. I don’t know. Maybe get to know the president or a partner, but no one else.”
Tilting her head, AJ pursed her lips. “That’s weird. When I met Ethan at Mom’s, Adam made it sound like they were friends.” AJ ran the evening over in her head, but she hadn’t paid attention when Adam introduced him. She had been on the defensive once again, which blotted out anything Adam said. “Maybe I’m not remembering it exactly right.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound like they’re friends to me.” Stella snatched her phone that vibrated across the table. She took a quick peek and sipped more water. “It might be his nature or his job in security, but he sounded like he was investigating.”
“Adam dropped by the paper this afternoon.”
Stella sloshed her martini and used one of her origami napkins to dab at the drops that fell on the table. “What did he want?”
AJ sat back. “He was all over the place with his questions.” She sprang forward again. “Oh my God. He was digging for something.” AJ stared at Stella, her awareness morphing from dawning apprehension to her usual anger at her brother. “I can’t believe it—he was trolling for something. He caught me off guard coming to the office, and I never caught on.”
“So, what was he asking about? You’re killing me here.”
Her words came slowly. “He was asking about Ethan. He said he was having second thoughts about introducing us.” AJ let out a short, bitter laugh. “As if he was worried about me.”
Stella grunted in support. “Yeah, right. But this sounds strange, even for me. What could either of them possibly be doing that would create all this intrigue? Other than giving us fodder for discussion.”
AJ stared at her beer. “Not sure.”
Stella’s phone vibrated again. Without looking at it, she picked it up, dropped it into her purse, and collected her other bags. “I need to run. Can you catch this one?”
AJ waved her hand, her mind already shifting into reporter mode.
“Looks like you have some digging to do at dinner.”
Stella’s parting words hung in the air long after she left the table. Then something snapped in the back of AJ’s mind. She had been so wrapped up in this latest twist of events, she’d forgotten about her episode with the ghost ship. She had hoped Stella could provide a logical explanation. Now it seemed it was hers to either worry over or forget.
8
The next morning, AJ sat in her car, staring at the scene before her. The fog hung low over the sea and surrounding woods, but it was starting to clear. Light from the masked sun fought to break through the last remnants of persistent mist. The fog had already departed from the old inn, framed by a small group of wind-bent trees dripping with the remaining dampness, the dew visible on the grassy areas.
AJ wasn’t sure why she came back, and it seemed silly now that she was sitting here. She should have called Stella last night after forgetting to mention the mystery ship while at Joe’s. She had been distracted by their discussion about Ethan and Adam, which had resulted in more questions with no answers. Her foray to the inn had receded to the background. Her mom had almost convinced her that her mind had been playing tricks. A result of too little sleep, too much worry over her writing block, and too many distractions. She’d never had an overly active imagination, at least not the type to conjure ghost ships. Her world consisted of facts and historical documentation, whether it was at the paper or with her antiquing.
Yet here she was again, when she should be climbing, forcing her creative juices to flow. Over her morning coffee, she convinced herself that this visit would confirm that the fog had been playing tricks on her. She could put this all to rest, eliminate one distraction. The weather was cooperating, the fog ready to reveal any mystery it might hold—but not with her sitting in the car.
She made her way to the old inn. Adam’s visit to the paper popped into her head, and she recalled his questions about her antique hunting. Surely it was meant to distract her about Ethan. Adam abhorred antiquing, hated the road trips he was forced to endure with the family. But figuring out Adam’s motives was as elusive as her weekend story or her mystery ship. In only one day, AJ had been surrounded by ambiguities. If only one of them could prove useful for a story.
At the split in the path, she hesitated, unsure whether to take the turn that led to the tidal pools or the one that dropped down to the dock. The sun broke through, but wisps of white haze hung over the bay. For the first time since coming to the inn, she felt trepidation at being out here alone. Perhaps she should turn back and chalk this up to folly. But if she didn’t go down and prove it was nothing, she would never get any work done.
She pulled at her lip and stared at nothing for what seemed like hours. This was silly—there was nothing there. AJ stood taller and turned down the path, her strides fueled by a revised interest. As the dock grew close, fog again enveloped her, not as dense as before, but that same fog. No dampness. No cooling from the mist.
The blades of grass had no dew on them, unlike the grass at the top of the hill. The wooden dock, partially visible in the fog, remained dry. Through the fading mist, back in the direction from which she’d just come, rays of light touched the trees, and the sparkle of the dew still clung to the needles.
Her chest tightened and her stomach somersaulted.
AJ searched the path to find the line of demarcation separating the dew-drenched landscape from the dry. She found a fuzzy line where the mist still remained a few short feet away from where she stood at the edge of the dock.
Then she heard it—the sound of lazy waves slapping against something more substantial than the dock, and a second sound she couldn’t place. AJ swung around and took a step backward, one hand covering her mouth to stifle a small cry.
The ship was neither as large as she had first imagined nor as small. It blended in and out of the fog, rolling with the tide against the dock, almost hypnotizing her where she stood. She couldn’t seem to pull herself away from the sight of the wooden hull, forming just before it disappeared again into the dewless fog.
She found a small rock and tossed it underhand at the ship. It disappeared into the fog but made a small splash in the water, and her relieved laugh sounded mildly hysterical. The ship wasn’t real. Her mind was snapping.
Then the fog dissipated, leaving behind the weather-beaten surface of the ship.
This time, AJ selected a larger rock, and, fully expecting the ship to disappear again, she overhanded the throw. The rock landed with a loud thud against the wood. She took a quick step back. The fog folded back on itself, and the first rays of sun poked through the receding mist, revealing more of the ship.
AJ sensed the lightening of the sky around her, but she seemed frozen in place, trying to wrap her mind around the image before her. The ship resolved into greater depth, as if she could reach out and touch it. Breaking free of its spell, she crept closer to the edge of the dock, the mesmerizing movement of the ship reclaiming its hold on her. She stepped closer and leaned over, stretching her fingers toward the ship.
AJ took one final step. The fingers of her right hand wavered, reaching…and touched the hard surface of the hull.
She pulled her arm back. It was real. She waited for the fog to come back, but instead, the sun breached the last defenses of the mist, and she could hear the gulls.
She stepped closer and extended both hands out to touch the side of the ship. Her fingers tapped the wood, surprisingly smoother than she would expect, not that she had any experience with wooden ships.
“Hello.” The rich sounding voice floated to her from above.
AJ jumped, pulling her arms back, the unexpected voice making her stumble.
A deep laugh followed. “Watch yourself there. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
AJ
pulled her sweater around her and stepped back to take a better look at the ship. She raised her hand to block the sun, now bright against the azure sky. She couldn’t see anyone at the railing, where the voice had come from. All she could see was the tall mast and the sails stowed in tight folds. She scanned the ship but could see no one there—just deck and wood, railing and ropes.
“Are you Mr. Jackson’s agent?” The voice came from beside her, making AJ jump again. She hadn’t heard anyone approach.
She turned and tried not to stare. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood beside her, dressed in black cargo pants and a white shirt. His laughing eyes and warm, inviting smile made him appear harmless, but with the ship in the background and a lock of hair falling over one eye, AJ could almost imagine a patch.
The man watched her, his gaze inquisitive, as if sizing her up, trying to make a decision. “So are you?”
AJ detected an accent, either Irish or Scottish—she couldn’t tell. She shook her head. “Sorry, what?”
“You are a curious one. Did I startle the words out of you?”
AJ blushed. She had been staring, dammit. Right into those amazing forest-green eyes. “I didn’t know there was a ship here.”
He watched her for a second or two longer. “So, I guess you’re not the agent?”
AJ finally caught up with the question. “Whose agent?”
“Mr. Jackson’s,” he said in a weary voice. “He said he’d send somebody.” The man turned and swaggered down the dock.
AJ followed behind him. “Who’s Mr. Jackson? I don’t think I know him.”
“Do you know everyone around here?” He stopped at a cleat and retied the rope, testing it to make sure it was secure.
A puzzle piece snapped into place. The cleat. That was the other sound she had heard in the fog—the rope rubbing against it. Then the man’s comment registered, sounding slightly rude. “I grew up around here. I don’t know the whole town, but I know enough.”
“Well, I didn’t mean to upset you, lass. I was curious.”
Lass. AJ couldn’t stop from rolling her eyes. He didn’t seem much older than her, yet he talked to her like a child. Her anger flared. “Sorry to have bothered you. As I said, I hadn’t heard there was anyone here at the old inn. I wanted to check it out.” She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to try to explain the truth. He’d think she was nuts.
“You didn’t know anyone was here, but you wanted to check it out? How did you know there was anything to check out?” That smile was back, but AJ found it annoying instead of pleasant.
“I’m a reporter.” The words rushed out, sounding offended. “We investigate things.” She sounded like an imbecile, but she couldn’t get her brain to work. Too much had happened in the space of a few minutes.
“I see. Well, it’s been nice to meet you, Miss Reporter. I have a few things to do yet to settle the ship.” He walked up a small gangplank she hadn’t noticed before. Once on deck, the man peered at her. Her chest fluttered, but with her simmering anger, she found it easy to ignore.
He leaned over and rested his arms on the railing, a lopsided smile appearing. “I’m sure we’ll meet again, lass.” He paused a moment and took another full measure of her. “I have no doubt you’ll want to investigate further.” He turned and disappeared from sight.
AJ stared at the empty railing, shunned and a little humiliated. She walked back up the path, reviewing what had happened. He had been so rude. But she had just appeared, as the boat had, and didn’t announce herself. Then she stood there, like some dimwit unable to get a sentence strung together. No wonder he’d dismissed her so readily.
It wasn’t until AJ drove away that she remembered, not thirty minutes before, she hadn’t even known the ship was there, that it seemed to magically appear. It had to have been the fog playing tricks on her. But the arrogance of the man overshadowed the mystery. “I have no doubt you’ll want to investigate further.” She repeated it in a mocking Irish tone, with a slice of sass. Well, that was one thing he was right about.
9
AJ was still fuming when she turned into the small parking lot, delicately shaded by large oak and fir trees. She sat in her Subaru, staring at the old colonial style house, painted a dark sandy tan with red, cream and white trimming. It was a handsome house, with a small flower bed, where spring-blooming irises and peonies announced their show for the year, and a small dogwood tree morphed from flowers to leaves. The wraparound porch matched the dark tan of the house, trimmed by a white-and-cream open railing. Rattan chairs and a table sat empty just off the front door, waiting for their afternoon occupants to enjoy the solitude of the setting.
The house sat on one of the busiest thoroughfares in Baywood, but rarely did anyone hear the bustle of the town tucked a mere fifty feet away from the street. The sign, posted at the edge of the property, reflected the nature of the business and was conservative for the owner of the property.
As much as she wanted to retain her incensed state, she couldn’t when surrounded by such beauty. AJ gave in to it, allowing her shoulders to drop, whispering her count to ten, and another ten, the tension breaking its hold and flowing away. With her head relaxed against the seat, her mind wandered, remembering one of her recent climbs. She remembered the wetness of the ocean spray on her face as she swung for the next hold. She could hear the waves crash in with the tide, then wash away from the churn they created. Her mind jumped to see herself as a small child, racing through the tidal pools to catch what treasures the waves left behind before the next one returned. The sun tanned her face as she ran up the trail from the pools, racing along the cement path before it turned to dirt once more and led her down the other side. She recalled running along the dirt path with tall seagrass waving in the light breeze, the smell of salt in the air, the riotous laughter of the seabirds blending with her own. Her small feet carried her all the way to the dock rolling up and down with the tide, in rhythm with the large sailing ship now tied to the dock. The big-ass ship that had come out of nowhere.
AJ’s eyes popped open, her irritation returning. So much for meditation and the power of Zen. The quiet solitude of the shaded lot could no longer hold in her frustration. She spotted the red sports car in the far side of the lot and hoped Stella and a large pot of coffee would bring the salvation she sought.
AJ stepped to the front door and buzzed the bell, providing Stella with a warning of her presence. Not bothering to wait for a reply, she walked into the small entryway, decorated with chairs adorned in bright floral prints and tables dressed with selections of magazines to entertain an array of client interests, from home décor and fashion to financial advice and muscle cars.
Stella’s audacious style was apparent in the wide assortment of colors and ornamentation. Reds, oranges, greens, and bright yellows played against walls of pale blue. Flowers filled the air with their lush aroma. Today’s scent was lilac. The purple, pink, and white sprays would no doubt appear in every room of the building, changed out every two days to ensure a fresh floral scent. Peeking into the room on the right, AJ confirmed there were no early clients. The over-sized sofa and chairs sat alone, like the chairs on the porch, waiting for clients to lounge, view listings, or peruse contracts.
On the other side of the lobby, AJ walked into Stella’s office, as comfortable as it was efficient. Another large floral-covered sofa with matching armchairs sat facing the window to allow a view of the shaded lot. Fresh sprays of lilacs arrayed in a huge crystal vase comprised the only ornamentation on the polished wood coffee table. Two smaller bookcases stood against either side of the walls, framing the room with their cherry finish. None of this décor, however, could compete with the desk with its dark mahogany finish and impressively carved legs. The desk, one AJ had found for her, sat in the middle of the room. Three small drawers ran along one side, leaving the rest of the space open and airy to balance the heaviness of the wood. Another smaller vase of lilacs sat on one corner of the desk. The only items to distract
from the pleasant array of vintage furnishings, were the large LCD flat-screen monitor and laptop encroaching on the desk. While Stella surrounded herself in style and comfort, even she required technology to keep the place running.
Grabbing a side chair from the wall, AJ dragged it around to the desk and waited for Stella’s appearance. She would know someone was here from the bell, but Stella liked her grand entrances. Right on cue, Stella swept in from the hall bearing a tray, complete with coffee urn, mugs, and accoutrements.
“Morning.” Stella, bright and cheerful, didn’t seem surprised by AJ’s visit.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Only a handful of people would visit this time of morning, and each of you have your own way of announcing your presence. Believe it or not, you’re the only one that uses the buzzer before entering.”
AJ laughed. “As long as the reward is coffee, I don’t care how you do it.”
Stella laughed with her, pouring two mugs of steaming coffee, one heavy with cream and sugar. She passed the other caramel-colored brew to AJ, who sipped and almost disappeared into the chair.
“This is heavenly stuff you make, my dear,” AJ said. “I should stop by more frequently.”
“So what’s up? I didn’t think I’d hear from you until after your dinner with Ethan tonight.”
AJ cringed. After this morning’s events, she had forgotten about dinner. “Seems we have another mystery on our hands.”
Stella perked up, always ready for new gossip. “Do tell.” Stella took a closer look at her friend. “You seem a little off this morning. Are you okay?”
AJ sighed. “I’m not sure where to start exactly.” Then the story of her first trip to the dock rolled from her tongue, spilling out all the confusion and doubt she’d held since yesterday morning. “I still can’t get the image of the ship, floating in and out of the fog, out of my head.”