Shore Feels Right

by Annette Mardis

  Gavin didn’t seem pleased, but he nodded. Pasting on a stoic expression, Cosby convinced himself he could handle whatever happened next.

  * * * *

  After Cosby gave his statement, he asked, “Now what?”

  “I’ll talk to my supervisor, who at some point will consult the prosecutor’s office,” Jo explained. “Until we come to a resolution, don’t leave town. You’d also be wise to get a lawyer.”

  Cosby’s stomach plummeted. He knew legal expenses could bury him in a financial black hole. Did lawyers let clients set up a payment plan? He’d never hired a criminal defense attorney. Hell, he’d never been in trouble before and wasn’t sure how such things worked.

  When the detective stood up to signal they were finished, Cosby rose, too, and offered his hand.

  “Thanks for giving this your personal attention,” he told her as they shook. “You’ve been more than fair.”

  “Let me give you one last word of advice. Mr. Raines doesn’t strike me as a very forgiving man. He’s out for your head, so watch your back. And whatever you do, don’t confront him on your own. If he approaches you, walk away, preferably without saying a word. The man’s got more money than sense, and he can afford to make your life miserable.”

  Cosby wanted to say that after losing Monica, there wasn’t much more anyone could do to him that could hurt worse. But that wasn’t Jo’s problem, and he didn’t feel like talking about it anyway.

  She walked him to her office door and paused before opening it.

  “Just so you know, I’m heading over to the aquarium tomorrow to speak with Wesley Coffey. No matter what happens with this case, I’ll suggest he ban his friend from the facility. Whether Mr. Coffey agrees with me remains to be seen. It’s his aquarium and his call.”

  Chapter 35

  “I’m glad you stopped by today, detective, because I’m really troubled by this dustup between Truman and Cosby,” Wesley told Jo.

  “That’s why I’m here.” She took a seat in front of the aquarium director’s desk. “I take it Mr. Raines has told you his side of the story.”

  “He has. I’ve also talked to Flipper and Evan. I need to speak with Cosby, too, but I wanted to find out his legal status first.”

  “If you’re asking whether he’s been arrested, he hasn’t. He admits he destroyed Mr. Raines’ phone and used physical force first. But he also told me that your friend was the only one who threw any punches.”

  Wesley nodded.

  “Mr. Williams also explained that Mr. Raines provoked him by making improper and insulting comments about Monica Sims.”

  Wesley sighed. “Truman offered a very vague response when I asked him what set Cosby off. Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised to hear this. Truman’s been obsessed with that woman since the first time he saw her.”

  “Just so you know,” Jo continued, “I did a criminal background check on Mr. Williams and his record is clean. The same for Mr. Raines, although I understand that a well-known actress to whom Ms. Sims bears a striking resemblance accused him of harassing her and called the police, although he was never charged.”

  “That’s right.”

  “And, of course, he’s made some of the other women here at the aquarium uncomfortable with his comments and the way he stares at them. That includes Kelsey, and as you can well imagine, that has made me very unhappy.”

  Wesley nodded again.

  “I’m sure you’re aware that if the Gulf Shore Police Department arrests Mr. Williams and charges him with assault, the news media will be all over the story. And that will bring Mr. Raines, and your aquarium, all sorts of negative publicity.”

  Wesley frowned. “Are you delivering a warning, detective?”

  “I’m simply pointing out something Mr. Raines needs to consider. I’d also like to note that although he’s made positive contributions to your operation, especially during the pilot whale rescue, his continued bad behavior has become what can only be described as a liability. I know you two have been friends for a long time, but if I were you I’d give serious consideration to restricting his access to the aquarium and to your volunteers and employees before you have even more trouble on your hands.”

  Wesley wore a resigned expression. “I’m faced with a very sticky situation and haven’t decided how to handle it. My first impulse was to tell Cosby he’s no longer welcome here as a volunteer. But I don’t think that will solve the problem as long as Truman still has contact with Monica.”

  “Contact, huh?” Jo smirked. “I guess that’s one way to put it. I imagine she has a more colorful term for what he’s said and done.”

  Wesley shifted in his seat and pulled his shirt collar away from his neck as though it was choking him.

  “Yes, well, as far as I can tell, Monica has done absolutely nothing wrong, so the problem doesn’t lie with her.”

  “No, it certainly doesn’t,” Jo agreed. “The common denominator in all these incidents is Mr. Raines and his inability to conduct himself professionally around women he’s apparently attracted to.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right.”

  “Let me just say one more thing. I plan, as always, to do my duty as a sworn law enforcement officer, no matter what. But I’d hate to see a good man like Cosby Williams wind up with a police record and a mountain of legal bills over what happened in that locker room. As I said before, I don’t agree with the way he handled the situation, but there are a lot of people who wouldn’t fault him for defending his girlfriend’s reputation given your friend’s vile comments about her. Especially in light of the unwanted attention he’s directed at her previously.”

  “I understand, detective. I’ll give this matter a lot of thought, I can assure you.”

  Jo nodded. “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes right now, Wesley. But I’m sure you’ll do the right thing.”

  After she left his office, Wesley leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a long time. Then he punched a familiar number into his cell phone.

  * * * *

  Cosby wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand to stay with Gavin, Melanie, and the boys. Though he loved them dearly, Cosby felt like he was imposing. He spent the first night tossing and turning on the too-short couch and the second night with Teddy in his twin bed. The kid hogged the covers and caught his uncle with errant legs and elbows as he flopped around in his sleep like a salmon swimming upstream. Melanie offered to move her youngest son out to the couch before Cosby went to bed on night three, but he didn’t think it was fair to displace the kid from his own room.

  Cosby intended to check into a motel but Gavin talked him out of it, arguing that he needed to save his money to hire a lawyer. Truman Raines clearly wanted to create a rift between Cosby and Monica, and what better way to do that than to see him end up in handcuffs and buried in debt?

  “Why don’t you call Monica and try to work things out with her?” Melanie suggested the next morning. She made lunches for her boys while Cosby shoveled cereal into his mouth. “Now that she’s had time to think about it, maybe she’ll be more understanding about where you were coming from.”

  “I take it you’ve been in touch with her?” It wasn’t really a question. He figured his sister-in-law would do whatever she could to get him and Monica back together.

  “We’ve talked, yes. She really loves you, Cosby, and I know she misses you.”

  “She said those exact words?”

  Melanie didn’t immediately answer, which told Cosby all he needed to know.

  “It’s obvious to anybody with half a brain that’s how she feels.”

  “Maybe so, but I still want to hear her say it, and she hasn’t been able to for whatever reason. And I’d rather slam my finger in my car door than hear her accuse me again of betraying her. I’m facing a possible arrest because I stood up for her, and in return she tossed me out on my ass.”

  “She thinks you don’t trust her, and that hurt her. And it upset her that you’d thin
k she’s shallow enough to choose a man based on how much money he has and what he can buy her.”

  “Well hell, Mel, the man’s a freaking billionaire. Pardon me for feeling inferior to a guy like that. And aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

  “I am on your side, Cosby, always. But sometimes you’re about as dense as a pile of concrete. Truman Raines is nothing but a slick, self-centered asshole who thinks women should fall at his feet because he was lucky enough to inherit a successful business and a butt load of money. You’re a better person than he is in so many ways that I can’t even count them.”

  “Thanks, but that and a buck might buy me a pack of gum. With most of my savings invested in Nauti-Toys, it’ll be a while before I can afford even a cracker box house. Meanwhile, he has a chalet in Aspen, a penthouse in New York City, and a compound in the islands. The man has his own airplane, for shit’s sake.”

  “So what? He’s a creep. Monica can’t stand to be around him. Neither can I.”

  Cosby stiffened. “Has he hassled you, too?”

  “Not really. He’s just one of those guys whose natural inclination is to leer at women like he’s imagining them naked, and men like that make my skin crawl.”

  “Men like that make me want to put my fist through their faces.”

  “As much as I agree with you, we all know that’s not the solution. I don’t understand why Wesley puts up with him.”

  “Speaking of, I have to go by the aquarium after work and have a ‘chat’ with your boss. He’ll probably tell me I’m out of the volunteer program.”

  “Well, if he does, he’s a shortsighted idiot.”

  “It’s my own damned fault for not controlling my temper. Maybe it runs in the family and I’m the one who needs anger management counseling next.”

  “You got carried away. It happens. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again. I don’t want to have to explain to my boys why their Uncle Cosby is sitting in a jail cell.”

  He frowned as Melanie’s words hit home. He thought he’d lost so much when Monica told him to leave, but now he realized his reputation and the respect of his family were at stake, too. The thought of having a criminal record spoiled his meager breakfast.

  Melanie apparently noticed how worried he looked because she squeezed his arm and assured him that she and Gavin would be behind him regardless of what happened.

  “That means a lot,” Cosby replied. “Now, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.”

  * * * *

  His talk with Wesley went far better than he’d dared to expect. Though the aquarium director didn’t say so directly, Cosby got the distinct impression that Wesley was on his side. He told Cosby how much he appreciated his service as a volunteer and that he hoped Cosby wouldn’t quit because of “the locker room incident.” Wesley said those four words like they should be capitalized.

  He also gushed about Monica’s value as an employee and promised to do everything possible to keep his friend away from her. The strained look on Cosby’s face at the mention of her name gave him away.

  Wesley frowned. “Please tell me something hasn’t happened between you two as a result of that skirmish with Truman.”

  Cosby didn’t particularly want to talk about it, but he wouldn’t lie or be rude to Monica’s boss, either.

  “We had a disagreement after she got home that night, and she told me to pack my things and leave. I’ve been staying with my brother.”

  “I don’t mean to be dense, but I want to make sure I understood you correctly. You’re saying Truman caused your falling out with Monica?”

  “It’s partly his fault, yes, but it’s mine, too, for letting him get to me. The things he said about her played to my insecurities. I failed to hide the fact that I was worried about him coming between us. She took that to mean I don’t have enough faith in her, and, no big surprise, that really insulted her.”

  “What exactly did Truman say about Monica?”

  “I’d rather not get into that.”

  “I understand it’s not a pleasant topic, but you have to realize I’m in a bad spot here,” Wesley pointed out. “He won’t be straight with me, and I need to know the details so I can figure out what to do. It would help me a lot if you’d tell me.”

  Cosby realized that if he didn’t speak up, Truman might never be held accountable for his unacceptable behavior. So Cosby told the aquarium director word for word what he heard that night in the locker room. By the time he finished, Wesley looked stricken.

  “I…I don’t know what to say except I’m terribly sorry for all the trouble Truman’s caused. I never should’ve brought him here. I need to make things right.”

  “He’s a grown man. He’s responsible for his actions, and so am I. I messed things up with Monica all on my own. But with all due respect, if you continue to let Raines hang around here, then yes, you’ll be to blame for anything else that goes wrong.”

  Wesley nodded, his expression sheepish. “Now, I wish there was something I could do to help you patch things up with your girl.”

  “So do I, but I don’t know what it would be.”

  “Well, the least I can do is help you out of the legal mess you’re in. I’ve already spoken to Truman once about dropping his demand for your arrest and he declined. Given what you’ve just told me, I’ll have to insist.”

  “What makes you think he’ll listen to you? You’ve already taken him to task for making the women here uncomfortable, and based on his actions that made no impression on him. He does whatever the hell he wants.”

  “You’re right. But I’m not above playing dirty to convince him that he’d better take what I say seriously. I know where he keeps the hamper stuffed with his dirty laundry.”

  Cosby resisted the urge to pump his fist or yell “hell yeah,” but he couldn’t help the satisfied smile that crossed his face.

  “And if you need a place to stay,” Wesley continued, “I’ll be glad to put you up in a hotel on the beach near your workplace.”

  “I’d very much appreciate not having the threat of criminal charges hanging over my head. As for your other offer, thanks, but that’s not necessary. Maybe my old landlord hasn’t found a tenant yet for the cottage where I lived before I moved in with Monica.”

  “If you need help with first and last month’s rent, or utility deposits, or anything else, and I mean anything, you come see me, all right?”

  No way in hell, Cosby thought. If he couldn’t afford to pay his own way, he’d buy a cot and sleep at Nauti-Toys. He wasn’t about to tell Wesley that, though.

  “That’s very generous of you,” Cosby replied instead, “but I’ll be fine.”

  The two men shook hands before Cosby walked out of the aquarium’s suite of administrative offices. He felt at loose ends, unsure what to do with himself. He ought to let Melanie know how his meeting with Wesley turned out. But he felt like going somewhere quiet, just him and a case of beer, and getting drunk.

  No, check that. He wanted to find Monica, tell her how much he missed her, and ask her to take him back. He’d even beg. What’s more important, my stupid pride or the woman I love?

  Before heading to the parking lot, he walked by Turtle Lagoon hoping to run into her, but she wasn’t there. Jack and Stella were handling the feeding duties that evening. She gave Cosby a jaunty little wave, while Jack scowled and draped his arm possessively around her shoulders. Just to irritate him, Cosby treated Stella to his most charming grin and watched with amusement as the furrow in Jack’s forehead deepened.

  The smile froze on Cosby’s lips, however, when he saw Monica standing in the doorway of the turtle department office, laughing at something her ex-boyfriend Tanner Presley had just said. Cosby couldn’t stop the sudden stab of jealousy that knifed through him.

  And when she happened to turn his way and her amusement died on her lips, he wouldn’t have been surprised to see blood pour from the wound to his heart.

  Chapter 36

 
From her expression, Cosby thought she intended to turn her back on him. But then Monica said something to Tanner and walked over to where Cosby stood staring at her like a slack-jawed idiot.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, a telltale tremor in her voice.

  “Wesley wanted to see me.”

  “About what?”

  “Is there someplace we can talk in private?”

  She hesitated and he gave her a pleading look, then immediately regretted it. Have some self-respect, he scolded himself. She should be begging me to come back. I’m the injured party here! His head, it seemed, had tuned out his heart.

  With obvious reluctance, she replied, “I guess we can use the conference room next to Tanner’s office. But I can only spare a few minutes. I’ve still got a lot of stuff to do before I can go home and I’m beat.”

  “I promise I won’t keep you long.” Dammit! Quit being so considerate. Get a backbone, grow a pair, whatever.

  As soon as they were behind a closed door, Monica stood with her arms folded across her chest.

  Not a very welcoming pose. Could she look any pissier or more impatient? Next, she’ll be tapping her foot and checking her watch. Cosby couldn’t reconcile this indifferent woman with the one who, only a handful of days ago, couldn’t keep her hands off him when they went to bed at night. Aren’t couples who’re committed to each other supposed to weather the inevitable storms together? Maybe she’s reverted back to the old Monica, the one I’ve tried so hard to forget ever existed.

  Hearing her audible sigh, Cosby snapped back into the moment and the subject at hand. He filled her in on his conversation with Wesley and also told her about his dealings with Jo. Monica’s expression softened a little, and she appeared to be relieved.

  “If anyone can talk that jackass into dropping his complaint with the police, it’s Wesley,” she noted. “I hope this goes away soon so we can all get back to normal.”

  His heart gave a little leap. “Does that mean you’re open to you and I—”