“Mark always seemed the more controlled of the two brothers. He held Tommy back that night at the pub. I saw Tommy pull Mark away from a fight on the school grounds once, too. Mark was still in high school—a couple of years ahead of me, but Tommy had graduated. I saw them together less often after that, so maybe a rift developed between them. I always believed he and his brother Tommy were thick as thieves and can’t imagine the two of them turning on each other.” I searched Jack’s face.
“Tommy strikes me as a dangerous guy—a powder keg ready to blow at the slightest provocation. Danny’s another story, though. If he witnessed the two brothers attack you, and each other, he would have gone for help rather than run away. Even if he killed Mark, panicked and ran away with Tommy on his heels, I can’t believe he wouldn’t have gotten in touch with you later. That’s if it was possible for him to do it. In fact, I honestly can’t imagine him leaving your side at all unless…” Jack hesitated to continue, so I finished that sentence for him.
“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. The police had no motive for murder, and I couldn’t help them with that either. I had a little cash with me that was gone, but if it was about money why not take the car or the truck?” 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 incredible 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? Causes it, even? That fear piled up on top of the fear of starting over, too.” Jack shook his head as if 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 guys 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 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’d outgrown them.”
“I hear you,” Jack murmured.
“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 to avoid romantic relationships. So many things about that night remained unresolved. Those unanswered questions kept my life in limbo.”
“That’s often true until the police close a case. 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, though, 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, apparently, if she sent those flowers. 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?” 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.”
“After meeting her, I'd say if Carolyn knew I was coming to town, a lot of other people heard about it too. 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 one coincidence too many 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. Especially unpleasant ones like hearing that song.” Or how about smelling that scent of sandalwood? I still wasn’t ready to mention the candles.
“Maybe Carol’s on the right track, and Tommy Harwell’s not dead, after all,” Jack offered.
“Let’s say that’s true, and no one turned him in because he only recently returned. Wouldn’t the locals in San Albinus have noticed, with or without Gossip Girl’s help? The return of the prodigal son would surely have been as newsworthy as my visit.”
“He’s much older. If he’s changed a great deal, it might not be that easy to recognize him, especially if he’s trying to fly under the radar.”
“What about Carolyn. She keeps popping up in my life like a bad penny. Could she be behind this somehow?”
“She’s at the top of my list although I’m not sure why. With all that talk about Lone Point and New York, Carolyn obviously isn’t a townie. She doesn’t seem to be close to the locals in town, maybe even a little snide about them.”
“I had the same reaction to the hometown girl from Lone Point who’s spent time in New York City. She’s unimpressed by San Albinus.”
“I have those
names you jotted down about Harwell’s buddies. Mitchum ought to at least be able to tell us who’s still alive and living in San Albinus. If the police had anyone else as suspects besides Danny and the Harwell brothers, I can’t believe they wouldn’t have mentioned that to you or asked questions about the people on that list you gave me.”
“True. That shakedown of the residents at Boardertown was the only effort they ever made to broaden the search for suspects as far as I know,” I said growing weary already of the endless merry-go-round we were on.
“No one has harassed or threatened you since you left the area. The incidents must be related to your return. Maybe someone’s afraid you’re here to dig into the past, and they don’t want you to do that. That’s a stretch, I must admit. Maybe it is Carolyn Chambers, and she just can’t stand the prospect of losing the home girl rivalry. She’s bent on driving you out and keeping you out of Corsario Cove.”
“Or, what if Carolyn Chambers spotted you the moment you arrived and wants me out of the way so she can have you all to herself? An 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.
“She must be clairvoyant to have sent those flowers to your office before she saw us together. Not very talented either since they got sent to you again later. Your suggestion does give the bouquets a more funereal quality, though, doesn’t it?”
“Eew! Those flowers that showed up in my sitting room are dead and buried that’s for sure. I set them out in the hallway before I went to bed. I’m glad I’m not going to her shop alone.”
“That is a good plan. Let’s see what Detective Mitchum says about all of this. He’s going to do a quick review of records from the case before we meet. Maybe Tommy and Mark did have a buddy or two with them that night, and your visit is making some 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. Ring Around the Rosie, I thought as a sing-song voice bounced around in my head.
“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 flowers and candles flashed through my mind again. How many oddities does it take to make a series of coincidences into a fiendish plot? To do what? Creep me out? Scare me off? Drive me off the deep end?
“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.” That’s what Carol had said, word for word. Another coincidence that set my heart pounding. “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’ll be just around the corner at the San Albinus police station.”
“I hope that’s not what it is. Little shop of lost 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 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.
My uneasiness grew. Despite Jack’s reassurance and the sweet bits of blarney, he was worried. 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’d worn the night before hung 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.”
8 Boom Box
An hour or so later we were standing in the Chamber Made shop in downtown San Albinus. Jack, Detective Mitchum, and I were staring at a wide-eyed Carolyn Chambers. Well, as wide-eyed as her newly Botoxed brow would allow her to be anyway. 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 didn’t make a direct threat, but I felt intimidated by the message, nevertheless.
“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 he 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.
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Box Set Page 15