Danger in the Depths (Dune House Cozy Mystery Series Book 9)

by Cindy Bell

  “What did he do?”

  “I don’t know. When I saw that I ducked back into the house. I didn’t want them to know that I saw. I thought that would be awkward.”

  “Very.” Suzie sighed. “This could prove more troublesome than I thought. Maybe I will talk to Curtis about it.”

  “What are you going to do, say ‘oh by the way please refrain from kissing our married guests’?”

  “I don’t know.” Suzie shrugged. “We don’t want guests that are causing problems, especially long term guests.”

  “Maybe it’s Trish that caused the problem.” Mary pursed her lips. “She’s the one who walked up to him.”

  “That may be true, but Curtis should know better.”

  “Not everyone has the same set of morals though, that’s something that I’m having to learn to accept.” Mary frowned.

  “Good point. I’ll see if I can bring it up in a less intrusive way.”

  “Or maybe just let it rest for a day or two. They are leaving soon.”

  “Okay, I’ll think about it. Now off with you, you’re not washing a single dish.”

  “But I could dry…”

  “No! Go be with your kids.” She picked up a towel and snapped it in Mary’s direction. “Now, I say!”

  “Sorry, you’re still not scary.” Mary laughed as she walked out of the kitchen.

  “Poor Hal,” Suzie muttered to herself as she began to wash the dishes. She really had no idea how to approach Curtis about the issue. Was it even her place to? She could let it go as Mary suggested, but what if things grew more tense and a fight broke out? Without Jason around to help them out, they would have to turn to Kirk Rondella, Jason’s partner on the police force, who wasn’t nearly as flexible. He used to be in the army and was quite new to Garber. Suzie decided that she would leave it for the moment, but if it caused any problems she would speak to Curtis.

  After Suzie went to bed that night she could hear Jim moving around in the room above hers. Something scraped across the floor. She wondered what it was, and did her best to ignore it. When the room became stuffy she opened her window halfway and heard Mary’s voice drift up towards her. One glance down at the wraparound porch revealed that she was outside with Ben. She sighed with relief as she tucked herself back into bed. Maybe Ben would come clean.

  Mary reached out and patted her son’s knee. “You know there’s nothing that you can’t tell me, right?”

  “I know, Ma.”

  “Do you?” She looked into his eyes. “Life is hard, Ben. I get that. Being an adult, well it’s not the greatest thing in the world, is it?”

  “No.” He sat back in the wooden deck chair. “It’s not.”

  “So tell me, maybe I can help.”

  “Suzie talked to you, huh?”

  “She only said that you needed to talk to me. She didn’t tell me anything about why.”

  “All right, I guess it’s better to get it out now. You’re going to find out eventually.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m failing in school. I wasn’t making ends meet, so I took on an extra job, I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but I ended up being exhausted. I fell asleep in class a couple of times, the teacher got upset. So I ditched the extra job, but the bills keep coming in and…”

  “But I send you money every month, it isn’t enough?”

  “I screwed up. I owe some people some money.”

  “What do you mean?” She studied him. “Tell me the details.”

  “I wanted to get a new computer, and some other things. I needed some extra cash. What you send me is a lot, but I just got caught up in this lifestyle. Most of my friends there are pretty well off, and they could always just get whatever they wanted. One of them suggested I go to his friend for a loan, just so I could get a few things, and then I could pay him off when your check came. But that’s not what happened. I went to this guy for a loan, and he seemed nice enough, but it turned out he wasn’t just friendly, he was doing this as a business. After he gave me the money he started hitting me up for interest, I had to give him my whole check from you. That’s when I picked up the second job. But then the guy wanted more money, he said it wasn’t enough. I was going to go to the police, but this guy is a real sketchy person. I’m just not sure what to do. He just keeps asking me for more. I’ve already paid him double what I borrowed.”

  “Ben. You should have told me about all of this from the beginning.”

  “I know.” He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “I know. I thought I could handle it. Every time I thought I had it handled, something would change. I know I should have just talked to you or Dad, but I wanted to see if I could fix it myself. I think the only way to fix it is to leave college.”

  “The only way you can fix this is if you bring up your grades. You’re not leaving college.”

  “Mom.”

  “Ben, I mean it.”

  “I thought you said I could tell you about anything?”

  “Yes, you can, but this is non-negotiable. You have to finish your education.”

  “The thing is, he knows where I live, in the dorms. Even if I pay him, he’ll always be able to find me. I thought maybe dropping out would be the best idea. He’ll forget all about me, and I can go back to school in a couple of years.”

  “That’s not right. We’re going to get the police involved in this.”

  “Mom, you can’t. I have no idea what he’ll do.”

  “Let me think about it. I’ll figure something out. In the meantime, don’t ever let yourself go without and land up in trouble. You could have asked me for extra money.”

  “I didn’t want to have to tell you what I did, how stupid I was. I just wanted to be an adult and handle things.”

  “Sweetheart, being an adult doesn’t always make you able to handle things. Trust me, I’ve been an adult for a long time, and I’ve faced a lot of bad situations. I don’t always make the right decision, no one does. But you have someone to turn to when that happens, never forget that.”

  “I just don’t want to put any extra pressure on you.”

  “You’re not. I want to help you. We’ll figure this out, together.” She patted his knee again. “But not tonight. Let me sleep on it.”

  “Okay.” He stood up, and turned back to offer her a hand.

  “It’s okay, I’m okay.” As Mary pushed herself to her feet she did her best to hide the pain that washed through her knees. Lately it seemed to be getting worse. While Suzie was spry and always up to any physical challenge, Mary often felt that she’d aged beyond her years.

  “Have you been to the doctor?”

  “Yes honey, it’s okay, it’s just a bit of arthritis.”

  “It seems like more than that.”

  “It’s not. Sometimes it’s just been a long day, and I’m ready to rest.”

  “All right.” He kissed her cheek and walked her to her room. As she closed the door to her bedroom, she leaned on it for support. It wasn’t her knees that threatened to make her collapse, it was the thought of her son caught up in such a dangerous situation. How hadn’t she known? Why did he think he needed to prove something to her by handling the situation all on his own? None of it made sense. She’d always tried to make herself completely available to her children. Maybe Dune House had distracted her, and she just didn’t notice the change in him? She fell asleep, still troubled by what Ben revealed.

  Chapter 4

  Just as the sun peeked past the horizon, Suzie made her way into the kitchen. She expected to start the coffee, but heard the machine lid snap shut. There in the shadows, Mary turned the switch on the coffee pot and it began to brew.

  “Morning Suzie.”

  “Morning. I guess we’re both early risers today.”

  “Yes.” Mary leaned back against the counter and frowned. “I had some trouble sleeping.”

  “Uh oh. Did Ben talk to you?”

  “Yes, and I have no idea what to do.”

  �
��What’s going on? He didn’t tell me any details.”

  “He’s gotten himself into trouble with some kind of loan shark. I’m not sure what to think at this point. He wants to drop out to get away from this guy who just keeps coming after him for more money.”

  “Why don’t we have Jason look into it when he gets back?”

  “Ben doesn’t want me to, but I think I will. I’m not sure what Jason can do since it’s out of his jurisdiction.”

  “That’s true but maybe he can give us some advice about how to legally get Ben out of the situation.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Mary shook her head. “I think the thing that I’m upset about the most, is that he didn’t come to me right away when he needed money instead of going to someone else. He says it was because he was trying to handle things as an adult. But I think it’s because he worries about me.”

  “It’s probably a little of both. He’s a good young man, Mary. He’ll get all of this straightened out, and everything will be fine.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  “What are your plans today?”

  “Well, the kids have their lesson with Curtis, then afterwards I’m going to take them shopping. What about you?”

  “It’s supposed to be a nice morning. I’m going to work on decorating the front porch. I want to add a few splashes of color and stain some of the chairs that we have out there.”

  “Okay, do you want any help with it?” Mary asked.

  “No thanks, I can handle it. Did the kids already go down to the beach to meet Curtis?”

  “Not yet. I don’t think they’re up yet. But Curtis must already be down there. I didn’t even see him leave this morning, but there is a light on in the shack.”

  “I’m going to have my coffee on the porch. Do you want to join me?”

  “Yes, in a bit. I’ll just wait for Cathy and Ben so they can have a coffee and bagel before they go diving. I doubt they’ll want a big breakfast.”

  “Okay, I’ll make breakfast for the others when they are up then I’ll make a start on these projects. Oh, and if we don’t hear from that locksmith today, then we need to call someone else. If Jason was here he’d fix it right up for us.”

  “So would Wes. Maybe we should ask Kirk?” Mary raised an eyebrow. “He might be willing to help.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know Kirk that well, and though he seems like a good guy, I’m not so sure Jason would like us asking his partner for favors.”

  “All right, then let’s just hope that the locksmith comes through today.”

  “If he doesn’t, we can ask Paul when he docks. It is a bit of an inconvenience with the door being jammed.”

  Suzie headed out onto the back porch. A few minutes later Cathy made her way down the stairs.

  “Morning Mom.”

  “Morning sweetie. Do you want some coffee and a bagel before you head out?”

  “Sure.” Cathy grabbed a mug from the cabinet. “You’re up early.”

  “Oh, I’m usually up this early. I like to have a little time before the guests get up to tidy up, get some coffee brewing and enjoy the view.”

  “I can see why. This is a very beautiful place, Mom. Every time I visit it seems to get more beautiful.”

  “Yes, I honestly love it here.”

  “I’m glad. I was worried about you after the divorce.”

  “No need to worry, I’m okay now.” Mary smiled. “Remember, it’s my job to worry about you, not the other way around.”

  “I can worry a little, too.”

  “Just a little though.” Mary filled Cathy’s mug with coffee and handed her a buttered bagel. “What about Rick? Is he just a boyfriend, or do you think he might be something more?”

  “I’m in love with him, if that’s what you mean. I’m just not so sure how he feels about me. It all happened so fast.”

  “Fast?”

  “Yes, we met in class, and then we started spending every day together. When I decided to come here for a visit, he asked to come along so that he could meet you. That surprised me. Most young men want to avoid that kind of commitment so soon, right? But he was eager to meet you. I guess that’s a good sign.”

  “It depends on the man.” Mary smiled. “Maybe Rick is smart enough to see what an amazing woman he’s with, and he doesn’t want to take the chance of losing you. He’s impressed me so far. But make sure you’re taking the time to really get to know him. He certainly seems to be very fond of you.”

  “Maybe.” She blushed as she glanced away. “I can see a life with him. But it’s a bit earlier than I expected. I thought I’d finish school before I even thought about marriage.”

  “You still can.” Mary looked into her eyes. “A relationship is not about giving up your freedom or your choices, Cathy. If he loves you, he will wait until you’re ready for more. Finish school, find your passion, and if the relationship is still going strong, then you will know it’s worth considering marriage.”

  “Thanks Mom.” She hugged her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Cathy, are you ready to go?” Ben bounded into the kitchen. Mary smiled as his mannerisms still reminded her of the little boy that would run from room to room. He broke her rule about no running in the house because he simply could not walk. He ran everywhere, and she decided that it was not a battle that she needed to win.

  “Yes, just grabbed a cup of coffee,” Cathy said.

  “Ben?” Mary held up the pot.

  “No way, that stuff is toxic.” He grabbed a small can out of the refrigerator.

  “Sure, and that energy drink is full of all kinds of healthy things,” Cathy said.

  “At least it isn’t ruining the environment,” Ben said.

  “You two don’t start squabbling this early. Here’s a bagel, Ben,” Mary said as she handed it to him.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Go and have fun. Here, Cathy, take Curtis a bagel and a cup of coffee, too.” She poured some coffee into a travel mug and handed it and a bagel over to Cathy. “Please be careful. I trust Curtis, but still, be careful.”

  “We will, Mom, don’t worry.” Ben kissed her cheek. Mary walked out with them through the front door. Then she made her way around to the side porch to watch as they raced each other down the beach. She was surprised at just how early Curtis got up. He was always up early. She liked that about him. Most young people she knew wasted the morning. It could be such a peaceful and reflective time.

  “Can I join you?” She paused beside the table where Suzie was seated.

  “Of course you can, I’ve been waiting for you. I see that Cathy and Ben are up.”

  “Yes, they’re already squabbling, too. I really thought that was something they would grow out of, I can’t believe they’re still at each other’s throats.”

  “Just be glad that they’re not coming to blows.” Suzie laughed. “That would be a problem.”

  “That’s for sure. I got more than one bruise pulling those two apart as kids. I guess since they’re so close in age they fight about everything.”

  “That or they’re two strong-willed, intelligent people that are just as stubborn as their mother.”

  “Ouch.” Mary laughed.

  “Oh, you can play that sweet and docile role all you want, I remember the days when you would have knocked out anyone that challenged you.”

  “Knocked out is a bit strong.” Mary grinned. “True, but strong.”

  “Oops, I’d better watch myself.” Suzie laughed and looked out over the water. “I know we’ve both been through some hard times, but I’m so glad that we ended up here, like this. I never imagined it, but now I can’t imagine living any other way.”

  “Me neither.” Mary bit into her bottom lip. “Does that mean you’re not going to marry Paul and move out?”

  “What?” Suzie almost choked on her coffee. “Why would you have that idea?”

  “I don’t know, you two have gotten so close and he’s always away…”

&nb
sp; “And I like it that way. You know I don’t want to get married,” Suzie said. “I enjoy Paul, I would even go so far as to say that I’m fond of him, but our relationship works because we have space. I miss him when he’s gone, I like missing him. It’s better than being irritated that he’s constantly underfoot.”

  “I see your point.” Mary sipped her coffee. “But I imagine in another ten years or so he’ll retire.”

  “He may.” Suzie shrugged as she tucked her brassy blond hair behind her ear. “But a lot can happen in that time.”

  “That’s true.”

  “I’m going to get breakfast ready, I’ll make you something delicious, too.”

  “Oh good, I’m starving. With all the excitement my appetite is crazy.”

  “That’s a good thing.”

  “If you say so.” Mary patted her rounded belly.

  “I do.” Suzie winked at her, then walked back around the house to the front door. She reached the kitchen in time to see Trish reach the bottom of the stairs.

  “Good morning, Trish, there’s some coffee if you’d like some.”

  “Yes, that would be great.” Trish sighed and followed her into the kitchen. Suzie poured her a mug, then turned to hand it to her. When she saw Trish’s face she was startled by how swollen and red her eyes were.

  “Trish, are you all right?”

  “Yes, I guess.” She frowned. “I’m sorry, I know I’m a mess. Hal and I had a fight.”

  “He seems to have a bit of a temper.”

  “He really doesn’t. But ever since we’ve been here, he hasn’t been himself.”

  “Why do you think that is? Isn’t he comfortable here with us?”

  “Oh no, it’s not you, not at all. Honestly, it’s Curtis. Hal has a jealous streak. I tried to tell him that there was nothing to worry about, but he got so mad, and took off this morning. I have no idea where he went.”

  “It might be good for him to go somewhere and cool off. I’m so sorry that this is weighing on your time here.”

  “It’s my fault really. I probably took things a little too far with Curtis. I’m getting older, and it’s nice when a young man pays attention to me.”