by Rayna Morgan
Instead, she put on a poker face. “Something came up during an investigation. I’m giving you a chance to clarify before the lieutenant turns the matter into a bigger issue.”
He smiled loosely. “In other words, you’re trying to keep him off my back. I appreciate your intention, but it’s impossible. Tom has been on my case since we were kids.”
She refused to be drawn in by his effort to evoke sympathy.
“Brad Swanson mentioned a man of your description with his stepmother. The bartender confirmed the information.” She pushed the plate away and turned to face him. “Do you know Lynn Swanson?”
“Yep.”
Expecting a denial, his instant response surprised her.
“What’s the nature of your relationship?”
“There is no relationship. She’s one of many people I meet bar-hopping.”
“Did she tell you she was married?”
“She did, but it wasn’t necessary. I’ve done this long enough to spot a married woman a mile away. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t trying to pick up anyone. All I wanted was a drink and pleasant conversation at the end of a hard day.”
“That may have been true the first time. What about the night you had words with her stepson?”
“Her stepson is a hothead. I couldn’t understand his problem. She explained right away his father was working late and had suggested she go out with Margo. He seemed to resent her having a good time.”
“Maybe he resented her having a good time with a man other than his father.”
“After the bartender shooed him away, she shrugged the incident off saying Brad had a chip on his shoulder from the day they met.”
“Toward her?”
“Toward a lot of people. According to Lynn, the young man is filled with anger. It started with his sister. Brad resented Emma for outshining him in their parents’ eyes. After her death, he objected to being summoned to help with the business. His parents’ divorce upset him, and he resents Lynn for replacing his mother. He’s a ticking bomb. Mad at the world.”
“Did Lynn believe her stepson’s anger might be responsible for Sam ending up in the hospital?”
“You mean, did Brad’s anger contribute to her husband’s heart attack?”
“Or worse.”
He pulled his head back. “Whoa! Are you suggesting the kid tried to kill his old man?”
Pat worried she had crossed a line. “Forget I said that.”
Once again, his reply surprised her. “Your suggestion might not be as unlikely as it sounds.”
“What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “Ask Lynn. I’m not one to talk out of school.”
Irritated by his response, she moved on. “Tell me about the last time you saw her. The night you left the Bobcat together.”
He sat back and looked around.
“This is what I don’t like about small towns. They’re full of gossips.” He held a finger in the air. “You better watch out. People will be talking about us tomorrow.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I don’t doubt that.” He took a deep swallow of his drink. “You’re proof my brother surrounds himself with strong women. I admire that about him.”
“What kind of woman do you prefer?” She blurted the words without thinking.
“Are you asking if you fit the bill?”
Heat crawled up her neck. “Let’s get back to you and Lynn Swanson leaving the bar together.”
He pulled his head in like a turtle. “Can’t two people walk out at the same time without tongues wagging?”
“Is that a question, or should I take that as your answer?”
“Neither.” He drained the remaining liquid in his glass.
“Ring me out, Bobby,” he told the bartender.
She placed a hand on his sleeve. “Let me buy one for the road and we’ll stop talking about the Swansons. I want to hear about you.”
He nodded.
Bobby refilled his glass and moved away.
“You know about my job,” Jack said. “There’s not much more to know.”
She looked at his hand. “Are you unattached or is that a trick when you’re away from home?”
“You mean, am I a guy who ditches his ring on business trips? Nah, what you see is what you get. Marriage isn’t my thing.”
“Marriage, or commitment?”
“Neither.”
“Did you learn that from personal experience growing up?”
“Ask Tom.”
“He never talks about his family.”
“Understandable. Our parents weren’t role models for happily-ever-after. Growing up, meals were not a happy time. Tom and I kept our heads down and our mouths shut except to eat while we listened to them argue. We stayed at football practice as long as we could to avoid going home. It was a relief when they divorced.”
He gulped his drink. “Tom is better at commitments than me, but I watched him botch his marriage. I tried myself with no better results. We seem doomed for the same outcome as our parents.”
“Success in marriage isn’t based on genes, nor is happiness guaranteed when vows are spoken. A long union requires time and effort. It’s something two people work on together.”
“You should have been a marriage counselor instead of a cop.”
She laughed. “And maybe you should be a husband and father instead of single. It looks like your brother’s not afraid to get back on the horse.”
“He’s luckier with women. I liked his first wife. I was sorry to see them split, but I understood her reasons for leaving. Maddy is even better. If my brother has a chance in the world of making marriage work, it’s with her.”
“Are you giving up on trying again yourself?”
“Never say never.” His eyes bore through her.
Her phone beeped and he looked away.
She read the message and pushed back her stool. “Duty calls.”
“Too bad. We were just getting to know each other.”
She lowered her voice as she brushed against him. “My reason for coming wasn’t strictly business.”
They locked eyes before she turned and walked away.
• • •
Pat hurried to her car where she rolled down the window and took a deep breath to clear her head.
Jack Elliot was not what she expected.
A routine assignment had turned into an emotional roller coaster. The last person she should be on a ride with was her boss’s brother.
She read the message on her phone.
How did it go?
Her response to Tom was equally brief.
Talk in the morning
She slid down in the seat and rested her head against the cushion.
After a moment, she glanced toward the bar and turned the key to start the engine.
Her fingers froze as a blond haired woman entered the bar.
Pat crossed the street and looked through a window. Despite the dirty pane, she saw enough to feel foolish.
Jack and Lynn Swanson sat side by side at the bar.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Tom and Pat sat in an unmarked police car at the pier. The lieutenant took binoculars from the glove compartment and lifted them to his eyes.
“There’s a small boat alongside the oil rig. Four men are climbing aboard. One of them is Jack.”
His voice was calm, but he looked worried. Pat wished she hadn’t told Tom what she observed at the Bobcat Room.
She tried to divert his attention. “You don’t honestly suspect Jack, do you?”
“Suspect is too strong a word, but he knows a person of interest in this case. We would be derelict in our duty not to question him.”
“I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation for his meeting with Lynn Swanson.”
He looked at her closely. “Are you making excuses for him?”
“Please, Lieutenant. Give me credit.”
He shrugged. “Sorry, Pat. But I don’t want his charm t
o sway your judgment.”
She cocked her head. “You can’t deny his appeal.”
He managed a small smile. “Yeah, actually, I can.”
Pat’s face flushed. “What I meant—”
“Don’t waste your words. I’m used to Jack’s effect on people. I’ll warn you again. He won’t hang around long enough for any kind of relationship.”
“Who says I’m interested in your brother?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
She folded her arms and scowled.
“I read people, Pat. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.”
“I think you’re an overbearing sibling riding roughshod over his brother.”
The color drained from Tom’s face. “I’m only trying to protect him from himself.”
Pat softened her approach. “You felt like that when I was a rookie. But you stood aside and let me find my way. All I needed was to know you had my back.”
Tom kept his eyes on the boat. As usual, his face was unreadable.
After several moments, he directed her attention to the dock where the crew scrambled from the boat and strolled toward the parking lot, talking and laughing.
The detectives got out of their car and stood on the sidewalk, close enough to hear Jack’s comment to his companions.
“See you next week, fellas.”
“Will we see you at Crawdad’s tonight?”
“Nope. I got stuff to take care of. Maybe tomorrow night.”
They approached before he got in his car.
“Hey, Jack,” Tom called.
When his brother turned, Tom pointed toward the Fish House on the pier.
“Let’s get a bucket of shrimp and a brew.”
• • •
The Fish House was a casual eatery with sawdust on the floor, nets hanging from the ceiling, and pictures of fishing vessels on the walls.
They sat at a table farthest from the noisy bar.
When the waitress came, Tom ordered. “Coffee for the lady and me. What are you drinking, Jack?”
“Bring me a Corona, please.”
Jack turned his chair and stretched his legs, cupping his hands behind his head. “Drinking coffee means you two are on duty,” he observed.
“I suppose you know that Sam Swanson is in critical condition in the hospital.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“There are questions about a possible murder attempt.”
Jack’s brow creased into furrows. “What does it have to do with me?”
“I understand you saw Lynn Swanson at the Bobcat last night.”
Jack’s eyes traveled to Pat. “Were you spying on me? I’m disappointed. I thought we were friends.”
She rubbed her stomach as though she’d been kicked. “I can explain, Jack—”
“Work it out later,” Tom said sharply. “Right now, I want to know what you and Mrs. Swanson talked about.”
“What makes that any of your business?”
“Attempted murder is my business. You seem to be up to your neck in this one.”
Jack looked at Pat. “Is that what you think, that I was hitting on her?”
Pat turned away and stared out the window.
Tom clenched his jaw. “Look at me, Jack. I’m the one asking questions.”
His brother’s head rotated slowly, and then he answered.
“I was as surprised as anyone to see her. I offered sympathy on Sam’s condition and left.”
“What about the other meetings?”
“Other meetings?”
“Don’t waste our time. The bartender saw you two together several times.”
“We only need to know what’s relevant to our case,” Pat interjected.
Tom glared at her.
Jack remained silent.
Tom tapped his fingers on the table. “It would be better for you to speak up than to conceal things.”
Jack bristled. “Yeah, well, it would be better for you to trust me than to doubt me.”
“Knock it off, you two,” Pat said.
Jack shrugged. “I have nothing to hide. I’ll tell you what I remember.”
A horn blared in the distance. They paused to glance out the window where fog blanketed the pier.
When they looked back, Jack began. “The first time I saw her, she was with a friend. I think her friend’s name is Margo.”
“Margo Taylor. Go on.”
“We engaged in typical bar chat.” He sipped his beer. “The second time, she was alone when I arrived. She seemed distraught. I sat next to her and asked if she was okay.”
“What caused her upset?”
“She didn’t say. Instead, she asked if I had a girlfriend.”
“That was cheeky,” Pat said.
“She wasn’t flirting. It was an inquiry about relationships. She wanted to know if I’d been lucky enough to find a soul mate.”
Pat’s question came too quickly. “What did you tell her?”
He looked at her and smiled. “I told her I haven’t found a soul mate yet, but I’ll know when that person comes along.”
“We’re interested in Lynn’s part of the conversation,” Tom said, crossly.
“She said it’s sad when you find a person to spend the rest of your life with, but he doesn’t feel the same about you. The only thing sadder would be if he left and found someone new.”
“Was she describing her husband?”
“I assumed so.”
“You didn’t ask?”
“I didn’t want to intrude. I was only there to listen.”
“What else did she say?”
“She asked what such a person should do. I told her the person shouldn’t worry because a true soul mate would never leave. From her next comment, I’m not sure she believed me.”
“What did she say?”
“She said a person must do everything to keep a soul mate from leaving. It wasn’t her words, but the tone, that alarmed me.”
“What did she mean?”
“I’m not sure. The moment passed. I finished my beer and left her talking with the barman. I figured he had experience with people who get maudlin after too many drinks.”
The waitress stopped at their table. “You want another beer?”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
The tables were filling with people eager to eat.
“You ready to order?” she asked.
“Give us another minute,” Tom said.
When she left, he turned to Jack. “Let’s wrap this up. Tell us about the third time you saw her at the Bobcat.”
“Margo was leaving when I arrived. Lynn invited me to sit with her. She was in a good mood, much calmer than before. She had decided to follow her own advice about a soul mate getting away.”
“What was she planning to do?”
“I didn’t ask. Unlike you, I don’t need explanations for what people say and do.”
“But you left the bar together. What was that about?”
“She mentioned a flashing light on her dashboard. She asked if it should concern her. I told her I’d have a look. We went outside and I popped the hood. It was nothing of consequence as far as I could tell. I advised her to take it to the dealer to have it checked.”
“You two went nowhere together?”
“Give me some credit, man. She’s a married woman.”
“I give credit where credit is due.”
Jack drained his beer. “Are you telling me being a good listener and a shoulder to cry on makes me a suspect?”
“It’s a fact you find hard to accept, Jack, but actions have consequences. If you’d think things through instead of being impulsive—”
“I’d become as boring as you. Your problem, bro, is that there’s no spontaneity in your life. Let loose, man. Seize the moment.”
Jack’s flippancy rankled Tom. He wanted to walk around the table, pick his brother up, and knock some sense in his head.
“My job doesn’t allow me to go off half
-cocked as you suggest.”
“I’m not talking about your job. There are no rules dictating your personal life. Learn to go with the flow.”
“You’re hardly one to give advice. Won’t you ever settle down?”
“Up to now, there’s been no reason.” He looked at Pat. “That could change.”
The waitress returned. “Ready to order?”
Jack pulled out his keys. “I have to leave.”
He leaned over as he brushed past Pat’s chair. “I’ll call you.”
They watched as he strolled out the door.
“I believe Jack is telling the truth,” Pat said.
“You also believe Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. The jury’s out on that, too.”
• • •
Tom suggested a visit to the bartender to confirm Jack’s version of the previous night’s events.
When they entered the Bobcat Room, their eyes adjusted to the darkness. A few solitary drinkers sat at the bar. Tony Bennett played in the background.
Tom took a stool at the bar. “Is this the barman you spoke with?”
She took a place beside him and waved. “Hi, Bobby.”
He moved toward them. “If it isn’t the cop lady. Unless I’m mistaken, the guy with you is a cop as well.”
“You’re good at spotting us.” The lieutenant reached out his hand. “Tom Elliot. Buena Viaje police.”
“I didn’t spot your partner. She doesn’t look like a cop.”
Tom smiled. “We use that to our advantage.”
“I imagine you do. What can I get you folks?”
“Only information, thanks. We’re trying to identify who Lynn Swanson met last night.”
The bartender looked suspiciously at Pat. “You were here.”
She nodded. “Answer the question, please.”
Tom held up a picture on his phone. “Is this the guy?”
The barman glanced at the photo.
“Yeah, Jack was here.” Bobby jerked his head toward Pat. “He left shortly after you did.”
One of the drinkers raised a finger.
“Give me a minute,” the bartender said.
“What did I tell you, boss?” Pat whispered, pleased with the news. “Nothing went on between Jack and Lynn.”
“You’re right.” Relief flooded Tom’s face. “It’s a dead end.”
The lieutenant stood when Bobby returned. “Thanks for your help. We’re taking off.”