by Anna Travis
Ruby whirled around and climbed down from her perch.
“Are these all of the mystery novels, Grannie?” Ruby said, starting to flip through the books stacked on the table.
Grannie shifted her feet and glanced at the books.
“You have got a ton of these things!” Ruby said, not waiting for an answer. She shifted several into her arms. “This Eastman fellow must write a pretty good mystery! Half of them are his!”
“Ruby,” Grannie said, frowning at her. “You tell me right now: What is going on?”
“I told you, Grannie,” Ruby said. “I’m doing research. I’m going to solve this case, before Judah’s total goober of a roommate.”
“Wait,” gasped Grannie. “That lady you found today? They think it was murder?”
“Oh, it gets better than that, Grannie! The Sheriff’s deputy assigned to the case thinks it was me!” Ruby said, her voice getting angrier and angrier as she spoke. “Just because I was there. And looked upset! And have red hair! Which means I must have a temper! As if any sane person wouldn’t be upset by finding a dead body with a coral snake under it!”
Grannie put her hands on her hips, but just then the house phone started ringing in the kitchen.
“That’ll be Daddy,” Ruby said. “He can explain everything.”
“Ruby West, you do not know anything about crime solving!”
“Seriously, Grannie,” Ruby said, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder as she headed upstairs. “How hard can it be?”
✽ ✽ ✽
The next morning Ruby sat at the table, her nose pressed into a mystery novel while Grannie stood at the stove. The smell of eggs frying in butter filled the kitchen, and Angel lay under the table, hoping for some scraps.
Grannie slid a plate in front of her granddaughter, and Ruby snapped the book closed.
“Don’t those books go in order or something?” Grannie asked.
“They do,” Ruby answered, sprinkling salt on her fried egg sandwich. “I read the first one last night.”
“Oh,” Grannie said, her eyes widening.
“They’re actually pretty fun, Grannie,” Ruby said. “This Charlotte character gets into a lot of jams. I like her though.”
“Really?” Grannie asked. “How come?”
Ruby shrugged. “Just seems like someone I’d like to hang out with.” Ruby took a bite and chewed thoughtfully while Grannie sipped her tea with a smile. Ruby peeled off the crust and slid it under the table to Angel.
“What did Daddy have to say?” Ruby asked.
The smile disappeared from her Grannie’s face.
“Oh, honey,” Grannie said with a shake of her head. “He talked to Deputy Prescott, and the boy doesn’t think you murdered anyone anymore.” Grannie paused for a moment. “Did you really throw tea in his face?”
“Yes…” Ruby said, feeling sheepish. “The man thought I had temper enough to murder someone! Just because of my hair! Can you imagine?”
“Clearly you have no temper issues,” Grannie said, holding a hand over her mouth to hide her smirk.
“Ha, ha, very funny,” Ruby said, finishing off her sandwich. She pointed at the book. “You’ve read all of these, right?”
Grannie glanced at the book.
“Er, yeah, a few times,” she admitted.
“Good!” Ruby said. “You can help me. What do I do first?”
“Ruby! You’re not still going to try to figure this out, are you?” Grannie asked. “I told you the young fellow doesn’t think it was you anymore.”
“I’ve got to figure it out!” Ruby said. She got up and headed to the fridge to pull out her big water bottle. “There’s a murderer lose in Leyenda! That deputy will never figure it out, not with his detective skills!”
Ruby sat the water bottle on the table.
“You can help me, or not,” she said. “But I’m not letting this go.”
Grannie sighed in defeat.
“Well… You’re working the inlet today, right?” Grannie said, and Ruby nodded. “Start by thinking over everything you saw yesterday. When you get home, we’ll go over your suspect list.”
“Awesome!” Ruby planted a kiss on her Grannie’s cheek. “You’re the best, Grannie!”
She shoved the mystery novel in her bag, whistled for her dog, and dashed out the door before Grannie could change her mind.
✽ ✽ ✽
Ruby pulled the Jeep and trailer up to her favorite parking spot. Parking was one of the reasons Ruby got an early start: the tourists liked to sleep in, and they also tended to park their rental cars carelessly.
She opened up the trailer and hauled out the canopy tent frame. Grannie had gotten the newest model, and the thing practically set itself up. Within fifteen minutes the bright aqua shade was up, declaring that West’s Quests was open and ready for business, even though the tourists were still sleeping in their rented beds.
Ruby popped open her favorite camp chair and settled in with her book.
A short while later, a man cleared his throat.
“Er, excuse me, miss?”
“Oh, hi!” Ruby said. She looked up at the man, who seemed familiar. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baggies, and his skin was a painful shade of red.
“Do you rent these things?” he asked, pointing at the rack of kayaks and boards. He stepped under the shade of the canopy and pushed his sunglasses up, revealing the only part of his face that was not burnt.
“Sure thing,” Ruby answered, trying not to stare at the unburnt circles around his eyes. She looked around for her dog, saw that Angel was off trying to herd a flock of sandpipers, and then pointed to a sign with their prices.
“Guess I better have a try,” the man said. “Can’t go home without one. How do I pay? Cash?”
“Cash is fine if you have it,” Ruby said. “But we take credit, too. It’s just as easy, and then you have proof to take home.”
“Proof is great,” the man said with a funny smile. He pulled a card out of his Velcro-ed pocket and handed it to Ruby.
Ruby dug out her phone, hit an app, and plugged in the scanner she kept in the cupholder of her camp chair. She glanced at the name on the card.
“Board or kayak?”
“Board, I guess,” he said, watching her closely.
“Okay, Mr…. Cameron,” Ruby said. She tapped some stuff into the app and then swiped his card. “I’ll charge you for an hour. If you want it longer, just take your time, and we’ll bill you for it. Sign here.”
She had him sign the electronic rental agreement and waiver that popped up on her phone, and then Ruby dropped her things into the camp chair so she could help him carry the giant stand up paddle board down to the water’s edge.
Mr. Cameron started to push the board out from shore, and Ruby laughed.
“Wait, Mr. Cameron!” she called, trotting to the trailer and back. “You need a paddle! And you better wear the life jacket.”
Ruby held the life jacket out first, not willing to trust him with the paddle till she knew he was strapped in. Cameron shoved the jacket on right over his Hawaiian shirt.
“You are entirely too helpful, Miss West,” he muttered.
Ruby froze, the paddle held halfway out.
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
“Lucky guess,” he said, clipping the last strap and pointing at the blue canopy emblazoned with West’s Quests name.
“Hey!” Ruby said suddenly. “I remember you, now! Your rental car broke down in front of Sandy Turtle Cove.” She handed him the paddle and pointed at his sun burn. “I take it you didn’t hide in the shade while you waited? Sorry. Guess I should have been pushier, you’re pretty burnt.”
“Yeah,” Cameron said. He shook his head and muttered to himself. “Entirely too helpful. I’m afraid this is an exercise in futility.”
Mr. Cameron climbed up on the board, wobbling frightfully.
“You want any help?” Ruby asked, eying him doubtfully. She had one hand on th
e board, and wasn’t sure if she should let go. The poor guy looked like a total fish out of water.
“May as well do the thing right,” he muttered, waving her off.
“Well, okay,” Ruby said. “Have a good time.”
She made her way back up to the canopy where a handful of tourists were gathering. None of them were nearly as burnt as Cameron, and she sent the little group off in a mix of kayaks and boards.
Ruby filled Angel’s water bowl and scanned the horizon, wondering how Mr. Cameron was getting on, but doubtful that he had gone far.
She spotted him just as he tumbled off the board and splashed into the water. By the time he managed to climb back on, he had drifted into the channel and was caught in the current.
“Oh, for pity’s sake,” Ruby muttered. “He’ll be swept out to sea at this rate.”
She picked up her pendant and whistled for Angel. Then she tossed her phone and scanner in the Jeep’s glove box. By the time Angel came bounding up, Ruby had a kayak ready to go.
“Get in, girl,” Ruby said.
The dog bounced into the front and barked happily. Ruby pushed off, jumped in, and started paddling towards Mr. Cameron.
✽ ✽ ✽
“Hey there, Mr. Cameron!” Ruby called.
The man turned, looking both vexed and relieved as he spotted Ruby.
“Would you like a little help? It can be really tough paddling back,” she said, tossing him a line.
Cameron grabbed, his frown deepening.
“Entirely too helpful,” he said again. Then he held up the rope. “What do I do with this?”
“There’s a little flap on the front end of the board. Just hook the loop in there if you can,” Ruby answered. “If it’s too wobbily I’ll pull up and get it for you.”
“No, no. I can get it,” the man muttered. He plopped down, only too happy to have an excuse to sit.
Once Cameron attached the line, Ruby turned her kayak towards shore.
“We’ll get out of the current before we start paddling back,” she explained.
“Thanks, miss,” he said. “You know… You’d have made a lot more money if you’d have let me struggle back. It would have taken me forever.”
Ruby laughed.
“I’d rather you had a good vacation,” she said. “You need any water?”
“I’ve had a good dunking, already, thank you,” Cameron muttered.
“No,” Ruby laughed again. “I mean to drink.” She held up a disposable water bottle and tossed it to him.
“I take it I’m not the first person you’ve had to rescue?” he said, sitting on the board with his useless paddle balanced across his lap.
“No, and you won’t be the last,” Ruby said, paddling steadily. She heard the sound of Velcro behind her, and then Ruby heard him swear.
Ruby gave him a look that said she did not approve.
“Sorry, miss,” Mr. Cameron said, his face turning even redder than it already was. “I was going to mark you off the list, but I just realized my phone went swimming with me.”
“Sheesh, sorry,” she said. “Wait— List? What list?”
Cameron started to swear again, but bit his lip.
“You may as well know,” he said. “I’m a credit investigator. Someone’s been scamming tourists on this island. They’re swiping cards and then using the info later to make purchases.”
“Really?” Ruby turned to face him again. “Is that why you were parked in front of the Cove?”
“Got me,” he admitted. “The Cove is one of the few things the victims have in common.”
Ruby’s eyes widened with sudden suspicion, but Mr. Cameron held his hands up.
“Look girly,” he said. “Dead bodies aren’t my department. I was watching the Cove to see who else comes and goes. You showed up yesterday, and when I asked the guard house, they said you come pretty often. But like I said, you are entirely too helpful to be robbing people blind.”
“But wouldn’t West’s Quests show up on those people’s records if it was me?”
Mr. Cameron took a long drink. “Nah. Most crooks have their own scanners. You think you’re renting from West Quests, or paying for your lunch, or whatever, but you’re really just handing over your info.”
Ruby started paddling again. So that was why he had watched her so carefully when she had swiped his card.
“Did you call in the SUP rental yesterday? For the Cove?” Ruby asked.
Cameron sat up a little straighter.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“The lady renting the apartment said she didn’t order the rental,” Ruby said. “Maybe it was the killer, then.”
She glanced back again, but Cameron held up his sun burnt hands.
“Like I said, girly… Not my department.”
Chapter Six
H ow was the beach?” Grannie asked as Ruby and Angel came in for the evening.
“Great,” Ruby said. “Lots of rentals today. Enough to take a day off, if I want!”
“Well, see if Kylie wants to babysit the canopy before you just skip it,” Grannie said. “She said she’s saving for a car of her own. Tired of the Rookie Mobile.” She waved for Ruby to follow her into the kitchen. “Oh, and I made a huge batch of that Bacon Chicken Ranch Pasta you like.”
“Yum, thanks!” Ruby said, licking her lips. She grabbed a couple of bowls, then pulled the pasta out of the fridge and started dishing it out.
“How was your book?” Grannie asked as she fixed some ice water for both of them.
“Too fun,” Ruby answered. “I totally thought it was that Peterman chick that killed the waiter, but I was all wrong.”
Ruby sat down at the table, frowning a bit.
“Maybe this mystery business is harder than you thought it would be?” Grannie ventured.
“No way, Grannie,” Ruby said with a laugh. “That’s why I’m doing research—so I don’t make rookie mistakes or miss something obvious.”
Grannie West shook her head and laughed too. Angel barked, as if to join in on the joke. Ruby scratched the dog’s head.
“Hold on, girl. We’ll pray and then I’ll get you something to eat.”
Angel whimpered and lay down, as if she knew exactly what Ruby meant, and both of the women eyed her suspiciously.
“Sometimes I swear that dog understands everything we say,” Grannie said.
“Tell me about it,” Ruby said.
They prayed for the meal, Ruby got Angel some food, and then the women started on their dinner. Ruby grinned at her bowl of pasta. Cold pasta on a hot day was good. Cold pasta with bacon was just a little bite of heaven.
“Well?” Grannie said. “What have you got so far?”
“You are not going to believe what I learned today!” Ruby said. “Did I tell you about that guy broken down in front of the Cove yesterday?”
Grannie shook her head.
“It was pretty weird,” Ruby said. “It was a rental, and they’re so new they don’t usually break down. The guy was maybe late thirties, and dressed for the city, but he tried acting like he was on vacation.”
“That is odd. Is he a suspect now?”
“Well, not really,” Ruby said with a frown. “I’m not totally crossing him off my list, but I don’t think it was him. He showed up at the beach today and rented a board. Got himself halfway out into the channel, and I had to go tow him back in. You’ll never guess why he’s on Leyenda—”
“You know I hate guessing,” Grannie said. She took another bite of pasta, refusing to play.
“Fine, fine!” Ruby said. “He investigates credit card fraud!”
Ruby told Grannie the whole story and then sat back in her chair, quite pleased with her sleuthing.
“Not bad for my first day on the case, huh?” she asked.
Grannie smirked at her.
“I really don’t think it was him,” Ruby said. “Cameron has resources. The way he kept saying ‘not my department’ makes me think that if th
e credit companies do have people who, er… deal with thieves, it’s not him. Someone like that wouldn’t stick around and rent paddle boards.”
Grannie got up and put the empty bowls in the sink. She started some hot water for the dishes. “I think you’re right, Ruby. He doesn’t seem to have motive, even if he was parked outside watching the Cove.” Grannie made a face and squirted soap into the sink. “To think, murder and a credit scam! Right here on Leyenda. What is the island coming too?”
Ruby got up. “I’ll get the dishes, Gran. You made dinner, and breakfast this morning!”
“So? Who else is on your suspect list?” asked Grannie.
“Well, not too many people, to be honest,” Ruby admitted. “First is the lady renting the house. I didn’t get her name, but she could have been lying about calling in the rental.”
“Nobody called it in,” Grannie said. “It came in on-line. Could have been anybody.”
“Well, that’s just peachy,” Ruby said. “I was hoping you could at least tell me if it was a man or woman.” Distracted, Ruby wiped at her face and left a trail of dish bubbles across her forehead.
“Who else?” prompted Grannie.
“Well… There’s Grumpy.”
“Grumpy?” Grannie laughed. “Ruby, you really should know who your suspects are! How else are you going to turn them in to the authorities?”
Ruby rinsed the last fork and put it in the drainer. She dried her hands and chuckled. “You’re right, Grannie. If I’m going to solve this before what’s-his-name, I better get real ID’s on people.”
“His name is Ian,” Grannie said.
“Back to Grumpy,” Ruby said with a wave. She did not want to talk about him, even if he had decided she was not a murderer. “Grumpy is the neighbor. He’s older, and like I said, pretty grumpy. But I’m putting him on the list for two reasons. First, he was on the scene extremely fast for an old guy. He must have been outside already. And second, he wasn’t afraid to grab that coral.”
“Grabbing a coral doesn’t give him motive,” Grannie said.
“No, but it gives him means,” Ruby countered. “Not everybody could pick one up.”