The Coral Killer

by Anna Travis

  Ruby smirked at the old man in triumph as she turned to get into her Jeep. Grumpy had gotten her kicked out, but she had gotten his real name.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  The minute Ruby was out of the Sandy Turtle Cove she pulled over and grabbed her phone. She scrolled through the contacts, tapped on Ian’s name and started a new thread.

  Dwayne Taylor just peeled out of the STCove. Skipping town. Was blackmailing Nancy.

  Not two seconds later the phone buzzed.

  Thanks.

  By the time Ruby was turning onto A1A she saw a cop car go speeding towards the bridge to the mainland with its lights flashing. Mr. Taylor may have been smart enough to blackmail the maid, but apparently geography was not his thing. He had been so afraid that he thought he could leave Ruby standing there with her phone and still escape an island before the cops caught up with him. She shook her head in pity, and drove home.

  Chapter Eleven

  S unday morning Ruby sat at the breakfast table with Grannie, ticking off her suspect list yet again. Much to her annoyance, not a single request for a rental delivery to the Sandy Turtle Cove came in all weekend, so Ruby found her investigation at a stand-still.

  “Well, I guess I’m down to Mr. Taylor, Patrick the ex-boyfriend, and Grumpy Gambino,” Ruby said, holding up a finger for each. “I really don’t think it was Taylor, because he would have needed a partner to get the snake in Kylie’s car while he was on the camping charter, and his partner in crime is dead.”

  “God rest her soul,” Grannie said with a shake of her head. “Perhaps Sunday’s not the day for investigating murders?”

  Ruby sighed. “Maybe you’re right, Grannie. It’s not like I can learn anything new about Grumpy from outside the Cove, unless we run into him at church, as if.”

  “Judge not, Ruby,” Grannie said. “Maybe he’s just a grumpy old man who needs Jesus. Come on, we’re going to be late if we sit around here gossiping any longer!”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Fishers of Men was a small, cozy little church on the ocean side that had somehow managed to keep its property despite the high taxes and a constant flux of interested buyers, all of whom wanted to turn the three-acre church property into a money-making condo.

  Ruby’s pastor was a gentle, older man with salt and pepper hair. Pastor Gray was just as likely to be found surfing as visiting shut-ins or those in the hospital, and he had performed many a wedding, bare-foot and wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

  Ruby had known him her entire life, and once she had seen Pastor Gray laugh off an interested buyer who had come to Sunday church solely to scope the place out. When the man had informed Pastor Gray that they couldn’t possibly keep paying their bills with a congregation of sixty people, the Pastor had winked at Ruby and said cheerfully, “It’s not the sixty, it’s the One that matters. Leyenda needs Jesus more than it needs another condo.”

  Ruby really liked Pastor Gray. If you met him on the street you would never guess he was clergy, because he was humble. Grannie said humble clergy men were rare creatures in-deed.

  Ruby and Grannie pulled into the small parking lot at Fishers, and then headed inside the old-fashioned chapel. They said good morning to as many people as possible as they headed over to join the rest of the West clan, which took up an entire pew by themselves.

  Tali jumped up and gave Ruby a huge hug.

  “Hiya, Ruby!” she grinned.

  “Hiya, Tali-girl,” Ruby said, tweaking her little sister’s braid. “How goes it?”

  Tali’s eyes widened and she crooked a finger at Ruby, who bent down to her sister’s level. “Same as always! Peter’s already spilt coffee all over Ian, and—”

  “Ian?” Ruby asked, suddenly feeling less at ease. “Was he at the Nest this morning?”

  “No, Ruby, here!” Tali said in a whisper. “Peter ran right into him, knocked coffee everywhere. They went to the bathroom to mop up his shirt, Mama went to get paper towels.”

  Just then Mrs. West appeared with an armload of towels. She handed them to Tali, who started mopping up the pew and the floor, and then turned to Ruby.

  “Hey sweetie,” said Mrs. West. “How’s my girl today?”

  “Oh, you know, Mama,” Ruby said with a smile. “Fine as always.”

  Mrs. West eyed her daughter. She didn’t approve of Ruby’s recent interest in crime solving, but she knew that opposing it would only make Ruby crazier about it. Hopefully Grannie would shepherd her daughter safely through this, or give her something more exciting to focus on.

  A pair of arms wrapped around Ruby from behind, and a deep voice chuckled in her ears.

  “Morning, Rubix,” Judah said. “Solved the puzzle yet?”

  Ruby twisted to smile up at her big brother, who was tall and lanky, but before she could say anything Grannie clucked her tongue.

  “No murder on Sundays, you two,” she hissed. Then Grannie glanced behind Judah and smiled. “Hello, deputy. Nice of you to join us.”

  Judah let Ruby go and she turned to see Ian behind her brother. His shirt was covered in coffee, but even still he looked annoyingly handsome. He was every bit as tall as Judah, and probably worked out just as much. She nodded at him, keenly aware that all of her brothers were watching her sharply, and then exhaled with relief as Pastor Gray turned on his mic to welcome everyone to church.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  It was a good service.

  Ruby enjoyed the mix of hymns and praise songs, and after her week of death threats, snakes, criminals, and finding a murder victim, she especially appreciated the sermon Pastor Gray gave about Psalm 23.

  She certainly needed the reminder that God was watching her, whether things were calm and peaceful, or if they felt more Shadow of Death Valley.

  When Pastor Gray finished, the family filed out of church and into the sunshine with the rest of the congregation. They lingered at Ruby’s Jeep a moment, saying goodbyes and making plans for family dinner later in the week.

  “Ruby, dear,” Grannie said. “I’m going to ride with your mom, and spend a little time with her and the kids, unless you need me for something?”

  “Oh,” Ruby said, feeling a little deflated. She had hoped to talk through the clues again.

  “No murder talk on the Sabbath,” Grannie said quietly. “You need a break.”

  Sometimes Ruby swore Grannie could read her mind. Either that or Grannie’s people reading skills were off the chart. Maybe she should have been a detective.

  Grannie cleared her throat and dropped her voice.

  “Unless you want to talk through things with Ian, that I’d be fine with,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Grannie!” Ruby hissed. “I’m planning on figuring it out before he does!”

  Grannie laughed and Ruby hurriedly changed the subject.

  “I think I’ll go home and read,” Ruby said. “Enjoy the quiet. Maybe take a paddle with Angel and Jesus.”

  Grannie nodded in approval and Ruby hugged the rest of her family goodbye.

  “Angel?” Ian asked. He ran a hand through his short hair and waited, even though everyone else was walking away.

  “The dog’s name is Angel,” Ruby said, feeling her face turn red as he lingered by the Jeep. Why wouldn’t he just move on?

  “Ah,” he said. “Well, thanks for the tip yesterday.”

  “Tip?” she asked, climbing into her Jeep. She pulled her skirt in and started to pull the door shut, but he was quicker than she was, and shut it for her.

  He raised his eyebrows at her.

  “About Dwayne Taylor ditching town,” he said. “Might not be murder, but blackmail is pretty bad too. Leyenda is one criminal fewer because of you, Ruby. You really are good at puzzles.”

  Ruby stared at him. Was he actually complimenting her? No way. She frowned down at his hands in suspicion, which were still on the door. He was probably just trying to butter her up so she’d keep him in the loop of her investigation!

  “Look, er… Deputy—”
>
  “Ian,” he corrected, tucking his thumbs into his coffee-stained pockets. “I live with your brothers. Practically family.”

  “Uh, yeah, well, Ian… I’m gonna go.”

  Ruby started the Jeep and drove away wishing her stomach wasn’t flip-flopping.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  That day, Ruby stayed true to her word and took a break from investigating. She had a very nice evening reading another Eastman mystery, went for a paddle with Angel, and ate a massive salad for dinner. On her way to bed she checked the computer to see if any orders had come in for the Cove.

  She put a hand on her hip and frowned at Angel.

  “Rats, girl. Nothing!”

  Angel stared up at her.

  “Well…” Ruby said to herself. “If nothing comes in overnight, I’ll do the beach run in the morning. Joe’s on shift to baby sit the rentals for the afternoon. I can’t drive into the Cove… But, you know, Angel… I’m feeling up for another paddle.”

  Chapter Twelve

  T he next morning Ruby was halfway through another Eastman mystery when someone tugged on the brim of her hat. She jumped a bit, and looked up in surprise.

  “Joe!” she said, swatting at him playfully. “You scared me!”

  Joe dodged her easily, then sat down in the sand next to Ruby’s chair. He ran a hand through his sandy blond hair, and smiled at her. Ruby smiled back. She adored their big brother, Judah, but Joe had such an easy, care-free way about him, that she could not help but smile whenever he was around.

  “What cha’ reading, Rubix?” he asked.

  “I found a bazillion of these in Grannie’s library,” Ruby answered, passing him the book. “I’ve never noticed how many mystery books she has… They’re all way up on the top shelf. Grannie said she’d already read them all.”

  “I didn’t know you read these,” Joe said, squinting at the cover, which showed a guy and a girl trekking through the jungle.

  “Neither did I,” Ruby said with a shrug. “But the ones by Eastman are just plain fun. I’ve got another in my bag. Want it for your shift?”

  Flying was Joe’s main job, but he usually covered for Ruby at least twice a week. He enjoyed talking to the families that came for vacation on Leyenda, and showing kids how to paddle around.

  “Why not?” he said. “I’ll try one, if you think they really are that good.”

  She dug out the other book and handed it to him. He flipped through it for a moment, then sat it on his lap and leaned back, tipping his face to the warm sun.

  “Not a bad life, eh, Sis?” he asked.

  Ruby looked around. They were getting paid to sit on the beach, read, and make other people smile while they got to try new things. Joe was right.

  “Yeah, and I have news that you’ll like,” Ruby said.

  He looked at her curious, but Ruby spoke quickly, before she could change her mind about telling him.

  “I broke up with David.”

  A smile spread across her little brother’s face, but Joe quickly wiped it away. “How come? Are you doing okay?”

  Ruby shrugged and told him what had happened. Then she got up to put some more water in Angel’s bowl.

  “You did the right thing, Ruby,” Joe said, kicking at the sand. “I never liked him anyway.”

  Ruby looked up. Joe and Judah had both told her she could do better, but she had ignored both of them. But now that David was gone, if she was honest with herself, she realized she hadn’t really missed him at all.

  “You had him pegged, didn’t you?” she asked.

  It was Joe’s turn to shrug.

  “Ruby—”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about me, Joe. I’m done with dating,” Ruby said. She blew Angel’s whistle and the dog came bounding over. “Time to go, girl. Jeep!”

  Angel lapped up the water and followed the two of them over to Ruby’s Jeep. Joe gave her a wry look as he unhooked the trailer from her Jeep.

  “Done with dating?” he asked. “What does that mean? Are you joining a convent or something?”

  Ruby punched him on the shoulder.

  “Joe!”

  “Well, are you?” he laughed.

  Ruby climbed up into the driver’s seat and started the Jeep. She shook her head.

  “No, the next best thing though, I’m sure you’ll think,” Ruby said. “You and Judah both.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Joe said. He lifted his sunglasses, to get a better look at her. “Come clear, Rubix.”

  Ruby exhaled. Once she told Judah and Joe there was no going back. They would hold her to it if they could.

  “All I’ve ever wanted was a family of my own,” she said. “You and Judah and Timothy have something to shoot at. ‘Family’ isn’t exactly a career path you can find on Job Monster.”

  Joe’s smile faded away.

  “You’re good at what you do, Ruby,” he said. “And you have us.”

  “I know,” Ruby said quietly. She swallowed at the lump in her throat. “I guess I’ve just been trying to make it happen, you know? But it’s not working. I may as well be trying to make myself taller—”

  Joe snickered, in spite of himself, but he said nothing, and Ruby went on.

  “I don’t want to miss out on what I do have, chasing something I may never get,” Ruby said. “I told God that if He wants me to get married and have a family, He’ll have to do the husband hunting for me. I’m done.”

  Joe stared at her for a moment, and then a broad grin spread across his face.

  “Well, this is excellent news, Rubix,” he said. “Any chance you can talk Kylie and the girls into doing the same?”

  “Ha, ha, ha,” Ruby said. “Fat chance.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Ruby headed home to Grannie’s. Once there, she let Angel out to stretch her legs, but the dog had had enough of the heat and she quickly turned to follow Ruby into the AC.

  Inside, Ruby passed by the library where she got a glimpse of Grannie typing away like a madwoman. A pair of old-fashioned headphones were clamped down over her thick gray hair.

  Ruby smiled at the old woman’s back and headed to the kitchen. She made herself a sandwich and a glass of ice tea. Then she grabbed her phone and checked to see if West’s Quests had gotten any delivery orders for the Cove.

  No such luck. Rats.

  Ruby drummed her fingers on the table. She sat up to see if Grannie was moving around yet, but the only sound she heard was the faint clicking of computer keys.

  She looked down at Angel.

  “Well, girl, I suppose it’s now or never,” Ruby said. She jumped up, filled her water bottle, and headed out to the paddle shed. Five minutes later she was driving down A1A with a board on the roof rack.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Ruby pulled over to a free beach access spot and turned off the Jeep. She unstrapped the board from the roof rack and lowered it gently, then she got her water bottle.

  Ruby checked the sky for signs of changing weather, and then grabbed her backpack.

  Her mini backpack was one of those knock-off bags made to look like that trendy Swiss backpack everyone was willing to shell out cash for. Twenty bucks had gotten Ruby her favorite shade of aqua blue, lots of pockets, and a place to stick her water bottle. The bag was not waterproof, but since Ruby rarely fell in, it got the job done.

  She stuck her West’s Quests hat on, threw the pack over her shoulder, and picked up the board and paddle, feeling a bit anxious as she headed across the sand.

  “Come on, Ruby,” she said as she put the board in the water and jumped on. “There’s no rule against paddling into the Cove. You’re not doing anything wrong!”

  Ruby shook herself, and said a little prayer. “All right, Lord. Please help me learn something to help solve this case. I want Leyenda to be a safe place.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  A short while later stilted houses came into view, and Ruby reached the first man-made canal that cut into the Sandy Turtle Cove.

>   “Hmm…” Ruby said with a frown. “There must be a dozen of these things!”

  She paddled on, frustrated with herself for not realizing the community was going to look different from the water, and tried to guess which turn to take. Driftwood Lane was probably along the fifth or sixth canal, and she counted as she glided silently along.

  At the fifth canal she turned the board and floated over the bubble net the Cove had running. The bubble nets were jets that pumped air across the entrance of the canal, trying to keep debris from floating into the community. They also frightened off some of the more skittish marine life.

  Past the bubble net, the water grew calm. The stilted, concrete houses crept right up to the water, blocking most of the sky. Each house was surrounded by gravel and a few bushes, and many of them had boats tied up right outside their front door.

  Ruby pulled out her water bottle and took a sip as she silently paddled along. It was easy to tell which houses belonged to residents: they had personal touches. Potted tomatoes on the balcony, humorous signs, and wind chimes gave many of them a homey feel.

  The other houses looked and felt more like tiny hotels. Very clean and pretty, but not home.

  She made it all the way to the end of the canal, where the sea weed floated in a gnarly heap, and sighed. She had picked the wrong canal.

  Ruby paddled back out to try the next one. Soon after she floated over the next bubble net, Ruby recognized the houses on one side of the canal and a grin spread over her face.

  “Bingo!” she said. “Driftwood lane!”

  Ruby paddled forward, not sure what she was hoping to see. Grumpy seemed pretty observant, and he also had a lot of time on his hands. It occurred to her that if she was floating around his front door, Grumpy was bound to notice, so she paddled slowly, pretending to admire the houses and boats.

  The smell of chicken on the grill wafted past, and Ruby’s stomach growled. A man was out grilling on the other side of the canal, and he waved cheerfully.

  “Great,” Ruby muttered to herself. Now she was being watched. Then an idea dawned on her and Ruby put on the smile she reserved for customers. The man had a friendly look to him, and Ruby drifted towards the house, hoping to seem like she was just out for a paddle and not investigating his neighbor for murder.