by Joyce Lavene
“Maybe I’ll be there too,” Mary Catherine said. “I know Horace is always there with Chief Michaels and Sheriff Riley.”
“Since they have Captain Lucky’s death to look into, none of them might be there. You should call Gramps before you put yourself through that ordeal.”
“You must be headed home then.” She linked her arm through mine. “I just closed too. I’ll walk with you.”
Walking was by far the best way to get around Duck in the summer. There could even be golf cart snarls on the roads when traffic got bad. The cool breezes blew through the stunted island trees as we followed the walking trail back to Gramps’s old house.
Generations of O’Donnells had grown up here, including my grandfather and his seven siblings. Mary Catherine had come back to Duck last year and had stayed with us. She and Gramps had a thing going on, and her being there worked well for all three of us.
Knowing that Gramps had Mary Catherine was the only thing that made me feel better about moving to the Blue Whale with Kevin when we married. The two of them were a wonderful couple. I knew he wouldn’t be lonely with her there. But nothing was permanent between them yet.
We reached the house and went our separate ways—Mary Catherine to my mother’s old bedroom and me to mine.
Treasure, my tuxedo cat, was glad to see me. He glanced at Baylor, who was twice his size, but ignored him and went upstairs with me. Sometimes Baylor bullied Treasure a little.
My room was small but had always suited me. I was fortunate to have the entrance to the stairway from the widow’s walk on the roof. From that spot, O’Donnell women had watched for their loved ones to return from the sea. I had spent many long hours gazing out at my hometown. I could see the tall masts of the Andalusia II from there, and I was always the first person to see snow on the rooftops.
I went up on the roof with Treasure for a few minutes, the two of us looking at the long line of traffic moving slowly down Duck Road. I loved the off-season months more than the long summer, despite the dip in revenue for myself and the town. I didn’t like the traffic or the crowds. Duck was a peaceful corner of the world that I wished I could keep all to myself.
“If I’m going to eat anything before I face the council meeting, I’d better get a move on it,” I told Treasure.
He talked back, gazing at me soulfully. I wasn’t like Mary Catherine where I could understand exactly what he was saying, but I believed it had something to do with eating. I put him down when I got to my bedroom again, and he scooted out the door.
I hated to disappoint him, but I needed a quick shower and a change of clothes before I went downstairs. I was lucky that I spent so much time outside. My face was tan and needed no makeup—dark lashes, too, above my blue eyes. My hair was wild, so I kept the sun-bleached brown strands short. I could run a comb through it and be ready to go.
There was a cool, comfortable, white dress in my closet. It looked nice but didn’t make me feel like I was wearing a corset. I’d set it out for tonight. A few people in Duck had complained since I’d become mayor in 2002 that I should wear a suit to meetings. I figured since they’d voted me back in for another term in office that most people didn’t care if I was casual.
Duck was mostly a casual place to live. I reflected that, I decided, as the town’s head officer.
There was some of my favorite pink lipstick left in the case. I put that on and practiced my wide mayor’s smile in the mirror.
“Good evening, citizens of Duck. I know you’ve mostly come to complain, but I also know you love living here.”
Of course I really wouldn’t say that, but I felt like it sometimes.
The people of Duck were my friends and neighbors. Many of them still remembered my mother, Jean, and my grandmother, Eleanore. Some of them, like Trudy and Tim, I grew up with. Some of them had grown up with Gramps and could still remember when he was the sheriff.
That’s the way it was, generations of hardworking Bankers who had survived hurricanes and floods and still stayed on this narrow strip of land. My kind of town.
Mary Catherine was downstairs by the time I was ready to go. She was a vision in a dark green top and matching Capri pants.
“I love your sandals,” I told her. “I hope they’re comfortable. Gramps has the golf cart, so we’ll have to walk to town hall.”
“Thank you. Not a problem walking there. I never wear anything uncomfortable. There was a time, around my third marriage, that I dressed for other people. But after my third husband passed away, I started only dressing for myself.”
“A wise choice,” I complimented. “I guess I’ve always been too interested in being comfortable to care what anyone else thought.”
“You’re a smart woman, Dae,” she said. “Are you ready to go?”
I looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was already six-fifteen—no time for food. I’d have to eat after the meeting. “I guess we’d better leave. They look at me funny when I’m late.”
The sweet twilight was coloring the sky above us with pink and orange bands that braided themselves through the blue. Headlights were starting to come on in the lines of traffic, though there was still almost two hours before dark.
We walked carefully in our summer sandals along the side of the road, mindful of a few tall weeds snagging our legs. I’d have to mention that to our public works’ guys. Young men in golf carts and pickup trucks whistled and yelled at us. I ignored them, but Mary Catherine got a kick out of it and yelled back.
“It reminds me of my younger days.” Her pretty face was flushed with pink. “I was quite a looker back then!”
“I think you’re quite a looker right now.”
“Thank you, Dae. And I appreciate you welcoming me into your family as you have. Not everyone would be so happy to see another woman with her grandfather.”
“You make Gramps happy in a way I can’t remember him being happy. How could I not like it?”
It hit me as we were passing the crowded Duck Shoppes parking lot that I had left a packet of information for the meeting at home. I’d been in such a last minute rush that it had completely slipped my mind.
“I have to go back home,” I told her. “Maybe you could tell Nancy that I’m just running a few minutes late.”
“Of course. I’ll be glad to let everyone know. Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“It would be better if you could keep them all calm. I should still be there before the meeting starts. Thanks, Mary Catherine.”
I ran back to the house, thinking that this would be a great time for Gramps to have decided to leave the crime scene on the ship. I could make better time with the golf cart going to town hall, maybe. If nothing else, it would be easier on me.
But the drive was still empty when I got back. We’d had to start using the front door all the time until we could afford to get the back porch repaired after a February storm had damaged it.
I let myself in—we never locked the back door, but Gramps insisted on locking the front door. The key didn’t want to work, but I finally got it open. Treasure was sitting on my report, cleaning himself, but paused long enough to study me and wonder why I was back so soon.
“You’re sitting on my report.” I slowly slid the thick file from under him. He gave me the look, and I knew he wasn’t happy that I’d interrupted him. “Sorry. I’ll see you later.”
The door was even harder to lock behind me, but I finally managed and turned to head back to Duck Road.
Someone was waiting for me. I dropped my file in the dew-kissed grass.
Chapter Five
It wasn’t unusual for a resident of Duck to ask me personally for a favor or to tell me about a problem that wasn’t being handled. I picked up my file and smiled.
“Sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be out here. I’m late for the town meeting. Maybe we could walk to town hall together and talk about your problem.”
I didn’t recognize the man. He was medium height and build with
longish black hair that brushed his shoulders. It was getting darker. The large trees in the front yard kept the headlights on the road from identifying my caller.
“I’m sure we know each other, but this light is so bad. Have you lived in Duck long?”
“I don’t live here at all,” he said in halting words, but his voice was light and beautiful.
“You must be a visitor.” I held out my hand. “I’m sure you know I’m Mayor Dae O’Donnell. Someone must have pointed out my house. Everyone knows I live here, small town and everything. What’s your name?”
Not wanting to waste any more time—it was six forty-five on my watch—I started resolutely back down the hill to the street, leaving him to answer as he followed me.
He paused as we walked together down the side of the road. He was jumpier than me or Mary Catherine, but not everyone was comfortable walking so close to traffic.
“Visitor,” he finally said and held out his hand. “Tovi. I know who you are.”
“Good. It’s nice to meet you, Tovi.” I flashed one of my biggest mayoral smiles at him, even though it was doubtful he got the full effect in the dusky light. “What can I do for you?”
We had just reached the far end of the Duck Shoppes’ parking lot where the thick trees mostly obscured the building. It was darker here, even though there were streetlights in the parking lot.
The last buildings that had been put in had made the area darker than it was before. I hadn’t been able to get the real estate company that owned the shops to add new lights.
Not yet anyway.
“What I can do for you,” he said.
I could see him more clearly now, though the light didn’t reach beyond his head and neck. His features were odd—aquiline nose and high cheek bones but almost no chin. He was very pale. His lips were thin and wide, almost giving him the appearance of having too many teeth in his mouth.
It bothered me looking at him. He was pretty, in the feminine sense of the word, but something about him—and the touch of his cool hand on mine—made me shiver.
“You want to do something for me?” I asked.
“Yes. I want to help you.”
“What do you have in mind?” I was growing more uncomfortable by the moment.
“Your friend—the one who talks to the fish—they say you can stop bad things from happening.”
We were finally in the full light of the parking lot. He was completely naked.
My voice failed for a moment as I took in his appearance. Most people would have been astonished by that since I was never at a loss for words.
I looked into his eyes. They were multi-colored. Pale blue ran with green and brown, flecks of gold in their depths. It was hard to explain, but the colors seemed to be moving, swimming.
“Who are you?” I forgot that he was naked for a moment as my heart beat fast. “How do you know Mary Catherine?”
“Come with me.” He took my arm. “Let me show you.”
“That’s not happening.” I wrenched my arm from him and started running across the crowded parking lot in a fit of panic.
I was almost run down by a fast-moving Corvette and swerved just in time to collide with another woman.
Both of us were knocked to the pavement. I got up right away to check on my victim. She was a middle-aged lady with red hair that was mostly going white. She was holding on tightly to the leash of one of the biggest dogs I’d ever seen.
“I’m so sorry.” I started to help her to her feet.
But a tall man with brown hair and nice smile lines got to her first. “Are you okay, Peggy?”
“I’m fine,” she said as she looked at me. “Are you all right, young lady?”
My white dress was dirty, but other than that I was unhurt. Just badly embarrassed.
“I never go running out that way,” I tried to explain. “There was a man over there. He followed me from my house, and he was naked.”
Peggy laughed. “This is my first visit to Duck. Does that happen often?”
“Not at all.” I stuck out my hand and smiled. “I’m Mayor Dae O’Donnell. I hope you won’t let this ruin your visit here. Normally we’re a very peaceful town where everyone wears clothes, at least bathing suits.”
She transferred the large dog’s leash to her opposite hand. “I’m Peggy Lee. This is my husband, Steve, and my dog, Shakespeare. We’re staying with some friends. This is such a beautiful place, and I love the rich history.”
Steve shook my hand too. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. But very late. The town council decided to hold a meeting tonight, even though our festivities are tomorrow. We’ll get through it, but I really have to go.”
“Let us walk with you to town hall,” Steve suggested. “I don’t see anyone naked out here right now, but he might be lurking somewhere waiting to catch you alone again.”
“That’s a good idea,” Peggy agreed. “Steve is with the FBI, but I promise not to let him get in his investigative mood. We’re on vacation, after all.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your concern. Town hall is just right this way. Don’t feel as though you have to stay for the meeting. It’s boring for me most of the time, and I live here.”
Peggy and Steve laughed, and we walked quickly through the rest of the parking lot.
“Shakespeare is a very well-trained dog,” I told Peggy. “Is that what you do, train dogs?”
Steve laughed from behind us.
“Ignore him.” Peggy gave him a dirty look. “Shakespeare has his moments. But no, I own a garden shop in Charlotte and I’m a part-time forensic botanist on the side.”
“That’s great. We have something in common. Actually we have two things in common—my fiancé is a former FBI agent, and I own a thrift store on the boardwalk. You’ll have to come visit me.”
“I’d love that. What’s the shop’s name?”
“Missing Pieces.” I explained about my gift for finding lost things, and how I’d come to open the shop.
“Amazing,” Peggy said. “I’d like to see you find something for someone.”
I felt strange, as though I were bragging about my gift. I was saved from feeling even weirder because we’d reached the door to the room where town hall meetings were held.
To my surprise, Mary Catherine was anxiously waiting for me.
“Are you all right?” She looked at my dirty dress. “Did you decide to work in the garden on the way?”
“I don’t have time to explain now.” I glanced at my watch. It was six fifty-five. Nancy Boidyn, our town clerk, was standing by my seat on the dais waving papers at me. “I have to go. It was so nice of you to walk with me. I hope we see each other again, Peggy.”
Mary Catherine was touching the Great Dane and smiling at him like he was an old friend. “Is that who I think it is? Shakespeare? You’re the dog that was afraid of ghosts in your new house after you were rescued.”
Peggy shook her head. “Mary Catherine Roberts? You’re the pet psychic. You helped me with him years ago. I always wanted to thank you but didn’t know where you’d gone.”
I left them shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. It appeared that they’d met before. I wanted to stay, but the meeting had to come first. It was a packed house, as always. Our usual problem residents were right up front with their questions and suggestions. It was going to be a long night.
“You made it just in time.” Chris Slayton handed me a pile of papers.
“What in the world happened to you?” Nancy tried to brush some of the trash off my back side where I’d fallen in the parking lot. There was no good way to take care of the problem.
“I’ll tell you later.” I took my seat behind the large, horseshoe-shaped meeting table.
“Lucky you get to sit back there.” Nancy went to her desk where she recorded the meetings to be transcribed later for the archives.
“I know. How does my face and hair look?”
“You look great.” Chris assure
d me with a smile.
“Thanks.” I hadn’t meant to address the question to him, but that was okay.
I put on the last bit of pink lipstick that had stayed in my pocket through everything and faced the audience as I used my gavel to call the meeting to order.
We were going through the notes from the last meeting when Sheriff Riley, Gramps, Chief Michaels, and Kevin walked into the room. One of Sheriff Riley’s deputies had saved seats for them close to the front.
Chief Michaels nodded to me, which was his way of saying that he wanted to speak at a different part of the meeting than his usual police report. I nodded back in acknowledgement as Nancy finished reading the minutes.
“The minutes have been heard,” I said. “Do I have a vote to approve them?”
“Aye,” Rick Treyburn, Dab Efird, Cody Baucum, and Cailey Fargo all replied to the question.
“I’m Mayor Dae O’Donnell, and it’s my pleasure to welcome all of you to our monthly Duck town council meeting.” I smiled at the crowd before me, not happy to see Mad Dog Wilson and his friends. Next to them was our town crank, Martha Segall, who could always find something to complain about.
“Proceed with old business, Mr. Slayton,” I said to Chris.
“Thank you, Mayor O’Donnell. At this time, because of the recent tragedy, I yield the floor to our police chief, Ronnie Michaels.”
“I’d like to extend my condolences to the family of Captain Bill Lucky,” Cody squeezed in.
The other council members agreed.
Chief Michaels took the floor. He looked tired and more than a little upset by what had happened that day.
“I’d like to tell you that we have good news about Captain Lucky’s killer, but we’re still not sure what happened to him. The investigation will continue until we have answers.”
“People in Duck don’t feel safe here anymore.” Martha spoke out of turn. “I have a petition signed by more than three thousand people who testify to that fact.”