Summer in Diamond Bay Complete Bundle #1-5 (Summer in Diamond Bay #1-5)

by Maci Grant

“Is that how you’re going to play this, Oliver?” Chief Pitman leaned across the table toward him. “As if you don’t know what happened today.”

  “I don’t. Some cop just snagged me off the street and brought me here. No one will tell me why I’m here. What did I do?” He looked up at Chief Pitman again. “Am I going to jail?”

  Blu stepped closer to the glass. Was it really possible that Oliver didn’t know it was his father that had fallen from the lighthouse?

  “Were you at the lighthouse today?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Are you aware of the death that occurred there?”

  “Uh, yes. I mean, I thought he was probably dead. I took off when it happened. Is that it? Am I in trouble for leaving?”

  “Oliver.” Chief Pitman waited until Oliver met his eyes. “The man who died today was your father, Emile.”

  “What?” Oliver stood up so fast that he knocked his chair over in the process.

  Chief Pitman stood up as well with one hand placed on his weapon.

  “That’s impossible! It was not my father! Why are you lying to me?”

  “Oliver, I need you to calm down. There are about three police officers right outside this door and if they think for one second that you may pose a danger to me, they will come in and cuff you. Understand?”

  “No. I don’t understand any of this. Why are you saying that man was my father?”

  “It was, Oliver. He’s been positively identified. I’m not lying to you, son. I know this is a shock, but I am telling you the truth.”

  “And I’m telling you that it couldn’t have been him. I was running the hot dog cart because he was supposed to be meeting with an investor.”

  “Was he having a hard time financially?”

  “Just like everyone else. But why would he tell me that he was going to be somewhere else? My father doesn’t lie.”

  “Everyone lies, son. Some of us try not to, but we all do it. So you’re telling me that you had no idea that your father was in the lighthouse?”

  “No.” Oliver stared into the empty space between them. “No, I didn’t. Are you sure it’s him?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Oliver’s chin began to tremble. His eyes squinted at the corners. His hands balled into fists on the table. “Why? Why did this happen?”

  “I’m going to try to figure that out, Oliver. But I need your help.”

  Chief Pitman seemed to giving the young man several minutes to calm down as Oliver sobbed into his hands at the table. When he finally looked back up at him, the chief continued with his questions. “Did you notice anything unusual today? Maybe a strange customer? Or someone you recognized?”

  “No.” He shook his head and tightened his eyes. “No, it was just a normal day.”

  “How about this woman?” He placed the sketch on the table in front of Oliver. “Do you know her?”

  Oliver’s face drained of color. He looked away from the photograph. “I don’t know her. I’ve never seen her.”

  “Really?” Chief Pitman stood up and walked around the side of the table. “Take another look. Hm?” He leaned over Oliver’s shoulder.

  Oliver looked back at the sketch for a long moment. Blu watched as his lips tensed and his throat buckled with a hard swallow.

  “I don’t know her. Please. I need to tell my mother what’s happened.”

  “She already knows, Oliver. Unlike you, she was rather easy to find. So why did you run and hide, Oliver? Was it because you were involved?”

  “Involved with my father’s suicide?” Oliver’s eyes widened. “How? By disappointing him? By not being the son he hoped for?”

  “Oliver, your father didn’t commit suicide.” Chief Pitman stepped back to allow the young man some space.

  “But you said he fell from the lighthouse.”

  “More accurately he was pushed—or thrown. Something that a person would do in a rage.”

  “He was killed?” Oliver’s voice grew dark. “Who would do that? He’s never hurt anyone.”

  “I don’t know, Oliver. That’s what I’m trying to find out. But first, what I would like to understand is: why would a son flee his father’s side?”

  “I didn’t know it was him. I didn’t know.” Oliver covered his eyes with one hand and released a growl. “I just didn’t want to be there. I thought my father would want me to leave so that no one would associate the cart with tragedy. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

  “If you are such a good and honorable son, then why did you hide out? It shouldn’t have been that hard for us to find you.”

  “I wasn’t hiding out. I just had some things to take care of.”

  “What things?”

  Oliver lowered his hand. Blu could see the moisture of tears in his eyes. “Things.”

  “Listen, son, you were at the scene of the crime.”

  “Are you accusing me?” Oliver stood up again. “People saw me there. They saw me standing there, so how could I have done anything?”

  “I don’t know, Oliver. But that’s what I’m going to find out. Now are you sure that you don’t know who this woman is?” He pushed the sketch back toward him.

  “I told you I don’t know.” Oliver swept the sketch off the table and onto the floor. “Stop asking me!”

  “Calm down. I’ll get you some water.” Chief Pitman opened the door of the room. “I’ll be back.” He closed the door.

  Chapter 5

  Blu watched Oliver pick up the sketch off the floor. He stared at it for a moment, then placed it back on the table. The way he handled it—the soft touch of his fingertips, the careful way he put it down on the table—told her something.

  “He knows who she is.”

  “You think so?” Chief Pitman stepped into the room with her. “Then why isn’t he talking?”

  “I don’t know.” Blu shook her head. “I don’t think he’s faking that grief, though.”

  “It’s hard to say, isn’t it?”

  “It always is. But he seemed genuinely surprised when you told him that it was his father who’d died.”

  “Yes, I’d agree with that.”

  “I do think he knows, though, exactly who it is in that picture. You should question him about it again.”

  “I have a better idea. I’m going to let him go.”

  “What?” Blu turned to face him. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because when I let him go he’s going to lead us right to this mystery woman. I’ll put one of my guys on him to watch his every move.”

  “Is that legal?”

  “Did I ever tell you that you ask far too many questions?” Chief Pitman winked at her, then stepped out of the room.

  Blu stared after him. She wondered if the amount of trust she’d begun to have in Chief Pitman was well placed.

  She looked back through the mirror at Oliver. He rested his head on his folded arms. His shoulders were limp and his face hidden. It was clear that he was defeated by what had happened in the room. Yet he hadn’t given Chief Pitman a name for the woman in the sketch. Which communicated to Blu that whoever the woman in the picture was, she was incredibly important to Oliver. Important enough to turn a blind eye to her involvement in his father’s murder?

  Blu headed back to Maddie’s to collect the kids. It was getting late and she didn’t want Maddie to get into trouble for having two extra kids at the house.

  When she arrived, Maddie opened the door for her.

  “Now don’t get mad.”

  “What?” Blu’s heart flipped.

  “I swear, I only looked away from them for a moment, but I guess it was long enough.”

  Blu’s eyes widened when she saw that four-year-old Marley’s hair had bright pink streaks in it.

  “Oh no, no, no!” Blu gasped and grabbed a handful of Marley’s hair. “Is it marker or something? Will it wash out?”

  “I don’t want to wash it out!” Marley huffed.

  “Sure it’ll wash out—in a f
ew days. It’s just a little temporary hair dye. What’s the big deal?” Chrissa shrugged. “I use it in my hair all of the time.”

  “You’re ten, Chrissa, and you have your mother’s permission. That’s the big deal,” Maddie said and then turned back toward Blu. “I’m so sorry.” She cringed. “You can tell Rachel it was my fault. I’ll even call her if you want.”

  “No. It’s okay.” Blu cleared her throat. “Where’s Joey?”

  Joey walked out of Brennan’s room and into the living room. His hair was still the same color. “Hi, Blu.”

  “Hi, Joey. Get your things we have to go.” Blu looked at Marley’s hair again and tried not to scream. There was no doubt in her mind that Rachel was going to be quite upset.

  “Blu, I’m really, really sorry.” Maddie met her eyes.

  “Maddie, it’s no big deal. These things happen with kids. It’s okay.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “It is what it is.” Blu shrugged. “There’s nothing that can be done now.”

  “But you trusted me and—”

  “—And they’re kids, Maddie. It’s not your fault.” Blu hugged her. “Don’t stress.”

  “Thanks.” Maddie sighed with relief.

  Blu smiled, but the moment she got on the other side of the door she pulled out a baby wipe and started to scrub at Marley’s hair.

  “That’s not working.” Joey peered at Blu’s scrubbing hand.

  “I can see that, Joey.”

  “It’s still not working.”

  “Thanks, Joey.”

  “Blu?”

  “What?” She looked up at him.

  “I don’t think it’s going to work.”

  Blu sighed. Marley’s hair was just as pink. She ushered them into the car and drove home as slowly as possible. In her mind, she recited all of the excuses that she could come up with, but in the end she knew that she would tell Rachel the truth—at least most of the truth. She always tried to be as honest as possible with her employers.

  She parked in the driveway and marched the kids into the house. She was prepared to face the consequences. When she walked into the living room she found Rachel sound asleep on the sofa.

  “Let’s go get baths, kids.” She hurried them up the stairs to the bathroom.

  As she ran the water for Marley’s bath, the sound of the rushing water coming out of the faucet relaxed her. Her mind filled with memories of Oliver’s face. No matter what Chief Pitman thought, she was sure that Oliver knew nothing about his father’s death. With no other lead to follow up on, she hoped that Chief Pitman would be able to get to the bottom of things, but she had a suspicion that she was going to have to do some serious investigating of her own.

  After she tucked the children into bed, Blu walked back into the living room. She covered Rachel with a blanket and collected the empty glass of wine from the coffee table.

  Rachel spent quite a bit of time alone these days, as her husband was often on business trips or in the city. Rachel handled it well, but from Blu’s point of view, it was clear that she missed her husband.

  Blu took some time to wash the dishes and straighten up the kitchen, then she headed to bed herself. When she switched out the light she caught a glimpse of the lighthouse in the distance. Its steady light still glowed out across the water. Her heart sank.

  It wasn’t the peaceful alluring sight that it had once been. Now it had a darker memory. She hoped that solving Emile’s murder would change that.

  Chapter 6

  Early the next morning Blu’s cell phone rang. She rolled over in bed and stared at the glow of it. For a moment she considered throwing it against the wall. Instead, she dutifully picked it up. Right away she saw that it was Chief Pitman.

  “Morning, Chief.”

  “Morning, Blu. I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “It’s okay. What is it?”

  “I was going over the interview from yesterday. I’m pretty sure that Oliver knows who that woman in the picture is.”

  “No bites yet, hm?”

  “No one seems to have any idea who she is.”

  “No one but Oliver.”

  “That’s what I’m thinking. But I might have played my hand a little rough and spooked him.”

  “You think he’s afraid to talk to you?”

  “I think he wouldn’t talk to me if I was the last man on earth. So I’ve asked AJ to help me out. He’s going to host a buck-a-beer fundraiser to generate support for the family. I’m betting that young Oliver will be there. I’d like you to be there as well—as a fly on the wall, so to speak.”

  “Chief Pitman?’

  “Yes?”

  “Is your plan to get him drunk and then have me see if I can get him to talk?”

  “Fly on the wall, Blu. That’s all I’m asking for.”

  “I think I can handle that. What time?”

  “I’ll text you the time as soon as I confirm things with AJ.”

  “Thanks.”

  Blu hung up the phone and pulled herself out of bed. She knew that Rachel would notice Marley’s hair and there would be some explaining to do. After dressing she walked down the hall to wake the kids. When she poked her head into Marley’s room, the little girl was not in her bed.

  “Marley?” Blu’s heart lurched.

  “We’re in the kitchen, Blu.”

  Rachel’s voice made Blu’s heart pound again. Would she be angry?

  When she stepped into the kitchen she saw that Joey was at the table as well. Both kids had bowls of their favorite cereal in front of them.

  “Rachel, about Marley’s hair, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Rachel poured her a cup of coffee.

  “Really?”

  “Sure.” She shrugged. “Pink happens. Right, Marley?”

  “Right.” Marley nodded.

  Blu was relieved. She accepted the mug of coffee. “Thank you.”

  “Why don’t you take the day off? I’m going to take her to my stylist and see if there is anything she can do.”

  “I’m very sorry, Rachel.”

  “Blu, it’s okay. When Joey was three I didn’t want to cut his hair. I thought it was so cute to put his hair in a ponytail and show him off. Well, one day I took him to a play date with a friend of mine. Her five-year-old decided he needed a haircut and my little Joey came back to me with his ponytail in his hand. Even if the stylist can’t get the pink out, it will be fine. Just enjoy your day, Blu. Alright?”

  “Thanks.” Blu frowned. Even though Rachel was being kind and didn’t seem too upset, Blu suspected that she was just hiding it well. Or perhaps something else was weighing on her mind. Either way the knit of Rachel’s brow and the tension in her voice made Blu think that something was off.

  She was relieved to have the day off to investigate, but wished it were for a different reason. As she grabbed her keys her cell phone rang.

  “Chief Pitman?”

  “No, it’s me, Maddie. How did the hair situation go?”

  “I think it will be fine.”

  “Oh, good. That’s a relief. What are you doing?”

  “I have the day off.”

  “Really? Chrissa’s nails get chipped and I’m docked a day’s pay. You come home with a pink-haired child and score the day off?”

  “Rachel is quite kind. Though I do think she might be more upset than she’s letting on.”

  “Let’s hope not. The kids have tennis this morning. Do you want to catch a quick breakfast?”

  “Sure, that would be great.”

  “There’s a coffee shop near the sports complex.”

  “I know it. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Great, see you soon.”

  Blu tucked her phone into her pocket. She opened the door to the car and dropped down into the driver’s seat. As she backed out of the driveway the flicker of light and scenery in her peripheral vision made her think of the moment that she saw the woman flee from the stairs. Blu shook her h
ead in an attempt to clear it.

  The street she drove down was lined with large beach houses. Each one seemed to compete with the next when it came to extravagance and luxury. But that wasn’t the real beach, not the one that existed all year round.

  That beach belonged to Emile and his hot dog cart, and all of the other vendors that lived for the tourists but still continued to survive throughout the rest of the year. If Emile was struggling financially he didn’t have too many options.

  Chapter 7

  When Blu arrived at the cafe, she tried to brighten her mood. She wanted to enjoy her time with Maddie.

  Maddie waved to her through the large front window of the small restaurant.

  Blu smiled and pulled open the door. She walked right over to the booth and plopped down beside her best friend.

  “So glad you could meet me. I feel like we never get a chance to hang out without the kids.”

  “Then you should meet me at the Beach Bum tonight. AJ is hosting a dollar-a-beer fundraiser for the Grovers.”

  “Oh, AJ, huh? I bet you’re looking forward to seeing him.”

  “Maybe.” Blu grinned. “Although I wish it was under different circumstances. I keep thinking about Emile’s wife and son.” Blu detailed everything she knew about the crime and Oliver’s interrogation. She hoped that Maddie could give her a new perspective on the case.

  After they ordered breakfast, Maddie seemed to be mulling over the information.

  “The obvious suspect would be the son. You’re sure that Oliver wasn’t involved?’

  “I think that Chief Pitman still has his suspicions, but I don’t see how he could have gotten from the hot dog cart to the top of the lighthouse in such a short time. I never saw him go past me up the stairs. I don’t see how he could have done it.”

  “Hm. It seems very strange that he wouldn’t know that his father was there, though. Why would Emile tell his son that he was going to a business meeting and then end up at the very place where Oliver was?” Maddie sipped her coffee and stared off into space for a moment. “It’s a very odd scenario.”

  “Yes, it is. I keep running through it in my mind—what it would have been like if I hadn’t looked around the museum with the kids for a few minutes before it happened. Part of me is grateful we weren’t up there to see it happen, but part of me wonders if I could have saved Emile.”