Now that I thought about it, that seemed to be a running theme today.
We exited the car, and Ty knocked on the front door.
We waited in silence. No answer.
"Listen…is that music?" I asked as I strained my ear toward the door.
Ty motioned with this thumb. "Back there."
We walked toward the side of the house. A large wooden fence encircled the backyard. Ty tried the latch on the gate and found it open.
I stepped through the opening, and my mouth dropped open at the sight before me.
The rather sizeable bear-like body of Randall Jamison was stretched across a shark-shaped pool float as it drifted across the sparking blue water. And he was completely nude.
I turned from the sight—my eyes burning from the amount of stark white human flesh and the sheer volume of body hair was almost inhuman. I spun so quickly, I crashed into Ty's chest as he was entering behind me.
"Ow…what the—" Ty said as he grabbed my shoulders to steady me.
"Welcome to the Jamison residence, young people!" Randall whooped from the pool.
I shook my head and stared down at Ty's cowboy boots. "I can't look, Ty. My eyes are literally in pain."
He stifled a laugh, and I felt his chest vibrate beneath my cheek.
"Uh, Randall…we need to speak with you a moment. Would you mind putting something on?" Ty called out to him.
Randall replied with a hearty laugh. "I've been naked for the last week. My girls are gone to visit their grandmother, and I'm just as happy as a clam being au naturel. Don't see any reason to stop now. "
"Want me to handle this one?" Ty asked, looking down at me.
"Yes, please. I'll owe you. I think I might have retinal damage," I mumbled into his chest and then took a seat in a nearby chair, turning it to face the fence where I studied the wood grain with solid focus.
I just couldn't look again. I already feared that I'd been scarred for life from the first glimpse.
I listened as Ty explained the situation at City Hall and the impending fireworks fiasco.
Randall laughed several more times, and I had the distinct impression that he'd been hitting the margaritas pretty hard already this morning.
"Randall, will you sign it?" I asked, hoping for an easy fix.
"How about this?" he started. "If you promise to let me hire you to tutor my Bitsy in science when school starts back, consider this a done deal."
His request surprised me and honored me at the same time. Everyone knew that I was always looking for extra work to help pay my student loans and to support my sister since moving back to Millbrook. Dropping out of med school with only one more semester to go was something that wasn't a secret about town. But dropping out meant that the loans become due and job opportunities around Millbrook weren't exactly plentiful.
But the fact that he had confidence in me and wanted me to work with his young daughter, it meant a lot to me. He still believed in me. I smiled even though he couldn't see it.
"Not a problem," I replied.
Randall signed the paper, and Ty and I were back in the car a few moments later. He laughed at me, and I blushed all the way to our next stop.
* * *
We arrived at the home of Coach Milo Mulder a few minutes later. This time, we did receive an answer to our knock. But, unfortunately, Coach answered the door in a beer stained T-shirt and a wrinkled pair of boxer shorts.
I looked at Ty, and he grinned. He was really getting a kick out of this.
"Why is it that everyone is in some state of undress at noon time today? Doesn't anyone get dressed anymore around here?" I couldn't help myself from saying.
Coach Mulder coughed in my face, and the smell of freshly chewed tobacco assaulted my nose. "Hey, girlie, you came to my house. It's not like I'm walking around town in this." He motioned down his body drawing my attention to his bare feet, which featured toe nails in serious need of trimming.
Ick.
"Okay, geez. Look, we need your signature on this form. Dougie Mills has chained himself in front of City Hall and is demanding a seat on the City Council. We've already got Randall Jamison's signature. Can we please get you to sign off on it?" I rattled off the details.
He turned and stepped back into his house, leaving us at the door.
Ty and I eyed each other and then stepped inside to follow him. Coach Mulder was the retired football coach of the local high school. He lived off of his retirement and his ownership of the local Christmas tree farm. I'd worked for him there last season.
The coach turned his back on us and sat down at his small desk in the corner. It was littered with empty coffee cups and paperwork. He studied his computer screen and then began clicking his mouse.
"I'm trying to set up my fantasy football league. You know football season is right around the corner." He filled us in on the details of his day.
"Uh, that's nice. But I know nothing about football." I was lost as to what else I'd need to say to get this signature and get the heck out of here.
My stomach was screaming at me for a meal. I was so hungry that I briefly considered taking a sip of coffee from one of the mugs on his desk, but thought better of it.
"What's it gonna take to get the signature, Coach?" Ty spoke up.
"Well, how's about you help me with my team? You were a football star back in the day." He spun his desk chair around to face us.
I looked down at my file folder. Once upon a time, Ty's football fame had been the very thing that had broken up our high school romance. I decided to remain totally silent on the subject.
"Fine. I'll come by tomorrow, and we'll work it out." Ty's voice was calm, but I sensed a little emotion behind his cool exterior.
I reached out to touch his arm but thought better of it.
"Give it to me then." The coach reached for the folder and scribbled his name on the waiting form. "What does that old fool want with a council seat? That crap is about as boring as it gets. Heck, he can have my seat." He cackled at his own joke.
"Thanks Coach Mulder," I said as I stepped over piles of magazines on his floor and made my way back to the door.
"See you at the festival tonight?" Ty asked as I stepped outside and took a tobacco-free breath of air.
"Nah. I'm working on this," Coach Mulder said. And we'd been dismissed.
I felt a little sorry for him as Ty pulled the door shut and we made our way back to the car.
"Two down and two to go," Ty said.
"Perfect time for an intermission," I said as I rubbed my stomach.
"Can't you wait? We are almost done," he said, giving me an imploring look.
I tilted my head to the side and pursed my lips.
"Never mind," he said.
He knew me all too well.
CHAPTER FOUR
2:00 p.m.
Sometime later, I'd filled my belly and gotten an update on the festival from the old lady brigade of Millbrook.
Per Ms. Maimie and Ms. Lanier, the governor had arrived and was being fed large quantities of barbeque at the festival site. He'd been taken on a detour via the I-65 and Highway 14 route so as to avoid the scene on Main Street. As far as we knew, he was unaware of the current town founder's feud and impeding demands.
Sundae was holding down the fort at the festival, but Ty felt that he was needed to take care of the meet and greet and to supervise the security needs of the dignitaries. With Officer Prentiss on guard at City Hall, Ty left me in the capable hands of Officer Devon Keith to obtain the last two needed signatures.
"How is Dougie doing over there?" I asked as we rolled through town toward RideOut's—the local funeral home. I tried not to stare at Devon's tan arms as he steered the cruiser.
"Oh, he's a stubborn one. Momma Maimie said that he has always kind of been a jerk. I'm not sure why anyone would even want him on the council," Devon replied. Ms. Maimie was Devon's grandmother, and he was the apple of her eye.
My eyes were quite fond of him as well
.
"Who knows what will end up happening when this is all over. I think the idea is to just get the signatures and appease him. Get the festival over with and then see what happens on Monday." I tried to make a little sense of it as well—hoping for a good result.
We pulled up to the funeral home and Devon followed me inside.
"This place kind of gives me the creeps," he said as we strolled through the foyer of the historic home turned funeral parlor.
"Nah, it's a beautiful home and a nice place to send your loved one. Dr. C. takes great care of everyone. He's a natural for the job as county coroner." I found my way into the main viewing room, but didn't see Dr. Cavello.
I called out to him, but no response.
"Let's head downstairs and see if he's in the morgue," I suggested.
"No, that's okay. I'll wait here," Devon offered.
I looked back at him, and his tan face had taken on a greenish tint.
"You're not afraid, are you?" I asked, a smile on my face at my big toughie of a fellow being worried about a little thing like a funeral home.
"Not afraid. Just uncomfortable." He looked around the room as if suddenly interested in the décor.
"All right then." I started toward the elevator located under the stairs. "Scaredy-cat," I said as the doors started to close. I laughed.
When the doors opened to the morgue below, I was still smiling. Then, I caught sight of something that made me more than a little uncomfortable.
Dr. C.—my lifelong mentor and father figure—was making out with the local Sunday school teacher on the countertop.
"Oh great…" I covered my eyes with my right hand. "More nudity." My voice squeaked out.
"Mandy?" Dr. C.'s voice was an octave higher than I'd ever heard it. The sound of clothes rustling and a belt buckle fastening filled my ears.
I took a couple of deep breaths and squeezed the back of my neck with my left hand.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have an important matter, and time is of the essence," I rattled off the words. I was nervous and embarrassed. More embarrassed for them than for myself. But it was an odd thing to walk in on—nonetheless.
"I'll just see you at the festival then," Ms. Quick, the teacher and object of Dr. C.'s affection said as she wafted by me and into the waiting elevator. "Good to see you, Mandy."
"You too," I said, as I tried to erase the image of her open blouse from my mind. At the rate my day was going, I was gonna have to buy a lot of Wite-Out for my brain.
"What have you got for me then?" Dr. C. asked as I slowly lowered my hand. He was fully clothed, but his hair was mussed up a bit.
I grinned despite myself. "Well, we have a little situation down at City Hall, and it is kinking up the works for the festival."
"Oh, you don't say…" he said and then motioned for me to join him at his corner desk.
We sat, and I explained. He signed the form, and I didn't have to promise him anything.
I think he was so mortified that he just wanted to get me out of there.
As I headed for the elevator, I turned and caressed his cheek. "Hey, don't worry about it. It wasn't the worst thing I've seen all day. Trust me."
He shook his head and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry, Mandy. That was inexcusable."
"Hey, Dr. C., they don't call it 'playing doctor' for nothin'," I said as I stepped inside.
He chuckled and gave me a wave.
As I rode up to the top floor, I thought about playing doctor with a handsome man of my very own. Or maybe cops and robbers?
* * *
At the old home place of former Millbrook resident Verna Strength, we found her niece Macy Deats baking up a delightful treat—Potato Chip Cookies.
When she asked us to come in for a few cookies and a glass of lemonade, I didn't turn her down. While we munched cookies that were not too salty and not too sweet, I explained the current situation to her.
"So, I know you're fairly new to town, and you weren't here when all this Mills family drama went down last year, but I was hoping that you could help us out on this," I wrapped up my presentation.
I couldn't believe that we were down to the last needed signature. Dinnertime was only an hour away and then the music festival followed by fireworks. We might just pull this off.
Macy studied my face and then the paperwork laid out on the table before her.
"I understand all that you've said here, Mandy. I appreciate you coming to me with this request, but I'm afraid that I can't in all due diligence sign this request."
I looked back at Devon who was still happily munching the addictive cookies. He paused between bites and shrugged. A lot of help he was being.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Well, I took my aunt's seat on the council, as you may know," she said.
I hadn't known that. Honestly, I wasn't at all involved with the city's government or management or politics in any way. I was just eager to earn my meager money to help take care of my little sister. If I made it through a day of work without incident, I considered it successful.
She continued, "I've been looking at a lot of the city's policies and procedures, and I think I can suggest a lot of positive changes around here. I just don't think that this would be accomplished by letting a man who has been the source of great scandal for our town back into this type of leadership role."
Well, when she put it like that.
I swallowed down my last bite of cookie. "You're absolutely right, Macy. But is there any way you can just sign this, and we can get on with our day. Then maybe we can hammer out the details on Monday?"
All I could think of was how disappointed everyone would be if Millbrook was the subject of another scandal and if we didn't get to have our big fireworks show. Reasoning and logical thinking were the last things on my mind.
In fact, all I could think of now was how good that huge barbeque pit of pork was gonna taste at the festival.
Macy interrupted my food ruminations, "I'm sorry Mandy. I think you'll have to find another way."
She stood and escorted us to the door. Devon reluctantly left the bowl of potato chip cookies, and I couldn't blame him. They were light and airy and crispy and wonderful.
"Okay then. See you at the festival?" I asked as Macy waved to us from the porch.
"You bet. I'm bringing the cookies." She looked back over her shoulder at the mostly empty bowl we'd left on her table. "Right after I bake a few more batches."
I smiled at her.
No fourth signature and no deal with the old mayor.
Crap. That's how the cookie crumbles.
CHAPTER FIVE
4:00 p.m.
After Macy's house, Devon and I stopped off at my home to check on my little sister Paget and to regroup. She was there with Denise Owens—Paget's nurse therapist.
We sat around the kitchen table where Denise was cutting up lettuce and tomatoes to take to the festival.
"Ms. Maimie brought these by and asked me to cut up more for the fixins table. You know for hamburgers and such," Denise said as she sliced through a bright red tomato.
"I'm afraid that's partly my fault," I said, eyeing the delicious tomato and finding my hunger ramping up in anticipation of finally making it to the festival—if that time ever came.
"Don't be silly. How in the world could that be your fault?" Denise stood and made her way to the sink to rinse her hands.
I snagged one of the sweet slices and slid it between my lips. As I munched, I overheard Devon on his phone in the den getting an update on the City Hall standoff.
"I was supposed to be working for the café today. Doing just this sort of thing. Now, the mess with Dougie Mills has taken up my whole dang day."
"Mandy, when are we leaving for the festival?" Paget's voice interrupted my conversation, and I looked to find my teenage sister standing in the doorway wearing blue jean cut off shorts and a red halter top. Her hair was braided in pigtails and tied at the bottom with blue ribbons.
<
br /> "Wow, you look amazing!" I exclaimed. She looked down modestly, but I saw a smile cross her face.
"Can I go with Denise and Adam when they go?" she asked. Adam was Denise's teenage son and the object of my sister's affection. Despite the fact that he was a successful quarterback who had just graduated and was headed out on an athletic scholarship in just a few weeks, he treated my sister with respect and care. Given that she was autistic and had quite a few special needs, this made him a hero in my book.
"That will be just fine," I said. I smiled at her as she bounced back out of the kitchen towards her room.
"I hope that's okay. I just figured you might be tied up with this other stuff." Denise was wrapping Saran wrap over the veggies as she explained.
"Yeah, it's fine. I just wish I was already down there. The music is starting at six, and I still haven't figured out what I'm going to tell old Dougie. What if he does something drastic and causes a big scene?" I scratched my head and realized that I hadn't gotten ready for the festival either.
"Guess what I found?" Ms. Lanier popped her head in through the back door as she spoke.
Denise and I turned to see her. She held out a huge box labeled Fireworks and set it down on the floor.
Devon entered the room at the same time.
"Well, we sent some of the guys at the station around to see if we could find more fireworks, and Mills wasn't lying on that account. We can't find a single one. We can't even find the guys from Black Cat Fireworks that were supposed to come and set up the show for tonight. It is like they are in hiding." He brought us up-to-date.
"Hold on, Ms. Lanier just brought in something for us." I stood and leaned down to examine the contents of her box.
"Oh, really?" he was suddenly interested.
Inside the box, were about ten boxes of firecrackers. "Is this it? Do you have anything else?" I asked, hopefully.
"That's a lot of fireworks. Won't that do something?" she asked, the smile fading from her face.
Killer Beach Reads Page 68