As Maria began unpacking her clothes, Suzette gave a silent prayer of thanks for Amy’s instructions and warnings about what she should and shouldn’t pack. As soon as Maria had uncovered a striped short set, Suzette grabbed it and headed for the bathroom. When she came back out, Cordelia had changed and was waiting for her.
As they crossed the beach, Suzette could see bits of shells and rocks that the tumbling surf had ground into small pieces. Kicking off their beach shoes, the two women waded into the surf. As they got away from the house and its listening ears, Cordelia sighed, “I’m afraid that dinner will not be a very enjoyable meal. Lizzy just told me that Dorothea has invited that Dr. Lin and his daughter to dinner. Hallie also invited Dr. Jordan and his young nephew and protégé, Bobby Jordan. They feel as passionately about the sea turtles as Dorothea and Dr. Lin do about their pirate ship.”
“Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think. Is there anything that they do agree on?” Suzette stopped for a moment to look out across the breaking waves at the ocean. Suddenly she gave a little yelp, “Oh, my, the sand washes out from underneath your feet. What a weird feeling.”
Cordelia laughed for the first time since she had met Suzette at the airport. “I didn’t want to warn you because it’s such a funny feeling but I was hoping you’d experience it.”
As they started wading again, Cordelia said, “I don’t think they have anything in common. How would you like to skip dinner and go to McDonalds?”
Suzette laughed, “I’m not really fond of McDonald’s. Besides I think it would be a good idea if I met all the players in your little family drama since I have a meeting with Greg Barnes, the Fire Marshal, in the morning. The more I know the easier it will be to deal with him.”
Cordelia heaved a huge sigh, saying dramatically, “All right, be that way. If I have a nervous breakdown because of all the fighting, it will be your fault.”
Suzette laughed, “I’ll try to keep everyone from totally losing control during dinner. I think one death is about all either of us can handle, unless I commit it.”
Chapter 9
As Suzette took her seat half-way down the table, she looked around at each person. They had been late getting back from their walk so Suzette hadn’t had much time to meet everyone when Sean had announced that dinner was served.
Cordelia had tried to keep the combatants apart by placing Hallie, Bobby Jordan, and Dr. Jordan at her end of the table and on the opposite side of the table from the pirate contingent. Dorothea sat at the foot of the table. Dr. Lin and his daughter, Deidre, sat next to Dorothea with Suzette and newly arrived Julie Stewart in the middle. Phillip Harris, an intern from the local hospital, had stopped by to see Hallie just before dinner. With an air of desperation, Cordelia had invited him to stay for dinner. He was seated between Julie and Hallie.
Suzette had instantly liked Julie Stewart. Even though she was vice-president of a large corporation that specialized in the Internet, Suzette had found her to be a sweet, soft-spoken young woman who she guessed was about 28 years old. Julie had the same blond hair and very white teeth that her brother Jeremy had. Unlike him, she was short and tended to be a little heavier than she should have been.
Although she was plump, she dressed very elegantly. Julie was wearing a very simple, navy blue column dress that made her look taller and thinner. Her jewelry consisted of a gold necklace with a very elaborate pendant. When Suzette commented on it, she said that the pendant was a Korean wedding pendant.
In contrast to Julie’s elegant outfit, Deidre Lin was wearing a very short, very tight, black sheath. Although the skirt was a micro-mini, the side slit went nearly to her waist. The dress had a plunging neckline. Deidre was wearing long, dangling diamond earrings.
I’ll be surprised if that skirt covers her behind when she sits down, Suzette thought to herself. She noticed that Bobby Jordan and Phillip Harris had a hard time keeping their eyes off Deidre’s neckline and everything that it revealed and she had a lot to reveal.
Cordelia had whispered to Suzette as they entered the dining room that Phillip Harris had proposed twice to Hallie but she hadn’t accepted him. The way he was devouring Deidre with his eyes, Suzette thought, I wouldn’t accept him either.
Dorothea was wearing an expensive mauve lace dress that clashed with her red face and made her look like a pink pouter pigeon. The men were in all in dark suits. Both Dr. Lin and Dr. Jordan looked like scientists, forced to dress up when neither really liked it. Unlike the others, Bobby wore khaki slacks an open-necked knit shirt and scuffed loafers without socks. Phillip was wearing his intern’s scrubs since he’d come straight from the hospital.
Sean and the two maids, Katie and Emily, served the first course which was a cold cucumber soup. While the others were eating, Dorothea immediately turned to Dr. Lin and said, “Have you decided what measures to take to protect the galleon site from robbers?”
With a sharp glance at Dr. Jordan and Hallie, Dr. Lin said, “we have placed high powered, battery operated spot lights around the perimeter of the site. Each light will give off 50,000 watts of light. That should be enough to make sure that no one can move through the perimeter without being spotted by those special screens we have installed in the boat. Each screen will have both a human and a computer watching what goes on around the site. Even though a human might make an error the computer won’t. Then we are surrounding the site with an electrical grid that will make it impossible for anything larger than a microbe to get through without getting fried.”
“You can’t do that,” Hallie said. “You’ll kill off the sea turtles that are trying to get to the beach to lay their eggs.”
Indifferently, Dr. Lin said, “I’m not worried about turtles. I am worried about vandals and thieves.”
Immediately, Hallie and Dr. Jordan began shouting at Dr. Lin. It didn’t take long for Dorothea to start yelling at them, too. Suzette looked at Julie who was looking at Cordelia who was tapping her water glass with her knife. When both groups were standing as well as shouting, Suzette put two fingers into her mouth and blew a very loud whistle, one that she hadn’t used since she was in the seventh grade.
“Enough, already,” she said tartly. “It is time that you all stopped acting like savages. You are upsetting your hostess and everyone else at the table. Please sit down and act or rather try to act like civilized human beings.”
Cordelia had tears running down her face.
“But, “Hallie protested. Julie reached across Phillip, grabbed her arm and pulled her into her seat. “Shut up,” Julie hissed. “You don’t need to act like this.”
Suzette said, “I’m sorry but you are all out of line. I would suggest that we talk about subjects that are not so inflammatory. You all may be passionately interested in your work, but the rest of us aren’t. We would prefer to be able to enjoy this wonderful dinner with our digestion systems intact.”
“But,” Dr. Lin said.
”But,” both Dorothea and Hallie started to say.
Suzette stood up, blew her loud whistle again and said, “All of you just shut up and shut up now! She turned to look at Cordelia, “Do you want to tell them to leave the table if they can’t be civil? Or perhaps, I should call Jeremy and let him do it.”
“Who do you think you are?” Deidre said, glaring at Suzette.
Very calmly, Suzette moved her hand, knocking Deidre’s wine glass into her lap. “Oh, I’m so very, very sorry,” Suzette apologized insincerely as she handed Deidre her napkin.
“Now I’ll have to change,” she snarled. She glared at her father. “Don’t think I’m coming back. I’ll go somewhere more congenial.”
“Like a brothel,” Julie murmured almost, but not quite, inaudibly.
As she left the room, Suzette turned to Dr. Lin. “It might be wise to rethink your electronic net and your lights. Since the turtles are on the Endangered Species List, and that list is accepted as International Law by a number of countries, including the USA, you might find yourself listed
as the defendant in a number of lawsuits. Just a word to the wise, you know,” Suzette added thoughtfully, as she picked up her spoon.
“Thank you,” Hallie mouthed across the table.
Chapter 10
Later that evening, Deidre shoved open the door of the Lobster Den, a bar with a view of the ocean and live entertainment. She had changed out of her wine soaked black dress into white short shorts and a white halter top that showed more than it hid. Petulantly, she slid onto one of the red bar stools. When the bar tender moved in her direction, she said, “give me a four alarm Bloody Mary and make it a double.”
“Sam here makes an incredible Bloody Mary, but are you sure you want it that hot?”
Deidre turned to look at the man sitting next to her. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a slim waist. His hair was dark and wavy. His eyes were a soft, melting brown–cocker spaniel eyes set just a little too close together. He was wearing a white tank top that set off his tan and snug black shorts. He reminded her of one of the stars of the old movies her father liked–Cary Grant or Rock Hudson, only not as old.
She smiled, “I like them hot. I was raised in Mexico on Jalapenos and red hot chili sauce.”
Sam put the blood red drink in front of her. She took a long drink, smiled and said, “That is absolutely perfect.”
Sam smiled and picked up the bill she had laid on the bar. He limped over to the cash register, put the bill in the drawer, then picked up a tankard and limped to the beer barrel.
“So are you new here? I haven’t seen you around before,” Deidre commented as she turned back to her neighbor.
“Just arrived this afternoon. Are you here for a while or are you going back to Mexico soon?” His voice made her think of the color purple.
“I don’t live in Mexico anymore. My father is a doctor with the university here so I expect to be here forever,” she said sullenly.
“You don’t like it here? It’s a gorgeous place–sun, sand, beautiful nights.”
“It’s okay when the company is good. It’s totally boring when the company isn’t.”
He caressed her with his eyes. “I hope you think the company is good. I’m certainly enjoying it.”
She smiled as she finished her drink, then added elliptically, “I don’t have any complaints.” He moved a bowl of peanuts and pretzels toward her. “Would you be offended if I bought you another drink?”
“I’d like that,” she said simply. When Sam handed her the drink, she smiled her thanks, then said, “Where are you staying?”
“I’m at the Hilton.” He tipped his head and emptied the whiskey in his shot glass.
“Do you like it there?”
“It’s okay. A little formal maybe, but I like the view of the ocean. What about you? Where are you staying? I can picture you at the Wakulla. Sun and sand and hot Rum punch. That seems to fit you.”
She smiled. “I wish. I have the ill-fortune to be staying at the Palms, which is an old house owned by an old lady. My father is in some sort of partnership with the old lady’s sister. She figured out where an old Spanish ship went down in a hurricane back is 1602 or 1607. Everything was going great until this afternoon. Some bitch arrived that’s a friend of the old lady’s nephew. She sure stirs things up, but she’s so poisonously sweet to everyone while she’s doing it. I hate her!”
“What does she look like?” He asked the question a little too sharply.
She looked at him for a long second. “She’s a little shorter than me. She has short dark hair, brown eyes and a good figure except she hides it under suits and long pants. She’s really very pretty. Why?”
“No reason. Just that she sounds boring, dull and lifeless, not at all like you.”
“How do you mean, not like me,” she looked at him from under her lashes. “Just how would you describe me?”
“Gorgeous, long, chocolate-mocha hair, knock-out eyes, and a centerfold figure and that’s only the outside of the package. The inside--” he raised one eyebrow, “that’s what’s knocked me out. I don’t think I have the adjectives to describe your personality.” He looked around, then said softly, provocatively. “Why don’t we go walk by the ocean while I tell you about your personality? This place is nice but way too crowded for such an intimate conversation.” He slid of the bar stool and held out his hand. Giggling, she put hers into it and let him lead her through the open glass doors.
One of the local bar-flies pushed his glass toward Sam. “Fill it up, quick, before I throw up. I don’t know who’s milkin’ who, but they are a pair.”
“Yea, I wonder what they’re talkin’ about,” Sam replied.
“If’n I was walkin’ in the moonlight with her, I wouldn’ be talkin’. I’d be actin’.”
Chapter 11
The next morning, Suzette was on her way to Greg Barnes’ office. It was located in Titusville, the county seat of Brevard County. It was a pleasant morning for a drive. Suzette paused as she crossed the Banana River and again when she crossed Indian River. It’s hard to believe that these rivers are so wide. Even the big rivers in the west aren’t as wide as some of the medium size rivers in the east, she thought as she rolled her window down to enjoy the warm, moist air.
A few minutes before nine, a trim, petite young woman ushered her into Greg Barnes office. “Ms. Bishop, is here to see you. She is your nine o’clock appointment.”
As Suzette entered the room, he got to his feet and said, “How are y’all?” He was tall with black skin, curly black hair and a deep, rich voice.
Suzette raised an eyebrow at the noncommittal greeting, then she smiled. “I’m sure I’m doing better than you are.”
“Why do you say that?” His tone was reserved, almost rough.
“Because I know you’ve been driven nearly nuts by Mr. Stewart’s phone calls. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that man’s drive.”
“He has been a nuisance, but at least he’s been a nuisance 3,000 miles away.”
“And now, he’s sent a nuisance that is sitting in your office, right?”
Reluctantly, he smiled, “Something like that.”
“I’m not here to be a nuisance. Mr. Stewart is concerned, and rightly so, about what’s been going on at his aunt’s home. He’s also wondering why his mother’s body hasn’t been released and why no one will tell his aunt about the gazebo fire. I think he deserves answers to those questions, don’t you?”
“Well, Ms. Bishop, I can’t tell you anything about his mother’s body. That’s out of my jurisdiction. Sheriff Miner is investigating her death. Anything I tell you will be hearsay.”
“Then tell me about the fire. You’re the Fire Marshal so I’d have to assume that you have jurisdiction over that.”
“I do.” He paused, frowning.
“Mr. Barnes, I’m not here to cause trouble, although I can if I need to. I’m here to find some answers for my client.” She smiled. “I would really like to know why you are being so cagy about the fire. Since you won’t give me any answers, I have to assume that the gazebo fire was set by a person or persons unknown. You think that a member of the family might have set the fire, perhaps to destroy the evidence of the murder of Jeanette Stewart. Sheriff Miner won’t release her body because it is a murder case and he has no leads.”
“You’re very perceptive,” he said reluctantly, but with a slight grin.
She noticed the slight lift of his lips and said, “No, just experienced. So the fire was arson?”
“Yes.” The answer was short and to the point.
“I’m assuming that there was no possibility that it was an accident?”
“No. There was chemical residue in the ashes and on the unburnt wood.”
“I see. Definitely arson. Have you notified the insurance companies, yet?”
“No. I should have but they will want more information than I have right now and Miner is being cagy. I don’t understand why, but I’m sure he has a good reason.”
“What was the chemical residue?�
��
“Cleaning fluid or some similar type of solvent–not gasoline or diesel fuel. I expect the lab results any day now. I should have had them before now, but they’ve been very backed up.”
“Was the fire the cause of Mrs. Stewart’s death?” Suzette began making notes on her tablet.
“No, she was found on the beach close to the scrub.” His tone was clipped. He wasn’t enjoying being questioned.
“That’s odd. Mr. Stewart told me that her body was found burned in the summer house. So you don’t think there was any connection between the fire and the death?”
“Ms. Bishop, I’m sorry but I can’t give you that information. It would only be supposition on my part.”
“Fair enough. I appreciate your being candid with me. How far away from the gazebo was the body?” Suzette paused, “Hey, I’m sorry. I sound like I’m the prosecutor on CSI, Miami. I didn’t mean to come across so strongly.”
Barnes rubbed his nose and smiled. “I didn’t measure the distance since that’s the sheriff’s business but I would guess 75 to 85 feet. The body was partially on the beach and partially in the scrub.”
“Could you be more precise?” You did see the body, I take it?”
“I saw it. One of my men was checking out the south boardwalk to make sure that the cinders hadn’t started it on fire. He found the body. To be precise, it was about five feet from the bridge. The legs and buttocks were on the sand while the rest of the body was in the scrub.”
“How badly burned was she?”
“She wasn’t burned at all.”
“Then it seems to me that the gazebo fire wasn’t set with the idea of destroying the evidence of her murder.”
“That’s what I thought, but I’m not conducting the investigation. I think I could tell you this much, it definitely looks like a murder investigation, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t quote me on that. Sheriff Miner is a mite touchy about his territory.”
Sun, Sand and Murder: A Suzette Bishop Mystery (Suzette Bishop Mysteries Book 3) Page 6