A Treasure to Die For (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery Book 1)

by Terry Ambrose

  “Of course they are. They’re here as part of the same group.”

  “Hello,” Alex became more insistent. “They’re friends. Like BFFs. They talk and hang out together. And they were talking about what Mr. Luhan said to you.”

  “Really? Are you sure about this?” Rick shrugged and cleared his throat. He was too tired to be angry with Alex for spying again. They could deal with that issue later after things returned to something resembling normal. He gently shook her shoulder. “It’s okay. You can tell me.”

  “I was in my own room so it’s not like I broke in or anything. Honest.”

  “It’s okay, Alex. Tell me. Whatever it is.”

  “They were in the hallway. When they saw me, they snuck into Mr. Joshua’s room.”

  “That’s not spying, kiddo.”

  Alex scrunched up her face. “Yeah, but I might’ve kinda sorta listened in using a glass on the wall.”

  Rick rotated his neck in little circles to ease the tension. For one tiny instant, he felt the motion of his body in the water. How helpless he’d been. He wrapped his arms around Alex and embraced her. “We’ll talk about eavesdropping when I’m not quite so exhausted. For now, is there anything else I should be aware of?”

  “They argued some more.” She quickly added, “But I didn’t hear anything special.”

  “Too bad,” Deputy Cunningham grumbled. “It would have helped to know what happened in that conversation.”

  “I agree,” Rick said. Alex’s observation seemed a bit of a stretch, but so was everything else with this group.

  “So you’d be happy if I found something else?” Alex’s tone escalated from subdued to excited.

  “Found? I can tell right now I’m not going to like this, am I?” He looked to Marquetta for an indication of what was to come, but her expression was also blank.

  “She only told me about the conversation in the hallway. Sweetie, what else do you know?”

  Alex pursed her lips. “I need immunity.”

  “You what?” Rick blinked and stared at her. “What did you do, Alex?”

  “You gotta promise.”

  “This is not a negotiation, young lady.” To the side, he heard Adam snicker. “Don’t you encourage her,” Rick snapped.

  “We need a break, Rick. What have you got, munchkin?”

  “I won’t get in trouble?”

  “Not from me,” Deputy Cunningham said.

  Rick huffed. “Fine. Promise. You’ve got your immunity. This time.”

  “Miss Potok’s lying to you, Daddy.”

  “I understand you don’t like her, Alex. But that’s no reason to call her a liar.”

  Alex shook her head. “That’s not it. I’m positive she’s lying cause of what me and Robbie found in her room.”

  “Oh, God,” Marquetta muttered.

  Rick closed his eyes and muttered, “What now?” Mentally, he counted to five. “And what would that be, Alex?”

  “A totally different treasure map. She’s got a whole map hidden under her bed.”

  Chapter 42

  ALEX

  The adults are all staring at me like I just made myself disappear or something. “It’s true! Me and Robbie found a treasure map under Miss Potok’s bed.”

  “This is a lot to take in, kiddo. How big was the map?”

  “It’s like the size of the town tourist map.” I hold out my hands to show them.

  “And it was complete? There were no missing parts?”

  I nod.

  Daddy looks at Deputy Cunningham. “And you thought I was the one with all the good news.”

  “We’ll need to see this map,” Deputy Cunningham says.

  My dad scratches his left eyebrow like he does when he’s figuring something out. “Maybe she’s behind the weekend,” he says. “I wonder if it’s the same map everybody’s got a part of, or it’s something different altogether.” He looks at me. “You didn’t have any way of comparing this new map to any others, did you Alex?”

  I shake my head.

  “Let’s put that on the back burner for a moment,” Daddy says. “Alex is correct, Luhan and Joshua are friends. That’s a connection. But you didn’t hear them say anything about killing Gordon, did you Alex?”

  He looks right at me and I stick out my lower lip. “No. I guess I messed up.” Rats. I wish I had listened more. And I totally wish me and Robbie had taken a picture of the map.

  “It’s okay, kiddo. We’re still trying to piece together the parts in this puzzle. Look, we also know Monica wanted to be with Gordon. And, the animosity between Gordon and Richardson might have been thick, but we can eliminate both of them. Richardson’s injury takes him out of the running, and Monica’s too weak.”

  “That’s pretty sexist.” Marquetta doesn’t look happy with my dad.

  Deputy Cunningham shakes his head at Marquetta. “It’s nothing sexist at all.”

  “Adam saw how hard it was to get me out of that water.” Daddy leans back in the chair. He looks like he’s in a lot of pain. I bet getting beat up by the ocean really hurts.

  “It couldn’t have been a woman who saved him,” Deputy Cunningham says. “No way. Gordon wasn’t a huge man, but he weighed enough to pull a rescuer in with him—unless that person weighed more than him or was really strong. And both of these female treasure hunters are pretty slight. I think either of them would have been yanked in if they tried to rescue him. Just based on the physics, it had to be Luhan or Kalstone.”

  “It doesn’t eliminate them as a killer,” Marquetta says.

  This is totally cool. We’re like brainstorming about the murder. “What about Mr. Santiago?”

  “What about him, kiddo?”

  “He didn’t like Mr. Gordon either.”

  Daddy moves me a little to one side. “Ugh, leg cramp. Anyway, that’s right. Santiago didn’t like Gordon at all.”

  “Did any of these people get along?” Deputy Cunningham looks at Daddy, then Marquetta, and then me. “This reminds me of elementary school.”

  “This is worse than school.” I roll my eyes.

  Marquetta holds up her hand, palm out, and we high-five each other.

  “Good analogy, Sweetie.”

  “What’s an analogy?”

  “It’s when one thing is compared to another,” Marquetta says.

  “Why do you say this is worse, kiddo?”

  “Cause in school Trey Quintana likes to tell everybody’s secrets. But Trey doesn’t hurt anybody. Most of the kids don’t like Trey cause they don’t trust him. I think he just wants attention and the only way he knows how to get it is to cause trouble.”

  My dad leans back and peers at me for a few seconds. “You know what, kiddo? You’re pretty smart.”

  “Thanks, Daddy.”

  He winks at me before he looks at Deputy Cunningham. “Adam, when I was talking to Monica, she accused Brad of insider trading. And when I asked Cadman how he knew his monopod was down in the rocks, he said a little birdie told him. That birdie has to be Brad, and he’s our Trey Quintana.”

  Chapter 43

  RICK

  The comparison of Brad Luhan to one of Alex’s classmates struck Rick as unlikely when he first heard the words. However, as he watched Alex’s face and listened to her sincerity, he realized the idea had merit. In fact, the more he considered the comparison, the more he liked it. The beauty was it also gave him a way to proceed.

  He gave Alex’s ponytail a little tug. “Like I said, pretty smart. Adam, I’m sure Brad’s not our killer, but I’ll bet he knows who is. He was vague when I asked him about his information sources. I’m pretty sure he won’t willingly give up what he knows. But, if we twist the screws we might get enough to help us move forward. He doesn’t strike me as the type to help the law. Quite the contrary, I expect him to use that information to blackmail our killer.”

  “You’re supposed to be helping, Rick, not telling me how bad things are. If he’s a blackmailer, this is going to get even more convo
luted.”

  “You’re right. That’s why I want to talk to Reese first.”

  Alex straightened up. The shift in weight sent shooting pains through Rick’s thighs and up his spine. She hung her head and snuggled closer. “Do you have to talk to her?”

  “Yes, because I’m sure she and Mr. Gordon were involved romantically. If I’m correct, this will give us leverage to use on Mr. Luhan. Let’s see if it will help us break open the gossip piggybank he’s guarding so well.”

  Marquetta agreed to watch Alex while Rick went inside to change. On his way through the lobby, he found Reese hunched over her laptop on one of the gray couches. Sunlight streamed through the window to her right, but she seemed oblivious to it. She continued typing as he approached. When he cleared his throat, she looked up, eyed him and pointed at his damp clothes.

  “Nice look.”

  He glanced down. At least he was no longer dripping water. “I was on my way upstairs, but saw you sitting here. You looked pretty intense.”

  “I’m working on a recovery plan.” She paused, exhaled deliberately, then continued. “For the San Manuel and my reputation.”

  “So you found the ship?”

  “Not that kind of recovery.”

  “You no longer believe in it?”

  “I do. It’s out there. All I’m doing is shifting from Plan A to B.”

  Right. Plan B. It was probably tied to the map Alex had found. He narrowed his gaze. “Does that mean your fellow treasure hunters are out of luck?”

  She regarded the scene outside the window—roses basking in dappled sunlight, palm tree leaves swaying in the breeze. “It means they’re on their own.”

  “You’re leaving them to fend for themselves.”

  “If you want to be blunt.”

  “Don’t you mean honest?”

  “Whatever.”

  “You described some of your research to Joe Gray. It sounded legitimate to me, so why does Monica give you so little credit for what you’ve done? She implied you were sleeping with Jim, but when we talked, you said you two were just casual.”

  She closed the lid on her laptop and sat back. “Monica’s jealous because things between her and Jim were falling apart.”

  “Because?”

  Reese rolled her eyes, then glared at him. “Because we did ‘do the nasty.’ If you must know, it was twice to be exact. Huge mistake. We got caught up in the moment. It was this stupid weekend fling. Nothing more.”

  Now he believed her. This was the real Reese Potok. A little surge of irritation reminded him how he, too, had been taken in. “You have a broad definition of casual.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Rick moved closer. He put a hand on the back of the couch and stared down at her. “Is there anything else you left out?”

  She didn’t answer. Of course not. Why would she tell him about Plan B? She probably didn’t trust him any more than her fellow treasure hunters. Though he didn’t trust her either, there was something about her. If only he could put his finger on it.

  She peered at him with blue eyes that almost seemed to beg forgiveness. “I’ve disappointed you, haven’t I?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to find a killer. That’s all.”

  The smile fell from her face and the corners of her lips turned down into a frown. “I’m sorry.”

  “For?”

  “Disappointing you.”

  The last thing he wanted to do was burn bridges unnecessarily. He still might need Reese as a source—and there was that air of mystery about her. He reached out, touched her shoulder, and said, “The good news is I don’t think you’re the killer.”

  She leaned back and sighed. “That’s a relief. What makes you so sure?”

  “Let’s say Deputy Cunningham and I have narrowed the list based on the laws of physics. The deceased’s clothing was soaked as though he’d taken a dunk in the ocean.” Rick spread his hands to his sides and smiled. “It would have been physically impossible for you to pull him out.”

  “The deceased? It sounds so…sterile. And that’s how you got wet? You jumped in the ocean?”

  “Sorry. You’re right about the jargon. I learned it when I was a reporter. Anyway, I accidentally tested my theory and I’m almost positive you’re not the killer.”

  She pursed her lips and nodded. “I guess that lets out Monica, too?”

  “If you want another cliché, it would have taken someone who was big and strong. In other words, our list is down to the four guys. The most likely ones are Brad and Hayden.”

  “And you’re telling me this why?”

  His jaw tightened. Good question. He smiled, “You know these people better than I do. I’d like some insight into what Brad actually does.”

  “Does? As in work?” She snickered. “Not much from what I’ve seen.” She paused and batted her eyes at him. “Sorry, that wasn’t nice. Anyway, he likes that whole bad boy image—you’ve seen it, leather jacket, chain necklace.”

  “Tell me something not so obvious.”

  “He loves that nose ring of his. It really disturbs me—piercing your nose. Yuck.”

  “Not helpful.”

  “He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and learned to survive by trading information. How’s that?”

  “Better, but I already knew about it.”

  “My, my, you are thorough.”

  Reese paused and gazed across the room for a few seconds before looking back at him and continuing.

  “How about this? Brad and Mark have some sort of thing going. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I’ve seen them. You know how people put their heads together and keep their voices low when they’re keeping a secret? Well, they’ve been doing that for a while now. I suppose it could be related to the stock trading thing, but Brad was never so secretive with Jim. These two—it’s something different.”

  “How much help has Brad been in finding the San Manuel?”

  “None. In my opinion, the only reason he’s here is to expand his network.”

  Rick frowned and thought back to his discussion with Brad. Too many complicated puzzle pieces and none of them made sense. “When I talked to him, Brad told me he thought Heath was somehow involved in Jim’s death. Do you feel the same way?”

  “Heath is a very hostile guy. He’s different from Brad. He could be involved. I can’t tell you for sure.”

  “Is Brad hostile?”

  “Brad is greedy. He likes money and recognition—and not necessarily in that order. Strange guy. With most people it’s one or the other. Not him. It’s like somebody flips a switch.”

  “And you? What is it you want? Is it just the San Manuel like you told Joe Gray?”

  “That’s a hard question.”

  “Let’s cut to the chase. Do you want something more than the San Manuel?”

  “A girl can dream, right? The whole treasure thing is so sexy. The idea of seeing my name in print as the one who found it—that’s pretty amazing.”

  He hadn’t expected anything more. Reese was driven. Maybe too much so. Is that why she was hiding the other map? “Everyone here seems to blame Jim for something. What about you?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “The number of people in this group who didn’t have an ax to grind with Jim can be counted without using any fingers.”

  “Meaning zero?”

  “Jim was the kind of guy who eventually took advantage of everyone.”

  “So you wanted the world to recognize your research uncovered the San Manuel, not his.”

  “Yes.”

  Finally, he had a straight answer. “So you hated him?”

  “Mild contempt. Especially after…that weekend.”

  “Because?”

  “Because that’s when he stole my research. It was when I decided he was a despicable human being who should be removed from the face of the earth. I’m still trying to figure out whether I’m happy or sad he’s dead.”

  “I’m
surprised. If you disliked him so much, I’d expect you to be happy.”

  “I am, but I’m sad because someone beat me to it.”

  Chapter 44

  RICK

  Rick stared at Reese for a long moment, recalling the times in his life when he’d hated someone enough to contemplate murder. Those instances, though few and far between, did exist. Whether he never acted on the urge due to a fear of being caught or his own moral code, he wasn’t sure. Someone, however, had followed through. Did one of these people hate Gordon enough to plan his murder? Or had this been what Alex called it? A crime of passion.

  “Let’s get back to Brad for a minute,” he said.

  “Why don’t you talk to him directly?” She shrugged. “Aren’t I what you would call an unreliable source?”

  “This is for background. I’ll be getting to him. Is Brad tight with anyone else in the group?”

  “Hmmm…maybe Hayden. They’ve been spending more time together lately. Like I said, Brad likes to build his network.”

  Hayden. Brad. Mark. Monica. Where to start? Probably with Brad. If he ran into a wall, he could fall back to one of the others and see where the process took him. He heard a woman’s voice upstairs. It was Monica’s, and she sounded irate.

  “Liar!”

  Rick rushed to the staircase despite his growing aches and pains. Monica stood on the top landing next to Brad. Even from one flight down the angry flush in her cheeks burned bright.

  “What’s going on here?” Rick asked as he climbed the stairs.

  Brad’s eyes flicked toward Monica, then Rick. “She’s off the rails, man. I got no idea what she’s talking about.”

  “You know exactly what this is about, Brad.” Monica shot a glance at Rick. “He’s trying to tell me Jim stopped investing with him. Jim told me all his money was tied up in investments and those two were thick as thieves when it came to making money.”

  Brad snickered. “You got it all wrong, Monica. Jim and I were done.”

  “Why?” Rick asked.

  “Let’s just say he didn’t appreciate the result the last time we did a deal.”

  “So how much money did he lose on this supposed solid investment?” Rick asked.