“I’ll stop by later with your clothes. I’ve got to figure out who sabotaged the boat earlier. I’ll get Tyler to grab your suitcase. Does that work?”
“Sounds great.” She reached into her pocket. “I suppose you still have the key?”
He nodded. “I haven’t made it over to talk to Mayor Alan yet. I hope you don’t think it’s weird that I had the key last night?”
“No, of course not.”
She hurried from the car before Zach could use his charm anymore and mess with her head. Before she even reached the front door, it opened and Eva stood there, warm smile in place.
“I’m so glad you’re going to stay here. There’s always safety in numbers, right?”
Madelyn smiled. “That’s right.”
Madelyn stepped inside the finely decorated home, already feeling like she should be more proper than she was. It was full of antiques and shiny wood and dainty collectibles, all done in a red, white and blue theme. The classic architecture was full of interesting angles and secluded nooks and intricate woodwork.
“Nice place,” Madelyn said. “It has character.”
“We like it. We opened it up a couple of years ago, but we haven’t really gotten it off the ground yet.” Eva took her arm and ushered her into the kitchen.
Before Madelyn could object, Eva gave her a polite nudge into the wooden chair by a bistro table. It became apparent that Madelyn wasn’t going to get away with escaping to her room for a shower. Not yet, at least. “What did you do before you opened this and became the public relations liaison for the town?”
“What everyone else in town does—we were in the oyster business. I don’t suppose we talked about this on that day we toured the town, did we?” Eva walked to the kitchen counter and grabbed a coffee mug.
Coffee...coffee sounded great.
“It must have paid pretty well.” The statement slipped out before Madelyn could stop it. She immediately regretted her words. Her parents had raised her to be more polite than this. But a house like this required money. The decorating alone was probably a fortune and, unless the previous owners had restored this house, she could only imagine what kind of investment that was.
Madelyn knew this only because her parents had bought an old house in the country and restored it when she was in middle school. She’d seen the hard work and sweat they poured into the place. It had been their dream home.
Madelyn had been forced to sell it after they passed. She just couldn’t keep up the expenses of the property.
“I don’t know if I’d say that.” Eva let out a nervous laugh and set the warm drink in front of Madelyn. “But we did well enough to start this. However, if business doesn’t pick up here, we might have to look for another career choice. We’re not quite close enough to retiring yet. Need some more money in the bank first.”
Madelyn took a sip of the coffee and enjoyed the warmth that rushed through her. She felt exhausted: mentally, emotionally, even spiritually, if she was honest with herself.
Living without Jesus was living without hope.
She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but it was true. She’d felt the change in her life over time as she’d moved further and further away from the foundation on which her parents had raised her. It was no wonder she felt so alone. She didn’t even have the assurances of the Bible to bring her comfort anymore.
“Chief Davis is quite the lifesaver, isn’t he?” Eva continued, lowering herself into the chair across from her.
Madelyn nodded, her bones beginning to ache again. It probably had something to do with her still-damp clothes. If she stayed in them much longer, she was sure to get sick. She didn’t want to be impolite, though, so she’d finish her coffee before excusing herself. “He’s helped me on multiple occasions already, so I can’t argue with that. It sounds like you like him?”
Eva nodded enthusiastically. “I personally think he’s doing a fine job.”
Her words made Madelyn pause. “But there are people who don’t agree?”
She scoffed, as if she’d inadvertently brought up a sore subject. Madelyn suspected the woman knew exactly what she was doing. She seemed like the type who enjoyed to talk about town gossip.
“Levi—he’s our former chief—thinks if Chief Davis does a good job it will ruin his reputation. It’s hard sometimes with locals. They have trouble adjusting to newcomers.”
“Aren’t you a local?”
Eva shook her head. “I married into the town. Milton’s family goes back three generations.”
“Are you newlyweds?”
She laughed from deep in her belly. “Oh, no. We’ve been married more than thirty years. But to locals, I’ll always be an outsider. I think some of the families around here take things overboard. We should always open our arms to new people in the community. If we don’t, we’re just going to die off. If we don’t, this bed-and-breakfast has no hope of making it.”
“Wise words.”
“Anyway, I’ll show you to your room. I’ve left a robe up there so you can change. I heard Tyler will be bringing your suitcase by shortly.”
“Thank you,” Madelyn said, truly grateful for the thoughtfulness of the people she’d met.
She hoped she didn’t end up making any of them regret their kindness by putting them in the line of danger.
THIRTEEN
As the storm rolled off shore, Zach headed to the docks. He wanted to question the regulars there and see if anyone had seen someone messing with Ernie’s boat. He knew that those who fished for their livelihood would be back on the water as soon as the danger passed. He bypassed going back to his place to change or get a cup of coffee. Time was of the essence right now.
There was no doubt in Zach’s mind that the boat had been sabotaged.
Ernie and Rod were already back at the docks, telling everyone their tale like it was a feather in their cap. The two men stood by the fish-cleaning station, and a group of fishermen had gathered around them.
Zach cleared his throat, and the men stopped talking long enough to turn toward him. “Ernie, can I have a word?”
The old fisherman nodded and reluctantly left his audience. They stood a way from the crowd to talk. Zach was glad to see that Ernie seemed to be holding up well after all of the excitement from earlier. The man had a fresh mug of coffee in his hands and clean clothes on.
“I need to get an official statement from you,” Zach started. “Can you walk through what happened on the boat again?”
Ernie nodded his head, sitting on a crude wooden bench overlooking the water. “It was the craziest thing. We were cruising along the water, enjoying the day, when all of the sudden the engine died. When I checked on it, a crack appeared in the hull of the boat right near the engine. Then, of all things, my radio wouldn’t work. Makes no sense. No sense at all.”
“I’m assuming you checked out the boat before you left?”
Ernie looked halfway offended as his eyes narrowed and his lips parted. “Just like I always do. This is my livelihood. I’m too old to keep fishing, so I’ve got to do something to make ends meet. I take my business seriously, Chief.”
“I know you do. I just have to ask these questions. I’m trying to get to the bottom of what happened.”
“Someone tampered with my boat. That’s what happened.”
Zach shifted, his notepad in hand. “Any idea who?”
Ernie rubbed his chin and sighed. “Not a one. I do my best to live at peace with people. No idea why someone might want to hurt me. Didn’t do anything to anyone else.”
“Anyone been messing with your boat lately? Have you let anyone borrow it?”
“No. That boat is my baby. No one else touches her.”
“I’ll write up a report—you’ll need it to file a claim with your insurance company. I sent t
he marine police out to pick up the boat. We’re going to send it to a mechanic to be evaluated.”
“I appreciate it. Without my boat, I’m out of a job.”
“I understand.”
After Ernie walked away, Zach continued to question people who were regulars down at the docks. No one had seen anything. Ernie’s boat was docked at the marina all the time. The area was generally locked up with a chain over the gate, but anyone who rented slip space here would have a key. Rod was getting Zach a list of everyone who had one.
As Zach headed back to his car, someone called his name. Zach looked up and saw a teen lingering behind Thad’s Seafood. The boy waved at Zach, urging him to come closer.
“Can I help you?” Zach asked.
“I know I shouldn’t say this,” the boy started. His eyes darted around wildly, as if he feared someone might see him.
Zach recognized the boy as Rusty Peterson. He loved being on the water and took odd jobs with various fishermen and boat captains down at the docks when he wasn’t in school.
Right now Rusty appeared stiff and his voice sounded higher pitched than normal. He was nervous, Zach realized. Really nervous.
“Say what, Rusty?”
Rusty looked around again. “I was out here early this morning. I wasn’t supposed to be here, but I jumped the fence. I wanted a head start on the day. Now that the summer crowd is gone, I haven’t been able to find as many jobs.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Rusty?”
The teen frowned. “It’s like this. I saw someone near Captain Ernie’s boat when I got here. I’m not saying this person was tampering with it. But he was definitely lingering.”
Zach’s curiosity spiked. “Did this person get on the boat?”
Rusty shrugged. “I don’t know. It didn’t look like it. The person...he isn’t a captain. He has his own boat slip at his house, and something told me he wasn’t supposed to be there. But I knew that if I valued my job down here at the docks that I needed to stay quiet.”
Zach glanced around, making sure no one was around to see this conversation. Everyone seemed distracted by Ernie and Rod, who continued to milk their story for all it was worth.
“Who was this person, Rusty?”
Rusty remained quiet. He rubbed his neck and glanced around. His breath had become shallower and a thin coat of sweat covered his forehead.
“Rusty, I’ll use discretion,” Zach told him.
Rusty’s gaze came back to Zach, and he slowly nodded. He still looked uncertain, though. “Okay...it was Levi Watson.”
Zach’s eyebrows shot up. Had he heard correctly? He had to be sure. “The former police chief?”
Rusty nodded. “That’s right. The one and only.”
“Did Levi see you?”
Rusty shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
Since Zach had come to town, he’d suspected that Levi might have had something to do with the drug ring. Whoever was behind bringing those drugs into the country had somehow run the operation through this town. With Levi’s connections and law enforcement background, he was a logical choice. If he wasn’t in charge, he may have at least turned a blind eye to the operations. Zach needed proof, and he needed more names. That’s why whenever he had time, he came to the docks and got to know the local fishermen.
Most of them seemed like honest, genuine people. They were a bit closed off and to themselves—leery of outsiders. But he didn’t sense nefarious intentions.
The former chief was a different story. He’d only held animosity toward Zach since he’d arrived in town.
Was it because Zach had been hired over Watson’s nephew Tyler? Possibly.
But what if those feelings ran deeper?
Zach couldn’t pinpoint why Levi might want to run Madelyn out of town. But he had to track down this lead and see where it took him.
“Thank you for your help, Rusty. I’ll keep this between the two of us.”
As he walked away, Zach decided to give Levi a visit. He wouldn’t be greeted with open arms, nor would he be earning any likability points with the man. But Zach had a job to do, and he couldn’t let someone’s prominence in town deter him.
Ten minutes later, Zach stopped in front of the man’s stately house. It was located on the water and far exceeded the amount Zach imagined the man had made as chief—at least based on his own salary now. Had this been a family home? Otherwise, how had Chief Watson afforded it?
But whoever had been importing those drugs had made a bundle of money. Houses and cars were usually the first place people spent some of their “hard earned” cash. He’d seen that enough from his days in Baltimore.
Levi answered on the first ring.
“Chief Davis,” he said. “To what do I owe this honor?”
He could hear the sarcasm in his voice but ignored it. “I have a couple of questions I was hoping to ask you.”
“Of course. Come in.”
He stepped into the man’s home, but Levi didn’t offer to let him in any farther than the entrance. That was just as well with Zach.
“Levi, I need to ask you about something that happened down at the docks today,” Zach started.
“What about it?”
“Captain Ernie’s boat appears to have been tampered with. Someone placed you down at the docks this morning near the boat.”
“That’s ridiculous.” He scoffed. “I was down at the marina this morning, but only because I left my fishing rod on Ernie’s boat. We went out fishing together yesterday. Ask him.”
“So you didn’t mess with his radio or his engine?” Zach clarified.
Levi’s face wrinkled. “Why would I?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
The wrinkles disappeared and were replaced with color. Levi was getting angry, Zach realized.
“You need to be careful before you come in here accusing me of things,” Levi said.
Zach shook his head. “I’m not accusing. I’m asking questions. You’re the only person who’s been placed near Ernie’s boat.”
“I’ve said all I’m going to say. I’ll let you see yourself out. And don’t come here accusing me again unless you have some evidence. Do you hear me? I’ll run you out of town faster than a toupee in a nor’easter.”
Zach heard him loud and clear, but he wasn’t afraid of Levi’s threats. He’d faced worse before.
Besides, if Levi wasn’t hiding something, why did he react so strangely?
Zach stored the thought away for a later date, for a time when more evidence became clear.
* * *
By the time Madelyn was out of the shower, her suitcase had arrived. She’d normally dress to impress, but considering everything that had happened today, she had a feeling she’d be staying in for the rest of the day. For that reason, she pulled on her favorite yoga pants and a sweatshirt and then sat in the soft chair in the corner of her room. Right now, she simply needed to think.
The question at the forefront of her mind was: if not Zach, then who else might be behind these incidents? Who else could be responsible?
Her mind drew a blank. No one else here should have a reason to want to run her out of town. Even if there were people who weren’t crazy about bulking up tourism in the town, would they go to such desperate measures? She had a hard time believing the motive fit the means.
So how was all of this connected? Was she simply grasping at straws? Trying to see something that wasn’t really there?
And what if—and it was a big what-if—Zach was just as much a victim in all of this as she was?
The leader in the Baltimore drug smuggling ring had never been caught. But if Zach was the guilty party here, why hadn’t he taken the money and run? Why stay in law enforcement?
Which
brought Madelyn to another question: What if Paula was wrong? What if Zach was simply trying to move on? To resume life after he’d lost everything?
If that was true, where did that leave Madelyn now? Who could be so desperate to hurt her? She had so many questions and so much that didn’t make sense.
All she could do right now was to follow the evidence. If Zach was innocent, then there would be no proof of his involvement. If he was guilty, then the families of the victims of that shooting deserved to have justice. Her best choice was to put aside her emotions and let the facts speak for themselves.
Finally, she stood and stretched her back. As she glanced out the window, she saw Zach pull up. Interesting. What was he doing here? Her heart raced when she saw him, and she chided herself. She had to take control of her emotions and put an end to these feelings of attraction she felt toward the man.
Quietly, she crept downstairs, expecting Zach to have an update. To her surprise, he didn’t come to the front door. She wandered around the house a moment before stopping near the screened-in porch at the back of the structure. One of the windows was open and voices drifted in.
Zach was talking to someone...but whom?
She knew she shouldn’t, but she slipped behind a column and listened.
Zach appeared to be talking to Eva’s husband. What was his name? Milton?
He still worked part-time in the aquaculture business. That’s what Eva had told her in an earlier conversation when she’d fixed Madelyn some soup and watched as she ate every bite. She’d seen Eva and Milton’s picture atop the piano in the hallway. The man was short with pale hair and skin that seemed out of place in this fishing community. It was clearly him talking to Zach.
“Listen, I appreciate you staying quiet about this,” Zach said.
Something about the way he said the words caused Madelyn’s suspicions to rise. Though her conscience cried out for her to stop, she pulled out her phone and opened her camera app. Everything in her wanted to turn a blind eye, to not do this. Zach had been kind to her. And he might be innocent. But if he wasn’t, then this may be the evidence she needed to prove he was doing something illegal.
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