by K C Gillis
“Not exactly. But if I help, there are a few ground rules.”
“OK, shoot,” Derek said.
“First, I can arrange to get the dead fish tested. Quietly. No one but us and my contact will know. I agree that, until we know the cause of death, neither I nor my contact will share anything with anybody else. I assume you’re OK with that?”
Derek looked at Kasey, who nodded. “OK with us,” he said.
“Good.” Jordan wasn’t so sure about the next part. “Second, once we know the cause of death, I have the right to use it in whatever story I might publish down the road. This means that if the cause is not something natural or random, it will become public.”
Derek’s expression turned troubled. Jordan felt he had not really thought through what would happen once they tested the fish. Especially if they’d died because of someone breaking the law or something similarly bad. He looked at Kasey. “What do you think?”
She didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think we have a choice. Those fish are the best way, probably the only way, to know what killed them. If there is something wrong with the lake, everyone needs to know. Even if it’s something terrible.”
“You heard the lady, Jordan. We agree.” Before Jordan could say anything else, Derek continued. “But can we have some kind of agreement on at least seeing what you end up writing? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the lake means everything to many of us. If there’s bad news you’re going to make public, I’d kind of like to have some warning.”
The request wasn’t the kind of thing Jordan liked to grant. But in this case, she’d agree. It was only because of Derek and Kasey she could have anything worth publishing. She owed them the courtesy of seeing what she eventually wrote. “Deal.”
“What’s next?”
“Well, I need to get at least one fish for testing. How about tomorrow? I could get it early, maybe seven thirty or eight. What do you think?”
“That’s fine. Just come by my place. Give me your number, and I’ll text you the address.”
Jordan gave Derek her number and got his address in return.
“Do you need both fish or just one?”
“One will do. But you should consider stashing the second one somewhere your dad won’t find it.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I’ll find another place for it.”
“Now that we’ve sorted that out, I need to hit the ladies’ room,” Jordan said.
“You know where it is, right? Down the hall by the dining room.”
“Thanks.” Jordan picked out where she needed to go and navigated through the crowd in the bar. This was definitely a good place to be on a nice summer evening. As she got to the hall, she saw that there were a few people waiting outside the restroom. Jordan hated waiting in restroom lines. But the need was real, so she took a spot in line.
Two women in line ahead of Jordan were sharing some local gossip.
“I can’t believe Clint Melanson just up and sold his farm and closed his business,” the shorter woman said. “And without a word to anybody.”
The taller woman responded. “You know their farm had been in their family for over a hundred years? I don’t know what possessed him to just up and sell like that.”
“I didn’t even know the farm was for sale. I talked to Sally, one of Clint’s neighbors. She thinks someone literally went to Clint and offered to buy the farm. Like right away. With cash.”
“Shit. Imagine someone walking around looking to spend that kind of money. The farm had to be worth at least half a million.”
“I’d bet a lot more. I wonder if that’s what happened to the old Morrison place. It had been empty since Millie died, but I saw a construction crew there the other morning.”
“I saw that too. I think it was more like a destruction crew. Did you see the big backhoes there? You don’t use those to build something. You use them to knock something down.”
“Well, I’ll keep an eye on it.”
That was all Jordan could pick up before the taller woman went into the restroom.
Jordan had her turn and headed back to the bar. She was looking to her right as she came out of the short hallway. She didn’t see a man crossing in front of her and walked straight into him. He wasn’t much taller than her, and they collided shoulder to shoulder. The drink he was carrying went flying, the glass shattering on the stone floor.
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry,” Jordan said. “I wasn’t paying attention at all. Totally my fault.”
The man appeared startled but not the least bit upset. He may not have been very tall, but he was definitely a very good-looking older man. “Not a problem. I have lots more glasses where that one came from. Besides, I didn’t spill a drop on me. Please, enjoy yourself. I’ll make sure this gets cleaned up.”
“Really? That’s so nice of you. Again, sorry for not watching where I was going.”
“Have a good night.”
Jordan walked away, careful not to step on any broken glass, and went back to her spot at the bar.
“I heard a glass break. That wasn’t you, was it?” Derek said.
“Actually, yes. Were you watching?”
“Hey, sorry. I was joking. You mean you actually dropped a glass?”
“Not me, but the man I walked into. I wasn’t paying attention and walked right into someone. But he was very nice about it.”
Derek looked like he was about to say something else, but his gaze was drawn over Jordan’s right shoulder.
“Mike,” Derek said. “I haven’t seen you all day. Busy?”
“That isn’t the half of it,” Mike said as he came over and clapped Derek on the shoulder. At about the same time, he noticed Jordan and smiled.
“Be careful with that one,” Mike said, tilting his head toward Jordan. “She has a tendency to just walk right into strangers.”
Jordan groaned and laid her head on the bar.
“Wait, were you who she walked into?” Derek asked.
“I was. Now the marina has one less glass. I might have to put it on her bill.”
Jordan lifted her head. “That’s the second comment I’ve heard you make like you’re the manager here or something.”
“Or something,” Mike said, smiling.
“Don’t torture her, Dad,” Kasey said. “If you keep it up, she may not want to come back. Jordan, this is my dad, Mike Banfield.”
“Oh, great. Of all the people to run into.”
“I’d rather you be here running into me than somewhere else. I need the business.”
Jordan waved her hand as if to display the entirety of the bar and dining room. “It looks like you do pretty well.”
“You should be here in January. We can barely pay to have any staff working. By the way, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Sorry. It’s Jordan. Jordan Reed.”
“And what brings you here?”
Jordan had practiced for this question. Derek, who was just behind Mike from Jordan’s perspective, gave her a little nod. “My family rented a boat. I came up ahead of them.”
Mike looked confused, but it passed in an instant. “Well, I hope you and your family have a great time here. Please let me know if you need anything. Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I need to go say hi to my daughter.” And with that, Mike walked around behind the bar, right to Kasey. He said something to her that elicited a playful whack on his shoulder. Seeing the father and daughter together showed Jordan at least part of where Kasey got her good looks.
While Jordan watched the two carry on, a woman with shoulder-length blond hair approached them—stormed up to them, really—with fury in her eyes. Kasey noticed her first. Jordan saw her give her dad a warning look while she mouthed something to him. It looked like she said, “Mom’s here.” Mike turned around just as the woman got to them and stopped, placing her hands on her hips. They spoke in low voices, so Jordan couldn’t hear what they said, but the woman’s body language was all aggression. Mike seemed to be trying to plac
ate her. Jordan saw the woman look directly at her at one point. Mike also gave a quick glance in her direction.
What the hell was that look for?
The woman turned and left, with Mike trailing behind her. Kasey went to the other end of the bar to serve a customer.
Jordan looked at Derek. “Did you see that woman with Mike? She looked pissed.”
“Oh yeah. That’s the ever-pleasant Alice Banfield.”
“Wait, that’s his wife? She sure was mad about something.”
“You know how people who cheat on their spouses are always stupidly jealous? Like, because they’re cheaters, they assume everyone else is the same.”
Jordan felt her eyes widen in surprise. “For real? Or is that just town gossip?”
“Some of both. My dad says she has to be sleeping around on Mike. But my dad hates him, so it taints his opinion. But word among some of the marina crew is that there’s at least one guest that Alice has slept with. No one gave a name, but the rumor has been around long enough to make me think it’s real.”
“So she thinks Mike is sleeping around?”
“Who knows what she thinks? But she saw Mike chatting it up with a beautiful woman. Maybe she thought he was hitting on her.”
“Who was he talking to?”
“You, stupid. You know, for a reporter, you’re not as sharp as I’d expect.”
Jordan never thought of herself as beautiful. She was aware she was attractive but rarely gave it much thought. She just was. “Sorry. I don’t think of myself that way.”
“Whatever works for you. But you stand out in a crowd.”
“Thanks for that.” Jordan remembered something Kasey had told her earlier. “Since your dad used to date Alice, I can see why he might not have the highest opinion of her.”
“What? How the hell did you know that?”
“Sorry. Kasey told me your dad and Mike didn’t get along, and that it went back to high school. I may not be as sharp a reporter as you’d expect, but I ask questions. Sometimes personal ones.”
“It’s OK. It sure as hell isn’t a secret. Anyone who has any history in this town knows the story. But from where I sit, it all turned out fine. Alice wouldn’t be my pick for mother of the year.”
“So it seems. Does Kasey get along with her?”
“She tolerates her now, but in high school, they were at each other’s throats. I think Kasey kind of feels sorry for her. Like she never really got what she wanted out of life and takes it out on those around her.”
“It sounds typical. Most families are fucked up in some way.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
8
The sun was finally sinking below the horizon, the days slowly getting shorter now that the longest day of the year had come and gone. It looked to Jordan like all the marina lighting was on. The docks were lit well enough for boats to identify slips. The walkways had patio lights spaced at ten-foot intervals. The crowd at the marina had begun to thin as guests finished dinner. The warm evening air enticed guests to remain, congregating around the bar. Derek appeared to be hanging around until closing, likely when Kasey would be finished with her shift.
Jordan felt comfortable. If pressed, she’d even admit she was relaxed. For a city girl who had spent only a small fraction of her time away from the fast pace of an urban center, Jordan found herself quickly adapting to the casual and relaxed nature of marina life. She knew the pace was too slow to satisfy her for long, but finding more opportunities to spend time like this would be a good thing. But admitting that to Travis was not going to happen.
The docks were quiet, but not silent. It looked like every slip had its boat in place, with several boats serving as homes to small gatherings of people enjoying drinks on the relative privacy of their boats. No doubt a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar. Jordan thought she could hear a boat in the distance, answering her question about whether people went out on the lake in the dark. She figured it could be safe enough, as long as boats had lights.
There was a momentary lull in orders at the bar, and Kasey came over to where Jordan and Derek sat. “So, Jordan, what do you think of nightlife at the marina?”
“It’s not a bad way to spend an evening. The temperature is warm, the view is nice, and the drinks are good. Although I’m not looking forward to seeing my bar tab.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Derek said. “I have a company tab I use for the summer. You know, for customers. It has a cap, but I have all summer to manage it. You’re covered.”
“Thanks. Let’s see if I can pay you back by finding out what happened to those fish.”
Before anyone had a chance to speak again, the sound of a crash shattered the evening air. Jordan swiveled her head, trying to locate the sound. She saw Derek do the same, but an instant later, he popped out of his barstool and sprinted for the docks.
Jordan turned to follow Derek, already well behind. As she zeroed in on him reaching the docks, what she saw didn’t seem to register. It looked as if one boat sat on top of another. She could also hear a motor running. She followed Derek onto the docks, as did several other people.
As she got close to the source of the sound, Jordan could see the aftermath of a collision. One boat—clearly an older model, judging by the faded dark paint and lack of modern features—had its bow jacked up on the side of another boat that was docked in the outermost slip on the far dock. The dark boat had somehow rammed right into the docked boat and was wedged between the boat and the finger of the slip. As Jordan got closer, she could see that the docked boat looked like a Cobalt, similar to the one Derek had taken her out on.
Derek’s first action was to jump onto the dark boat and kill the engine. One of the marina staff sprinted past Jordan and began to remove the boat cover from the boat that had been hit. Derek joined him, and the two began to dislodge the dark boat, which Jordan could see was black.
Two additional staff arrived. One boarded the black boat and tied a rope to one of its cleats, which the other staffer used to pull the black boat while Derek and his helper pushed from the boat that had been hit. Within minutes, they had dislodged the black boat, letting it float freely beside the dock.
Derek maintained command of the situation and directed the first staffer that had arrived to check the docked boat for leaks. He also asked the other two if anyone had told Mike, which they confirmed had been done. Derek directed the pair of staffers to pull the black boat to the end of the dock and tie it off.
Mike arrived at the dock as the black boat was being secured. “What the hell happened?” he said to no one in particular.
Derek and the other staffers were occupied, so Jordan shared her view. “We heard a crash. When we came down, that black boat being tied off had rammed up onto this one here.” Jordan pointed at the damaged Cobalt that was being inspected by a staff member.
“Where’s the driver?” Mike asked.
“There wasn’t one,” Derek said, joining Jordan and Mike. “I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I came down here, but there’s no sign at all of a driver. The boat was empty and running at more than half throttle.”
“Could he have fallen out?”
“Maybe. But there’s something else strange.”
“What?” Mike said.
“Lights. The black boat had no lights on whatsoever. No dash lights, no navigation lights. No docking lights. The boat was completely dark. Who’s out in the dark with no lights on?”
“That is strange. Not to mention stupid and dangerous.” Mike turned to the staff checking the Cobalt. “How bad is it damaged? Do we need to haul it out?”
The guy right behind Derek answered. “Yeah. It’s got one good hole near the stern. Plus, the hull was gouged pretty good on the starboard side. The throttle was on the whole time, so that black boat hit pretty hard.”
“Goddammit.” Mike looked to Derek. “Make sure this boat gets hauled out right away. I’ll call the owner, let him know what happened.”
“Have you seen your dad tonight?”
“Nope. I guess you’ll need him to come down.”
“Yes. Not just because of the collision. But someone had to have been on that boat at some point tonight. That they’re not anywhere to be seen is a concern. Can you call him?”
“No problem, Mike.” Jordan could see Derek’s face, and his look was one of understanding. He knew why Mike wouldn’t want to call his dad. Derek took out his phone, made a call, and got to work on the damaged boat.
Mike turned to Jordan. “Sorry for the unexpected excitement. We never have accidents here.”
“I don’t see how this has anything to do with your marina. But it seems strange to have an unmanned boat crash into your docks. Do you really think the driver somehow fell overboard?”
“I don’t have a better explanation. If you do, please let me know.”
“I’ll tell you if I come up with one.”
Mike turned to head back to the marina, pulling out his mobile phone as he walked.
Jordan wasn’t sure what to do next. This had been a long day, and she could use sleep. But the activity around the marina captivated her. There was the dead fish mystery, plus the tension between the Fosters and the Banfields. Not to mention the drama between Mike and his wife, Alice. With a strange boat accident to close the evening, Jordan didn’t want to leave in case she missed something else. With the chief, Derek’s dad, likely on his way, the potential for more drama was high.
The small crowd that had come down to the docks had dispersed. Jordan wanted to stay close to Derek or Mike, since that’s whom the chief would talk to. She really wanted to meet the chief. Mike and Derek seemed like good people, so she had to see for herself how the chief interacted with them. It couldn’t be as tense as they’d led her to believe.
Jordan walked over to Derek. “Would you mind if I hang out here while you deal with that boat? I’ll stay out of the way.”
“Sure. Just be careful with your footing. There can be uneven boards, and the collision may have weakened some. I’d prefer to avoid another accident.”