Knocking on Death's Door

by Lucy Quinn

  “Stop gawking, Cookie,” Rain said. “I know it’s not my best look.” She gave her attention to Scarlett. “More skin, dear. Way more skin. I was thinking maybe a peekaboo window here,” she motioned to her cleavage, “and here.” Rain slid her hand up her thigh.

  “No, Mom. No,” Cookie said, finally finding her voice. “You look seriously hot right now.”

  “Tell me about it. I’m going to die of heat stroke in this thing,” Rain groused as she turned her back to Scarlett and fanned herself. “I thought the hot flashes were over, but I’m a freaking furnace in this thing.” She glanced over her shoulder at Scarlett. “Unzip me.”

  “Mom, I’m serious. That outfit would get all the twelve cards. I swear.”

  “It would?” Rain asked as Scarlett worked the zipper, making it hum.

  “Hale better buckle up before he sees you in that. You’ve got some dangerous curves,” Cookie teased. Then she chuckled when she realized she was sounding more and more like her mother every day.

  “You sure do,” Scarlett agreed. “Rrrraawww.”

  Rain slid her hands down over her hips, and a grin covered her face. She grabbed her breasts. “Zip me back up. I know one messenger boy who might need a special delivery.” She winked at Cookie before she turned to leave.

  Rain let out a squeak when Scarlett slapped her bottom.

  “Go get him, Rain,” Scarlett said, and when the woman was out of earshot, Cookie and Scarlett burst into laughter.

  “We should be so lucky at her age,” Scarlett said. “Your mother definitely knows how to enjoy herself.”

  “That she does.” Cookie realized that her mood had improved greatly, and it had everything to do with the two women in her life she considered family. A family she would do anything to protect from a man like DeMasi. She may not have the same nurturing instincts as Daisy, but she did understand the desire to protect people. “Thanks, Scar. I needed that laugh,” she said as she reached for her phone.

  It was time to call Hunter about Johnny and see if she could clear him from the suspect list. It might not make everything right between her and Dylan’s ex, but it was a step in the right direction.

  14

  After Cookie spoke to Hunter and discovered that Johnny had been a model parolee and clearly a kid who’d been caught up with the wrong crowd, she gave Dylan a call. But it went to voicemail, so she left a message giving him the news, informing him she’d get the computer back to the Tipsy Seagull and decided to give him space for the night.

  She spent her evening with Scarlett as they both fed the guests for Rain and took a much needed break with a romantic comedy and some popcorn. She woke the next day ready to make things right.

  When Cookie set out toward town and the Tipsy Seagull office to return the computer, it was as if the universe was on her side. The sun shone over the water making the lolling waves shimmer in the light, and ocean air danced lightly around her as she walked with a bounce in her step into town. It was shaping up to be a gorgeous day.

  After the computer was safely delivered, she headed to the Salty Dog. A horn beeped, and Cookie waved at Cari as she drove by, no doubt on her way to the inn to practice with the rest of the Pussycat Posse.

  A smile was still on Cookie’s face when she pushed her way into the Salty Dog to see if she could talk to Johnny. She blinked to let her eyes adjust to the dimmer light, and when she could see, her smile was quickly replaced by a frown. Dylan and Daisy were sitting in a booth. Two cups of coffee were on the table along with a plate set between them.

  Cookie’s stomach knotted up as jealousy rose in her, but instead of acting on it, she swallowed hard and forced herself to see the situation for what it could be and not what she feared. Dylan and Daisy hadn’t been involved romantically for more than a decade, she reminded herself. They were friends. Friends get together for coffee, and what Cookie was seeing was probably nothing more than that.

  As her jealousy ebbed away and rational thought took over, something else occurred to Cookie. If she and Rain had to leave the island to stay safe, Dylan would be left behind with Daisy to console him. And no doubt the woman would.

  Dylan laughed at something his ex said, and the deep sound made Cookie’s heart ache a little. Daisy had been a part of Dylan’s life far longer than Cookie had. It would be easy for her to step in and take the man Cookie loved.

  Like I’m about to let that happen, thought Cookie. So much for tamping down jealousy. Suddenly the need to stay calm was shoved aside, and Cookie began to stomp her way over to them. But as she got closer to the table, Scarlett’s words came back to her. Dylan is just as in love with you as you are with him. Trust it.

  The moment Dylan glanced over at Cookie, his face lit up. When his smile reached his eyes, relief flooded through Cookie’s body.

  “Cookie,” he said in the deep tone that warmed her all the way to her toes, “we were just talking about you.”

  “Really?” she asked with a mix of concern and hope.

  “Yes,” Daisy said. “Dylan told me how you cleared Johnny’s name. Thank you. I really appreciate it.” She stood up from the table. “Sit. I’ll grab you some coffee and a cinnamon roll.”

  “Oh.” Cookie hadn’t exactly cleared Johnny’s name, but it was true he wasn’t a lead suspect any longer. She decided to let that little technicality go and was about to decline Daisy’s offer since she’d already had breakfast, but who was Cookie kidding? There was no way she was about to turn down a sweet treat slathered in cream cheese frosting. “Thanks. I’d love one.”

  “Dylan?” Daisy asked. “Can I get you another?”

  He shook his head. “Just more coffee, please.”

  Cookie slid across the vinyl seat to place herself across from Dylan. “Hi.” Since Daisy had so graciously gotten over yesterday already, and Cookie knew she needed to make things right with Dylan, she offered, “I’m sorry about the way I acted yesterday. You were right that I may have pushed a little too hard about Johnny.”

  “It’s okay. We did need to question him. Besides,” he gave her his teasing smile, “you’re good for my ego when you get jealous.”

  “What? I wasn—” Cookie rolled her eyes at herself. Dylan knew exactly what she was doing yesterday, and she was a fool for trying to insist otherwise. “That may be true, but I’m not proud of my actions. I need to behave on a more professional level.”

  Dylan reached over, and his warm fingers wrapped around Cookie’s to give her a squeeze. “I understand how it feels. I hate seeing you with Hunter, but I know you chose me. The way I chose you.”

  “I do know that,” Cookie said as Daisy approached them with a cinnamon roll the size of a dinner plate. She noticed that Dylan didn’t let go of her hand, and it made her heart flip with joy that he had no trouble with the public display of affection in front of Daisy. Cookie looked at the woman. “Thanks.”

  “Enjoy,” Daisy said as she thumped the plate down and winked at Cookie as if she were talking about more than the pastry. Cookie wondered if she could be so gracious. If she had to leave Dylan behind forever, she would want him to find happiness, and that could very well be in Daisy’s arms. She’d like to hope she could let Dylan have it and be glad for him.

  “Hey,” Dylan said, dragging her from her thoughts. “Are you going to eat that or just stare at it longingly?”

  “Oh.” She shook her head. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

  “Cookie,” Dylan’s gaze was serious. “Are you worried about DeMasi?”

  She nodded. “Daisy is a wonderful woman, and I want you to know that if I have to leave—”

  “If you have to leave,” Dylan said, “I’m going with you, Cookie James. It took me decades to find someone like you, and I’m not letting go.”

  Tears burned in Cookie’s eyes as her heart swelled with her love for him. “Dylan Creed, you’re going to make me cry.” She sniffed and swiped the back of her hand across her cheek. “Former FBI agents do not cry.”

  “May
be not,” Dylan said as he reached over and wiped another tear away. “But I’m glad the one I’m in love with does.”

  It was true. Cookie was able to be herself completely with Dylan. She knew that every flaw she displayed he accepted. And boy did there seem to be a lot of them, but she was also willing to accept every single one of Dylan’s too. That’s what makes us work so well, she thought. She said glanced up at him, all of her rough edges turning to mush. “I love you, too.”

  Cookie swallowed down the lump in her throat and finally took note of the cinnamon roll in front of her. Her fork clinked on the plate as she broke off a bite, and while the sweetness of sugar filled her mouth and raced to her bloodstream, it was nothing compared the rush of warmth Dylan’s love made her feel. She held on to it as long as she could, because Cookie knew that eventually she was going to have to deal with the danger DeMasi posed.

  15

  Cookie scraped the plate with a fork for the final remnants of cream cheese frosting from her cinnamon roll and let out a moan of satisfaction. “I swear that was practically heaven.”

  Dylan chuckled. “Does Rain know you’re cheating on her with the Salty Dog like this?”

  “Nope, and don’t you dare tell.” Cookie took a final sip of her coffee, and since they’d already paid their bill, she said, “Our first stop this morning is the Clip, Dip and Rip. I’d like to check out Mindy and see if the prison boyfriends she’s entertaining have anything to do with this case.”

  As they stood, Dylan shook his head. “I don’t get it. Why would anyone actively seek out a criminal for a partner?”

  “You’d be surprised. I think it’s the allure of a fantasy relationship. Writing letters means you only share what you want.” She nodded her thanks as Dylan held the door open for her to walk through. Once they were both outside, she continued, “Character flaws don’t have to be revealed, and one can turn their pen pal into anything their imagination desires.”

  “I guess,” Dylan said as he looked at Cookie. “It sounds lonely to me.”

  “Me too,” Cookie said as she noticed the way the sun made Dylan’s dark hair appear a softer shade of brown. “But perhaps Mindy has insecurities that make her believe she isn’t attractive to a man in real life.”

  Dylan chuckled as they stopped in front of the salon. “Deep thoughts this morning,” he said as he tugged the door open.

  A scream came from the back of the salon, and the two of them froze in the doorway. Mindy was behind the counter, and when Cookie and Dylan looked at her with eyes wide in surprise, she just shrugged and calmly said, “Manscaping.”

  “Ah,” the two said in unison. They stepped inside in time to see Blake come rushing out of the waxing room wearing just a towel. A hairless, red rectangle was on his chest and it matched the color of his face.

  He spit out, “What the ever-loving…” Words that would make even Rain blush continued out of his mouth as Hale strolled out of the waxing room after him.

  Hale put his hand on Blake’s shoulder and said, “Beauty is pain. Just embrace—”

  “Bullcrap,” Blake said, cutting him off as he flinched away from Hale. He gestured wildly toward Peaches who was exiting the waxing room. “I think she enjoys torturing people.”

  Peaches sighed. “I warned you this would hurt.” She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head at Blake. “You know, when I wax women’s delicate areas they find a way to manage the pain just fine.”

  Blake scoffed. “I doubt that. You—you—torturer!”

  He looked at Cookie, and she feared it was for help. Considering the fact that Blake looked utterly ridiculous with a bare patch on his chest, Cookie said, “She’s right. Women…” She paused because the state of her lady parts was not something she wanted to be part of the conversation. “Some women realize that it takes a bit of pain to get what you want.”

  “Unbelievable,” Blake said as he shook his head. He glanced down at his chest and touched the red spot gingerly.

  Hale patted at the man’s arm. “I get through this by imagining what Rain is going to think when she sees me.” He waggled his eyebrows. “And I think about what she’ll do. That mouth of hers isn’t just for talking.”

  “Agh,” Cookie said as she squeezed her eyes shut and held up her arm as if to shield herself. “Guys! This never gets easier for me to hear.”

  “Fine,” Hale said. “Let me tell you what Winter will—”

  “No!” Cookie shouted, and when Blake and Hale looked at her she added, “That’s my mother’s best friend and it’s not any—” Oh god, she thought. What the heck am I saying? “Can we just keep what happens behind closed doors private, please?”

  “Closed doors?” Hale started to laugh.

  Blake chuckled too and asked Hale, “Hell, when was the last time you closed a door for sex with the vixens we’ve managed to capture?” Blake burst into laughter.

  Peaches and Dylan smiled in amusement at the two men when they laughed so hard they struggled to breath. Each one tried to speak, but neither could get more than a word out before they were overcome again. The laughter was definitely infectious, and Cookie finally relented a bit when she thought about the antics Rain and Winter tended to participate in, like dressing up in lingerie in a storage locker, or the fashion show she’d witnessed earlier. A smile crept onto her face when she replayed Rain’s Miss Dumpy Parade routine complete with the pot lids clashing each time her mother thrust her hips. Yes. Cookie had to accept that her mother was funny.

  When Hale and Blake recovered enough to speak, Blake said, “Okay.” He blew out a big breath, and his body shook a bit as he suppressed a giggle. “Let’s do this.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Peaches said. “C’mon. Let’s make Winter happy.” She winked at Cookie and Dylan before she turned to follow the men back into the waxing room.

  “Well,” Dylan said to Cookie. “I’ve almost forgotten why we came.”

  “Right.” Cookie took a deep cleansing breath in an effort to return to a professional state. There were on an investigation after all. She turned her attention to Mindy, who was now over by her hair cutting station, and noticed that the woman was a bit on the plain side. While her coworker Peaches was all about using every aspect of the salon to her full advantage, Mindy was more conservative. And it made Cookie wonder if perhaps the reason she was writing to men in prison had to do with her insecurities after all. “Mindy,” she said. “We have a few questions for you about your pen pals.”

  Mindy smiled with a faraway look in her eyes as she rolled a brush handle in her hands. “They’re so sweet, you know? It’s like—”

  “Like hell they’re sweet!” Peaches exclaimed. She had one foot out of the waxing room and held up a wooden paddle covered in blue wax. “Tell them the truth, Mindy.” She gave Cookie and Dylan a pointed look. “She keeps a gun by her bed. That’s how sweet they are.”

  Mindy thinned her lips into a tight line as she glared at Peaches. “That’s not—”

  “Oh, please! It was only a matter of time before one of those losers came after you.” Peaches let out a noise of disgust and looked at Cookie. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the dead guy came after Mindy and she shot him. I’d be checking out all her jailbirds if I were you.”

  Mindy said, “Stay out of this, Peaches. Don’t you have a chest to wax?”

  Peaches threw up her arm, and a glob of wax fell off her paddle and onto the floor with a plop. “I’m just sayin’. A good look at her shoebox full of letters might tell a different story.” Peaches ducked back into the waxing room, momentarily ending their bickering.

  “So,” Dylan said. “Want to tell us a little more about your pen pals, Mindy?”

  Mindy sighed and plopped into her chair. “They’re not as bad as Peaches makes them sound. Yeah, it’s true one makes me a little nervous. But the gun was really just a precaution.” She knit her brow as if reconsidering. “I mean, surely none of those guys would actually come all the way to Secret Seal Isle just to s
ee me.”

  Cookie knew that many of the men Mindy might come in contact with could be predators ready to take advantage of an unsuspecting woman, so it wasn’t as farfetched as Mindy seemed to think. “Mindy,” Cookie said in a soothing tone, “the possibility of one of your pen pals coming here is very real. Why don’t you tell us more about these guys and let us know how we can help you be safe?”

  “It’s kind of hard to describe.” Mindy looked down at her feet as she wrung her hands in her lap. Then she glanced up at them with a sheepish expression. “It’s all a game of pretend. None of us are serious.”

  “You might want to let us be the judge of that,” Dylan said, stepping closer to her. “I’d hate for something horrible to happen to you, Mindy. Let us help.”

  “Perhaps we could read the letters and determine if there’s something to be worried about,” Cookie said. “Would that be okay?”

  “I guess.” Mindy grunted as she covered her face with her hand. “But it’s so embarrassing.”

  Despite the fact that there was no love lost between her and Mindy, Cookie’s heart ached for the woman, and if she was the hugging type she would have embraced Mindy. It occurred to her that if Rain were here, that’s exactly what her mother would do. Then she’d follow up by offering a cookie and a pep talk that would have Mindy laughing in no time. She said, “No, Mindy. What’s embarrassing is having your mother stand on a float in a parade the entire town is watching with pot lids at her groin and clashing them like she’s got a bad case of the clap.”

  Mindy cracked a smile.

  “What’s embarrassing is knowing the entire town thinks all you do is take your shirt off,” Dylan said.

  Mindy chuckled, “That’s true.”

  Dylan asked, “You ladies don’t have a group text about my lack of clothing, do you?”