A few minutes later, when he'd been handcuffed and all of the officers except Fields were escorting him to a patrol car, cheers rose from all around me—the salsa contest, the market stalls, and even the quilt guild.
The mayor took the microphone back from Matt and waited for the cheering to end. It lasted for several minutes, until the patrol car with Scott inside turned on its siren and flashers and pulled out of the parking lot.
"Well," Kallakala said, "that was exciting. Nothing compared to finding out who won the salsa contest though, I'm sure. So, let's see who won the nontraditional category."
The crowd laughed, and the final announcements proceeded as if nothing out of the ordinary had just unfolded in front of everyone's eyes. That was Danger Cove for you. Never let a little crime and punishment get in the way of a good time.
One of the Baxter twins came over to check on Cary and me while the other one was already fussing over Keely. By the looks of it, she hated the attention even more than I did.
"Are you okay?" the EMT asked. "Not feeling dizzy or nauseated or anything?"
"I'm fine," I said, although I'd be having flashbacks to the knife at Cary's chest for months, if not years.
I glanced over to see how my young assistant was doing. He hadn't seemed afraid at any point while he'd been a hostage, just angry once he'd realized what Scott had done. Cary was still on the ground where he'd dropped, with Fields seated next to him, although at some point he'd moved enough to let the police take the knife and put it in an evidence bag. I caught bits of Cary's conversation with Fields, enough to know that he was talking about cars and the use of pocketknives for cutting seat belts if they locked after an accident.
"Looks like Cary is fine too," I said, "but I'd be grateful if you'd check on him."
"I will in a minute," the EMT said. "First I wanted to let you know how sorry my brother and I are that we weren't in the first aid tent when Coach Andy was attacked."
"It wasn't your fault."
"I know, but we try not to both be gone from the market at the same time," he said. "We didn't want you to think we weren't doing our job when it happened. See, there was a swimmer in trouble, and since it was before the market opened, we thought there'd be plenty of time to respond if we went together, and then at least one of us could get back in time for opening. Otherwise we wouldn't have left the first aid tent unattended. We won't make that mistake again."
"It's okay," I said. "You were helping people like you're supposed to. I don't think there's anything you could have done even if you'd been in the market. Scott was so blinded by his anger, he'd have found a way to kill someone. Maybe you or your brother if it wasn't Coach Andy."
"Thanks for understanding," the EMT said before heading over to squat beside Cary.
I turned my attention to the mayor, who'd just announced that Matt was the winner of the nontraditional category. The mayor had to repeat his call for the winner to claim the prize, since Matt was crouched down next to where Keely was sitting on the grass to one side of the tables—not passed out as she'd feared—and didn't seem to have been paying attention to anything but her. Merle was standing beside them and leaned down to give Matt a brotherly punch on the arm to get his attention and then pointed toward where the mayor was holding out a blue ribbon. Matt hesitated before Keely made a shooing motion, sending him over to get his prize.
He jogged over to accept the ribbon.
Merle cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Just wait until next year. Bet you can't take the title two years in a row."
The crowd laughed, and Matt bent to the microphone. "You're on. Loser has to supply the chips for eating the leftovers."
The cheering was almost as loud as when the police had taken Scott away, if not anywhere near as prolonged. Apparently the market's popularity wasn't going to suffer from the events of the last week, not if everyone was already looking forward to next year's salsa contest.
I caught sight of Cassidi and Meri chatting near the front of the audience. Both held a blue ribbon, indicating they'd won their respective categories. There was no sign of Jack Condor anywhere, and I counted enough second-place and runner-up ribbons in the crowd to confirm that his salsa hadn't made it into the finals. He was undoubtedly going to complain, claiming the judging had been rigged, but since he'd apparently left after the finalists had been announced, I at least had a reprieve for now. Probably a good thing, since despite what I'd told the EMT, my legs were starting to wobble in a delayed reaction.
Merle waited until Matt rejoined Keely before leaving them to come check on me. At the same time, Dee and Emma converged on Keely, apparently demanding details about what had just happened. Keely said something, probably explaining that Scott hadn't just killed Coach Andy but had also been responsible for Gabe's death. The guild and its members could relax, knowing that justice had been served.
Merle came to a stop two feet in front of me and gave me a reproachful glare. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again. Every time I do, you almost get yourself killed."
"I'm fine."
"I know," he said, sounding slightly aggrieved. "But I'm not. My heart stopped six times while you were confronting Scott. I was too far away to help."
"You don't really want to follow me around like the goats trail you looking for snacks."
"Yes, I do," he said. "I'll be your guard goat."
Merle would hate that almost as much as I would, but now was not the time to tell him. He needed some time and distance from today's events to get over his fear.
"All right." I hooked my arm around his. "Let's go, Mr. Guard Goat. I've got lots of territory to cover."
Merle glanced at me warily. "Like what?"
I shrugged. "Like telling the vendors they're on their own for breakdown today because I need to go somewhere with you."
His wary look intensified. "Anywhere in particular?"
"The possibilities are infinite." I tugged him up the hill toward the rows of market stalls. "But there's only one place I want to be until the end of the market season. At the orchard. With you."
*
RECIPES
Cassidi's Texas-Style Summer Salsa
1 pound ripe tomatoes
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ serrano chili, finely chopped (or to taste)
¼ cup diced white onion
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
In a food processor, blend the fresh tomatoes, lime juice, and salt into a chunky puree. Stir in the remaining ingredients and serve immediately.
Meri's Dangerously Delicious Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
10–12 tomatillos, husks removed, washed
1–3 jalapeño peppers
1 serrano pepper
4 garlic cloves
1 medium yellow or white onion
1 green bell pepper
¾ cup chopped fresh cilantro
juice of one lime
juice of one small lemon
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put rack near top of oven, about 6 inches from top.
Remove the husks from the tomatillos then wash. Quarter the onion. Halve and seed peppers. Peel garlic cloves. Place tomatillos, garlic (whole), pepper halves, and onion quarters on a foil-lined baking sheet. Roast in oven for 15–20 minutes, turning items over halfway through baking time or until charred to your desired degree.
Add all roasted ingredients to a food processor, plus cilantro, salt, and juice. Pulse to desired consistency. Add salt and citrus to taste.
Merle's Pear Salsa
3 firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 large jalapeño, seeded and minced
½ cup finely minced red onion
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill 30 minutes to twenty-four hours before serving for flavors to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Good with grilled fish or meats or with pork tacos.
Matt's Black Bean Salsa
15 oz. can of black beans
1 cup corn, cooked
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup minced red onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 chipotle pepper, seeded and minced
Juice and zest of one lemon
6 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Drain the liquid from the black beans and discard. Rinse and then combine with remaining ingredients. Cover and chill 30 minutes to twenty-four hours before serving for flavors to combine.
Dee's Quick Corn and Beans Salsa
15 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained (or about two cups of fresh corn, cooked and removed from the cobs)
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped
⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients. Chill until you're ready to take a break from quiltmaking and have a snack.
*
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DANGER COVE BOOKS
Secret of the Painted Lady
Murder and Mai Tais
Death by Scones
Four-Patch of Trouble
Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai
Killer Closet Case
Tree of Life and Death
A Killing in the Market (short story in the Killer Beach Reads collection)
Killer Colada
Passion, Poison, & Puppy Dogs
A Novel Death
Robbing Peter to Kill Paul
Sinister Snickerdoodles
Heroes and Hurricanes
A Death in the Flower Garden
Divas, Diamonds & Death
A Slaying in the Orchard
A Secret in the Pumpkin Patch
Deadly Dirty Martinis
A Poison Manicure and Peach Liqueur
Not-So-Bright Hopes (short story in the Pushing Up Daisies collection)
Tequila Trouble
Deadly Thanksgiving Sampler
Killer Eyeshadow and a Cold Espresso
Two Sleuths are Better Than One
Dark Rum Revenge
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Gin Jones became a USA Today bestselling author after too many years of being a lawyer who specialized in ghostwriting for other lawyers. She much prefers writing fiction, since she isn't bound by boring facts and she can indulge her sense of humor without any risk of getting thrown into jail for contempt of court. In her spare time, Gin makes quilts, grows garlic, and advocates for rare disease patients.
To learn more about Gin Jones, visit her online at: http://www.ginjones.com
Elizabeth Ashby was born and raised in Danger Cove and now uses her literary talent to tell stories about the town she knows and loves. Ms. Ashby has penned several Danger Cove Mysteries, which are published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. While she does admit to taking some poetic license in her storytelling, she loves to incorporate the real people and places of her hometown into her stories. She says anyone who visits Danger Cove is fair game for her poisoned pen, so tourists beware! When she's not writing, Ms. Ashby enjoys gardening, taking long walks along the Pacific coastline, and curling up with a hot cup of tea, her cat, Sherlock, and a thrilling novel.
*
BOOKS BY GIN JONES
Helen Binney Mysteries:
A Dose of Death
A Denial of Death
A (Gingerbread) Diorama of Death (holiday short story)
A Draw of Death
A Dawn of Death
A Darling of Death
A Display of Death
Danger Cove Quilting Mysteries
Four-Patch of Trouble
Tree of Life and Death
Robbing Peter to Kill Paul
Not-So-Bright Hopes (short story in the Pushing Up Daisies collection)
Deadly Thanksgiving Sampler
Danger Cove Farmers' Market Mysteries
A Killing in the Market (short story in the Killer Beach Reads collection)
A Death in the Flower Garden
A Slaying in the Orchard
A Secret in the Pumpkin Patch
Two Sleuths are Better Than One
*
SNEAK PEEK
of the next Danger Cove Mystery
DARK RUM REVENGE
BY
NICOLE LEIREN & ELIZABETH ASHBY
CHAPTER ONE
Sunday evening. The best night of the week. Most people aren't big fans of the day as it represents the last twenty-four hours of freedom before the daily grind of work begins again. For the crew of Smugglers' Tavern, it represented the gateway to our day off.
"Hi, Lilly!"
I looked up from the bar and waved to one of Danger Cove's longtime residents, "Hi Ms. Jordan. Thanks for coming in tonight." As bartender and now part owner of this fine establishment, it was my job to make sure everyone was having the best possible experience.
"Good evening, Lilly." Janeice Jordan smiled and waved as she took her seat.
The crowd was decent for a Sunday, especially since it was almost closing time. The ambiance of the nautical theme, dark wood, and comfy booths made Smugglers' Tavern the perfect place to unwind and relax.
Part of the perfection was the interaction between the crew. I smiled as Mandi, my best friend who also happened to waitress here, grilled our gardener, Abe, for a story about his sabbatical.
"Abe, come on. How hard is it to tell us just one story? You were gone for months. I know you were visiting your daughter, but you just had to have something exciting happen."
"I'm an old man. I try to avoid anything too exciting. Bad for the heart." He cut me a glance and winked. "Though, I've heard there's been no lack of excitement around here since I left."
I winked at him. "See what happens when you're not here to keep me in line?"
Abe's grey eyes twinkled. "Let's see. Since I've been gone you, Miss Lilly Waters, have managed to be promoted from bartender to assistant manager, and now manager and part owner of the Smugglers' Tavern. I'd say you've done alright for yourself in my absence."
Mandi brought a drink order up to the bar. "Don't forget, she finally made her relationship with Tanner official. I've even heard her refer to him as her boyfriend."
Abe grinned. "Now that is news!"
I ignored the bait they were dangling in front of me. "Weren't you going to tell us a story, Abe?"
"Well, since you are the boss after all…" Abe's bald pate reflected the lights overhead as he leaned forward and beckoned all of us in the general vicinity to join him in a circle. "Are you ready?" he whispered.
Everyone nodded, not wanting to break the mood he was creating. His gaze darted around the room before settling on Mandi's wide blue eyes. "It was a dark and stormy night…"
Mandi stood up, crossed her arms, and laughed. "Abe, you can't start a story like that."
"I most certainly can." He laughed. "It was nighttime, and there was a storm brewing. How would you have preferred I started?"
She gazed up to the ceiling, deep in thought. "Something along the lines of…the evening sky loomed ominous on the horizon as grey clouds marked their presence with the clap of thunder and the resounding cracks of lightning."
Freddie, our busboy and New York transplant, brought a bin of dirty dishes up to the bar. "Not for nuttin', but can you tell we're taking a creative writing class in col
lege? Mandi's getting an A, of course."
"Oh, I most certainly can tell. Perhaps I should let her tell the story then." Abe chuckled.
Before Mandi could reply, the door to the tavern opened, and Bree Milford, manager of the Ocean View Bed & Breakfast, stormed in and headed straight for the bar. "Hey, Bree. Everything ok?" I put a glass of water with lemon in front of her but knew that wasn't going to be her order tonight.
"Hey Lilly. What's the new drink special? I may need three or four of them tonight."
I swear I could almost see the steam escaping from under her red hair. "The Dark and Stormy. It's ginger beer and dark rum. Some people like it with a lime, others with bitters."
She exhaled loudly. "Oh, I'm definitely feeling bitter. Serve me up one of those to try, and then we'll go from there."
As I mixed her drink, I slipped in an order of fries. Comfort food was definitely on the menu tonight. I placed the beverage in front of her and waited while she downed a few swallows. Once the tension ebbed a little, I decided to try to get to the bottom of her angst. "Wanna talk about it? I'm a certified barstool therapist."
She chuckled and then sighed. "Have you ever noticed that rundown, old motel just outside of Danger Cove?"
I narrowed my gaze and then grinned. "I make it a habit not to focus on scary buildings that I occasionally have to ride by on my bike."
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