by J A Whiting
“Did Jade enjoy kayaking?” Claire asked. “I know she liked the water.”
“Jade wasn’t a huge fan of kayaking. She thought it was too hard to do in the ocean. She liked boogie boarding. She never learned to sail. I thought I’d teach her sometime, but it was expensive to rent a boat so we never got around to it.” Kyle spoke in a matter-of-fact way that didn’t reveal how he felt about losing his girlfriend. He kept his emotions in check.
Claire set her fork down on her plate. “You’re a friend of Maggie Burns?”
One of Kyle’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly. “Yeah, I know Maggie. She recently opened her own salon in Bayside.”
“You went to school together?” Nicole asked.
“All through elementary and high school. Jade, too. We weren’t always in the same classes, but we knew each other from kindergarten.”
“Did you and Jade date in high school?” Nicole asked.
“We started dating the summer after her sophomore year at Whittemore.”
“Have you seen Maggie lately?” Claire asked. “Since Jade disappeared?”
Kyle said, “Only briefly. I think it was a couple of days after we found out Jade hadn’t returned home. Maggie had just opened her shop. I went by to wish her well.”
“Did you stay long?”
“Not long.”
The tiny blond hairs on Claire’s arms stood up. Why is he not being truthful? Maggie told me Kyle had been in the shop that evening for a couple of hours, drinking.
“Did you bring her a gift?” Nicole asked. “A bottle of champagne or something?”
Kyle frowned. “I didn’t. I guess I should have brought her a plant or some candy or something.”
“Did the two of you talk about Jade?” Claire rested both arms on the table.
“Only a little. I think we both wanted to avoid it. It was too upsetting and she’d just opened her shop and I didn’t want anything sad to take away from her achievement.”
“Did Maggie get emotional?”
Kyle nodded. “She cried about Jade. I tried my best to comfort her.”
“Did you break down, too?” Nicole asked.
“I felt like it, but I held it together. I didn’t want Maggie to see me upset. I didn’t want her to feel worse.”
Nicole reached for her glass of seltzer. “We met Maggie briefly at the town beach a few days ago.”
“Oh? What were you doing at the beach?” Kyle asked.
“We went there to look around,” Claire said.
“What were you looking for?”
“We wanted to see the place Jade loved. We wanted to see her neighborhood.”
“Why?” Kyle seemed dumbfounded by Claire’s and Nicole’s visit to Bayside.
“To get a sense of Jade.”
Kyle blinked, looking confused.
“You like the ocean, too?” Nicole asked.
“Yeah. I grew up around the water.”
“Jade’s mother said you worked several summers for the lobster tour company. What did you do for them?” Claire asked.
Kyle took another swallow of water. “I did a lot of things, sold tickets, went out on the boat, did some demonstrations of hauling up lobster traps, told some history of the area, handled the boat sometimes. It was a good summer job.”
Nicole finished her soup. “Did Jade work for the lobster tour company in the summers?”
“No, she was a lifeguard at the beach.”
Claire smiled. “I didn’t know that.”
“She was a good swimmer,” Kyle said. “A lot better than me.” He ran his hand over his face. His eyes looked moist.
“On the night she disappeared, Jade texted her friend, Alyssa, to ask her to come to the convenience store in Hadwen to pick her up.” Claire ran her finger over the side of her water glass.
Kyle nodded. “I know the place. I stop there for some water or a snack on the way back to Boston from Whittemore.”
Nicole sat up. “Did you stop there that night?”
“No. I took a water bottle and a bag of chips from my buddy’s apartment. It’s only about a twenty-minute drive especially at that time of night. A lot less traffic than during the day.”
“Alyssa didn’t respond to Jade’s message for an hour and a half,” Claire said. “When Alyssa finally replied, Jade didn’t answer. If Jade couldn’t get hold of her friend that night, she must have called someone else. Who do you think that would have been?”
“Cori, probably.”
“Cori’s car was in for service. Cori said Jade knew that. She knew Cori wouldn’t be able to come and get her,” Claire told him.
“I don’t know,” Kyle said. “Did she call a cab?”
“Wouldn’t Jade call you?” Nicole asked. “She knew you were at Whittemore. It would be easy for you to go get her.”
Kyle’s jaw twitched. “There was something wrong with my phone. It kept beeping and then turning itself off. I got sick of it so I turned it off for the night. I went to pick up a new one the next day. Maybe Jade did call and I never got it.”
Something picked at Claire. “If she couldn’t reach you, wouldn’t she have contacted one of your friends?”
“Jade didn’t have their numbers,” Kyle said.
“What was wrong with your phone? Did the techs tell you why it kept turning off?” Nicole asked.
“I didn’t bother bringing it to the store. It was old. I tossed it in the garbage when I got home.”
Nicole nodded in an understanding way. “What kind of a car do you drive?”
Kyle tilted his head a little to the side. “A jeep. Why?”
“We’re asking everyone the same things,” Nicole smiled. “It’s only a generic question.”
Do you remember Jade saying anything about an argument with someone?” Claire asked. “Had anything unusual happened with someone? A classmate? A friend? A professor?”
“A professor? Like what?” Kyle’s eyebrows knitted together.
“A bad grade? A disagreement of any kind? Some sort of romantic advance?”
“No. I don’t think so. Jade didn’t tell me anything like that.”
“How about with someone random? Did she have a run-in with anyone?” Claire asked.
“She didn’t say anything like that to me.”
“Did she confide that she might be worried about anything?”
Kyle shook his head. “Everything seemed normal.”
Claire asked, “You told me earlier that you didn’t think you and Jade would continue in the relationship. Had the two of you talked about splitting up?”
“Not really. It was more losing interest in each other. I’ve been out of school for a while, working. We seemed to be on divergent paths. We hadn’t discussed it, but I think we both knew it was coming. It was kind of sad.” Kyle bit his lower lip. “And then this happened.”
The three sat silently for a minute before Kyle said, “I need to get back to the health clinic. I’ve already stayed too long. Is there anything else you need to ask me?”
Claire looked the young man in the eyes. “Do you know what happened to Jade?”
Kyle’s face flushed. “Of course not. How would I know? If I knew anything, I’d go straight to the police with it. I cared about Jade. I miss her. I want her killer to be caught and punished.” Standing up, he stammered, “I need to go.”
When Kyle was out of sight, Nicole slowly turned her head to her friend. “He knows something.”
“Yes, he does.” Claire didn’t need paranormal skills to think the same thing. “Is he trying to protect someone, and if he is, who is it?”
21
Claire and the dogs walked the Bayside town beach. Even though the late afternoon had been sunny and warmer, a breeze off the ocean made the air feel chilly. Watching the waves hit the sand and then slide back out, Claire recalled the day when she, Nicole, Robby, and Bonnie Lyons checked under the pier and along the tide line for any tiny clue that could lead to more information about where Jade was. Sh
e knew it was basically a fool’s errand to think there might be a shred of evidence left behind on the beach despite the movement of the tides and the wind and the people and dogs walking in the sand every day.
Still.
Something kept drawing Claire back.
Such a beautiful spot. How lucky Jade, and her sister, and her mother were to live so close to the beach in the small neighborhood of tidy homes owned by working-class people. Only a few blocks from the Lyons’s house, the neighborhoods changed into large homes with huge, sprawling lawns, and a little further away, the grand mansions took up residence on the hills looking down on the sand and sea.
Bear barked at Lady and the two dogs flew along the beach weaving and darting, one leading the way, and then the other one running in front.
A smile played over Claire’s mouth as she watched them zip over the beach on their small, quick legs.
A gust of wind ruffled her blond curls and she pushed her hands into the pockets of her jacket. Her gaze moved from one end of the beach to other, finally stopping at the pier and the harbor beyond.
Calling to the dogs, Claire snapped the leashes onto their collars when they’d made their way back to where she was standing.
“Come on, dogs. Let’s go see Main Street before the sun sets.”
A block away from the beach, stores, restaurants, and shops lined each side of the street and many were decorated with mums and pumpkins. Claire walked the dogs along the sidewalk until she found the place she was looking for, a pretty shop with a red and white awning, window boxes spilling over with pink, red, and white blooms, and a large picture window that looked out over the street. Maggie’s new salon.
Claire could see the young woman inside finishing up with a customer. When she opened the door and peeked in, Maggie looked up, recognized the visitor, and smiled.
“Come in,” she said.
“I have the dogs with me.”
“That’s great. They can come in, too.”
The last client of the day nodded as she left the salon and Claire led Bear and Lady inside where they greeted Maggie with little tails wagging.
“Such nice dogs.” Maggie bent to pat the furry animals and then straightened to lock the door.
“Your place is beautiful.” Claire looked over the cream-colored walls, the pretty glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the vases of flowers placed here and there, the self-service coffee bar, and the four salon chairs standing in front of an enormous mirror.
“I wanted to create a comfortable, spa-like atmosphere.”
“You succeeded.” Claire smiled. “It makes me want to sit down and have my hair cut.”
“I don’t mind staying an hour longer.” With a chuckle, Maggie gestured to one of the chairs.
“How are you doing?” Claire asked. “The dogs and I were at the beach for a while so I thought we’d come by to say hello.”
“The salon is doing really well,” Maggie said. “I have two other stylists starting next week and a nail person coming in three times a week. It’s going better than I’d ever dreamed.”
“I’m glad,” Claire nodded. “Congratulations.”
Maggie’s expression became serious. “Is there any news on Jade’s disappearance? Sometimes, I forget what happened for a second and I look up expecting to see her at the door.” She shook her head sadly.
“I don’t have any news. I wish I did.”
Bear and Lady sat near the front desk looking about the space and then up at Maggie.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Maggie walked to the coffee bar. “Would you like a warm drink? It’s cold outside.”
Claire accepted a hot coffee and then she and Maggie took seats in the clients’ chairs.
“I was thinking of getting in touch with you,” Maggie said. “In fact, after that client that just left, I was going to call Jade’s mom to ask if she had your number. It’s a coincidence you came in.”
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Claire asked.
Maggie sipped from her teacup. “I wanted to ask if there were any updates on Jade. I thought you might know more than what’s told on the news.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything to report,” Claire said as she and Maggie exchanged numbers. “Give me a call if I can help with anything.”
“I’m impatient, I guess,” Maggie said. “I hoped there would be some word about Jade.”
“Have you seen Kyle Vallins lately?” Claire asked.
Maggie’s face seemed to cloud. “He hasn’t come by again. Not since he was here right after I opened. He’s in Boston most of the time now.”
“How long did you say Kyle visited you when he dropped by that evening?”
“A couple of hours. He was very upset about Jade. He sat in that chair by the sink.” Maggie nodded in the direction of the sink. “He was really drunk. He babbled on and on while I finished up my tasks, then I sat down with him and had a few beers.”
“Did Kyle drink while he was here with you?”
“He did. He must have downed quite a few before he got here, because his eyes were kind of glassy and he was talking nonstop about Jade. He broke down in tears a few times,” Maggie said. “I shouldn’t have had anything to drink. It made me feel worse, so depressed and hopeless.”
Claire was about to ask something else, when Maggie spoke again.
“I’ve been thinking about what Kyle was saying.” Maggie hesitated and brushed some little pieces of hair from her apron.
A shiver ran over Claire’s skin. “Yes?”
Bear walked over to where the young women were sitting, his ears pricked forward.
“He was saying things like why did it have to happen? Why is Jade gone?” Maggie rubbed at her temple. “It went on and on and nothing I said could comfort Kyle. I started drinking and it wasn’t long before I felt drunk. I hadn’t had much to eat all day. I was so busy and I think that’s why the alcohol hit me hard. Anyway, I thought it would be best if I headed home and I wanted to call a cab for Kyle. He was slumped in the chair. I had to rouse him. I brought him some coffee, but he wouldn’t touch it. He started muttering and he was hard to understand, but it sounded like he was saying, ‘I’m sorry. It was a mistake. I didn’t want to break up with you.’ Like I said, I was drunk, too.” Maggie’s eyes misted over. “What Kyle was saying made me feel awful. I really don’t know why, but it’s still picking at me. His words keep playing in my head, over and over.”
The lights on the streetlamps flickered on outside the big window and as someone pulled a car to the curb out front, the car’s headlights flashed into the shop for a moment.
Maggie’s eyes narrowed. “That’s Kyle in that car,” she said slipping from her seat.
Before she could reach the front door to unlock it, the car sped away from the curb.
“That’s odd.” Maggie blinked. “Why wouldn’t he come in?”
Claire’s heart started to race. “Maybe he saw me sitting here and thought I was a client. He probably wanted to talk to you alone.”
“Maybe,” Maggie returned to her seat next to Claire. “He must have thought the salon would be closed and when he saw someone here, didn’t want to disturb me while I was working.”
“That must be it,” Claire said, even though she thought it was odd that the young man took off so suddenly.
“I wonder what Kyle wanted,” Maggie thought out loud. “Just to talk, probably.” Shifting to make eye contact with Claire, she added, “I’m glad you were here. I know it sounds awful, but I don’t want to talk to him. I felt … I don’t know … kind of uncomfortable when he was here before.”
Lady whined from her position near the door.
“Why do you think you felt that way? Why do you think Kyle made you feel uncomfortable?” Anxiety bounced through Claire’s veins.
Maggie frowned. “I don’t know for sure. Kyle’s sadness, his grief? I couldn’t do anything for him. I felt so sad and miserable. I wished I hadn’t had those beers. They prob
ably contributed to making me feel worse.”
“Did Kyle say anything else when he was here?” Claire asked.
“He talked almost the whole time, but he kept saying the same things.” Maggie shook her head and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
“Have your dreams about Jade stopped?” Claire questioned.
Maggie faced Claire with wide eyes. “No. I keep having them. Sometimes, twice a night.” She looked off across the salon and shuddered. “Jade can’t reach the surface. She’s drowning. It’s so terrible. I wake up covered with sweat.” The young woman’s shoulders slumped. “I wish I could make it stop.”
22
It was late evening when Claire took a break from baking with Nicole and Robby to give Ian a tour of the renovations taking place next door to the chocolate shop.
“They wanted to break the wall down between the spaces tonight, but we told the workers we had to be here for hours after closing tonight and tomorrow night to complete the desserts for the Phelps’s wedding,” Claire said.
“It will be exciting once the wall is down,” Ian said.
“They’re going to come in and knock down the wall, then work all night to get the place in shape for the next morning. We’ll be able to work and won’t have to close the shop. They’ll come back on subsequent evenings after we close to do the finish work. It’s supposed to take three nights.” Claire smiled. “Then it will be done.”
“It’s going to give you and Nicole a huge space.” Ian admired the work that had already been completed. “There will be a lot more seating and this side has the great new kitchen for the catering and for handling the online orders. I think it’s going to be a really successful expansion of the business.” He wrapped Claire in his arms. “It was a brilliant idea to move beyond the café and go in new directions.”
The two shut off the lights and locked the door, and then walked into the chocolate shop.
Claire chuckled. “Soon the wall will be down and we won’t have to come outside to get into the other part of the shop.”