Surf, Sand and Skeletons Page 10

  Connie walked back into the store and handed Grace the phone. "Someone wants to say 'hi'."

  Grace's face lit up when she heard Gianna's voice.

  Connie smiled at the friendly conversation that took place between the two of them.

  Before handing Connie back the phone, she heard Grace say, "I promise I'll watch out for her. But your sister has a mind of her own." Grace shot Connie a stern look. "There's only so much I can do."

  Chapter 17

  Late Wednesday morning, after enjoying a leisurely paddle down the beach on her new board, Connie headed to the shop. She opened the sunroof of her silver Jetta as she and Ginger cruised down the boulevard to Just Jewelry. The sun was hot as it beat down into the car, but Connie couldn't resist the fresh air.

  The shelves were stocked and the jewelry was priced, so all that remained before the grand opening were some last-minute preparations and a few items on the punch list for Steve or Brittany. Connie had texted Steve, and he assured her someone would be by before Saturday.

  It was her goal to have all the tasks complete by the end of the day on Thursday, which would leave Friday free for last-minute or unexpected tasks. Even with Grace having the day off, it looked like she would finish a full day ahead of schedule.

  After a couple of hours of cleaning, Connie looked around with satisfaction and settled into the sofa to people-watch through the front window. Shoppers, laden with shopping bags, perused display windows, while others strolled down the sidewalks, looking as if they had no particular destination or care in the world. Sunburned beachgoers, with coolers and beach chairs in tow, strolled to and from the beach.

  While Connie observed passersby through her display window, gray clouds suddenly rolled in, and the sky grew darker. People began picking up their pace as they came in off the beach and headed quickly toward their cars. Some were opting to head into Gallagher's for a bite to eat while they waited for the sun to return.

  Connie had to laugh when she saw Ginger watching like a little person from next to her on the sofa, as if she owned the shop. "I guess a rainstorm has its benefits," Connie said. "People are coming in off the beach and heading into restaurants and shops."

  Just as the words came out of her mouth, she heard the roar of thunder, and the skies opened. Within a few minutes, raindrops were bouncing off the sidewalks at a pretty good clip. The passersby increased both in number and speed, and amidst the approaching crowd was Gallagher with his t-shirt pulled over his head. Connie jumped up and tapped on the window, motioning for him to take shelter in her shop.

  By the time he made it into the store, he was dripping wet. Connie held up her index finger. "Don't move." She disappeared into the back room and returned, tossing him one of the dry towels she had stored out back for emergencies such as these.

  "I was on my favorite bench enjoying a smoothie when the skies opened up," he said.

  Connie laughed. "The good news is the temperature's in the eighties, not in the forties like in Boston. It's one thing to be wet, but quite another to be cold and wet."

  Gallagher mock-shivered. "Way to look on the bright side, I guess."

  Connie was just about to offer him a warm beverage when the door opened again, and to Connie's surprise, Tracy walked in. When Connie introduced Gallagher and Tracy, Gallagher studied her as if trying to place her.

  "You don't want this thing to get waterlogged," she said, taking Tracy's dripping wet phone and placing it on the table. Then she went back to the storage room to throw Gallagher's wet towel in a laundry bag and fetch a clean one for Tracy and a smaller one to wrap around the phone.

  Tracy gave the store a thorough once-over while drying off. "I was in town picking up a sandwich for dinner and thought I'd stop by to see the store and ask if you had given any more thought to your accounting needs."

  "I appreciate your stopping by," Connie said. "Unfortunately, I haven't had time to think about it." Connie distinctly remembered telling Tracy that she wouldn't be hiring anyone until things got up and running. Either Tracy was a persistent businesswoman, or she had another motive for coming by.

  Tracy squirmed under Gallagher's searching gaze. "I'd better go," she said, looking anxiously around the store. "My dinner is waiting for me."

  Connie handed her a flyer for the grand opening, asking her to spread the word, and Tracy was out the door.

  A ping coming from Tracy's phone alerted Connie to the fact that she had left it behind. She took it from the towel, about to run out to try to catch her when she noticed who the text was from. Her jaw dropped as she help up the phone for Gallagher to see.

  "What? Why is she receiving a text from Jordan Sugrue?" he asked.

  Connie started to read the message aloud. "Meet me in a half hour in the park. I want to know... That's all that's visible on the lock screen. I can't read the rest of it without her password."

  Connie pointed to a gray Nissan parked out front. "That's your car, isn't it?"

  Gallagher nodded that it was.

  "I'll bring Tracy the phone and meet you in your car. We can follow her to see what they're up to."

  Ginger looked content chewing on a rawhide bone in her doggie bed, so Connie opted to let her be. It would be the first time she ever left her alone in the store, so she said a quick prayer that both her store and her dog would be okay.

  Connie caught up with Tracy before she got into her car and returned the phone. While Tracy was looking down at her phone, apparently reading the text, Connie slipped into Gallagher's car.

  "There was no sandwich in Tracy’s car. I looked for it as I was handing her the phone."

  While they followed Tracy through town and into the parking lot of the Sapphire Beach State Park, the rain stopped almost as quickly as it had started. Gallagher parked the car a safe distance from Tracy, and they watched her as she kept a nervous eye on the entrance.

  Connie was at the park for the second time in one week. She had been meaning to visit ever since she got back to Sapphire Beach, but this wasn't what she had in mind.

  "You stay here," she said to Gallagher, with her hand on the door handle. "If Jordan sees you, he'll recognize you."

  Gallagher grabbed her arm. "And if Tracy sees you, she'll recognize you. You can't go out there."

  "How are we going to hear them?" she asked. As they were talking, a black Mercedes pulled into the parking lot.

  "That's him," Gallagher said. "We'll just have to see what we can learn from their body language."

  "Please tell me Jordan doesn't know your car," Connie said.

  "We're safe. I only bought this car last year."

  Jordan exited his Mercedes and approached Tracy. Even from a distance her agitation was evident. They spoke for a few minutes, and Jordan went back to his car. He opened the passenger door and pulled out a styrofoam cup, then glanced around the parking lot.

  Connie and Gallagher dropped down as fast as they could. The closest trash receptacle was right next to where they were parked.

  "He's coming this way," Connie said. She held her breath as his footsteps approached the car. He paused for a few seconds, and the only sound Connie could hear was blood pumping through her veins. She tried to push aside her fear and think of a plan in case their cover was blown.

  Luckily, she didn't need one. She and Gallagher both let out a long sigh of relief when the sound of his footsteps went in the other direction.

  "We almost ended up buried in the park like Natasha," Gallagher whispered. "Let's stay down until he pulls out."

  They waited a couple of minutes after hearing Jordan's car start, then they sat up. Connie felt as though her heart stopped when she looked out the passenger window and saw Tracy standing there with her hands on her hips, looking down into the car.

  Connie’s heart jump-started for the second time in five minutes.

  They exited the car in haste and surrounded Tracy.

  "Why are you associated with Jordan Sugrue?" Connie asked. "Are you connected with Natasha's
murder?"

  Tracy remained silent.

  "That's all right. You don't have to say anything. We're going to the police," Gallagher said.

  Suddenly Tracy's expression turned to fear. "Wait, please don't do that!" she cried. "I didn't touch Natasha."

  "But you were skimming off the top of her business," Connie said. "Was Jordan in on it with you?"

  "It's not what you think."

  Connie opened the car door. "Let's go, Gallagher. We have a stop to make at the police station."

  Tracy put her hands on her face and began to sob. "Please don't. I'm begging you. They'll kill her for sure."

  Connie had started to get into the car, but Gallagher motioned for her to hold up. "Where do I know you from?" Gallagher asked.

  "You have to swear if I tell you won't tell a soul. My little sister's life depends on it." Tracy was begging.

  "Who is your sister?" Gallagher asked.

  "Tiffany," Tracy said. "Tiffany Peterson."

  Gallagher let out a long breath and leaned against his car. "She's a member of New Light," he said to Connie.

  "That's right," Tracy said. "When Jordan found out I was Natasha's accountant and Tiffany's sister, he started blackmailing me. He said if I didn't see to it that her business failed, he would kill my sister."

  "So that's when you started stealing from Natasha's Boutique?"

  "It was the only way I could ensure Tiffany's safety. Jordan thought that if Natasha's business failed, she would be forced return to him. I didn't want to do it, I swear. But my sister's life depended on it."

  "What were you looking for in my shop today?" Connie asked. "I saw you looking around, and I know you didn't come by to ask me about my accounting needs."

  Tears threatened to spill from Tracy’s eyes again. "Natasha had some type of evidence against Jordan, and he wanted to get his hands on it. He said if I could find it, he would let Tiffany go free, once and for all."

  "So, it was you who broke into my shop early Tuesday morning?"

  "What? No, it wasn't me, I swear. If I broke in at night and couldn't find anything, why would I go by during the day while you were there? Jordan knows that your grand opening is Saturday, so he told me to go by and see if I could locate any potential hiding places before the store got busy with customers. It was a long shot, but I told him I'd try."

  "If you didn't break into my store, do you know who did?"

  "I have no idea. If it was Jordan and he couldn't find anything when he broke in, I doubt he would have sent me this afternoon to poke around."

  Tracy said, looking nervously around the parking lot. "I have to go. If Jordan should come back for any reason and he sees me talking to you, my sister's life will be over."

  Tracy's shoulders were hanging low as took a few steps toward her car. She stumbled but was able to catch her balance.

  Connie ran up beside her and supported her with her arm, afraid she was going to collapse, and Gallagher stood behind her, ready to catch her if she did.

  Tracy seemed to regain her strength and continued on. Then she turned and faced Connie and Gallagher. "If you guys can do anything to bring down Sugrue, you would be an answer to prayer. I'm terrified for my sister. He's almost finished building a compound on some land that he inherited from his parents. I have a feeling that, once New Light members move there, things are going to get worse fast."

  Chapter 18

  Connie and Gallagher drove back downtown in silence. Connie's mind was whirling, and judging from Gallagher's intense expression, he, too, was trying to wrap his mind around what they had just learned.

  Since there were no parking spaces available on their street, Gallagher pulled his Nissan into a lot a couple of blocks from Just Jewelry. Many local business owners and employees, including Connie, parked there, since they offered a discounted monthly pass to downtown workers.

  As they walked back, Gallagher broke his pensive silence. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Tracy, but once she told me who Tiffany was, I remembered some things about her. She was just getting into New Light as Natasha and I were planning our exit strategy, but I remember that she was pretty into it. She bought everything Sugrue dished out - hook, line, and sinker."

  Connie's heart tightened as she thought of her own sister. "Poor Tracy. I can't imagine being in the position of having to do something unethical to save my sister's life. I can't imagine a worse predicament."

  Gallagher stared at the sidewalk pavement as they continued walking. "Knowing Sugrue, I'm not surprised. Now that you've seen his true colors, maybe you can understand why Natasha didn't want him anywhere near Victoria."

  "Do you think Tracy will tell him that we followed her?"

  "It's in Tiffany's best interest that he doesn't know, so she won't say anything."

  All Connie could do was hope that he was right. She was never so glad to live in a secure building like Palm Paradise. But just the same, she would be extra sure to lock the door as soon as she got home.

  When they arrived back at Just Jewelry, Connie invited Gallagher inside, but he declined. "I'd better get in there to help out," he said, pointing to the steady stream of customers heading into his restaurant. "But you have my number. Text or call if you need anything."

  She flashed him a grateful smile. "The same goes for you, Gallagher."

  Both Ginger and the store had survived the dog's first solo stay in the shop, so Connie decided to quit while she was ahead and call it a day. She had only worked for a couple of hours that day, but the store was in great shape for the grand opening. It wouldn't hurt to conserve her strength for the hectic days ahead. Besides, her encounter with Tracy had dampened her mood, and she felt like doing something that might clear her head.

  When she got back to Palm Paradise, she took Ginger for a stroll along the boulevard, then dropped her off at the condo so she could continue her walk along the shoreline. Connie could have taken Ginger, but she didn’t feel like giving her the bath she would certainly need after playing on the beach.

  The silky sand pressing between her toes and the scent of salty air did wonders for her spirit as she made her way along the beach. She walked on the hard sand where she could feel the rhythmic crashing of the waves over her feet. It was about 5:00, and there were still children playing in the water while sunbathers absorbed the weaker rays of the day. In a surge of ambition, Connie resolved to walk out to the pier, a mile from her condo.

  As she got closer, she noticed Mickey Miranda sitting next to the giant wooden structure with his knees pulled to his chest, gazing out at the water. His melancholy expression matched her mood. Not wanting to startle him, she approached him in silence and sat down a few feet away. It took some time for him to realize she was there.

  "Connie, I didn't see you. What brings you down here this time of day?" he asked, finally noticing her. He gave her a half-smile, then continued staring toward the horizon.

  She allowed her gaze to drift outward over the Gulf in the same direction as Mickey's. "I guess I just came out for a walk to think. I know I never met her, but I just can't get Natasha's murder off my mind."

  She turned to face him and saw that his eyes had filled with tears.

  "I just feel so guilty. That young woman was murdered, and all I did was give her grief about the rent." He pulled his knees closer to his body. "I really believed that she was doing drugs. But when I saw your shop broken into, and it was evident that the intruder was looking for something specific, it became clear to me that someone had been harassing Natasha, too. Who knows? Maybe she would still be here if I had given her the benefit of the doubt and dug a little deeper into Jordan Sugrue's accusations."

  Connie cringed when she realized that Mickey would probably feel even worse when he learned that Tracy was stealing from her. But at least it appeared as though her landlord wasn't a killer. That was something positive.

  "You couldn't have known all that, Mickey. Besides, whatever problems Natasha had, they predated her arrival at
Sapphire Beach."

  "I did an online search for Jordan Sugrue on Tuesday after the break-in. I've been kicking myself, because I should have done that a long time ago. What I found was disturbing."

  Connie nodded. "I know. He's bad news."

  "I can't shake from my mind that smug look on his face. He seemed more normal when he came to talk to me last year about his suspicions about Natasha. I truly believed he was just a concerned father watching out for his daughter."

  Connie hated to think of him having custody of Victoria, but she didn't say anything, because she didn't want to make Mickey feel worse.

  "Did you see the look on the faces of his 'disciples' as he spewed his poison?"

  Connie nodded. "It was hard to listen to."

  "I couldn't help but get sucked into a few of the videos that the community posted this week. They were all gathered with him for several days at some retreat center in Colorado listening to him spout his nonsense. It made me sick just listening to the things he said."

  "Let's hope the police will somehow be able to stop him," Connie said.

  "Just promise me you'll be careful, Connie. He was obviously looking for something in your shop."

  "Wait, Mickey. Do you remember how long that retreat in Colorado was?"

  "The New Light website said they were there from Friday until last night."

  "If that's true, that means he probably couldn't have broken into my shop."

  Tracy had said that she thought it was unlikely that it was Jordan, but this news seemed to provide more confirmation that it hadn't been him.

  Mickey jumped up. "Oh my gosh, you're right. One of the talks was Monday night, so unless he flew, he wouldn't have had time to get back in Sapphire Beach later that night. I have to tell the police in case they don't know. Maybe they can check the flight manifests and find out for sure."

  Mickey ran off, stumbling across the sand, without bothering to say goodbye.

  She shook her head, smiled at the comical sight, and made her way back to Palm Paradise. The sun was setting, and she was ready to call it a night.