Surf, Sand and Skeletons Page 11

  Even after walking back home, Connie was still wound up from her conversation with Mickey, and it was too early for bed. She pulled out Natasha's journal, hoping to find some indication of who else, besides Jordan, could have had it in for Natasha.

  She wasn't ruling him out as the killer just because he likely hadn't been the one to break into her store, especially since she no longer suspected Mickey and Tracy. Even though he was likely in Colorado during the break-in, he could have been collaborating with somebody.

  She didn't have much luck with the diary. It was more about Natasha's own hopes and dreams for herself and her daughter and didn't dwell too much on the past. Besides 'Mac', who turned out to be Gallagher, she didn't reveal any names from her past life.

  Frustrated, she tossed it aside and instead got to work on the necklace she was hoping to complete before Saturday. Working with her hands always helped her to think, and it was better than sitting passively on the couch. At least she was being productive while she reflected.

  Whoever broke into Just Jewelry was clearly searching for something, most likely the evidence Emma had inadvertently discovered behind the wall with her volleyball. If that's the case, since Jordan couldn't have broken into the shop, then the intruder had to be somehow connected with Jordan. Why else would he or she be trying to get hold of the evidence that Natasha had against him?

  The other option was that the killer and the intruder were not connected at all. Perhaps somebody affiliated with New Light broke into Connie's store to find the photos, audio files, and key, but Natasha's death didn't have anything to do with that person.

  Connie was so deep in thought that, before she knew it, the necklace was complete. She looked it over, pleased with her work, and set it aside to take to the store the next day.

  With her task complete, she opened her laptop and pulled up some images and videos from New Light. Jordan had so many adoring fans, so anyone who wanted to please him could be involved. As she scanned the photos, she couldn't take her eyes off the sea of faces that seemed to hang on his every word.

  Connie looked again at the two women who seemed so familiar and tried to place them. She studied both faces - first one, then the other, until she finally realized that one of them was Tiffany Peterson. Connie had recognized her from the photo that she saw in Tracy's foyer when she paid her a visit a couple of weeks ago.

  That explained who one of the women was, but she still couldn't place the second one, who was standing next to Tiffany. She scrutinized her face for a long time but to no avail. The answer stayed buried just beneath her consciousness.

  Eventually she gave up, hoping it might come to her if she put it aside.

  "I wish I knew what the key from the envelope unlocked," Connie said to Ginger, who was resting contentedly by her feet. "Perhaps that would answer some of these questions.”

  Chapter 19

  Thursday whizzed by in a blurry haze. In the morning, Connie and Grace worked hard taking care of last-minute details for the grand opening, and when Connie was finally able to convince Grace to go home and save her energy for the long weekend ahead, she spent the rest of afternoon creating some simple jewelry pieces and posting on social media to hype up the event on Saturday.

  On Friday, Connie arrived at the shop mid-morning, unlocked the door, and punched in the passcode to disengage the new alarm system. Ginger made a beeline to her new chew toy by her bed in the back of the store, and as she disappeared behind the counter, Connie heard footsteps growing quicker and louder on the pavement outside the shop.

  She positioned her keys in her hand, preparing to use them as a weapon if need be, pulled the door tight behind her, and locked it. Just as she was ready to turn the alarm back on, Zach's confused face appeared, peering in through the window. He was holding a bouquet of sunflowers.

  Connie quickly opened the door, laughing at the misunderstanding. "I'm so sorry, Zach," she said, stepping aside and motioning for him to come in. "I guess I'm a little on edge between the break-in and my big day tomorrow."

  "No worries," he said. "The last thing I wanted to do was scare you, but I'm glad to see you're being aware of your surroundings."

  "I'm trying, although I should have realized that robbers don't usually come with flowers," Connie said, smiling as she accepted the bouquet.

  "I'm on my way into work, but I wanted to stop by to wish you luck with the grand opening tomorrow. I plan to come by, but you'll probably be really busy, so I was hoping to catch you this morning."

  "Thank you, Zach. The flowers beautiful."

  While she went out back to grab a vase, Zach explored the store.

  "It looks great in here," he said when she returned. "I love that you gave the Fair Trade section such a prime location in the store."

  Connie put the sunflowers in a glass cylindrical vase and placed them in the middle of the table. "I'm hoping this endeavor is successful for so many reasons, but a major one is that it could provide some much-needed income for my overseas artisans."

  "My money's on you," Zach said.

  She wasn't sure if it was his confidence in her or his smile that melted her heart. Maybe a little of both.

  Since Zach had to get right to work, Connie walked him to the door. "Are you any closer to knowing who broke into my store on Tuesday?"

  "Unfortunately, we don't have any answers for you yet, but we do know it wasn't Sugrue. We were able to confirm that he was indeed in Colorado on Tuesday night, as Mickey suspected. His whereabouts are accounted for most of the night, and he wasn't listed as a passenger on any of the flight manifests. There is no way he could have been able to get to Florida and back."

  "Unless he sent someone else do his dirty work," Connie suggested.

  "We're looking into that possibility. Part of the reason I stopped by was to make sure you are being careful, since we still don't know who broke into your shop. Whoever the intruder is probably doesn't know that you found the envelope, so be extra careful," Zach said. "I know you installed the alarm system, but you might be better off not being here alone, especially at night, until we catch the person."

  That would make things difficult for Connie since, aside from Grace working part-time, she was the only person to work the shop. She was planning to hire another employee when things got off the ground, but she didn't know how long that would take.

  "Do you think the same person who killed Natasha broke into my shop?"

  "I shouldn't tell you this, but that's another reason you need to be extra vigilant. Jordan also has a solid alibi for the night Natasha was killed, so he is no longer a suspect in her murder."

  "He still could have had one of his people do it."

  "That's true, but we're leaning away from him. The local sheriff is keeping a close eye on him for other things, but we don't think he is responsible for Natasha's death. At least not directly."

  "What about the key we found?" Connie asked. "Do you know what it belongs to?"

  "We think it opens a safety deposit box. We'll be checking on some possible locations today."

  Connie took a step closer to Zach. "Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate your having my back."

  He took her hand and gently squeezed it.

  "You can thank me by staying safe."

  After Zach left, Ginger wandered to the front of the store, apparently tired of her chew toy.

  "Looks like we're back at square one," Connie said. Ginger looked up with her button eyes and seemed to agree.

  It was a good thing that Connie already had things ready to go for the grand opening, because about a half hour after Zach left, Elyse came in.

  Connie was thrilled to see her friend.

  "I thought you might be nervous about tomorrow, even though I know you're going to crush it. I figured I'd stop by to see how you're doing."

  "It turns out I'm ahead of schedule," Connie said. "Would you like to get an ice cream? We can take Ginger and eat it on a bench by the water."

  Elyse's face lit
up. "Sounds perfect."

  The two women made their way down the street to Friendly Scoops. "Remind me to thank Zach for sending you here," Connie said with a smirk. "I'll bet you the necklace I just finished making that he sent you over, so I wouldn't be alone."

  Elyse laughed. "You got us. He texted me to let me know you could use some company. He said you seemed a little on edge when he stopped by earlier."

  "He was right. But it's nothing a cup of rum raisin with my BFF can't fix," Connie said, looping her arm through Elyse's.

  Elyse opted for the rocky road, and since the sun was gaining strength, Connie asked for a cup of water for Ginger, as well. Then they settled in on an empty bench under the shade of a palm tree.

  A young woman pushing a stroller stopped in front of them, just long enough to adjust the sunshade over her baby before continuing on her way.

  Elyse's eyes followed the stroller until it disappeared behind some people halfway down the pier.

  "I've been thinking about what you shared last week," Connie said. "About not being able to have any more children."

  "It makes me sad sometimes. Josh and I have so much love we could offer another child, and Emma would be such a great big sister."

  "I know what you mean," Connie said. "I'm thirty-four years old and not even in a relationship, so it's likely that I won't have any children. It seems the older I get, the more I think about it."

  "What about Zach? You never know what could happen there."

  "He's a great guy, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again, but we barely know each other. What I'm getting at is, even without having children, there are a lot of ways to be a mother. If I had a family, there is no way I could have devoted as much time as I have to Feeding the Hungry. I like to think my work helps make life better for children I will never even meet."

  Elyse put her hand on Connie's forearm. "There's not a doubt in my mind that that's true for you. My work is fulfilling in its own way, but not like yours."

  "I'm just saying that there is a reason for every desire in our hearts. Trust in that, and be open to what Providence might bring your way. That's all."

  Connie looked down at Ginger's pleading eyes.

  "She's waiting to hear what you'll say next," Elyse said, laughing.

  "She's waiting for my ice cream to fall is more like it," Connie said, as she stroked the silky fur on the top of the dog's head. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but this kind isn't good for you."

  "Speaking of what's good for you," Elyse said, pulling her phone from her purse to check the time. "I'd better get back to work. I have a showing in twenty minutes."

  Connie walked Elyse back to her car, and she and Ginger returned to work.

  Connie double-checked her completed checklist. Confirm the delivery of appetizers. Check. Purchase beverages. Check. Assemble gift bags containing jewelry to be given away as door prizes. Check. Prepare posts for social media. Check.

  The one thing she hadn't counted on in her plan to have everything ready early was that she would have nothing to do but worry the day before the big event. All that was left was some final cleaning so everything would sparkle for the big day. She might even be able to leave early.

  When Brittany entered the store an hour later, with her toolbox in hand, Connie was grateful for the distraction. It had slipped her mind that she might be coming this afternoon to finish up the last few items on the punch list.

  "I hope this is still a good time," Brittany said. "I wanted to come yesterday, but Steve has had me running all over the place."

  Connie jumped up and greeted her with more enthusiasm than the situation warranted. She was glad for the company. "No problem at all. I'm just sitting here waiting for tomorrow to arrive."

  Brittany scanned the store. "Well, it looks amazing in here. I'm sure you'll be a huge success. I'll start patching the drywall out back," she said, and disappeared into the storeroom.

  While Connie waited, her thoughts once again wandered over to Natasha. Since everyone she suspected had been cleared, she was at a loss. She brought her computer over to the table and pulled up some of the videos of Jordan Sugrue.

  She clicked on a few different links. The more she looked at them, the more she realized that there seemed to be the same core group around him at his events, people who were always in the first row. She looked at the faces one by one before settling once again on the woman standing next to Tracy. Where had Connie seen her before?

  Connie once again searched her mind but came up blank. As she studied the images, she could hear Brittany in the store room pulling the large shelving unit away from the wall, then cutting out the loose drywall around the hole, and then, a few minutes later, the sound of a metal tool spreading joint compound over the patched area of the wall. Since her nerves were a little on edge over the grand opening tomorrow, she found she was agitated by the noise, even though it wouldn't normally bother her. Finally, it was quiet, and she could think again.

  She stared at the photo, with the woman who looked familiar front and center. She enlarged it on her computer screen. Wait a minute.

  She pulled up the photos of Jordan speaking earlier that week in Colorado and searched the front row, but there was no sign of the woman.

  Because she was in Sapphire Beach, breaking into Connie's store.

  Suddenly the pieces came together in her mind, and Connie's mouth went as dry as the sand on Sapphire Beach in August.

  Connie hadn't told Steve or Brittany about the hole in the drywall out back, and Brittany hadn't been in the shop after the break-in, so how did she know about the hole in the wall?

  She studied the woman in the photo on her computer screen again. Her hair was dark brown in the photo, and Connie knew her as a blond, but it was definitely her.

  Connie was alone in the shop with the killer.

  Chapter 20

  Connie blasted out a quick text to Gallagher. I know who the killer is.

  Then she glanced up at the door and started to stand. If she could casually make it out of the store, she would be able to call the police.

  Suddenly a chill ran down her body as she realized she could no longer hear Brittany repairing the wall in the next room. Why had the store grown silent? Hopefully she's just taking a break, Connie thought. But the feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her that she was no longer alone in the room grew stronger with each heartbeat.

  Realizing she still had her cell phone in hand, Connie quickly navigated to the voice memo feature in her phone and began recording. Then she discreetly slipped it into her pocket as a precaution in case she couldn't make it to the door.

  She was about to bolt when a dusty hand pressed itself hard against her mouth and her computer, sitting on the table in front of her with Brittany's photo expanded on the screen, was slammed shut.

  Connie tried to react with something from her self-defense training, but it was too late. Brittany had grabbed her from behind and forced her into a tight headlock.

  She looked out the windows in vain for a passerby who might be witnessing the scene and calling the police, but there was nobody in sight. Connie’s airways tightened from the headlock, and she had no choice but to let herself be pulled out back, where Brittany proceeded to force her onto a folding chair in the back room. She grabbed a piece of rope from her toolbox with her free hand and pushed Connie onto a folding chair.

  Knowing she was going to be tied up, Connie put her hands together in front of her body and offered them to Brittany. Having her hands tied in front of her body rather than behind her would at least give her a fighting chance at escape.

  As Brittany was binding her hands, Connie remembered another trick she learned in her the self-defense classes that her parents insisted she take before moving to Africa. She discreetly rotated one of her hands until it was at a 45-degree angle to create a gap between her wrists. This would give her more space work with if she could find the right opportunity to try to break free. She also twisted her body from side to side
to make it harder for Brittany to make a good knot.

  "You’re a member of New Light," Connie said as Brittany struggled to secure her hands. Brittany’s obsession with self-empowerment made more sense now.

  “I’m more than just a member.”

  "Let me guess. Jordan Sugrue is the boyfriend you're moving home to be with, now that the compound is nearly built. Did you kill Natasha out of jealousy?"

  While Connie had been twisting her body, she caught a glimpse of her spare jewelry-making tool kit on the shelf several feet away. If only she could only get her hands on one of those sharp tools. Her thoughts were interrupted when Brittany pulled out a gun from her toolbox and pointed it at Connie.

  "Natasha never appreciated Jordan. She would have destroyed him if she could. She even blackmailed him into letting her leave the community. I wasn't going to allow her to get away with that and to use the information she had to send Jordan to prison for life and destroy New Light."

  The photos and audio files that Connie had found in the wall wouldn't send Jordan to prison for life. She wished she knew what the key was all about.

  "Natasha just wanted to start over in Sapphire Beach. He could have just let her go," Connie said.

  "He did let her go. But Natasha refused to turn over the evidence she had against him, even when Jordan promised to leave her alone. I couldn't take the chance that she would turn it over to the police and ruin everything. I had to get rid of Natasha for the sake of everyone in New Light. I wanted to prove to Jordan that I was worthy of the community's respect and of being his future wife."

  Connie hoped the device was still recording from inside her pocket.

  "Jordan is a prophet," Brittany continued. "Not everyone understands him or what it takes to be a leader. Victoria is better off with him. And with me."

  Connie's stomach turned at the thought of Brittany and Jordan raising Victoria.

  "Jordan didn't tell you to kill Natasha, did he? You did that all on your own."

  Brittany sneered. "He said to just leave her be, but I wasn't going to stand by and take the chance that she would ruin his life and mine. Not with the dirt she had on him."