Surf, Sand and Skeletons Page 6

  "We might as well get some ice cream," Grace said. "It would be rude not to get one, since we're already here."

  "After all, it's only research, so there will be no calories," Connie said. She insisted on treating Grace and her new friend.

  Spotting Ruby, a woman with dark, wavy hair and deep brown eyes, who appeared to be in her late thirties, came over from behind the counter to join them at their table.

  "Emily, how are you?" Ruby asked, introducing the woman to Connie and Grace as the owner of the ice cream shop.

  "Welcome to the neighborhood," Emily said. "As you can tell, Friendly Scoops is the coolest shop in all of downtown Sapphire Beach."

  "You're certainly living the dream," Connie said. "Ice cream and the beach, what more could anyone ask for?"

  Emily winked. "I see we're going to get along well."

  Ruby put her arm around Emily. "All this ice cream, and she still manages to stay so thin. It's just not fair."

  "It's ten percent good genes and ninety percent working my rear end off at the gym."

  Emily gaze settled on Connie as if she were trying to recall something. "Say, aren't you in same shop where Natasha's Boutique used to be located?"

  Connie licked her mint chocolate chip ice cream cone and nodded. "Were you friends?"

  "I wouldn't say we were friends. Natasha mostly kept to herself. But she would take her little girl here for ice cream every so often. She was good friends with Gallagher McKeon, who owns the restaurant across from you, and one of his employees."

  "Penelope," Connie said. "She used to work for Natasha before..."

  "Yeah, that's her," Emily said before Connie could finish. "I would see Gallagher and Natasha around town a lot. I thought they were dating at first, because they seemed really familiar with one another. But I think they were just good friends."

  "I didn't realize they were close. I thought they were just neighbors." In fact, Gallagher had specifically told her they were not close when they talked by the beach.

  "I don't mean to spread rumors or anything, just saying what I saw. There was definitely a familiarity between them. They were more than just neighbors."

  Connie's heart sank. Why would Gallagher lie? She liked him a lot and didn't want him to turn out to be a bad guy. It gave Connie an uneasy feeling.

  After they finished their ice cream, Ruby had to get back to her boutique, so Connie returned to her store, and Grace headed home to Palm Paradise to get her bike for a light workout.

  For the rest of the afternoon, Connie couldn't shake from her mind what Emily had said about Gallagher and Natasha. What reason could Gallagher possibly have to hide the fact that they were friends?

  ***

  Later that afternoon when Connie got back to Palm Paradise, she took Ginger for a walk before heading upstairs. Although it was nearly April, it felt more like a July evening would have felt in Boston. As happy as she was to be wearing flip-flops in late March, she had a feeling the Floridian climate would continue to seem strange for a while.

  As she and Ginger strolled down Sapphire Beach Boulevard, Connie sifted through the new information she had learned over the past few days.

  Penelope hadn't seen any indication of drug use, and she spent a lot of time with Natasha. She painted a picture of Natasha as a loving mother who had devoted herself to giving her daughter a better life, which was consistent with the diary Connie had found. If Natasha didn't want her daughter living with Jordan for some reason, as Penelope had indicated, perhaps he had an ulterior motive for making Natasha look bad, and the drugs were made up. Connie wished she knew more about what had happened between Natasha and Jordan.

  Then Ruby said she had seen Mickey and Natasha in a heated argument. That didn't look good for Mickey. Maybe after hearing from Jordan that she had once done drugs, he made up the story of the drug needle to throw off the police, and then he killed Natasha. A shiver ran through her body, thinking that her landlord could be capable of that.

  And what was going on with Gallagher? Why on earth would he hide his relationship with Natasha?

  With no fresh leads, police seemed to have again set aside the case, which made Connie more determined than ever to investigate. But she found herself in the same position as the police - with several suspects but not enough evidence on any of them to draw any solid conclusions.

  By the time she got upstairs, it was a little after 6:00, and the sun was beginning to set. Connie fed Ginger, put some chicken in the oven for herself, and made up a salad. Then she relaxed until dinner was ready.

  After a quick bite to eat, Connie went to back work stringing copper-colored satin finish beads onto the necklace she was hoping to complete soon. After making some progress, she decided to break for a cup of tea. When she glanced at the clock on the stove, she was surprised to see that a few hours had passed since she started working on the necklace. Like conversation with faithful friends, her jewelry always provided her with a healthy diversion, especially when she needed to get her mind off things.

  She finished her tea and returned to work on the necklace. Since it was Friday night, and at least until the shop opened next week, she still had the luxury of sleeping in the next morning, she decided to work as long as she could. As she continued, her thoughts drifted to Natasha's diary. She wondered about Natasha's friend Mac and the eagle. What was it about that eagle that sounded familiar?

  As she wearily labored on, an image of Gallagher's tattoo suddenly flashed through her mind, as if her subconscious was putting together the pieces of a puzzle while she worked. Gallagher had a tattoo of a soaring eagle. And wasn't his last name McKeon?

  Could Gallagher be Mac? The same Mac who was deeply touched that Natasha had named her daughter Victoria as a sign that she would soar above the past, like an eagle? Had they known each other before moving to Sapphire Beach? That certainly would explain Emily's impression that they were close.

  She checked the time on her phone. It was 10:45, almost closing time for the restaurant. Connie grabbed her purse and raced over to Gallagher's Tropical Shack.

  Chapter 10

  After returning the paddle boards, the women changed out of their wet bathing suits and into some light clothes, then walked along the beach in the direction of the downtown shops and restaurants.

  When they reached the pier, Connie followed Elyse off the beach, where they rinsed off their sandy feet in a public foot shower and slipped on their flip-flops.

  "Are you going to tell me where you are taking me?" Connie asked.

  Elyse shook her head and smiled. "That's no fun. Don't worry, we're almost there."

  They followed a lively street, navigating their way through tourists and shoppers, until they stood at a storefront a few short minutes' walk from the beach. Elyse punched some numbers into a lock box wrapped around the doorknob of the front door, pulled out a key, and motioned for Connie to follow her into the building.

  The quaint, empty shop measured about eight hundred square feet with large display windows that looked out onto the bustling downtown. It contained weathered hardwood floors, a driftwood accent wall, and a cashier's desk right in the center.

  Elyse gently pulled Connie to the back, where she could take in the whole space. "There's a half bath and a storage room for merchandise out back and plenty of room throughout the store for various displays of your product. Isn't it just perfect for your jewelry shop?" Elyse said, looking expectantly into Connie's bewildered eyes.

  "My jewelry shop?" Connie's confused brain was working hard to connect the dots.

  "Yes, your jewelry shop," Elyse said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You have the most amazing talent for making jewelry, and we have nothing like that here on the beach," she said, excitement rising in her voice. "You mentioned that you were ready for a change. Maybe it's meant to be. I mean, you just inherited the most spectacular home. You could live there while selling your condo back in Boston and use the money to get the business going."

>   Connie's head spun as she leaned against the wall and tried to process Elyse's idea. Concetta had once suggested the very same thing.

  "I have to admit, the plan has a certain appeal," she said looking around. The fatigue in her muscles from paddling all morning instantly drained away. The idea of a new project, all her own, was exhilarating.

  In her earlier years with Feeding the Hungry, Connie couldn’t wait to get to work every day. Being part of a start-up agency stretched her out of her comfort zone and forced her to learn new skills. Back then, most of her time had been spent cultivating relationships with various international communities. Starting her own business would certainly qualify as a new venture, but still, humanitarian work had been her passion for as long as she could remember. If she opened a jewelry shop, she would be giving all that up.

  "I don't know, Elyse. Walking away from the world of non-profit would leave a gigantic hole in my heart."

  Elyse studied Connie. "Just promise you'll think about it. You said yourself that you're ready for something new. Maybe it's time to strike out on your own. If not a jewelry shop, maybe there's another way. The last thing I want to do is pressure you. I just want to show you that you have options here in Sapphire Beach."

  Connie put her arm around Elyse's shoulder as they exited the shop. "I promise I will try to think outside the box. I really do appreciate your taking me here." As they were leaving, she glanced back at the storefront. It wasn't the worst idea she'd ever heard.

  But as they strolled in silence back to the beach and toward Surfside Restaurant, faces of people Connie had met throughout her travels flashed through her mind. Over the years, she had formed a network of communities throughout the world, many of whom had become her dearest friends. Leaving her work with them would be like abandoning her family in their time of need. She just couldn't consider doing that.

  The hostess seated Connie and Elyse at a table on the outdoor deck, just steps from the sand. Within no time, a young waitress stood before them ready to take their order.

  "Mandy!" Elyse said, looking up from her menu. "It's wonderful to see you again. How are you enjoying the new apartment?"

  "It's absolutely fantastic. Thanks for helping me find it."

  After introducing Connie to her former client, Elyse ordered fish and chips, and Connie opted for a swiss cheese and mushroom burger with sweet potato fries. They both got a frozen Pina Colada to go with their sandwiches.

  When they finished their lunch, Elyse pushed away her empty plate and sipped her drink. "Lunch always tastes amazing after working up an appetite paddling all morning."

  Connie wholeheartedly agreed. "It felt good to get some exercise. Work has been so busy that I hardly ever make it to my kickboxing gym anymore."

  "Kickboxing?" Elyse said, pulling her body back and putting up her hands in mock fear. "You're hardcore. I stick to light jogging and paddle boarding."

  Connie shook her head and chuckled at Elyse's drama. "I started doing it in college. My parents insisted I learn a little self-defense when I told them my plan of spending two years in Africa after graduation. I just loved it, so I still do it when I can."

  Mandy came back to clear the table and asked Connie how long she was in town for.

  "Just until next Saturday morning, unfortunately. I'm staying at my aunt's condo in Palm Paradise."

  Mandy furrowed her brow. "Palm Paradise. Wasn't there a murder there on Thursday?"

  They both nodded.

  "Such a tragedy," Elyse said. "And unheard of in Sapphire Beach."

  "You won't believe this," Mandy said, plopping down into a dark-green plastic chair and joining them at their table. "But the guy who was killed was in here on Wednesday night. I saw his picture in the newspaper. It was definitely him."

  Connie's eyes widened. "Did you notice anything unusual?"

  "That's why I remember him. He was at the bar, hitting on some woman, and another woman tapped him on the shoulder and started yelling at him."

  "Did you catch the woman's name?" Connie asked.

  Mandy put both arms on the table leaned forward. "I don't know her name, but it turned out to be his ex-wife. Apparently, their son wanted to get into the family business, whatever that was, and she was dead set against it. He tried to ignore her, but she caused a scene. She obviously didn't think much of her ex's business practices, because she said, “I'll kill you before I let you corrupt my son.'"

  "Have you told this to the police yet?" Elyse asked.

  "No. I've been wondering if I should talk to them. To be honest, I'm a little afraid of getting involved."

  "Mandy, my husband, Joshua Miller, the lead detective on the case. Would it be okay if I gave him your number? He really should know about this."

  "You're probably right," she said, biting her bottom lip. "It's been bothering me since I saw the victim’s picture on the news. I'm working until closing tonight, but I'll stop by the police station first thing in the morning." She hopped up and pushed in her chair. "It's getting busy. I'd better get back to work. I'll bring your check."

  "Wow," Connie said, sipping the last of her Pina Colada. "This just got more interesting."

  Chapter 11

  Connie grabbed her phone on Saturday morning and sent a group text to Elyse and Stephanie. Yikes! My date with Zach is tomorrow, and my grand opening is one week away. I think I'm officially freaking out. Anyone free for a drink tonight?

  Within a few minutes she had two responses. Stephanie's was first: Wine and snacks at my house at 7? And a second from Elyse: I can make it. Emma will be at a sleepover. I'll bring the wine.

  A relieved smile spread across Connie's face as she read the responses from her friends. She texted them back. You guys are the best. I'll bring some homemade guacamole, salsa, and corn chips.

  Connie had slept later than usual, so as soon as she got up, she took a quick shower, threw on a pair of black capris, a white V-neck t-shirt, and some flip-flops, and took Ginger for a quick walk. Then she headed into the shop to get in a few hours of work.

  It was about 3:00 when Connie and Ginger returned home, so she had plenty of time before her plans with Elyse and Stephanie. With her mind still reeling from her conversation with Gallagher the night before, Connie decided to reread Natasha's diary and see if she could come up with any new angles. Maybe she would receive some fresh insight in light of the new information she had about the last few years of Natasha's life.

  Connie settled onto the couch with Ginger nestled on her lap and stroked her silky coat, while she started from the beginning of the soft leather diary.

  She was drawn to the section where Natasha described her favorite place to go when she needed to be alone to reflect. She remembered Penelope saying that on the night she disappeared, Natasha said she was going to her thinking spot.

  Connie read Natasha's description of a bench, where, seated beneath a palm tree, she could gaze at the ocean in the distance. Great, Connie thought, that could be anywhere in southwest Florida.

  Absorbed in her reading, Connie was startled by the ring of her cell phone, which she had left charging on the kitchen counter. She put the diary on the coffee table, scooped up Ginger from her lap, and checked the caller ID on her phone. It was her sister, Gianna.

  Connie hit "Accept."

  "Hey, Gi, how's it going?"

  "Hey, Connie, doing well. Just wanted to hear the sound of your voice. I miss you."

  Connie felt a twinge of guilt. She had been so busy between her sleuthing and setting up her condo and her shop that she hadn't had time to be homesick. But Gianna's voice brought it on. "I miss you guys, too. How are the twins?" Gianna had two-year-old twins, Hannah and Noah.

  "I wore them out this morning at the park, so they are both napping, which is no small miracle."

  "Aw, there's plenty of room here. Come down whenever you want."

  They caught up on each other’s lives, talking as if they lived next door. After swearing her to secrecy, Connie even confided in
her about Natasha's disappearance and how she'd been asking around.

  "Another mystery in Sapphire Beach? You've got to be kidding," she said.

  "Natasha had a daughter who was the same age as the twins when she disappeared." Until she said it aloud, Connie hadn't realized that Victoria had been the same age as her niece and nephew. Perhaps that was one of the reasons the little girl tugged so hard on her heartstrings.

  "I can't imagine not being able to raise my babies," Gianna said, her voice choking up. "Do you think she could still be alive?"

  "Even though they haven't found a body, I tend to doubt it. I just don't believe she would disappear and leave her baby behind. Unless she's being held against her will."

  "You mean kidnapped?"

  "I suppose that's a possibility. And it's better than the alternative. But it's been about eight months since her disappearance, so it's hard to be optimistic."

  She heard Gianna sigh on the other end of the phone. "They are in my prayers, and so are you, Connie. I won't mention it to Mom and Dad, but please be careful. I want you to be there to see Hannah and Noah grow up. You can't change what happened to that young woman, as tragic as it is, so don't do anything crazy."

  "I promise. Hey, isn't it my job to worry about you? After all, you're my baby sister, not the other way around. When did you take on the role of big sister?"

  "I think it was somewhere around the time you started traipsing around developing countries, leaving your family at home to worry about you."

  "Oh yeah, I forgot about that," she said, teasing her little sister. "I always brought you back cool presents, though, didn't I?"

  "Yes, there were cool presents involved. I'll give you that," Gianna said, laughing. "But that's okay. I like worrying about you and living vicariously through you. There's only room for one adventurous sister in the family, so lucky for Mom and Dad, I took a safer path."

  "Love you. Tell the twins I miss them. I'll call tomorrow when they're awake."

  "Yes, please call. They will be so excited to hear from you."