The Secret Of Logan Pond

“Other than Josh, can you think of anyone he might have shared his secret with?” Cass asked.

“Maybe, Bobby. Austin didn’t get along with Colin, so I don’t see him sharing with him, and I know he didn’t share the news with me. Larry was new in town and sort of quiet, but I guess Austin liked him okay. He might have shared the information with him, but he equally might not have.”

“So once it was realized that Austin was really missing and not just sulking, it would most likely have been Josh who would have thought to look in the mine,” Cass said.

“What are you saying?” Toby asked.

“It just seems that anyone who knew that Austin had found the entrance to the mine would have eventually thought to look in the mine once he went missing. It sounds like out of all his friends, Austin would most likely have shared his secret with Josh.”

“If Josh looked in the cave for Austin, he must not have noticed him down in that hole. Otherwise, he would have said something,” Toby insisted.

Cass hesitated briefly and then continued. “It actually makes more sense to me that Josh, and whoever else, if anyone, who might have known about the mine, probably did find the body of Austin Brady and made a decision not to tell anyone what they’d found. If Josh knew about the mine but didn’t find Austin, he most likely would have told the search and rescue team about the mine as well. I mean, if he didn’t know Austin was dead and that he couldn’t be helped, don’t you think he would have done whatever he could to help find him?”

Toby didn’t reply.

“I know this is a lot to swallow,” Cass said. “I know how much Josh meant to you, and I’m sure it’s hard to accept the fact that Josh knew what happened to Austin, and made the decision to cover it up for some reason.”

“Colin must have threatened him,” Toby insisted. “Josh would never cover something like that up if he didn’t have a really good reason to. Colin was a jerk, but Josh was a good guy.”

“I believe you,” Cass said. “At this point, we don’t know anything for sure, so it’s important that you don’t discuss this with anyone until we’re able to put all the pieces together and take the appropriate action.”

“I understand. I appreciate you guys filling me in.”

“And we appreciate you sharing what you know. If you think of anything else, you can call me anytime,” Cass said.

“I will. I don’t suppose you have any more information relating to Bobby’s death? The idea that his death could be related to Austin’s has been on my mind ever since I found out about it.”

“I’m looking at the homicide from a bunch of different angles,” Cass said. “Bobby’s relationship with Austin is just one of them. The only people who went on that campout and are still alive are you, Colin, and Larry. You are, of course, in Montana, I was able to verify Larry’s alibi on the day Bobby died, and Colin appears to have an alibi, but I haven’t been able to confirm the specifics yet. It really does seem that Bobby may have been killed due to a motive having nothing to do with Austin Brady’s death.”

“But it is possible that Colin is the bad guy here?” Toby asked. “It’s possible that he threatened the others to keep them quiet about what really happened, and it’s possible he killed Bobby if it looked like Bobby might talk after all these years.”

“Yes, it is possible,” Cass admitted.

“Do you think it’s possible that Colin killed Josh?” Toby asked.

“Josh died in a vehicle accident,” Cass reminded him.

“He did die as the result of a vehicle accident, but a witness saw a white sedan run the vehicle he was driving off the road. The white sedan was never identified.”

I looked at Cass. He was frowning.

“Cass?” Toby said over the phone. “Are you still there?”

“I’m here. I guess I didn’t realize that another driver caused Josh’s accident. To be honest, I was just a kid at the time, and don’t actually remember a whole lot about it, except for the effect his death had on the community.”

“Pull the police report. You’ll see. Someone ran Josh off the road and killed him.”

After we hung up with Toby, I looked at Cass. “So, what do you make of that?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But I find it hard to believe that something so horrific happened on a campout, that four years after the campout, one of the campers is intentionally run off the road, and then twenty-one years after that, a man is shot in his own home. The logical villain in this little drama is Colin, but keep in mind that he was just a kid when Austin went missing.”

“If not him, then who?” I asked. “As of this point, Austin, Josh, and Bobby are dead. Toby lives in Montana and has been gone from Foxtail Lake for quite some time, and Larry moved from the area before he even made it into high school. If someone did run Josh off the road, and that someone was one of the boys who were part of the fateful camping trip, it has to have been Colin.”

“But it seemed as if, while Austin and Colin didn’t get along, Austin and Colin were both tight with Josh. I just don’t see Colin killing Josh.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “That feels like a stretch for me as well. It seems like we’re missing a player. Someone who was around for everything that happened, but hasn’t been named.”

“Like who?” Cass asked.

“The seventh sandwich. We still don’t know who the seventh sandwich was meant for.”

“So there is this nameless, faceless someone lurking in the forest orchestrating everything that happened and no one at any point ever mentioned his presence or his name? That sounds unlikely.”

“The campsite by the river,” I reminded Cass. “It wasn’t far from the boy’s camp. Maybe some of the older kids had an even older friend who was lurking around. Maybe this friend sold Colin the pill to give to Austin. It could even have been this friend who grabbed Austin after he ran off and forced him into the mine.”

“And this friend. How did he get into the mine if he was larger than Austin, who most likely barely fit through the opening?” Cass asked.

“Maybe he didn’t go into the mine. Maybe he simply shoved Austin in and waited for him to fall.”

Cass put a hand over mine. “I appreciate you brainstorming with me, but there are so many holes in that theory that I’m not even going to point them all out.” He looked at his watch. “It’s almost time for your dog training shift at the shelter. Why don’t you go on ahead and I’ll try to meet you there for playtime. We can go to dinner after. Maybe talk things through a bit.”

I nodded. “Okay. That sounds like a good idea. Perhaps we need to take a step back and look at all the evidence logically. Maybe if we do, something will come to us. Something that isn’t riddled with holes that are too numerous to mention.”

Cass smiled. “I think that sounds like an excellent idea.”

Chapter 17

Naomi was working with Nala when I arrived, so I put my purse in the volunteer room and joined them. “How’s our girl doing today?” I asked.

“She’s doing really well. I’m very pleased with her progress in both the basic commands and scent training. I’ve already worked with her on scent today, but if you want to take over and work on the basics, that would be great.”

“Happy to.” I knelt down and ruffed Nala behind the ears.

“So do I dare ask how the Austin Brady story is coming along?” she asked.

“I actually have news.” I looked around. There were a few other trainers in the area. “It might be best if I came by your place after my shift. I think most of what we’ve found is still being kept under wraps.”

“Oh, I’m intrigued. And yes, do come by after your shift. You and Cass both if he makes it out. I’ll open a bottle of wine, and we can catch up.”

“Sounds good.”

Naomi turned to leave. “Oh, before I forget, we have two new arrivals I’d like for you and Cass to work with during your playtime. It’s a brother and sister, who, according to the man who dropped them off, are around nine-months-old. They’re very sweet, but also very timid. They seem to be afraid of the volunteers, afraid of the other dogs, afraid of everything. I’m hoping if you spend some time with them, they’ll begin to relax a bit.”

“I’d be happy to. What are their names?”

“Gus and Ginny.”

“Why were they surrendered?”

“The man who dropped them off told me that the dogs belonged to his neighbor, who up and moved and left them behind. They’ve been sitting on the porch of their old home for weeks. The neighbor was feeding them but said he can’t keep them. He finally decided they’d be better off with us and coaxed them into his car.”

“Poor things. Cass and I will make sure they know they are safe and loved here.”

“That’s what I’m hoping. They’re beautiful dogs. And young. I’m sure I can find them a wonderful home together, but first, I need for them to greet folks who stop to talk to them rather than shying away.”

“Maybe you can take them to your house for a few days,” I suggested.

“I’ll probably do that. I still have two other dogs in the house I’m trying to acclimate, so I’m not sure how that will go. But maybe. We’ll see how they do with the two of you.”

“Anything else?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. I think that should do it for today. I’ll talk to you in a couple hours.”

The training session with Nala went smoothly. The dog really was a sweetie, and while I was rooting for her to find her forever family, I was sure I’d miss her once she was gone. Gus and Ginny were as shy and timid as Naomi said they’d be, but after I sat down on the floor and let them come to me, they seemed to open up a bit. Until Cass arrived, at which time they both ran and hid, and we needed to start all over again.

“I feel bad for the new pups,” Cass said. “They’ve obviously been treated badly by a human at one point or another.”

“Probably their prior owner. What sort of person would just up and move and leave them behind?”

“I don’t know. I guess there are all sorts of people in the world.”

I rested my back against the wall since I was still sitting on the floor, hoping the dogs would come out of hiding and approach once again. Cass sat on the floor next to me.

“I spoke briefly with Naomi when I first arrived. She’s offering wine if we want to stop by the house when we’re done here.”

“I’m guessing she wants something,” Cass smiled.

“I think she wants to be looped in on the Austin Brady case. I didn’t want to talk to her in the training room since there were other trainers around, so I told her we’d stop by when we were done here.”

“I guess I wouldn’t mind a glass of wine.”

“Do you have anything new?” I asked.

“Not relating to the Austin Brady case,” he answered. “To be honest, the reason I’m late is because I had to break up a brawl at Jack’s Place.”

“Brawl?” I asked. “Who was brawling?”

“A bunch of the guys. I guess someone spilled the beans about the new development that’s being proposed north of town. Of course, once the topic was introduced, those in the immediate area took sides. About half the patrons thought the development would be good for the town and good for the local economy, and the other half felt the development would mean the end of Foxtail Lake and the way of life it represents.”

I held my breath as Ginny slinked out from behind the cabinet she was hiding behind and slowly walked over to me. “It sounds like this development is going to cause trouble before they even get started.”

“Development in the area is and has been a hot topic for years. There have been large companies who’ve tried to establish a foothold in the area in the past. So far, those who are against such large-scale development have managed to hold them off, but it seems you get rid of one developer, and another one appears. In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before someone manages to push through all the opposition and gets their foot in the door. Who knows, it might even be one of the three or four developers currently sniffing around.”

“I have to admit I’m torn,” I said. “On the one hand, I do love Foxtail Lake’s small-town feel, but on the other hand, a large resort will bring jobs as well as upscale offerings such as the new wellness center. I have a feeling if the resort on the north end of town doesn’t manage to get built, the life of the wellness center will be a short one.”

“I agree. And it is a complex issue with no easy answers. I just hope I can keep the pro-growth residents and the anti-growth residents from killing each other while the whole thing is worked out.”

“Maybe each side should choose a champion. Put them in the ring and let them duke it out, winner takes all.”

Cass laughed. “If only it was that easy.”

I began to stroke Ginny after she finally made her way onto my lap. Gus noticed the attention his sister was getting and appeared to be considering an appearance as well. Cass made cooing sounds to lure him out. I didn’t think that was going to work, but eventually, Gus approached him.”

“Where’s Milo today?” I asked.

“I was out near the house, so I dropped him off. I really didn’t want to take him to the bar, so it seemed like a better idea than just leaving him in the car while I went in to break things up.”

“Yeah, no telling how long that might have taken. Did anyone get hurt?”

“Other than a few black eyes, a bloody nose, and a bunch of bruised knuckles, I think everyone came out okay.”

Cass and I continued to chat about the proposed development until it was time to tuck the dogs in for the evening. Once we had, we made our way over to Naomi’s house.

“So tell me everything,” she jumped right in. “I simply cannot believe how this whole thing is unfolding.”

“Have you spoken to anyone about this other than the two of us and Hope?” Cass asked.

“Actually, after I got home this afternoon, I called and talked to Dex. He was careful about what he said, and I could tell he was holding back a bit, so after I hung up with him, I called and spoke with Toby.”

Cass blew out a breath. “I see. I hope you understand that we are trying to keep a lid on things until we can sort everything out. Not only are we researching Austin Brady’s disappearance, but now we have the added complication of Bobby Brighton’s death.”

“So, do you think they’re linked?” Naomi asked.

“Actually, I don’t think the two events are linked, but until I can prove what happened to Bobby, I need to consider the possibility that they are and proceed accordingly.”

“Why don’t you think Bobby’s death and Austin’s disappearance are related?” Naomi asked. “I heard either from Toby or Dex, at the moment I can’t remember which, that there was a possibility that Josh Underwood’s accident wasn’t an accident but intentionally caused, perhaps as a means of keeping him quiet.”

Cass’s lips tightened. “Yes, I heard that theory as well, so I pulled the original accident report and looked it over. It happened around ten o’clock on a beautiful spring evening. According to the report, a witness, who refused to leave a name, reported that he saw a white sedan come around the corner on the old prospector’s highway and veer into Josh’s lane. Josh overcorrected in an attempt to avoid a collision and ran off the road. Due to the sheer drop off, his car exploded on impact, and he died at the scene. I don’t think anyone suspected that the accident was anything other than an accident at the time. The white sedan didn’t stop, and the cop who investigated the accident noted that it was likely he’d been drinking. I’m using the term he in the general sense since we don’t even know if it was a man or woman driving the car and the only proof we have that the car even existed is an anonymous eyewitness statement, which isn’t a whole lot if you stop and think about it.”

“So, you think Josh’s accident really was an accident?” Naomi asked.

“I do. However, given the recent developments in Austin’s case and the death of Bobby Brighton, I am planning to at least entertain the idea that the crash could have been intentionally caused, but I really doubt that murder by automobile is how this will end up.”

“So, if you talked to Dex and Toby, they must have told you all about the mine?” I asked.

“Yes. They told me about the mine, and they told me about the hallucinogen. I still can’t believe Colin would do that.” She looked at Cass. “Are you going to arrest him?”

“No. Not yet, at least. All I have at this point is Larry’s word that the drugging even occurred. I plan to speak to Colin, but I want to get the report from the medical examiner as well as the lab’s report before I do. I’m not sure either will have any new information, but the last thing I want to do is scare Colin off if he is guilty before I have the proof I need to bring him in.”

“If he did do it, do you think he’ll go to jail?” Naomi asked.

Cass shrugged. “That isn’t up to me, but unless he actually did kill someone as part of the cover-up, probably not. He was just a kid pulling a prank. He couldn’t have known what would happen. And as for the cover-up, he was scared. Who amongst us hasn’t lied to an adult to cover up a mistake when we were twelve or thirteen? Having said that, I’d like to wait to speak to Colin about Austin’s death until I’ve solved Bobby’s murder. I’d really like to know for certain if they’re linked before I tip him off that I know about the drugs.”

Naomi took a sip of her wine. “I guess that makes sense. I won’t say a word about any of this, but you might want to bring Hope up to date. She’s actually done a lot of research of her own on the Austin Brady disappearance, and I know she’d like to be kept in the loop.”

“I’ll call her,” Cass promised.

“This whole situation is just so disturbing,” Naomi sighed. “I can’t help but think how terrified Austin must have been in those last moments.”

“It really was a terrible thing that was done to him,” Cass agreed.

“When I think about Colin and the man he is now, I have to wonder if perhaps he knew what sort of effect the drug would have on Austin. We’re all assuming that he really didn’t know, and what happened to Austin was just some huge accident, but was it?”

“You think Colin meant to hurt Austin?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t know him back then, but he does strike me now as being the sort who likes to have things go his way. If, as a teen, Austin was always challenging his right to control the group that had formed, I can see him doing something to squash Austin like the bug he probably considered him to be. I’m not saying he necessarily wanted to kill him, but putting the drug in his drink might have been more than just a joke gone wrong. It might have been retribution for the angst Austin had brought into his life.”

“I’ll keep that in mind when I speak to him,” Cass assured her.

Cass and I finished our wine and then said our goodbyes. We headed to a popular diner where we both ordered hot turkey sandwiches. I felt bad for Cass. He really did look exhausted. I was sure he had a million thoughts filtering through his mind. I figured it might be best to change the subject to something less angst-inducing, but for the life of me at that moment, I couldn’t think of a single low-key topic to introduce.

“While I was at Jack’s Place today, Alex told me about an arts and crafts event in town over Memorial Day weekend. She said there would be live music, wine and beer tasting, and all sorts of food trucks during the day, and then a barn dance and hayrides in the evening.”

“Sounds fun.”

“I know it’s a ways off, but she told me tickets for the dance are already on sale and moving quickly. I thought maybe you and I could go. Together,” he emphasized.

I paused. Together sounded like a date. I didn’t date. Well, actually, that wasn’t true. I’d dated in the past, but the men I’d dated were men I knew I would never fall in love with. I was about to make a statement about attending as friends when the beautiful redheaded Alex popped into my mind.

“Are you sure Alex didn’t bring up the dance because she wanted you to ask her?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I suppose that might have been her intent, but I’d rather take you. Alex and I are friends. That’s all.”

“You and I are friends,” I pointed out, wondering all the while why on earth I was practically pushing Cass into Alex’s arms.

“We are. So do you want to go?”

I smiled. “I do.”

He smiled back. “Okay, then. I’ll get the tickets tomorrow.”

Chapter 18

Saturday

Saturday was turning out to be a lazy relaxing day. It started with Alastair and me sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky, at which time we got up and headed downstairs for coffee and a lazy breakfast. After I cleaned up the kitchen, I headed upstairs to shower and dress, after which I joined Gracie and Tom in the garden.

“What a great day,” I said as I stood for a moment to appreciate the clear and sunny sky, blue lake, white ducks, and baby flowers just pushing through the soft earth.

“It really does feel like spring has arrived,” Gracie said. “I’m hoping to get the beds cleaned and weeded this week so they’ll be ready for the new flowers I plan to plant at the end of the month.”

“Are you going to do the barrels on the deck again?” I asked, remembering the containers overflowing with color that I’d enjoyed as a child.

“I do a different annual variety each year. It’s one of my favorite parts of the garden. That and the herb bed, of course. Any favorites you’d like to see included this year?”

“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m sure whatever you choose will be lovely.” I looked at Tom. “How is the fishing boat coming along?”

“It’s repaired and ready to launch. I need to pick up a can of gasoline for the little outboard engine, but I should have her ready to splash this week.”

“And the rowboat?” I added.

“Working on it. It should be ready to launch in a week or two.”

“I know Paisley is excited about learning to row, and I can’t wait to teach her. I have a lot of really fond memories of summers on the lake.”

“Where is Paisley?” Tom asked. “Didn’t she say she was coming over to help with the cleaning and weeding?”

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Gracie answered. “I know she likes to be sure that her grandmother has been fed and has everything she needs before she comes over.”

“Maybe I’ll take a walk next door and see how she’s doing,” I offered. I figured a walk along the lake would be enjoyable, and if Paisley needed help with something, I’d be there to help.

“Sounds like a plan,” Gracie said. “Maybe you can invite Ethel to dinner while you’re there. We’re planning to BBQ those ribs you asked for.”

“I’ll ask her.” Ribs really were my favorite. I knew I, for one, was excited about the prospect of a meal on the lawn.

As I walked toward Paisley’s house, I’d let my mind wander. I’d actually spent quite a lot of time thinking about the fact that Cass had asked me out on a date. I could pretend it was a get together between friends, but I knew it was something more, and I knew he knew I knew it. As I was falling asleep last night, I let my mind wander to the inevitable kiss at the end of the date. I’d kissed Cass before. In fact, as a teen, I’d done a lot more with Cass than kiss, but as an adult, who was very aware of both my desires and my limitations, I’d never even let myself imagine where things might go with Cass if I allowed them to go anywhere.

When I’d lived in New York and had my career to focus on, my vow to remain single hadn’t seemed like a huge sacrifice. I’d dated from time to time when I had the time, which wasn’t often, but in all my time living in the city, I’d never met anyone I felt even remotely tempted to fall in love with. The Hollister family curse hadn’t been an issue, and I barely gave it a second thought. But now… now, I found myself on the verge of what might have been. Knowing I could never actually have what my heart desired was surely going to make me crazy if I didn’t put an end to it now.

Of course, one little date couldn’t hurt anything. Could it? Cass knew about the curse. He knew how I felt about the curse, and he knew we could never build a life together. At least not the sort of life other people who fell in love normally had with one another. We could be friends, and based on Gracie’s relationship with Tom, we could even spend time together, but taking that final step and actually vowing our love before family and friends, that was something I could never do with Cass or anyone else.

I picked a rock up and tossed it in the lake. I watched the ripples in the water fan outward, growing larger, with each ring less intense as the rings widened. It had been safe living my life in the large rings toward the edges. I’d gone everywhere and had had a lot of different experiences, but I really hadn’t been an integral part of anything. Now that I lived in a tight-knit family in a tight-knit community, I felt that center ring better represented my life. My influence with those around me was much more limited, but oh so much more intense and meaningful. I had people I loved and people who loved me. People I depended on as well as those who depended on me. Living in the center of my own ring of influence was a new experience for me. One I valued greatly, but also one that, at times, terrified me.

Perhaps, I decided as I stood at the edge of the lake, I was getting ahead of myself. Cass had asked me on a date. A single date to a community activity. Surely, one date wouldn’t cause a rift in my little ring. Surely, the curse wouldn’t kick in unless I actually married and bore children, an act I’d sworn never to do.

When I arrived at Paisley’s, I knocked on the door. She answered after only a few seconds.

“Callie. What are you doing here?” She looked delighted, yet surprised.

“I’m here to ask you and your grandmother if you would like to come to our place for a BBQ out on the lawn this evening. Gracie is doing ribs and slaw.”

She grinned. “I want to have ribs and slaw. I was going to come over and help with the garden anyway. Come in, and I’ll run upstairs and ask Grandma.”

“Is she feeling poorly today?”

She shrugged. “No worse than usual, but she has to manage her activities, so she doesn’t become too tired.”

It made me sad that Paisley was in a position that required her to be so mature for her age. Managing a grandmother’s activities and making sure she had a good breakfast to start the day was not the sort of thing a ten-year-old should have to worry about. Paisley didn’t seem to mind, and most of the time, she appeared to be a happy kid. I supposed that having so much responsibility as a child would help her to be successful as an adult.

By the time Paisley came back down to report that her grandmother would like to come for dinner if someone could come by with the car and pick her up since she didn’t feel like walking, Paisley said she was ready to come to our place and help with the weeding. As we walked along the lake together, I brought up the fact that Tom had the paddling boat just about ready to launch, which earned me the biggest grin I’d ever seen.

“It will be so fun to be out on the lake,” she said. “We can row around and look for fish.”

“Do you like to fish?” I asked.

“I don’t like to kill them, but I do like to look at them. And the ducks and geese as well. Soon, they will have babies to watch. I love this time of the year.”

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”

“Gracie said I could help her pick out the flowers for the deck. I can’t decide whether to pick yellow or red.”

“Maybe some of each,” I suggested. “It seems to me that yellow and red would go together just fine.”

“My friend, Jolene, is going to plant daisies in her yard. She told me they were her uncle’s favorite, so she is going to plant a whole bed full in his memory.”

“Are you talking about Uncle Bobby? The uncle who was shot?”

She nodded. “Jolene said they still haven’t found who shot him, but I think it was the guy Uncle Bobby had been trying to avoid because he owed him money.”

I narrowed my gaze. “How did Jolene know about the friend her uncle owed money to?” I asked.

“She told me that he came by the house when she was over at Bobby’s while her parents were in Vegas. She said he was really scary looking. Like one of the bad guys on TV. She said he had a tattoo of a snake on his neck and a gold tooth right there in the front where everyone could see it.”

I stopped walking, placing my hand on Paisley’s arm to slow her down. “Was Jolene there in the room when her Uncle Bobby was talking to this man?”

She nodded. “Jolene told me that she was in the living room watching a movie with Uncle Bobby when someone knocked on the door. Uncle Bobby went to answer it. He tried to close the door, but the man with the snake tattoo pushed his way inside. She stayed in the living room the whole time, but the room is open to the entry, so she saw and heard the whole thing. She said the guy wanted what was owed him. He didn’t say what was owed to him, but Jolene assumed money since her uncle liked to gamble. Jolene told me the man with the snake tattoo was really mad and really loud. It looked like he was going to hit Uncle Bobby, but then Bobby said something about his niece being there, and the man stopped. Jolene said he leaned in and said something in Bobby’s ear and then left. Jolene said she was really scared, but Uncle Bobby told her not to worry about it. He said he just needed to get something the guy wanted, and once he gave it to him, everything would be okay. After that, he took her out for ice cream.”

“And then?” I asked. “Did the guy come back?”

“No. She didn’t see him again. Uncle Bobby did ask her not to mention the visit to her parents. He told her if she did, her mom might not let her come to his house to visit anymore, and Jolene really liked to visit Uncle Bobby, so she kept quiet.”

“But she has a reason to think this man might have been the one to shoot him?”

“No. I didn’t say she thought that. I said, I thought that. I remember Jolene telling me about the man who came by Uncle Bobby’s and thought it might have been him that killed him.” She paused and looked out toward the lake. “I’ve been thinking about things. Wondering. I’m not sure why exactly, but ever since Jolene told me what happened to her uncle, I’ve been wondering who in our town would shoot a man in the head.”

“Does Jolene think the killer is the man with the tattoo as well?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Jolene is out of town, so I haven’t seen her all week. I guess her parents didn’t want her to be here until they find the person who shot Bobby.”

“I guess that makes sense. Did you tell anyone about the man with the snake tattoo? Cass, maybe?”

“No. I didn’t tell anyone. No one asked me.”

“Do you think Jolene told anyone?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I told you, I haven’t talked to her since the first day after the shooting. I guess something happened to make her parents worry, so they all left town and went to see the grandparents.”

I wasn’t sure how accurate Paisley’s timeline was, and I really had no idea if the fact that Bobby owed something to the man with the snake tattoo was important, but I did know I was going to call Cass once I got back to the house.

After making sure that Paisley was settled in with Gracie, I headed into the house and up to the attic. Alastair followed behind. Once I’d opened the window to let in some fresh air, I pulled out my cell and dialed Cass’s number.

“Good morning. It’s nice to hear from you this morning.”

“First thing before I forget, Gracie is grilling ribs tonight. You’re invited,” I jumped right in. “Second of all, I just picked Paisley up from her house, and she told me about a man with a snake tattoo who visited Bobby at some point before his death, looking for something Bobby owed him. I thought it might be important.”

“I’ve already spoken to Snake. Bobby lost a gold pocket watch worth about fifteen hundred dollars he inherited from his grandfather to Snake during a poker game, and Snake had come by the house to collect it. That’s the exchange that Jolene overheard.”

“The man’s name is Snake?”

“The man’s given name is Theodore Puddle, but he goes by Snake.”

Theodore Puddle? I supposed I’d go by a nickname as well. “So, you don’t think he killed Bobby?”

“I don’t. Snake is a scary-looking guy. It seems that is intentional on his part. He runs an illegal high stakes poker game in the area, and I suppose the image he projects like a man who means business helps with his ability to collect what is due him. I know he’s gotten into a few physical altercations in the past, but as far as I know, they’ve all been minor skirmishes to make a point. I have no reason to believe he’d kill anyone.”

“Were you able to verify his alibi?” I asked.

“Actually, I was. Snake was with a man who goes by the name Toad. He has a tattoo of a huge toad on his face. Anyway, while Toad isn’t normally the sort I’d consider to be a reliable alibi, I was able to confirm with Alex that Snake and Toad had stopped by the bar on the day Bobby died and didn’t leave until a half an hour after he did. If he did go straight home after leaving the bar, which I suspect, and if he was shot immediately after entering his home, as I also suspect, Snake couldn’t be the killer.”

Well, that was disappointing. It did seem that Paisley had a pretty decent theory. “Do you have any new theories since the last time we spoke? I feel like the case has hit a bit of a wall.”

“I have to admit this investigation isn’t coming together the way I’d hoped. I’ve spoken to most of the neighbors to the right, to the left, and across the street for five houses in each direction, and no one saw anything that will help. I also spoke to the man who lives on the street behind Bobby. They share a back fence. He mentioned a man with a blue cap in the area too, but he didn’t have any more information than that, other than to say he heard the shot too. Unless I can find someone who knows who the man in the blue hat was, I’m not sure that lead will help, but I am continuing my search, and there were a few neighbors who weren’t at home when I was by who I want to catch up with.”

“Did you find anything in Bobby’s phone or bank records?” I asked.

“No. They seem pretty routine. The bank records show his paycheck being deposited, but most weeks, Bobby took most of that out in cash, which I assume he drank and gambled away. There were some cash deposits, which might have resulted from those instances when he actually came away from a poker game a victor. I’m still trying to track down the source of those deposits, but several of them were for more than a grand. As far as outgoing money, there were a few checks for utilities and regular bills, but it did appear he was behind on all his obligations.”

“I guess his being behind with his child support is sort of how this all started,” I said. “If he hadn’t gotten the phone call from his ex-wife telling him to go home before he gambled away all his money, he wouldn’t have come through the door at the exact moment the person with the gun had been standing there waiting to shoot him.”

Cass paused. “You make a good point. I was able to verify that the ex-wife couldn’t have shot him, but I really hadn’t stopped to consider whether she still might have been involved in the whole thing. There were actually three people involved in the sequence of events that ensured that Bobby would die that afternoon. I’m not saying all three were intentionally involved, but it is an angle I hadn’t previously considered.”

“Three people?” I asked, trying to catch up with Cass’s train of thought.

“Bobby was at Jack’s Place where he’d been drinking and looking for a poker game on the day he was shot. If he had found a poker game, he wouldn’t have made it home until hours and hours after he actually did go home. If the person who shot him had already been inside the house when Bobby arrived, which I suspect, it seems unlikely they would have still been there hours and hours later if Bobby hadn’t come home early as he had.”

“So if the ex-wife hadn’t called Bobby and told him to go home, he wouldn’t have gone home when he did and quite possibly wouldn’t have been shot and killed by the intruder. At least not on that particular day.”

“Exactly. And when I spoke to Tamara, she said the reason she called Bobby and told him to go home was because someone she knew was at the bar and had called her to give her a heads up that Bobby was looking for a game.”

“And if that person hadn’t called her, she wouldn’t have called Bobby, who wouldn’t have gone home, and most likely wouldn’t have gotten shot,” I said, finally catching up to where the three people idea Cass was talking about came from. “Are you saying that all three were working together?”

“Not necessarily. And I’m not sure at this point that the goal was even to kill Bobby.” Cass hesitated and then continued. “There are a couple ways to look at this. Say the goal of the person who broke into Bobby’s home actually was to kill him. Say he went to Bobby’s to put a bullet in his head, but he wasn’t there. Maybe at this point, he suspected that Bobby might be at the bar, so he called someone he knew would be at the bar and asked if Bobby was there. Maybe this person confirmed he was at the bar, but the person at the house needed him to be home, so either the person at the bar or the person at the house called Bobby’s ex-wife and convinced her that she should call Bobby and persuade him to go home.”

“Okay, I guess that makes sense in a really convoluted sort of way. The person at the bar and the ex-wife might have been unknowing and unwilling accomplices to the killer. You said there were two ways of looking at it.”

“If the person in Bobby’s house was there to steal something and not to kill Bobby, he wouldn’t necessarily have wanted Bobby to come home, but maybe the person who called the ex-wife is actually the one to want him dead, so he called Tamara and set a series of events in motion that would end with Bobby’s death. Of course, it’s just as likely that no one wanted him dead. The person who shot him could simply have been at the house to execute a burglary, but Bobby showed up early, and the burglar shot him when he realized he’d be caught.”

“It seems that unless we can actually establish a motive, it’s going to be hard to nail this down. The list of suspects who would actually want Bobby dead is going to be different from the list of suspects who might simply have known that Bobby was at the bar and used that information to break into his home to steal something. Did Bobby have anything worth stealing?” I asked.

“Not really. The watch Snake was after had some value, but I’m not sure anyone would break into his home in the middle of the day to steal that. His home has been searched, and nothing of real value was found.”

“What if the person who broke in was after something other than an item with a cash value?” I asked.

“Like what?”

“Maybe photos or a letter or something that Bobby could use to hold over someone else.”

“You think Bobby was blackmailing someone?” Cass asked.

“You did say there were cash deposits that couldn’t be verified. Sure, Bobby might have won at poker from time to time and deposited the money into his account, but poker winnings aren’t the only explanation.”

Cass paused. I could see he was thinking about things as a variety of emotions crossed his face. “Someone in the house looking for something related to a blackmail scheme actually makes a lot more sense than someone breaking into the home in the middle of the day to steal valuables from a man who didn’t have any,” Cass admitted.

“When Bobby came home early, the person who broke in was interrupted. Maybe he or she didn’t find what they were looking for. Maybe it’s still there to find.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to take a look around. I’m assuming you want to come along.”

“I do. Do you want to pick me up?”

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

Chapter 19

There was still yellow police tape across both the front and back door of Bobby’s home. The crime scene guys had already finished doing their thing with fibers and prints and whatnot, but Cass shared that he had a gut feeling there was something more to find, so hadn’t released the house to the family yet. After Cass gave me gloves, he pulled on his own, and then he let us both in through the front door.

“So, any idea what we’re looking for?” I asked.

“No idea. But if our theory is correct and Bobby had some sort of evidence he was using to blackmail someone, he wouldn’t leave it just lying around. It would most likely be in a safe or perhaps a locked file cabinet. I guess let’s start in the room he used for an office of sorts.”

The room Cass referred to held a desk, bookshelf, file cabinet, sofa, television, and a couple tables. It looked like the room actually served as both an office and a den. Cass started by looking through the file cabinet, so I turned my attention to the desk. The drawers were unlocked, and most held items such as pens, pads of paper, old files, tax statements, and coupons. I didn’t see anything that would be worth killing the guy over.

The file cabinet held files, both current and quite old, so it took Cass a bit longer to go through everything than it had taken me.

I decided to turn my attention to the bookshelf. I wasn’t sure I’d find anything. Bobby hadn’t been much of a reader, and there were more magazines than books on the shelves. There were a few photo albums, which I did stop to thumb through. There were photos of family parties, both current and from Bobby’s childhood. There were school pictures and sports photos, both individual shots and team groupings. The photos seemed to be the normal sort of thing you’d find in most homes, so I doubted they’d provide anyone with much of a motive to kill a person, but based on an empty space on that shelf, it appeared one album was missing.

“I’m going to head into the bedroom to look around,” I said to Cass.

“Okay. I still have two drawers to go through here.”

I walked down the hallway and entered the bedroom. As to be expected of a bachelor pad, I found an unmade bed, clothes on the floor, a dresser with drawers hanging open, and a closet with shoes piled up in the center completely void of any sort of organizational system. Still, despite the mess, I didn’t see anything that would justify murdering a guy in cold blood. I shoved the clothes on hangers to the side. I’m not sure why. I guess I just watched a lot of cop shows. There was nothing on the wall behind the clothes, so I decided to search through the pockets of the jackets and pants that had pockets.

Again, I came up empty. Well, I came up empty until I came to a windbreaker that held a secret pocket inside the jacket. I’d had a waterproof jacket like this in the past. The pocket was small and designed to hold a key should you go running or hiking and needed to bring along your car or house key but didn’t want to carry it. I found a key inside the small interior pocket. I pulled it out and looked at it. “Okay,” I said. “What do you go to?”

I walked around the bedroom, but nothing that would require a key stood out, so I went back down the hallway to find Cass.

“That was good timing,” Cass said. “I’m just finishing up here.”

“Did you find anything?”

“Unfortunately, no. You?”

I held up the key.

“Where did you find that?” he asked.

“In the closet. In the pocket of a windbreaker. It might be a house key or car key that Bobby kept in the pocket for those times he went hiking or jogging, but I figure it could also be the key to something else. Something more important.”

“Any idea what?” Cass asked.

“No clue.”

He stepped forward and took the key from my hand. “It’s hard to tell what this might fit. I guess we can look around for something with a lock. We can try the locks on the exterior of the home first to eliminate that possibility. It doesn’t look like a car key. At least not an ignition key; maybe it’s a trunk key.”

“Is Bobby’s car here?”

“In the garage,” Cass verified.

We started with the house, trying all the doors before going into the garage. It took quite a bit of searching, but we eventually found that the key went to a toolbox. After removing some power tools, Cass pulled out a photo album that was at the bottom of the toolbox, which I suspected was the one that belonged in the empty space on the bookshelf.

“This has to be it,” I said.

Cass opened the cover and began to go through the pages. “I think we might just have found our missing link.”

Chapter 20

The photo Cass found was an image of a much younger Hugh Lewiston, sitting on a log near a campfire ring next to the river chatting with a much younger Colin Woodford. Based on Colin’s appearance, Cass and I suspected the photo was taken on the day Austin Brady went missing. There were other photos in Bobby’s album from the same day the photo by the river was taken. After studying the photo for a moment, we realized that Bobby might have captured more with his images that he could ever have imagined at the time.

“I remember Toby saying that after the camp was set up, everyone split up. Colin went off by himself, Austin and Josh went off together, Bobby took off with his camera, and Larry and Toby went fishing,” I said. “I suspect that during this window of time, Austin was showing Josh the mine, Colin was buying drugs from Hugh Lewiston, and Bobby was recording the whole thing with his camera.”

“That does seem like a good theory,” Cass agreed. “One of the photos clearly shows Hugh handing a small packet to Colin. There is also a photo of Colin handing a sandwich to Hugh. I guess we finally know where that seventh sandwich went.”

“We’ll never prove any of this if we can’t get Colin to talk.”

“I’ll get him to talk,” Cass promised.

Cass wanted to drop me at home, but I was finally able to convince him to let me listen in on his conversation with Colin if I promised to keep my mouth shut through the entire interview and to sustain from printing anything I overheard during the conversation in the newspaper without his express written consent. I wasn’t going to print anything that would hurt Cass’s case. I wasn’t that kind of reporter, and he knew it. Cass had made a few calls and had tracked Colin down at the bowling alley, which is where we headed.

After we arrived, Cass pulled Colin aside and asked to speak to him. Colin, who had been practicing by himself, agreed to take a break.

“What’s up?” he asked Cass.

“I have reason to believe that you gave a hallucinogenic to Austin Brady on the day he died, which caused him to run in fear and eventually hide in the mine where he died.”

Colin tried to appear cool. I could see the struggle in his expression. “And who might have told you this lie?”

Cass didn’t answer, but he did pass the photo of Hugh talking to Colin to the man he was speaking to.

Colin appeared shocked. “Hugh told you that? He told you what happened? Why would he do that?”

Cass had never said anything about Hugh telling him anything, but I could see that the photo had served his purpose. Colin jumped to the conclusion that Hugh had talked, and Cass didn’t correct him.

“Hugh is trying to make a deal by throwing me under the bus,” Colin spat. “He was the adult, I was the kid. If anyone is going to get a deal, it should be me.”

“Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened, and we’ll take it from there,” Cass suggested.

Colin blew out a hard breath. “Austin was a pain in my backside when we were kids. I was the oldest, the natural leader, but the kid seemed to make it his mission to counter everything I said with the opposite opinion. And it wasn’t just that. If I liked a girl, he liked the same girl. If I signed up for an afterschool activity, he’d sign up for the same activity. No matter what I did, he’d find a way to mess with me. After a while, I’d had enough and decided to fight back.”

“So, what happened on that campout?” Cass asked.

“Hugh was older than us. About fifteen years older. Everyone knew he sold drugs and that he wasn’t at all picky about who he sold them to. If you had money, he’d take you on as a customer. To be perfectly honest, I’d been buying weed from him for a year by then.”

He took a breath. Cass just waited. Eventually, Colin continued. “On the day in question, I went to see Hugh to buy some weed for our campout. I’d arranged ahead of time to meet Hugh by the river since he was trying to keep a low profile after almost being caught during a deal, and even offered to bring him something to eat. We got to talking after I arrived at the preset meeting location. I mentioned what a pain Austin was being, and he said that if I wanted to play a prank on the guy, he had the perfect way to do it. He told me that if I put this one little pill in Austin’s drink, it would mess with his head and get him to do all sorts of weird things. My plan was to use Bobby’s camera to capture him doing embarrassing things and then use the photos as leverage to get him to back off.”

“But it didn’t work out that way,” Cass prompted.

“No. I thought the pill would make Austin act silly. I thought it would make him run around naked, or act like a chimpanzee, or something like that, but instead, it made him see things. Terrible things that caused him to run into the woods in terror.” Colin’s voice caught. “We tried to find him after he ran off. We looked and looked, but we couldn’t find him anywhere. I was eventually able to convince the others that he would come back once he sobered up a bit. Of course, we never saw him again, so I guess that supposition was way off, but who knew the guy had found an abandoned mine.”

“Had Austin told you about the mine before that night?” Cass asked.

“No. Remember Austin and I didn’t get along. He would never have let me in on a cool secret like that.”

“Who would he have told?” Cass asked.

Colin answered. “If anyone other than Austin knew, I suspect it would have been Josh, but I swear he never said a thing about a mine.”

“Even after Austin went missing?” Cass asked.

“Even then. I swear I knew nothing about a mine until you found the bones at the bottom of that shaft.”

“Did you know Bobby had this photo?” Cass asked.

“I knew he took a bunch of photos on our campout, but I don’t remember ever seeing them after he had them developed. To tell you the truth, that campout is not one I particularly wanted to remember.”

“After the cops showed up and started asking questions, did you at any point tell the others to keep their mouths shut about what happened?” Cass asked.

Colin nodded. “In retrospect, maybe I should have told what I knew, but I was scared of going to juvy for putting drugs in Austin’s drink, and I was scared about what Hugh would do to me if his name came into the discussion. I decided that telling what had happened wasn’t going to help Austin, so I swore Bobby, Josh, and Larry to secrecy.”

“And Toby?” Cass asked.

“He went to bed early, so he didn’t know anything. I decided to keep it that way.”

“And the others all agreed to keep quiet about the drug you put in his drink?” Cass asked.

“Eventually. At first, they wanted to come clean with the cops, but then I told them what Hugh would do to them if they told, and they all agreed to my plan. I know Hugh is a respectable town council member now, but he was a real scary guy back then.”

“I need you to come down to the office with me so we can make all of this official,” Cass said.

“Am I going to jail?”

“Did you kill Bobby to keep him quiet?” Cass asked.

“Bobby? Why on earth would I kill Bobby? He kept the secret for twenty-five years. I had no reason to believe he wouldn’t continue to keep it.”

“So, he wasn’t blackmailing you?”

“For what? I mean, I guess he had this photo, but I sure as heck wouldn’t be willing to pay the guy to keep it under wraps. I can barely make my rent.”

“It appears he was blackmailing someone,” Cass said.

“Hugh.” Colin narrowed his gaze. “You haven’t actually spoken to Hugh yet. You tricked me into telling you all this.”

Cass stood up. He motioned for Colin to stand as well. “I never said I’d spoken to Hugh. You are the one who suggested I had. Now, we are going to walk out of here real nice like, so I don’t have to cuff you. We’ll chat some more, I’ll chat with Hugh, and then we can figure out what comes next.”

Cass wanted to take Colin to the station in his car, so I volunteered to call Gracie for a ride home. Cass promised to come by after he’d spoken to Hugh, and I promised to save him some ribs and slaw if he didn’t make it out to the house in time for our shared meal.

Chapter 21

Cass didn’t make it out to the house in time to eat with everyone else, but true to his word, he did come by, and true to my word, I did save him some ribs and slaw. I’d run Ethel and Paisley home just before dark, so it was only Tom, Gracie, and I when he arrived.

“So tell me everything,” I said as Gracie heated up the beans that she’d made to go with the ribs and slaw.

“If it’s okay with you, I’m exhausted and would prefer to share the condensed version.”

“Of course,” I said. “So, what happened? Did Hugh kill Bobby?”

“No. Hugh did not kill Bobby, but Bobby had been blackmailing him with the photo he had of Hugh selling drugs to Colin on the day Austin died. While it is true that the photo only shows Hugh handing a small package to Colin, after what happened, it wouldn’t be hard to convince the DA and a jury, if need be, that the packet contained drugs. Colin had already agreed to testify to everything that happened in exchange for leniency for his part in the whole fiasco, and Larry seemed to know quite a bit as well, and likewise was willing to tell what he knew.”

“Okay, wait,” I said. “Hugh didn’t kill Bobby?”

Cass shook his head. “What Hugh did do was hire a man named Xavier Vargas to break into Bobby’s house, locate the photo, and bring it to him. Hugh and Xavier were waiting for the right time to do this, so when Hugh saw Bobby at the bar on the day in question, he called Xavier and told him to go over there. At the time of the call, Bobby was drunk and looking for a poker game, so Hugh was pretty sure that the house would be empty for hours.”

“But then someone called Tamara and warned her that Bobby was drunk and looking for a game, and she then called Bobby and told him to go home.”

“Exactly. I spoke to Tamara and found out that a friend of hers named Darlene was at the bar with friends when she overheard Bobby asking about a poker game, so she called Tamara and warned her that Bobby was about to gamble away this week’s child support payment the way he’d gambled away the last few payments. She then called him and threatened to prevent him from seeing the kids if he didn’t go home right then, so he did. Hugh swears he tried to call Xavier and warn him to get out of the house, but he didn’t pick up. He thinks that when Bobby pulled up, Xavier panicked and went for his gun. When Bobby came in, he shot him.”

“Do you have Xavier in custody?”

“He lives in Denver, but the Denver PD picked him up and are currently questioning him. I suspect he’ll confess once he knows Hugh already threw him under the bus.”

“So I guess your case is closed. You know who killed Bobby and why, you know how Austin died and why, and you have pretty much nailed the coffin shut on Hugh’s bid for the senate.”

“I do wonder why Bobby decided to blackmail Hugh,” Gracie asked. “And when? He certainly hasn’t been blackmailing him for twenty-five years.”

“Bobby didn’t approach Hugh about the photo until after Hugh decided to run for senate. I guess at that point, Bobby rightfully realized that Hugh would pay to keep that particular skeleton in the closet. Not only had he been selling drugs to Colin, who was a minor at the time, but he’d been selling drugs to a lot of kids and continued to do so long after Austin died.”

“So is Colin going to jail?” Tom asked.

“I guess the fate of everyone involved is up to the DA and the justice system. I figure I’ve done my part and now it’s up to them.”

“And is it okay to run with the story?” I asked.

“Run away. But I’d do it soon if you want the exclusive now that the Denver PD has been looped in.”

“I’ll write it tonight. I’ll let Dex know to expect the story. He’ll want to run it on Monday. I guess my series won’t really work now, but I have a lot of background information, and the big reveal is going to be a doozy.”

Chapter 22

Saturday – Memorial Day Weekend

“I was hoping you’d be here.”

I turned around to find Hope with a man I was pretty sure I’d never met.

“This is Michael,” Hope introduced. “Michael, Callie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” I stuck out my hand.

“I’m heading to the bar. Ladies, can I bring you something?” Michael asked.

“Wine,” Hope answered. “White.”

He looked at me.

“Same. And thank you.”

After Michael walked away, Hope turned her attention back toward me. “So, where is Cass? I’m sure I saw him earlier.”

“He had to go outside to take a call. I can’t believe how crowded it is. And how loud.”

“The first barn dance of the season is always well attended,” Hope informed me. “As the season progresses, the attendance thins out a bit.”

“So, Michael…” I said, glancing at the bar. “Is he your…?” I let my sentence trail off.

“Friend,” Hope provided. “And I guess for tonight date. He’s an attorney in town who likes to read, so he comes into the library often. I heard Cass was able to close both the Bobby Brighton murder case and the Austin Brady missing persons case.”

I nodded. “Colin has been given community service for his part in Austin’s death. He might have gotten more, but he cooperated fully, and he was only thirteen when the drugging happened. Additionally, he was able to convince the judge that he really didn’t know what would happen. Hugh is currently in the county jail, awaiting sentencing. He was booted off the council and is no longer the acting mayor, but he eventually cooperated fully and confessed to the whole thing, which should earn him some leniency. And the man who actually killed Bobby, Xavier Vargas, is awaiting trial in Denver. At this point, I’d say that things are wrapped up nicely.”

“I would say so. I read your piece in the Foxtail News about Austin and the series of events that led to his death,” Hope said. “You did such a good job. You really have a way with words. I cried the entire time I was reading it, and I know others who had the same experience. It really was a tragedy.”

“It was,” I agreed. “When I agreed to take on the project, I really didn’t know how hard it would be to research and write about the death of a child.” I glanced up as Michael returned and handed me my wine. I smiled and accepted it. “I think I’m going to go and find Cass.” I looked at Hope. “Let’s get together next week. Maybe lunch or drinks after work.”

“I’ll call you,” she promised.

I said my goodbyes and headed toward the door leading outside. It had gotten really hot with so many people in the enclosed space. The fresh air felt good. Cass was just finishing his call when I spotted him in the distance. I walked in that direction. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Everything is fine. That was the DA in Denver, letting me know that Xavier’s trial has been moved up. I’ll need to go to Denver and be available during the trial, so he was just giving me a heads up.”

“I see. I’m surprised the guy didn’t just plead guilty and avoid the trial.”

“I think he’s hoping for a plea deal, and who knows, he may get one. At this point, it’s out of my hands. Do you want to go back inside?”

“Actually, I could use some fresh air. It’s pretty hot inside.” I tilted my head up toward the sky. “Besides, it’s simply gorgeous out here.”

“Seems like a good night for stargazing,” Cass said.

I smiled and looked in his direction. “It is the perfect night for stargazing.”

“I have a blanket in my trunk. Maybe we can head up to the point, and I can see how many of the constellations I can remember.”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to remind Cass about the curse and how he might die if we fell in love, but at this moment, I couldn’t seem to work up the courage to do that. Instead, I leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. I pulled back just a bit and looked him in the eyes as I cradled his cheek with my hand. “I’d love to hear about the constellations.”

Next From Kathi Daley Books

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Preview Summerhouse Reunion

Sometimes life is about letting go. Letting go of the way things were supposed to have been. Letting go of unmet dreams and incomplete plans. Letting go of the anger that consumes you as you struggle to make sense of an unfinished life. I’d spent the last year denying the inevitable, negotiating for a different ending, screaming to the heavens that it wasn’t supposed to happen this way, and finally struggling to accept an ending that should never have been.

Letting go, I realized somewhere along the way, was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do.

“It’s a beautiful day.” A woman with white hair walked up beside me as the spray from the rough sea misted my face.

“Yes.” I turned and smiled. The woman looked to be a few years older than my sixty-eight-year-old mother; unlike my mother, however, who simply could not or would not understand the grief that haunted my every waking moment, this woman looked at me with compassion and understanding. “It’s a little rougher than I like my ferry rides, but beautiful all the same. My name is Kelly. Kelly Green. I’m afraid I can’t immediately place you, but I feel like we’ve met.”

“We have met, although it has been a long time since we’ve seen each other. About twenty years, to be more specific.”

My brows shot upward. “Dottie Pemberton?”

The woman smiled and offered her hand.

“Wow.” I reached out and hugged the woman. “I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you. It’s just that…”

“It’s just that the fifty-two-year-old woman you remember looked a bit differently from the seventy-two-year-old woman standing before you today.”

“Yes.” I stepped back. “I mean, no. I mean, sure, your hair is different, and I guess we all have a few more laugh lines, but still …” I realized I was rambling, so I stopped and hugged the woman again. “How are you?”

“I’m as well as can be expected. I was sorry to hear about Kayla.”

My smile faded just a bit. The death of my twin sister and best friend still hurt almost more than I could bear. I’d tried to do as others seemed to want and hide my pain, but no matter how hard I tried, the simplest thing—a song, a scent, a memory—would remind me just how much I’d lost, and the grief would return in a wave that would envelop me and then cast me into a sea of darkness once again.

“I guess it must have been extrahard with her in a coma for so long not knowing how things would work out in the end,” Dottie added after a moment.

She had no idea. In reality, Kayla had died a year ago, when a distracted driver had slammed into the car she was driving, but while everyone assured me that her mind was gone, her body had lived on, and as long as she clung to life, I’d clung to hope. Then, two months ago, her distraught husband decided to pull the plug and let her go peacefully, and I knew that my life would never be the same.

“How have you been holding up?” Dottie asked. She looked concerned, which I suppose was understandable, because I hadn’t said a word since the moment she’d brought up Kayla’s name. “I do understand how difficult something like this can be. I suppose it is even possible to lose ourselves in our grief.”

I cringed as I remembered the random acts of craziness that had been brought on by my overwhelming grief. “It has been hard,” I finally said. “But I’m hanging in there. Some days are harder than others. Some days it doesn’t seem real. But I guess you might understand that. I heard your Harold passed away as well.”

“Yes. Three years ago. He was the love of my life, and I miss him every day.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’m so very sorry. Sometimes I think Kayla’s death would have been easier to deal with if she’d lived a good, long life before passing. Forty-two is much too young. She had so many things yet to do. She had a husband and two daughters who needed her, and she had me, who probably needed her most of all. But then I stop and ask myself if her passing would have been easier if she’d been seventy or eighty or a hundred, and I can’t help but be faced with the truth—when you lose half of your heart, it is going to hurt no matter how long you’ve had together on this earth.”

“It is true that losing someone you love is never easy. How are her husband and daughters holding up?”

I thought about the husband and daughters left behind. “It’s been hard, but the girls are in college now and live busy lives. The accident did occur a year ago, so I guess you could say they’ve had time to adjust. Mark was a mess in the beginning, but he seems to have moved on. He’s even dating.” I exhaled slowly. “Truth be told, I’m really the only one who hasn’t been able to let go. Everyone says I should. Everyone says the time for grieving has passed. But losing Kayla feels like losing half my soul.”

Dottie smiled in understanding but didn’t respond. She turned to watch a pair of dolphins who’d decided to race the ferry, or at least it seemed as if that was what they were doing. I took a moment to rein in my emotions. They still felt so raw, and I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that a huge cosmic mix-up had occurred and Kayla wasn’t meant to die. Not only was she much too young, as I’d pointed out to whatever celestial body might be listening, but in dying, she’d broken a promise, and Kayla was the sort to take any promise she made quite seriously.

A small black bird landed on the railing not far from where I was still standing next to Dottie. I closed my eyes as I let my mind transport me back in time. I felt the tension fade just a bit as the years fell away and I conjured up a happier time. I thought about the two little girls who’d looked just the same. Two little girls who were not only sisters but best friends and soulmates as well. I remembered the promise made by those little girls, and I grieved for the hope that had been shattered when that promise was ultimately broken.

When Kayla and I were kids, I guess around six or seven, a friend of ours lost both her parents in an airplane accident. The tragedy was too great for either of us to really understand, and I remember that we’d both had nightmares for weeks. The content of our dreams was somewhat different, but the subtext was much the same. We both dreamed of a dramatic event that would rip us from the life we loved, only to be thrust into an empty space, where we’d find ourselves lost and alone.

One night, long after we were supposed to be asleep, Kayla came into my room and climbed into my bed. She was shaking and crying, so I held her close while she shared the depths of the terror she’d been feeling since our friend had been orphaned. I’d been feeling it as well, but I wanted to comfort my sister, so I reminded her that no matter what happened, even if our parents died and we were left alone in the world, we’d always have each other. That reminder seemed to help both of us, so we’d made a pact to always be there for the other, no matter what. We’d even promised to die on the same day so neither of us would ever have to be alone. As absurd as that might sound, I think there might be a tiny part of me that was angry at Kayla for not upholding her part of the promise.

“So, what brings you to Shipwreck Island after all these years?” Dottie asked after a while.

I tucked a lock of long blond hair that had blown across my face behind my ear before answering. “Carrie Davidson invited me. I guess she had the idea of getting the whole gang together for a long-overdue reunion.”

“So Quinn and Nora are coming as well?”

I nodded. “They are. Carrie rented the summerhouse my family used to own for five weeks.”

“Five weeks. That’s quite the vacation.”

“I’m not sure I’ll stay for the entire period, but I did promise to show up and see how it went. Honestly, I may not have made the effort at all, but this year is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the summer Peggy went missing, and Carrie wanted to do something to commemorate the role she played in our lives.” I turned slightly as a seagull landed on the railing beside me, chasing away the small black bird that had occupied the space. “It’s not that I don’t want to remember her; it’s more that I’m afraid my already raw emotions aren’t going to be able to endure yet another reminder of what has been lost.”

“I remember you were close.”

“The closest. She was like a sister to us, and we never really had the chance to say goodbye. Given the fact that she simply disappeared and no one ever knew what had happened, her family never did hold a funeral. I guess they never gave up hope that she’d find her way back to them.”

Dottie didn’t respond, but I could tell that I had her full attention.

“Carrie thought it would be nice to have a small ceremony,” I continued. “Nothing formal. I think it will be just the four of us.”

“I guess it’s been quite a while since the four of you have been on the island at the same time.”

I nodded. “I was here for Carrie and Carl’s fifteenth anniversary party almost five years ago, but Kayla was on a cruise with her husband, so she didn’t make it, and Quinn was overseas doing a story, so she didn’t make it either. Kayla and I came for our birthday when we turned thirty, but Nora was in Europe and Quinn was in Africa, so I think the last time we were all on the island together was for Carl and Carrie’s wedding. Wow, I had no idea it had been almost twenty years since we’d all been together.” Where had the time gone? “Of course, now that Kayla is gone, I guess we can never all be together again.”

My heart tightened as I thought of the six little girls who lived different lives but reunited each and every year when our families returned to their summer homes. Carrie’s family lived on the island year round, but Quinn, Nora, Peggy, and Kayla and I lived elsewhere during the school year. I remembered how much I’d looked forward to summering on the island. Those summers were some of the best times of my life.

“I ran into Carrie at the market a few months ago. She’s lost a lot of weight,” Dottie informed me, changing the subject, which was very much appreciated given my fragile emotional state. “I’d wondered if she might be ill, but her mother told me that Carl had filed for divorce and Carrie wasn’t dealing with things all that well. I guess I don’t blame her. I can’t imagine having the man you loved and planned to spend your life with decide that he preferred to spend his life with someone else.”

“It has been difficult for her,” I agreed. “I’ve chatted with her on the phone on a regular basis since Carl left, and she just seems so lost. I suppose it’s even worse when Jessica is away at college and poor Carrie has found herself living in that big, old house all alone. I suggested to her that she should sell the house and buy something smaller, but I think there has been a part of her that’s held on to the hope that Carl would come to his senses and return one day. Of course, now that the divorce is finalized, I guess she doesn’t even have that to hang on to.”

“I don’t know Carl well, but based on what I do know, I think Carrie might just be better off without him. I’d noticed him noticing other women for years.”

I hated to admit it, but I’d noticed the same thing almost since the day the two married. “I couldn’t agree more,” I voiced. “Carrie really is better off without Carl, although I would never say that to her. I think she is still at the point where she is totally focused on what she’s lost and is not of the mind to consider what she may have gained with Carl’s departure.”

Dottie shielded her eyes from the sun as the ferry turned toward the island. “I ran into Ryder just last week, and he said pretty much the same thing. Based on what I’ve heard from others on the island, he’s been her rock through this whole ordeal.”

I smiled at the memory of Carrie’s little brother. “Ryder always did have his sister’s back. Even though he was younger than her. Carrie told me he’s the mayor now.”

“Yes, and a darn good one he is. Much better than Mayor Hadley, may he rest in peace.”

I crossed my arms on the railing and looked out to sea. “I’m having a hard time picturing Ryder as mayor. When we were kids he was such a pest and always in trouble. In fact, I think he was voted most likely to end up in prison by his senior class.”

Dottie chuckled. “He does have a colorful past, and he still tools around town on that Harley of his, but in my opinion, he has done more to bring growth and prosperity to the island than any of his predecessors. The boy might wear his hair a bit too long, and I’m not overly fond of the leather jacket he seems so attached to, but Ryder has vision, and he’s a hard worker. He has a promising future ahead of him.”

“Has he kept his veterinary practice open?”

“He has. Being mayor in a small town like Hidden Harbor is more of an honorary title than a source of income, so all our mayors have day jobs. Ryder is still very committed to the animals he cares for, but now he is committed to the people of the island as well.”

I shook my head as I tried to picture Ryder West all grown up. I hadn’t run into him during my last two visits to the island, but I had seen him briefly at Carl and Carrie’s wedding almost twenty years before. Even then, he’d showed up in a leather vest and leather pants rather than the tux Carrie had picked out for him. Of course, he’d only been seventeen at the time, which meant he must by thirty-seven by now. I had to admit that most people matured quite a bit in the years between seventeen and thirty-seven.

“I guess you heard that Sheriff Renshaw retired after serving the community for forty years,” Dottie continued.

“No, I hadn’t heard,” I said, raising a brow. “I guess I should have expected as much. He must be well into his sixties now.”

“Sixty-nine. He first started working in law enforcement when he was just twenty-five and he retired two years ago. He was a good man and a good cop who has been missed, although Sam Stone has done an excellent job as well since he took over the role.”

“Sam Stone is the sheriff?” I had to admit I was even more surprised to hear that than I had been to hear that Ryder West was now the mayor. I seemed to remember that Sam was two years older than I, so I supposed he must be around forty-four by now. As a teen and young adult, he was very much a wild child, but as I’d already told myself once in the past five minutes, people did tend to change. “I think the last time I saw him was at Carl and Carrie’s wedding as well. I remember that he’d been traveling with a rock and roll band and was getting ready to head out on tour.”

“He did leave the island for almost a decade, but then he came back about ten years ago and joined the force as a deputy. He is a hard worker who is well-liked and highly regarded on the island, so when Renshaw decided to retire, he recommended Sam as his replacement. In my opinion, the lad has done an excellent job filling the very big shoes Renshaw left when he decided to move to Oklahoma.”

“Sheriff Renshaw moved to Oklahoma?”

She nodded. “I guess he has kin there.”

I looped my arm through Dottie’s. “You know, when I boarded this ferry, I had very mixed emotions about returning to Shipwreck Island and Hidden Harbor, but after chatting with you about the people I left behind, I find that I am very much looking forward to becoming reacquainted with the men and women who were such a huge part of my life as a child.” I paused to remember the fun Kayla and I’d had every summer when we were children. The friends we’d made, the trips we’d taken, and the little skip we’d used to learn to sail. “Does Old Man Brewster still run the marina?”

Dottie chuckled. “The old geezer is still policing the fishing boats, the same as he always has.”

“To be honest, I’m surprised he is even still alive. I seem to remember him being about a hundred when I was a kid.”

“Brew has lived his life in the sun, so he looked weathered and aged even when he wasn’t all that old. I think he is about eighty-five now. But he is a young eighty-five. Not only does he have the energy of a man half his age, but he is just as ornery as he ever was.”

I grabbed onto the railing as the ferry made a sharp turn. I could see the island in the distance and suspected we’d be docking within the next twenty minutes. “One of the things I really love about Shipwreck Island is the fact that, while many leave within a few years of moving there, those who stay tend to stay for the duration.”

“That’s true. We do have our share of old-timers. Of course, with the bump in tourism that we’ve seen in the last decade, the number of young families moving to the island has grown significantly as well. I guess you must have noticed all the new housing when you were here five summers ago.”

“Actually, my trip five years ago was a quick one. I came over on the ferry on Friday afternoon, attended the anniversary party Saturday, and then went home on Sunday. I didn’t have the time or opportunity to really look around.”

“Well, you’ll need to take the time during this visit. I think you will be surprised at the changes to both sides of the island in the last ten years.”

A voice came over the loudspeaker announcing that the ferry was preparing to dock.

“It’s been really good catching up with you, but it sounds like we should head down to the car deck. Let’s do lunch while I’m on the island,” I suggested.

“I’d like that very much.”

“Do you have a cell? I can text you my number.”

Dottie nodded. “I do have a cell, but I left it in the glove box of my car. If you text me your number, I’ll text you back, and we can arrange something.”

She recited her number, and I added her to my contacts and texted her my number right then and there. I knew from prior experience that if I didn’t do it now, I’d most likely forget all about it. We both decided to head down to the car deck, so we chatted as we climbed down the steep stairway to the lower level.

Once the ferry docked, I got in line and followed the cars onto Shipwreck Island. The island was surrounded by deep water that allowed for even the largest ships to pull right up to the docks that had been built in key locations over the years. Prior to the island being inhabited, the area had seen more than its share of shipwrecks. Based on what I remembered of local history, there had been more than one cargo ship heading up the coast that had failed to see the landmass in the fog and plowed right into it. Of course, now every ship had sonar and GPS and various other warning systems. Additionally, the island currently boasted six lighthouses, so it had been at least a century since the island had claimed any new victims.

There were two main towns on the island, which was conveniently located off the coast of Central California. Sea Haven was on the east side of the island and closest to the ferry terminal, while Hidden Harbor was on the west side and accessible only by sea or a narrow road that climbed up over the mountain at its center. Due to the small size of the island, the mountain acted as a natural barrier that tended to keep the two communities separate.

The drive up and over the mountain was gorgeous. The meadows were green and dotted with wildflowers, and the rivers ran full after the steady spring rain. When Kayla and I were children, our family lived in San Francisco, where our father worked as a business banker and our mother ran a charitable foundation. Both our parents worked a lot of hours, but every June, as soon as school let out, our parents would close up the house in Pacific Heights and we’d all pile into the van to make the trip to Shipwreck Island for the summer. Mom had a busy social life on the island, and Dad continued to work remotely, but the time we spent in the summerhouse as a family was priceless in my mind.

As I arrived at the summit of Sunset Mountain, I could see the town of Hidden Harbor tucked into the harbor for which it was named. Hidden Harbor was settled by rich families from the city, so although the area was remote, the town and the homes surrounding it reflected the opulent lifestyle of its upper-class residents. As I wound my way down the narrow mountain road, I found my anxiety level increasing with each passing mile.

I really was excited about seeing my friends, but the idea of staying in the same house where I’d spent summers with Kayla left me feeling agitated in a way I couldn’t quite explain. When Carrie had first invited me to the island, I assumed she was inviting me to stay with her in her own large home, but after I accepted the invite, she’d sprung it on me that she needed to get away from the walls she felt were closing in on her and had rented the same beachside home my family used to own. While she admitted to feeling better about the choice of location for our reunion, the thought of spending time in the home where I’d once been so happy almost caused me to hyperventilate.

I would admit, however, that the summer home my father designed was pretty awesome. Set on one of the nicest beaches on the island, the views were amazing from every window. When I’d lived there as a child, the home featured four bedrooms and five baths, but the investor who’d purchased the house from my mother after my father’s death had converted the huge suite on the third floor into two, still large but smaller suites.

The second floor of the home featured three bedrooms, all with private balconies overlooking the sea, while the first floor housed a huge kitchen, formal dining and living areas, family and game rooms, two bathrooms, an office, and laundry facilities.

The town of Hidden Harbor, often referred to as the village, was elegant but compact. The village was located behind the harbor, which made sense, I supposed, because rich men and women who docked their yachts in the harbor for a few days could simply walk into the small commercial area that featured upscale shopping, elegant restaurants, and eclectic bars.

I slowed as I approached the outskirts of the town. I knew I’d need to watch for a fork in the road. The village was to the left, while the summerhouse of my youth was to the right. I wasn’t entirely certain when Carrie planned to arrive, but it was a beautiful, sunny day, so I supposed if I got to the house first, I’d take a walk along the beach while I waited for her.

“It looks just the same,” I whispered to Kayla as I turned onto the coast road and headed north. “The white sand beach, the sapphire blue sea, the rolling waves, and the endless sky. All of it exactly as we remembered.”

My mother hated it when I talked to Kayla, insisting that I really did need to find a way to let her go, but I knew in my soul that I would never let go of this relationship, with the sister who shared my heart.

“I’m excited to see the gang, but I’m also terrified that I won’t be able to handle the memories created by staying in the same house where we lived as children. God, I wish you were here. I wish you could see what I see, and feel what I feel. I wish we could sit and chat late into the night the way we used to.”

I wiped a tear from my cheek and forcefully steered my thoughts toward something a bit less emotional. As I drove farther toward the north shore of the island, the empty space between the homes increased, giving the area a desolate feel. Many residents moving to the island wanted to be closer to town, which meant the farther from town you traveled, the more sparsely populated the beachfront property became. The house my family used to own was the last one on the coast road. I didn’t know if anyone had built on either side of it since I’d last visited, but when I was a child, the house stood alone along the northernmost point of the white sand beach.

After arriving at my destination, I stopped to consider the house. It had been a pale yellow when we’d lived there. Now it was sky blue. I liked it. The shutters had been painted a dark gray that contrasted nicely with the white trim, and there was a screened-in white porch. It looked as if someone had installed a new roof as well. The silver Mercedes in the drive informed me that Carrie had arrived. I wasn’t sure if I was happy or sad about that, but it was what it was, so I opened the door of my Porsche and stepped out into the drive.

“Kelly!” Carrie yelled as she ran out of the house and onto the drive. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”

“I can’t believe it either.” I hugged her back.

She pulled away just a bit. “Let me look at you. It’s been so long, but you look just the same.”

I smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I will admit that I haven’t updated my look in ages.” I dug my fingernails into my hand to stop the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. “You look fabulous as well, and so different. I guess you went the opposite route and changed everything.”

She laughed. “Divorce will do that to you. After Carl left I looked in the mirror and decided I wanted to change everything about myself. I lost thirty pounds, bleached my brown hair blond, cut it short, and even got blue contacts. Now when I look in the mirror, I no longer see the frumpy, outdated woman Carl couldn’t wait to replace, but a new woman he most definitely would have looked twice at had we not already been married.”

I supposed I understood why Carrie might want an entirely new look after her husband of twenty years dumped her for a younger woman, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw not only my old, familiar image but Kayla. I knew that I would cling to that for as long as I could and wouldn’t change a single thing about my look, no matter how outdated my long hair and simple style became.

“Grab your stuff and we can choose rooms,” Carrie said. “Personally, I think the two of us should settle into the two larger suites on the third floor. Initially, I felt greedy claiming one of the larger suites as my own, but then I remembered that I was the one who did all the planning for this event, so I deserved one of the larger suites.”

“I agree. You do deserve one of the larger suites.” I thought about my old bedroom on the second floor, and the Jack and Jill bathroom that connected my room to Kayla’s. Part of me wanted to stay in my old room, but another realized that taking a room on the newly remodeled third floor would be a lot easier on my emotions. “And I’ll take the second of the two third-floor suites, as you suggested. I always wished my bedroom rather than my parents was up there when I was a kid.”

After we stowed my luggage in the suite, we headed out onto the back deck that overlooked the sea. Carrie poured us each a glass of wine, which I welcomed after the emotional day I’d had to this point. It would be good to relax with old friends. Maybe by visiting the past I could begin to heal in the present.

“I’ve been struggling with what to say or not say about Kayla,” Carrie said once we’d settled in with our wine. “I’m sure you must be hurting, and part of me feels like it might be easiest for you if everyone just avoids bringing up her name, but Kayla was a huge part of all our lives and it feels unnatural not to bring her into the conversation.”

I reached over and grabbed Carrie’s hand. “It’s okay to talk about her. I can’t promise I won’t get teary when someone does, but she was part of the Summer Six in the past, and she will continue to be part of the Summer Six into the future.”

“Even if the Summer Six is now only four?” she asked about the six girls who had formed a club of sorts.

“Even if. We didn’t stop talking about Peggy even after she—”

After she what? I asked myself. After she ran away, after she was kidnapped, after she died? The not knowing was the worst part.

“After she was no longer a part of our lives,” Carrie supplied. “And yes, you are correct, we didn’t stop talking about her. In fact, in the beginning, we talked about her more than we ever had before. It’s just that …”

“It’s just that you are being sensitive of my feelings,” I provided. “And I appreciate that. But Kayla is gone, and that is something I need to learn to live with. Maybe if I talk about her enough, eventually it won’t hurt quite so much to do so.” Even as I said that, I knew it wasn’t true, but one could hope. “When are Nora and Quinn getting here?”

“Quinn is flying in from Paris and wasn’t sure about all the connections, so she didn’t have an ETA, though she said she’d be getting into San Francisco tomorrow, or possibly even the following day. I guess once she arrives she’ll make arrangements for the ferry over to the island.”

“So she probably won’t be here until Monday at least.”

“That would be my guess. You know how busy she is. I’m just grateful she agreed to take any time off at all.”

Diana Quinby, Quinn to everyone who knew her, was a foreign correspondent for United Press International and traveled extensively. Although I hadn’t seen her in years, I did chat with her on the phone every couple of months, and it seemed she lived an interesting life.

“And Nora?”

“Nora had to postpone her arrival and won’t make it to the island until next week as well,” Carrie continued. “I’m guessing Thursday, or even Friday.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?” Nora was married, with four grown children. She’d married her one true love, Matt Hargrove, right out of high school. Of all the couples I knew, they, it seemed, were the most perfectly suited.

“Shelby has been having some sort of issue with her college admissions packet, and Nora decided to make the trip out to Massachusetts to get it worked out in person. You know Nora; when it comes to those children of hers, a phone call won’t do.”

“I heard Shelby had been accepted to Harvard. That is really something. Nora must be over the moon with pride and happiness.”

Carrie gently nibbled on her lower lip in what seemed to be a nervous habit. “You would think that Nora would be ecstatic that not only has Shelby actually achieved her dream of going to Harvard but, now that she will be going off to college, Matt and Nora would finally have the house to themselves. But when I spoke to her, she didn’t seem happy. She seemed frantic and nervous and sort of sad.”

“Sad?”

“I get the empty nest thing,” Carrie shared. “I began to have all sorts of stress-related issues the moment Jessica started applying to colleges, and then, when she actually left the house where we’d raised her for the last time, I broke down and wept, despite the fact that I knew she’d be back for Christmas break. But I sensed something more than empty nest syndrome from Nora. Shelby is her youngest and she has said goodbye to three other children. Still, I suppose the last one to leave home is the hardest.”

“I guess we can talk to her to see what’s on her mind when she gets here,” I suggested.

“Yes, we can. I can’t wait until we are all together again.”

“I’m excited to see everyone, but sitting here relaxing with you is nice too,” I said. “I’d forgotten how blue the sea is along this stretch of beach.”

“It is something special,” she agreed. “I always did think this was the prettiest stretch of coastline on the island. I’ve even thought of buying one of the little cottages down the road after I sell my house.”

“You’re selling your house? That’s great. When I spoke to you last, you sounded like you weren’t ready to make the break.”

She nodded. “I used to love that house, but part of my new life, new me plan includes a new living space. I still want to be on the water, but I want something small that I can maintain with minimal effort. I haven’t definitely decided to move to this end of the island because there are advantages to being close to the village, but I have definitely decided to sell the house. Carl is having a fit about that, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t care. I got the house in the divorce settlement, so it is mine to do with as I please.”

I held up my glass in a toast. “Good for you. I love your new life, new you mantra. I think it is exactly the attitude you need to move past this and get on with whatever the future holds.”

Carrie clicked her glass with mine. “I was a total wreck for a long time, but I really do feel better with each day that passes. I actually feel excited to see what comes next for me.” Her phone buzzed. She looked at the caller ID. “It’s a text from Jessica, letting me know that she made it to France.”

“Jessica is in France?”

Carrie nodded. “I’d hoped she’d spend the summer here on the island, but she insisted that she’d made plans with a friend to tour Europe. I know it’s been hard on her since Carl and I split up, so I didn’t really blame her for not wanting to hang out in the war zone, but I sure do miss her. Now that Carl is no longer in my life, I feel sort of empty.”

“I’m sure that will get better with time.”

“I’m sure it will.” She smiled. “In fact, it already has. Since it is just the two of us tonight, should we head into the village to see if we can break some hearts?”

I laughed. “I don’t know about the breaking hearts part, but I’d love to have dinner in the village. Is Danello’s still there?”

“It is, and they still have the best Italian food you are going to get anywhere.”

“It’s been forever since I allowed myself that many carbs, but I’m game if you are.”

“Oh, I’m game.” Carrie stood up. “Just let me change and we’ll go.”

Books by Kathi Daley

Come for the murder, stay for the romance

The Inn at Holiday Bay:

Boxes in the Basement

Letters in the Library

Message in the Mantel

Answers in the Attic

Haunting in the Hallway

Pilgrim in the Parlor

Note in the Nutcracker

Blizzard in the Bay

Proof in the Photo

Gossip in the Garden – May 2020

A Cat in the Attic Mystery:

The Curse of Hollister House

The Mystery Before Christmas

The Case of the Cupid Caper

The Secret of Logan Pond

Reunion Trilogy — Island Reunion

Summerhouse Reunion – April 2020

Topsail Sunday’s – May 2020

Campfire Secrets – June 2020

Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery:

Halloween Hijinks

The Trouble With Turkeys

Christmas Crazy

Cupid’s Curse

Big Bunny Bump-off

Beach Blanket Barbie

Maui Madness

Derby Divas

Haunted Hamlet

Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies

Christmas Cozy

Alaskan Alliance

Matrimony Meltdown

Soul Surrender

Heavenly Honeymoon

Hopscotch Homicide

Ghostly Graveyard

Santa Sleuth

Shamrock Shenanigans

Kitten Kaboodle

Costume Catastrophe

Candy Cane Caper

Holiday Hangover

Easter Escapade

Camp Carter

Trick or Treason

Reindeer Roundup

Hippity Hoppity Homicide

Firework Fiasco

Henderson House

Holiday Hostage

Lunacy Lake

Celtic Christmas

Dija Diva – Publishing 2020

Zimmerman Academy The New Normal

Zimmerman Academy New Beginnings

Ashton Falls Cozy Cookbook

Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery:

Romeow and Juliet

The Mad Catter

Grimm’s Furry Tail

Much Ado About Felines

Legend of Tabby Hollow

Cat of Christmas Past

A Tale of Two Tabbies

The Great Catsby

Count Catula

The Cat of Christmas Present

A Winter’s Tail

The Taming of the Tabby

Frankencat

The Cat of Christmas Future

Farewell to Felines

A Whisker in Time

The Catsgiving Feast

A Whale of a Tail

The Catnap Before Christmas

A Mew Beginning – Publishing 2020

A Tess and Tilly Mystery:

The Christmas Letter

The Valentine Mystery

The Mother’s Day Mishap

The Halloween House

The Thanksgiving Trip

The Saint Paddy’s Promise

The Halloween Haunting

The Christmas Clause

The Wedding Plan – Summer 2020

Rescue Alaska Mystery:

Finding Justice

Finding Answers

Finding Courage

Finding Christmas

Finding Shelter – Publishing 2020

The Hathaway Sisters:

Harper

Harlow

Hayden – Publishing 2020

Writers’ Retreat Mystery:

First Case

Second Look

Third Strike

Fourth Victim

Fifth Night

Sixth Cabin

Seventh Chapter

Eighth Witness

Ninth Grave

Haunting by the Sea:

Homecoming by the Sea

Secrets by the Sea

Missing by the Sea

Betrayal by the Sea

Thanksgiving by the Sea

Christmas by the Sea

Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery:

Pumpkins in Paradise

Snowmen in Paradise

Bikinis in Paradise

Christmas in Paradise

Puppies in Paradise

Halloween in Paradise

Treasure in Paradise

Fireworks in Paradise

Beaches in Paradise

Thanksgiving in Paradise

Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery:

Murder at Dolphin Bay

Murder at Sunrise Beach

Murder at the Witching Hour

Murder at Christmas

Murder at Turtle Cove

Murder at Water’s Edge

Murder at Midnight

Murder at Pope Investigations

Seacliff High Mystery:

The Secret

The Curse

The Relic

The Conspiracy

The Grudge

The Shadow

The Haunting

Road to Christmas Romance:

Road to Christmas Past

USA Today best-selling author Kathi Daley lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken. When she isn’t writing, she likes spending time hiking the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. She has authored more than a hundred books in twelve series. Find out more about her books at www.kathidaley.com

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