A Watery Death (A Missing Pieces Mystery Book 7) (11 page)

“That doesn’t explain you making jokes at my expense. I’m going to make some money. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Kevin!” One of the student servers called out his name. “Someone upset the soup tureen in the dining room, and there’s soup everywhere.”

“Wait,” he said to me. “Don’t leave until I get back. Let’s talk about this.”

But I was already determined to go. As soon as he’d followed the young man toward the dining room, I stalked out the front door. I was angry and embarrassed by what he’d said to me. Kevin never acted that way. What was it about seafolk that was so hard to believe?

A woman wearing an ankle-length green cotton skirt, her long gray hair wind-tossed around her interesting face, almost ran right into me. Or I almost ran right into her. I wasn’t exactly looking where I was going.

“I’m so sorry.” I smiled my perfect mayor’s smile and stuck my hand out in her direction. “I’m Mayor Dae O’Donnell. You don’t look familiar to me. Welcome to Duck.”

“Thank you so much, Mayor O’Donnell.” She shook my hand in a distracted manner. “I’m Tess Horner. Dr. Tess Horner. I’m looking for the gambling ship where the man was found dead. Do you know where that is?”

“Of course. You’re very close. Would you like some lunch before you go? It’s free here today.”

“No. Not right now, thanks. I’m very excited to be in Duck after receiving a call from a colleague who’s here on vacation. Perhaps you know something about what happened on the ship?”

I studied her carefully. She didn’t look like a reporter, and she’d added “Dr.” to her name when she introduced herself. But why would she be interested in Captain Lucky’s death?

“That’s not far from here. I’m afraid the ship isn’t open right now due to the investigation. Maybe you’d like to try your hand at some deep sea fishing or surfing until the police are finished.”

“I should have explained who I am.” Dr. Tess Horner smiled and pushed her hair back from her face. “I’m a marine biologist from the University of Minnesota. I’ve come all this way because my colleague feels sure your captain was killed by an aquatic human.”

My eyes felt as though they were bulging out as I stared at her. “You mean a merman?” My voice could barely squeak out the words.

“I suppose you could say that.” She smiled. “It is my fervent hope that we can find proof that the seafolk had a part in your captain’s murder.”

Chapter Ten

I glanced back toward the kitchen. Kevin was probably still in the dining room. I wanted to introduce her to him and smile broadly as she explained her mission.

Instead I told her that I knew a lot about what she was looking for and invited her to Missing Pieces for tea. Tess was happy to accompany me since I had firsthand experience with an aquatic human. We stopped and picked up sandwich bagels at the coffee shop on the way.

“So you have actually encountered a male of the species,” Tess said when she was seated on my burgundy brocade sofa. “How marvelous! What did he look like? I have a thousand questions for you.”

I explained the entire thread of events as best I could over lunch. Shoppers came and went, probably not getting the kind of attention I would normally have given them because I was so caught up in the idea that I had really met a merman.

“And he spoke English?” She typed notes into her tablet as we talked.

“He said he was familiar with humans and the way we lived.” I shrugged. “I don’t think that was accurate. Most people wouldn’t even believe he existed.” I sighed, thinking about my heated debate with Kevin.

“I’m afraid that’s very true, Dae.” Tess shook her head. “I’ve traveled around the world following accounts of humans or humanoid creatures that live in the sea and in fresh water. I have never been able to prove their existence.”

“I’ve read plenty of stories about them. We should go to the Duck Historical Museum later. There have been hundreds of mermaid sightings off the coast of the Outer Banks. Always men reporting beautiful mermaids, of course.” I smiled at her. “Maybe that’s what makes them so hard to believe.”

“Perhaps. But you have to remember that men have spent more time in related activities that brought them to the sea than women. Everything is subjective. I’d love to go to the museum and take a look at what’s there. Many things that we used to think were nothing but mythology and folklore are actually true.”

“Yes. And Captain Lucky did give me the coral horn that he said was used to call the seafolk. Maybe he was involved with one of them.”

“A coral horn?” Her eyes got wide. “May I see it? This is all so exciting. You know, I’ve been to the Outer Banks before on another sighting. But that was Hatteras Island, and I went home empty-handed.”

I got the coral horn as a stream of customers came into the shop. I had to deal with them first, answering questions about different items made with seashells that I carried. Some of them were made locally, but many were not. One man and woman bought almost every local piece I had. I thanked them heartily and then went back with the horn to Tess.

“Oh, this is wonderful. Have you tried blowing into it?” She put the coral to her lips.

I put my hand on the horn. “I haven’t tried it, but someone else did. It makes a terrible sound, and now I wonder if that isn’t what brought the merman here.”

She put it down. “It sounds as though Tovi has been here for a while, definitely before Captain Lucky died, right?”

The door chimed, and I looked up. It was Kevin. I was still a little angry with him. Before we could exchange any uneasy pleasantries, I introduced him to Tess.

“Very nice to meet you.” She shook his hand. “Dae has been so helpful. You’re a lucky man to be with someone with her gifts.”

He smiled. “Thank you, although she’d be the first to tell you it isn’t always easy.”

“But then it never is, is it?” Tess smiled and looked back and forth between us. “Have you seen the merman too?”

I sat on the burgundy brocade sofa beside her and let Kevin take the chair.

“No,” he answered. “It’s interesting that you showed up just as he did.”

“Kevin used to be with the FBI before he settled here,” I explained to Tess. “He’s suspicious of everyone.”

“Oh!” She laughed. “You think I may have made up my search for the sea people to cover my involvement in Captain Lucky’s murder?”

“I’ve heard crazier things,” he responded, not backing down.

“So have I,” she agreed. “But in this case, I can show you the text I got from the man who runs the local newspaper. I believe you’ll find it’s time-stamped
after
the captain’s death.”

“I’m not active with the FBI, and certainly not with the Duck Police.” Kevin waved away the cell phone she offered him. “I spent so many years looking for puzzle pieces that I do it naturally. I apologize if I offended you.”

“You didn’t offend me.” Tess glanced at me as she put away her cell phone and got to her feet. “Dae, I am so grateful that I ran into you. If you could arrange for me to get onboard the ship and take a look at the crime scene you described, that would be wonderful. I’d love to get a sample of that seaweed! As for this evening when Tovi said he’d return, I’d like to be here for that too. I’m staying with a friend in Duck. I’m going to let her know I’m here and drop off my stuff, but I’ll be back.”

“Great.” I stood with her. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“Nice meeting you, Kevin.” She shook his hand again. “Good luck.”

After she was gone, Kevin and I sat quietly together. I was very excited about meeting Tess and filled to the brim with mermaid lore. I didn’t want to get into that conversation with him again, but I wasn’t sure I could say anything without mentioning it.

“So his name is Tovi,” Kevin finally said.

“Yes.”

“And he’s a merman. A
naked
merman.”

“Yes. At least he was naked the two times I saw him.”

“Then I guess I’d like to be here when he comes back too.”

“I don’t want to scare him off.”

“He doesn’t sound very shy, Dae. He stalked you, picked you up, and jumped on the sandbar. And I assume Tess will be here. I’ll be very quiet.”

“It might be easier if I take a picture of him,” I offered. “I’m not an FBI profiler, but it’s easy to get a disbelieving vibe from you.”

“Do you have to be a believer like you and Tess to see him?”

I got to my feet again. “Kevin—”

He stood too and put his arms around me. “I’m sorry. I know I’m naturally skeptical. It has nothing to do with my former career. But if you say you saw a merman—or a unicorn—I don’t care. I believe you. If you don’t want me to be here, I understand. But be careful in case this is some elaborate hoax you’re involved in that has something to do with the murder.”

I hugged him back. “I love you, skepticism and all. That’s all I ask is that you believe I’m telling the truth. You don’t have to believe there are seafolk—until I prove it to you.”

We sat on the sofa and kissed for a while. It made us both feel better. I knew we were on the same page now. I didn’t have to prove anything to him. He had my back, and that was what counted.

The door chimed, and I lazily looked over Kevin’s shoulder. It was Trudy. She was wearing her wedding gown and sobbing.

“Dae, I have to talk to you. I can’t marry Tim. I don’t know what to do. Everything is such a mess.” She scrubbed her hands over her red eyes. “Hello, Kevin. Sorry. If I’m interrupting, I can come back.”

“No.” He walked to her and took her arm, seating her beside me, her huge white dress poofing out around her. “I was just leaving. I’ll see you later, Dae. Good luck, Trudy.”

I smiled as he mimed calling him after Trudy had finished talking to me.

“I feel so awful,” Trudy cried. “You have to do something, Dae. My wedding is ruined.”

“Okay. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Let me make you some chamomile tea, and we’ll talk.”

The tea was made, but another large group of customers came into the shop. I gave Trudy the cup and told her to wait for me as I went to speak with them.

Unfortunately for me, Trudy, and the customers, they were looking for my good stuff, the icing on the cake that I sold rarely but enjoyed the most. They scrutinized every real piece I had and were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They closely examined the rosewood tea service and Lady Spencer’s teardrop earrings.

I kept looking over at Trudy to see how she was doing. It was hard to keep my mind on the pieces I was showing when she was sitting there crying. I was afraid she would leave before we had a chance to talk.

Finally my customers said they would be back after perusing other Duck antique shops. I really hated it when people said that because I knew they probably wouldn’t return.

On the other hand, my lifelong best friend who was completely miserable.

There wasn’t much choice. I said goodbye to my potential customers who might or might not buy something big later that would keep me in business for six months. I made sure they all had my business cards. And then I watched them leave and sat with my friend.

“I’m so sorry.” I held her hand.

“You have to make money too.” She sniffled and started crying again.

“What’s wrong? Just pre-wedding jitters?”

“I wish that was all that was wrong.” She wiped her eyes. “It was an accident. Darcy is making handkerchiefs for all the men in the wedding party. She’s also renting the tuxedos. Except for Tim who’s buying a tuxedo from her because he wanted to have one.”

“And what happened?”

“I was there for a fitting, wearing my wedding gown.” She looked down at the frothy white dress she was wearing. “Tim came in. He didn’t know I was there. I saw him in the mirror behind me. I tried to get away before he saw me. We all know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding.”

“And he saw you.” I smiled and hugged her. “That doesn’t mean you have to call off the wedding, Trudy. It’s probably happened to dozens of brides, but their weddings went okay anyway. It’s going to be fine.”

She started wailing in earnest, and there was no comforting her.

“You don’t understand, Dae.” She finally took a breath and started speaking again. “It wasn’t only that he saw me. It was what he
said
when he saw me.”

“Please, Trudy, just tell me. I’m sure we can make it right.”

She lifted her tearstained face to me, one of the very few times I’d ever seen Trudy’s pretty face less than perfect. “He said, ‘Good thing you’re trying on different gowns, honey. That one you’re wearing really sucks.’ ”

The words brought a flood of tears. She completely lost it. It took me a few minutes to calm her down again.

“He hates my wedding gown. The gown my parents spent thousands of dollars on and that Darcy has already worked on for months. He hates it, Dae. That has to mean it’s over. We don’t even have enough in common to like the same wedding dress.”

I didn’t take the opportunity to tell her that I wasn’t crazy about the hoop-skirted ballroom design she’d chosen for her gown either. We’d talked about it a little when she’d first commissioned Darcy to make it. But when I saw Trudy was completely sold on the gown, I didn’t say anything else about it. If there is one thing a woman should be able to choose in her life, it should be the dress she’s married in.

It wouldn’t help at that moment to tear her dreams down any further. So I sat and held her hand, took out a new box of tissues, and tried to get her to calm her down.

My methods seem to be working when Tim came running through the front door so fast that the chime didn’t sound until the door was closing behind him.

“Oh my God, Trudy.” He knelt on the floor beside her. “I had no idea, sweetie. Darcy told me this is the gown you want. I love it. Really. It’s the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen.”

He tried to take her hand.

She stared at him, mascara running down her face. “Love it? You said you hated it. Now you’re lying to me. I knew this wedding wasn’t a good idea. It’s off, Tim. That’s it. You and I aren’t getting married.”

Trudy was out the door, as fast as she could in that huge skirt. I watched her run down the boardwalk, almost knocking a few tourists off the side of the walkway and into the water.