Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (8 page)

Zack finished his run as Nicole was making her morning check of the cottages. He had gone through the police academy with her and later they had both started their careers with the Mariner Bay Police Department. Medium height, Nicole sported a slim, muscular body—and certainly filled out a uniform attractively. She was known to be much sassier than her short blond hair. He chuckled at the numerous men she’d put in their place at the academy. Not one of them ever offered to take her on twice. She’d worked hard and paid her dues to be a good cop. He jogged closer to her. “Hey, Blondie.”

Nicole pivoted in his direction and used her hand as a shield from the sun. “Hey, yourself.”

“Time for a coffee break?”

“Sorry, I’m covering for Ted at the station.” She stepped in cadence with his steps.

“Any news from Alec or Logan this morning?” Zack had slowed to a trudge through the sand.

“I talked to Alec when I came on duty. It was a quiet night. Other than a run out to Mick’s Bar on the outskirts of town—but that’s to be expected.” She checked her cell phone. “I better head to the station. See you around.” She waved again as she double-timed the wooden steps up to the road. He’d taken her out to dinner once—but there had never been any sparks between them. Instead, they’d become friends and now once again they worked for the same department.

Showered and changed, he hit the road. His instincts rebelled at allowing Jezzica and Catylen to check out of the inn. But security equipment had been installed at the bookshop and the cottage. As much as he wanted to keep the sisters sequestered, he couldn’t find a viable excuse why they shouldn’t return to their normal routines. He kept an eye out for anything that might not fit the scenario of a small town as he cruised the coastal road. He soon approached the inn and turned in to the parking lot.

The sisters waited at the front entrance. He pulled up and quickly jumped out to help with their luggage, although the bell person already had it all handled.

Jezzica fastened her seat belt, cuddling her new furry friend in her lap. “Have there been any more break-ins, or suspicious people hanging around town?”

Zack hated the slight tremble of fear and doubt in her voice. He exited back onto the coastal road, gripping the wheel tighter to keep from reaching for her hand. “Nothing, and we’ve had both the bookshop and the cottage under twenty-four-hour surveillance.” The perpetrators vanishing without a trace wasn’t making him look good. He didn’t wish for problems, but he wasn’t
convinced the town had experienced the end of their mayhem.

“I’m relieved.” Jezzica finally settled back and seemed to relax. “The work at the shop is way behind if we’re going to open on schedule.”

Catylen leaned forward and grabbed the back of Jezzica’s seat. “After spending four days being pampered, we’re rested and up to any challenge. We’ll have the shop ready and opened—might even end up ahead of the target date.”

Zack smiled at Catylen’s optimism. It was amazing how much the sisters looked alike—why didn’t Catylen kick his heart into overdrive the way Jezzica did?
It goes way deeper than looks. Jezzica, she’s caring. She has a softness and kindness about her that can’t be faked. Life dealt her a tough blow; it may have broken her heart but it hadn’t hardened her.

“I’m on vacation. It was arranged before I started with the department here. So for the next ten days—I’m at your command.” He tossed a wink Jezzica’s direction.
And who knows what the future may hold.

Jezzica shook her head. “No. This is your time to relax. There’s plenty to do here in the Cove. Boating, surfing, and even deep sea boats go out every morning.”

“If the man wants to help one of the new business owners, that’s his prerogative.” Catylen corrected her sister.

Zack laughed. “Yep, that’s exactly what the
man
intends to do.”

He pulled into the driveway of their cottage. “I’ll meet you at the bookshop.”

Jezzica’s smile filled with mischief. “You win. Don’t complain later when I work you too hard. We’ll be there within the hour.”

He waited as they disappeared through the front door of the cottage. If he rushed, he could check in with the station and still make it to the bookshop before Jezzica and her sister.

He made the short jaunt and rushed through the side entrance. He rapped his knuckles on the open door to Logan’s office. The chief motioned him on in. “Aren’t you on vacation? We’re so charming you can’t stay away?” Logan chuckled at his own humor.

Zack raised the corner of his mouth in a half-grin. “I need to toss around the latest happenings, or to be more exact, the non-happenings.”

“A quiet few days.” Logan shook his head. “Makes me suspicious.”

“Do we back off or tighten down the hatches?”

“What’s your call?” Logan leaned back in his chair.

“I hate to keep hoarding manpower, but I say we batten down good and tight.” Zack ran his hand across his face.

“That’d be my guess—they’re waiting, like a lion stalking his prey.” Logan shared Zack’s exact assessment.

“I’ll be helping Jezzica with the bookshop during my vacation. I’ll take care of that watch. The security we installed will make it easier, too.”

“I’ll handle the rest from this end. Send me a text whenever Jezzica and her sister return to their cottage.” Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “Our job is about to get more difficult. Summer residents and visitors have already arrived and more will be showing up daily. The town is about to be transformed by the vitality and energy of summer. Crowded beaches, a boat in every slip in the harbor, and Main Street overflowing with shoppers.”

“It’ll make it easier for a stranger to hide in plain sight.” Zack gave a heavy sigh. “I assume there’ll be ordinary people hanging out, crowd watching?”

“We’ll elicit help from the merchants. Add it to your list for the meeting.”

Zack rose. “Will do. Need to get to the bookshop before Jezzica—I want to go in ahead of her.”

Logan looked up from his desk. “Zack, don’t play the hero—if anything comes up, call for backup.”

“You got it, Chief—I have no desire for
hero
to be written on my gravestone.”
I hope it doesn’t come to that. If this has anything to do with the carjacking—these are vicious criminals.

Chapter Twelve
 

The first order of business as Jezzica and Catylen entered the cottage, after their four-day stay at the inn, was to retrieve their voicemails. The antiquated machine indicated only one message.

They hovered over the machine. Jackson’s voice crackled with static. “Hey, Jezzica, I apologize for the call you received from my assistant. I’d stopped and grabbed a bite. I got about a hundred miles out of town when my stomach churned. I had no choice but to stop. I ended up stranded in the middle of nowhere without phone service. I’ll save you the horror and not give details of my experience with food poising. I’m home now and all is well. I’ll be in touch.” The machine beeped and clicked off.

Relief surged through Jezzica. If something horrible had happened to the private investigator while working on her case—

“If Jackson wasn’t nabbed by thugs—who intentionally rammed our car?” Catylen frowned, her eyes filled with concern.

“Wish I knew.”
Does this rule out the killers? Could they have followed me here?
Jezzica rose from her chair. “Let’s get a move on. We have mountains to climb.”

Catylen chuckled. “I take it we need ropes to scale those rocky surfaces.” She laughed as she followed her sister.

Jezzica scooted into the passenger’s seat of her sister’s car. “I’m relieved nothing happened to Jackson. Being ill was better than where my imagination had him—wondering what kind of flowers to send to the mortuary.”

Catylen made a left onto Main Street and parked in front of the bookshop. Zack leaned casually against his truck with his arms folded across his brawny chest. Jezzica swallowed as the sight of him caused the annoying butterflies in her stomach to take flight.

The car door closed harder than she’d intended. “Have you been waiting long?” She placed her hand on her stomach and willed the dance to end—it didn’t.

“A bit. It gave me a chance to return a few calls. So now my agenda is cleared and I’m all yours. Where’s the new mascot?”

“He’s home. I decided to keep him with me until the shop opens.”

She heard her sister’s giggles as she came around the car to where Jezzica stood. “
All yours,
Jezz. Hmm.” She teased in a not so subtle stage whisper.

Jezzica flashed her an indignant look. “There’s work to be done—we don’t have time to be playing word games.”

Jezzica unlocked the door and raised the blinds, allowing the sun to stream into the shop. She looked at Zack. “I received a call from the remodeling company after you dropped us off this morning. The crew is coming today to start work on the upstairs apartment. With all of the dust, there isn’t much to be accomplished here.”

Zack nodded toward the stairs. “Problem with the apartment?”

“Some of the interior walls are being removed, and then two large windows installed so the space will be visible from downstairs. When it’s finished there will be two rooms, a kitchen, and restroom facilities.”

“A place for book clubs or writer groups or even non-literary groups to hold meetings.” Excitement laced Catylen’s words.

“A quaint room with a fireplace for smaller groups, and the other room will accommodate larger groups.” Jezzica embraced the anticipation of owning her own business. She wanted to move on with her life—with the opening of the bookshop.

“Maggie called this morning. My vintage club chairs are ready. If we pick them up in Mariner Bay, it’ll save on the delivery costs.”

Zack shrugged. “Let’s go.”

“Jezz, I called Dr. Ellie earlier and arranged for a session today. Afterward, I’ll visit with Julia at the coffee shop until you get back.” Catylen looked as if she was expecting an argument.

And she was right, Jezzica wasn’t thrilled with the idea of leaving her behind, still she understood Catylen’s need to get her own life on track. “Promise you won’t go back to the cottage.”

“I have no intentions of being home alone. Now you two get a move on.”

“If you’re sure. But be careful.” Jezzica hugged her sister and followed Zack out the door.

On the way to the truck, Zack nodded toward the coffee shop. “Should we grab coffee and pastries from Julia?”

“We might have time for lunch in Mariner Bay.” Jezzica smiled as her hand went to her midsection.

“Coffee now and lunch later. I know the perfect place.” They settled into his truck with coffee in hand.

The sun glistened on the sea and the day burst with spring. Fluffy white clouds graced the sky, and wildflowers added sweetness to the salty air. Jezzica closed her eyes and leaned her head against the headrest.
If only I could seize this feeling.
Serenity Cove is the most magical place in the world.

Her thoughts did a one-eighty. “I received a message from the private investigator I hired. He was ill and had to stop—nothing to do with the killers.”

Zack hesitated as though processing her words. “That’s good news.” He paused a long moment. “The hit-and-run incident concerns me.”

“If the criminals are after me, it’s dangerous for Catylen to be here.”

“It’s likely, they only intended to deliver a strong warning. Now they’ll sit back and see what happens.”

“Have they been stalking me the whole time?” Wasn’t it enough they’d destroyed the biggest part of her when they killed Geoff? Were they out to finish the job?

Zack pushed a button on the car stereo and the vivacious sounds of Vivaldi streamed from the speakers. How had he known this particular music would calm her raging panic? “I’ve loved Vivaldi since I was a young girl.”

“My grandfather introduced me to the great composers. Vivaldi mixes with beautiful scenery.”

Jezzica touched the dash—connecting to the music a little closer. “Remember the tag line, ‘take me away’? I changed it, ‘Vivaldi, take me away.’” Geoff had disliked classical music. Guilt filled her with sadness.
How can I disrespect his memory by allowing feelings for another man to even whisper through my thoughts? There was only one man for me and I’ll never dishonor what we had. Geoff is not replaceable—not in my memories and not in my future.
She pressed her face against the side window, hoping Zack didn’t notice her tears.
When we return to Serenity Cove, I’ll make sure he understands I’m not available.