Murder is a Beach (Maggie, PI Mysteries) Read online

  Dorothy stepped around me. “There’s no one here. Let’s go inside. I’d rather be in there then have someone see us standing out here.”

  Dorothy’s sandals clicked against the marble foyer. Other than that it was eerily silent. Kristin’s place was clean and neat, but there were a few things lying around as if she’d completely expected to be home that evening. A pair of flip-flops had been kicked off by the front door. Mail lay on the small table in the foyer. I picked up the envelopes. There was a VISA card bill and an advertisement for a local shopping mall—nothing out of the ordinary there.

  Dorothy and I moved through the house, coming first to the kitchen and then to the living room.

  “I don’t like being in here,” I whispered.

  “I don’t either, so let’s hurry up. What are you looking for?” Dorothy asked.

  “I’m looking for something that will give me a clue to why she was on that boat.”

  “Don’t you need to find out who owns the boat?” Dorothy asked.

  “Well, yeah, but it will take some time.” I walked over to the desk at the other side of the living room and opened a few drawers.

  There was nothing out of the ordinary and just like the rest of the house everything was neat and orderly. Stamps, blank paper, and pens were in the middle drawer. On the side of the desk were other drawers with papers from the restaurant. At least I had her business partner’s name, so if there was something concerning him I’d know right away. In the other drawer was a daily agenda, so I pulled it out and opened it to the page for the date she’d died.

  “What does it say?” Dorothy asked as she looked over my shoulder. I smelled peppermint candy.

  “Well, apparently the police haven’t been here yet because I would think this is something they would have found.” I showed Dorothy the agenda. “It says she had an appointment with someone by the name of Sam James.” That name immediately set me on alert. “That’s odd. That’s the second time I’ve seen that name in the past twenty-four hours.”

  “It’s a common name,” Dorothy said.

  I placed the book down and looked around the rest of the room. The item on the table next to the sofa caught my attention.

  “Yeah, but it’s not common to see a bracelet just like the one I found in a picture.” I walked over to the table and picked up the framed picture.

  The photo was Kristin and two other women smiling for the camera. In the background was a table full of people. The man’s face behind the women wasn’t visible because he was blocked by other people, but I definitely spotted his arm. He was wearing a gold bracelet just like the one I’d found. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Had the man on the boat dropped the bracelet from his wrist? Was he the person in the photo, the Sam whom Kristin was supposed to meet?

  Dorothy was flipping through the pages of the agenda. “That name is listed as an appointment on a different date and there’s an address.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s pay Sam a visit,” I said.

  Noise caught my attention and I jumped. It was too late to get out of the house because I knew someone was coming through the front door.

  “We have to hide,” I whispered.

  Dorothy wasn’t behind me. She’d already taken off down the hallway.

  I ran after her. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m finding a closet to hide in and you’d do well to join me,” she snapped.

  Dorothy pulled open the first door in the hallway that she came to. Luckily, it was in fact a closet. She stepped in, shoved the hangers out of the way, turned around, and then pulled my arm. I quickly closed the door behind us.

  “What if we can’t get out?” I asked.

  “Then we’re screwed,” she said.

  Whoever had been outside had now entered the house through the front door. The footsteps echoed through the foyer as the person walked farther into the house, then stopped.

  I heard nothing. Well, I heard Dorothy breathing in my ear, but other than that, there was silence. I was definitely shaking in my sandals. It was a good thing I’d brought my gun with me. If this was the killer, then I wasn’t going down without a fight. Footsteps sounded again as the person continued down the hallway in our direction. Had the person seen us hide in here? There was no way. Who was in Kristin’s home? Unless it was the killer and now it was our turn.

  The footsteps sounded again and then stopped. I knew the person was right in front of the door. Dorothy grabbed my arm and held on tight as I placed my hand on my gun. Within a second, the door swung open and Dorothy screamed.

  Jake Jackson stood in front of us. “What in the hell are you all doing in there?”

  I clutched my chest. “What in the hell are you doing out there?”

  He quirked a brow and I knew he didn’t want to be the first to answer.

  I released a deep breath and then said, “We came here for clues.”

  He stepped out of the way and motioned for us to come out. “Clues for what?” he asked as I brushed past.

  Dorothy and I walked single file down the narrow hallway and back to the foyer. I turned around and faced Jake. “If you must know, I’m looking for clues to Kristin’s death.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” He crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest.

  “Because I was hired by her grandfather to get to the bottom of what happened,” I said casually.

  Jake ran his hand through his thick hair and released a deep breath. “You shouldn’t be involved.”

  “Well, it’s too late for that. Why shouldn’t I get involved?” I matched his stance and glared at him.

  He looked the other way.

  “Jake Jackson?” I asked in a stern voice.

  I needed to find out his middle name so that I could use his full name.

  Finally, he said, “She was shot before she went into the water.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I pointed. “I knew it. That man forced her on the boat and then shot her. I just have to find out why.”

  “You didn’t hear that from me,” Jake warned.

  I shook my head. “Of course I didn’t hear it from you.”

  “This is a crime scene now, Maggie. We’re going to be searching everything. What did you touch?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Not much…the door. Oh, and the desk. Things in the desk.”

  He shook his head. “What were you looking for and did you find anything?”

  I stared at him for a moment, and then said, “I just wanted to know more about Kristin Grant, and no, I didn’t find a thing.”

  He looked at me suspiciously, but apparently had no choice but to accept my response.

  “Okay, well, Dorothy and I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later.” I waved over my shoulder as I walked out the door.

  Dorothy shuffled along beside me. “Jake is adorable and I think he loves that you’re involved.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing,” I said with a click of my tongue. “Because I’m not stopping now.”

  So now we were headed to the address in Kristin’s agenda book. With any luck, I’d find out who this person was. If it was the killer, then I prayed that things didn’t get ugly quickly.

  “Maybe I should go to the address alone,” I said, glancing over at Dorothy. “I don’t want to get you in sketchy situations with me.”

  “I think it’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” Dorothy said as she pulled out her needles.

  I nodded. “I suppose you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to continue to put you in these situations.”

  “I can’t let you go alone,” she said.

  It looked as if I wasn’t going to win this argument.

  Within a few minutes, we’d pulled up to the condo. There were probably about ten units in this building. The number we were looking for was at the end. The white stucco structure was flanked by palm trees on each side—other than that there wasn’t too much to make the place memorable.
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  “I hope this is the right place,” I said.

  Dorothy and I headed up to the door and I knocked. I’d almost given up on anyone answering the door. Finally, the door opened and a man stood in front of us. It wasn’t the man who was on the boat, but they looked a lot alike, and now I wasn’t sure which of them I’d seen with Kristin. He looked us up and down and then looked around. I guessed to see if we were alone.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “We’re here to ask about Kristin Grant,” I said.

  He stared at us for a second, then said, “I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

  Then he slammed the door in our faces. I looked over at Dorothy. Her mouth hung open.

  “Well, I hadn’t expected that to happen,” I said.

  “That man is just plain rude. I’ve half a mind to knock on the door and tell him to apologize.” She waved her finger.

  “Obviously, he’s not being truthful. We’ll have to think of something else. I’ll find out who he is one way or the other.”

  I glanced back as we headed back to the car. The man was watching us from the window. As soon as I got back to the office I’d have to do a little research on this guy. But also, who were the women in the picture with Kristin? They might be able to tell me who the man sitting behind them was. I wondered if Kristin had had a lot of friends. How would I find the women? If only I’d taken the picture when I had the chance. Now I’d have to go back and get it after the police were gone. But how long would they be there and would I be able to get in if Jake was there? Would I even be able to get the picture if I did get in? I had to give it a shot.

  “Don’t forget we have to go back to work,” Dorothy said, breaking me from my reverie.

  There would be no time to look for the women now. I had to find out something during this shift or I would have to give up.

  As I walked down the driveway, I spotted a small piece of paper on the curb. It was near my car. Had it fallen out when Dorothy had gotten out of the car? I wanted to pick it up, but with the man staring at us, I didn’t want to risk it. My stopping to pick up something might be the little event that would finally set him off. He looked as if he was ready to lose it at any second. ‘A little unhinged’ as my mother always said. No mater though, one way or the other, I had to have that piece of paper.

  The curiosity would get the best of me until I knew what it was. A voice in my head said to just let it go, that it was probably nothing, but the other voice telling me to get the paper was louder. That voice would definitely win.

  I’d have to come back for it. My plan was to drive around the block and park a couple houses away, then I would swoop in and grab the paper. As long as the man wasn’t watching I would be fine. He would never know that I’d returned.

  “Do you see that paper on the ground?” I asked.

  Dorothy glanced around.

  “Over beside the car,” I said under my breath as if he would hear me.

  Finally, Dorothy looked in the right direction. “It looks like a receipt.”

  “Whatever it is, I have to take a look at it,” I said.

  Dorothy shook her head. “He’s watching us. I can feel his stare on my back. You don’t want to risk setting that guy off. He’ll lunge out the front door and attack us.”

  “I know. I figured I will just drive around the block and come back for it.”

  Dorothy frowned. “You’re going to get us killed for a receipt.”

  “Of course, I’m not going to get us killed for a receipt. You have to have a little bit of faith in my abilities.”

  “I have plenty of faith in you, Maggie, but this is not one of those times.”

  After starting the car and taking off away from the house, I made a couple of turns and headed back down the street toward the house again. I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel.

  “Will you stop doing that? You are making me nervous.” Dorothy said as she dug around in her purse.

  I ignored her, but Dorothy’s previous words echoed through my mind. Maybe I was putting us in danger for a silly piece of paper that meant nothing. Actually, there was no maybe to it…I was definitely putting us in a precarious situation.

  Easing the car to a stop, I shifted it into gear and turned off the ignition. I’d pulled up in front of a house a couple doors down.

  “You really shouldn’t do this.” Dorothy pulled a peppermint from her purse and popped it into her mouth.

  “I can run fast.”

  She snorted. “With those short legs? Are you kidding me? A turtle could outrun you.”

  I frowned. “Don’t you have knitting to catch up on?”

  She waved her finger at me. “Sassy.”

  I shook my head. “I know. I’m being sassy again.”

  Dorothy pulled out her needles. “Exactly.”

  I climbed out from behind the wheel and looked around. No one seemed to be out around the neighborhood. If they were watching me from inside their homes, I wouldn’t know about it. I took off at a brisk pace down the street. After a bit, I’d reached the man’s home again. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for me to hide—no trees by the sidewalk and no cars. I was out in the open and felt vulnerable. It would have helped if I’d had a place to retreat to if he popped up. I guess if he saw me that was the least of my worries.

  When I looked toward his house, I didn’t notice him at the door or looking out the windows. He probably thought we’d gone for good. I didn’t want to take that for granted though and give myself a false sense of security.

  I neared the paper and causally strolled up, trying not to act suspicious. Reaching down, I slowly picked up the paper and then placed it in my pocket. I glanced up at the house again, expecting the worst. The man wasn’t watching me as far as I knew, but my stomach was still in knots.

  After I got a few steps away from the house, I took off in a sprint. My car seemed a lot farther away now than I remembered. I could see Dorothy’s head sticking up. Her gray bun on the top of her head was like a beacon. She shook her head as she watched me. The more I ran the longer it seemed though. I’d halfway made it to the car when a dog popped up from a house next to me. His bark echoed across the neighborhood. He would surely alert everyone. Soon people would look out to see what all the commotion was.

  It seemed to take forever, but I finally reached the car. I yanked the door open and jumped in.

  “I got it,” I said breathlessly as I cranked the ignition.

  Dorothy shook her head. “You are making me nervous.”

  “Yeah, you said that already.”

  The dog was still at the fence, watching me. But at least he’s stopped barking now. I drove a couple streets over and pulled to the side of the road.

  “What are you doing now?” Dorothy asked.

  “I have to know what the paper is.”

  Dorothy placed her needles on her lap. “All of this over a receipt.”

  I reached down in my pocket and pulled out the paper. Dorothy had been right. It was a receipt. But it was where the receipt was from that it made it most interesting.

  Even more curious was the date on the receipt. Captain’s Quarters was printed at the top and underneath was the date of Kristin Grant’s murder.

  “Had you ever been to Captain’s Quarters before the day we went together?” I asked.

  “Why do you ask?”

  I showed Dorothy the receipt. “Because the date on top is the date Kristin was killed.” That meant that Dorothy couldn’t have accidentally dropped the receipt. The owner of this receipt had obviously been at the restaurant the day of her murder, but was the owner of the receipt responsible for her death. According to Jake, Kristin had been at work at the time this receipt had been given. But did she make her boyfriend pay for his purchases? Was it his receipt?

  Reluctantly, I pulled into the Captain’s Quarters parking lot. It was time for our shift.

  It looked like business as usual around the place. Customers were star
ting to arrive for dinner. After changing into my uniform, I got right to work waiting on the tables. There was no time to do any spying. The wait staff seriously deserved big tips for all this work. Thank goodness I’d get a break and I planned on using that time to snoop around.

  Since most everyone was still working when I took my break, it would be hard to speak with anyone. So I really had no choice but to snoop around in the lockers. Not that I thought I would discover anything, but what other options did I have?

  I grabbed something to drink and headed back to the break room. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in the room. The waitress I’d thought I’d overheard talking to the male employee was sitting at a table reading a magazine. This was a good and bad thing. It was good because now maybe I’d learn something, but bad because I didn’t know what to ask her. Clearly, I hadn’t thought out this plan.

  She didn’t look up when I stepped closer to the table.

  “Do you mind if I sit here?” I asked.

  She shrugged her shoulders, but didn’t look at me and she still didn’t answer. I pulled out the chair and sat down. She still didn’t respond. If someone was sitting at a table with me I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from looking.

  I took a sip of my soda and then asked, “So do you like working here?”

  She didn’t answer. Well, this was going well.

  “It’s very busy here. I like it though,” I said.

  She didn’t look up as she flipped a page.

  I leaned closer. “I heard that one of the owners recently died.”

  She looked up at me. Without speaking, she pushed to her feet, grabbed the magazine, and left the room.

  Why had she been so quiet? Why hadn’t she spoken to me? At least now I was alone though. I didn’t know how long that would last, so I had to take a look around quickly. What the heck was I looking for anyway? Any sign of what she might have been talking about last night? I opened the first locker and saw nothing but clothing. I opened a couple more, but they contained the same types of items.

  Finally, I opened another one and spotted a purse. Was it hers? I really didn’t want to look inside. There was just something creepy about looking through another woman’s purse. It was just wrong. I moved on to the next locker—I couldn’t make up my mind if I had the nerve to look in her purse. The next locker had clothing, but that wasn’t all. There was a bag of what I assumed were pills. A lot of pills. Footsteps sounded in the hallway. I hurried and closed the locker.