Page 21 of Homecoming

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Not to mention the business employs about a thousand locals. Everyone knows someone who works for them. The Ballard name carries a lot of weight in these parts. Sometimes good weight, other times not so much. But people are still shocked that the Ballard sons could be accused of something like murder.” They approached a building close to the top of the hill that led to the waterfront. “That’s the place where they were, right there.”

The Barnacle Lounge had the look of a dive bar, nestled between two souvenir shops on Main Street. A second cruise ship was now anchored in the harbor, a hulking presence seeming to loom over the town. Since the bar was currently closed, Dan peered in the window to get a sense of the place. “What goes on here?”

“It’s mostly a townie bar, so I’m surprised a bachelorette group ended up there. But the victim and her family spend summers here, so it might’ve been known to them. They have live music on the weekends. People go there to drink and dance.”

The vibe reminded Dan of a few of the popular spots on Gansett Island.

They walked on, down the hill through the bustling center of Bar Harbor, passing tourists with stickers on their jackets that identified them as cruise ship passengers. There were so many ofthem that the sidewalk reminded Dan of Times Square in New York City, albeit on a much smaller scale.

“Damn. Lotta people.”

“This town has a love-hate relationship with the cruise ships. While we love the business, the crowding is an issue. Lots of drama over that.”

“I’ll bet.” He hoped the cruise ships never discovered Gansett. As they approached the bottom of the hill, they used the crosswalk. “What’s that?” Dan asked, gesturing toward a busy wharf.

“Where the cruise passengers come and go.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Over this way is where the witness says he saw the brothers with the victim.”

Dan looked around but didn’t see any cameras in the area like there’d be in a city. “I’m surprised there aren’t more cameras with all the cruise traffic coming through town.”

“That’s also been an issue. While people want the security, folks up here don’t like being watched as they go about their business. It’s a fine line, you know?”

“I get it. Why live in a small town if you’re going to be watched like you’d be in a city?”

“Exactly.”

“What do you know about the witness?”

“Fella named Jonah Brown.”

“Is he a local?”

“Born and raised. This is where it gets interesting, though. He worked for Ballard Boat Works for years before being let go about two years ago. Never did hear why.”

“Very interesting indeed.” Dan felt the spark of reasonable doubt catch fire within him. Could an ex-employee with an ax to grind against the family and company be an impartial witness against two of the owner’s sons? He could build a defense uponthat question. But first he needed to find out why the man had left the company.

“Where was she found?”

“This way.” Walter led him about a quarter of a mile from the wharf to a rocky stretch of beach that’d been roped off with yellow crime scene tape. A number of people were working the area, most of them in the jumpsuits forensic investigators wore to keep from contaminating the scene. “She was found right there.” He pointed to a spot about fifty feet from the road.

“Where’s the victim’s house from here?”

He pointed toward the terminal. “Two miles that way.”

“What do you know about the Sorenson family?”

“By all accounts, good people with nice kids, who worked in town in the summers. They weren’t like some of the summer kids who think theirs doesn’t stink. You know what I mean? The son bartended for years while he was in college, and the daughter taught sailing. She spent the summer here and had gone back to UConn for her senior year a few weeks ago.”

“It’s so terribly sad.”

“Indeed.”

They walked back to town and hooked a left to go up the hill to where they’d left the car.

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