Page 108 of Tide and Seek
The name hung cryptically in the air between us.I hadn’t liked the woman, but she hadn’t deserved to die like that.
“Mrs.Brownstone had apparently been watching Ethan and Margie for months,” C.J.continued, her voice softer now.“She was nosy, we all knew that, but she was also sharp as a tack.She’d figured out they were doing something illegal, storing something in your house.She didn’t know it was drugs specifically, but she knew whatever it was, they were trying to hide it.”
“And she confronted him?”Royce asked.
“Confronted him and tried to blackmail him.”C.J.shook her head, staring down at her coffee.“Fifty thousand dollars or she was going to the police.She told him she might not know exactly what they were doing, but that the cops would figure it all out and he’d go to jail.”
I felt my jaw tighten.“So he killed her.”
“He says it was an accident.”C.J.’s voice was carefully neutral, but I could hear the conflict in it.“He says he tried to reason with her, tried to explain that he couldn’t pay that kind of money.That he was already drowning in medical debt because of his wife’s illness, but she wouldn’t back down.He panicked and...”She made a vague gesture.“Hit her with a rock.He says he didn’t mean to kill her, that he was horrified when he realized she was dead.”
Royce shrugged.“Honestly, I don’t think Ethan is a natural-born killer.I believe he probably didn’t mean to kill her.But he did, and that’s just a fact.Now he has to pay the price.”
The waves crashed against the shore below, and somewhere down the beach, a child laughed.The normal sounds of a beautiful summer day, completely at odds with what we were discussing.
“What a mess.”I rubbed my free hand over my face, feeling the warmth of the sun and the exhaustion of trying to process all of this.“What’s going to happen to Ethan?”
C.J.grimaced.“My friend said Ethan’s looking at manslaughter for Mrs.Brownstone, plus all the drug charges.Even with a deal, he’s going to do time.His lawyer’s trying to play up that he cooperated, but...”She shrugged helplessly.“He killed someone.There’s only so much a deal can do.”
“And Luke?”I asked.
She sighed.“Well, it depends on what the DA decides to push.Luke already had drug charges from before, and now they’re adding possession for the stuff Ethan gave him that night.There’s even talk of obstruction since he knew about the drugs in your attic and kept quiet.Even if they drop the threatening-text thing, I don’t think probation’s happening anymore.”She took a sip of her coffee.“Anyway, you guys know the rest.Ethan and Stiles came into your house to get the stash, not realizing Royce was home.Then it all went to hell.”
Royce’s jaw clenched but he didn’t speak.I knew he was probably remembering how powerless he’d felt and how close to death he’d come.He’d had many nightmares since his ordeal in those dark caves.It would take time for all of that to fade.
“Despite Stiles hiring a fancy attorney,” C.J.rasped, “I don’t think he’ll get off.There’s too much evidence against him, including your statement, Royce.That goes a long way.Ethan has no previous record, but Stiles does.And they were all drug-related too.I have to believe justice will prevail.”
“I hope so.”I hesitated, almost afraid to ask what I needed to know.I cleared my throat.“Was… was James involved in any of this?”
C.J.gave a reassuring smile.“I’m happy to say he’s one of the few people who had nothing to do with any of it.He was oblivious to what was going on.”
The relief I felt was huge.While I still resented his boorish behavior toward Royce and the way he’d acted the night of the party, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.James would always hold a special place in my heart, but he’d shown he didn’t know how to be my friend.I didn’t know where we went from here, because friendship was all I had to offer.
“It’s so weird to think my beach house was the center of all of it,” I murmured, staring out at the glistening ocean.A kayaker paddled by in the distance, a bright yellow dot against the blue expanse of ocean.I watched them for a moment, trying to reconcile the peaceful scene before me with the twisted tale C.J.had just shared.
“I know.”C.J.’s gaze was empathetic.“Maybe if I’d been more alert, I’d have noticed what was going on.”
“None of this is your fault.”I frowned.
“But if you don’t pay attention, how do you protect yourself from this stuff?”She lifted one shoulder in a listless shrug.“This used to be such a great place to live.I felt safe here.But now the blinders are off.I have to face the fact that bad things can happen anywhere, and that good people can do very bad things when they’re desperate enough.”
“People can be disappointing,” I agreed, meeting Royce’s gaze.“But they can also make life worth living.”
Royce smiled.“I agree.”
“Aww, man,” C.J.said with a smirk.“There you two go being adorable again.”
****
We were leaving Thursday afternoon, so on our last full day, we decided to stay home and grill.We had a leisurely swim in the ocean and then feasted on lobster tails and steak, all expertly grilled by Royce.I did contribute to the meal by making baked potatoes and a salad, and opening an exquisite, and very pricey, bottle of Opus One Cabernet Sauvignon that I had on hand.
It was my favorite meal of all the meals we’d shared in Malibu.After almost losing Royce, everything tasted better.Smelled better.Felt better.Life was so vivid and tangible in a way it hadn’t been before.I’d already loved Royce more than anything in this world, but until I’d risked it all to go after him in those awful caves, I don’t think it had truly sunk in that life would literally have no meaning for me anymore if Royce was gone.Therefore my life had easily been expendable.
So I watched him as the sun lowered in the sky, his smooth skin bronzed from our vacation, his blond hair fluttering in the sea breeze, his brown eyes full of affection and amusement as we talked and laughed over our meal.It was the most perfect moment, made even better by the sight of my ring back on his long, tanned finger.
Tomorrow we’d fly back to Rainy Dale and the thought of that didn’t even bother me one bit.I actually wanted to go back to that dusty little town because it was the place Royce loved.The place he’d grown up.His parents and all those odd, quirky people who lived in Rainy Dale had helped shape Royce into the man he was.The man I loved.
Royce stopped talking and he smiled.“What’s going on in that head of yours, Max?”
