Page 29 of Trick of Light
“Barnaby, where were you? I need you! They’re saying I killed Amelia for her house. But I don’t want a house! I have my own house.” He could hear noises in the background, voices and stomping feet.
“Who’s there with you?”
“The police from Harbortown. I’m frightened, Barnaby.”
“Put them on.”
When a female voice said, “Hello, this is Detective Chen,” he released all his fear and frustration and channeled his father at his most terrifying. Hey, if there was ever a time to act like a “cunty Carmichael,” this would be the moment.
“This is Barnaby Carmichael,” he thundered, “and you’d better make damn sure you have all your facts lined up because the Carmichael legal team will be representing Tamara, and I suggest you stay right where you are until I get there.”
From her perch on the bar stool, Gabby’s eyes went wide. He hated that she was seeing him like this, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Mr. Carmichael?—”
“You heard me. I’ll be there in ten minutes. No one makes a move before then.”
“We have a search warrant, asshole,” Chen snapped.
Okay then. Maybe the patented John Carmichael “I’ll sue your ass” method only went so far.
He forced his voice to soften. “Sorry to come off that way. Tamara’s nearly eighty and she’s not used to people in her house. She’s asked me to be present for any contact with law enforcement. Can you please give her that grace? Just wait until I get there. We won’t get in your way.”
“Fine, but better get here fast. This is a murder case, not a game.”
Barnaby ended the call, wild to get to Tamara’s house as quickly as he could. A golf cart would be too slow. One of the shuttle vans that took guests to the dock? One of the work trucks?
Gabby stood up, catching his attention. “That was something to witness. That Carmichael sure comes in handy sometimes. How can I help?”
“You really want to help? You’re not still pissed at me?”
“I’m worried about Tamara, too.”
He nodded, knowing that in this moment, despite their differences, they were on exactly the same page.
“You said you hitched a ride?”
“Yes, with a landscaper. Want me to go find him?”
“Yes. Thanks.”
But as soon as Gabby took off, he realized the fastest way to reach Tamara’s house would be by speedboat, if one was ready to go. He tapped out a text to the marina manager. Need a boat, stat.
The Sea Siren’s fueled up in slip 2
Then he texted Gabby. Forget landscaper. I got this. Thx again.
It was for the best. He didn’t need Gabby tagging along while he dealt with this situation.
He grabbed a golf cart, still wet from the rain, and raced down the road to the private family marina. It held his father’s sailboats, Carson’s cruising motor yacht, a small speedboat for fishing trips, and multiple kayaks. Thank God, the manager had been correct and the Sea Siren was bobbing in its slip, ready for action.
He grabbed the key from the guard shack and jumped onboard. In exactly six minutes, he roared to a stop in a rooster tail of water in the same cove where he’d climbed onto the rocks all those years ago. He dropped the anchor in a spot where there would still be water even at the lowest ebb of the tide. Then he rowed the Zodiac onto the rocks and tied it to a metal stake he’d driven into the ground years ago.
“You really did get here in ten minutes,” Detective Chen said in surprise as he jogged into the house. He ignored her and went right to Tamara, who sat on a stool in the corner of her kitchen, her arms wrapped around her knees. Another officer was standing guard over her.
“That’s my partner, Detective Hooper, and he’s not too happy with me for making him wait, since you’re not even a lawyer,” Chen said in a low voice.
“I really appreciate it. Can you bring me up to date here?”
