Page 37 of Wild Tides
“You think there’s a hit out on Chaz Underwood?” I asked. Megan Underwood turned onto one of the commercial docks.
“I think there could be. Especially if he talks to save his own skin. There’s no telling what tidbits he squirreled away to protect himself,” Anya said.
Dr. Underwood walked past the floatplane dock. My next guess for her destination wasTide Chaser, but it sat quietly in the harbor while its remaining captain, Brandon Chen, stewed in jail for breaking and entering. Jordan’s widow was still trying tofigure out how to untangle her husband’s estate and the whale sightseeing business.
Brandon Chen had terrorized Rae over the summer. But he’d gotten what was coming to him, leaving theTide Chaserwithout a captain.
I pulled my phone out, zooming in on Dr. Underwood.
Maybe the older woman sensed our interest. She paused at a sleek mini-yacht, examining it from the dock. I snapped a few photos, trying to get the boat registration. A minute later, she continued to walk, this time at a much slower pace, as if she truly were just out for an afternoon stroll.
“Do you recognize that boat?” I asked.
Rae rolled her lips together, eyes drifting to the side like she was searching her memory. “I want to say it’s been berthed there for a week or two. That’s one of the rental slips.”
While it was possible the Underwoods could sneak away at night, I wasn’t sure why they would. Unless there truly was a contract out on Chaz. He was a sitting duck here on the island if his old business partners wanted to get rid of him.
We packed up our lunch containers, and Rae walked toward the marine repair business her family owned. The rest of us headed into town. Lucy waved, turning toward her studio, leaving Anya and me to continue up First Street.
“See you tonight,” I called.
I unlocked the shop and flipped my open sign. The joy of the island in winter was that I could operate the store on my own terms. Visitor traffic was at a trickle. I did most of my business in the morning, leaving the afternoons blessedly quiet.
I’d just settled onto my stool behind the counter when the door tinkled, drawing my gaze.
Gran struck a pose in the doorway, hands on her hips, smile faintly demonic. “Never fear, your fairy grandmother is here!”
I wasn’t afraid before. But now? Little bit scared. Gran was larger than life. And I loved her for it. Except when I didn’t.
“Hi, Gran. What brings you in today?”
“I come bearing gifts.”
Just like the Greek soldiers. At least I knew enough to be suspicious.
“It’s not my birthday.”
She flipped a wrinkled hand in the air. “No, but when you call a man out in public and create a stir, it might as well bemybirthday.” She grinned. “I raised you right.”
My parents might take issue with that claim, but I knew better than to argue. Especially when she was complimenting me. And to be fair, I got my devious talents from her.
She clapped her hands together, rubbing her palms. “I’ll be right back.”
She returned a minute later, a hanger in each hand. “Nice, huh?” A black gown draped from the hanger in her right hand, a deep, velvety purple dress on her left. They were both beautiful, but not anything I’d usually wear.
“You need something special for tonight.” She looped each hook over the edge of one of my display cases, until it looked like I sold dresses in addition to spices and flowers. “Give me two more seconds. I have more.”
She traipsed in with a glittery blue dress that looked like living ice and a strapless, thigh-length red number. A few moments later, she was back with a puffy pink number.
“Where did all of this come from?” I asked.
“I’ve been running around all day. I did a pickup from every boutique in town and the consignment place. He wanted you to have plenty to choose from.” Her smile turned crafty. “But now I understand you need two dresses.”
Any lingering suspicion that her generosity had something to do with my birthday faded.He. She could mean only one man.
“I’m not sure I need one dress, let alone two.”
“Trust me. You need two.”
