Nightmare in Nantucket (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 14) Read online

  There was only one way to find out. Gloria finished freshening up and spritzed some of her favorite perfume on both wrists and neck before emerging from the bathroom. “It’s time to shift this investigation into high gear.”

  Chapter 19

  Barnacle Bill’s was a hopping place at 4:50 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. Ruth had to circle the parking lot twice before she finally found a spot she deemed the perfect location for not only setting up a visual and audio surveillance, but one that would decrease the chances of someone dinging the side of her precious van.

  “I still don’t get it,” Lucy said as she hopped out of the back of the van. “I would think you would want to find out if your van is bullet proof, that the company who supplied you with their product would want you to try it.” She was still hoping to take a shot at the van with her handgun. So far, Ruth was not on board.

  “They do,” Ruth hedged. “It’s part of the agreement but I still have a little time.” She patted her steering wheel lovingly. “It’s just that she looks so pristine, so flawless, I’m having a hard time bringing myself to seriously think about it.”

  She turned the engine off and reached for the door handle. “When I’m ready, rest assured, Lucy, you’ll be the first person I call.”

  The group exited the van and made their way to the end of the line of patrons who were waiting to get inside the restaurant.

  When they reached the front of the line, they all squeezed in together. The hostess was the same one who had seated them during their last visit. She smiled when she recognized the large group. “Would you like to sit by the window again?”

  “Yes.” Gloria nodded and then realized they would need to be closer to the bar area where it was rumored “Luke” hung out. “I’m sorry. I changed my mind.” She pointed to a large table to the right of the bar. “Can we have that one instead?”

  “Sure.” The girl waved them forward. “Follow me.” She led them to a large table adjacent to the bar and placed a stack of menus on the edge of the table. “Your server will be right with you. Tonight is our all-you-can-eat shrimp.”

  “Thanks.” Gloria pulled out her chair. It faced the bar and gave her an unobstructed view of the entire area. She settled in and immediately began studying the customers seated there.

  Behind the bar was a tall, gray haired man with a weathered face. He tipped his head back and began laughing loudly as he pounded his fist on the bar top. “I think you’re in need of another brew, my friend.” The man reached under the counter, pulled out a frosted mug, filled it with beer from the tap in front of him and slammed it on the bar.

  Gloria leaned forward. “My guess is he’s Barnacle Bill.”

  Lucy, who was sitting next to Gloria, nodded. “I think you’re right.”

  The server arrived moments later and jotted down their drink order. The young man recommended the Nantucket lemonade, explaining it consisted of ginger ale, lemonade, cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. Gloria decided to try it. Lucy ordered it, as well.

  Margaret opted for Billy’s Bodacious Brew and claimed it was all in the name of research.

  After their server returned with their drink order, they placed their dinner order. Everyone agreed the shrimp special was too good a deal to pass up.

  Gloria ordered the breaded shrimp as well as the wood-fired shrimp. After the server jotted their orders on his pad, Gloria reached for her glass of lemonade and took a sip. It was the perfect combination of tart and bubbly with a hint of sweet. She made a mental note to ask for the recipe since she thought Paul would enjoy it, too.

  “Huh.” Brian nodded his head toward the restaurant entrance. “I guess everyone on the island heads to Barnacle Bill’s for the all-you-can-eat-shrimp.”

  Gloria followed his gaze. She watched as two men followed the hostess across the restaurant. “Who is that?”

  “Detective Flint and Chief of Police Grobe,” Brian said.

  She watched while the hostess seated them at a corner table that faced the water before she turned her attention to the lively character behind the bar. He seemed to know everyone as he made his way along the back of the bar, chatting with the customers. The guests came and went, and each time a new male saddled up to the bar, Gloria studied the man, wondering if he was Luke.

  The food arrived and after she silently prayed, she reached for her fork. A man eased behind her, bumping the back of her chair and Gloria slid the chair forward.

  “Sorry ma’am. It’s a tight squeeze. I didn’t mean to bump your chair.”

  Gloria gazed up and into a set of the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen, except for Brian’s eyes. She smiled and nodded. “No problem.”

  The man continued to ease his way to the bar and climbed onto the empty barstool at the end.

  The bartender approached the man. “Well, if it isn’t my pal Smooth Hand Luke,” he said in a loud voice. “I was beginnin’ to think you weren’t going to make it tonight.”

  “You know I haven’t missed a Wednesday shrimp special in years, Bill,” the man said as he swiveled in his chair.

  Brian, whose back was to the bar, swung around to study the man. His jaw tightened and Gloria hoped he wouldn’t do anything to cause the man to become suspicious. She cleared her throat in an attempt to catch Brian’s attention.

  Brian’s eyes met Gloria’s eyes and he slowly nodded as he nonchalantly spun back around and reached for his glass of Coke.

  Bill and Luke discussed the weather forecast and the condition of the seas. Finally, the conversation shifted and Luke lowered his voice as he leaned forward. They spoke in low voices.

  “I’ll be right back.” Bill stepped to the side to wait on others at the bar. Another bartender took his place as he eased a heaping plate of shrimp in front of Luke.

  Luke ate his food and drank his beer in silence. Bill made his way over as Luke finished his food. “That’s all you’re gonna eat?”

  “I’m not very hungry,” Luke replied. “Had to stop by the mainland earlier today to take care of some business and while I waited, I ate a big lunch.”

  Luke reached into his front pocket and pulled out a wad of bills.

  Lucy’s eyes widened. “We need to do something,” she whispered. “I think he’s getting ready to leave.” She shoved her chair back, hopped out of her seat and darted around the table as she approached the bar.

  Gloria watched as Lucy eased in next to Luke and then smiled at him. He smiled back as he wedged several bills under his empty beer mug.

  Lucy began fiddling with her spy camera earring and Gloria’s heart stopped when the man leaned forward for a closer look at the heart-shaped earring.

  Cool-as-a-cucumber Lucy twisted the earring so the man had a closer look before leaning slightly back and reaching for her left earring to take pictures of the other section of the bar.

  They chatted for several more moments and when Bill wandered over, Lucy turned her attention to him. He poured a beer and slid it across the counter. Lucy reached inside her purse to pull out her wallet. Luke motioned her to stop.

  Lucy batted her eyes at Luke and then said something to Bill before she took a step back, grabbed the beer and made her way back to their table.

  “I didn’t know you liked beer,” Gloria said.

  “I don’t.” Lucy set it on the table and slid it toward Margaret. “But I had to come up with some excuse to head to the bar.”

  “Thanks.” Margaret reached for the handle. “I wasn’t going to order another one, but waste not, want not.” She shrugged.

  Gloria deliberately turned the conversation to the weather, keeping an eye on the bar as she nibbled on one of her shrimp. After they finished eating and Luke was still hanging out at the bar, having ordered another beer, the group exited the restaurant and headed to the van.

  “Time for a stakeout,” Ruth said as she clicked the key fob and unlocked the van doors. Everyone climbed inside. Lucy, Gloria and Brian sat on the floor since there weren’t enough seats for eve
ryone.

  “I’m hot.” Rose reached inside the storage compartment, grabbed a folded newspaper tucked inside and began fanning her face.

  “Me too,” Dot said.

  Ruth started the van and turned the air conditioner on high. “So what did this Smooth Hand Luke have to say? He was flirting with you.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Lucy shook her head. “He wanted to take me back to his boat.”

  “Yacht,” Margaret corrected.

  “Yacht,” Lucy said. “He said he was in love with my red hair. It reminded him of his last girlfriend, who fell off the side of his yacht somewhere between here and Martha’s Vineyard a couple years ago and drowned. They never found her body. He wanted to give me a tour. I didn’t know what to say. What if he planned to murder me and toss my body overboard?”

  Alice shivered. “Why would he wanna tell a complete stranger something like that? That’s creepy.”

  “I agree, although it may have been useful to have taken a peek at the inside the yacht in case there were any clues,” Gloria said. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah. He told me his yacht’s name was Fathom and he called the man behind the bar, the older man, Bill.”

  Lucy continued. “I think I got some great close ups of him and the other customers at the bar. We can study them later. I was so nervous when Luke leaned in to check out my earrings, I thought I was gonna pass out.”

  “I was watching you, Lucy. I never would’ve suspected you were nervous,” Gloria said.

  Ruth, whose eyes never left the entrance to the restaurant, scrambled out of the driver’s seat. “Well lookie who just arrived.”

  Gloria shifted her gaze and caught a glimpse of Libby and David Thornton as they walked inside Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant.

  Ruth wiggled past Gloria and crawled to the back. “I gotta adjust the FQ cameras.” She unfolded her makeshift chair and pressed the buttons on the side monitor.

  Gloria scooched past the bench seat and eased in behind Ruth as she studied the screen. There was a clear as a bell view of the interior of the restaurant.

  Ruth shifted the dial and the camera zoomed in.

  “I had no idea you could do that.”

  “This is the first chance I’ve had to use it.” Ruth chewed her lower lip as she slowly eased the dial to the left. “Keep an eye out. Let me know if you see the Thorntons.” The camera slowly panned the restaurant, starting near the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the water. The place was packed.

  “I don’t see them,” Gloria said. “There are too many people.”

  Ruth eased the dial to the left and began another perimeter visual of the interior of the restaurant.

  Lucy, who was closest, leaned over Ruth’s left shoulder. When the camera reached the bar area, Lucy pointed at the screen. “Wait! I see them. Their backs are to us and they’re sitting at the bar.”

  “Right next to Smooth Hand Luke,” Gloria said.

  Chapter 20

  “I have an idea.” Lucy grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her toward the side door.

  “Oh mercy, me.” Rose attempted to pull her hand away. “Where you takin’ me Lucy?”

  “You’ll see.” Lucy flung the door open and dragged a reticent Rose with her. “I don’t want to be alone with Luke and I know for certain the Thorntons have never met you since you and Johnnie moved to Belhaven after their last visit.”

  “Good luck,” Gloria hollered through the door before Lucy slammed it shut.

  Lucy and Rose hurried past the restaurant and over to the boat slips.

  “I am deathly afraid of water,” Rose’s eyes widened. “I can’t swim.”

  “You won’t have to,” Lucy said. “If Luke shows up, pretend to be interested in seeing his yacht or don’t say anything at all. I’ll do the talking.”

  “This is too much excitement.”

  “You wanted to join the infamous Garden Girls in this fun-filled adventure, so now you get a first-hand taste of the action,” Lucy said. “Let’s wander up and down the slips. I’ll snap a few pictures with my earrings. If Luke doesn’t show up before we finish, we’ll leave.”

  “I hope he doesn’t,” Rose muttered under her breath as she eyed the murky waters.

  Warped deck boards jutted up and the women cautiously made their way down the dock. Many of the boats, mostly the fishing boats, had at least one person on board and Lucy gave a friendly wave as the women slowly made their way to the end.

  They finished inspecting the first row and headed to the second strip of slips where the large ferryboat was tied up off to the side. “You rode over here on the ferry.” Lucy pointed to the ferryboat.

  “But I didn’t have to look at the water or get too close.” Rose shaded her eyes against the setting sun and surveyed the calm waters. “It’s pretty from a distance, I’ll give you that.”

  They began the slow walk along the final set of slips when they ran into Luke coming from the other direction. “Didja’ change yer mind and decide to take a look at my yacht?” He leaned in close, invading Lucy’s personal space. She took a step back.

  Luke belched and a burst of beer breath blew out of his lips. He teetered ever so slightly. Lucy wondered how many of Billy’s bodacious brews the man had consumed. She shoved the thought aside. “We don’t want to be a bother.” She pointed to Rose. “My friend, Rose, wanted to take a closer look at the boats. She loves the water.”

  Rose cleared her throat but remained silent.

  “Follow me.” Luke waved them forward and they trailed behind as he swaggered down the dock. He stopped abruptly in front of a vessel. It looked almost identical to the yachts on either side. “This here is my love. I named ‘er Fathom.” He grabbed a wooden side post and stepped off the dock and onto the back of the yacht.

  Luke reached back and offered Lucy his hand. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before slipping her hand in his and quickly hopping aboard.

  Rose stood frozen on the dock, her eyes wide as she stared at the water. She took a step back.

  “Hop aboard.” Luke motioned her forward and reached out his hand. Rose gave Lucy a death look before extending her hand. Luke yanked a reluctant Rose onto the vessel.

  “Whoo!” Rose’s arms flailed wildly when her feet hit the deck. “This boat is rockin’.”

  Luke snorted. “Yes ma’am. That’s because it’s a yacht and it’s in the water.”

  Lucy attempted to divert attention from Rose’s growing pasty complexion to her surroundings. “This is spacious,” she complimented.

  “It’s larger than a cuddy cabin,” Luke explained. “I have a small galley kitchen with a living area off to one side and a separate bedroom. This beaut also boasts a full-size shower in the bath. Let me give you a personal tour.” He lowered his eyelids seductively.

  Lucy’s eyes widened. “I…uh.”

  Luke slipped his arm around Lucy’s waist and whisked her forward.

  Lucy shot Rose, who stood firmly planted near the back of the yacht, a terrified glance.

  Rose shook her head. “I’ll wait for you out here.”

  “I’ll be back in a minute.” Lucy gave Luke a quick glance. What have I gotten myself into?

  Luke led Lucy to the galley kitchen. It was small but featured all the comforts of home. There was a half fridge with freezer, a two-burner stove and small oven. The sink was a single bowl but deep. There was even ample counter space. Lucy was impressed. “This is nice.”

  Luke leered. “Perhaps you’d like to join me for a moonlit boat ride.”

  Lucy remembered Luke mentioning during their brief conversation at the bar how his last girlfriend had fallen overboard and her body never found. She shook her head. “I’m sorry but I can’t.”

  Luke led her to a door. He opened the door and stepped inside. It was the bedroom.

  Lucy stood in the doorway, certain that if she stepped inside, flirtatious Luke would toss her atop the bed. Instead, she gripped the doorframe and kept her distance.

>   On both the left and right hand walls were large cabinets. Lucy reached out to touch one of the closet handles.

  Luke lunged forward and slapped her hand. “You can’t look in there!” he shouted abruptly.

  Lucy snatched her hand back. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

  Luke’s voice softened. “I didn’t mean to yell. I…the inside of the cabinets are a mess and I’m afraid if you opened them up, things would come flying out.” He placed his hand under Lucy’s elbow and steered her out of the bedroom.

  They took a quick peek at the bathroom on their way up the steps where Rose sat perched on the edge of a cushioned bench near the back of the yacht, inches away from the boat dock.

  Rose stood. “I must have eaten something bad. I’m feeling a little under the weather.”

  “We should go.” Lucy hurried to Rose’s side before she turned back. “Thank you for the tour of your boat…yacht,” she told Luke. “Do you live on it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Luke nodded. “I do business between the islands and mainland. Keeps me busy. The only day of the week I’m here in Nantucket is on Wednesday. Maybe I can take you to dinner next week?” he asked hopefully.

  “No, I’m sorry. I think we’ll be heading back home by then,” she said.

  “Where’s home?” Luke asked.

  “Michigan,” Rose blurted out.

  “Minnesota,” Lucy said at the same time. She shot Rose an uneasy glance. “I was born in Michigan but the weather is too nice there so I moved to Minnesota. I like lots and lots of subzero temperatures. Christmas isn’t the same without frigid temps.” She laughed uneasily.

  “Huh.”

  “We better head out,” Lucy took a step up. “Thanks again for the tour, Luke.”

  She waited for Rose to reach the safety of the dock before giving Luke a small wave. They hurried back to shore. Neither of them spoke until they reached the shoreline.

  Lucy didn’t dare look back but could feel Luke’s eyes bore into her. She shivered. “He’s hiding something on that boat…yacht.”