High Tide by S.E. Biglow

Author:S.E. Biglow [Biglow, S.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Biglow Mystery Reads

9

By the time the end of my shift came, I was pacing the length of the growth room like a caged wild animal. I might not have started out intending to solve this mystery, but now that I was in it, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I knew the pieces had to fit together, but it was like trying to put it together without knowing what the final product was meant to be. I ran to the boardwalk, scanning every face until I saw Walter waiting by a small motorboat. It bobbed low in the water and my stomach did a flip. I’d handled the cruise ship okay with the help of Maggie’s concoction, but the difference in size and my proximity to the water had been a deciding factor.

“You couldn’t have chartered something bigger?” I rasped.

“I know you aren’t big on boats, but this was the best I could find on short notice. No one is really going out to the island now that someone’s died there. I had to pay triple the rental fee for this boat just to secure it and get the owner to give me a manifest for two passengers.”

“Word spreads fast,” I noted.

“Come on, we’re wasting daylight.”

I should have gone back to the clinic for more of Maggie’s potion, but Walter grabbed my wrist and hauled me aboard. The motor droned too loudly to hold a conversation, which was probably safer. It allowed me to focus on regulating my breathing and not lose my lunch over the side of the boat. Our speed increased at the midway point and the choppiness seemed to smooth, giving me a small reprieve.

“Hang on,” Walter called and slowed the boat. He climbed out, up to his ankles in water as he dragged the boat ashore.

I clamored over the side until my feet were firmly on the dry sand and I bent double to catch my breath and steady my balance. I really hate boats. “How’d you know how to do all of this?”

“Boy Scouts. Years and years at summer camp. Some things stick with you,” he replied with a proud grin.

I expected Corinne to appear in her stilettos to greet us or demand to know why we’re intruding on her space again. After all, from the text I’d spied on Vinnie’s phone, she lived here. She was nowhere to be seen and I made a mental note of that.

“So, I checked down that end of the beach yesterday and found nothing to indicate anyone was living out here. So maybe we head the opposite direction,” Walter said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Sure. But there’s some things we need to consider,” I said and started up the beach at a leisurely pace.

“Like what?’

“I overheard Vinnie this morning on the phone with Chief Hayes. They can’t find the Tea Shoppe’s owner. It seemed like it was a big deal.”

“Maybe they are just trying to make sure they get everyone’s statements,” Walter offered.

I shook my head and wiped beads of sweat from my upper lip.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.