The Case of the Victoria Cove Murders by Malachi Quill

Author:Malachi Quill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2023-01-16T16:03:18+00:00

Chapter Twelve

No Objections Allowed

The case of the missing Emma Nelson turned out to be more complicated than first imagined. Paddy and Ziggy spent the afternoon going from bar to bar and café to café, showing everyone Emma’s photograph, but no one recognized her, or so they said.

Quince sent Ziggy along to support his dad. Ziggy, who was born and grew up in the port, would be the best guide and a reliable friend. And he had a great sense of humor. Paddy was in virgin territory. Since joining the team, he had spent his time organizing the office and not assisting with live cases. Paddy was a crack detective on the streets of Brooklyn, but small towns are a lot different. It couldn’t hurt for Paddy to go slow at first; Ziggy would show him the ropes and keep him safe.

“Thank you, Ziggy. I couldn’t hope for a better companion. I’ve been coming to the port for over twenty years, and, still, I never knew how lively and friendly everyone is. I’m guessing they’d tell us if they’d seen Emma, right? They wouldn’t be protecting her because I’m a newcomer?”

“Ya never know, but if they are lying to you, they think it’s for good reason. They wouldn’t lie if they thought she was in danger.”

“I suppose that’s some comfort.”

“And so, we shall keep looking.”

“I think I have to call it a day. I can’t hold my drink like I used to. To be friendly, I ordered a Red Stripe or a rum punch every place we went. I may start seeing double.”

“Well, my friend,” said Ziggy, “I understand, but two of me is better than one.”

“Indeed, you are a soulmate.”

•••

Paddy boarded the Freedom. Quince and Sim were out. He sat on the roof, watching the sky and enjoying a breeze that came off the harbor and carried with it the sweet smell of the salty sea. The roof was his favorite place to think. He sat among giant containers filled with hot and sweet peppers, peas, cucumbers, green onions, and spices. Larger produce like potatoes, fairytale eggplant, and lettuce filled large rectangular standing beds that he and Quince made themselves. He was proud of his son, who had found happiness and love in the port and who shared his good fortune with the homeless who lived at the mission; in exchange for their help gardening and helping Blossom when Sim was away, he made sure they earned a living wage.

If Emma was hiding from her parents, part of him understood; the port was definitely a place to find freedom and beauty. It would be a kind of misery to return to cold, gray, wintery Wisconsin. But if she loved her parents, she must be in turmoil. He felt a pressing urgency to bring some sort of resolution to a family in pain. Or had she run away for good reason? Rocco’s search lingered in his thoughts. Since meeting the Nelsons, he had been dogged by a nagging, unexplained discomfort.

•••

When he and Ziggy met the next day, Paddy wanted to correct the search.

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