Page 18

Everyone is a suspect....

D alton showed up at six and took her to dinner at a new-to-her restaurant, the Local Crab.

She called it Americana as the offerings felt upscale but home-cooked.

As they ate, he told her about his day working at the ferry.

“The thing I like the best is I’m always doing something different.

If someone calls in, they pull me over to cover.

My supervisor says I’ll be up for promotion soon.

I’d love to get to captain someday, but that might be me dreaming. ”

“So you’ll stay there for your entire career? What about your dreams of joining the service?” Meg asked. When they’d been kids, Dalton had talked about joining the Navy or the Coast Guard, so when she’d heard that he’d taken a job with the ferry system, she’d been surprised.

“I already did four years with the Coast Guard when you were in college.” He smiled as she reacted in surprise. “I guess Junior didn’t mention that.”

“He might have. That period was a little crazy. The folks got divorced right after my senior year of high school, so it kind of messed with my head about home and family,” Meg admitted.

“I was too locked up in my pity party surrounding my family not being perfect. No wonder the ferry service jumped on hiring you, with your experience.”

“Not everyone likes jumping from one place to the next,” Dalton pointed out.

“I’m more of a ‘stay and grow where I’m planted’ type.

I hope I’m going to be able to afford to stay on Bainbridge Island for the rest of my life.

” He sipped his overpriced beer. “But it’s getting harder.

I bought my little house when I left the service.

I thought I’d remodel or buy something bigger later.

Now, I could pay off my mortgage and fill my retirement fund if I sold the house. But where would I live?”

“I know my dad’s regretting letting Mom keep both the bookstore building and the family home in the divorce.

At the time, it was a fair distribution.

Now she’s probably got enough right there to keep her on a cruise ship for life if she wanted that life.

But she likes what she does. I walked in on her having a wine and cheese card party with Aunt Melody this afternoon.

I think she hired me so she could have more free time.

” Meg held up a forkful of the crab-stuffed fish she’d ordered. “I have to say, this is good.”

“The chef is out of Los Angeles . . . Emmett Harding. He wanted a slower lifestyle, so he moved here. Now he’s bringing in foodies from all over the Pacific Northwest. We get a locals discount, and he let me call in a favor for tonight’s reservations.”

“You know the chef?” She smiled as she leaned back and looked around the cozy restaurant. “Only on Bainbridge.”

“Emmett is taking sailing lessons from me. He bought a sweet boat last summer. We’ll have to go out on it one night.” Dalton smiled as he cut another piece of his steak. “He lets me borrow it because he knows I won’t mess it up.”

“My favorite sailor is in the house,” said a man at the side of the table. Meg hadn’t seen him walk up. “And this is the woman you called in a favor for? I have to say, I approve.”

“Emmett, this is my friend Meg Gates. She’s a local, but she moved back from Seattle after seeing the error of her ways. Meg, this is Chef Emmett. Two Michelin stars, if I’m correct?”

“My restaurant’s glory, not my own,” Emmett replied, demurring to the compliment.

“Now, the three James Beard Outstanding Chef Awards, those are all mine. Meg, it’s nice to meet you.

I hope you won’t be a stranger here at the restaurant.

A lot of you locals feel like I’m intruding and bringing in outsiders, who fall in love with the island as much as I did. ”

“We are an insulating bunch, but when you’re serving food this good, I’m sure you would be welcome anywhere.

They’ll get over it in a decade or so,” Meg teased.

It took some time for the locals to accept a new resident.

Especially if their business brought in more new residents.

Tourists were fine; it was the ones who decided to stay that upset the balance. “I loved my dinner.”

“I’m so glad.” He was looking at the entrance rather than at her. “Sorry. I’ve got a take-out order walking in, and my hostess is confused. We don’t do takeout as a normal process, but I adore Lilly Aster’s books, so what she wants, she gets. We’ll see you tomorrow morning, Dalton?”

“I’ll be at the boat at six. Will you?” Dalton reached out and shook the man’s hand.

“Such a slave driver. But for you? I’ll be there.” He squeezed Meg’s shoulder. “I hope to see you again.”

When he walked away, Meg followed him with her gaze up to the hostess stand. Jolene was back on the island and picking up dinner. “That’s odd. Lilly said her private chef was here today.”

“Emmett’s cooking’s so good, she might give her chef the night off from time to time. It seems like he’s doing it as a favor to Lilly.” Dalton frowned as he watched her. “Something bothering you, Nancy Drew?”

“Stop calling me that. But it feels strange.” She took a sip of her wine.

It was much better than what her aunt had at the house.

Which was expensive. What was this friendly dinner costing Dalton?

“Anyway, did you know that Meade’s car is still parked at the ferry?

How did he get from the ferry to Lilly’s house?

He couldn’t have walked. He wasn’t in that great of shape. ”

“You think someone picked him up?” Dalton turned and watched Jolene leave the restaurant, bags in hand.

“Yes. And I wonder why.” She finished off her mashed potatoes. “Lilly had already hired a new agent. Wouldn’t she have fired Meade before doing that?”

“Your aunt would know the timeline, right?” Dalton finished his dinner. “I was thinking we could go out to the boat and sit for a while and talk. I’ve got a bottle of wine from the Eagle Bay Winery that I won in a raffle at work last month. We won’t take her out unless you want to.”

“That sounds great, but can we pick Watson up first? I hate for him be alone and tear up the apartment.” She set her fork down, staring at the empty dish. “I cleaned my plate. I never do that. Romain thought it made me look unladylike.”

“Your ex is a loser.” Dalton’s lips twitched. “Come on. Let’s go before I have to wheel you out.”

“You’re so mean.” Meg swatted at him.

Their waiter came over to take their plates. “Chef has a dessert ready for you.”

“Oh . . . Well, can we take it to go? And I need our check.” Dalton met Meg’s gaze. “You may not want more wine after you eat one of Emmett’s desserts. He’s legendary for them.”

“I’ll get that dessert packed up, and no check. The chef said to tell you thanks for the lessons.” The waiter disappeared.

Dalton stared after him. “I can’t believe Emmett comped our bill.”

“I know,” Meg teased. “If I’d known, I would have ordered the surf and turf rather than the stuffed fish. I was trying to be nice to your wallet.”

After they’d picked up Watson, they made their way to the marina and Dalton’s boat. He held her hand as she stepped onto the boat deck, pulling her close. A tingle started in her hand, and she looked up into his eyes. “Thank you.”

He nodded, then dropped her hand and grabbed Watson from the dock. “Come here, buddy. You can curl up on my winter jacket.”

As Meg made herself comfortable near Watson, the gentle rocking of the boat felt calming. She took the glass of wine Dalton poured her and waited for him to sit down with her. There were lights strung up on the dock, but most of the light came from the almost full moon. “It’s beautiful out here.”

“And quiet. I bet you didn’t get that in Seattle,” Dalton said as he sat across from her. “So what’s going on with you besides work? You seem distracted.”

“I’m writing this book about how to do an investigation, and the more I write, the more I realize that I don’t know anything. So for this first book, I’m focusing on what a brand-new investigator would need to know.”

“Like what?” He sipped his wine as he watched her.

“Like everyone’s a suspect. I believe Uncle Troy is limiting himself, because he came in with a preconceived notion.

He thinks Lilly killed Meade so he’s trying to prove that theory.

” Meg rubbed Watson’s head. He’d gotten up and come over to comfort her.

The dog could read her emotions. “I guess I’m as bad, since I can’t imagine her killing him.

I need to be more in the middle to let the issue build and solve itself.

Right now, I’m pushing, so the answer is what I want it to be. ”

“You might not like what you find out,” Dalton warned. He must have seen her shiver, as he stood to put a blanket around her shoulders. “Let’s get that cake eaten and get you home. You look like you’re freezing.”

“It’s not bad. I’m not used to being outside this late.” Meg rubbed Watson’s fur. “Especially lately. If I’m not working, I’m typically tucked in bed by now. I know, I’m the life of the party, right? Hey, speaking of the party, isn’t it bonfire night? I’m surprised we didn’t go there.”

“Why? Did you want to go?” He sat next to her and handed her a fork and spoon wrapped in a white paper napkin.

“No, but I thought that was where you hung out on Tuesday nights.” She took a bite of the cake. “Oh, my goodness. This is heaven.”

“Emmett loves making desserts. If Natasha hadn’t found a loan to keep her afloat a few years ago, he would have bought her out and taken over the bakery.

I’m glad he didn’t, because now we have two amazing places to eat.

” He looked at Meg’s face and saw her reaction.

“I take it she didn’t mention she almost lost the bakery. ”