Page 5 of Hidden Harbor (Evergreen Rescue #1)
I ’d expected to have nightmares, but I rolled out of bed Sunday after a restful night.
Maybe it had something to do with chatting with Drew last night.
It was the most we’d ever talked. Vi and I spent enough time hanging out at Harbor Brews that I was used to Zach’s easy charm.
Drew was more of a mystery. Where Zach was an endearing tease, blond and dimpled, his older brother was a serious man.
Almost standoffish. Too busy with the farm and his business to swing by for coffee.
I’d run into him a handful of times when he made deliveries to Vi at her shop.
He was always polite but distant. And I told myself I liked it that way.
He was too perceptive by half. His deep brown gaze made me want to confess to crimes I hadn’t even committed yet.
It pulled an answering honesty and forthrightness from me that could spell death to my life here.
Women with secrets didn’t belong with men who could smell a lie at a hundred paces.
“Morning,” Violet greeted me, her mug raised.
“You disappeared early last night. Everything okay?”
She smiled, a pitiful little attempt that made my heart clutch. “Just sad.”
“Drew said he didn’t know Jordan well. Were you friends?”
“No, but his wife and I went to school together. Jia’s in the Coast Guard. Losing her husband would be devastating any time, but if she gets deployed… those poor kids.”
“I can’t imagine. Maybe we can make up some casseroles or a lasagna and take them out to her?”
Violet brightened. “That’s a great idea. I think part of what I’m struggling with is the powerlessness. Taking food is at least one concrete way to help.”
“I’ll pick up ingredients after my last class. You’re working a shift at the store today?”
She nodded. “Open to close. Mom covered for me yesterday, but she and Dad leave for a trip today, and I need to get back into my normal routine.” Her expression turned mischievous. “You and Drew looked cozy last night at the sink.”
“He was very helpful.” I said it as neutrally as possible.
The last thing I needed to do was give Violet ideas.
I’d steadfastly avoided dating since arriving in town.
Breaking my solo streak with my roommate’s brother was a lousy way to keep myself safe.
Even if his dark eyes made me want to spill my secrets and drop my delicates.
“Did you see we made the news?”
My feet stalled, my chest seizing. I tried not to panic. “Oh? Were there pictures?”
Vi wrinkled her nose. “Not good ones.”
I sagged bonelessly into the kitchen chair with my coffee. Maybe that meant I wasn’t recognizable. The risk should be low this far from home, but low-risk and no-risk weren’t the same. She handed me her phone.
“See?”
Local hikers find human remains at popular San Juan beach.
The photo was blessedly grainy, a group shot of the search and rescue volunteers and our group milling around our cars in the parking lot. It wouldn’t win any journalism awards. Quickly, I scanned the article, relieved that I wasn’t mentioned by name. They’d quoted the sheriff, but that was it.
“Have you heard anything more than what’s in the article?” I asked.
Violet shook her head. “Even What’s New, Friday Harbor is only pure speculation and condolences for the Dawkins family. No one reports seeing him before the accident.”
The likelihood of anything nefarious happening was low in such a small community. But the lack of explanation for Jordan’s presence in the cove made me curious. And worried.
I taught my morning classes, then texted Lucy and Rae to meet me at our favorite table at the park by the harbor for lunch.
Spring could be hit or miss weather-wise, but we’d lucked into blue skies and a light wind.
Being able to walk two blocks for a water view at lunch with my friends was one of the best perks of island living, and it made my step light as I walked through town.
“Everyone having a good day so far?” I asked as I slid onto the bench and unwrapped my turkey sandwich.
Lucy grunted. Used to her curt responses, I turned to Rae. “Working on anything interesting?”
Rae wrinkled her nose. “Eric Chancellor’s engine replacement is giving me fits, but nothing I can’t handle. Violet’s at the shop today?”
“Yeah, Vanessa covered yesterday, so Vi is flying solo. Are you both coming to class tomorrow?"
Rae and Lucy nodded. I could usually count on my friends to attend at least a couple of classes each week. It was how we met.
“The weather looks promising for a hike Saturday.” I said it tentatively. On one hand, I loved our weekly hikes. On the other, I was feeling skittish about cliffside trails.
“Sure,” Lucy said.
From Lucy, that was a ringing endorsement. Maybe she needed a new hiking memory as much as I did.
“Maybe Young Hill this time,” Rae offered.
I swiftly agreed. It was inland, so we could enjoy sweeping water views without getting up close and personal with any cliffs over coves.
“Any news?” I finally asked Rae.
Maybe it was none of my business, but given the role we’d played in finding Jordan’s body, I hoped my interest didn’t come across as ghoulish.
“Sheriff Walker says the full autopsy may take a while. They should have the preliminary results pretty fast, but the tox screen will take longer.”
“For his wife’s sake, I hope we get some answers.”
Rae shook her head. “Jordan wasn’t always the most cautious guy. He occasionally drank up there on the cliffs and watched the sunset.”
“Wasn’t the weather kind of iffy for that on Friday night?”
Rae frowned. “Maybe.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad place to off somebody,” Lucy said.
She said it matter-of-factly. No emotion. As much as I wanted to chide her for not considering Rae’s feelings, Lucy wasn’t wrong. If you wanted to kill someone and make it look like an accident, those cliffs were a good spot. But how did a whale boat captain make that kind of enemy?