Page 34 of Killer Honeymoon
Royce chuckled. “Yeah, he’s ready.”
“Let’s take our time and mill about,” Sawyer said. “I’d like to chat with Loretta for a few minutes.”
They took their time wandering up and down the aisles, finding everything on their list and about a dozen things they suddenly couldn’t do without.
“This has turned into a Target run,” Royce said as Sawyer dropped in a second type of cookie. His husband just shrugged and added a third variation.
As they neared the front of the store, Royce caught bits and pieces of the conversation Loretta was having with a customer she called Estelle. Both women appeared to be Frank’s age, maybe a little younger.
Loretta crossed her arms over her chest and said, “I refuse to sell. That pompous windbag can take his offer and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m a third-generation islander, and I’ll be damned if someone runs me off my land.”
Estelle sighed heavily. “I wish I were as strong as you, Loretta, or that my kids were remotely interested in owning the house once I’m gone.”
Loretta reached across the counter and patted the other woman’s hand. “Hey now,” she said gently. “We each have to do what’s right for us. If selling and moving to Florida is what you need to do, then I won’t hold a grudge. I’ll sure miss you like hell, though.”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Estelle admitted. “I was supposed to meet with Mr. Moore this morning, but his assistant called and said he’d need to reschedule. There’d been some kind of situation on theLes is Mooreovernight.”
Royce turned and headed down the next aisle, pretending to compare and contrast products on the shelf so he could hear about the trouble aboard the yacht. Only when he heard Sawyer snicker did he realize he was looking at a selection of tampons. He moved down a few feet and started looking at allergy medicines instead. Sawyer went with him and checked out the cough syrups.
“What kind of situation?” Loretta asked.
“The assistant didn’t say.”
Loretta cursed an impressive blue streak, then huffed out a heavy sigh.
Estelle laughed at the shopkeeper. “I said his assistant didn’t tell me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard the scuttlebutt. Junior stopped by to pick up his laundry this morning.”
“Oh, do tell,” Loretta said.
Royce darted a glance in the women’s direction. He had no idea who Junior was, but he was someone in the know, judging by Loretta’s riveted expression.
“Someone vandalized Lester’s boat,” Estelle said. “They think it happened early this morning.”
“From the dock or the water?” Loretta asked.
Royce was impressed by her question and eager to hear the answer. He moved to the other side of the aisle, hoping he wasn’t being too obvious. Sawyer waited a minute and came too. Royce picked up Preparation H and Sawyer looked at antacid tablets.
“Can’t say for sure.” Estelle replied. “Junior said someone launched a brick through the wheelhouse window. It had a note attached that said:Leave or you’ll regret it.”
“That would’ve made a terrible noise,” Loretta said. “Surely they would’ve had time to get topside to see who’d thrown the brick.”
“Well, that’s the juicy part.” Estelle lowered her voice, but it was loud enough for Royce to hear her say, “Good ole Les wasn’t on the boat last night. And, get this, neither was the big bruiser he hired to be his bodyguard and boat captain.”
“Oh?” Loretta asked. “Where were they?”
“Rumor has it Les has a girlfriend stashed on the island. The bodyguard got arrested at Hooligan’s. He’d had a near miss with a drunk tourist earlier in the night, but the bartender got between them.”
Royce exchanged a look with Sawyer. He figured the bartenders spent a lot of time breaking up potential fights, but what were the odds?
“I take it he managed to land a punch the next time?” Loretta asked.
“Yep. He lowered his head and charged into a man like a bull.” Estelle tsked. “That big oaf is huge and could hurt someone without trying. He spent the night in jail and was released on his own cognizance this morning. When he returned to the ship, he apparently found Les shouting at the police chief about the vandalism. Les was furious at his captain. They got into a yelling match, and Les fired him. Before the big guy stormed off, he told Les he’d live to regret it. Guess Lester is stuck here now until his replacement captain arrives. A few of the other boaters suggested skippers they knew, but Les insisted not just anyone was qualified to sail his baby.”
“Wow. That’s something else. And there were no witnesses at all?” Loretta asked.
“One of the other boaters heard the glass shatter and investigated. By the time he got topside, the kayaker was paddling away.”
“Kayaker?” Loretta asked scornfully. “It’s not like that’s a fast getaway car. Why couldn’t the witness jump onto the dock and pursue them to get a better description?”