Page 14 of Tide and Seek (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #8)

Maxwell

After our lunch, we stopped at the Malibu Country Mart to pick up some groceries. I was still embarrassed to be riding in the Hummer, but felt a little better when I saw other Hummers on the road, along with several of those ridiculous-looking Tesla Cybertrucks.

Once home, I put away most of the groceries since I knew where things went, while Royce stored our lunch leftovers in the fridge.

We’d probably bought way too much food, but Royce had insisted he wanted to cook some of our meals.

He seemed worried about taking advantage of me, which felt silly.

But Royce hadn’t grown up with money, and he couldn’t seem to just relax and let me treat him.

It was a bit frustrating. I understood he was a proud man, but I wanted to take care of him just as he always took care of me.

“Ready to start the inventory?” Royce asked, closing the refrigerator door with a gentle push of his hip.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. I gathered my laptop, a notepad, and a pen, and then the doorbell rang. “The universe really doesn’t want me to do this inventory, does it?” I grumbled.

“Maybe it’s a delivery?” Royce shrugged.

“Of what? I didn’t order anything.” I scowled when the doorbell rang again, followed by an erratic series of knocks. “Why am I suddenly so popular?”

I got up and went to the door, peering through the glass panels on either side.

A lanky figure stood on the porch, shifting from foot to foot, and I recognized him as Luke Westbrook.

To say I was surprised was putting it mildly.

My weed-loving neighbor had never once dropped by, despite our living in the same small community for years.

The only times we’d ever really socialized were when we bumped into each other on the beach or at parties C.J.

or James hosted. For him to show up on my doorstep without warning was highly unusual.

“It’s my neighbor, Luke,” I hissed, meeting Royce’s curious gaze over my shoulder.

“The druggie?” Royce asked, one brow raised.

“The very same.” I laughed gruffly. “Seems we’ll have a chance to talk to him after all.”

“Looks like it.”

I opened the door and Luke stood there blinking, his hand raised as if he’d been about to knock again.

“Doctor Max,” he exclaimed with a crooked smile.

“Hello, Luke. Long time no see,” I said brightly.

“You’re really here. C.J. said you were back, but I couldn’t believe it was true.

” He looked like he’d just stepped out of a hurricane, messy sun-bleached hair hanging in a greasy curtain over his face.

He wore a faded Hawaiian shirt buttoned wrong so one side drooped lower than the other, orange swim trunks, and no shoes.

“Really?” I shifted. “Why not?”

He appeared uncertain of how to respond, but then said, “I guess because you’ve been gone so long, I didn’t think you’d bother coming back.” He attempted to run a hand through his shaggy hair, but his tanned fingers caught in a snarl and he gave up. “I just came by to borrow a cup of sugar.”

At my confused expression, he let out a hee-haw of a laugh.

“I’m just joshin’, Doc. I came by to say hello. How’ve you been?”

“Uh… I’ve been fine. How… how have you been?”

“I’ve been awesome.” He gestured toward the inside of my home. “Can I come in?”

“Please do,” I said, stepping aside and waving him in. I winced when I noticed his feet were covered in sand, but since I wanted to talk to him, I held my tongue and put on what I hoped was a welcoming expression.

“Thanks.” Luke stepped inside, his gaze darting around before landing on Royce. “So you really did bring someone back with you.”

“This is Royce,” I said, closing the door.

Luke smirked. “You must be the boyfriend. James mentioned he’d been replaced.” He cackled. “I kind of feel sorry for James. He was pining for you the whole time you were gone, Doc. He had it in his head you’d miss him so much you’d come running back into his waiting arms.”

My face warmed. “That’s nonsense. James and I were never a real couple.”

“Like that matters?” Luke snorted. “Come on, you must know James still has the hots for you.”

“He does not have the hots for me,” I protested. “James and I are just friends.”

Luke shrugged. “Whatever you say. All I know is James’s ego is crushed because you didn’t come back alone.” Luke considered Royce, and then his eyes widened. “Wait, dude, are you a cop?”

Surprised Luke had figured that out simply by looking at Royce, I wasn’t sure how to respond.

Royce, however, didn’t seem bothered. “That’s right. How’d you know?”

“I can always tell instantly, man.” He made Kung Fu-style chopping movements with his hands. “There’s just something about how cops carry themselves. They’re always on high alert. Ready to strike should danger appear.”

Giving a confused laugh, Royce glanced at me.

“He’s just like this,” I mumbled. “He says whatever he’s thinking.” Luke hadn’t changed a bit. He was as erratic and strange as ever. I was beginning to regret my decision to let him inside my house.

Unfazed, Luke continued. “I assume you guys heard about the body on the beach?” He shuddered. “I mean, what in the world, right?”

“Horrible.” I shivered at the memory, but didn’t bother mentioning that it was Royce and me who’d found the body.

That might spark Luke to ask a bunch of questions, and I didn’t want to encourage him to stay any longer than necessary.

I merely wanted to know if he’d seen anything useful the night of the break-in.

“Do the police know who she was yet?” he asked.

“Not sure,” I said. “If they identified the body, they didn’t share that information with us.”

Luke said, “I just keep thinking about the fact there must be a cold-blooded killer wandering around here.”

I gritted my teeth. “Hopefully it was a random attack and whoever it was has moved on.”

“Most likely,” Royce drawled.

“Let’s hope so.” Luke brightened. “Hey, got anything to drink, Doc? I’m thirsty as heck.”

I frowned at the abrupt change in subject. “Don’t you have things to drink at your own house?”

He snorted. “Of course, but I’m not at my house, am I?”

“No, you got me there.” I forced a laugh.

“I was working out on the beach before I hit the surf. Warming up is important before you get in the water.” He let out a pot-infused sigh.

“But anyway, all that got me thirsty. I saw the lights on in your house and thought to myself, hey, the Doc is back. I could ask him for a drink. I mean, we are neighbors, after all.”

Squashing my desire to suggest he go home and hydrate, I instead said, “How about some water?”

“Water? God, no.” He waved his hands as if I’d offered him motor oil.

“I got enough water in me. Humans are like, what, sixty percent water? Or is it seventy? I can never remember the exact science, probably cuz I hate water.” He laughed, swaying.

“Which is funny because I surf a lot and you can’t surf without water, right? ”

“Yes, that’s so… funny.” I bit the inside of my cheek and decided to abandon my plan of asking about the night of the break-in.

Luke was obviously on something, as usual, and I doubted he’d have anything useful to share.

Unfortunately, now that he was inside my home, I wasn’t sure how to eighty-six him.

He peered past me. “Ooh, nice couch. Aren’t you going to invite me to sit?”

Clenching my teeth, I fought the urge to shove him back onto the stoop and be done with him.

Honestly, I’d have preferred spending time with Reggie from Tippity Top Car Rental over Luke.

But he was already inside, and it would have been extremely awkward to ask him to leave.

So I gestured stiffly toward the living room. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thanks, neighbor.” Luke brushed past me, drifting in a crooked line toward the living room as he spoke.

He trailed his fingertips along the back of the sofa before dropping onto it, limbs sprawling as if his strings had been cut.

“I’ve never been inside your house, Doc.

It’s cool. Very fancy. Kind of like you. ”

Royce gave me a commiserating smile.

“Oh.” Luke sat up straighter, as if just remembering something. “I heard about the break-in. Did they take anything?”

“I’m not sure yet.” I cleared my throat. “Um… I’m glad you brought up the subject of the break-in, Luke. I wanted to ask you—”

“Hey,” Luke interrupted. “Are the walls moving, or is that just me?”

I frowned. “Are the walls moving? No. Of course they’re not moving.”

He gripped the arm of the couch. “You sure? Maybe we’re having an earthquake.”

“We’re not having an earthquake.” Whether I liked him or not, the doctor in me was concerned by his behavior. I already suspected he was high, but I worried perhaps he’d taken something stronger than marijuana.

Luke gave a wheezy laugh. “That was so weird. I could have sworn the walls were moving.”

I took the seat across from him, leaning forward. His eyes were dilated, and his cheeks flushed. “I know you like to smoke weed, but did you take something stronger, Luke?”

He flicked a paranoid glance toward Royce. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, uh…” I grimaced, not sure how to continue. I didn’t want to come right out and accuse him of being on drugs, but also didn’t want him to OD in my living room. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh, yes.” His eyes shifted around the room as if he saw things that we couldn’t see. “I feel better than okay. I feel amazing.”

“Okay, well, that’s good… I guess.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m concerned you might have taken something you’re reacting badly to. You seem to be hallucinating.”

“Nah.” Luke let out a snort of a laugh. “You should see your face right now, Doc. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I know how to mix things safely.”

“So you did mix things. Mind telling me what else you took?” I pressed.

“Nothing dangerous. Just a cap or two.” He shifted, glancing around the room like something might leap out at him.