Page 26 of Tide and Seek (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #8)

Maxwell

Surprisingly, Tippity Top Car Rentals were exceedingly professional about the accident. Fortunately, I’d paid for full coverage, which meant I wasn’t on the hook for a dime of the Hummer’s damage.

The woman on the phone soothed my frayed nerves with the calm efficiency of someone who handled wrecked cars every day. Her breezy confidence almost convinced me this sort of chaos was perfectly normal, though I doubted most of their customers were being run off canyon roads by homicidal maniacs.

C.J. pulled up to her house as I was taking photos of the damage. She jumped out of her BMW, eyes wide as she ran over to examine the dented and scraped Hummer. “What happened?” she exclaimed.

“I had my first road-rage experience today.” I kept my tone light although I was a ball of anxiety.

“Are you serious?” She blinked at me.

Nodding, I clicked a few more photos. “All I can say is I’m glad I opted for the full insurance package. I’ve been assured there will be no mountains of paperwork, and that the Hummer will be picked up in the morning by their very own Tippity Top towing service.”

“Oh, Max. I’m so sorry,” she wailed. “Of all the rotten luck.”

“I know. I can’t believe how crazy this trip has been so far.

” I sighed and tucked my phone away, feeling disheartened.

“I’ll be surprised if Royce doesn’t sneak out in the night and take a plane back to Rainy Dale.

So far our L.A. trip has been a disaster.

We’re supposed to be relaxing, not finding dead bodies and being driven off the road. ”

She put her arm around my shoulders. “I’m sure Royce doesn’t blame you for any of this.”

“Of course not,” I mumbled. “And even if he did, he’s too nice to ever say anything. But he has to be wishing he’d never come. Hell, I’m wishing I’d never come.”

She pouted. “Don’t say that. I’m so happy you’re here. This has just been an unusually weird few days. It’ll get better, you just watch.” She glanced around. “Where’s Royce? He’s not injured, is he?”

“No.” I grimaced. “He’s barbecuing some steaks while I handle the insurance crap. He did bump his head against the window when the other car hit our rear bumper, but I’ve checked him over. He’s fine.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“No, but thanks for asking.” I forced a smile, hoping she’d stop looking so worried. It was kind of her to care so much, but it also made me uncomfortable. “It’ll be fine. Don’t look so stressed.”

“I can’t help it.” She grimaced. “Did you get the license plate of the car that hit you?”

“We did. We gave it to the deputy who took our statement.”

“Are they going to go get the guy?” She scowled. “I mean, attacking someone with a car is assault with a vehicle, right? They need to go pick that guy up right away.”

I held up my hands. “Uh… there is a bit more to the story.”

Looking sheepish, she smiled. “Sorry.”

“According to the deputy, when he ran the plates of the other car, it came back stolen.”

“Stolen?” She blinked at me. “Really?”

“That’s what the cop said.”

She pulled her brows together in a scowl. “That’s a likely story. That’s the oldest trick in the book.”

I was surprised at how suspicious she was. “You think they’re lying?”

“Possibly.” She sniffed. “It’s very common for people to try and say their car was stolen when something happens. It’s a classic dodge.”

“And you know this how?”

She laughed. “Don’t look at me like that. I dated a cop for a while. We broke up because he was too bossy, but he had tons of great stories. He told me that it’s common for drunk drivers to flee the scene of an accident and then lie and say their car was stolen.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.” She shrugged. “The thing is, they’re so dumb they usually call about the stolen car after the crash, so it looks completely sus.”

I nodded. “I don’t know if that’s what happened here or not. The deputy just said the car had been reported stolen.”

She sighed. “Too bad I don’t still talk to my ex. He might have been able to give me the scoop about your case.”

“Is that allowed?” I frowned.

She didn’t address my comment. “Wouldn’t it have been fun if I were still dating that cop guy? Then you and I would both have cops for boyfriends.”

“Wouldn’t that have been something?” I murmured, uncertain why that would have been fun.

She glanced toward her car where she’d left the driver’s side door open. “Oh, I’d better unload my groceries. I have ice cream in one of the bags.”

“Do you need help?” I offered, mostly because I knew she’d have offered if our positions were reversed.

“Nope. I got it handled. It’s just a few bags.” She started to walk away, but stopped and turned back toward me. “You’re still coming to the BBQ tomorrow night, right?” She looked hopeful. “It’s in your honor. You can’t bail on me, Max.”

I winced inwardly but forced myself to say, “I wouldn’t dream of bailing. So long as Royce is up for it, I’m game.”

She brightened immediately. “Oh, good. James and Luke have both confirmed. I’ve also got some friends and people from work coming, hope that’s okay?”

“Of course. It’s your party.”

“Sure, but I want you to have fun and I know you don’t love strangers.

” She came closer again, glancing around and lowering her voice.

“I wanted the party to be festive, but lately James has been so moody, and I never know what Luke is going to do. He could fall asleep on the couch, or hang from the chandelier. He’s so erratic lately.

I figured I’d invite some normal people from work who I know are always in a good mood and up for anything. ”

I frowned. “James has been moody?”

“Yes. He’s been a real grouch.”

It was unusual for C.J. to say anything critical about her friends. “Do you know why?” I prayed it wasn’t because of me.

“Well…” She bit her bottom lip. “Pretty sure it has to do with his work.”

“I thought he was doing really well at work.”

“He is, but he’s up for a big promotion at the hospital, so he’s under even more pressure than usual. They’re choosing a new Section Chief of Vascular Surgery, and James is in the running.”

“Really?” I was genuinely happy to hear that. “That’s great.”

“I know, right? Basically, he’d be running that entire specialty—hiring, budgets, research projects, the works. It’s one of those jobs that comes with prestige and a fat paycheck, not to mention influence.”

“He always was interested in climbing the ladder.” I smiled faintly. I’d been just like him at one time, but now the thought of it just made me tired.

“That he was.” She scowled suddenly. “The problem is he’s competing with another guy in the department, Rudy Wott, and it’s been cutthroat.”

“Cutthroat how?”

“Rudy’s a jerk. He’s been sucking up to influential board members and donors and trying to throw James under the bus.

” Her eyes glittered with anger. “He even went so far as to lie to James about the times and dates of a few networking dinners and events with hospital leadership. Just so James would miss them and look bad.”

“That seems rather childish.”

“It is, but it worked. It made James look like he didn’t care about the promotion. But instead of sticking up for himself, James has been moping around and drinking way too much, among other things.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

“Sure, but you know how he can be. He just won’t listen to reason sometimes. He thinks he’s fine and that he’s got it all under control.”

“Yes,” I murmured. “He always did tend to do that.”

Her expression changed to something more sly. “But he always listened to you, Maxwell.”

“No he didn’t.”

“Yes he did.” She smiled, inching closer. “I don’t suppose you’d talk to him?”

I recoiled. “Me?”

“Why not? He’ll listen to you.” She dug her slender fingers into the arm of my suit coat. “I’m not saying you have to do an intervention or anything. Maybe just casually talk to him at the party?”

“You want me to corner him and casually tell him he’s drinking too much?”

“Gosh, no. You’d have to use more finesse than that.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t do finesse, C.J. Surely you know that about me.”

She grimaced. “Okay, it’s true you’re not always the most tactful or empathetic person, but I know you care about James and he listens to you.”

“Again, I think you’re wrong about that.”

She ignored me, a determined tilt to her mouth. “You could give him some advice about how to handle the stress he’s under. Help him see he has to fight if he really wants this position. He can’t just give up and become an alcoholic.”

“C.J.,” I said with exasperation. “I don’t handle stress well at all. After Lucinda Pratt died, I quit doing surgery and ran away to Texas. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a success story.”

“Of course you are. You didn’t quit medicine. You didn’t turn to the bottle or pills. You just switched your specialty, and from what I can tell, you’re thriving. You’ve started your own private practice and you’re embarking on a whole new life with Royce.”

“You give me too much credit. I’m sure James thinks I was a coward for running away. I’m the last person he’ll want advice from.”

“You’re so wrong.” There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“He respects you. I’m telling you, he’ll listen to you.

If you encourage him to slow down on the drinking, I think he’ll do it.

Tell him not to give up on that job just because Rudy is making it hard on him.

He’d be perfect for that promotion, and God knows he needs a win. ”

Guilt nudged me as I studied her pleading expression. She really did care about others so passionately. I didn’t understand that instinct, but I respected it. “I don’t know. I’m not very good at the whole pep-talk thing.”

“Will you at least try?”

I groaned, feeling my resolve weakening. “I’ll probably make it worse.”

She opened her mouth to respond when raised voices drifted up from the beach. We both glanced over and saw Luke and another man arguing about forty feet away.

“Is that Ethan arguing with Luke?” C.J. asked, sounding bewildered.