Page 36 of Tide and Seek (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #8)

“Do you think that guy pretending to be Luke’s brother is the burglar or the killer?” C.J. asked apprehensively, eyes wide. “Gosh, maybe he’s both. Maybe he’s connected to all the shit that’s been going on around here.”

Harris squinted like he was thinking hard.

“So, counting the burglary at Maxwell’s house, you’ve also got Luke acting paranoid and desperate, facing foreclosure and drug charges.

Then you got some mysterious guy pretending to be his brother, and now Max is getting threatening texts telling him to leave town.

” He looked between us. “No way that’s all coincidence. ”

I frowned. “How’d you know about the texts?”

“Oh, uh…” Harris laughed awkwardly. “I don’t recall.”

I narrowed my eyes because it was obvious he was lying.

Looking guilty, C.J. held up her hand. “It was me. I’m sorry. Max told me and I let it slip to Harris.”

I sighed. “We were trying to keep that quiet.”

“Sorry again. I wasn’t thinking.” C.J. grimaced and then frowned. “Hey, where is Max?”

“Meeting with his insurance agent in town. He should be back soon,” I said distractedly. “I think I’ve been looking at this all wrong. I suspected Luke might have been the burglar, but now I’m wondering if it was that guy with the red sports car.”

“Problem is,” Harris said, shrugging. “It could be anybody. Could be one of us even.”

C.J. scowled. “It’s not one of us, what are you talking about?”

Harris laughed sheepishly. “I just mean, you can never be too careful.”

“Oh, is that what you meant?” She rolled her eyes.

“Hey, do you think maybe car guy and Luke are working together? I feel guilty even suggesting that, but Luke knows the neighborhood, knows when people are home or away. And from what you’ve said this Stiles fellow has money, a nice car, respectable enough not to draw suspicion. ”

“Maybe Luke tells him when it’s safe to burgle the houses, and Stiles does the actual theft.” Harris lifted his brows.

“Maybe, although Stiles, if that’s even his name, didn’t look like the guy who’d do the dirty work,” I said. “He looked like he’d be the brains of the operation.”

My pride stung at the idea that Max and I had been played by Stiles.

We’d stood there making polite conversation with someone who might have been casing the neighborhood, and we’d swallowed his story hook, line, and sinker.

Maybe being on vacation had dulled my cop instincts and made me less suspicious.

“Harris,” C.J. said, “you need to keep a closer eye on things. How could that guy have gotten in here and had a whole conversation with Max and Royce without you even knowing he was here?”

“Well, I’m only one person, and I have to check on other properties too.” He tucked his vape away, looking guilty. “But I’ll keep a closer watch from now on.”

“Fair enough.” She sighed.

“And speaking of keeping this community safe, I’d better get back to work.” He gave me a courteous nod. “Nice meeting you, Royce. Hope you and Maxwell enjoy the rest of your vacation.”

“We’ll do our best.”

“Later, C.J.” Harris headed toward her house, taking the narrow path along the side that led out to the lane in front.

“I should probably go too,” I said, looking up at the threatening clouds. “Max will be home soon, and it looks like rain.”

“Before you go.” C.J. stood, twisting her hands nervously. “I wanted to apologize for pushing Max to talk to James. I could see Max was really upset when he came out of my room. I badgered James until he told me what he did.”

I frowned. “What exactly did James do?”

“Max didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

She bit her lip. “I guess you have a right to know. Apparently, James tried to kiss Max and convince him they should be together.”

I stiffened as a flush of anger worked its way through me. “You’re kidding.”

“Unfortunately, no.”

I scowled. “Wow, I’ve been trying really hard to be cool about James and he pulls that shit?”

“I know. But just so you know, Max was pissed. He laid into James telling him he loved you and that was that.” She glanced toward James’s dark home. “James was devastated and also really embarrassed.”

“Good,” I said before I could stop the word from slipping out.

She flinched. “I don’t blame you for being angry. His behavior was disrespectful as hell. But James is a good guy, he’s just going through some stuff right now.”

I studied her, shaking my head. “Good lord, C.J. Is there anyone you’d give up on? You have a kind word to say about everyone.”

Her cheeks tinted pink. “That’s not true. I… I swore at the box boy who dropped my eggs last week and broke every single one. I’m no saint.”

“You monster.” I smiled faintly. “I’m glad you’re Max’s friend. He doesn’t have enough friends, and you’re a good soul, C.J.”

“How can you say that when it’s all my fault James almost kissed your boyfriend?” Guilt shimmered in her eyes.

“Because you had good intentions. I don’t blame you for James trying to kiss Max—I blame James. James didn’t have good intentions. He wanted Max to dump me, and that’s not cool.”

“Royce—”

I held up my hand. “Don’t worry. I don’t hate James. I think he has problems and he’s not handling them well, but I don’t hold any ill will toward him.” I was exaggerating my generous feelings toward James, but that was for the best. I didn’t need C.J. to feel like she had to take sides.

“Thanks, Royce.” C.J.’s smile was warm. “Max took forever to fall in love, but when he finally did it, he picked a good one.”

I gave an embarrassed grimace. “I don’t know about that. Frankly, I’m the lucky one,” I said gruffly, and headed back to Maxwell’s beach house.

****

When Max got home, I was out on the back patio cleaning the grill.

I went inside to greet him but found he’d gone straight upstairs.

I could hear his footsteps moving around, and the sounds of drawers opening and closing.

I waited by the kitchen island for a bit, expecting him to come downstairs, but he took so long, I decided to keep cleaning the grill.

I did find it odd he hadn’t at least popped his head outside to say hello, though.

I couldn’t help wondering why he’d been in such a hurry to get upstairs. Hopefully it had nothing to do with the weirdness of last night at C.J.’s party, when James had overstepped. Was it possible what happened between them last night had made Max realize he still had feelings for James?

That unwanted thought broke me out in a cold sweat.

I didn’t want to believe it could be true, but it was possible.

They’d had an intimate relationship in the past. Maybe when James had made a move on Max, it had reawakened deeper feelings.

Although, everything had seemed fine between Max and me when we went to bed.

He hadn’t been standoffish. In fact, he’d held tight to me as if needing my comfort.

But he had been a little uptight this morning, and vague about when he’d be back from his appointment with Jane.

It took about twenty minutes, but eventually I heard the sliding glass door open behind me. Turning, I expected to see Max changed into something more comfortable, but he was still wearing the same charcoal suit he’d put on for his meeting with Jane. What had he been doing upstairs if not changing?

“Hey,” I said, straightening and forcing a smile.

I hoped he couldn’t see the strain on my face as I moved to him and leaned in for a kiss.

His mouth was tense beneath mine, and my paranoia about James spiked.

His body language was cool and not at all what I was used to when kissing him.

When the awkward kiss ended, I asked, “How’d things go with Jane? ”

“Fine. Good, actually.” Max’s voice was pleasant, but I caught the tension around his eyes. “We adjusted the insurance amount to account for any appreciation in the value of my collection.”

“That’s great. I’m glad Jane thought of that.” I moved away toward the railing near the table, trying to play it cool.

“Me too.” He shifted uneasily. “Jane gave me the number of a storage company she uses. While I was at her office, I called and arranged for them to pack up my collection the day after we leave. They’ll store everything in a temperature-controlled unit.”

“Sounds perfect.” I was relieved at least he was talking like he still planned on living in Rainy Dale with me. That was a good sign.

“Yeah, I can’t believe I didn’t do that the first time I left.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. As you’ve said before, you never intended to stay away permanently.”

“No, I didn’t.” He frowned. “It took me by surprise. Sometimes I still can’t believe I live in Rainy Dale.” He didn’t sound particularly pleased.

An awkward silence fell.

I don’t care if that’s in Rainy Dale or Siberia, you’re the thing I need to be near.

Max had said that to me on this very trip. I wanted to hold on to that, and believe it was true. But what if what happened with James had changed things for him? Would he know how to tell me? Would he stay with me even if he wanted to be with James out of loyalty? Guilt?

“Uh… you were gone longer than I expected today.” I waited for him to elaborate on what had taken so long, but he just stood there, one hand behind his back, looking nervous. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do for food. Did you want to have a late lunch, or early dinner?”

“Either is fine.” He avoided my gaze, instead looking past me to the ocean.

Yeah, it wasn’t my imagination. He was acting weird. “Did you want to go out to eat tonight?” I nudged. “You were talking about maybe having sushi one night. I’m good with that.”

He let out a long sigh. “No. I… I’d rather stay in. I don’t feel like being around other people right now.”

My pulse skittered alarmingly. Why didn’t he want to go out? He’d been talking about taking me to all his favorite places the whole time, but suddenly he wanted to stay home? Why, so he could have a serious talk with me maybe?

“You didn’t change your clothes,” I said.