Read Online Fire in the Stars by Barbara Fradkin - Free Book Online Page B

fight. He told the kid to shut up and slammed the truck door. I told them the only place still open now was a café near Anchor Point, so I’m guessing that’s where they headed.”
    â€œHow far is that?”
    â€œEight, nine kilometres?”
    Amanda’s heart sank. Night was stealing in from the east, cloaked in cloud and wind. She was hungry and tired herself by now, torn between the promise of a hot meal and the fresh sheets of the Seaview Motel. Chris thanked the girl and headed outside, cocking his head as they descended the wooden steps.
    â€œHolding out for that bottle of wine, eh?”
    â€œTrust me,” she said. “I’ve seen more promising establishments in the villages of Cambodia.”
    â€œLooks can be deceiving. Sometimes these simple places have the best food.”
    â€œRight.”
    He laughed. “Got it. Well then, on to this café!”
    Just as they were approaching the truck, his cellphone rang. He pulled it out as if it were an alien thing. “A signal!” he exclaimed. But as he studied the call display, his delight faded, and he wrinkled up his nose. “Uh-oh, the boss. Hang on. He’s probably forgotten some password.” He turned away and lowered his voice to answer the call. Amanda watched from the corner of her eye as she let Kaylee out for a quick run. Chris’s expression grew sober, and he stiffened to attention. It was a quick call, but by the end of it he was nodding in agreement. Afterward, he turned to her, all hint of teasing gone from his face.
    â€œA body’s been pulled ashore in one of the harbours north of here. Quite the stir. The local detachment has only four officers and one’s away on training, so my boss says since I’m in the neighbourhood, can I go help? At least with the preliminaries, until reinforcements arrive.”
    She went cold. “A body?” she whispered. “Whose?”
    â€œThe sergeant had no details, so let’s not jump to conclusions. I’ll go up there and keep you posted.”
    â€œI’m coming with you.”
    â€œNo. It’s too early to tell anything. You’d be better off going to that café and then getting a good night’s sleep.”
    â€œOh for God’s sake, Chris. You think I’m going to sleep a wink? I can identify him.”
    â€œSo can I.” He pulled down the tailgate of his truck and turned to her, all cop now. “Bodies can wash up from anywhere, sometimes months after a drowning. It may be hours before we know anything. You’d just be hanging around behind the perimeter with the rest of the village, waiting for news. Let’s get your bike off the truck and stick to our plan. The best thing you can do for us right now is to go talk to the people at the café.”
    Watching him roll the Rocket down the ramp, she struggled with fear and impotence. She wanted to plead further, but she sensed he wouldn’t budge. She would be a third wheel at the scene anyway, feeling useless and hating it. “Okay, but please call me if —”
    â€œI will.” He gave a quick crinkly smile that softened him. A chill wind whipped across the open meadow, bringing with it the tang of salt and the smell of rain. It blew his soft, floppy hair into his eyes. “You’ll be sick of hearing from me.”
    Then, with a screech of rubber, he was gone.

Chapter Seven
    D uring Amanda’s short ride up the highway to the café, the clouds unexpectedly began to shred and roll out toward the east. The ocean quieted, and the lingering dusk painted the sea and sky in muted swirls of lavender and rose. Amanda’s fatigue and hunger evaporated under the spell.
    The Fisherman’s Dory Café was situated on a bay in an old saltbox house painted flamboyant turquoise with yellow trim. Surrounded by practical but humourless houses sporting white siding, pickup trucks, and piles of firewood and tires in the front