Read Online Pier Pressure by Dorothy Francis - Free Book Online Page A

when he got that patched up, he ran out of gas. Locals, too, not tourists.”
    “Let me make you some coffee,” Jass said. “You must be exhausted. We’ve tried and tried to reach you on your cell phone.”
    “I turned it off because the traffic claimed my full attention. A ringing phone distracts me. I can’t carry on a phone conversation and drive at the same time. I’m sorry I caused you to worry. Had I known…”
    Beau shook his head as he slumped onto the couch, propped his elbows on his knees, and dropped his head into his hands. “I didn’t hear the news about Margaux until a police car began following me with lights flashing and siren wailing. Somehow I found a place to pull off the highway and the patrolman gave me the news. I stopped by the house, then a detective asked me to go to the morgue to…identify the body.” Beau’s voice dropped to a bare whisper, but he lifted his head and faced us.
    “You’ve had a rough time, Dad,” Jass said, standing near the back stairway. “You too, Keely. Excuse me while I bring us some snacks.”
    “I really must be going.” I tried to ease toward the back stairway, but Beau beckoned me toward the couch, then seemed at a loss for words. In a strained silence, we heard Jass downstairs readying coffee mugs and silverware as she moved about in the kitchen, and soon the aroma of brewing coffee wafted to us.
    “Keely,” Beau said at last. “I’m so sorry you had to be the one to…to be first on the scene of the tragedy. The patrolman told me you handled the situation well—as well as a situation like that could be handled. I appreciate your quick thinking, your concern, your calling nine-one-one.”
    “I hear the police are saying Margaux’s death’s a suicide,” I said.
    “They haven’t decided for sure. I can’t imagine such a thing. The police searched the house and the detectives asked me to do another search while they watched. We found no suicide note, yet I felt the police were holding information from me.”
    “We think someone murdered Margaux,” Punt said. “What do you think about that, Dad?”
    “The police asked me to stay in town.” Beau shook his head. “As if I might catch a quick flight out of the country or something. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know what the police are thinking.”
    “In case they’re thinking murder, Jass and Keely and I have been drawing up a list of suspects,” Punt said.
    At that moment, Jass came up the stairs carrying a tray with coffee mugs and cookies.
    “Help yourselves, everyone,” she invited, then she handed Beau a mug and a napkin.
    “Women always think food can make a bad situation better,” Punt said as he helped himself to a cookie.
    “Maybe it can,” Jass insisted.
    “I really must go,” I said. “You three need some time alone, and I need to get home.” I stood. “If I can be of help, let me know. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll get in touch tomorrow.”
    “Talk to people,” Punt said. “Let’s carry out the plan we discussed.”
    “What plan was that?” Beau wrapped his hands around the coffee mug as if to warm them.
    “Please excuse me.” I moved toward the stairs. “Jass and Punt can share our thoughts with you when you’ve rested and feel more like listening.”
    “Let me drive you home.” Punt swallowed his cookie and stood beside me.
    “Thanks, Punt, but no thanks. I rode my bike, remember? I’ll need it for transportation to work tomorrow morning.”
    Jass followed me downstairs, opened the back door, then snapped on a dim porch light. It surprised me that darkness had fallen.
    “Take care, Keely. I’ll call you tomorrow morning. You’ll be at your shop, won’t you?”
    “Yes. I closed for today, but I’ll open tomorrow as usual. I can’t talk to the suspects if I close the office.”
    “Do take special care, Keely.”
    “I will. You get back upstairs to your family. I’ll be fine.”
    Night’s like a black quilt that drops quickly