Read Online Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet by A. Gardner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. Gardner
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it wouldn't. A disaster. I'm no step closer to finding the killer than I was before I had set foot on the docks. The only secret unveiled tonight is that Frankie is having trouble holding down two jobs.
As the crowd moves indoors, my eyes wander around the top deck. The moon is fuller than ever, and hardly anyone is up here to enjoy it. Abandoned wine glasses are scattered on every table as well as the ground. Music is still playing, but I see the shoreline straight ahead.
A stranger walks by me, and at first I pay no attention.
But unlike everyone else, the stranger is moving in the opposite direction of the crowd— and is dressed in a dark coat and baseball cap. I can't help but wonder why someone would bother with a jacket on such a humid night. My stomach churns as the stranger continues walking—disappearing into the shadows.
I slowly creep in the same direction and spot a staircase leading to the bottom level.
"Poppy!" Presley jogs towards me, waving his hand.
"What is it?" I reply.
"Poppy, you've got to come with me," he says.
"But I just saw—"
"Poppy," he interrupts. "The person who fell overboard was a woman. It was Frankie."
* * *
"I'm fine," Frankie insists. "Don't do me any favors."
Frankie dries her hair. She's dressed in a spare uniform that's two sizes too big, and she's having a hard time looking at me.
"The Captain wants you to get checked out at the hospital," Presley insists. "Come on. I'll drive you there."
"I can drive myself. Thanks." Frankie gulps, rubbing the excess makeup from her eyes.
"Don't be like this, Frankie," I respond. "We really do want to help, despite what you may think."
"No, you're just looking for an excuse to ask me about Lacy." She bites the side of her lip and gathers her things. "I already gave it to you straight, and just because she's dead, that doesn't mean we're not friends anymore. I promised I wouldn't go around telling people her business."
"I'm not going to ask you about Lacy," I answer. It's a tough promise to make, seeing as I need more information. But I have to do it. "Frankie, you could have died. Just let us help you out."
"This isn't a cruise ship," she clarifies. "I yelled for help, and plenty of people heard me."
"How did you fall in the first place?" I ask.
Frankie hangs her head—her usual, smug attitude temporarily disappearing.
"I don't know," she says quietly.
Presley glances in my direction.
"Come on," he suggests. "Let's get out of here, okay?" He extends a hand to Frankie, and she willingly takes it. I grab her purse as the three of us step out into the night and head to the parking lot. Whispers fill the air—some too quiet to make out and some are quiet wishes of good health. Frankie nods, noticing right away that all eyes are on her.
"Thanks," she responds as another onlooker offers her congratulations that she made it safely back to the boat. "Thanks. Thank you. Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
We approach Presley's rental car, and right away he opens her door. Frankie slides into the back seat. Presley shuts her door for her and moves on to the passenger's door. He grins as he waits for me to get in.
"Nice guy," Frankie mutters when the two of us are alone. "Lacy had nothing but glowing comments about him."
"I'm sure she felt the same about Chance The Hammer Munrow," I comment.
"He was a good bodyguard, but Lacy complained about everybody," Frankie admits. "It's just the way she was."
Presley hops in the driver's seat and starts the car.
"All buckled up?"
"The hospital is just up the road," Frankie responds. "Thanks. I'm sure I'm just fine."
As Presley leaves the parking lot, I stare out the window at the marina. The docks are lit up, and each boat in the distance reminds me of my first impression of Gator Bay. I loved the magic of the ocean, the waves, and the people who clung to that magic. Maybe that's what drew Lacy Leigh back to her hometown. Maybe she was in the process of finally coming home.
"No
As the crowd moves indoors, my eyes wander around the top deck. The moon is fuller than ever, and hardly anyone is up here to enjoy it. Abandoned wine glasses are scattered on every table as well as the ground. Music is still playing, but I see the shoreline straight ahead.
A stranger walks by me, and at first I pay no attention.
But unlike everyone else, the stranger is moving in the opposite direction of the crowd— and is dressed in a dark coat and baseball cap. I can't help but wonder why someone would bother with a jacket on such a humid night. My stomach churns as the stranger continues walking—disappearing into the shadows.
I slowly creep in the same direction and spot a staircase leading to the bottom level.
"Poppy!" Presley jogs towards me, waving his hand.
"What is it?" I reply.
"Poppy, you've got to come with me," he says.
"But I just saw—"
"Poppy," he interrupts. "The person who fell overboard was a woman. It was Frankie."
* * *
"I'm fine," Frankie insists. "Don't do me any favors."
Frankie dries her hair. She's dressed in a spare uniform that's two sizes too big, and she's having a hard time looking at me.
"The Captain wants you to get checked out at the hospital," Presley insists. "Come on. I'll drive you there."
"I can drive myself. Thanks." Frankie gulps, rubbing the excess makeup from her eyes.
"Don't be like this, Frankie," I respond. "We really do want to help, despite what you may think."
"No, you're just looking for an excuse to ask me about Lacy." She bites the side of her lip and gathers her things. "I already gave it to you straight, and just because she's dead, that doesn't mean we're not friends anymore. I promised I wouldn't go around telling people her business."
"I'm not going to ask you about Lacy," I answer. It's a tough promise to make, seeing as I need more information. But I have to do it. "Frankie, you could have died. Just let us help you out."
"This isn't a cruise ship," she clarifies. "I yelled for help, and plenty of people heard me."
"How did you fall in the first place?" I ask.
Frankie hangs her head—her usual, smug attitude temporarily disappearing.
"I don't know," she says quietly.
Presley glances in my direction.
"Come on," he suggests. "Let's get out of here, okay?" He extends a hand to Frankie, and she willingly takes it. I grab her purse as the three of us step out into the night and head to the parking lot. Whispers fill the air—some too quiet to make out and some are quiet wishes of good health. Frankie nods, noticing right away that all eyes are on her.
"Thanks," she responds as another onlooker offers her congratulations that she made it safely back to the boat. "Thanks. Thank you. Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
We approach Presley's rental car, and right away he opens her door. Frankie slides into the back seat. Presley shuts her door for her and moves on to the passenger's door. He grins as he waits for me to get in.
"Nice guy," Frankie mutters when the two of us are alone. "Lacy had nothing but glowing comments about him."
"I'm sure she felt the same about Chance The Hammer Munrow," I comment.
"He was a good bodyguard, but Lacy complained about everybody," Frankie admits. "It's just the way she was."
Presley hops in the driver's seat and starts the car.
"All buckled up?"
"The hospital is just up the road," Frankie responds. "Thanks. I'm sure I'm just fine."
As Presley leaves the parking lot, I stare out the window at the marina. The docks are lit up, and each boat in the distance reminds me of my first impression of Gator Bay. I loved the magic of the ocean, the waves, and the people who clung to that magic. Maybe that's what drew Lacy Leigh back to her hometown. Maybe she was in the process of finally coming home.
"No
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