Read Online Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) by Rita Garcia - Free Book Online Page A

back door and returned with Maggie and Catylen. “Just unload the chairs and put them in the storage room.” Maggie pointed to the back entrance of her shop.
    He finished and slammed the tailgate. “Let’s go check out the remodeling.”
    Maggie led the way out her front door to the bookshop. They waded through the dust and debris littering the bookshop.
    Jezzica looked up at the opened rooms that had previously been an apartment. “Wow.”
    “It’s going to be fantastic.” Catylen grabbed her sister’s arm.
    “I want to do this to my shop. Jezzica, you’re a genius. I love it.” Maggie wore the same expression Zack recalled his younger sister having on birthdays or Christmas.
    He pulled the group back as a piece of sheetrock tumbled down the stairs. “Our invitation to leave.” He held the door as the others exited.
    On the way back to Maggie’s shop, Jezzica’s eyes wandered up and down Main Street. She seemed lost for a moment. “Thank you for your help today, Zack.” She reached out and touched his arm and jerked her hand away as though she’d touched a hot flame.
    If Zack’s assessment was correct, Jezzica had spent the day vacillating back and forth from a positive direction to grim reminders of the past. “Are you going home?”
    Jezzica hesitated for a moment. “I have a few calls to make. Are you ready, Caty?” She held the door for Catylen, then headed out to the car.
    He waited until they drove away, then alerted Logan and headed to the station. Although officially off duty, he still wanted to check on the progress of the flower shop burglary. So far, he had maintained a score of zero in apprehending the culprits responsible. I’m missing something. I thought a small town would be a cinch for a detective to make his mark by effectively lowering the crime rate. In reality, it meant less manpower and fewer resources. He couldn’t afford to spend ten days without pursuing the criminals.
    A robbery had occurred before he had come on board with the department. A convenience market had been held up at gunpoint and Logan had been shot. Under Alec’s supervision, the suspects were apprehended. Now here he was, and he hadn’t managed to solve a small theft at the flower shop. There had been other smaller incidents—items stolen out of unlocked vehicles, and personal belongings disappearing on the beach. A couple of the cottage owners had complained that furniture was missing from their decks. At this rate, they should’ve promoted Alec to the detective division. If I have to work twenty-four-seven, I’ll get to the bottom of this.
     

Chapter Fourteen

 
     
    The sky burst into radiant colors over the sea as Jezzica and Catylen enjoyed cheese on pumpernickel, and a tossed salad with an array of fresh vegetables. A flock of white pelicans with black wing feathers flew over, heading out to sea. Rusty stretched and looked up for a nanosecond, then curled back up at Jezzica’s feet.
    “They look so regal.” Catylen pointed to the birds.
    Jezzica leaned her elbows on the table. “It’s unsettling. Out there somewhere, we’re being watched by the SCPD.”
    “I’m worried that the killers are out there, too.” Catylen pushed her empty plate to the center of the table.
    “I refuse to let my mind go there.” Jezzica’s pulse rate increased, as fear clutched in her chest. “How did your session go with Dr. Ellie today?”
    “I wasn’t prepared for the sessions to be focused on me. After all, I was not the one who betrayed our marriage vows. But today we started from the beginning of the marriage. My role in the marriage. My parental role. My personal values and goals.”
    “You were consumed with your family’s well-being. When were you supposed to find time for yourself?” Jezzica lifted her eyebrows. “Ah, that’s the point isn’t it?”
    “Exactly. I immersed myself in my role as wife and mom and left me out of the equation. When Mike did what he did, my whole world fell apart.