Nate had told her, too, that Sheila often made dates with her friendslunch, dinner, drinks, coffee, breakfast, whateverand forgot to appear. She always had an apology, of course. Even so, Nate had seemed concerned, even as he tried to tell Kelsey that she shouldnt be. He hadnt seen Sheila in a week, and she never stayed away from the Sea Shanty that long.
Only Dane seemed indifferent. Crude. It appeared that he had come home just to drink himself into oblivion, and he didnt give a damn about Sheila or anything else.
And, of course, there was that last page in Sheilas diary, which she had found beneath the pillow on Sheilas bed. At first she had shoved the book back under the pillow, surprised that Sheila had kept a diary, then determined that a diary was private and she had no right to read it. But when Sheila hadnt appeared, she had skimmed through, and then gone to the last page.
Have to see Dane tonight. Tell him Im afraid.
Private or not, she was going to read every page in the diary. Maybe she should have mentioned it to the police.
No. Not yet, anyway. Not until she knew what was in it herself. She wasnt airing Sheilas life to anyone, unless it became absolutely necessary.
There was a knock at the door. For a moment she clenched her teeth, wondering if Dane had decided to follow her back from the Sea Shanty. A man wouldnt need to be a P.I. to find out where she was staying.
And he undoubtedly knew the way to Sheilas place.
She marched barefoot to the front door, grateful that the owners of the duplex had done away with the old-time jalousie and put in solid wood doors. She looked through the peephole. Cindy Greeley, now her official next-door neighbor in the duplex where she herself was an unofficial guest, was standing on the porch with a tray of something in her hands.
Kelsey opened the door.
Did you find out anything? Cindy asked her.
Kelsey stepped back, letting Cindy enter. Even in her bare feet, she was almost a head taller than the other woman, five-nine compared with Cindys petite five-two. The smaller woman was compact, with sun-bleached hair, huge blue eyes and a tiny frame. She looked as if she should be heading off to high school, but shed always had a terrific head on her shoulders, had made it nicely through college, and now owned eighteen T-shirt and shell shops throughout the Keys that might one day make her rich.
Did I find out anything? Kelsey said, her tone both musing and slightly bitter. Nope. Nothing.
I told you, Cindy said.
Well, wait a minute. Maybe not exactly nothing. I did find out that everyone saw Sheila arguing with Dane, but no one knows where she is now. Except, of course, Im sure someone is lying. Want to come in and have something to drink?
Cindy gave her a quizzical look for a moment. Kind of early for you, isnt it? Youre the kid who never had anything to drink during the day. And I thought you just came from the Sea Shanty?
Its after five. Isnt that cocktail hour?
Yeah, I guess. Sorry. I didnt realize how late it was. Daylight Saving Time, you know. Seems it stays light so late. But hey, I told you to try one of those Wind-Runners over there. That should have knocked you for a loop. Didnt you get one?
I ordered one. But I didnt drink it.
Why not? Theyre delicious.
It spilled, Kelsey said. Are you coming in?
Oh, yeah, sure. I just made quiche. Thought you might like some.
Good, you supply the food, Ive got the beer.
They walked on into the kitchen together. I went down to the sheriffs department. Sergeant Hansen let me fill out a missing persons report, though he wasnt real thrilled about it. He didnt seem to think there was anything odd about Sheila being gone for a week. Usually all you need is forty-eight hours. Here, your remains could be mummified and everyone still thinks youll show up when you feel like it.
Kelsey, thats not true. Its just that
That what?
Sheila was livinga certain lifestyle, Cindy said.
Still, a missing persons report is important, Kelsey told Cindy. She looked pointedly at her friend. And its something no one else thought to do.
Kelsey, Cindy said, taking a seat on one of the three bar stools at the kitchen counter, Im not sure what to say to make you feel better. Youve got to realize, Sheila is always going off and not telling anyone.
Im worried because she was supposed to meet me. Here. We made plans. I took my vacation time.
Cindy shrugged, accepting a bottle of Michelob. Kelsey, you havent seen a lot of Sheila in the last few years.
I havent seen her at all for at least two years, Kelsey said.
Cindy spoke slowly. So you just have to realizeyou dont really know her anymore.
Kelsey shrugged, feeling the guilt that had plagued her lately over that very fact.
Theyd all been friends, growing up. Slightly different in age, but friends because they were islanders, and the area had been pretty darn small back when theyd been kids. She was the youngest, Cindy was one year her senior, Sheila and Nate were the same age, two years older than Cindy. Of their little group, her brother, Joe, had been the oldestwith Dane Whitelaw just one month younger. Then there was Larry, who had been about the same age as Dane and Joe, but he had been a weekender, so he hadnt really been in the same tight-knit group. Sometimes there had been other kids in the group, as well, guys like Jorge Marti, and even Izzy Garcia.
Theyd all grown so far apart over the years.
Well, except for the fact that she worked with Larry, who had been instrumental in getting her into Sherman and Cutty, the advertising and promotions firm where she worked in the conceptual design department. Then, of course, Cindy and Nate were still close friends. And maybe she hadnt really been that far away, because she had kept up with Cindy. And Nate. Despite the fact that she and Nate had been married and divorced in the blink of an eye. Oddly enough, though totally unsuited to be husband and wife, she and Nate had made it as friends. When she thought back, she was angry with herself for what she had done, marrying him. Of course, she had felt empty then, hurt and very alone. The void in her life had seemed like a bottomless pit. There had been nothing she wanted more then than to get away. And NateNate had never been going anywhere. Hed loved Key Largo and known he was going to stay from the time hed been a boy. Maybe she had thought of marriage as a means to run away. Whatever her thinking, it had been wrong, and she had done nothing but hurt Nate. Still, it seemed he had forgiven her. And he was happy. He loved his Sea Shanty. Loved fishing, diving, boating and just being in the sun. He had never talked about anything other than living his life right here.
Just as Sheila and Dane had talked about nothing but moving on.
She understood why with Sheila. And with Danemaybe she understood him, too.
But theyd both come back.
And now she was back here, as well, especially to see Sheila. Except that Sheila had invited her down, sent her the key to the duplex and never appeared herself.
Have you been out to see Sheilas stepfather yet? Cindy asked cautiously.
Kelsey experienced a slight and involuntary shudder. No, she said, her admission rueful.
Well, neither have I, Cindy murmured. And hes actually the man we should be asking about her.
Have you been out to see Sheilas stepfather yet? Cindy asked cautiously.
Kelsey experienced a slight and involuntary shudder. No, she said, her admission rueful.
Well, neither have I, Cindy murmured. And hes actually the man we should be asking about her.
Im surprised she keeps in any kind of contact with him.
She has to. Theyre connected by her mothers trust fund.
You know what? Kelsey said, suddenly decisive. Im going out there right now.
Wait a minute! Why? Cindy asked. Were going to have beer and quiche. Kelsey, you have to eat, you know. You can go out and see Andy Latham anytime. Go tomorrow in the daylight.
Its still daylight now, Kelsey said. She was already at the door, slipping her sandals back on. I suppose I really should have gone out there to see him first.
Why? Sheila hated him, you know that. If she had plans, shed never have shared them with him. Not that she really made too many long-term plans. I lived in the other half of the same building, and I never knew what she was doing.
You just said she had to keep in contact with him because of her moms trust fund. He still might know something, Kelsey said.
Cindy sighed. Kelsey, her car is gone, so she obviously drove somewhere. Maybe you should start by looking for the car instead of with her stepdad. Though I still think youre making a mountain out of a molehill.
Cindy, she knew I could only take so much time off. And she really wanted to see me. She was worried about something.
Cindy was silent, which made Kelsey aggravatedwith herself and with everyone else. Maybe they were right. She hadnt seen Sheila in forever. A sense of guilt had brought her here, but the fact that she was feeling guilty didnt mean that Sheila had suddenly become responsible, or that she wouldnt forget her plans with Kelsey the same way she forgot plans with anyone else. Sheila might have talked to her, sounding desperate, then forgotten the plans theyd made just a few minutes later.
Want to come with me? she asked Cindy.
No, Cindy said with a shudder. And I really dont think you should go out there, either. You should wait. Get Nate or someone to go out with you. Dane would go. Dane has actually opened an investigations firm here. This is the kind of thing he does for a living. If anyone can find Sheila, it should be him. Make him go see Andy Latham with you.
Kelsey shook her head, still feeling the burn of her encounter with Dane. Hire one drunk to go see another?
You dont understand about Dane, Cindy said.
Cindy, youd champion Dane if hed just robbed the National Bank.
Not true. Hes justI dont really know the story, but one of his clients was killed in St. Augustine.
Murdered?
Not exactly. According to the police, it was accidental manslaughter, or something like that.
All right, so something bad happened, Kelsey said. Bad things happen in the world. It shouldnt have changed Dane into a vegetable. Anyway, I certainly dont want his help now. He was like a slug this afternoon. Ill be fine by myself. Andy Latham is just scuzzy, not dangerous. Ill be back soon. Throw some quiche in the refrigerator and Ill microwave it when I get back. She was at the door.
Great dinner companion you turned out to be, Cindy called.
Sorry.
Kelsey, glad to feel that there was something she could actually do rather than sit around and wait for Sheila, let the door close behind her and headed quickly for her car.
She was startled when the door opened in her wake and Cindy came out. Hey!
Kelsey paused. Yeah?
Kelseyhe might have been drinking this afternoon at Nates, butwhy did you call Dane a drunk?
Let me seeNate says he comes every afternoon. Hed had half a dozen beers by the time I got there. He was just sprawled out on a lounge chair when I arrived, looking like his mind had been fried for years. Nate said hes been back here for several months, and that hes opened a business so he can look like a solid citizen, but that his heart isnt really in it.
That doesnt make him a drunk.
He sure looked like one today.
He goes to Nates and drinks club soda most afternoons, Cindy said.
Trust me, he was reeking of beer.
Cindy shrugged. Okay, maybe he was drinking today. Ive been known to have a few too many myself on occasion. Whatever. If you want to think hes a drunk, fine, think hes a drunk. I still think youd be better off bringing a big drunk with military training out with you to see a scuzzbag.
Ill be all right. Ill keep my distance.
Honestly, Kelsey, you should wait, Cindy said.
But Kelsey was already on her way.
Help me, Dane.
He could remember her words so clearly, and now, with the lowering sun bringing the onset of evening, he found himself hearing their echo over and over again.
There were things he should be doing. But he had searched the beachfront over and over again, and he had found exactly what he had expected: nothing. The near storm, as they were calling it, an exceptionally bad spate of weather that had never actually formed into a hurricane, had come through about a week ago before petering out when it moved north and west over Homestead and the Everglades. There had been no damage to the house, but palm fronds had come down with a vengeance, and the beach had been flooded for twenty-four hours before the water receded.
His first response upon examining the photo shoved under the door had been to search, regroup, search again, then think it all out and search for a third time.
No, his first response had been shock. Then sorrow. Deep, gut-wrenching sorrow.
Then had come the knowledge that he was being framed, and that no matter how hard he searched he wouldnt find fingerprints or proof of any kind that anyone but he had been on his private beachwith Sheila.
The time for emotion was past. No, maybe it could never be past. But he sure as hell didnt have time for the luxury of pity, self or otherwise. Nor could he fly off in anger.
Now it was time to spread out further, to figure out what the hell was going on and who the hell had hated Sheila viciously enough to kill her. Who was cunning, cruel and psychoticand held such a deep and maniacal sense of vengeance against him?
With Kelsey in town, acting like the FBI, he was going to have to move more quickly than hed imagined. Thankfully he had friends in the right places. But since he was withholding evidence, hed also been aware that he would have to take everything very carefully. But now
Now it was different.
He had an almost photographic memory, which was going to stand him in good stead right now. After the initial shock of seeing the photo, he had known just where to begin, starting on the most logical path to carry him in the direction of the truth. Except that, with what he did know, the path didnt make any sense. He shouldnt be wasting time, except that sitting here had never really been wasting time.
The water and the peace that could be found on a spit of dock on a little island called Hurricane Bay were always good for rational thinking and reasoning.
And remembering.
The long summer day was ending; at last the sun was beginning to set. This was the time when the world was most beautiful. He remembered, thinking as a kid, that his dad was just crazy. Theyd had no air-conditioning, but his father had pointed out that the breeze always came through. The house had seemed a shack, but his dad had pointed out that they didnt need any art on the walls, because they had the most beautiful vista anyone could ever imagine, every night. All they had to do was sit on the rustic porch and watch the sun set, watch as colors came out over the Atlantic, pinks, reds, golds, yellows. Sometimes the skies would be clear and the blue would turn slowly to strange pastels, then indigo, and then night would fall. Sometimes there would be clouds in the sky, and they would become a billowy cobalt before turning into dancing shadows against the moon. When storms came, it was just as beautiful, if different. The lightning would strike the water like bolts cast down by a furious god, and the trees would whip and bend in the wind.