Dallas kept his mouth shut and took a drink of the coffee Liam had already poured for him, but inside he was thinking, You ass all over again.
Hannah, by any chance did your guests tell you what direction the ghost came from? Liam asked her.
She shook her head. I wish I could tell you more, Liam, but no, they didnt say anything. I assume youll want to talk to them yourself, though. I arranged for them to stay at the Westin. None of the B and Bs would have had room, even if Id been able to reach someone at that hour of the morning.
Im assuming you have cell numbers for them so we can track them down if theyre out? Dallas asked.
She nodded and reached for the guest register on the table. Of course.
Liam rose, pulling out a small pad and a pen. What are their names?
Stuart Bell and Shelly Nicholson saw him and thought he was a ghost, Hannah said, and gave him their numbers. Their friends are Pete and Judy Atkinson, and Mark Riordan and Yerby Catalano. And then there were the Hardwickes. Theyre regulars, and much too elderly to be your murderer, if thats what youre thinking. They woke up with all the screaming and came rushing down, just like I did. They were just as confused and disoriented as I was. Everyone but the Hardwickes was on my ghost tour earlier. I start off here, and I always end at the Hard Rockpart of their ticket price gets them a drink. I left them there, came home and went to sleep. I didnt hear them come in. I didnt hear anything until the screaming started. Just call over to the hotel. Im sure youll reach them there.
Thanks, Liam told her, then got up and walked away from the table as he started making his calls.
They really thought a dying man was a ghost? Dallas asked, shaking his head.
I guess you dont really understand this island, Hannah said.
He smiled grimly. Oh, I think I do.
Youre new here, right?
I havent been assigned here long, no. But I know the island. I was born here, Miss OBrien.
Ah, she said, studying him. Really? Im going to guess that youve been away awhile. Because you should know that people like to come here and steep themselves in ghost stories, then party at the bars on Duval Street.
They were drunk? he asked.
That seemed to give her pause. She shook her head. No, actually, I dont think they were.
Theres a big difference between a supposed ghost and a dying man, Dallas said. He took another drink of his coffee. It was good. Strong. Exactly what he liked and needed.
I might remind you, Mr. Samson, that Im not the one who saw him. My guests told me that theyd seen a ghost, and since they were clearly terrified I did what I thought was the right thingI gave them their money back and sent them where theyd feel safe.
He leaned forward, looking at her. Its Agent Samson, Ms. OBrien. And while you were busy doing the right thing, werent you afraid yourself?
Of a ghost? A supposed ghost? No.
He leaned closer to her. What about the knife?
She shrugged. They said he had a knifeand no, I dont know why they thought a ghost was able to carry a real knifeand that he was about to do them in. I never saw the knife.
Liam returned to the table and told them, Theyre still at the hotel. I spoke to a friend at the desk. Shes slipping a note beneath the door, because they have their phones offprobably trying to get some sleep. We can stop on by when we leave here or wait to speak to them when they wake up. Hannah, the crime scene techs will probably be around for a few more hours. Theres a lot of foliage around the property, and theyre trying to find any cluesblood, broken branches, a scrap of fabric...whatever. Trying to figure out where he came from before he wound up in your yard and where the killer might have hidden.
She nodded thoughtfully. Were just a block off Duval, she said. I imagine...well, the backstreets here are pretty quiet once the bars close.
Liam nodded. Im going to take you up on breakfast before we go.
Please do, she said, rising. Let me nuke it for you. She turned to look at Dallas. Agent Samson?
What the hell. He was hungry.
Sure, he said. Thank you.
She put the food in the microwave to heat, then set plates before the two of them.
Did you know who he was? she asked. Was he a criminalor just a good guy who happened to be walking around carrying a bowie knife?
Dallas looked at her. She could also have an acid tongue when she chose.
Liam said, Its a closed investigation, so Im sorry, but I cant tell you anything.
Hannah turned from Liam to stare at Dallas. I see. Im not sure how youre going to keep a lid on things, but I guess I dont really need an answer.
Yes, Dallas said quietly, making the decision to let her into the zone of trust. He was a good guy walking around with a bowie knife. He was one of ours, an agent named Jose Rodriguez. Luckily he doesnt have a wife or kids, and his parents died a long time ago in a South American coup. When the Bureau spins what happens, theyll probably let the media think that he was a criminaland he would have approved of that. It took him forever to get undercover. They wont want that information getting out.
Im really sorry, she said quietly. And I wont say a thing.
Thanks, he told her.
An awkward silence reigned. Liam broke it. Great quiche, Hannah. Theres a reason youre known for having one of the best breakfasts in town.
Glad you liked it, Liam.
Very good, Dallas agreed.
She nodded. Thanks.
Was anyone else here? Dallas asked suddenly.
Hannah frowned. What do you mean?
He thought she sounded a little defensive. Exactly what I said. Was anyone else here? Do you run this place by yourself?
She let out a breath. Valeriya Dimitri helps out with housekeeping, but she goes home at night. Bentley Holloway takes care of the grounds and does repairs. He works for a few other people, too, and lives in the little shotgun house next door. Neither of them is here in the middle of the night, and I called Valeriya this morning and told her to take today off because of what happened. She emigrated here from Russia about ten years ago, and shes a lovely young woman whos just happy to be living with her family here in Key West. And Bentley is almost as much an island icon as Fort Zachary Taylor. Neither of them would ever hurt anyone. Actually, you probably saw both of them earlier. They were out back in the alley. Valeriya was already on her way in to work when I reached her, and Bentleywell, like I said, he lives next door. The commotion probably brought him out.
Bentley was the bald guy standing in the back, Liam said to Dallas. And Valeriya is a pretty blonde, so I doubt you missed her. He grinned.
But they werent there when you found the body? Dallas pressed.
No. I guess Valeriya decided to come see what was going on. I did tell her the cops were here and that Id found a dead man. You cant think her being there means anything, Hannah said.
People do stop and stare at accidents, Liam added.
Maybe. But she and the handyman would both be worth talking to, Dallas thought. Liam caught his gaze. He was thinking the same thing.
Just as they were swallowing their last bites, Liams phone rang. He answered it quickly and listened. Well be right there, he said, looking over at Dallas. That was Shelly Nicholson. She and Stuart are up and anxious to speak with us. Theyve decided to cut their vacation short and head back to Miami.
Then we need to get over to see them, Dallas said, and stood. Ms. OBrien...
Dont worry, Agent Samson. I dont intend to leave town, she said drily.
Actually, I was going to say thank-you for breakfast.
Oh. A slight flush suffused her cheeks. My pleasure, she murmured.
He nodded, still studying her. He hadnt known her when hed been a kid; he would have remembered her. Her eyes were unforgettable.
Please remember, dont say anything about Jose, he told her.
I dont know anything, do I? she asked innocently.
He smiled. Thanks.
Liam gave her a quick hug as she rose. See you later, he told her.
Dallas followed him through the front of the house. The entry and parlor were large with a check-in counter created from an old telephone desk. The place was Victorian to a T and beautifully kept.
He found himself pausing to look back. He knew that Hannah had stayed in the kitchen, but despite that, he had the feeling that he was being watched.
What is it? Liam asked him.
He shook his head and looked at his friend. What the hell happened to the knife? he asked.
Dallas, the crime scene techs are good. Really. This may be an island paradise and we may only be a small department, but were up to par. If theres a knife out there to be found, theyll find it.
Thats just it...it should be out there to be found, but Ill bet you it isnt.
You think the killer hung around to see him die, then took it? Liam asked.
Have you got another answer?
Let them do their work, Liam said quietly, then opened the front door and stepped outside.
Dallas nodded and followed.
He still felt as if the houseor someone in the housewas watching him.
Had Hannah OBrien really been alone?
* * *
Hannah rose when they left and looked outside. From the kitchen window she could see that her yard was still crawling with cops and crime scene techs.
She headed to the front and bolted the door, feeling suddenly nervous in her own house. She generally kept the house locked, and guests were given keys. But shed never been particularly worried before about making sure that it was locked, especially during the day.
She headed to the back of the house and made sure that door was locked, too. She found herself looking out at her usually peaceful yard. It really was beautiful. She paid for someone to come frequently to clear the pool of leaves from the foliage that surrounded it, because she just couldnt make herself screen it in. There was something too pretty about the crotons and palms and old banyans. But today her normally serene view felt disturbing.
She couldnt stop herself from thinking about the dead man. His face was burned into her brain; she had knelt by his side, ready to administer help, until his wide, sightless eyes had assured her it was too late.
Undercover agent.
She hadnt suspected. Hed been perhaps thirty or so, nice looking, dark haired, with a slightly scruffy jawline. Hed been wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
Hed looked like any tourist, or even a local.
Good thing Agent Dallas Samson wasnt trying to go undercover. The man reeked of law enforcement. He was tall, with exceptionally broad shoulders and a lean, muscled physique that probably came from hours at a gym. His sandy hair was cut short, and his gray eyes looked as predatory as an eagles. Hed worn jeans and a short-sleeved tailored shirt, not a suit, but even so, shed pegged him as some kind of a cop even before he flashed his badge. Hed said that he was from Key West. She sure as hell didnt remember him. And if shed known him, she didnt think she would have forgotten him. But then, he was a friend of Liams. Liam been a few years ahead of her in school, and they hadnt really become friends until theyd both come back to the island after college, though shed been close to Katie OHara, now Liams sister-in-law. The island could seem small, with everyone knowing everyone else, and then youd find yourself surprised when you met someone new who turned out to have lived there all his life. It was also the kind of place where some people stayed forever and would never leave, while others were just passing through.
She winced as she looked out the window. It wasnt as if Key West didnt have crime. Any place that dealt with that much tourismhundreds or even thousands of people coming and going dailywas going to have crime. Paradise could be a great place for a thief.
But murder was a rarity.
And she had nevernever!discovered the victim before.
She jumped back suddenly as she realized that someone was looking in.
It must be one of the crime scene techs standing at the back door.
But as she stared out, she froze.
Her eyes met those of the man staring in. They were dark and brown and expressive. She knew those eyes. She knew that face.
Jose Rodrigueza dead manwas standing at her back door.
3
Stuart Bell and Shelly Nicholson seemed to be an intelligent young couple.
Theyd taken a small suite, so it was easy just to speak with them in their room. The couple was seated on the sofa, and Liam and Dallas had chairs facing them.
Youre saying that was a real manand now hes dead? Stuart asked, staring at the two of them blankly.
Oh, God, Shelly said, her eyes fixed. Oh, God. He was alive.
Liam wasnt sure why, but he felt compelled to ease their guilt. You couldnt have saved him. The M.E. said that unless hed literally been in an emergency room when it happened, there was nothing anyone could have done.
Well never know, will we? Stuart asked, wincing. We screamed. We panicked. We were just so...
I was terrified already, Shelly said. Wed been on the ghost tour. And theres something about the way Hannah tells the stories.... She doesnt get dramatic or anything, but all that history, it gets to you. We were down at the pool because I was too scared to sleep.
Stuart cleared his throat. And wed been drinking, he admitted as if theyd committed a horrible sin.
Its okay. This is Key West. Everybody drinks here, Dallas said, glancing over at Liam. But...it never occurred to you that he was real?
The two looked at each other. Shelly lifted her hands. No.
Stuart said, When Shelly screamed, I opened my eyes. I saw him and screamed, too. And then I blinked and he was gone.
Okay, this is important, Dallas said. Think back. Do you have any idea where he came from? We think he was out back in the alley before he came into the yard. Did you see anyone else?
Like I said, my eyes were closed, Stuart said.
So were mine, Shelly said. When I opened them, he was just...there.
Did you see or hear anyone before he appeared? Liam asked.
Stuart shrugged. We heard someone when we were upstairs, but they were gone by the time we went down.