He grinned. By day, she was surprised to realize what a fine face he had. He had a look that was intense, as if the world around him was solemn. But when he smiled his grin broke the chiseled structure, and lightened his eyes. Without a smile, he was compelling-tall, well built, lithe, an outdoorsman with bronzed skin, honed muscles and the rugged appeal that went with it all. When he did pause to smile or laugh, there was an added dimension to him that was even more appealing; the man was sensual.
She wasnt admiring him, she decided. Hed ruined her life, and he remembered her as a little kid. Seans much younger sister.
I really wish you understood what I feel about the museum, he said. Im not out to destroy anyones dream.
Well, you managed anyway, she said. She remembered her apparel-and the fact that she looked like Simba on a very bad mane day.
They were both holding the newspaper. She tugged at it. Thanks for my paper, she said. He released it immediately.
Behind her, she felt Bartholomew. Hey, hes trying to be nice, Bartholomew said.
She forced a rigid smile.
You think you can talk him into seeing it all your way, remember? Bartholomew asked. Invite him in. I just made coffee!
Dont be ridiculous, she snapped, not thinking.
David Becketts dark brown brows arched high. Pardon?
Sorry, Im sorry, she murmured. She cleared her throat and looked around. It was going to be a beautiful day. Hot, but with a really nice breeze coming through. Ive just brewed a pot of coffee, if youd like to come in.
He hesitated.
Seriously, youre welcome to come in, she said. If you dont mind helping yourself for a moment and letting me run up.
Youre going to try to convince me to sell the museum, he said.
Well, I wont be able to if youre really determined, right?
I was actually headed to the Starbucks at La Concha. Sure, Id love a cup of coffee, he told her.
Then, please She indicated the steps.
She came in behind him but headed straight for the stairs. Go ahead, help yourself. Ill be right down.
She showered, dressed and brushed her hair with the speed of light and came hurrying back down the stairs. Heading toward the kitchen, she stopped. David Beckett was sitting at the table in the breakfast nook, perusing the paper and sipping coffee.
Bartholomew was sitting across from him, one leg tossed casually over the other, his fingers laced around his knees as he observed David attentively.
David Beckett, of course, was oblivious to him.
Thus far, he has perpetrated no evil deeds, Bartholomew said, immediately aware of Katies presence and looking up at her.
She ignored him. She had gotten very good-most of the time-at ignoring his comments.
She poured herself a cup of coffee and came striding toward the table. Bartholomew instantly moved over to make room for her. She wasnt sure what ghosts felt when the living-or inanimate objects-went through them, but Bartholomew wasnt fond of being sat upon, she knew. A husky fellow at karaoke had sunk down upon his lap once, and Bartholomews face had screwed into such an expression of distaste that Katie had quickly lowered her head to hide a laugh.
So. She held her cup in both hands and sipped from it. Lovely day.
The kind I remember, he said.
What are you doing while youre here? she asked him. You did say you werent staying.
He shrugged. I dont like to think of anything as permanent, he told her. I dont have fixed plans at the moment. Ill spend some time with Liam, and with my great-aunts. Alice and Esther. I believe you know them-everyone always seemed to, anyway.
Katie nodded. Of course. They dont spend much time in town, though.
No, at the age of eighty, they still compete over their flowers. Oh, and they both enjoy volunteering at a few of the museums. But will you see them swigging down a pint or two at Sloppy Joes? Probably not!
The man does seem to have a dry, pleasant and even self-deprecating sense of humor, Bartholomew commented.
Katie refused to glance his way.
So, family time, eh? she queried.
He nodded.
And dismantling the museum?
He set his cup down. Actually, I will get to that. In a month or so.
Okay, so, immediately on your agenda? Are you planning on swilling down a few pints at Sloppy Joes?
He laughed. I may. But thats not my main intent or purpose.
What is? she asked.
I want to find out who did kill Tanya, he told her.
She frowned, so surprised that she just stared at him for long seconds. II dont see what you can discover now. It happened a decade ago. The police tried-very hard, Im certain-to find her killer. Its now ten years after the fact. How could you possibly find out something now that they couldnt discover then. And why would the killer have hung around?
A random killer wasnt going to bring Tanyas corpse and leave it in our family museum, David said.
Perhaps it had nothing to do with it being your familys museum. Maybe he had just seen the Elena/Carl Tanzler tableau and decided it was the right place to leave a corpse. God knows, maybe he even thought that the body wouldnt be discovered.
I have the files. Liam is a detective now. Hes been given leave to reopen the case. Its time that its done.
They never even had another suspect, Katie said. She bit her lip. She saw the slight tensing of his features. I mean, they never had a suspect at all-
Other than me.
You were never really a suspect, were you? She flushed slightly, looking away. Of course hed been a suspect!
Just a person of interest, he told her. And youre right-there was never another suspect. And there had to be a reason for that. Either the police continued to believe that I had done it, or they were protecting someone else.
Like who? Katie asked.
I dont know. But I intend to find out. Tanya deserves justice.
Her family is long gone, you know, Katie told him.
He nodded, looking away. I know. Her mother never recovered from what happened, but she came to see me, telling me that she knew I could have never done such a thing. I never saw her father, except at the funeral, and he took Tanyas mother away the next day. They moved up to St. Augustine, and he had a heart attack a month later and died. Her mother went into psychiatric care, and she died about five years later. Tanya had an older brother-Sam-and to the best of my knowledge, hes still doing charters out of Key Largo.
Oh, Katie said, surprised. I thought he had left the state.
Just Key West.
For a moment, they were both silent. To her surprise, it wasnt an awkward silence, just a sad one. And she did understand why he hated to see the museum reopened.
For a moment, they were both silent. To her surprise, it wasnt an awkward silence, just a sad one. And she did understand why he hated to see the museum reopened.
She reached a hand out to touch his across the table. Sparks seemed to jump into her, and she realized that he was far more tense and vital than she had imagined. Im sorry, really sorry, she told him.
Well, you see, their lives were destroyed. Our family was torn apart-I couldnt stay here. I really couldnt stay here. I might have been running away, but I honestly dont think so. I just couldnt stay. The destruction of lives and families was just too much. But now, I know that I will never really be fine with myself if I dont discover the truth, no matter what it takes.
Thats ominous, Katie told him.
No, I dont intend to hold people up at gunpoint or anything of the like. But Im going to delve until I find something. A young woman was murdered. She had to have fought-Tanya was fond of living, believe me.
Katie frowned. The case had been years ago. Of course, everyone had been talking about it at the time. It was a small community, especially as far as true conchs-those who were born and bred in Key West-went. Even fresh-water conchs-those who had been in Key West at least seven years-were often rare. Naturally, a scandal, a murder that involved one of the citys oldest families, was a cause for endless horror and gossip.
Im sorry, I dont remember much about the case. I mean, to be honest, we all whispered about it, but our parents would always hush us up. And my brother was upset, of course, and we went to the funeral-everyone in town went to the funeral. But I dont know a lot about what was discovered. The body was found in a fairly pristine condition. She hadnt decomposed much They should have been able to discover some facts regarding the case, Katie said. She flushed, realizing the things she was saying had to be painful, since he had known Tanya so well. Loved her, at least at some point in his life.
He stared at her a moment. She realized she was holding her breath. But he let out a soft sigh and she was grateful that he didnt seem angry, or that he hadnt taken her words as callous.
Our relationship was over, David said. I was sad, maybe enjoying being a bit heartbroken. I wasnt angry. Id been gone a long time-military service had seemed like the right course. I know at the time my grandfather had been worried about finances and he was determined that we get to college, soI figured that would make it easier on him. I had a partial scholarship and the government to back me up. But I was gone way too long for a young woman with little to do down here but bask in the sun. I wasnt that surprised that she left me. Tanya was a party girl. Wed parted ways-she had written me before I returned home to tell me that time and distance were too much, she felt that we should break off the engagement. We never even fought. I hadnt seen her since Id come home-Id been avoiding her-though I heard she intended to talk to me that evening, to meet me face-to-face to apologize for what she had done. She didnt mention the other guy in the letter. Id heard about that through others, but I was hardly surprised. She was supposed to leave in the next few days to live in Ohio but Id heard from others that she may have decided to stay. Supposedly, shed had a change of heart. That night. Or maybe it had been brewing. She was trying to get her courage up to come see me. Whether thats true or not, I dont know. I thought that we were over. Id helped out at the museum while waiting to head up to school. I loved working in the museum. Id always loved the Carl Tanzler story-I mean, its just too bizarre, even for Key West! I was telling it with relish, I believe. And then, there she was. Tanya-where Elena de Hoyos should have rested.