Rockets' Dead Glare Read online

  “What did you want to gossip about? Did you see Darla blush when she mentioned Matt. I can’t believe she’s still so crazy about him.” Amy read over the menu as she talked, not looking at me at all.

  Carrie dropped off our drinks. Iced tea with lemon. We’ve been going to Lille’s for lunch for a while, so she knows what we want. We put in our orders and then I turned to Amy. “Tell me about Barry Gleason. What kind of regulation power did the council give him over the businesses?”

  “I’m not exactly sure. I can pull up the minutes and send them to you. I don’t really think they changed much last meeting. Maybe he’s just exercising the power he already had. Why, was he harsh with the store?” Amy sipped her tea, watching me.

  “Harsh is an understatement. He gave us so many citations that we’ll never get them cleared in a week and he’s threatening to shut us down over the holiday.”

  Amy’s eyes widened. “No way. I’m sure that’s not allowed.”

  “The problem is that he thinks it is. Get me the fire regulations so I have something to show him. I’m going to fight this guy tooth and nail.” I sipped my tea and then groaned when Carrie dropped off my fish-and-chips basket. The smell of french fries makes me happy. I’m not proud of this fact, but it’s the truth. I needed the salt, carbs, and fat today. Stress eating is my specialty. “I can’t wait until he gives Josh his list of violations. I’m sure he’ll go ballistic on him. Darla said that a lot of what he wrote me up for doesn’t even make sense.”

  “Maybe he’s got a brain tumor and doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Amy took a big bite of her cheeseburger and wiped grease off her chin.

  “Whatever it is, he needs to be reined in before someone thinks he’s serious and does all this crap.” I thought about Harrold, the older man who owned The Train Station. This kind of report on his shop could cause him to have a heart attack on the spot. “He’s dangerous and needs to be stopped. I need to talk to the mayor.”

  “Uh-oh, I know that look in your eye. You’re going to cause trouble.” Amy pointed a french fry at me. “Maybe you should calm down first.”

  “Did I tell you what he said to me? How I could figure out some way to fix the issues if I met up with him? I don’t think he was implying I could bribe him with money.” I lowered my voice and glanced around the room. “It makes my skin crawl just thinking about him touching me.”

  “Wait, he wanted you to pay him off with carnal acts?” Amy almost choked on the french fry she’d just ate. “Man, that guy is creepy. He told Mayor Baylor that I was hitting on him last week. Barry had started to corner me in the hallway outside my office. I told him that if he came one step closer, I was going to punch him.”

  “What is it with some men? Does he think he’s so attractive to women that we’ll do whatever he wants?”

  Amy took a sip of her tea. “I heard when his wife divorced him, she got alimony because she could prove he had been stepping out on her. I guess she had a good lawyer for the prenup and a premonition that he didn’t know how to be faithful.”

  “Whatever he was, he’s not going to push me or the other businesses in South Cove around like we’re his chess pawns. I’m dealing with this now. Before Aunt Jackie calls in the lawyers.” I broke off a piece of the battered fish. Tilting at windmills could wait until after lunch. I settled in to enjoy my food.

  Chapter 2

  “How did your day go?” Greg King, South Cove’s police detective and my boyfriend, was sitting next to me in the swing on my back porch eating fried chicken straight from the bucket. I loved how he’d just show up with dinner and not expect me to cook all the time. Apparently, according to tonight’s impromptu picnic, he didn’t require me to set a table either.

  “Besides finding out my store is a fire trap? Okay I guess. I had a good lunch.” I glanced up from the chicken I was carefully pulling apart to share with Emma, my golden retriever. “Wait, you already knew, didn’t you? That’s why you brought dinner.”

  “I might have talked to Amy, who filled me in on your fight with our esteemed fire chief.” He wiped his hands and face with a paper napkin. “Do you need a hug?”

  “I need someone to rein this guy in.” I fed the last piece of meat to Emma and tucked the rest of the food away in the box it came in. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “This must be serious if it’s affecting your eating.” Greg was able to dodge the biscuit I flung at him and Emma snapped it up.

  “Let’s talk about your work. Any hitches in preparing for the festival?” I put the box on the side table and gave Emma a shake of my head, warning her my leftovers weren’t fair game. I love my dog, but sometimes she has a one-track mind. Especially when she smells fried chicken.

  “We’re bringing in some off-duty officers from Bakerstown for the weekend, but mostly it’s business as usual. With a few thousand more visitors than a normal day.” He gave the rest of his biscuit to Emma and stood to take his box out to the trash. “Toby told you he won’t be able to cover any shifts that weekend, right? I’ve got him working full-time plus overtime this week. It’s not that I don’t trust the Bakerstown guys, but I know Toby and Tim.”

  “I get it. Toby’s last scheduled barista shift was today. He’s yours until the festival is over.” I thought about the upcoming schedule. “Oh, and I’m working Aunt Jackie’s shift tomorrow. She and Mary are going into town.”

  “Girls’ night?”

  “In a way. They both have doctor appointments in the morning, and then they’re doing lunch and a shopping spree. She’ll probably be home early evening, but I told her I’d take the shift. She’s been working a lot lately. She needed the break.” And, I thought, maybe she’d not be as grumpy if she got out of town for a while. My aunt was used to living in the city, where she could visit a museum or eat out at a fancy restaurant any night of the week. I loved having her here, but South Cove ran at a slower pace than she was used to.

  “No worries. I’ve got a final planning meeting for the festival with Darla and the council tomorrow anyway.” Greg and I were only dating, but it felt like more. Probably because we saw each other at least once a day. He lived in an apartment outside of town, but he liked hanging at my house more. And he loved Emma. All in all, it wasn’t a bad situation.

  The next morning, I called Amy to see if she had found the regulations. Her tone told me that the mayor was standing over her and she couldn’t talk. But I did get a promise to have a return call by the end of the day. The shop was empty after my commuter crowd had wandered in for morning java on their way to work. Aunt Jackie had talked to an electrical contractor who was coming in on Thursday for a look. I glanced at the list of “violations” and did the simple ones like unpacking the few boxes of books I’d stored by the back door. I even got on chairs and cleaned the dust off the ventilation covers. By the time Sasha came in for her shift, the place was gleaming, the bookshelves were all stocked, and I was beat.

  “The place looks amazing.” Sasha grinned. “Slow morning?”

  “That and too much energy from being anxious about this whole Barry issue. I swear, I’d like to tie him to a chair and shave off that long hair he’s so proud of. He looks like he’s lost in the seventies.” I sank on a stool, sipping the mocha I’d just made for myself. “But at least I can say we’re making progress on the issues.”

  “I heard Josh Thomas got a three-page list. Kyle says he thought Josh was going to have a stroke right there and then.” Sasha got settled behind the counter, washing up and putting on an apron before pouring her own coffee and joining Jill.

  “You and Kyle talk a lot.” I hid my grin behind my cup and took a sip.

  Sasha shrugged. “He’s becoming a friend. He really likes working for Mr. Thomas. Although, at first, he thought his boss had a stick up his butt.”

  “The kid’s a good judge of character.” I personally knew Josh actually had a stick up his own butt, but I let that slide. Are the two of you serious?”

  Sasha
choked on the sip of coffee she’d just taken. “What, like dating? No way. He’s not my type at all. I go for a more alpha guy. Someone who knows what he wants.”

  “You’ve been reading too many romances.” I smiled at the reference to the popular hero type in the romance genre.

  “I did want to talk to you about someone though …”

  Darla burst into the shop before Sasha could finish. “I swear, I’m going to kill that guy.”

  I glanced at Sasha, who read my unspoken request and stepped around the counter to make Darla’s favorite drink, a double-shot mocha, extra whip. “I’d ask who, but I’m pretty sure I know. I take it Wild Fire Barry made his way to the winery.”

  “Not only the winery, but every business from midtown up to my place. They all have a list of violations and a threat from him to close them until after the festival at best. I’ve been handling calls all morning.” She grabbed the cup from Sasha and took a long sip. “Thanks, but give me another in a to-go cup. I’m heading over to camp out at the mayor’s office today until he calls off his dog and fixes this problem.”

  “He can’t close the entire town, can he?” Sasha set the to-go cup on the counter and came back around to sit with the group.

  Darla snorted. “He can try. And he’s making my life hell right now with all the phone calls I’m getting. Luckily, I already knew what he’d done to you, so I had some background when the calls started last night. Otherwise, I would have gone ballistic.”

  “Well, I’ve done all the corrections I can, and we have an electrician coming in tomorrow for a review of the rest, but I’m thinking he’ll clear most of these as nonissues.” I’d had the place gone over and any old wiring replaced before I’d opened the shop six years ago. Especially since I was going to live in the apartment above the store. Now that my aunt lived there, I was grateful I’d spent the extra time and money on bringing the place up to code. “I’ll let you know what I find out, but Amy’s trying to pull the city regulations and see exactly what power this guy has over South Cove.”

  “I don’t care what the regulations are. He’s not ruining my festival.” Darla slid off the stool she’d just climbed onto. To say Darla was short was an understatement. The woman couldn’t have been over five foot. But what she lacked in height, she made up in determination.

  I felt better somehow knowing Darla was championing the cause. Maybe the mayor would listen to her. My history with the mayor was more of a hate relationship than a love-hate one. And we both liked it that way.

  “Of course, Matt says I’m overreacting. He says Barry’s a pretty good guy, just a little intense. But he has to say good things about Barry. Matt’s still trying to get approved as a full-time volunteer for the crew.” Darla shrugged. “Did you know they get paid for every call out? He wants the money so he can save for his own place. He says we’re moving inland and starting a farm as soon as we can swing it. Can you see me as a farmer’s wife?”

  Laughing at the idea, Darla made her way out of the bookstore. I glanced at the clock. “I better get going as well. If you need help, call Nick first; he’s looking for some more hours. If he’s not around, I’ll come in early.” Nick Michaels was our summer barista who tried to work as many hours as he could. This job was his only source of cash since his mom didn’t want him working during the school year.

  “Sounds good. But I’m sure I’ll be fine. Yesterday was pretty slow.” Sasha turned toward the coffee bar and started wiping it down. I headed home to grab some lunch and settle in with the mystery I’d started last night. The best thing about owning a bookstore is reading the new releases. The second-best thing? Drinking great coffee while you’re doing it.

  “Hey, beautiful.” Greg walked into Coffee, Books, and More the next morning just after eleven. The morning had been busy, with the homeschooling group coming in for their monthly bookstore visit. I was always so impressed by the books the kids ordered and read. They all seemed to be reading above their grade level. But then again, I didn’t know much about what kids should be reading. Sasha came in early to help with the group and I managed the coffee bar while they were there.

  “Hey, yourself.” I glanced at Sasha, who nodded and headed back behind the register. The majority of families had already left, with just a few stragglers who couldn’t make up their mind between books. I stepped around the counter and gave him a hug. “I missed you last night.”

  “Sure you did. I bet as soon as you got home you heated up some pizza rolls and sat on the couch reading.” He gave me a quick hug and I could smell the soap he typically used.

  Greg knew me too well. Maybe I was going to have to up my game with him. Or I could just let him actually know the real me. I figured that was the road of least resistance. “Guilty as charged. Did you just come over to give me grief about my snacking habits?”

  “I came to see if you’d have lunch with me over at Diamond Lille’s. Next week’s going to be crazy busy with the festival and we won’t have time to just sit and talk.” He smiled and brushed a stray hair out of my face. “I like just sitting and talking, among other things.”

  “If I get to keep the store open.” I glanced around the shop. “Aunt Jackie’s electrician is coming at five to check things out.”

  “You may not need to do much. I overheard Darla and the mayor going at it yesterday. She’s hot under the collar, but she has good points. I think Barry has gone over the edge with his inspections. He even made a list of violations at the police station.” Greg looked a bit uncomfortable. “I told him he could take them up with the mayor, but there was no way I was going to close down the station.”

  “He seems like he thinks it’s his way or no way.” I glanced at Sasha. “Let me grab my purse from the back and I’ll be ready.”

  “Hurry up, woman, I’m starving,” he called after me.

  As I passed by Sasha, I winked. “Men. They all think they are in charge.”

  “You two are so cute together. And Greg is so totally alpha.” Sasha rang up ten books the last homeschooling family had stacked on the counter. The kid who’d held everyone up had gotten both books, probably since he couldn’t decide. Either way, it was a great ploy to get a second book out of a busy mom. The kid had style.

  I grabbed my purse and as I headed back out to the front, I saw Greg on the phone. He cut it off when I walked up. “Don’t tell me, you got called back in.”

  “Maybe. There’s a problem down at the end of Beal Street. I guess there’s a controlled burn out there by that old barn. But they can’t find Barry.” Greg glanced at me. “You want to take a short ride with me before lunch?”

  “Sure, I have a book in my purse in case you’re delayed.” Besides, it would be a great chance to actually talk to Barry. “I think that would be an excellent idea.”

  Greg took my arm and led me to his truck. He opened the side door for me and then crossed over to the driver’s side. Starting the engine, he looked at me. “You have to promise you won’t cause a scene when we locate Barry.”

  “Why would I do that?” I tried to look noncommittal.

  Greg pulled the truck out into traffic. Or out into the no traffic. I liked slow days in South Cove. It made the rest of the time bearable. As he drove out of town, Greg turned up the music and smiled at me. I liked that about us. We didn’t have to talk all the time. We liked spending time together. A lot of evenings we sat on the couch and, while he watched whatever game was on, I would read. Emma would lay at the end of the couch sleeping. It felt right.

  I leaned forward as we got closer. The flames were gone, but the building wasn’t totally demolished. It was like they’d turned on the hoses to put out the fire a few minutes too early. “Whose property is this?”

  “Barry’s. He got it from his parents when they passed. I’ve heard rumors that he was planning on selling off to a condo developer. I guess that was one reason our mayor loved the guy so much.” Greg pulled the truck up next to an ambulance. His brow furrowed and he glanced over. “May
be they found Barry.”

  South Cove had three emergency vehicles—two fire trucks and an ambulance—beside the two patrol cars Greg’s deputies used. And they were all parked on the edge of the road. We climbed out of the truck.

  Greg shot a glance back at me. “You may want to stay here, just in case.”

  “Whatever.” I shook my head and followed him into the crowd. I may not be able to cross the police barrier, but I wasn’t waiting in the truck like a good girl. I paused next to Bill, who was covered with ash and water. His face was black from the soot.

  He glanced at me and then scanned the area until he saw Greg. “Finally,” he muttered.

  “What happened?” I asked Bill as Greg walked up to Toby, who was flanked by the EMTs.

  “We had a practice burn this morning. I figured Barry just wanted to get this property cleared and if he called it a training exercise, the city would pay for the removal and cleanup.” He cleared his throat. “This is his place.”

  “Yeah, Greg told me that.” I was watching the men gathered around the front of the partially burned building. “But what happened? Why is the ambulance here?”

  “Barry set up the fire, and then he just disappeared. We thought it was because he wanted us to problem solve as a team. By the time we realized he was trapped in the building, it was too late.” Bill ran his fingers through his graying hair. “I can’t believe I’m still volunteering after all these years. Maybe Mary is right and I need to hang up my fireman’s hat.”

  “I’m sure you do a great job,” I started to say. Then Bill’s words hit me. I glanced over at the group standing outside the charcoaled building and my stomach flipped as I realized why they weren’t going inside. I knew the answer before I even asked the question. “Barry was in the house?”

  “Barn, but yeah. He got caught in the fire.” Bill must have seen my arm shaking because he grabbed hold and steadied me. “I’m sorry, Jill. Barry’s dead.”