Page 28 of On The Beach

I held out my hand. "Belle."

Tano took my hand and kissed my knuckles. "Any friend of Mick is aclosefriend of mine," he said silkily.

I pulled my hand away. "Flattered, but I try to sleep with only one beach bum at a time."

Tano laughed, not taking offense at the beach bum remark. "What can I do you for?"

"A couple of rum punches, if you're mixing." Mick leaned an elbow on the bar.

Tano winked, already reaching for a shaker. "Coming rightup. And trust me, little lady, my punch'll knock you right off that stool if you're not careful."

"Is it as potent at RiRi's Reef Harbor Surprise?" I asked.

Tano made a face. "Baby, nothin' is as potent as that shit RiRi mixes. Speakin' of potent, how is the Sexy Mama doin'." He grinned at me. "RiRi and I, we go way back."

"Everyone on this island goes way back with Tano," a waitress who dropped her tray next to Mick remarked dryly. "How you doin', Captain Mick? I hear that you spent the night in da pokey."

"She did." Mick pointed at me. "I just kept her company."

The waitress, a dark woman with a voluptuous body, gave me a once-over. "Yeah, I can see why you'd want to keep her company. Two Island Breezes and one Sex on the Beach for table five, Tano." She dropped a ticket in front of the bartender.

As Tano began mixing drinks, I scanned the chalkboard behind him, taking in the day's menu scrawled in bright pink and green. I better eat I decided if I was drinking. "And maybe…two of those seafood platters?"

Tano nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Best conch fritters and shrimp skewers you'll find on this side of the island.”

“Tell me”—he slid the finished cocktails toward us—"what you think."

I took a sip of the punch—strong, just as promised—before answering, "It'sverygood andverystrong, so I'm glad I'll be getting some food in before I consume too much of this."

Tano laughed.

"Hey.” I looked at the waitress. “Ah, I wanted to check if you've ever heard of a Dr. Nicholas Augustus."

Both Tano and the waitress gave me a blank look.

"He's a scientist," I added, knowing the chances of themhaving spotted him were bleak, considering how they were staring at me.

"He live here?" Tano asked.

"That's what I've been told," and then added excitedly, "He likes Scotch. You know anyone who drinks really good Scotch?"

"This one here does." The waitress elbowed Mick.

My shoulders slumped.

"What's he look like?" Tano asked softly.

I exchanged a look with Mick and shrugged. "I don't…actually know. I tried looking him up, but it's like the guy erased his entire Internet existence. No social media, no press photos, nothing. Just his name on a few old papers andpatents."

"Ah, a ghost-type," Tano said, shaking his head. "Plenty of strange folk come through Reef Harbor, but can't say I've met a ghostly science guy. You'resurehe's on this island?"

"No, I'm not sure," I admitted, laughing a little.

Tano chuckled, his deep laugh rolling out over the bar. "Gal, you're lookin' for a man who wants to stay hidden—that much is clear. Still, I'll keep my eyes peeled for any mysterious scientists. You never know; this island's got a funny way of hiding people and showing ‘em when it's least expected."

As he slid two plates of seafood platters toward us, I stifled a sigh.

I'd half-hoped Tano might somehow know something, anything, that could help me so I could get back to work. But looking at Mick beside me, his warm smile, the way he nudged my drink toward me with a quiet "cheers," I had to admit that I wasn't quite as eager to leave Reef Harbor as I wanted to be.

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