Page 59 of A Spot of Tea
“Yep. I’ve got some workers on the way with supplies. We’ll have to leave some things behind, but can you pick them up?”
It wasn’t like the walking had solved anything. Maybe a delay in going to the tea shop was a good thing. It would give him more time to think. “Sure.”
He landed in Anacortes and taxied as close as he could near the ferry terminal. A wall of cars and trucks were stacked upon the sea, sunlight glistening from the clear blue water and onto the scowling faces of stranded passengers.
He tied the plane up and walked down the dock. Children splashed in the shallow waters, shrieking and giggling. The adults’ faces were without smiles, sullen and red.
His phone rang. Russell.
“Hey, I just heard they hired a water taxi.”
“Oh.” He stopped walking. “Okay. I just got here. Is there anyone else I should pick up?”
“Not that I know of. Maybe later? We’ll see. Sorry to waste a flight.”
A couple came down the steps from the commissary with ice creams in hand.
Now there was an idea for a good breakfast.
“Not wasted. I’ll get something to eat. Do you want anything?”
“I’m good. Thanks, Joey!”
Maybe there was some tea on the mainland he could buy for Eliza? It’d be a great excuse to see her.
The ferry terminal was a bit far from town, but he could try walking. Or hitchhiking. Except for the bank robberies, it was an incredibly safe place to live. What were the chances he’d run into that guy again anyway?
He was staring at the map on his phone when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Joey looked up and saw a set of bright white teeth. “Hey there, is that your plane?”
Joey looked over his shoulder. “Uh, yes.”
“Is there any way I can get a ride to Orcas Island? There might not be a ferry for hours and I’ve really got to get over there.”
Something about her voice was familiar. He stared at her dark, shining hair, and the big, black sunglasses perched on her small nose.
Agent Stacy. Nowtherewas something Eliza would want to hear about. If he could get her to say anything…
“You’re with ATF, aren’t you?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I am. Have we met?”
“Briefly,” he said with a laugh. “You’re investigating the robbery.”
“That’s right!” Her expression brightened. “I need to get to the island to look into some things.”
“I’d be happy to give you a lift.” They walked outside, the sun burning a hole in the bright blue sky. “As long as you tell me more about the case.”
She laughed. “Right. I’ll tell you…and every other nosy busy body.”
He wasn’t going to give up that easily. Joey smiled at her, leading the way down the dock and toward the plane.
Twenty-two
“He’s holding her hand!Look!”Mackenzie jabbed her finger in the air.
Eliza had lost all fear of Stacy seeing her. She stood, hands on the dock railing, staring at Joey. Her heart sank. Maybe it wasn’t what they thought. Maybe…
“He always helps me onto the plane, too,” she said weakly.
