Page 36 of Drawing Home
Chapter Fifteen
Main Street hummed with activity. Shop owners opened their doors, café workers set out chalkboards announcing the day’s lunch specials, mothers pushed strollers, and couples strolled hand in hand, sipping takeout coffee. It was all so picturesque, so lovely, Bea could almost forget the most recent indignity leveled on her by this town:If you’re implying that Emma Mapson is some sort of scam artist or thief, it’s best if you find yourself another place to stay.
Was that any way to talk to a customer? Eighty miles from New York City, and all common decency was lost. Obviously, she couldn’t spend another night under Jack Blake’s roof. She packed up her things but Kyle was nowhere to be found. She was already rolling her smallest suitcase to the car when he returned her call.
“Where in heaven’s name are you?” she said, her voice shrill.
“I’m just down the street. On the wharf.”
“I need you! Come back to the hotel immediately.”
He muttered something and then the connection was lost. She waited and waited in front of the flower boxes framing the hotel porch and still no Kyle. She called, but again, he didn’t answer his phone. Furious, she dragged her bag to the wharf.
She found him talking to someone on the dock, a fair-haired young man with an unfortunate scruffy beard.
“Kyle!” she yelled, walking to him as quickly as she could manage while maneuvering her bag on the uneven surface of the dock.Bump, bump, bump.She was certain the bottom was being destroyed. Her irritation gained strength, like a gathering storm. “What are you doing out here?”
“Bea, this is Sean Pine. He runs the water taxi out here.”
Bea nodded at the man, then turned to glare at Kyle. Did she look like she was in the mood to play meet-the-locals?
“He’s been doing this for nine years,” Kyle said. “Before that, he was in the Coast Guard.”
“Fascinating. Can I speak to you alone for a moment? Preferably in the shade?”
The only shelter was under the roof of the dockmaster’s office a few dozen feet behind her. Kyle took her bag.
“Why are you carrying this?” he asked.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve checked out of that horrid hotel. You’ll have to go back for the rest of the luggage.”
“I thought you said it was the only civilized place in town.”
“Don’t be smart with me, Kyle.”
“So where are you going to stay?”
“Weare going to stay at Windsong.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“And why is that?”
“That guy back there, Sean? He gave Emma Mapson a ride to the house last night.”
“He told you this?”
Kyle started to say something, then stopped. “Not exactly.”
“Let’s go. We’ll take the boat there ourselves.”
“That’s kind of aggressive, Bea. I just told you that Emma might be there.”
“She’s probably on her way to work. Besides, isn’t that a fundamental principle of war? To meet aggression with aggression? Really, Kyle. I know you’ve given notice, but during the two weeks you have remaining, please try to get with the program.”
She walked briskly to the edge of the dock. “Young man,” she called out.
Kyle ran up behind her. “Bea, let me handle this.”
