I couldn’t adequately explain the fear I’d felt when I touched the Segway—maybe the last thing Sam had touched. Even if I could, I doubted they’d understand or appreciate it. To them, Sam was simply trying to escape, which in law enforcement terms meant he was guilty.
I knew I should go to the shop even if there weren’t many customers who’d come out in the bad weather. The people who call the Outer Banks home tend not to take after the town’s namesake (ducks). We are more like turtles, hiding in our shells until the sun comes out. If nothing else, I should check my merchandise, look for UPS packages and make sure there was no damage from the storm. Maybe while I worked, I’d get an idea as to what my next move should be to help find out who’d caused the explosion that killed Max, and why.
I put on my raincoat and boots—I think everyone who lives here has them—and headed toward the Duck Shoppes. Pieces of bushes, sand and trash covered Duck Road, but there was almost no traffic at all. I made a mental note to ask the council for extra cleanup money for public works. It looked like they could have some overtime coming.
Most retail shops were closed, windows boarded against the wind and rain. It seemed drastic to me, but many of the owners weren’t from Duck originally. Sometimes it took a while to learn how to tell the remnants of a storm from the real thing.
Still, that meant no coffee except what I could make at the shop. It was never as good as coffee with steamed milk and some kind of chocolate or hazelnut, but it would have to do.
Nancy was at town hall answering phone calls about the storm. She handed me my messages without missing a beat. There was nothing pressing—unfortunately—but there was a call from Agnes Caudle.
I realized with a strong twinge of guilt that I hadn’t gone to see her since Max died. A lot had happened to me, but that was no excuse. In comparison, she was going through so much more.
Nancy was still on the phone when I left, talking to someone about a downed power line. She waved and I did the same, pocketing Agnes’s note and heading for Missing Pieces. Once I got everything checked out there, I’d pick up a few things and go to see her. It was the least I could do as a longtime friend and the mayor.
I hoped other people hadn’t been as forgetful. I knew it was unlikely. People here stuck together when bad things happened. Her kitchen and dining room were probably littered with cakes and casseroles, while her answering machine would be filled with offers to take her places she needed to go. Of course, there were always flowers and cards.
The Currituck Sound was ragged looking as I followed the gray boardwalk past Curves and Curls, Trudy’s shop, and reached Missing Pieces. Nothing seemed to be damaged outside. There were also no UPS packages. I let myself in the shop and turned to close the door, almost shutting it in Kevin’s face.
“I thought I might find you here,” he said with a smile. “It looks like damage was minimal on this side of Duck. We’re a little more beaten up on the Atlantic side. I lost a couple windows when a lawn chair blew into them. On a positive note, the roof didn’t leak.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I continued into the shop, not quite sure how I should react to him. I didn’t ask if he’d left the town meeting with Shayla, but it was hard not to.
“Your house made it through okay?”
“Yeah. It was fine. It’s been through a lot worse. Of course, I’m sure the Blue Whale has seen a lot worse too.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I told you the house is okay. I think the shop is okay too. The storm was only a lot of rain and wind. We’re lucky it blew itself out in the ocean before it got here.”
“I’m talking about you personally, Dae. Has something else happened?”
I thought about it. “The chief came by last night. Well, actually, both chiefs came by with the arson investigator. I was surprised to see them, but—”
“I’m not talking about that either.” He came up close to me. “I’m talking about
I looked into his ocean-gray eyes. “You left with Shayla last night. Do you have something you want to tell me?”
He seemed a little bewildered. “I didn’t leave with Shayla. I didn’t even know she was there. I started to wait for you, but you were talking with Councilman Wilson and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Oh.” I guess that answered my question.
“You thought Shayla and I—?”
“Yeah. Kind of. But that would be okay if that’s how it worked out.”
He put his arms around me. “That’s a lukewarm attitude. You wouldn’t even put up a fight?”
I didn’t get to answer because he kissed me and I forgot what I was going to say. It didn’t matter anyway. I’d heard what I needed to hear.
“What’s your agenda for today?” he asked, his forehead against mine. “I already boarded up my windows, and the glass won’t be here to replace them until Monday.”
I explained about Agnes. “I can’t believe I haven’t gone to see her.”
“I’m sure I don’t understand all the ins and outs of this kind of thing. But I have a feeling being almost blown up yourself probably gets you off the hook. I’m sure trying to stay sane despite being able to see the minute details about everything you touch might qualify you for an exemption too.”
“Thanks. I still feel guilty, but I appreciate the sentiment. I’m going to make sure the shop is in one piece, then I have to go and buy some food to take to Agnes.”
“Count me in on the plan. I can learn from someone who knows Duck society from the inside out as well as proper Duck etiquette.”
“All right.” I had to smile. “I’ll show you the ropes.”
Missing Pieces was in good shape. The shop had managed to escape any problems—this time. I’d had my share of broken windows, leaky roofs and flooding. It was part of life on the Outer Banks.
Kevin looked around at all the pieces in my shop, picking things up and putting them down as he inspected them, just like any other shopper. I was watching him (pretending to work) when the bell on the door rang and Mrs. Euly Stanley came in.
The large green poncho and hood she wore made her look even smaller than her five-foot-nothing fragile frame. Her boots seemed to reach all the way up to her waist. She pushed back her hood, revealing a wealth of curly gray hair. “Dae! There you are! I was afraid I wasn’t going to find you today. You have to see what I found in my attic.”
Kevin joined us at the front of the store, and we went through the pleasantries of introduction and inquiring about each other’s state of well-being.
“What did you find, Mrs. Stanley?” I asked when it was over.
“Just look!” She withdrew a lovely antique gold bracelet from the pocket of her poncho. “It belonged to my great-great grandmother. There’s a matching necklace somewhere. I wanted to show it to my granddaughter, Chrissie. Can you help me find it?”
“Of course! Let’s sit down over here and take a look.” I glanced at Kevin and smiled. He seemed to understand and drew up a chair close to the sofa. Mrs. Stanley took off her wet poncho and sat beside me, waiting expectantly.
I took her hands in mine. They were cool and slightly damp. She closed her eyes and, I could imagine, thought about her ancestor’s missing necklace.
At first I couldn’t see anything—only a dark, confused muddle of colors and shapes. That was normal for most people. There were only a few who had some kind of clarity when I looked for something they’d lost.
A shape began to form out of the swirling colors. There was something there—dull gold chain leading to a —“It’s a locket!” I exclaimed. “A gold locket with a picture inside.”
“Yes! That’s it!” Mrs. Stanley said. “My great-great grandmother. That’s it, Dae! Where is it?”
“It’s in the pocket of a skirt—calf length, herringbone tweed. It’s hanging in a tall chest filled with other clothes and a lot of hats.”
The necklace formed clearly in my mind. I could see the portrait inside of it and the image broke my concentration. “Mrs. Stanley—your great-great grandmother was Theodosia Burr. This is the link Max looked for all of his life. He knew it was here and he was right.”
“What are you saying, Dae? My great-great grandmother’s name was Mary.”
