A Spirited Gift

well. I can tell you that,” Molly said. “And always paid with cash.”

“My favorite people!” Cole smiled.

“Was she blond? Have you ever seen her around in Duck?” I asked.

“No, she had long, dark hair,” Cole assured me. “This woman was late twenties, tops. Thin, like a model.”

“Now that you mention it, Mayor Dae,” Molly added, “I have seen her before. I think she might work at the skee-ball place. I’ve seen her smoking outside there. Or it was someone who looked just like her.”

“Thanks.” I hugged them both, not wanting them to feel we were interrogating them. “See you later. And thanks for sharing with so many people.”

“Please! We didn’t want all that defrosted food to go to waste,” Molly said. “And it’s a tax deduction. Don’t make us heroes.”

Kevin and I said good night and walked back out into the cold early-morning air. “So Shawn had a girlfriend.”

“It sounds like it.” I wrapped my jacket closer around me. “Someone who probably lives in Duck.”

“If you’re thinking she could be the killer, that would mean she had to be in or around the Blue Whale during the storm.”

“That’s true. Although Game World isn’t that far to walk from the inn. I guess that’s why Shawn had such a lame alibi about spending the night by himself in his car. He might have been here in Duck—with his girlfriend—at the time Sandi was killed. I can see why he wouldn’t want anyone to know about that.” I yawned after I told him about seeing Shawn at Game World. “But I don’t know if I’m thinking at all, to tell you the truth. I think my brain stopped working about an hour ago.”

“Maybe that means we should call it a night.” He wrapped his arm around me, and we headed down Duck Road—again.

I hated to say good night once we reached the house. He kissed me, and we clung to each other for a long time while we stood on the front porch. I was freezing, but I didn’t want the moment to end.

“Call me if you need me,” he whispered. “I’m good at reinforcing ‘no’ if that’s what you decide.”

“I will.” I kissed him one last time. “It’ll be okay, Kevin. However it works out.”

Gramps met me on the way into the house. I didn’t even make it to the stairs. “Dae, we need to talk.”

“Not right now, if you don’t mind. Maybe tomorrow.”

“This is important, honey. Chief Michaels needs your help.”

“I know. But I’m tired, and I don’t think I can make a decision about the gun tonight.”

He raised his eyebrows, his only sign of surprise. “Are you reading minds now?”

“Gramps, I knew when I heard the three of you talking in the kitchen. Kevin knew too. You aren’t very good at keeping secrets.”

He sat down in his chair, ignoring his favorite dancing show on TV. “But you’ll do it?”

“I think so. But not because it’s my duty. I’d like to know who killed Sandi. And this might be the best way to find out.”

“I understand.”

“And while we’re talking”—I squared my shoulders like a prizefighter preparing for a bout—“I’ve been spending time with Danny—my father. He doesn’t know yet that I’m his daughter. But I plan to tell him.”

“I think that’s a mistake.” He shook his head. “But you’ll have to make that call—and live with the consequences.”

“I know. I really think he’s changed, Gramps. And I’d like to have him over for dinner one night.”

“I suppose you would.” He stroked his white beard. “But I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. Maybe someday.”

“It’s been thirty-six years, Gramps. That’s a long time to hold a grudge.”

“You didn’t see the look on your mother’s face when he abandoned her. Or know that he killed your grandmother as sure as if he’d held a gun to her head. I know I had my part in all this too. God knows I’m no saint, and maybe I was wrong about what I did. But he could’ve stayed. I wouldn’t have left you because someone threatened me. Or he could’ve led a decent life that was fit for your mother and you. I don’t know if I can ever forgive him for taking your mother’s innocence and leaving her to suffer. Not even for you, Dae.”

Well, I’d wanted the truth out between us. I realized Gramps had his own truth about things too. Just because I wanted to know Danny—as my father—didn’t mean Gramps wanted to know him at all. I had to respect that.

I hugged him to let him know it was okay. “You took that news way too well, you know. You’d already heard about me and Danny, right?”

He shrugged. “Duck is a small town, honey. A lot of people around here have long memories.”

I knew that was true—and had no doubt that Chief Michaels had told Gramps what was going on, for my own good. “Good night. Have someone bring the gun to Missing Pieces tomorrow. I’ll look at it there.”

“Thanks, Dae. I love you, honey.”

I went up to bed, but my dreams were restless. I was again that cabin boy who had been ordered to swim for his life.

He was lying on a beach—washed up after so long that he wasn’t sure he was going to make it. He opened his eyes and looked around, surprised to find that he was alive and that he had managed to escape Rafe.

He had no idea where he was or where he would go. His parents were long dead. There was no one to care if he lived or died. That was what had taken him to the pirates in the first place. He sat on the sand, his clothes crackling with dried saltwater, his skin puckered like a briny pickle.

The sun was hot overhead. He knew he had to find shelter, something to eat and drink if he wanted to stay alive. He already felt sick and weak. If he was going to survive to get his revenge on Rafe Masterson, he had to get up and find somewhere to recover.

He stumbled to his feet, and as he did, a huge black horse raced past him, knocking him down. He coughed into the sand, not knowing if he could get up again.

To his surprise, the horse turned around and a woman dressed in a lavish blue velvet riding habit with flowing white lace at her throat and wrists jumped down to check on him.

She was beautiful—like an angel with her crystal blue eyes and black hair. She ran her hands over his arms and legs with a serious frown on her face. “Are you all right?” she asked. “Poor thing. You look nigh starved to death.”

Another horse came up behind them and a man climbed quickly down. “You shouldn’t stop for rabble, your ladyship,” he told her. “These urchins are everywhere. They call themselves Bankers, and they prey on anything that moves. You’re not safe here.”

The beautiful lady shot to her feet. “This child can’t prey on anyone, Mr. Fipps. I knocked him down with Vulcan. See that he gets to my uncle’s estate safely. I want him nursed back to health. Is that clear?”

He nodded. “Yes, Lady Forester. Right away.” He knelt close to him and whispered, “This is your lucky day, whelp. Be glad of it and give thanks.”

Forester! Lady Suzanne Forester!

Chapter 41

I woke up thinking about the makeup case I’d sold and the vision I’d had from it when I first acquired it. I’d seen her son as an adult giving her the makeup case for her birthday. I felt sure this was the same boy. Even as an adult, he had similar features.

If my dreams were right, the cabin boy that should have died trying to escape from Rafe not only survived but may also have been raised as a member of the English aristocracy. This was another piece in the puzzle that pointed to this boy being William Astor.