“If you don’t mind, Fenton,” said Ryan, “I’ll try to get more info on what went down from one of the first responders, then meet back at your apartment as soon as I can.” Liz felt the confidence in his words. He was used to highly-charged situations. He added, “Granddad, will you be okay until I can drive you home?”
Pops was on the frail side, but he had a fire in his eyes that reminded Liz of his grandson. “I’ll be fine. Go see what you can find out.”
Liz said, “I’ll make sure he’s okay. We’ll take a golf cart to my father’s. He won’t have to walk at all.”
“Thank you, Liz.” It was the first time Ryan had said her name. She wasn’t going to go all soft on the guy until he atoned for his past behavior, but she was happy they seemed to have passed the sparring portion of their relationship. If you could call it a relationship…
“The cat. The poor baby,” Aunt Amelia said, her voice cracking. “Ryan, please ask Agent Pearson if you can bring Mrs. Worth’s cat to my nephew’s apartment?” A single tear coursed down her cheek, making a line in her rosy blush. Aunt Amelia stood and stuck her chin out. “Let’s do as my nephew suggests. We will reconvene in his apartment. Katie, do you mind making sure the emporium is locked up? Set the alarm on your way out, then meet us at Fenton’s.”
“Will do, Aunt Amelia,” Kate said.
Chapter 18
Liz and Pops got in the golf cart parked outside the emporium. Before heading to the rear outside entrance to her father’s apartment, Liz’s curiosity won out, and she drove the cart to the front entrance of the hotel, stopping far enough away from the emergency vehicles not to get caught by Agent Pearson. The pulsing strobe lights in the near distance seemed out of place under the moonlit sky. She heard the sound of the waves hitting the shore and wished she could just go home, crawl under the covers, and wake up knowing she’d just had a bad dream.
Pops pointed out Ryan at the back of a rescue truck, talking to a first responder. “I’m so proud of my grandson. He not only got commendations from his hook-and-ladder company, but he was recently promoted after he solved an arson case. A single mother and four children barely survived a fire set by an ex-boyfriend. Ryan found proof that the fire had been deliberately set, leading to an arrest and conviction. That investigation took a lot out of him. I don’t really need him down here, but I could tell he needed a break from New York.”
Liz told Pops that she knew all about the pressures of big city life. Barrier Island living was the perfect balm—that was, until Regina’s murder.
A half hour later, everyone was settled in her father’s apartment. Liz and Pierre snuck off to the Indialantic’s kitchen to make coffee. They tiptoed around the kitchen, not knowing whether they were legally allowed inside. Liz made coffee in the stainless steel urn, then filled two silver carafes, both with regular. At this point, decaf was not an option. They had a long night ahead of them. There was again no sign of Iris. Had the housekeeper been down the hall in her suite during the time Regina was murdered? And what about Captain Netherton? Liz had seen him in the emporium in the late morning, stopping here and there, charming the women. He hadn’t said good-bye after manning the raffle table. His room was right next to the Worths’.
She hurried Pierre along the back hallway, hoping that when they got to her father’s apartment, Ryan would be there with more information. Liz held the two carafes of coffee and Pierre brought the mugs; her father had the milk, sugar, and spoons. They passed the service elevator, ice machine, and dumbwaiter, not seeing any law enforcement personnel. Pierre pointed out the water pooling on the floor next to the ice machine and warned Liz to be careful. Ever-caring Grand-Pierre.
When they entered the apartment, not only were Ryan and Agent Pearson there, but also Venus, Regina’s sphynx cat, sitting on Aunt Amelia’s lap like the goddess she was named after.
“Just in time,” the detective said, giving them a chastising glance that Liz assumed had something to do with them not staying put in her father’s apartment. “I was just telling everyone that the time of death seems pretty certain, but we still have to wait for the medical examiner’s confirmation. I can answer a few questions, but for now, I’d like to keep it simple and get back to my job. Fenton has assured me that everyone in this room had been together well before the murder-robbery took place.”
Liz couldn’t help herself. “Of course we were together. And of course we didn’t murder or rob anyone. Why would you think someone from the Indialantic would be involved, anyway?”
“I’m not allowed to discuss what we have or haven’t found. But I can say we are following every lead in looking for a suspect.”
Kate raised her hand like she was in English class. “Did David Worth see the person? How badly was he hurt?”
Agent Pearson put her hand on the door leading into the hotel. “He was taken to Indian River Medical. I’m going to head there now.” She turned toward Fenton and said, “I will need to have fingerprints taken of anyone who was in the Worths’ suite.”
“Of course,” he answered.
“What about Captain Netherton and Iris?” Aunt Amelia asked. “They aren’t missing or hurt, are they?” She put her hand to her heart.
“No. They’re accounted for. In fact, after they’re finished being interviewed, I’d like to send them here so we can search the entire upstairs. The Worths’ suite will be off-limits for a while. No one is allowed in or out.”
“Of course,” Fenton said for the second time.
Agent Pearson walked out
