“Have a seat,” Liz said. “I’ll be right back.”
She couldn’t believe she’d done to him what others had done to her when focusing on her scar too long. It was just that his appearance was so perfect. Not that the birthmark was ugly, just unusual.
Liz threw Ryan’s wet clothing in the dryer and returned to the great room. She said, “Is everything okay with Pops?”
He glanced up at her, a lock of wet hair falling across his right eye. “Granddad’s fine.”
“Then what’s the reason for the glum posture? It’s not about me, is it?”
“Not everything is about you, Elizabeth Holt.” Then he quickly added, “I’m sorry.” He stood and shuffled to the door.
“What about your clothes?”
“I have others.”
As he reached for the doorknob, she put her hand on his. “It might help to talk. Even though you are a big jerk, we are still partners on Dad’s case.” His mouth made a slight upturn. “Sit. I’ll get some coffee and actually bring it to you.”
He laughed. “Make sure to check the expiration date on the milk.”
When she brought back the mug of coffee, he was looking through a book of Florida wildlife on her coffee table trunk. The inscription inside was to an eighteen-year-old Liz from Kate’s brother, Skylar, wishing her a lifetime of happiness in New York.
Ryan closed the book and took the coffee. Liz sat on the chair across from the sofa.
The wind and rain picked up, and all the windows were covered in an opaque film.
After a few sips, he put down the mug. “You make a mean cup of coffee, Ms. Holt. Not as good as mine, of course.”
The joking Ryan was back. Liz had learned from therapy that it was good to talk things out, but once you did, to leave them in the past where they belonged. She said, “Okay, spill. What’s up?”
“One of the guys in my company is on life support.”
“Oh my God, from a fire?”
“No. That’s the kicker. A car accident. We all know the risks when it comes to fighting a fire, but we forget about the danger of going to the grocery store for some Pampers.”
“Is there a chance he might pull through?”
“Yes. There’s a chance.”
“Then hold on to that.”
Liz thought about Betty’s advice to bring Ryan into the loop about their inquiries into Regina’s murder. It might be a good distraction.
She filled Ryan in about everything she and Betty had learned. After she told him about Captain Netherton’s disappearing, then reappearing limp, she asked if he had anyone back home who could look into the captain’s background.
“I can do that. I know some people, and I have access to certain databases I use when investigating an arson.” Ryan seemed on board, even welcoming the extra assignment. “I think you and Betty should be careful, though. This isn’t a game. This is murder. I’m not one hundred percent sure that someone here was involved in the murder, but it can’t hurt to consider everyone who wasn’t with us as a suspect. I’ll do what I can. Do you have surveillance cameras at all the hotel exits?”
“No. Only outside the revolving door of the lobby. The dumbwaiter in the hall next to my father’s apartment was slightly open the night of the murder. It would be the perfect way to exit the second floor with no one seeing you, then go out my father’s office to the back of the hotel. The limo driver was out front and the other emergency exit doors would set off an alarm. The kitchen and Dad’s office are the only doors that weren’t set on the alarm. Whoever killed Regina could have exited through my father’s apartment, knowing he was still at the emporium with the rest of us, then out through the office to the outside. And if that’s the case, I would say that Regina’s killer was someone who knew the hotel. There’s also the unlocked door in the kitchen, but I would think that whoever killed Regina wouldn’t take the chance of running into someone in the hotel’s kitchen.”
“Did you tell Agent Pearson about this?”
“No, but I mentioned it to my father. I’m sure he’ll pass it on.” She told him about the note Betty had pulled out of the trash that had been tied around the rock thrown at the Worths’ Bentley. “We took a photo of the note before giving it to the detective. Betty is trying to match the handwriting to someone at the Indialantic.” Then Liz filled Ryan in on the detective’s aspersions against Liz.
“That’s ridiculous. Why would you do such a thing? Plus, you have an alibi.”
Liz liked the new, on-her-side Ryan much better than the Ryan she’d been dealing with, but she wouldn’t let her guard down quite yet. Plus, he owed her a big apology for his past behavior. If he was any kind of investigator, he should search for the facts of what had really happened the night of the scar. Liz wasn’t going to tell him; it would only be a case of “he said, she said.”
Ryan took a sip of coffee. “One of the things I find strange is why David Worth would want to come back to the hotel after what happened. He definitely needs to be looked into. Do you know how long he’d been married to Mrs. Worth?”
“No, but Minna and Francie told me that following Regina’s death, Castlemara would go to the Barrier Island Historical Society and the jewelry from her father’s treasure dives to treasure museums. She wasn’t allowed to sell a piece—only to wear them.”
“A lot to figure out, that’s for sure. I’d better get over to Deli-casies. I told Granddad to stay home because of the storm. I have to try to re-create a few of his salad recipes.”
“I can come by and do a taste test for you.”
“Sounds good. Kate said you’re a gourmet cook. I think you’ll find that I’m not too bad myself.”
Liz smiled. “I was taught by the best. Pierre
