Secrets Among the Cedars (Intertwined Book 2) (8 page)

Phil paused with a strawberry in front of his lips. “Valid.” He popped the strawberry into his mouth and nodded.

“You live here. I came to find the weapon. No biggie.”

“Still, we might not have met had you not come to the pier with your dripping ice cream Friday night.”

“Had you not been reeling in monsters from the sea and bringing all sorts of attention upon yourself.” She laughed.

“Yeah, that’s me. The total narcissist. Seriously, I’m glad we met. You’ve spiced up my life. It’d gotten a little too safe—too much like a vacation.” He laced his fingers behind his head and rested it on the blanket.

“I can’t imagine. I think I could use a little bit of that kind of life for a while. I’ve gone straight from high school to college to law school and to working in the system. It’s exhausting.”

“Now’s your chance then. Just rest.”

Kathryn wrapped her arms around her bent legs. “Sadly I can't. I can’t get the case out of my head. Where could the gun be? How does the D.A. expect to win without it? He's taken me off the case, but is he going to send the new prosecutor down here to finish what I started?" She huffed.

Phil tapped her on the shoulder. "You're supposed to be on vacation."

"I know. But how can I relax fully when that gun is out there somewhere?" She pointed to the Gulf.

Phil sat up and folded his legs to his chest. "All right. What makes you think it's out in the water?"

Kathryn pushed her hair out of her face. "The file mentions that the evidence was washed away. Washed away means in water. But where? Cedar Key is surrounded by water. Of course, the guy at the store said some secrets are better left buried, so maybe the gun is buried somewhere?” She sucked in a deep breath. “That’s really getting to me, and I’m still puzzled by the fact that there was only one shooter.”

“Are you sure there was only one?”

“Yes, ballistics proved the bullets came from the same gun.”

“Then what puzzles you?”

“Two men who were shot in the hands and feet before being shot in the head are going to stand there while a man shoots them? No. One would fight the shooter to protect the other man or he’d run off and hide. It’s not like the gun was a machine gun or some other rapid firing gun. What kept the second victim there?"

"What if the men were tied up first? Then they couldn’t fight the shooter.”

“Good point! I hadn’t thought of that. You deserve a cookie.” She laughed and pointed to the cooler.

Phil reached in and grabbed a cookie for both of them, handing one to Kathryn. She took a bite of the lemon-iced delight and wiped the crumbs away from her lips.

“Have you been able to find any connection to Cedar Key and the crime?"

She widened her eyes. "Uh, yeah. You."

He sketched circles in the sand with a piece of driftwood. "Besides me. Forgetting that it’s my uncle with a familial connection to Cedar Key that has been arrested for the crimes, why would someone choose this place specifically to hide or bury a weapon? There are closer beaches and tons of lakes."

"That brings us right back to the Ezzo connection here in Cedar Key. That’s why it has to be your uncle or one of his associates. Could it be hidden underneath a dock or in a crab trap? They’re everywhere around here. What do you think of that theory?"

Phil raised his eyebrows. "It's a good one. But do you know how many there are? How many places they could be out in the water?"

"Exactly. It's like trying to find Waldo in a crowd of red-and-white striped shirts."

Phil rolled back on the quilt with laughter, grabbing his stomach. "Kathryn, you're so awesome!"

"Thank you. But we've still got a missing weapon out there."

"You're not going to rest until you find it, are you?"

"Nope."

"What can I do to help you relax?"

"Point me to that gun."

"I think the only way I can do that is to ask my uncle where it's at.”

Kathryn shrugged and raised her eyebrows.

“Kathryn, if I do that, I wouldn't be able to tell you because of attorney-client confidentiality."

"Assuming you were to defend him."

"If I ask, then the assumption would be correct. So I'm in as much a predicament as you."

She puffed. "I'm going to keep studying the file and find the missing piece to this puzzle. I'm curious why he cares enough about the gun to hide it and not just throw it away somewhere."

Chapter Eight

Phil waved as Kathryn pulled away from his house, grabbed the cooler off the ground then bounded up the stairs like a teenager. Giddy, was he? He'd never felt like this before. Not even with Maria. Others might think the taboo nature of their association had him dancing in his mind, but his heart told him something different. Kathryn was a unique woman with a genuine heart, and he had to get to know her more.

Phil unloaded the cooler's contents into his refrigerator and pantry and stretched out on the couch. He grabbed the remote off the coffee table, but after finding nothing to watch, he gave up. He couldn't stop thinking about Kathryn. Her countenance, her beauty, everything about her had taken him prisoner. How, in two short days, had she stolen his desire to remain carefree and unattached and replaced it with a longing to spend every moment with her?

A strong, independent woman on the outside with an internal yearning for love—that was Kathryn. She'd had the encounter at church which proved her heart wasn't too calloused yet. No matter what damage had been done to her in the past, her heart was fertile soil, ready to receive God's goodness. Kathryn wanted to belong. She craved acceptance. Phil could help her find it. He'd point her right to the One who would love her unconditionally. Could he be more to her than that though? Would she allow him to visit her in Mitchell’s Crossing and take her on a real date?

His phone vibrated, and he rolled over onto his side and dug it out of his pocket. Judging by the area code, it was Kathryn. Panic coursed through Phil's body like an incurable virus, and he jumped up off the couch, ready to go into attack mode. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Kathryn."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She laughed.

Phil relaxed his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh.

"I was wondering…I know we've already eaten but…I found an ice cream maker here at the condo and thought maybe you'd want to come over in a bit and eat some ice cream and dig into this file with me."

"I'd love to. What about the background check?"

"I can't exactly do that now, can I? I'm not even supposed to be acquainting myself with the case anymore."

"I guess not. Then I must say thank you for trusting me enough to have me over for ice cream. Do you have your ingredients?"

"No, but I'm going to run back to the store. I want to revisit that manager or owner or whatever he is."

"Kathryn, you're off the case. Remember?"

"Oh, I remember, but he doesn't know that. Even if I don't get to talk to him, I need groceries if I'm going to stay the week."

"How about I go with you?"

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks though."

Independent women—why was he attracted to them? They never knew how to let a man be a gentleman. He chuckled. "Okay, if you're sure. What time can I come over?"

"Give me an hour. I'm going to hurry so I don't miss—"

"The sunset?"

"You guessed it!"

“You had better hurry because the store closes at 8:00 p.m.”

Kathryn said goodbye, and Phil did a disco spin in the middle of his living room. He scratched his stubbly chin. He shouldn't get too excited. Kathryn was three-fourths business and one-fourth personal. This was about solving the case. But as he trotted off to his room to shower and change clothes, something blossomed inside his heart that had been dead a long time. Hope.

#

Kathryn fluffed her hair and straightened her T-shirt when Phil rang the doorbell. Sadie jumped up from her spot beside the sliding glass door and beat Kathryn to the door. Kathryn sucked in a deep breath, determined not to let Phil sweep her away by his presence. "Come on in. You walked?" She motioned outside to the path where his vehicle should have been.

"Sure. It's nice out. And you're so close." Phil handed Kathryn a bottle of chocolate syrup and a bag of mini chocolate drops. "For the ice cream." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, sending a jolt of heat to her toes, the scent of exotic spices and wood tickling her nose.

She smiled and stumbled away from the door, dizzy with glee. "Thanks! And thanks for coming over." Trying not to let this man affect her was a useless battle.

"Thanks for inviting me. This is a beautiful place, isn't it? They've updated it since I was here last."

"I like it. It's got everything a vacationer could need." Kathryn mixed the ingredients for the ice cream, poured them into the canister, stuck the dasher into it, then snapped on the lid. She added the rock salt and ice and turned on the machine. "The ice cream should be ready in about twenty-five minutes."

"I can't wait to try it." Sadie sidled up next to Phil and put her paw on his leg. He rubbed her ears, so Kathryn didn't scold her for being a pest. “Do you make ice cream often?”

"I know my way around an ice cream maker.” She curtsied. “It's my mother's famous chocolate fudge recipe. You'll love it. We can sit out here on the patio, if you'd like." Kathryn led the way through the living area, and Phil and his shadow, Sadie, followed.

"I'm glad you're staying in Cedar Key this week."

Kathryn sat in one of the lounge chairs and motioned to the one beside her. "Did I have a choice?"

Phil lowered himself into the chair and kicked off his flip-flops. "You could've gone home. Or somewhere else."

"True, but I needed a place like Cedar Key. Lazy and low key. And…I wanted to get to know you a little better."

"You just want to know what I know about my family."

"Not true." Kathryn giggled then got up to check on the groaning ice cream freezer. Disappointment would pour down on top of her if this freezer quit working. She'd been craving ice cream since she'd gotten here Friday and thus far, it had played hide-and-seek with her. She could hardly count the melting concoction she'd had on the pier. When she returned to the patio, she handed Phil a bottled water and returned to her chaise.

He nodded and took the bottle from her, their fingers touching in passing. "So you don't dislike me?"

Kathryn paused with her water bottle halfway to her lips and peered at him out of the corner of her eyes. "I don't dislike you."

His foot shook like a nervous squirrel. "Would—would you consider going on a date with me?"

"I thought the boat ride and picnic was kind of a date."

"You did?" He grinned. Then he sat up and turned to her, finding her eyes with his. "Well, I'd like to take you on a real date once this case is over."

There went her heart again. Fluttering like a butterfly. Sweat trickled down between her shoulder blades and across her forehead, and it wasn't from the heat. A real date? She'd almost forgotten what a real date was like. Since her break-up with Zeke over a year ago, she'd turned down every request for a date, not that there'd been that many. She'd be crazy to turn down a date with Phil. "You wouldn't have a problem with the fact that I'm Maria's friend?"

He shook his head and shaded his eyes with his hand. "You aren't really her friend anymore, are you?"

"Good point." Sadie left Phil's side and returned to the cool of the condo. "Let me go check on the freezer again. It's making a weird noise." Kathryn followed Sadie indoors and added a bit more ice and rock salt to the machine. The churning was slowing so the ice cream would be ready soon. When she rejoined Phil, he sat on the edge of the pool with his feet swirling in the water. Kathryn sat beside him and slipped her feet into the coolness.

Phil nudged her with his elbow. "Besides, you should feel more hesitant about going out with me because I'm the ex-fiancé. You were just an innocent friend."

She touched him on the forearm. "You're an innocent ex-fiancé."

"Ha, I've never been accused of being innocent. But I was innocent—or naïve—about her whereabouts most of the time. Of course, I spent a lot of time focusing on my career and didn't put enough time into pursuing her. So you can't really blame her for finding someone else."

"I don't believe that one bit. You're a kind man. Maria is a fool for messing that up."

"Thanks." He took a swig from his water bottle and wiped his mouth with his hand. "So would you go on a real date with me?”

She splashed the water with her feet. “Of course.”

“Awesome.” He pumped his fists in the air. “How did things go at the store?"

"As I expected. That guy wasn’t there, so I didn’t get any new information. I’m still not sure your uncle did it, but there’s no doubt he was present, and he probably gave the command.”

“It’s definitely looking that way. I’m surprised that he went all the way to Georgia for something like this instead of just sending someone to take care of things for him. There is obviously something extremely personal about this situation to him for him to make his presence known and risk his freedom.”

Kathryn rubbed her forehead. “I think there's going to be a mistrial if the weapon isn't found.”

“You’ll get charges to stick because he was there.”

“Yeah, but I want the charges to be enough to put him away so he won’t do this again.”

“Putting Louie away doesn’t mean he won’t do it again. He has a long reach and lots of goons.”

Kathryn groaned. “That’s why I can’t give up even though they took me off the case. I still think the gun is somewhere out there in the water, but I don't know where. The only other lead I have is a mention in the file of a honeymooning couple. Something about the couple having a secret. But who would that couple have been?"

"Wait! A honeymooning couple?"

"Yes."

Phil pulled his legs out of the water and slapped his knees. "Okay, you know the rundown shack out in the water?"

"Yes." She swirled the water with her toes.

Phil did a pretend slam dunk motion with his right hand and let out of puff of air. "That's called the honeymoon shack."

"What?"

"Yes!"

"Do you think somebody hid the gun out there?"

"I don't know, but it's worth a shot. We could get my boat out there tomorrow when the tide is high and look for it."

"But it's about to fall into the water. How would someone have gotten a weapon out there?"

"Very easy. Just go out there on a boat."

She grabbed his shoulder. "Do you think that's where it's hidden?"

"I don't know, but that's the first thing we're going to do tomorrow. I'll pick you up at your dock, and we'll go and see for ourselves."

The sun dipped behind the trees, waving goodnight to Kathryn and Phil as they sat on the dock finishing their ice cream. Sadie sat at their feet and woofed every time a pelican attempted to land on the rail.

Phil's phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. He hit the decline button and placed it on the table between them.

Kathryn pulled her hair back into a ponytail. The wind beat her senseless. "Did you need to take that call?"

Phil turned up his lip. "No. It's nothing that can't wait." He squeezed the back of his neck and sighed.

Something bothered him. A darkness had come over his face as soon as he'd looked at the phone's screen. Kathryn had seen that look before. She’d made that face too many times to count. When the phone vibrated on the table again, Phil silenced it and tapped his forehead with his fist.

Kathryn cut her eyes sideways at him. They'd been sharing the serenity of the sunset and swaying to the current before his caller had interrupted. They'd theorized about the weapon, reviewed the details of the murder, and savored every bite of the ice cream. Now Phil's foot shook, and his hands tapped on his knees. Whoever had called had ruined the mood.

His phone buzzed again, and he groaned.

"You can get that if you need to. It must be important."

He puffed. "I'm sorry." He picked up the phone and hit the answer button. "What's up?" he barked. Phil massaged the back of his neck again and looked out into the darkening sky as he listened to the caller. "Um, I'm not at home."

After a moment, he stood and paced around the dock. The wind was violent, but Kathryn was able to catch most of his words. "Why do you want to know where I am?" He paced like a caged lion. Then he leaned on the rail and buried his head in his left hand.

Whoever was on the other end of that call was obviously someone he didn't want to talk to. If Phil was a dog, his hackles would be raised by now. Kathryn scraped the last bite of her ice cream out of her Styrofoam cup and tried to focus on the final glimmer of sun going down, the pink and orange sky displaying God's glory. He must care about the world to create such splendor.

Phil shoved his phone into his pocket and plopped down next to Kathryn.

"Is everything okay?"

"Not really. That was my cousin, Drew. He's here in Cedar Key and looking for me."

That couldn’t be good for either one of them. "What did you tell him?"

"That I wasn't home. I've got to stall him until we can get out there to the shack."