Twenty-two
“He’s holding her hand! Look!” Mackenzie jabbed her finger in the air.
Eliza had lost all fear of Stacy seeing her. She stood, hands on the dock railing, staring at Joey. Her heart sank. Maybe it wasn’t what they thought. Maybe…
“He always helps me onto the plane, too,” she said weakly.
“That snake!” Mackenzie hissed. “Who does he think he is, playing you like that!”
A breeze blew off the ocean as Eliza flopped onto a bench. The hard wood jolted her tailbone.
“I’m going to confront him,” Mackenzie said.
“Don’t.” Eliza grabbed her by the wrist. “There’s no use.”
“Catching him in the act? I beg to differ.”
Eliza stared straight ahead. Joey and Stacy were inside the plane now, the propeller spinning and the engine sputtering. It was odd hearing it from so far away, buzzing like that. She was used to it filling her ears, the vibration shaking her chest as Joey’s voice cracked over her headphones.
“You’re right,” Mackenzie said, stepping closer. “It’s better if we report them to someone. Maybe the FBI? If Stacy is a crooked agent—”
Eliza cut her off. “I’m not ready to go to the FBI.”
She crossed her arms. “Why not?”
It was a cool day, but somehow the air felt thick and heavy. The heat from the sun was oppressive.
Eliza coughed and rubbed her face with her hands. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“It does make sense if you consider he’s a liar.”
The plane lifted from the water and gracefully rose into the sky. Eliza sat back. “He doesn’t seem like a criminal.”
“They never do.”
Eliza scrunched her nose. Her sister was a bit too riled up over this. Almost as though she was projecting.
Not that she was going to say that to her. “Stacy does seem like a criminal – a dumb one.”
But not Joey…
Mackenzie nodded and pointed at her. “Here’s the thing. We’re used to hearing about the dumb criminals because they’re the ones who get caught. The good ones blend in and fly planes and charm even the smartest of people.”
Fly planes. Ha.
Eliza winced, looking down at her feet. She was wearing her favorite sneakers, a pair of black and white Adidas Sambas.
She’d gotten them for her birthday two years ago and, determined to keep them neat and clean, hardly ever wore them.
There was mud caked on the front of her right shoe from her most recent outing with Joey. She had liked the way the shoes had made her feel that day. She liked the way Joey made her feel every day.
“I’m sorry, Eliza. I know you liked him.” Mackenzie softened her tone. “But I speak from experience. Loving someone isn’t enough. It won’t make them love you back, especially when they suck.”
She stood. “I think we should go back home.”
Mackenzie didn’t push. “Okay.”
Getting back to the island was easier said than done. With the ferry cancellations, they got bumped further and further into the day. They had to leave their car in line at the terminal, and there wasn’t much to do there.
They walked the entirety of the shoreline, first separately, then together, carefully skirting around any sore subjects when they spoke. They finally made the ferry after sunset and got back to the tea shop as Cora was cleaning up.
“Your granny is not happy with me,” Cora said. “She told me to clean up the unsold pastries for the day. I put them in the trash and—”
“Cora!” Mackenzie snapped. “Did they look like trash to you?”
It’d be best to separate them for now. Eliza stepped in. “It’s okay. Not a big deal. Thanks for covering today.”
“You’re welcome.” She let out a heavy sigh and took a seat at a nearby table. “I’ll be honest—it was rough. I don’t think I’m cut out for shop life, and no one from Hollywood is taking the bait, either.”
“You’ll figure something out,” Eliza said, patting her on the shoulder.
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “How was your day stalking Stacy?”
“We found her,” Eliza said.
“Anything suspicious to report?” Cora asked.
Mackenzie was staring at her. She didn’t want to say it. She never wanted to speak of it again if at all possible.
Mackenzie cleared her throat. “Joey picked her up. In the seaplane.”
Cora gasped. “Wait, I forgot. He came looking for you!”
Eliza’s head shot up. “He did?”
“Eliza,” Mackenzie said slowly. “I think maybe you shouldn’t talk to him anymore.”
Cora went on. “He seemed distressed. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but he asked if you were avoiding him.”
Her heart, the poor thing, leapt in her chest.
“He must know we’re catching on to him,” Mackenzie said. “Typical scammer, trying to cover his tracks.”
Cora bit her lip. “I’m not sure that’s it. I might’ve let something slip that I shouldn’t have.”
Daggers could’ve shot out of Mackenzie’s eyes and hit Cora like a bullseye. “You told him we suspected him? You’re going to put us all in danger!”
Cora rolled her eyes. “No one is in danger. It was nothing to do with the robbery.”
“What was it?” Eliza asked.
She shifted her weight. “Don’t get mad at me, Eliza, but I might have hinted that you like him.” She stopped, then rushed to add, “It’s not a big deal.”
Eliza couldn’t help it. A smile crept onto her face. “And he seemed intrigued?”
“Very. He’s interesting, though,” she said, tapping her chin. “He told me he fell in love once and acted like he’s never going to fall in love again.”
Eliza’s heart tightened in her chest. “Oh. So he doesn’t feel anything for me.”
“I didn’t say that.” Cora shook her head. “If he’s so cool and unaffected, why did he care so much about finding you?”
“He only wants to know if you’re going to turn him in,” Mackenzie said. “Eliza, you can’t fall for this.”
Her heart was in her throat. “Did he say anything else?”
“Not really. He asked me to let you know he was sorry he couldn’t catch you today.”
“ Catch you,” Mackenzie repeated. “Do you think that means something?”
Eliza didn’t know what it meant, but she knew what she hoped it meant and there went her stomach, flipping and turning.
His voice popped into his head. What was it he’d said at game night to Mackenzie? Next time, leave before you’re left.
The words knocked her heart back into her chest. She’d thought he was joking or was trying to make Mackenzie feel better.
But now, as sudden as a canceled ferry, she knew he’d meant it. Really meant it.
Joey had never made any promises to her. Sure, he didn’t come out and say he wasn’t the robber, but he had also never given her a reason to believe he was interested in anything but himself. He had either been pretending to look for the robber, knowing full well he was the one, or he was peripherally involved. No matter what, he was honest about his plan to get as much cash as he could for a plane and then fly off.
She knew who he was, robber or not. He was exactly who he’d presented himself to be: a guy who had no plans to stick around.
“Excuse me,” she said, escaping into the bathroom.
She flicked on the light and shut herself inside. Thankfully, none of their British customers had yet complained about Granny’s attempt at a themed bathroom. The red walls, the black and white picture of Big Ben, the random British flag above the toilet – none of it was comforting in her current state, and she couldn’t imagine anyone genuinely liked it.
Eliza went to the sink and turned on the cold water, splashing it on her face. It eased some of the hot feeling rushing to her cheeks. She stood, savoring it for a moment, before turning to get a paper towel.
She bumped into something with her foot and squatted down. It was a small black duffel bag. Without thinking, she unzipped it and her eyes fell onto a hint of green at the bottom of the bag. She pushed aside the darker items to uncover a stack of one hundred dollar bills.
She gasped. “Mackenzie! Cora!”
“What’s wrong?” Mackenzie called back.
“Come here! Now!”
Their footsteps rushed to the bathroom Eliza flung the door open. “What is this doing in here?”
“Oh, money!” Cora said, reaching forward.
Mackenzie slapped her hand. “Stop! You can’t just grab piles of random money.”
She leaned forward and carefully picked every item out of the bag: a blue surgical mask, a ladies cowboy hat with a colorful leather band, a brick of wrapped hundred dollar bills.
“Is this what I think it is?” Mackenzie asked.
Eliza nodded. “That’s the hat from the robbery. And the money…”
Mackenzie stood and backed away. “I’m not going to touch it in case there are ink packs in there or something.”
Eliza’s head was tingling. She reminded herself to take a breath. “How did this get here?”
“I have no idea!” Cora said. “It was busy today. A lot of people were going in and out.”
“It had to be Joey.” Mackenzie shook her head. “He came here and dropped this bag off.”
Eliza leaned down and stared at the hat. It was just as she remembered it. “Maybe it’s his confession? Maybe he wanted me to have it, and to have some of the money?”
“Oh no!” Cora groaned. “That’s why he wanted to see you so badly. He wanted to say goodbye.”
Tears stung her eyes. She sucked in a breath. “That might be it.”
“What do we do with this?” Mackenzie squatted down next to her. “Do we turn it in?”
At least now she knew the truth. That was better than nothing, she supposed.
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice shaking.
“Oh, don’t cry,” Cora stooped down, wrapping them both in a hug. “I’m sure there’s an explanation.”
“Yeah,” Eliza said, wiping a tear. “I’m sure there is.”
That explanation being leave before you’re left .