CHAPTER ELEVEN
Spencer
I lasted four days before I caved.
Four days of lying on the couch, shuffling to the kitchen for food, lying on the couch again.
Four days of minding my own business, watching daytime television, and taking my pain pills as the same four walls closed in.
The cuts and bruising on my face had faded, and my ribs were better.
Not good, but better. I could breathe without wincing and walk without limping too badly.
The headaches from the concussion had faded to a dull pressure behind my eyes that I could mostly ignore.
Declan texted me every day and had dropped by twice. He’d been warm but distracted because of the homicide case. He’d spent the night once, and we’d had a great time together, but most of the four days I’d spent alone.
And I couldn’t take it anymore.
I needed to be around people. I needed food that wasn’t from a can.
Something along the lines of greasy fried fish and chips.
I’d even skipped my pain pills for the day so I could have a beer.
I texted Declan around 6:00 p.m. to tell him I was going to the Rusty Anchor for dinner.
I hinted I hoped he’d join me, but I didn’t have much hope because I knew he was busy with the case. He hadn’t responded to my text.
I pocketed my phone, carefully pulled on my jacket, and walked out to my light green Honda Civic.
I usually walked to the Rusty Anchor, but took pity on my aching body and drove instead.
I only planned on having one beer, so it wouldn’t be a problem.
I hadn’t driven my car in a while and was happy when it started right up.
The Rusty Anchor parking lot was half full.
As I parked, I noticed Gil’s truck nearby.
I casually strolled past it, even though it was out of the way, and glanced at the front bumper.
It was clean. No dents, no scrapes, no damage.
I felt a wave of relief I hadn’t been expecting.
I’d been carrying the suspicion that Gil had been behind the wheel that night, and seeing his truck in one piece took some weight off my shoulders.
Maybe it really had been a drunk driver who’d hit me.
Inside, the bar was its usual weeknight self.
A dozen regulars spread around the room.
The jukebox played something by Fleetwood Mac.
After being cooped up at my place for so long, the smell of fryer oil and beer was welcome.
It felt good to be back in a space that wasn’t my living room.
I had to smile when I saw Gil sitting at the bar.
Same stool as always. He had a beer in front of him, and he looked tired but more sober than the last time I’d seen him. He nodded when I came in.
“Hey, Spencer.” He sounded friendly. “Heard you got banged up. You doing okay?”
“Getting there.” I eased onto a stool a couple over. “I had to get out of the house. I was going stir-crazy.”
His sharp blue eyes were empathetic. “Glad you’re all right, man. Hit and run is some scary shit.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t fun.”
Tess was behind the bar. She gave me a smile as she set a coaster in front of me. “You’re back. It’s been a while. I’ll bet you could use a beer.”
I smiled. “You read my mind.”
She went to pull me a draft of my usual. When she returned, she said, “This one’s on the house. Welcome back.”
“Aww, that’s kind of you, Tess.”
She shrugged. “It’s the least I can do.”
I was pretty sure Declan wouldn’t be joining me, so I ordered the fish and chips and settled in.
Gil and I talked casually about nothing.
The crab season. A storm that was supposed to come in over the weekend.
He seemed more relaxed than the last time I’d talked to him.
I wondered if maybe Rosa had accepted his offer on the Pacific Lady and that was why.
I felt a twinge of guilt. I had no doubt Declan was looking into the illegal poaching angle I’d mentioned.
Despite breaking fishing regulations, Gil didn’t seem like a bad guy.
People got desperate sometimes, and they did stupid things.
Maybe he fell into that category. Not evil.
Just looking for an easy way out of his money problems.
My food came, and I ate ravenously, thrilled to have something delicious to eat at long last. I was tempted to have another beer, but the last thing I needed was a DUI, so I opted instead for an iced tea.
Tess moved up and down the bar, checking on customers, laughing at people’s jokes.
All in all, the night felt like a normal night.
Then Declan walked in.
My first reaction was pleasure. The sight of him in the doorway made something warm spread through my chest. But then I noticed he was in his department windbreaker, and Officer Bree Nakamura was with him.
Declan was wearing his professional mask, and when his gaze settled on Gil, uneasiness washed through me.
While I’d fed Declan information he might use to bring Gil in, I’d never wanted to be there when it happened. I froze on my stool, wishing I was anywhere but at the Rusty Anchor right now. I didn’t want to watch this play out, but short of getting up and walking out, I didn’t have much choice.
Declan’s eyes swept the room and landed on me. Something flickered there. Surprise, maybe concern. Then it was gone. His attention shifted back to Gil.
Conversations faltered as people began to notice Declan and Bree. The jukebox clicked over between songs, leaving a brief pocket of quiet.
“Gil, can I have a word outside?” Declan’s voice was quiet but authoritative.
Gil turned on his stool, looking at Declan. “Hey, Chief.” He frowned. “You need to talk to me?”
“If you don’t mind.” Declan took a few steps closer, but Bree hung back, her posture relaxed but alert.
Gil set his beer down. “What do you need to talk to me about?”
Declan held his gaze. “We can discuss that outside.”
Gil’s expression changed. It hardened, and his breathing picked up. “Are you here to arrest me? I didn’t do anything.”
“Like I said, let’s talk about that outside the bar,” Declan said, still calm, still even. “Come on, Gil. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
The room had gone almost completely still now. I sat there, stomach twisting as I watched it unfold.
Tess was standing behind the bar, as white as a ghost. She looked petrified, eyes wide and pinned on Gil.
Gil glanced around the bar, like he was taking stock of who was watching. Then his eyes flicked to Declan again. For a second, I thought he might refuse, but then he got off the stool. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Okay.”
“You don’t have to go with him,” Tess said hoarsely.
Gil looked at her and his face fell. “It’s okay, darlin’.”
“No, it’s not,” she said shrilly, turning her angry gaze on Declan. “What are you doing? You have no right to arrest him. Gil didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Tess, it’s best you stay out of this.” Declan’s voice was reasonable, but his eyes were hard.
“Is this about Eddie?” Gil asked.
“I’ll answer all your questions outside.” Declan’s jaw was tight.
Gil grimaced. “I’m no angel, but I didn’t kill Eddie. If that’s what this is about. I swear to God, Declan, I didn’t kill him.”
A muscle worked in Declan’s cheek. “Let’s go to the station and talk.”
Gil’s shoulders dropped, and he looked like he aged a decade in that moment. His mouth opened and closed, but then he just shook his head and took a step toward Declan.
“He didn’t do it.” Tess’s voice cut through the silence. She was standing behind the bar, both hands flat on the counter, leaning forward.
Declan turned to her. “Tess, this doesn’t involve you.”
“He didn’t kill Eddie.” She said it louder, but her voice was shaking. “He couldn’t have. He… he was with me that night.”
Gil’s head swiveled toward her. The confusion on his face was unmistakable. “What? Tess, no, I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were.” She stared at him. “You were with me, Gil. Remember?”
He shook his head. “No. I was sick that night. That’s why Eddie went out alone.” He watched her, looking confused. “Calm down, Tess. I didn’t hurt Eddie. It’ll be all right.”
“Of course it won’t be all right,” she said, her face twitching. “He’s trying to frame you, Gil. But it… it won’t work because you… you were with me the night Eddie died. Remember?” Her voice went up at the end like a frightened little girl.
The silence that followed was excruciating.
I wanted to get up out of my seat so badly it hurt.
Tess was trying desperately to give Gil an alibi, and he was refusing to take the lifeline.
I didn’t think it was because he was being noble.
I think he genuinely thought she had the nights mixed up.
It was obvious he didn’t think he’d been with her.
And he wasn’t going to admit to something he thought wasn’t true, even if it got him out of trouble.
“Gil, please.” Her voice broke. “Just say you were with me. Please.”
“Tess, what are you doing?” Gil rumbled. “I’m not going to lie to the police. I wasn’t with you.”
“Gil,” her voice was anguished.
Declan ignored Tess’s pleas. “Come with me, Gil.”
“No.” Tess started to cry, and her hand moved beneath the bar.
I stood slowly, distracted by watching Gil. I didn’t process what Tess was doing until I actually saw the gun. It was a short-barreled revolver, the kind bars sometimes kept for security. A feeling of horror washed over me as Tess lifted the gun higher and pointed it at me.
I froze, stomach dropping and panic washing through me. “What are you doing, Tess?” I croaked, meeting her frantic gaze.
“I’m not going to let him take Gil from me.” Her hands were shaking so badly the barrel wobbled. She didn’t look like she was used to handling a gun, but she was close enough to me that if the gun went off, it wouldn’t matter.
At the sight of the gun, the bar erupted. People scrambled for the door. Chairs scraped and toppled. Drinks spilled and someone screamed.