Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
“ L ucy and Hetty had more than a few arguments,” Amber Walker says, drying off with a towel while we wait for the others to get back to the boat after our swimming with dolphins in the wild adventure. “They were rare, but they seemed pretty vitriolic. And those arguments always seemed to take place once we had wrapped up for the night and were about to get back into our cars. In fact, I remember one odd fight because both women happened to be standing just a few feet from where I parked. I rolled down my windows an inch to see what they could possibly be going at it for. I mean, Hetty never had a husband or a steady boyfriend that Lucy could steal, so I had no idea what she could have been angry about.”
“And what were they arguing about?” I ask, trying not to sound as if I’m about to shake the answer out of her. But I am so ready to shake the answer out of her.
“Honestly, I couldn’t put the pieces to that puzzle together. Something about spare change for Big Bite Burgers? Only Lucy was saying from Big Bite Burgers and not for. And it was strange because Lucy kept calling Hetty Lucy . I never could figure out what that was about.”
Beatrice’s eyes widen. “Why does that sound familiar? I must have been lurking around and heard that argument, too. I swear, I’ve heard Lucy do that as well.”
“Interesting,” I say with more than a jolt of curiosity coursing through me. “Amber, did Lucy ever mention anything specific about Hetty?”
Amber shrugs, her expression thoughtful. “Not really. Just that Hetty could be a bit controlling. But then again, so could Lucy.”
Beatrice huffs. “The only thing Lucy wanted to control was men.”
“But I bet Lucy got along well with Jennifer,” I say, trying my best to bait Amber. “I mean, she shelled out a lot of money to come on this cruise.”
“I thought the same thing.” Amber ticks her head to the side. “I have no idea how she paid for this trip, but I can tell you right now, she didn’t have the means. In fact, I’m not proud of this, but once the ship left port, I teased her about it and asked if she robbed a bank. I mean, she was a pro at stealing. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to learn she was stealing cold, hard cash as well.”
“How’d she take that?” I wrinkle my nose because I have a feeling I know how.
“She made a snide remark about how stealing my husband was a whole lot easier.” She leans back and folds her arms as the boat gives a gentle rock. “We’ve been warring over that for weeks. It was a cheap shot, but then I suppose I took one, too. Honestly, I’m grateful Lucy found out the truth about my husband before I wasted another second of my life with him. She could have been a real...well, you know, but she did me a favor. I could have killed her with my bare hands sometimes, but in the end, she saved me.” Her lips press white as she gets a faraway look in her eyes. “Anyway, she was arguing with Jennifer as of late, too, and that’s why I was shocked when Hetty said she was coming along.”
“Arguing with Jennifer?” I tip my ear her way. “Whatever for?” I know for a fact it centered around Marcus, but I still don’t know why.
“Marcus Bennet.” She spits the man’s name out as if it were a rusty nail. “My guess is that Lucy was trying to take Marcus for a spin. Although I don’t know why. That guy gives off some serious creepy vibes—at least to me. I don’t know what Jennifer sees in him. Honestly, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”
Beatrice nods vigorously. “He’s a weasel. I never liked him either.”
“Oh wow, I’m really sorry to hear that.” The thought of Jennifer marrying another dud makes my stomach churn. “Jennifer seems to be pretty smitten.”
Amber lifts her chin. “As I’ve learned the hard way, love can certainly be blind.”
“It sure can.” A growl works its way up my throat. “Although I’d like to think I’ve finally taken my blinders off.” I wiggle my ring finger her way. “I’m set to get married soon.”
“Congratulations!” Amber beams as if she’s genuinely happy for me. “You must be the other bride-to-be that Hetty mentioned. She did say you worked for the ship. I guess she’s putting together one heck of a party for the two of you tomorrow night.”
“Is that tomorrow night?” I nearly fall off the seat. How is this cruise moving along so swiftly? And with no killer on the horizon. Gah!
“Oh, don’t look so pained,” Beatrice trills. “I, for one, love a good bachelorette party. And with Hetty at the helm, we’re going to have a sexy soirée to die for.” She winks my way. “Of course, I won’t have to die. But you can bet your bridal britches I won’t be missing it either! Speaking of which, are we done here? I want to tell my new dolphin friends all about it.”
I frown her way and she laughs.
“See you on the ship,” she says, floating back toward the water and sinking below the surface so fast you’d think a giant Kraken just sucked her under.
Before I can ask another question, the rest of the women climb back on board, sans one redhead that I dragged out this way with me.
“Nettie, where’s Bess?” I call out in a partial panic as the crew readies the boat to pull up their anchor.
“I don’t care where that hussy is,” Nettie grunts as her hair begins to dry and her gray curls rise up over her head like an ominous cloudbank. “Bess Chatterley is dead to me.”
I’m about to ask why just as the rest of the women break out into spontaneous applause at something out in the water, and both Nettie and I crane our necks to see what’s captured their attention.
And then I see it.
It’s a redhead holding onto the dorsal fin of a dolphin the size of this boat as he takes her for the ride of a lifetime.
Nettie jabs her fists into her hips and scowls out at the sight. “That lowlife, back-stabbing, dolphin-stealing, no good old biddy took my idea and ran with it—or should I say, swam with it.”
“You know what they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—especially when they’re stealing your ride.”
I glance over at Amber as she glares out at the water.
But it’s not so flattering when they’re stealing your husband. It would make anyone good and angry.
Angry enough to kill—and in fact stab the back-stabber in the back.
And I wonder if that’s exactly what happened.
The mystery is unraveling, and I’m determined to see it through to the end.
Lucy Taylor’s killer is out there, and I won’t rest until justice is served.