Teagan
The fur stole smelled expensive. Like someone who could afford designer perfume. She laughed. Maybe Noah had raided Perry and Juliet’s extensive wardrobes rather than the drama club costume store.
As the guys lumbered back into the main room, props and character backgrounds in hand, she gave them all a “play along and play nicely” glare. Noah always joined in on their extravaganzas. True, he often read the entire time, but this could be fun.
“Who in this dastardly rogues’ gallery is responsible for the slaying of the innocent dowager?
” Noah exclaimed once everyone was back in the room.
Didn’t get a response. “I’ve planted clues all around the mansion.
” He threw his arms out, indicating every part of the boathouse was included.
“When you find one, you and your fellow suspects must gather to discuss. So, without further ado, announce yourselves!”
Ryder pulled a card out his envelope. “I’m Carl, a speakeasy steward with a dream of a better life.” He held up the mop Noah had given him. “Wait? I’m a janitor?”
Perry opened his envelope. “I’m Eleanor Ramsheim, a wealthy flapper who’s judgy and into hats? Way to typecast, Noah.” He put on a beaded flapper cap, checked himself out in his phone camera, styling it out.
Crabby put on a baseball cap and showed them all his prop: a bat. “Baloo and I are Big Sluggers. Two mobster henchmen for one of Chicago’s un-finest.”
“Cool, bruh.” Baloo gave him a fist bump. “The heavies.”
Cam held up a newspaper and a newsboy bag. “Speedy Sinclair, newspaper boy.”
Noah pointed to Teagan.
She flicked her stole around her neck as Noah said, “Meet Amelia Faye, silent film star. You’re with…” He pointed at Josh, who flipped open a leather case to reveal a badge. “Mr. Brandenburg, a federal agent. And last but not least…”
Quaid put on a ten-gallon. “How do,” he drawled. “I’m oil magnate Edward Harold.” He grinned mischievously. “Who is also a secret moonshine brewer!”
“What?” Noah scanned his notes. “No. That’s not on the card.”
Quaid pulled his duffel over. It clanked. He pulled out two full bottles shouting, “The speakeasy is open for business!”
Everyone cheered.
“Don’t forget about the clues,” reminded Noah as everyone started heading off.
Teagan and Josh—or rather Amelia Faye and Mr. Brandenburg—were searching the boathouse for a clue. Noah hadn’t chosen anywhere obvious to hide it.
As they looked inside the shells, Teagan turned around the next aisle only to see the one thing she wished had been hidden from sight. The broken oar.
Josh came up beside her, saw what she was looking at, let a nearby stool take his body weight. “Ugh. Bad break.”
Yup. She knelt down to examine just how bad.
If she couldn’t solve Noah’s mystery, maybe she could figure out why Josh’s oar snapped.
Carbon fiber oars were tons lighter than wood ones and, more importantly, didn’t rot.
The rigid composite material was designed to withstand the intense power transferred from the rower to the blade as it pushed against the water. Why not this one?
“Hey?” she called over her shoulder. “Did your dad call you back yet?”
“Nope.” He flexed his shoulders. “And I’m guessing he’s not going to.”
Poor guy. From what he’d told her, being a Regis seemed pretty awful.
Her dad, when he’d been around, had pushed her hard when it came to rowing, but only because he knew she wanted to be better.
But he’d never made her take on responsibilities that a kid shouldn’t have to worry about.
To be fair, her mom hadn’t either. Whenever Ella was stressed about money, she always made it clear it was her responsibility to sort it out, not Teagan’s.
Somehow she was doing it. Working hard at the Crab Shack and anything else she could to pay their bills.
“There was nothing you could’ve done, Josh. Don’t beat yourself up. We’ll get them next— Hey! Look at this.” She held up the oar stump. “This didn’t just break on its own. It was sawed through!”
When he saw it up close, the blood drained from his face.
“Who would even do this?”
Josh didn’t answer, just stared at the oar, blinking in shocked disbelief.
The rest of the crew came running when she sounded the alarm. “See? It had to be sabotage.” Teagan held up the oar piece that had clearly been sawed halfway through. The other part, unable to withstand the pressure, had snapped in the water, finishing the job.
The guys couldn’t believe it either.
“It looks like we’ve stumbled upon a real-life mystery!” Noah said with a swirl of his cape.
Cam took the oar and examined it more closely. “Looks like it was cut with a rotary saw.” He looked at the guys. “Easy enough to access. Every team has one.”
They all got what he was saying. This wasn’t someone messing around. This was a targeted attack.
“Why the hell would someone do this?” Josh asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Ryder said. “It’s probably some dick from Westvale who wanted to make sure we didn’t get anywhere near the podium.”
Baloo staggered back a step and looked pale, as if Ryder’s theory had made him physically ill.
Teagan wasn’t sure, though. “There’s no way they could’ve done it. When we got the boats out of the shed—our locked shed—the oars were always in our sight before we hit the water. Someone must’ve cut it before… in the shed.”
“How?” Perry asked. “You need a key card to get in.”
“And we’re the only ones who have key cards,” Baloo said, color returning to his cheeks.
“So that means…” Teagan’s eyes widened as she figured it out. “It was one of us.”