Chapter 23 #2
“Oh yeah. You weren’t around when Tiff first opened her store and was advertising her wares outside on the sidewalk, causing at least one accident a day.”
“Come on,” Jack said, laughing. “She did not.”
“She absolutely did!”
“That must’ve been quite something.”
“Stop imagining it, or I’ll punch your lights out.”
Jack howled with laughter. He laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes that made it difficult to drive the boat.
Blaine glowered at him.
Gasping for breath, Jack waved a hand in front of his face. “The best part is imagining you dealing with her when she was causing accidents in front of the store.”
“We put on quite a shit show.”
“Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve heard in a long time.”
“Stop trying to picture it. That’s my fucking wife!”
Jack started laughing again and couldn’t stop. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d laughed like that. It’d been a long time. Since before Ruby died. “Feels wrong to be laughing my ass off shortly after finding Billy’s body.”
“It’s okay. We’re not being disrespectful. If we don’t laugh, we might never stop crying with some of the stuff we see on the job.”
“That’s true.” Jack brought the boat in for a smooth landing at a floating dock next to McCarthys’ Marina. While Blaine secured the bow line, Jack took care of the stern. They went up the ramp to the main pier, where Mr. McCarthy was holding court with the usual cast of characters.
“How’s it goin’ out there?” Ned Saunders asked.
“We found Billy,” Blaine said. “Heading into town now to find his brother to let him know, so keep it between us for now.”
“Will do,” Big Mac said. “Sorry to hear, but glad he’s been found.”
“Yeah, same.”
“How’s Tiffany and Ashleigh?” Frank McCarthy asked. “Been thinking about them.”
“They’re hanging in there. Tough thing to explain to a six-year-old.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Dr. Kevin McCarthy said. “If they need to talk it out, you know where to find me.”
Big Mac and his brothers, including their honorary brother Ned, were some of the finest men Blaine had ever known. “We do. Tiff and I were thinking about making an appointment with you for Ashleigh.”
“Can’t hurt,” Kevin said. “I’d be happy to help in any way that I can.”
“Thanks, Doc. Well, we’d better go get this done.”
“Don’t envy you that,” Big Mac said.
“Part of the job,” Blaine replied. “We’ll see you later.”
“Thanks fer what ya do, guys,” Ned said. “It’s appreciated.”
“That’s nice to hear,” Jack said. “Thanks.”
They walked to Blaine’s SUV and drove into town to find Billy’s brother, Morgan.
“I guess we should start at the gym,” Blaine said. “From what I’ve heard, he’s been hanging there and taking care of things in Billy’s absence.”
“Yeah, I heard that, too. Billy’s pals have been rallying around him.”
“Linc Mercer told me Billy and Morgan lost their parents and sister in quick succession a few years back. Was just the two of them left.”
“Ah, crap. I hate to hear that.”
“I know. I can’t imagine being the last one left in my original family.”
“Me either.”
“The close call with Deacon, and now this thing with Jim, has me feeling extra thankful lately.”
“I’m sure. Deacon got so freaking lucky.”
“I know. Far too close for comfort. I wake up in a cold sweat thinking about what would’ve happened if Joe and Seamus hadn’t taken the ferries out to sea to ride out the storm.”
“Thank God they did,” Jack said.
“Yeah, no kidding.”
“How does Deacon seem after nearly being lost at sea?”
“Fine, which is a bit worrisome. I mean, how can he just pick right up and go back to work like it never happened?”
“Maybe the return to normalcy is what he needs more than anything.”
“Yeah, I guess. And then he had to be the one to find Jim. It’s been a lot for him.”
“I’m sure his big brother is keeping a watchful eye on him.”
“You know it.”
Blaine pulled into the parking lot at the gym, across the parking lot from the ferry landing, about a block from the tattoo and massage studios. “Let’s get this over with.”
Jack followed Blaine inside, where the blast of rock music and metal connecting with metal greeted them.
Morgan Weyland, who was about thirty-five, with dark hair tinged with gray on the edges, was folding towels behind the registration desk. His expression went blank when he saw them coming. “You found him.”
“We did,” Blaine said. “Please accept our condolences on the loss of your brother.”
Morgan’s dark eyes were rimmed with red from a week of sleepless nights and unbearable stress. “Goddamn it, Billy.”
“We’re so sorry,” Jack said.
“Thanks for all you guys and the others did to find him. That stupid son of a bitch.” Morgan’s eyes filled with tears. “How could he go and leave me here all alone?”
“Is there anyone we could call to come over and be with you?” Blaine asked.
Morgan shook his head. “It’s just me—and him. Or it was.”
“How about a friend?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, I’ll reach out. Thanks for letting me know. Where are they taking him?”
“The coroner will be over from Providence,” Blaine said. “They’ll perform an autopsy and then release him to the funeral home of your choice on the mainland. We can give you some suggestions.”
“Sure, that’d help. Thanks.”
“When they’re done, they can send him back over on the ferry if you want to bury him here on the island.”
“There’s nowhere else he’d rather be.”
“I’ll be in touch,” Blaine said.
Jack handed Morgan his card. “Call if there’s anything at all I can do for you.”
Morgan shook hands with both of them. “Thanks again, you guys, and to everyone who was part of the search. Please tell them…” His voice broke. “Tell them I appreciate it.”
“We will.”
As they left the gym, Jack said, “I feel bad leaving him.”
“I do, too, but we’ve done what we can for him.”
“I wonder if he’ll stick around and take over the gym?”
“I guess we’ll see.”