Madison Westin 02-Deception in Paradise (8 page)

“When was this?”

“It was almost dark.”

“If it was that late, what were you going to do with the boat?” I asked. “Key Marina is closed.”

“I’ve been sleeping on it.”

“What?” I shrieked, wanting to slap him.

“Do you want to hear what happened or not?”

I glared at him.

“The two girls and Pavel sat on top of the back seat. All of a sudden, Kym, Pavel’s girlfriend, yelled ‘Where’s Pavel?’ I turned around, and he was gone. I searched the water, called the Coast Guard, and reported Pavel overboard. The Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife, and Sheriff boats showed up in about ten minutes. They had me show them where we noticed him missing and then backtrack.” Jax took a long drink from my bottled water. “Then, the Coast Guard had me follow them back to their dock. They separated the five of us and took our stories. They asked me how much I had to drink. I told them I only had a few beers. I refused to blow, and they arrested me for BUI.”

“Three people sitting on the back bench, one goes overboard, and the other two don’t know what happened? What about Mary’s boyfriend?”

“He was up front with me. The girls said they didn’t see anything.”

“How’s that possible?” I shook my head in disbelief.

“They were busy.”

“Doing what?”

“Kissing,” he mumbled.

“I thought Kym was Pavel’s girlfriend.”

“You know how it is.”

I noticed he had stopped looking at me. “No, actually, I don’t.”

“I heard Kym tell the Coast Guard that she and Pavel had been at the beach all day drinking and fighting.”

“So what you’re telling me is that she wanted to piss off her already angry boyfriend by kissing a chick.”

“I also heard Kym say that Pavel had jumped off a couple of other people’s boats, swam to shore, and stayed out of sight to prank them.”

“What a jackass.”

“Don’t worry. He’ll show up. I’m going to turn this town upside down tomorrow. I’ll go to every bar in town.”

I was happy to be home. “I want to know if you hear anything about Pavel, and I mean the
second
you hear.”

He opened the door of the SUV. “I’m going to get a shower and wash the jail stench off me. Hopefully, get some sleep and then start asking around about him.” He slammed the door.

“You better hope he turns up in one of those dingy bars you like!” I yelled.

CHAPTER 10

I inherited the art of being great in a crisis from my mother. After Jax and I got back from the jail, I went to my bedroom for a nap, but instead, I lay there and made a mental to-do list. Triple-starred at the top of the list was finding Pavel as quickly as possible and, most importantly, alive. My connections in The Cove outmatched Jax’s any day of the week. I needed to make a few calls and, if Pavel was alive, he’d be found.

I took a long shower, using up all the hot water. I stepped into a jean skirt, pulled on a long-sleeved white tee, pulled my hair into a ponytail, and slipped on some denim boat shoes. When I walked by Jax’s bedroom, I was happy to see that he had already left and surprised that he’d fed Jazz. He left a note on the kitchen counter, ‘I really am sorry.’

One of my first calls had to be to my mother. She’d kill me if she heard about Jax, the boat, and a missing man from someone else. I hoped she’d offer to tell Brad that the Coast Guard had impounded the boat that he and Moron had spent months restoring. Angelo Marone, whose nickname of “Moron” from high school had stuck with him into adulthood, was a master at boat repair; a regular boat whisperer. Elizabeth had long ago stopped using the boat. It had gone into disrepair and become a labor of love for Brad, and he and Moron had spent the summer making all the repairs. Furious wouldn’t cover his response when he found out Jax was involved. Mother could defuse a situation like no other. She had a way of downplaying the worst of facts.

I picked up my phone. “It’s your favorite daughter.”

“It’s early for you. Is everything okay?”

“How about lunch?” I tried to sound casual. “I have a couple of ideas I’d like to bounce off you.”

“I’d like that. I can’t today, though. Is tomorrow okay?”

I was disappointed. I needed to talk to her, and in person, not over the phone. “What are you doing?”

“Spoon is taking me to Islamorada on his boat for lunch.”

“Spoon?”

Her voice turned defensive. “It’s a beautiful day to be out on the water. We’re sharing cigars, a bottle of Jack, and enjoying the ride.”

“Can we meet tomorrow at the Crab Shack? I can reserve us a window table.”

“Great! See you tomorrow. Thanks, honey.” Mother was definitely excited.

“Have fun.”

Mother and Spoon had definitely gotten closer if they were sharing a boat ride down the Keys. That was a romantic way to spend the afternoon. Brad would flip out, and there’d be no talking him down. When our father died, Brad had stepped into the role of protector, and he took it seriously. He hated Dickhead because he broke my heart, and he only tolerated Zach. He’d kill Spoon.

Spoon was not my idea of a stepfather, much less my mother’s lover. He had done time in prison, but had since become a successful businessman. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced that his auto body place was totally legitimate. In addition, there was an age difference, which made my mother a cougar.

I had so much on my mind I almost missed my turn. For a moment, I wanted to pull over, walk out on the white sandy beach, and watch the waves break onto the shore to clear my head. Instead, I pulled into a parking space marked “Office” at The Cottages, jumped out, and went straight to Joseph’s. His door stood wide open, and he sat in his favorite chair, drinking a beer and watching a soap opera.

I walked in and pushed some newspapers aside to sit on the couch.

“You could knock,” he said.

I reached over and knocked on his coffee table. “Anyone home?”

“Want something to drink?”

“No, I came for information, and you need to keep it quiet. You can brag you knew all along when it hits the fan. I would like to think you wouldn’t gossip about me at all, but I know that’s too much to hope for.”

“What’s in it for me?” His lips, riddled with sores from his medication, parted in a rusty smile.

“That’s nervy, even for you. I’m cashing in one of the thousand IOUs I have with your name on it.”

“You can’t blame me for asking.”

“There was a boating incident last night, and a guy named Pavel Klaus went overboard. I want you to find out everything you can about him, and if anyone has seen him around today.”

“You’re light on the info, girl. How about some details?”

“I hit the highlights. My money’s on the fact that when I hear from you next, you’ll know more than I do right now.”

“Where did he go over?” Joseph asked.

“Right where you hit the open water, just past 33rd Avenue.” I stood up.

“If he was a floater, he should’ve surfaced by now. Is he local?”

“I believe so. Call me as soon as you hear anything.” I walked to the front door. “The emphasis on
as soon as
you hear.”

“I’ll know something in a couple of hours. I’ll put my shoes on and head down to the Jumpin’ Croc. Somebody there will be talking. Nothing but locals and the fishermen crowd drink there.”

“Thanks, Joseph.”

* * *

I drove to 33rd Avenue and circled the block a few times. Everything was quiet. Seeing into the canal from the street was impossible, and I wasn’t getting out of my SUV. The last thing I wanted was for someone to see me snooping. I could call Zach, but what would I say? “Hey Zach, can you help with my ex-husband.” Awkward.

I turned my SUV around to head home, taking the back streets that ran along the water; never discovering a single dead body. The reality was that I couldn’t have picked Pavel out of a lineup as I didn’t even know what he looked like. I wanted Jax to stay away from my house, but I feared if I took my eyes off him, he’d disappear, leaving behind a new set of problems.

Not having eaten all day, I pulled into Roscoe’s drive-thru, a run-down, dumpy dive that made the best burgers in the Keys. I once asked Roscoe why he had big outside tables, but no chairs.

“I provide great food. Go eat it somewhere else. I don’t want no trouble,” he had responded.

What did he care? He always had a line waiting. I ordered my usual hamburger; no “meat surprise” with Roscoe, he used only first-quality ingredients. I sat in my driveway, turned on the radio, took the hamburger out of the bag, tossed half the bun back in the bag, and devoured it. I wasn’t in the mood to share with Jazz or anyone else.

Everything was quiet. I sucked down the last of my lemonade and went inside. I was relieved I had the house to myself. Calling and asking for Spoon’s help was out of the question since he was with my mother. She couldn’t find out until I told her.

My phone rang. “It’s Joseph,” I told Jazz. “I hope he has something good.”

“I got your information.”

“That was fast.”

“Pavel hasn’t surfaced. He’s the talk in every bar in town. Pavel worked for Sid Byce on the docks, unloading fish off the boats for his restaurants and seafood store. Byce owns several restaurants up and down The Keys. He’s a big deal in this town, owns a lot of real estate, knows everyone, used to be on city council, and family connections that go back to his great-grandfather.”

“Doesn’t he own The Wharf restaurant?”

“That’s one of his. Good food, overpriced, attracts the hip and mindless. Byce has a friend on the Coast Guard, so he also got a call last night that Pavel went missing.”

“What’s the talk?”

“Did you know Pavel jumped before?” Joseph asked. “It’s assumed he’ll show up in a day or two.”

“Who jumps off boats in the dark?”

“Drunks.” Joseph laughed. “Pavel and his girlfriend live in those apartments behind the biker bar on Second Street.”

“Isn’t that down by the docks?”

“It’s also across the alley from where he works. Here’s a weird one for you. Pavel’s girlfriend and another girl have been walking up and down Gulf Boulevard, drunk, looking for him in every bar they can find. The guys in a couple of those bars must have thought it was their lucky day, as women never go in those, not even the skanky ones.”

“Is that it?” Where could Pavel be hiding? If he were still alive…

“You could’ve told me trouble came to town.”

“I need more info, as you like to say,” I said.

“Seems your husband and his friends were drunk, attracting attention, racing around the canals in no-wake zones. The Coast Guard found a half-dozen empty half-gallon liquor bottles and a shit load of empty beer cans.”

I knew Jax’s story had holes in it big enough to drive through. “Do you know who was on the boat?”

“A couple of newly relocated friends of your husband.”

I had a bad feeling about his so-called anonymous friends. Jax didn’t do alone; he hated to be by himself. It made sense he brought hangers-on with him. “If you hear anything, please call me. If there’s a sighting of Pavel, call me. I don’t care what time it is.”

“Don’t worry. He’ll turn up laughing it up in some bar, probably the Croc.”

“I hope you’re right.” I hung up, wanting to throw my phone across the room.

CHAPTER 11

I heard the bedroom doorknob turning. I held my breath for a second, and then heard the familiar sound of a pick inserted into the lock. I smiled, wanting to run naked to the door and throw it open, but I needed margarita courage to do that.

“That was a little slow,” I said.

“If you knew I was here, why didn’t you open the door? Playing hard to get?”

“As a matter of fact…” I pulled my T-shirt over my head and threw it at him.

He kicked off his shoes, unzipped his pants, and let them fall to the floor. “You like watching me undress?”

“Try not to dawdle.”

He laughed. “What’s been going on?”

I crooked my finger. “Come over here, and I’ll tell you about my day.”

He crawled into bed next to me, wrapped me in his arms, and kissed me. “No wonder your family calls him Dickhead.”

“That’s not foreplay talk.” I rolled on top of him, my face against his chest, and ran my hands through his thick black hair. I pulled his face to mine and inhaled his earthy, male scent. “Did you sign your new client?”

“I signed two.”

“I know how we should celebrate.” I lowered my mouth to his in a hungry kiss. His body responded to mine. I loved the feel of our naked bodies; we fit together in all the right places.

* * *

I woke up with my head on Zach’s chest, our legs tangled together. “Why are you playing with my nipples?”

He chuckled. “I thought it was a nicer way to wake you up than shaking you.”

“It’s still dark out.” I loved waking up next to him, and I wanted to prolong the moment.

“I’ve got back-to-back meetings today. We need to talk, and I’m hungry.”

“I’ll cook while you shower,” I offered.

“That’s funny.”

“I’ll put the frozen waffles in the toaster for you.”

“Your mother told me you were an amazing cook. She says you did all of the holiday cooking for family and friends. How do you go from a gourmet cook to take-out and microwave food?”

“Jax happened.” I sighed. “He liked his own cooking over mine. Mine wasn’t southern enough. The last dinner I cooked was on Christmas, three years ago. He was several hours late and walked in drunk. He asked where the macaroni and cheese was, then left.” Jax hated Christmas; his father had died on Christmas day.

“He’s going to jail. How much time he spends there will depend on whether Pavel’s found dead or alive.”

“Did you run the report on Jax?” I hated asking for help with my ex-husband.

“Anoui was supposed to have run that check. I did tell her there was no hurry, but that’s changed now. You know Anoui; if Jax has lint in his shorts, she’ll find it. I’ll ask her to rush the reports and get them to you by this afternoon or tomorrow. Then we’ll know what he’s been doing and who he’s been doing it with.”