Executive Protection(56)

“Okay, you got it. The culinary delight of mac ’n’ cheese and fries coming right up.” She looked at Thad, who noticed her playfulness and a flicker of a grin almost emerged.

“What can I get for you?” a waitress asked. She was young and short with beautiful, bright blue eyes and hair in a bob much like Sophie’s, the same color, too.

Something about her struck Lucy as familiar. She couldn’t place her, though. She’d never been to this pub before and didn’t know anyone in the area.

“You’re Thad Winston, aren’t you?” the elderly woman’s husband asked, interrupting their order.

Thad looked over. “Yes.”

“We heard about your mother. How is she doing?”

“Much better, thanks for asking.”

“That’s good. Did they catch her shooter?”

“No, not yet. But I’m sure we will.”

The man missed Thad’s inclusion of himself in the investigation. “Damn crazies out there. Kate Winston would make a fine president. She’s got our vote.”

“Thanks, I’ll be sure to tell her.”

That seemed to please the old man immeasurably. He didn’t interfere any further.

“You’re Kate Winston’s son?” the waitress asked.

“Yes.”

“Wow. We have a celebrity in the house.” She beamed a smile.

“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m just her son,” Thad said.

Lucy had never thought of him as a celebrity. He was humble and down-to-earth. A sports fan and a cop.

“What can I get you folks?” the waitress asked.

“Mac ’n’ cheese!” Sophie burst out.

“With fries,” Lucy added.

The waitress wrote the order down and Lucy ordered a hamburger. Thad asked for the same. It was French fry night.

The waitress walked away, going over to the kitchen where an older man stood. A little taller than average in height, he had graying dark brown hair and a ruddy complexion, he resembled the girl in certain ways. Lucy wondered if they were related.

“Does she look familiar to you?” Lucy asked Thad.

He looked where her gaze was fixed and then turned back to her. “No. Why?”

“She seems familiar to me.” She watched as the man grew surly with the waitress. He looked over at her and Thad.

“That man recognizes us.” She watched him exchange words with the waitress, who seemed taken aback and then argued with whatever he’d said.

Thad looked at the waitress and the man again. “Really?”

Lucy didn’t have to answer. The man came over to their table.

“Thad Winston, are you?” he said. Animosity hung in his tone. He struggled to control it.

What was this all about?

“Yes,” Thad said. “I’m sorry, you have me at a disadvantage. I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

“You may not know me, but I know you. I told my granddaughter not to serve you. I’ll send someone else over. Unless you’d like to go somewhere else?”

“I don’t understand. Why won’t you let your granddaughter wait on us?” Thad asked.

“Name’s Patrick O’Hara. That’s my granddaughter Shelby. She’s too precious for the likes of you.”

“Why are you so angry?” Lucy asked. “Shelby looked familiar to me when she came to our table. I may have seen her or met her before.”

“You tell Kate Winston I won’t be voting for her.” With that, Patrick O’Hara, who probably owned the pub, stormed away.

“What was that all about?” Lucy asked.

“Must not like my mother,” Thad said.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else,” Lucy said.

“Is that man going to spit in our food?” Sophie asked with the frankness only a child could get away with.

“We’ll go somewhere else.” Thad stood up. “In fact, we’re close enough to the beach house. Why don’t we pick something up at the store and make it there?”

“Okay.”

“No,” Sophie complained. “I’m hungry.”

“We’ll feed you,” Lucy said. “Come on.”

“No. I don’t want to go.”

“If we go to the store we can get ice cream,” Thad said.

That smoothed the child’s defiant face. “Can I still have mac ’n’ cheese?”

“Of course you can,” Thad answered.

Sophie scooted out of the booth with Lucy.

Lucy saw how Patrick and Shelby watched them, Patrick appearing satisfied they were leaving and Shelby looking from him to the three of them, clearly not understanding why Patrick had displayed so much anger toward them.

* * *

Lucy got out of the rental Jeep Grand Cherokee Thad had driven here and had to just stand and admire the beach house. It was a stunning piece of architecture. She hadn’t expected anything less, but the beauty of this place was remarkable. Made of stone trimmed in white, it was three levels with a fanning stone staircase leading to the entrance on the second level. And it was quiet. Only wind and waves had greeted them.

Thad handed her a grocery bag with a grin. She took it and turned her attention to another bag in the back of the Jeep. Sophie carried her stuffed puppy and walked with her behind Thad to the front door. Lucy looked back and to the side of the house. Five horses grazed on patches of tall grass about a hundred yards from here. There were other houses, but they were far away. The Winston family must own a good chunk of land to keep the development at bay and the views pristine.