Hidden (Nicole Jones #1)(40)

I tug off the helmet and loop the strap around my arm, grabbing the backpack out of the basket as I pass the moped and go inside. The scent of coffee hits my nose, and I slide onto a stool at the counter.

Will turns around and grins. ‘What can I get for you, Nicole?’

‘Just a coffee. To go.’ I put the helmet and pack on the seat next to me. There are six other people in here: a young couple staring into each other’s eyes over plates of pancakes, a man wearing coveralls and two women about my age with coffee and Danish.

‘Heard what happened. You OK?’ Will asks as he puts the cup down in front of me and pours.

‘I’m OK. Where’s Mary today?’

‘Morning off. She’ll be here for lunch. Not too many folks here yet, so I figured I could handle it.’

‘I figured you might have more of a crowd here, what with the cops and all.’

Will’s eyes drift over to the window. ‘Yeah, they were here. Searched that car outside – the Beemer. Asked if I saw the guy who drove it.’ He paused. ‘Is it that guy? The one who trashed your place?’

I nod and take a sip of the coffee. It’s too strong, as usual, but I need the jolt. ‘You didn’t see him, then?’ I ask, trying to act casual.

‘Oh, I did see him. Tall, good-looking guy, right?’ He doesn’t wait for me to answer. ‘He was here yesterday. Had a bowl of chowder. But this was before I knew anything, otherwise I would’ve called Frank Cooper.’ He is concerned that I’m going to blame him for what happened.

‘Don’t worry about it, Will. You couldn’t know.’

He seems relieved and smiles.

‘So he didn’t leave in the car.’ I am thinking out loud.

But Will thinks I am asking him a question. He shakes his head. ‘I got busy, so I didn’t notice where he went when he left. But obviously he didn’t leave in the Beemer. It was here all night.’

‘You never saw him again?’

Will narrows his eyes at me. ‘I told Frank Cooper all this.’

I shrug, pretending nonchalance. ‘Frank hasn’t told me much. But I really would like to find this guy.’

‘I bet you do.’ He hesitates, and I can see that he wants to tell me something more. I wait only a few seconds. ‘There is something else. Frank knows already, so it’s probably OK if I tell you.’

His tone is slow, methodical, and I want to pull it out of him, but I continue to wait, my heartbeat pounding inside my chest with impatience.

‘You know Chip Parsons?’

It takes me a second, and then I remember. He’s the guy from the Yellow Kittens who Steve says has a crush on me.

Will clears his throat. ‘Saw Chip last night at the Kittens. He told me the guy chartered one of his boats. Paid upfront and all. He was supposed to come by yesterday afternoon, but he never showed.’





TWENTY-ONE


Why would Ian charter a fishing boat?

‘When did this happen?’ I ask, my mouth so dry it feels like the words are being formed around cotton balls. ‘I mean, when did he talk to Chip about the boat?’

‘Two days ago.’

‘So he was going fishing?’

Will shrugs. ‘Don’t think so. He chartered Chip’s motorboat.’

I am trying to wrap my head around this. ‘Was Chip going to take him out?’

‘No, guess he was going alone.’

My throat becomes constricted, and I cannot speak. He chartered the boat two days ago. Did he think that I would have already done the job for him and he could escape the island without me knowing? Of course he did. He was going to leave me here for Carmine and whoever else might be coming after me. I shouldn’t be surprised.

I find my voice. ‘Does Chip trust people that much, to let them take his boat out by themselves?’

Will chuckles. ‘Frank made him feel like a real horse’s ass for agreeing to it, but the guy paid him extra. A lot extra. In cash.’ He starts wiping down the counter, and I know I’m being dismissed. I have gotten as much out of him that I’m going to get.

‘I really appreciate this, Will,’ I say, and he gives me a short nod. I take the coffee cup, find a crumpled dollar bill in my pocket and toss it on the counter, wishing I could leave more, but I don’t have any more.

I head outside and give the Beemer a glance, but it’s not going to tell me anything. Frank Cooper is doing his job, and now I have mine to do.

I realize I have nowhere to put the coffee, so I take a sip before tossing it in the trashcan next to the door. I climb onto the moped and start it up. I have nowhere to go, though. I can’t go back to my house, and I don’t want to risk Steve’s anymore. I am hoping that this helmet is disguising me enough, although I’m not a hundred percent sure.

I take off down the road and soon I’m heading to Old Harbor. I follow the road past the dock, the National Hotel and around the corner. Without realizing it, I find myself in front of the Sunswept Spa. I stop the moped in front, trying to figure out my next move, but I linger too long. The door swings open and Jeanine comes out, scurrying toward me. I can’t leave now.

She pulls me into a long hug, and for a moment I allow myself to sink into her, the strawberry scent of her shampoo familiar and comforting. But then I pull away.