Open Wounds (Harbour Bay #2)(49)
Chapter 24
The body of Michael Lambert was fished out of the water and carried over to the tarp lying on the ground away from the water. First glance told her that he’d been in the water for hours, making any evidence he might have had on him unusable if not completely destroyed.
Doctor Eric Stone, Harbour Bay’s Coroner, stood in gumboots down by the water’s edge as he examined the decedent. The doctor was in his late fifties to early sixties and was almost a twin to Colonel Sanders of the KFC franchise.
Kellie had often heard him being referred to the white haired man behind his back, but he was well respected. He had worked for the city as coroner for over thirty years. His expertise in the medical field and as coroner had helped solve many cases, and he often went above and beyond his job description, taking the initiative to dig deep when nothing made sense. Nothing seemed to shock him, even in the small city of Harbour Bay.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Amelia demanded as Kellie slipped on a pair of baby blue shoe protectors which looked like upturned shower caps over her boots. She had dressed casually today since there was a possibility they would be out of the office and she hadn’t wanted to endanger Amelia or Darryl by dressing inappropriately. She was glad she had. There was no way she would’ve made it this far down the jagged rocks of the shoreline in a tight skirt.
Although she hadn’t exactly been anticipating a dead body when she had chosen her outfit today, jeans were always a solid choice. Unable to bear losing the height she had grown accustomed to, had fished around the back of her closet for a pair of heeled black boots in order to have the best of both worlds.
Appropriately protected, Kellie straightened and followed her friend as she began walking toward Doctor Stone. She studied Amelia.
“Care to give me a hint as to why you’re so pissed?” she countered. She hadn’t been expecting such anger. She'd thought they were getting past that.
She concentrated on the uneven ground beneath her feet. The last thing she wanted was to fall on her arse or twist an ankle. As usual, Amelia steamrolled ahead, never mindful of the hazards. As far as she was concerned, the world could move for her rather than the other way around. If anyone else tried the Donovan way, they’d be screwed.
“You slept with Darryl.”
Kellie lost purchase for a moment at the charge. Her heart raced at the near fall and she glared at her friend’s back before moving quickly to catch up to her. Above her the sun shined hotly, her blouse sticking to her skin from the heat. A pelican circled overhead, unperturbed by the human remains.
“So what if I did? Unless you—”
“He’s my partner. When I want sex, I look outside the LAC for it.”
“Well, I won’t apologise for it.”
Her back was ramrod straight. Last night had been perfect. She’d felt.
For years she’d gone through the motions, working harder at trying to experience what came naturally for others than actually enjoying the carnal act. Darryl was a special guy. One who saw through her flaws and still wanted her. A man who could make her smile with just one look, and turn her on so completely that she became more than ready for him.
What was it about him that made her cautious attitude go out the window?
She wasn’t a loose woman by any means, but the idea of lying beneath him had been too much. She certainly never slept with anyone she worked with. Until now. She didn’t regret it—couldn’t. It had been too wonderful. Too perfect. And she’d opened up to him. She’d never done that with any of her previous partners.
Not that she’d had many.
Only a handful and they had never lasted long. They fooled around a bit, then she’d walked away. Sex but no entanglements. Just the way she liked it. Until Darryl. It both scared and excited her.
Amelia glared at her. “You’re being reckless.”
“This…from you?”
“You work with him. Office romances never work out. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
Tears burned in her eyes at the inflection in Amelia’s voice. Deep, unresolved pain sat beneath her cool fa?ade. Would Amelia ever forgive herself for the past she couldn’t control? She'd thought explaining her actions would help but maybe she'd only made matters worse.
“He makes me happy.”
“You barely know him.”
Kellie shrugged. “I’m falling for him,” she confided softly, the sound of her voice almost getting swallowed by the sound of the harbour washing against the rocks.
Amelia swore. “You make it really hard for me to protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting. Not by you, not by Darryl. One event does not define me. I’m stronger than ever, physically and mentally. It may fail. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and he’s worth the effort.”
“Even if it gets you hurt?”
“If it wasn’t for pain how would we know we’re living? I haven’t in a long time, Mia. I’ve existed and the world tasted like ash. Now there’re vibrant colours surrounding me and flavours bursting on my tongue. Darryl awakened a part of me that’s been dormant. I’ll ride the wave wherever it takes me.”
She broke away from Amelia, knowing her friend didn’t understand. She hadn’t been lying when she’d said she hadn’t lived and merely existed. Kellie couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt anything, even when it came to training with Nick. At first, she’d fought as if her attacker was before her. Passion and anger had ridden her hard. Then, it had all died away leaving her hollow.