Murder By Lime: A Key West Culinary Cozy - Book 4 Read online

  Tiara quickly assessed the angle of the boat, and the path of their pursuers, and headed to the side, pretended to retch. When Drew was again fully absorbed in piloting the boat, she raised both of her hands above her head, signaling the boat behind them, took a deep breath, and launched herself up and out into the water, which felt a bit like hitting the sidewalk at their current speed. Underwater, it took her a moment to get her bearings, and she breathed out slowly as she kicked and paddled toward the light that dappled the surface, slowly releasing her breath.

  When she surfaced, she saw a Coast Guard diver in a small rescue raft, roughly the length of a football field away, speeding toward her, as the two boats disappeared in the distance.

  Chapter 16

  When Marilyn arrived at the marina, Tiara was wrapped in a prickly but warm woolen blanket, sipping a mug of chicken soup. The quietly composed young woman saw her mother and burst into tears.

  “I’m so sorry, Mom,” she cried when her mother wrapped her in a relieved embrace. “You were right, he was a bad person. I feel so stupid,” she sobbed, all the angst and betrayal of the last several days finally bursting forth.

  “Honey, there’s no way that you could’ve known,” Marilyn rubbed her back. “I didn’t know either, I just thought he was too old for you,” she admitted.

  “Will you take me home with you?” she asked pitifully. “I just want to curl up on the couch with my cat and pizza, wine and a movie.”

  “Me too, sweetie. Me too,” her mother agreed, feeling protective and thankful that her daughter had survived the ordeal. She figured that it would be better for everyone if they left before the Coast Guard boat containing Drew came in, so she stood with her arm around Tiara and headed home.

  **

  “Guess who the new Yoga on the Beach instructor is,” Tiara sang out, practically floating into the shop.

  Marilyn and Kelcie exchanged amused grins. “Who might that be?” her mother asked.

  “Yours truly,” she beamed.

  “Well, good for you,” she approved. “As long as you can still get to your “real job” on time.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m starting the classes an hour earlier so that I can, and that way it won’t be as hot either,” Tiara smiled, pleased with herself.

  “Looks like I might have to start going again and get this tired body back into shape,” Marilyn sighed.

  “I’ll be ruthless in correcting your form, you know,” her daughter threatened with a grin.

  “I figured that,” her mother nodded. “Now get to work, we’ve got a store to run,” she shooed her into the office, laughing all the way.

  The bell above the door jangled, and Marilyn jogged to the front to wait on their first customer of the day, but was surprised to see Carlos Mechago standing on the other side of the counter.

  “I heard they finally put the drug-dealing killer in jail,” he mused, without even a hello.

  “Carlos, I owe you an apology…I’m so sorry that we even suspected for a moment that you had anything to do with that whole mess. You’ve never been anything but kind to me, and I hope you’ll forgive me,” she asked quietly, feeling awful.

  “Ah senora, con men can fool even the smartest among us,” the supplier shrugged easily. “We’ll just pretend it never happened and do business like we always have, yes?” he suggested.

  “Well, yes, but I have one condition,” Marilyn crossed her arms.

  “Oh?” he raised his eyebrows in surprise and blinked at her.

  “Yes, anytime you come in, you get a free pie if you’d like one,” she grinned broadly.

  The supplier chuckled. “Well, if you insist,” he agreed, nodding.

  “Thank you for being so understanding about all of this, Carlos. I’m glad we’re still able to do business together,” she said, sliding a pie out of the refrigerated case and boxing it up with a lemon yellow bow on top.

  “The pleasure is mine, senora,” Carlos accepted the treat with a hungry gleam in his eye. “I’ll send my son over tomorrow morning with your order,” he promised, heading for the door.

  “I’ll look forward to it. Have a great day,” Marilyn waved as he closed the door behind him.

  She went back to the walk-in refrigerator to grab another pie to fill the spot that had been vacated by her gift to Carlos, and as soon as she had placed it in the display case, the bell over the door jangled again, this time announcing the arrival of Detective Bernard Cortland.

  “Why is it that every time I see you these days, I cringe a little bit?” Marilyn asked, teasing.

  “Hmm…beats me,” the detective deadpanned. “Is it my new cologne?”

  Chuckling, she shook her head. “No, I’m thinking that it’s probably because every time I see you, someone is either missing, arrested, or in deep trouble.”

  “Actually, I just kind of felt like having a slice of the best pie in the Keys,” Bernard shrugged, eyeing the display case hungrily.

  “Well, I guess I can do that for the man who saved my daughter’s life,” she smiled gratefully.

  “I had help,” he blushed modestly.

  “Speaking of having help…you totally made up that story about criminals coming back to give their victims confidence in their good intentions, didn’t you,” Marilyn accused, arms crossed.

  Cortland raised a hand. “Guilty,” he nodded. “But, when I have a seriously scared and determined mother who wants to choke the life out of a dangerous fugitive with her bare hands, I will use whatever means necessary to keep her safely at home. I needed room to work without worrying about yet another person getting hurt,” he lectured her gently.

  “I’m generally pretty good at taking care of myself. I’ve been doing that for quite a few years now,” she returned, secretly pleased that he’d been worried about her safety. Yes, it was his job to worry about the safety of citizens, but when his concern is backed up by those dark eyes and adorable dimples…oh my.

  “So…about that pie…” Bernard said.

  “Oh, right! Yes, of course,” Marilyn shook herself, reigning in her wayward thoughts. “Were you thinking about just a slice, or did you want a piece now and the rest to go?” she asked, regaining her professional composure and feeling extremely relieved to know that the detective couldn’t read minds.

  “Let’s do a piece here and the rest to go,” he decided. “That way I won’t have to make breakfast for the next few days.”

  “I’m a big fan of pie for breakfast myself,” she replied, plating a slice and taking it to one of the bistro tables for him. “Coffee?”

  “Please,” Bernard agreed, taking a seat.

  He was savoring his first bite of the luscious dessert when Tiara came up front carrying a stack of papers.

  “Oh gosh, what now?” she asked, fear in her eyes, when she saw the detective.

  Marilyn and Bernard exchanged a glance and grinned at each other.

  “I’m actually just trying to enjoy a piece of pie,” he said, digging in.

  “Really?” she asked tentatively.

  “Really,” her mother assured her.

  Tiara let out a sigh of relief. “Awesome! Well in that case,” she marched up to the detective’s table. “You should come check out Yoga on the Beach,” she handed him a flyer. “I’m teaching it every morning at seven, and all skill levels are welcome. You could use a little stress-relief, right?” she smiled hopefully, selling her cause.

  “Since you and your mom came to town, yeah, I’d say that’s a fair statement,” he replied dryly.

  “Be nice, or I’ll charge you double,” she warned him playfully.

  “Worth every penny I’m sure,” the detective’s voice was tinged with just the slightest bit of kindly sarcasm.

  “Absolutely,” Tiara moved to the computer beside the register. “And we’re filling up fast, so you might want to get online soon,” she directed.

  “I’ll get right on that,” was the amused reply.

  Marilyn’s mind wandered, thinki
ng about showing up for Yoga and seeing the tanned and trim detective there readying for a pose.

  “Ms. Hayes,” Kelcie’s voice rang out from the kitchen. “I think the oven is broken again.”

  The pie shop owner sighed. “Back to business as usual,” she said to Bernard, who had just finished the last crumbs of his pie and drained his coffee. “Enjoy your day,” she smiled.

  “You too,” he replied, watching her as she walked behind the counter and into the kitchen.

  Tiara’s sharp eyes missed nothing. “Mom said she’s probably going to start being a regular at my class too, just FYI,” she tossed out casually.

  “Good to know,” the detective had the beginnings of a blush rising as he stood to go.

  Chapter 17

  The breeze blew in through the open windows in Marilyn’s kitchen, carrying with it the tangy and tantalizing scent of the ocean. It was a beautiful night, so she decided to go for a walk on the beach. She had just poured herself a lovely glass of Merlot and didn’t want to waste it, so she slipped her shoes on, tossed her beach bag over her shoulder and took it with her.

  “I told you I make the best pies,” she heard Tim Eckels’ bland voice at the bottom of her porch stairs when she stepped outside.

  “Your pie nearly put me in the hospital from dehydration,” she snapped, tired of her neighbor popping up randomly on her doorstep.

  She couldn’t see very well in the dusky twilight, but could’ve sworn that she actually heard him chuckle.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” his mirth was eerily fleeting.

  “You know exactly what I mean, Tim Eckels. That was a nasty thing you did. You made Tiara sick too,” she accused, heading down the stairs and breezing past the awkward, sweaty man.

  “I want my pie plate back,” he said softly.

  “You’ll get it tomorrow,” Marilyn said firmly, determined not to let her neighbor ruin the mellow beauty of the evening for her.

  “You’re always mean,” he said under his breath as she continued down the flagstone path that led to the street. She pretended that she hadn’t heard him, and took a sip of her wine, headed for the beach.

  When she got to the long wooden walkway that led to the beach, Marilyn slipped off her shoes, banged them together to dislodge any debris, and tucked them away in her bag. The soft, floral skirt that she wore came to just above her knees, and she considered the possibility of wading in the surf, but decided that she was enjoying digging her toes into the still-warm sand at the moment, and strolled along the shore, occasionally sipping her wine.

  “You know public intoxication can get you a pretty hefty fine,” a warm male voice said. She recognized that voice, and when she realized that the handsome Bernard Cortland was at her elbow, she wasn’t quite certain whether her instant glow was from the Merlot or something else.

  “Is your day not complete if you’re not arresting a member of my family?” she drawled, intentionally taking her time in savoring another sip of wine.

  “I live to protect and serve, ma’am,” he quipped, falling in step with her. “Mind if I join you?”

  “As long as you promise not to take me in,” Marilyn teased.

  “No promises, but I’ll try to be lenient,” he shot back.

  “It’s such a beautiful night, I just couldn’t stand to be inside. How could I not come out to experience this?” she gestured to the water, the moon, the beach.

  “My sentiments exactly,” Bernard agreed. “Some people wake up to a concrete jungle every morning, and we have this. It’d be a travesty to not make the most of it.”

  “I’ve been in love with Key West ever since I moved down here after my divorce,” Marilyn admitted with a nostalgic smile. “I knew that I’d have to struggle to make ends meet no matter where I lived, so I figured why not live in paradise?”

  “Smart move,” the detective nodded. “I came down here after my wife died, several years ago. I guess you could say I was running from memories. As it turned out, the memories followed me down here, but the sun, sand and sea were a balm for my weary soul.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” she replied, understanding. “I’m sorry…about your wife,” she said softly.

  “It was rough. Still is sometimes, but I’m definitely a better person for having known her, even if it was only for a while.”

  “That’s a wonderfully sweet thing to say,” Marilyn smiled gently.

  They continued along in silence for a while, enjoying the tang of the salt air and the cool evening breeze as it swayed the giant green palm fronds above them.

  “May I?” Bernard asked, reaching for her half-empty glass of Merlot.

  “Sure, but I might have to make a citizen’s arrest,” she teased, handing him the glass.

  “Feel free, I could use a day off,” he retorted, taking a sip. “Mmm…good,” he said, swirling the wine for the aroma.

  “Very drinkable…one of my favorites,” Marilyn agreed.

  “I can see why,” he nodded. “Maybe we could enjoy a glass or two together sometime,” he offered, not looking at her as they walked.

  “I’d like that,” she said, trying desperately to keep the tremors from her voice as her heart beat wildly in her chest.

  “Well, this is me,” he stopped at the same place that he had last time.

  “Yes, it is,” she nodded and smiled shyly.

  “Enjoy the moon,” he said, looking to the sky.

  “You too…” she watched him go.

  If she were a betting gal, she’d put her last dollar on the bet that he’d be at Tiara’s yoga class in the morning, and she was going to get out of bed early enough to find out.

  A letter from the Author

  To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!

  I’ll be releasing another installment in two weeks so to stay in the loop (and to get free books and other fancy stuff) Join my Book club.

  Stay Curious,

  Summer Prescott