A Fishy Dish (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) (5 page)

Sean’s hands flew up. “Sorry, man. Just saying, she could have been friendlier.”

Meg jabbed him with her elbow. “You best keep that trap of yours shut before you stick your other foot in it, too. Or someone does it for you,” she added in a whisper to Hannah.

As soon as the words were out of Meg’s mouth, the kitchen doors swung open and Sean’s favorite deputy strode toward their table.

With no preamble, and no information about what was going on in the kitchen, Pam took down everyone’s names, contact information, and told them to be ready for more questions before saying, “You can all leave. We have a suspect in custody.”

“Who?” Sean asked.

Pam glared and pointed a strong finger at Sean. “Don’t leave town. Just in case.” She ignored his question.

“In case of what?” he stood up and shouted at Pam. “You can’t think
I’m
involved in this murder.”

Pam stepped inches away from Sean. With a low, controlled voice, she told him, “At this point, I’d like nothing better than to have a reason to drag you to the police station; let you sweat it out for a while before I have the satisfaction of asking you a few tough questions. Understand?”

Sean kept his mouth closed and nodded.

Slow learner at best, Hannah thought.

Hannah and Samantha followed behind Meg and Jack toward the front door of The Chowder House. Hannah glanced over her shoulder and saw Sean searching the table he sat at earlier before all the drama started. Too bad for him, she thought. She clamped her arm tighter against her sling bag with Sean’s drawing safely hidden inside.

“Ah, finally, some fresh air,” Meg said. “Let’s get out of here before Pam changes her mind and hauls us all to the police station.”

“Who do you think the suspect is?” Samantha asked. “
My
money is on Matt White. There was a blatant hostility between him and the dead guy. Not so much in the words that were spoken, but in their body language. Especially Matt. He could barely control his fist from pummeling Gavin in front of the whole dinner crowd.”

“What about Chef Belair? If someone has already been arrested, I bet it’s because of the murder weapon. A knife would be easy to grab in the kitchen,” Hannah suggested. “And he had a hot temper, as demonstrated in front of all the diners. Never mind, a motive. What a humiliating way to get fired.” She shivered at the thought. She would never treat her employees that way.

“Good point.”

Meg smacked her hand on the hood of her broken down truck. “I couldn’t care less who their suspect is. We’ve got a bigger problem—how will we get home?”

“Sean is staying at the cottages. Offer him a fried fish platter for a ride,” Jack said. He was met with silence and Meg’s eyes shot daggers in his direction. “Does anyone have a
better
idea?”

“Geez. You’re kidding, right?” Meg complained in an exaggerated voice. “Sean Payne is the answer to our problem? This day couldn’t be any worse.”

Samantha trotted to Sean’s side as he walked out of The Chowder House. “I bet you didn’t expect to fall into the middle of a murder while you investigate Sally White’s disappearance,” she gushed.

“Yeah, but that police deputy has her lips sealed tighter than a snap trap. I’d put money on the two mysteries being connected.”

“Would you?” Samantha feigned surprise.

Sean stopped walking. “Do I know you?”

Samantha flicked her wrist. “I doubt it, but I’m a loyal reader of your articles in the newspaper. Catchy heading—
The Payne Lane
.”

Hannah watched Samantha operate. She knew how to butter Sean up. And he puffed up bigger with each word of praise she heaped on him. Hannah worried that if his head got any bigger, it might explode.

“You know, Mr. Payne, my friend’s car has a teeny problem. Any chance you could give us a ride to Hannah’s Holiday Cottages? It’s not far.” She cupped her hand around her mouth but Hannah could still hear her words. “I think you might be rewarded with a fried fish platter for your troubles.”

Meg turned her back to the spectacle. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She stuck her finger in her mouth and gagged.

Jack laughed.

Hannah shrugged. “Better to keep him close and know what he’s up to.”

Samantha waved them over. “Mr. Payne here has generously offered to give us a ride. Climb in.”

“Mr. Payne is right,” Meg muttered. “Pain in my neck.”

Sean opened the driver side door. “I wonder if Mr. White will be a bit friendlier now. You know,” he said matter-of-factly, “Sally was working for Gavin Abbott at The Chowder House. Matt White was fit to be tied about that.” He shrugged. “Matt hated the guy. One of Matt’s problems is solved and out of his life forever.”

Sean turned the key and his car roared to life.

He had no idea that his statement hit the others like an exploding bomb.

Chapter 6

Relief flooded Hannah’s body the minute Sean pulled into the driveway of her beloved Holiday Hideaway. She was glad to be away from The Chowder House and the image of Gavin Abbott’s body lying in a pool of freezing blood. Somehow, she had to get that memory out of her head. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something she could just
un
-see.

Meg had herself out of Sean Payne’s car before it stopped rolling.

Jack caught her arm before she could take off running. “We’re all hungry and I’m not giving you a ride home until my stomach is filled.”

Meg’s shoulders drooped. “Really, Jack?”

“Really.”

Sean, with a quick adjustment to his black rectangular glasses, raised his eyebrows. “I believe I was promised a fried fish platter.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll get the oil heating. Hannah, do you have any refreshments for our guests? I know
I’m
going to need something stronger than lemonade.”

“I’m sure I can scrounge something up. Be right back.” She broke away from the group, walking in the opposite direction of The Fishy Dish. The thought of some food washed down with a cold beer gave her hope that the day might avoid being a complete loss.

That sliver of hope was shattered as soon as her eyes fell on the profile of Leah White sitting on her office porch, still as a statue.

Hannah sighed, her short-lived hope of ending the day on a positive note smashed into a tidal wave of questions.

The first of which was, why was Leah White sitting on the office porch instead of inside Cottage Two?

And where was her husband, Matt White?

As Hannah stepped closer to the porch, Leah remained as still as the breezeless night air.

How could Leah cope with the fear and uncertainty she faced? First her daughter missing, then a murder at the restaurant where she’d just eaten.

Finally, and maybe the most important question of all, flitted across Hannah’s brain, making her increase the speed of her steps in Leah’s direction: what happened to Sally?

“Leah?” Hannah said quietly to give Leah some warning she was approaching.

Leah didn’t turn her head. Her only movement was her hand stroking Nellie, Hannah’s golden retriever. Her rhythm seemed to sync with the steady in and out of the tide rolling in on the beach.

“Leah?” Hannah asked again when she received no recognition. “Is something wrong?” Hannah sat in the chair next to Mrs. White.

A strangled sound escaped through the other woman’s lips. Leah still didn’t turn her face in Hannah’s direction but Hannah could feel her body tense. “Besides Sally gone missing?”

Hannah felt her face heat up and thanked the darkness for hiding her embarrassment.

“I’m locked out of my cottage,” Leah added. Her voice was flat, emphasizing how every problem besides Sally’s disappearance was a mere inconvenience, like a mosquito bite or something you could actually forget about.

“Oh. I can unlock the door for you. Sorry you were stuck out here waiting for me. I was held up at The Chowder House.” Hannah stopped herself just in time from blaming her delay on the murder. Leah didn’t have room in her life for another tragedy. Hannah went into her office and got the master key from its hook.

“Where’s Matt?” she asked when she returned to the porch.

“I don’t know. He dropped me off and said he had something to take care of.” Leah finally looked at Hannah. Her face sagged from the weight of her worries. “I hope he didn’t go back to confront Gavin Abbott after I managed to get him out of The Chowder House in one piece.”

Hannah’s body tensed for a moment but she didn’t want Leah to pick up on her surprise. She took a deep breath and asked, “Why would he do that?” She forced her voice to remain steady as the tips of her fingers tingled.

Leah slowly pushed herself up from the chair. “He hates Gavin. Even before Sally started working there.”

Didn’t Sean tell them all that Matt hated Gavin, Hannah asked herself. What was their history? She took Leah’s elbow and led her toward Cottage Two, regaining her composure as she walked.

“Sally knew her dad was upset about her taking the job at The Chowder House. I think that’s partly
why
she took it. To show us she could make her own decisions. And now . . .” Her voice trailed into silence.

“And now, Gavin Abbott is dead,” Hannah said, completing where Leah’s remark took her thoughts. The only problem was that she said it out loud.

Leah stopped abruptly. “Dead? What are you talking about?” her voice rang out. She grabbed Hannah’s arm, stopping their progress. “Dead?” she repeated even louder.

“Yes. In the kitchen of his restaurant. Everyone was gone. Well, almost everyone.”

“You were there? Did you see Matt?” Leah’s eyes were wide, her voice now barely louder than a whisper.

“No. I didn’t see Matt.” Hannah’s memory returned to the kitchen of The Chowder House. The distinct click of a door closing reminded her that
someone
had been there seconds before she and Samantha walked through the swinging kitchen doors from the dining room. Who? “No,” she repeated. She told herself it couldn’t have been Matt White leaving the kitchen.

Could it?

Leah began walking to the cottage again. Almost running.

Hannah followed behind her, Nellie at her heels, and unlocked the door for her.

“Thank you,” Leah said before she closed the door in Hannah’s face, suddenly less friendly.

That was weird. Did Leah think Matt killed Gavin? Where was he?

Hannah turned around to find the answer to that question staring right back at her.

“What are you doing here?” a deep voice asked.

“Leah didn’t have her key.” Hannah held up her master key as evidence that she was only helping his wife. “Where have
you
been?” she asked Matt who stood closer than she felt comfortable with. Especially considering the fact that he could be Gavin Abbott’s killer.

“I don’t think my whereabouts could be any business of
yours
. We’re staying here to get away from prying questions. And, besides, that stalker reporter is staying here, too. Don’t expect me to answer
any
of your questions.” Matt White glared at Hannah, turning her blood to ice.

Nellie growled, always a good judge of character. But now wasn’t the time to burn any bridges. Hannah pulled Nellie with her as she stepped aside.

Matt passed them both, his glare only growing gruffer.

A whiff of alcohol met Hannah’s nose as she retreated to the office to return the key. Anger and booze, probably not the best combination, she told herself.

Hannah couldn’t help but hear Leah demand to know where Matt had been before the door slammed closed. Again.

Hannah inhaled deeply and forced herself to continue walking away with Nellie. Did Matt White kill Gavin Abbott? But, why? It couldn’t be just because he was angry that Sally decided to work for Gavin. There had to be more going on between those two men. Maybe Sean knew. Or Samantha.

“Come on, Nellie.” She should have scolded her dog for growling at a guest, but Nellie only did exactly what Hannah would have done if
she
were a dog. Nellie had good instincts.

A faint aroma of fried fish met her nose and Hannah picked up her pace.

Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled.

She needed food.

She made a quick detour to her apartment in Cottage One for a six-pack before she followed her nose to what she knew would be delicious food waiting inside The Fishy Dish.

Of course, the conversation between Meg, Jack, Samantha, and Sean was all about Gavin’s murder. Hannah passed the beers around and sat next to Samantha where her own fried fish plate was waiting. She reached behind the counter for a jar of dog treats. “Here you go, Nellie. It’s not fair that we’re eating in front of you.”

Nellie wagged her tail and woofed.
This
group, she approved of, apparently.

“I hope this murder doesn’t hijack the search for Sally White,” Samantha said.