Dead Endz (27 page)

I nodded. “That’s a good idea. She’s probably lonely.”

Nathan docked the boat and we helped him as he tied it down.

I looked down into the brown water and shivered. “Must be pretty deep, right here.”

Nathan nodded. “It is. That’s why they built the dock this distance from the shore. It’s safer for the boat.”

I wondered if there were any more dead bodies below and started to feel queasy.

“I’ll meet you guys on shore,” I said, rushing away.

“Are you okay?” called my mom.

“Just a little too much sun,” I shouted back. As I passed by the area where the body was found on shore, I averted my eyes and forced myself to keep going.

I waited on the porch and as soon as my brother climbed the steps, he stared at me with concern. “You’re really freaked out about that girl, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “Aren’t you?”

He sighed. “I’m trying to forget about it. It was a tragic mistake she made when she started drinking that night and hopefully her friends have learned from it. But I’m not going to dwell on it and either should you. Heck, you didn’t even see the girl, I discovered her. I should be the one wigging out about it.”

I nodded. “I know. It’s just so creepy.”

He put an arm around my shoulder. “It is, but you have to let it go. Or mom will send you to a shrink, which she should have done a long time ago.”

I pushed him away. “Ha, ha.”

Mom met us on the porch and took out her keys. “Whew, it’s getting hot out here. Thank goodness for air conditioning.”

“Summer’s almost over, mom. Then you’ll be complaining about the cold. I heard it gets really cold here,” I said.

“That’s when the fireplace will come in handy,” she said.

Nathan cleared his throat. “Nikki, go get dressed and we’ll drive into town and check it out. I need to start looking for a job, too.”

“Yeah,” I replied. I’d worked at a boutique back home and my savings was starting to dwindle. I wanted my own car soon so I didn’t have to rely on Nathan all the time.

“Then we’ll go check out your boyfriend’s boat repair shop,” he said.

“You’re just full of jokes today,” I said.

Just then my mother, who’d been checking the cabin phone’s voicemail, started smiling. She hung up the phone and stared at us. “Guess who asked me to dinner?”

I groaned. “Sheriff Snagle Tooth?”

She frowned. “That’s not nice Nikki. He seems like a very nice man.”

“You going for it, mom?” asked Nathan.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just invite him over to our house tonight for dinner. Can you pick up a couple of steaks in town, Nathan?

He nodded. “But if you want wine, you’ll have to get it yourself.”

She snorted. “That’s the last thing I need, to get tipsy in front of the town’s sheriff.”

Nathan smiled wickedly. “He can handcuff you if you get too out of hand.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, I never thought of that.”

“You’re sick,” I said climbing the staircase. “Both of you.”

My mom, who was still cracking up, said, “I can’t wait until the love bug nips you in the butt. I am going to tease the crap out of you.”

“That’s not happening anytime soon,” I said.

“We’ll see,” she said.

“Be ready in thirty minutes, twerp” called Nathan. “We’ll go cruising.”

Chapter Five

I took a quick shower and changed into a dark blue halter sundress and white sandals. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and applied a little lip gloss.

“You look pretty,” smiled my mother as I entered the kitchen, looking for Nathan.

I looked down at my dress and shrugged. “Oh, it was one of the few things already unpacked.”

She gave me a knowing smile and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t break too many hearts in town.”

“Ha, ha, mom. Very funny. ” I said, although I did feel sort of pretty in the new dress.

Nathan was polishing up his Mustang when I found him outside. The red paint gleamed in the sun when he was finished.

“Now I’ll definitely be a chic magnet,” he teased, flexing his muscles. “Don’t take offense if I ask you to duck down when the ladies are scoping me out.”

“You’re such a dork,” I said, shaking my head.

I got into the car and we took our time driving  back into town.

“Hear from Deanna yet today?” I asked.

He sighed. “Yeah, she called freaking out again. I just don’t know what to do about her. I mean, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I’m tired of the drama. Then I look at this town we’ve moved to and I think about all the possibilities.”

I smiled. “You mean all the chics?”

“Hell, yeah,” he laughed.

I shook my head at my brother who was so predictable.

“Okay, keep your eyes open for something interesting,” said Nathan. “Both of us need jobs.”

As we entered the town I pointed right away to a diner called “Ruth’s”. “Let’s stop in there and see if they’re hiring,” I said.

“Good idea,” said Nathan. “I’m hungry again, too.”

We were seated by a frazzled looking waitress who appeared to be one of only two working. It was only three in the afternoon but the place was packed.

“You wouldn’t be hiring, would you?” I asked the other waitress, Amy, a blond with light blue eyes and an easy smile.

“Actually, we are hiring for the night shift,” she said.

“Could you get me an application?” I asked. “And a Caesar salad?”

She nodded. “Anything to drink?”

“Just water.”

“How are the burgers here, Amy?” asked Nathan.

“Oh, they’re very good. That’s why this place is always packed. Well, that and the fact we’re the only diner that’s open twenty-four hours.”

Nathan smiled. “Well, I’ll take your word for it, then. I’d like a bacon double cheeseburger, an order of onion rings, and a chocolate milkshake.”

She smiled. “Hope you’re hungry because they serve big portions here.”

Nathan turned to me. “I already like this place, sis. Nice portions and even nicer waitresses. What more could a guy ask for?”

Amy blushed. She was very pretty and I’m sure that guys were always coming on to her but even I had to admit, Nathan was a good looking guy himself.

“I’ll be back with your malt and a refill on water in just a moment,” she said softly as she walked away.

“I guess Deanna is beginning to fade from your memory as the day progresses,” I mused.

His face became serious. “Not really. I mean there will always be a special place in my heart for her. But, I’ve decided to keep my options open. Heck, I’m young and shouldn’t be tying myself down to one girl; especially one that’s a few hundred miles away.”

I folded my hands and nodded. “That’s why I’m not going to waste time pining for any of the guys in town. After high school there will be college and I don’t want anything holding me back.”

Amy returned with his milkshake and handed me an application.

“Um, if I were you I’d only request hours during the day or early evening.”

I stared at her. “Why?’

She looked around nervously and then whispered. “It’s too dangerous around here at night.”

Nathan raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean by dangerous?”

“Amy!” hollered someone behind the counter, who looked like the cook. “Order’s up! They’re waiting!”

“Sorry, I can’t talk about it now,” she said. “Just take my word for it.”

Then she left us staring at each other in surprise.

I bit the side of my lip. “Wow, first a dead body in the lake and now this… warning?”

He waved his hand. “Oh, it might be nothing. Maybe she’s talking about drunk drivers or something.”

“I don’t know,” I answered. “But I’ll take her word for it. I’d prefer to work during the day anyway.”

I finished the application just as our food arrived.

“I can take this and give it to the owner if you’d like. She’ll be in later this evening,” said Amy.

“Thanks,” I said. “So, what did you mean earlier about it being dangerous around here at night.”

Her eyes darted around the restaurant again and I had this feeling like she was genuinely scared. Finally, she cleared her throat and mumbled. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Just forget it.”

At that moment I noticed that the diner was unusually quiet and I had the impression that some of the other customers were listening to our conversation. I decided it would be best just to drop the subject.

I raised my voice. “Oh. Well, yeah, if you could give the application to whoever does the hiring I’d really appreciate it.”

She nodded and then stepped away. I immediately noticed that the volume of the diner rose again and I stared at Nathan curiously.

“Okay, kind of strange,” he said, under his breath.

We finished our food and Nathan left a big tip for Amy.

“You dropped something,” called Amy as we were leaving the diner. Before I could respond, she handed me a note and hurried away.

“Wow, what was that all about?” asked Nathan as we walked to the car.

I opened the note and read it out loud. “Lock your doors at night and don’t invite any strangers inside.” A shiver ran up my spine and I turned to my brother. “Okay, that’s really creepy.”

Just then Nathan’s cell phone rang.

“It’s mom,” he said, answering it.

I could hear them talking about her date with the sheriff and then he hung up.

“I guess it’s going to be a late dinner, so we don’t have to be home for a few hours. The sheriff is working a little later and isn’t getting off until sometime after nine.”

I snorted. “Well, if it’s dangerous here at night, it would make sense that he’s really busy.”

Nathan sighed. “Listen, I wouldn’t go blowing everything out of proportion. It’s possible that Amy was friends with that dead girl and doesn’t trust anyone right now. Or maybe she’s a little crazy.”

I sighed. “Or maybe she’s just worried about us. You have to admit that finding a dead body practically at our doorstep isn’t the best housewarming gift.”

“Well, since the sheriff is coming to dinner tonight, why don’t we just ask him about it? He’d certainly know if there was something wicked happening around here after dark.”

“I suppose,” I mumbled.

“Hey, that must be Duncan’s dad’s shop,” said Nathan.

I looked up and noticed a large boat marina with a big sign that said, “Sonny’s Boat Repairs”. Nathan pulled into the parking lot and we got out of the car.

“Wow, check out all of those boats,” pointed Nathan. “Oh, man I think I just had an orgasm.”

“You are so disgusting,” I said.

There was a fenced in storage area for some of the smaller boats not docked at the marina. On the other side was the repair shop.

“I’d like to get myself an old Carver after I find a job,” said Nathan, as we walked towards the shop. “I hear you can get one relatively inexpensive and fix it up.”

Nathan and my dad have always loved boats. In fact, we used to own a twenty-four foot Bayliner before my parents split up. Then, dad had to sell the boat and Nathan’s been pining for his own ever since.

“Hey!” called Duncan, coming towards us. “You made it.”

“Yeah,” said Nathan. “Now that we’re here, I have to admit, I’m jealous. You’re surrounded by some pretty amazing boats.”

Duncan started telling us about another high-end yacht that needed repairs. I have to admit though, I was paying more attention to him then what he was saying, though. Up close he appeared much taller than I’d remembered and had a contagious smile. His eyes were a silvery gray color and every time he glanced my way, I felt my cheeks heat up.

“I just realized something,” he said. “You’re twins, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” said Nathan, putting his arm around my shoulders. “She’s the ugly one, poor little thing.”

My jaw dropped and I smacked him in the shoulder for what had to be the tenth time that day. “You are such a shit.”

“But I’m one good looking one,” he laughed.

Duncan shook his head and stared at us in amusement. “Sorry, dude but I think you might have that wrong. Nikki, here, seems to have absorbed all the beauty genes, leaving you with a great sense of humor, though.”

“Oh, yeah,” I laughed; secretly pleased that Duncan thought I was cute, “and even his sense of humor leaves a lot to be desired.”

Nathan pouted. “And I thought you invited me along because I was the cuter twin.”

“No, but you still have a nice butt, though,” joked Duncan.

“Pilates,” said Nathan, turning around to show us.

“Okay, enough!” I said. “Now I’ve realized that you are both a couple of dorks.”

“From one dork to another,” said Nathan. “I’m ready to see some yachts. Lead the way, you sexy thang.”

Duncan burst out laughing and then turned around to lead us towards the marina. I quickly checked out his rear and decided that he definitely didn’t need any Pilates.