Swept Away: A Squeaky Clean Honeymoon Novella (Squeaky Clean Mysteries Book 12) (6 page)

R
iley
and I decided to take our food back to the house to eat. It was all packaged up in a neat paper bag and tucked under Riley’s arm as we started down the sidewalk. The scent of bacon from my club sandwich and warm french fries drifted through the bag and tantalized my senses, making my stomach growl.

We’d only taken five steps in our quest to head home when a limo pulled up to the curb beside us and women began bouncing out.

The first person I spotted was Joey. And the first person Joey spotted was Riley.

She went right to him. Her eyes immediately became tear-rimmed and drama-filled.

“I was hoping I might see you again,” she started.

My back muscles tightened. Was she hitting on him while I was on my honeymoon and while she was on a dating show? That would take some nerve.

A knot formed between Riley’s eyebrows as he held her at arm’s length. “What’s going on?”

“You said you’re an attorney, right?” Joey batted her eyelashes.

“That’s correct.”

“I need to hire you.”

Riley shook his head slightly, as if her question threw him. “For what?”

“I’m afraid I’m a suspect in Vivian’s disappearance. I expect that the police will bring me in for questioning any time now. I’m not stupid. I know I need representation if that happens, and I don’t know any lawyers down here. Except you.”

“Why would they bring you in?” I asked.

Joey looked at me for the first time, and her eyes widened with horror.
Raccoon face strikes again.
She quickly recovered and continued on with her dilemma. “I was the last one to be seen with her. I know how all this all works. I’ve watched
Law and Order
.”

“Have the police given you any indication that you’re a suspect?” I continued.

“No. Not yet. But give them time.”

“I’m only qualified to practice law in Virginia, Joey,” Riley told her.

Her lips stuck out in a girly pout. “I didn’t think of that. What am I going to do, Riley? I’m not like some of these women who come from gobs of money. My dad’s a farmer. I quit my job to come on this show.” She shook her head. “I feel so helpless.”

Riley was silent a moment until he finally said, “There is someone I went to law school with who lives in this area now.”

Her eyes widened. “There is?”

“His name is Devin Matthews. I could call him for you, if you’d like.”

“Oh, would you?”

My gaze traveled beyond Joey for a moment. All the bikini-clad women headed toward the marina, acting as if nothing had happened—or that nothing would stand in the way of their fifteen minutes of fame. Maybe I was being too harsh. But how could they continue on after one of their own was abducted? Were they all as happy and carefree as they appeared?

Wally followed behind them, talking with another man—possibly another producer, if I had to guess. Ricky led the pack, and the girls clamored to be beside him. He obviously loved it, based on the grin across his face.

There was also another man. Alastair, I realized. I’d seen his picture in the article in
Star Touch
. He was the one who’d started this franchise. It had really launched his career, which now included several reality shows. Apparently, he was a hands-on kind of guy who liked to be on the set as much as possible.

I came back to the conversation in time to see Joey clasp her hands together in front of her and tilt her head at Riley. “I’m so lucky I met you,” she muttered.

Seriously, this woman could win an award for her over-acting.

When she threw her arms around him, I bristled.

Hands off, lady.

“Joey, over here!” one of the other women called.

“We’re going parasailing,” Joey said. “I’ve got to run. But I’ll be in touch.”

I stared at Riley when she left, waiting for his commentary on the conversation that had just played out. He shrugged innocently.

“What?” he finally said.

I decided not to comment on Joey’s obvious flirtation with him. After all, I trusted Riley that the feelings weren’t reciprocal, even if his wife did look like a raccoon.

Besides, I had another more pressing thought. “Vince just took a boat out. Now the girls are going. Coincidence?”

Riley shook his head. “Probably not. What do you say we charter a boat and keep an eye on things?”

My heart rate quickened. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Let’s face it: neither of us is good at doing nothing. Besides, these girls could be in danger, and someone’s trying to frame us for it.”

A huge grin stretched across my face. “Let’s do it.”

* * *

T
o our surprise
, we were able to charter a little boat to take us into the Gulf. Unfortunately, it was a fishing boat, and I had no desire to fish. But it was worth it if it meant keeping an eye on what was going on. Wally and Alastair certainly didn’t seem to care, and Chief Yeller seemed unable to comprehend the scope of this investigation.

Our “captains” were none other than Larry and Leonard, the two men we’d heard talking at Erma’s the first morning. I thought it was a nice twist of fate—or should I say “faith”?—that these two talkers would be our guides.

As we set off into the Gulf, my oversized white-linen shirt billowed in the breeze. Riley wrapped his arm around the back of the bench seat where we sat at the rear of the boat. I wanted to lean into him, but I didn’t dare.

And I knew what was coming next: peeling. I was going to look
so
attractive when that started. I’d move from looking like a tomato to looking like an orange without the rind. Oh joy.

“So, let’s get back to that earlier
Looking for Love
discussion,” I started, talking over the roar of the motor as we cruised across the water. “You watch the show, don’t you? You more than watch it. You
like
it.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, but a slight smile played on his lips. Until finally he nodded and raised a hand in surrender. “You caught me. I started watching it when I moved back home to my parents while I was recovering. I became addicted.”

“I knew it!”

“It’s a guilty pleasure,” he continued. “One I’m not very proud of.”

“It just goes to prove that even Riley Thomas isn’t perfect.”

“I thought we’d drawn that conclusion a long time ago.”

I reached up and pecked his lips in a kiss. “Believe it or not, I love that you’re not perfect. If you were, I’d feel unworthy to be married to you.”

“I guess we’re a pair then.”

“You two on your honeymoon?” Leonard asked.

I nodded. “Yes, we are.”

“I figured as much. You two have that look about you. My Elsa and I had that look at one time. She passed away eight years ago. Heart disease.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

“Marriage was the best thing to ever happen to me,” he continued. “Treasure each other. Even when the going gets tough. There will come a time when you’re tempted to give up. Don’t do it. Anything worth having is worth working for. Mark my words.”

I smiled and tucked away his wisdom. “I think you’re right. Thanks for the advice.”

“It’s free. One of the few things in life that are.” He chuckled.

I shifted. “Leonard, can you tell us about Old Yeller?” I was still dwelling on how competent—or not—the police chief was.

Leonard shrugged. “Nice enough guy. One of the few true locals around here. Most of us are retired, in case you didn’t know. But his family grew up on the north end. His mom ran the local market, and his father worked for the state, commuting to and from work.”

“How’d he get the nickname?” I asked.

“I guess he was always an old soul—maybe it had to do with hanging around all of us. He liked to play checkers and do crossword puzzles. The nickname started down at his mom’s market, and it stuck.”

“Does he do a good job as police chief?” I asked.

“For the crimes we have around here, sure. It’s not much, though. He checks boating permits, handles out-of-control parties sometimes, gives speeding tickets. Nothing exciting like that abduction the other night.”

As the conversation tapered, my gaze was pulled to another boat in the distance. “Riley, check that out.”

He followed my gaze. A little boat, like the one Vince had jumped on, bobbed in the distance. Was it Vince? And, if so, what was he planning?

“Stop here!” Riley yelled.

Larry slowed before stopping. “You want to anchor here and see if anything is biting?”

“Uh . . . sure,” Riley said. “It looks like as good an area as any.”

The girls parasailed in the distance, but I thought we were far enough away that we wouldn’t draw any attention.

“You two aren’t moving very quickly,” Leonard said, staring at us. “Don’t you want to catch your own fish, scale it yourself, and eat it tonight for dinner? Nothing more satisfying.”

Um . . .no, not really.

“Maybe we’ll just sit here and enjoy the moment,” Riley said.

“Hmm,” Larry said. “Whatever you want. But I did hear that grouper are biting.” Larry paused. “Heard about Murphy’s boat.”

I let Riley take lead on this one. “Someone took it for a joy ride.”

“Police came out and searched the place, huh?” Leonard added.

“It’s true,” Riley said. “But we didn’t have anything to do with that abduction. We’re not sure what’s going on or how anyone got that boat.”

“Hope everything works out,” Larry said.

“So do we.” Riley still stared across the water. “You take many people out fishing like this?”

“My fair share. Had lots of visitors in town lately. An unusual number.”

My curiosity spiked. “Any idea why?”

“Not really. Suppose it could be because of this show. Some people like to come out and gawk. But I’ve had several inquires this week.”

“Did you get any from a group of men, by chance? Younger, kind of slick acting,” I said.

“Nope.”

My hopes fell.

“But my friend Cecil did,” Larry continued, staring across the expanse of water.

I glanced at Riley before saying, “Is that right?”

Larry nodded. “Yep. It sure is. Apparently, they wanted to rent the whole boat, though, instead of letting Cecil charter it. Cecil didn’t want anything to do with that. That boat is his baby.”

“I can’t blame him,” I said. “Did these guys say where they were from?”

“Not sure. You’d have to ask Cecil that.”

“When exactly did these guys roll into town?” Riley asked.

“Hmm . . . Probably three days ago.”

Riley nudged me and pointed to another boat in the distance. Four men were onboard. Young men. They weren’t tubing or doing any other water sports. It was almost like they were scouting out the area. Or trying to keep an eye on the cast of the show.

Joey had said four men had abducted Vivian.

“Larry, would you mind following that boat?” I asked.

“What about fishing?”

“That can wait,” I said. “We really want to see the area.”

“It’s your time. I’ll do whatever you want—so long as it’s not illegal.”

I glanced back one more time at the boat I thought Vince was in. It had disappeared. For the moment, I felt like the girls were safe. I hoped I was right.

I had no idea what Vince was doing, but right now I wanted to check these other guys out.

* * *

W
e rounded
a small jetty of land and headed around to the north side of the island—away from our house. The men didn’t seem to notice us—we were a considerable distance behind them. So far behind that it was hard to tell much about them.

“Can you slow down some?” I asked Larry.

“I understand,” he yelled over the motor. “You don’t want to be obvious that you’re following those guys. That’s what you’re doing, aren’t ya?”

“Between you and me—yes,” I said.

We puttered behind them as they went under the causeway bridge, which connected Crystal Key with the mainland, and kept circling the island.

Interesting.

They sped up after rounding the north side of the island. I held my breath, waiting to see where they could go.

As we cleared the curve, an empty waterway stretched before us.