A Fishy Dish (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) (20 page)

“Want to join me for a drink in town? We could brainstorm some more.” Samantha’s eyes twinkled.

“Not tonight. I’ve—”

“Got a hot date?” Samantha finished Hannah’s sentence for her.

“Yeah, with my shower.”

“Oh. Nothing more exciting than that?” Samantha sounded disappointed.

“And then I’m heading to Cal’s boat.” Hannah grinned. “Just the two of us.”

Samantha wiggled her eyebrows. “Lucky you. Maybe I’ll see if Jack wants some company. We could hash over old times when Caroline was running this place. By the way, I’m sure you’re making her proud with what you’ve done around here.”

“Thank you. I was never sure I’d be able to fill her shoes.”

Samantha put her hands up. “Slow down, don’t get carried away. I didn’t say anything about filling her shoes. You have a ways to go before
that
happens,” she teased.

Hannah finally managed to close and lock the office door before she went through into her cottage. She decided it would be much nicer to have a completely separate cottage for herself at some point in the future. She had enough land and it would provide a lot more privacy.

As the hot water streamed down, she imagined her own space—she would set it up on the highest spot so a big picture window would give her the best view of the ocean. A counter would separate a living room-kitchen combination, her bedroom would have skylights, and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi would be in the back. Of course, she needed a porch with a hanging wooden swing covered in colorful cushions.

Dreaming was free, she told herself.

The hot water helped to wash away some of the tension that had settled in Hannah’s core. She smiled at the thought of spending time with Cal. Where was this relationship headed, she wondered. Did she have time for her business and a boyfriend? Would she have to choose? Well, one day at a time for now.

She pulled on a clean pair of jeans and her
I’m Really a Mermaid
t-shirt, knowing it would make Cal laugh. She braided her long wet hair and even added starfish studs in her ears. Why not? She slipped her feet into her flip-flops.

As she headed out the door with Nellie, she sent a quick text to Cal,
be there after dropping check off for Jerry
.

Cal replied,
wine is waiting
and he added a smiley face with hearts for eyes.

She slid behind the wheel of her old Volvo station wagon with a wide smile at the prospect of her evening.

Darn, she forgot her keys in her cottage and had to run back for them. “Be right back, Nellie.”

With her keys in her hand, Hannah was finally good to go.

When she returned outside, Matt White was leaning against her car. Nellie, inside, barked and jumped from one side of the back seat to the other.

The hairs on Hannah’s neck stood up. What was he doing here?

“Where did my wife and daughter go? Are you hiding them someplace?” he demanded when Hannah was within five or six paces. No greeting, no smile, just an angry question.

“Hello Matt.” Hannah fiddled with her keys. “Leah paid her bill and left. That’s all I know.” She hoped he couldn’t tell she was lying.

“You’re lying.” He stepped closer to Hannah.

She stepped back, suddenly wishing Nellie was outside rather than stuck in the car.

Nellie barked more frantically.

The anger in Matt’s eyes made her wonder if she would be the next body found in Hooks Harbor. She shivered at the thought.

Hannah pulled out her phone. “I’m calling the police, Matt. Is that what you want? To have them help look for your wife and daughter?”

He knocked her phone away. “Where’s Leah? I’ve been at home waiting for her.”

“What did you do when you went inside The Chowder House the night Gavin was murdered, Matt?” Hannah felt that the only way to diffuse his anger was to match it with her own.

His mouth fell open. “Who told you that?”

“Sally saw you go inside. Did you murder Gavin? That’s what your daughter thinks.”

Matt’s shoulders slumped. His whole body sagged. “No, I didn’t kill Gavin. I never saw him. I suppose that’s a good thing or who knows what I would have done.”

“Why did you go inside?”

He shrugged. “After I dropped Leah off here, I planned to drive around to cool off but my car ended up behind the restaurant. After a while, I decided to go inside, tell Gavin what I thought of him.” He looked at Hannah. “The place was empty and I left. I didn’t kill him, but I can’t say I’m sorry he’s dead. Now, I just want to get my family back. Apologize to Leah and Sally. I was a fool to hold that grudge for so long and now Jan is gone and I can’t even tell her I’m sorry. What a waste.” He kicked the sand with his toe.

Hannah reached out and touched his arm. “You need to wait for them to come to you. Give them some space. They’re hurting too.”

He nodded. “Maybe you’re right.” He turned and got into his car.

Hannah sucked in a big gulp of air, let it out slowly, and waited for her heart rate to settle. She hadn’t felt that scared for a long time.

Her phone beeped with a message from Cal.
Everything OK? thought you’d be here by now.

Minor delay. On my way to Jerry’s now.

Nellie licked Hannah’s face when she slid into her car. “Yeah, he was kind of scary but I don’t think he killed Gavin,” she told her dog.

The pier where Jerry had his wholesale fish office was deserted. A few gulls stood one-legged on the pylons. Boats bobbed on the water. A few people walked along the shoreline enjoying the calm evening.

Hannah paused to take in the tranquility. Nellie woofed at the gulls but they ignored her.

“Enough dawdling, let’s find Jerry so we can get to Cal’s boat and enjoy his delicious chicken salad.” She patted Nellie’s head. “Don’t worry, he’ll have some treats for you, too.”

Hannah knocked on the door of Jerry’s office. No answer. She turned the knob and cracked the door open. “Hello. Are you here, Jerry?”

Only silence filled the dim office.

“What do you think, Nellie? I guess I can leave the check on his desk. He was so desperate for it earlier and I don’t want him to bother me tomorrow.” They walked into the poorly lit office. A door clicked further back.

“Jerry? Is that you?”

A sucking noise from someone walking with tall rubber boots approached from the back of the building.

“Hannah? Be right with you.”

Jerry dropped a stack of boxes of frozen fish on a small table. “Trying to get organized.” He nodded to the boxes. “I have to break these down into smaller units for a special order.” He rolled his eyes. “Kind of a pain in the neck, but what other choice do I have? So, what can I do for you?”

Hannah pulled the envelope with his check out of her jeans pocket. “Here. I told you I’d stop by with your payment.”

“Right.” He walked past Hannah, took the check, and tucked it in the top drawer of his desk.

Nellie sniffed his boots.

“You must have some good odors on those boots; Nellie is quite interested in them,” Hannah said as she reached for Nellie’s collar to pull her away.

Nellie growled.

“What is it? Come on, Nellie, you know Jerry.” Hannah tugged a little harder on her collar.

Jerry moved to the side so a chair was between him and Nellie. “I’m not a big fan of dogs. Get her under control. Is she going to bite me?”

“Naw.” Hannah tried to defuse the situation while she pulled harder on Nellie’s collar.

Nellie wouldn’t budge.

“Sorry, Jerry. It must be all the fish guts and smells on those boots.” Hannah finally managed to drag Nellie out of the office and back into her car.

“I’ll have to leave you home next time if you don’t behave better.” She was annoyed.

Chapter 23

Hannah considered bringing Nellie back to her cottage, but since she was only five minutes away from the marina, and she was already running later than Cal expected her, she pulled into the parking lot.

“Really, Nellie. I hope you don’t pull anything like that again,” Hannah said as she opened the back door for Nellie.

Nellie took off.

Hannah stood with her hands on her hips. She couldn’t believe it. I hope she doesn’t find some stinky fish guts to roll in, she said to herself.

Cal waved from the back of his boat.

Hannah clumped down the dock. “I have to go back toward Jerry’s warehouse. Nellie is obsessed with the fish smells and took off when I let her out of my car.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No. You don’t want to be with me right now.”

“Think about the glass of wine that’s waiting for you. And I have dessert tonight, too,” he added, a hopeful look on his face.

His tempting suggestion didn’t even crack a smile on Hannah’s face. She was too annoyed with her dog.

Hannah screeched into the parking lot for Jerry’s warehouse and grabbed Nellie’s leash before she got out of her car. “She’s not having any more freedom tonight, that’s for sure,” she mumbled.

“Nellie!” Hannah didn’t see her on the pier but Jerry’s office door was pushed halfway open.

Hannah barged inside.

Growls met her ear. Nellie had Jerry backed into a corner, holding his tall black boots while she stood about a foot away with her teeth bared.

“Nellie!” Hannah hollered again.

“What’s wrong with your dog tonight? She’s trying to take my boots,” Jerry said, fear obvious in his voice.

Hannah held her hand out. “Give them to me. Maybe I can use them to get her back into my car. What did you step in?”

Jerry held the boots tight against his chest. “No. Just get your leash on her and get out.”

“Give me the boots, Jerry.”

“Back off, Hannah. Don’t come any closer. Just get your dog under control.” Jerry’s eyes darted to his desk. His t-shirt was soaked with sweat.

Hannah’s heart raced. Something was off with Nellie, but what was going on with Jerry? Her frustration with Nellie turned into fear of Jerry; fear of his wild eyes, his loud voice, his body odor filling the small office space.

The boots. Where had she seen those boots before? The yellow strip at the top jogged her memory.

Jerry lunged for a wooden baseball bat on his desk but tripped over a chair, sending his boots flying through the air and landing near Hannah.

It came to her, where she’d seen those boots before, as weakness traveled to her legs. She put her hand on the wall for support. “It was
you
, wasn’t it?
You
killed him.
You
killed Gavin.” She flattened herself against the wall, wishing she could get farther away.

Nellie ignored the boots and charged for Jerry. She sank her teeth into his ankle and shook her head violently.

Jerry screamed and fell, his arms outstretched but they fell short of reaching the baseball bat on his desk. With Nellie growling and keeping a tight hold on Jerry’s ankle, he curled one arm around his head for protection while his free foot kicked at the ferocious dog. “What’s wrong with your dog?” he yelled over and over as his foot hit nothing but air.

Hannah dashed toward the desk but Jerry’s free arm grabbed her leg. She fell against the desk, wrapped her fingers around the bat, and smashed it down on his arm. A loud crunch followed by a scream let Hannah know she hit her target.

His fingers relaxed enough for Hannah to jump out of his reach. She managed to find her phone and dial 911. Breathlessly, she told the dispatcher, “I need help at Jerry’s fish warehouse. Please hurry.”

As she leaned against the wall, gripping the bat with clenched fists, Hannah sucked in deep lungfuls of air and her eyes scanned the room. Nellie stood over Jerry, making sure he didn’t move a muscle.

“These boots . . .” She picked up the one that was near her foot. Her finger rubbed over a chewed section at the top. “These were Gavin’s boots. Why did you do it?” she whispered.

Jerry whimpered. “He threatened to expose me.”

“For what?”

He sighed in defeat. “I mixed old fish in with every order. You have some, too. I couldn’t afford to throw it away with all the bills for my new truck and my new warehouse.”

“So the inedible dinners weren’t Chef Belair’s fault?”

Jerry shook his head.

“When I went in to deliver Gavin’s special order Thursday night, he was in his freezer dumping all the fish out. He looked at me. He screamed at me. He figured out what I had done. The knife was right there.” Jerry dropped his head. “I only wanted to scare him but he lunged and impaled himself on the knife. My shoes,” he looked at his bare feet, “my shoes had blood on them so I grabbed his boots. They were next to the door when I ran out. I never even noticed the chewed part until your dog wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“And no one saw you go inside the kitchen?”

“I guess not. I planned to leave right away but I was too shaky to drive off. Then Chef Belair walked inside and came back out less than a minute later. I was afraid he found Gavin but he only went in to get his knives.”