See You at Sunset (31 page)

And what could Holly possibly say in reply to that, except that she wanted it too.

“At last,” Micah said, answering his phone as he pushed his chair back from his desk. He’d been waiting for Griff Turner’s call all day.

“Yeah, well, I was on the goddamn witness stand until five minutes ago,” Turner said in a pissed-off voice. “And I have to go back again in the morning.”

Micah sympathized. “That sucks. Anyway, I’m sorry to sound impatient, but I think I may finally have something on the break-ins here.”

He filled Turner in on his conversation with Horton and Cain as well as a follow-up call to Cain’s landlady, Sally Christopher. “Sally’s a real stickler for vetting her tenants, so I knew she’d have asked for background information on Cain and his girlfriend, Brandy Keele. She said she knew where Keele works without having to look up the paperwork. It’s because Sally uses that pharmacy and has seen her there.”

“Pharmacy?”

“Yeah, Keele’s a pharmacy technician at Watson’s. And that’s the place where the victims in all three break-ins got their prescriptions filled.”

“Okay, that’s pretty damn interesting. But if the woman wanted to steal drugs, why wouldn’t she just rip off Watson’s?”

“Griff, when was the last time you had an in-house theft reported from a pharmacy?”

Turner hesitated. “Okay, it was quite a while ago.”

“Yeah, because there isn’t much employee theft going on anymore. Pharmacies have implemented tougher protocols and really screen their prospective hires. I know for a fact that Watson’s keeps tight control of their narcotics, and they have video surveillance too. They know exactly who’s putting their hands on drugs like Vicodin.”

“You’re right, but if all you’ve got to go on is that the stolen drugs were prescriptions filled at the same drugstore…”

“No, that isn’t all. Look, I know damn near everybody in Seashell Bay. These days, most folks go to Hannaford’s or Walmart for their drugs because they’re already shopping there for groceries and other stuff. I don’t know too many that use Watson’s anymore. I think it’s mostly loyal customers who’ve been going there for years and years.”

Turner’s grunt seemed to signify acceptance of the point. “You think Keele steals from people who she knows have narcotics prescriptions?”

“I’m sure Cain does the break-ins—him or his buddy Horton. But we can check with Watson’s to find out when Keele was working—I was planning to do that anyway.”

“I’ll handle that,” Turner said. “My turf.”

Micah was relieved to hear it. Griff obviously wasn’t totally convinced, but he was getting into the case. “I’d like to be there when you do. And there’s something else you should know too.”

“Shoot.”

“The last break-in was the real clincher for me. Cain knew Holly Tyler’s aunts were at Maine Medical. He also knew that Holly was out at a local dance and that the house was empty. The fact that the Jenkins’s prescriptions came from Watson’s is just too big a coincidence in my book.”

“Okay, I’m with you,” Turner conceded.

“Griff, we really need a warrant for Cain’s house now. That’s the only way we’re going to nail those guys.”

“Yeah, but it’s still going to be a long shot to convince a judge. Let’s hold off until we talk to Watson’s.”

It wasn’t ideal, but Micah would take it.

Chapter 26

T
he next day, Turner was waiting for Micah in his unmarked car on Commercial Street. He’d parked directly in front of the pharmacy, which was part of an old-fashioned but well-maintained cluster of stores only a few blocks from the pier where Micah had docked his boat. Turner had called him from the courthouse earlier and said he’d already arranged for them to meet the owner of Watson’s at noon. Micah had headed immediately down to his marina and had docked in Portland twenty minutes later.

“Brandy Keele’s not working the day shift,” Micah said by way of greeting. “I was parked in front of her house most of the morning, and she didn’t go anywhere.”

“Good. Let’s see what the owner has to say.”

Turner opened the door, and they headed straight down the middle aisle to the pharmacy counter at the rear. The owner, Alf Watson, was typing into a computer behind the pickup area.

“Why don’t we head back to my office?” Watson said after they exchanged greetings.

He led them past a series of high white metal cabinets, where a young woman appeared to be stocking and arranging meds, to a cramped office in a rear corner of the dispensary. Micah and Turner took seats in two steno chairs, while Watson sat behind his desk.

“You said this is about a theft of prescription narcotics?” the owner asked.

“Two thefts of opioids in Seashell Bay,” Turner said. “Both prescriptions were filled here.”

Watson’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Well, we do have a good many customers on the island.”

“We want to talk to you about Brandy Keele. Is she scheduled to work today?”

Stiffening, Watson looked taken aback. “I believe she’s on the late shift today, but I’ll check. Carrie, could you come in here please?” Watson’s words were loud enough to be heard across the dispensary.

In a softer voice, he said, “Carrie always knows the schedules, and she and Brandy are good friends.”

“We need to see Keele’s employment file too,” Turner said.

Watson nodded and swiveled his chair around to pull out the top drawer of a low filing cabinet. He searched for a moment before extracting a file folder and handing it across to Turner.

At the same time, the petite blonde who’d been arranging the meds stuck her head in the door. “Yes, Mr. Watson?”

“Carrie, is Brandy working the late shift again?” her boss asked.

“Yes, sir. All week.”

“Thank you,” Watson said, dismissing her with a little wave.

After Turner asked a couple of questions about Keele’s background, Watson frowned. “Detective, I can’t believe Brandy was involved in those thefts.”

“Why not?” Turner asked.

“Well, it’s just that I hired Brandy myself. She started out here as a clerk, and not too long after that, she went back to school at Northeast Technical, at my urging, by the way. When she got her certification, she had to go through a criminal background check, like everyone.”

“How long ago was that?” Micah asked.

“About two years. And she’s been a generally reliable employee since. She shows up for work every day and does her job competently.”

“Our theory is that her boyfriend is the one doing the actual stealing,” Micah said, “and that Brandy may be providing him with information. She would have access to all your customers’ prescription records, right?”

“Of course.” Watson frowned. “I’m not surprised about the boyfriend.”

Micah and Turner exchanged glances. “What do you mean?” Micah asked.

“He appears to have had a considerable effect on Brandy.”

“Such as?”

“Well, she’s become obsessed with the man. According to some of the other staff, she talks about him constantly. Apparently, she’s quite jealous and often very upset with him. We’ve all noticed quite a difference in Brandy since she started seeing him.”

“Can you be more specific?” Micah asked.

Watson shrugged. “You should ask the staff who know her better than I do. But lately she’s been too antagonistic for an employee who serves at the counter. I had to give her a written warning a few weeks ago after she was rude to one of our oldest customers. You’ll see the letter in the file.”

“We’ll take the file,” Turner said, rising. “We’ll make copies of anything relevant and get it back to you.”

“Could we talk to a couple of your people now?” Micah asked. “Carrie in particular.”

“Of course,” Watson said. “You can use this office. I’ll send her right in.”

“So Keele’s apparently been a
generally reliable employee
. Hardly a ringing endorsement,” Turner said after Watson went to get his employee.

“I’ve seen her temper myself, back on the island,” Micah said.

Turner stood up. “It’s still not going to be a slam dunk for a warrant, but it’s good enough for me to give it a try. Can you follow up with the staff while I start tracking down a judge?”

Micah breathed a sigh of relief. “Sounds like a plan.”

Progress, at last. For everyone’s sake—but especially Holly’s—Micah would like nothing better than to show up at Logan Cain’s house with a search warrant. And then he’d wipe the smug grin right off the asshole’s face.

Holly rang up the last of the purchases and handed the nicely packaged mugs to her customer, a thirtysomething woman who was part of a Portland cycling group. The club had spent the day riding on the island and had stopped at the store to pick up bottles of water and snacks for the ferry back to the city. To Holly’s delight, they’d gone crazy over her new stock. The women oohed and aahed and snapped up a dozen ceramic mugs along with three suncatchers and six pairs of earrings.

It was the store’s best day in a long time.

As the group reassembled outside, Micah’s cruiser pulled up right next to them. He got out and said something to the closest rider, making her laugh. The rest of the women zeroed in on him like a pack of hungry wolves, and the animated little chat that followed went on for several minutes. He was still smiling when he opened the screen door and strolled in. “Hey, those women sure seemed pleased with their purchases. Said they really liked the new look of the store.”

Seems like they liked the look of you too, Deputy Hottie.
She certainly couldn’t blame the women for falling all over the rugged, sexy lawman.

“I know,” she said. “A couple of them even told me they were going to make sure the rest of their club knew about the store. That’s good progress, I’d say.”

He nodded. “Too bad Florence wasn’t around to hear that. Is Beatrice still home?”

“No, she headed back to the hospital. I’m going to close up in a few minutes and go over too. I’ll spend the evening with them and take the last boat back.”

“I just got back from the city myself. Detective Turner and I had some questions for the owner and staff at Watson’s Pharmacy. That’s why I stopped by, to fill you in.”

“Oh, okay,” she said, feeling a bit deflated. Given how she’d been the one pushing him away, it was irrational to hope that he’d stopped by simply to see her.

“It turns out that Brandy Keele is a pharmacy technician at Watson’s. We think she’s been feeding Cain information on customers with narcotic prescriptions from Watson’s—like Beatrice and Fitz.”

Holly blinked. “Wow, that really sucks.”

“Keele was apparently reliable until she took up with Cain, but she’s been erratic since. Another technician told me she’s over-the-top jealous about the guy because she doesn’t trust him. Keele even said she’d kill herself if Cain ever left her.”

“Yuck. He is such a creep,” she said, remembering the jerk’s behavior at the dance. “I can totally see him manipulating her.”

“Turner is trying to get a warrant to search their house. When he faxes it to me, I’ll be at Cain’s place three minutes later.”

She perked up. “Do you think you’ll find Florence’s jewelry?”

If Cain was guilty, he should be brought to swift and sure justice of course, but Holly couldn’t help focusing on recovering her aunt’s precious keepsake. It would mean the world to Florence.

“Hard to tell,” Micah said. “Since it’s been such a short time since the theft, the odds are obviously higher than if it had been longer.”

“It’s just that it would be so much easier on Florence if she knew the brooch was safe.” She waved a vague hand. “I mean, obviously I really want you to catch the guy. But mostly now I’m worried about my aunt.”

Micah nodded. “I get it.”

They both fell silent. Micah stared at her with an intent look, as if he had something important to say. Sadly, Holly just felt tongue-tied and awkward. She and Micah would have to talk soon—really talk—but now wasn’t the time.

At least that’s what she wanted to believe. The truth was, she didn’t know what she wanted from Micah. A big part of her wanted him in her life, but could she really give him what he needed?

More important, was she ready to open up her heart again?

A moment later, he breathed out what seemed to be a frustrated sigh. He took his sunglasses out of his shirt pocket and put them on, transforming back into the grim-faced lawman. “Well, I’d better get to the office and wait for that warrant.”

At a loss for words, Holly just nodded.

He headed to the door, then turned back to her. “We will talk, Holly. Whenever you’re ready.”

She could only hope she’d be ready sooner rather than later.

Chapter 27

O
ne thing Holly had loved about her aunts’ store was that she could glance out the windows and see the ferry docking. She’d gotten adept at waiting until the very last minute to head over there to catch the boat, often making the dash just before the crew hauled in the gangway.

She fast-walked from the parking lot, hurrying on board at the last minute. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and dozens of passengers had already lined the rails on the top two decks. Since both decks were crowded, she headed downstairs to the small open area at the stern, where she could enjoy fresh air and unobstructed views while avoiding the crowds. While there were a few people inside the lower cabin, she had the small, open deck all to herself, at least for now.

And boy did she need the peace and quiet, if for no other reason than to think through the situation with Micah—not to mention the rest of her increasingly complicated life. She took a few minutes to breathe in the sweet sea air, trying to calm the low-level anxiety that seemed to dog her almost constantly these days. Except, of course, when she was in Micah’s arms, because then she felt wonderfully safe and… happy.

About ten minutes later, as the ferry slowed to line up with the small dock at Diamond Cove, Holly pulled out her phone to call Beatrice. Because the boat would discharge passengers from her side of the vessel, she headed for the opposite side, glancing into the cabin as she passed by.

And stopped dead in her tracks, as if she’d hit a wall.