Sunny Side Up (Lake Erie Mysteries Book 1) (5 page)

“Should we call the EMS?” Sirena seemed genuinely concerned about her companion’s welfare.

“He’ll be fine.” June explained to Sirena that her ex-husband was plagued with a plethora of allergies, “literally from soup to nuts.” The island’s little medical clinic would likely have provided him with the exact same treatment.

“I had no idea Cliff’s allergies were that bad,” Sirena remarked. “Frankly, he never even mentioned the fact he had them.”

Go figure, I thought.

“I knew allergies could be severe, and sometimes even fatal, but I’ve never seen anything come on so quickly. Maybe I should invest in one of those EpiPens myself.”

“Probably not a bad idea,” June answered. “Not only does Clifton’s vanity keep him from advertising his flaws, but he also has some issues with impulse control. Just saying.”

When Clifton could speak again, he humbly thanked both June and me for saving him from death, if not embarrassment. I could see it was an effort for him to speak through his slightly less bulbous lips, and after that, he sat quietly like a chastised schoolboy for a long time while we chatted with Sirena. I begrudgingly admitted to myself that I liked her.

Hamm asked her about the travails of starting up a new business on a little island. “The logistics alone of getting your merchandise over from the mainland must have been a daunting task, especially doing it all on your own.”

Sirena leaned in close to Hamm and replied, “Everyone on the island has been so welcoming and helpful. I got a lot of especially good advice from a local lady, Ruby Burns. She and her husband, Roger, gave me contact numbers for merchants and vendors on all of the islands as well as on the mainland. They were so nice especially considering I’m in direct competition with her business. They seemed to know everything about everyone. The only thing Ruby had a hard time with was remembering my name. She has a beautiful gift shop here. Do you know her?”

The conversation was taking a dangerous turn toward the topic of shopping. Hamm needed a diversionary tactic. Quickly he asked, “How about drinks? This round is on me. I think Cliff could use a nice glass of bourbon about now. I know what Francie wants. June, how about you?”

I looked suspiciously at my husband. Was he being nice to June? I wondered if he was trying to impress Sirena. Oh, well. I was having a good time and wasn’t about to spoil the mood. Getting into the spirit, I asked Sirena, “Have you tried the chocolate martini, the Diva? I don’t know how they do it, but you won’t find a better one anywhere. Ever.”

Sirena answered me quickly. “I hear they’re fabulous, but I’m a one cocktail kind of girl. Vodka martini, dry, with a lemon.”

“That sounds refreshing and it’s hard to mess up a good martini, but you should try the chocolate martini at least once. You won’t be sorry.”

“I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” Sirena answered politely.

“I’ll have a Jack Daniels over ice.” We all turned to the newcomer who had just placed his order. He wasn’t butting in as we all assumed; the waiter just happened to be standing right behind Hammond.

“Hey, it’s you!” Hammond and the man said simultaneously. Then they both laughed. I recognized him as the runner, or detective as the case may be, I met talking to my husband outside Ruby’s Treasure Chest earlier in the evening, and he was every bit as handsome as the first time I saw him.

“I see you survived your shopping expedition.”

“I did. But we never did make it over to Caddy Shack for pizza.”

“Well, if you’re hungry, this place makes the best hamburgers on the planet. And trust me, I know my burgers.”

“Thanks, Jack. I’ll survive. I’ve given up many meals over the years because of shopping diversions. Jack Morgan, you remember my wife, Francesca. And this is June, her friend. And this...”

Jack interrupted. “Oh, I know these two. Sirena is a neighbor, and I met Mr. Sterling the first day he arrived on the island. We had a little chat about his treating our rural roads like the Indy 500.” Clifton shrugged in reply. He was already looking much better, but didn’t seem to want to take the risk of talking out loud.

Hamm stood and shook Jack’s hand. “Please join us, Jack. You can’t be all bad since you just ordered the same drink I was about to.”

So there we were. A nice even six. Our drinks arrived and we settled into friendly conversation. June and Super-Hunk, I mean Jack, quickly discovered they had absolutely nothing in common—nothing, that is, except some invisible connection linking their gazes.

Hamm raised his glass and toasted. “Here’s to a relaxing, long weekend with no agenda and no worries.”

“Here, here!” Clifton, Sirena and I agreed all at once. June and Jack came in a half beat later.

Winter survival stories gave way to summer plans for cruise destinations, picnics, parties, and for some of us, new shopping adventures. Sirena and June got into an animated conversation, swapping stories about entrepreneurship, freelancing, and the trials and joys of being self-employed single women. June practically had to sit on her hands because I could tell she wanted to write everything down. She was getting some great information on the new store owner on the island that she could easily incorporate into her article. Luckily her memory was even better than her shorthand.

“Cliff, are you up for an evening smoke?” Hamm slipped a sleek leather case from his pocket and removed two of his favorite cigars, offering one to Clifton.

“Man, thanks. I would love to but I’m not sure I could hold a cigar between these water balloon lips of mine at this point, and my lungs are feeling a little tight after that stupid shrimp fiasco. I’ll have to take a rain check.”

“It sucks to be you, Sterling.” I did not just say that out loud. I really needed to be careful. If I had another martini, I was sure to get myself in trouble. I was surprised Cliff actually made that self-deprecating remark. Maybe Sirena was having a positive effect on him. Miracles do happen.

“How about you then, Jack? A good cigar is always better with company.”

“I couldn’t agree more, but one a day’s my limit, and after talking to you earlier, I went home and enjoyed one of my own on my deck. Perfect way to finish off a five mile run, right?”

“Well, as Harry Callahan always said, ‘A man’s got to know his limitations.’”

“Mash, right? Now that was a classic TV show. I wish there were programs on now that were intelligent and entertaining instead of just ‘reality’ shows that are as far from real as you can get.”

“I can appreciate that, Jack. You’re a man after my own heart. Then if you all don’t mind, I think I’ll just take a walk down toward the boats and smoke this by myself. There’s something to be said for peace and quiet as well, especially after all of the shopping excitement I had to endure today.”

“There is that.” I did a double-take when Jack replied with one of Hamm’s famous sayings. I wasn’t sure what to think about that.

Hamm gave my hand a squeeze and pressed a wad of bills into my fist. “Have another drink on me.” I smiled up at my husband and gave him a return hand squeeze. I was fine with him leaving. We had been married for twenty-two years. That doesn’t happen without some give and take.

Clifton’s wistful gaze in the direction of the marina was proof of where he would rather be. Who was he to complain? He was with the most beautiful woman on the island. And she didn’t even run screaming when he morphed into a shrimp-induced, misshapen monster.

Just about then, Sirena excused herself from the table. “I’ll be right back, Clifton. Nature calls. I’ll have another of the same if the waiter comes by while I’m gone.”

As she headed toward the door, I saw her take her cell phone from a deep pocket in her diaphanous skirt and quickly scroll through her text messages. For a split second, her face was reflected in the glass door leading to the inside of the restaurant where the restrooms were located. I couldn’t know what she saw, but her expression reminded me of a brewing thunderstorm.

While Sirena was still in the restroom, our second round of drinks arrived. “Those look wonderful!” I paid the waiter and added a generous tip with the money Hamm had slipped me before he headed back toward the lure of his cigar.

“I know that guy,” Morgan announced. “I’m surprised he doesn’t perform in much bigger venues. He’s really talented.” The guitarist on the patio who had been strumming island tunes and entertaining the diners stopped singing and stood up to make an announcement.

June had a comment of her own before the entertainer spoke. “It seems like there are several people around here with big city talents who would rather concentrate on living a simpler life than chasing fame and fortune.”

Jack gave her an appraising look, but before he could come back with a response, the announcement began.

“The final entry into the drawing for couples to win a chance to be named Island King and Queen in the upcoming Memorial Day parade will be ending in five minutes. Both entrants must to be present at the bar to register, so grab your partner and get on over!”

Cliff craned his neck in the direction Sirena had gone and was practically vibrating with urgency. I could tell that his need for fame and validation was getting the best of him. He wanted in that contest in the worst way. Sirena hadn’t yet returned when the final call was being made to enter. Before I knew what hit me, Cliff grabbed my arm, pulled me to my feet, and started dragging me between tables and mildly startled diners toward the bar.

“What in the name of King Kong are you doing, Sterling? Let go of me! We’re going to kill ourselves dodging tables like this.”

“You have to sign up with me in Sirena’s place for Island King and Queen Francie. Come on, hurry!”

“Oh you are going to owe me big time for this, Clifton.”

We made it to the registration table by the bar at the very last second. We each filled out an entry form, with me standing in for Sirena. I completed Sirena’s entry with the information Cliff whispered to me line by line. Once the ballots were secured and sealed in the official envelope, I began winding my way back to our table. I didn’t wait for Clifton to catch up, but I did decide he would be buying my next drink.

When I got back to our table, I noticed June had moved over so she was sitting right beside Jack Morgan. They were both happily humming along off-key to Faith Hill’s “Sunshine and Summertime” that was playing through the speakers while the emcee was finishing up his contest preparations. I settled back into my chair and returned to my drink. Sirena’s chair was still vacant.

“Maybe you should go check on Sirena. Do you think she’s okay?” Clifton was tapping his thumbs and index fingers nervously on the table. I was sipping my martini, and June and Morgan were still oblivious to their surroundings as well as their lack of musical talent.

“Do you think she ditched me?” I had never heard Clifton express even the smallest amount of self-doubt, so this got my attention. Before I could decide whether to be nice or snarky, Sirena strolled back toward the table.

“Sorry I took so long. There was a line. Oh, drinks! Don’t mind if I do.”

She reached for the vodka martini on the table but then changed her mind. “Why would they put a lemon in a perfectly good drink?” she half-whispered to herself. I was the only one who heard her comment, and I wasn’t even positive that was what she said. “On second thought, I think I’ll pass on the drink. Cliff, darling, maybe we should call it a night. You had quite an eventful evening already, and I’ve got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”

“It would be a shame to leave fresh drinks on the table. Let’s just stay a few more minutes. I can drive you back to your boutique or your house in under five minutes.”

Leave it to Clifton. One minute he was all worried about his new girlfriend’s true feelings toward him and the next he’s taking the risk of making her mad over a drink, more specifically, a free drink.

Sirena sat back down, gave Cliff a little forced smile, and picked up her martini glass. She swirled the drink in the glass, raised it to her lips, then set it back down in front of her without taking a sip. Her mind was most definitely somewhere else.

Remembering the look on her face when she checked her phone on her way to the restroom, I was debating about whether to ask her if everything was all right or to keep my mouth shut and mind my own business. Before I could make up my mind, the tooth-jangling wail of sirens sliced through the peaceful air—many sirens: fire, police, and ambulance, all streaking past us in the direction of the marina.

Cocktail conversation morphed into excited, curious, and fearful speculation all around us. Cell phones lit up like lighters at a rock concert. Everyone was trying to be the first to discover what the event was that was causing this spectacular disruption.

Jack’s brow furrowed. He squinted down at the screen of his smart phone.

“I’ve got to go. Obviously something is going on, and the police chief wants me to head over to the station. I guess they can use all the help they can get. If you all will excuse me.”

We didn’t even get the chance to pump him for information. He was up and on the sidewalk even before June could form words. Amazing, I know.

Jack hesitated for just a second on the street, then called over the fence, “Hey, Cliff! I need to borrow your car.”

Clifton didn’t hesitate. He also was not about to toss his keys to a virtual stranger who moments ago was nose-to-nose with his wife, okay, ex-wife. He sprinted to the curb and leapt into the driver’s seat of his sports car. “Where to, Detective? Clifton Sterling at your service!”

Jack didn’t have time to argue. He got in the passenger’s seat, and the tires squealed as they sped off.

June and I stared at one another, baffled at the sudden turn of events. Sirena’s gaze was locked on some invisible point down the street. Other patrons were shuffling out of their seats to get a better look at who-knows-what.

“What should we do now?” I didn’t have a plan.

June looked at Sirena and me then down at the three perfectly executed martinis standing at attention on the table.

“Well, I have to agree with Cliff for once on this one. It would be a shame to let these drinks go to waste. We can’t do anything to help since we don’t even have a clue about what’s going on.”