Free Rock Harbor Series - 01 - Without a Trace by Colleen Coble

reached the café entrance when a squawk came from overhead. Bree looked up as a starling flew down at her. She ducked, suppressing a scream and barely avoiding the dive-bombing bird. The bird peeled around and came at her again.
    “What’s the matter with you, stupid bird?” Bree waved her arms, trying to frighten it away. She liked birds fine as long as they stayed in the trees. This one must be psychotic. It dived at her a third time, and she turned quickly for the door. Samson whined then barked at the bird before following Bree inside the restaurant.
    She tousled her hair to make sure there were no feathers in it. The head waitress, Molly, a full tray in her skinny arms, nodded to her. In her forties, Molly was a whirlwind of activity every time Bree came in. It was no wonder she carried not an ounce of spare flesh on her thin frame.
    Molly set the steamy plates before her customers then stopped beside Bree. “You look wild-eyed, kid. Why’s your tail in a knot this morning, eh?” she quipped as she patted Samson’s head. Having received his welcome, Samson went to lie down at the door.
    “Some stupid bird was after my hair. It’s hanging around outside your café.”
    Molly grinned. “Other customers have been complaining too. I think it’s someone’s pet. It landed on my shoulder this morning and took some crumbs right from my hand.”
    “Well, they ought to keep it home then!” Bree glanced around the restaurant. “The place looks packed this morning.”
    Every booth and table was taken. Bree looked over the pastry case. Suomi’s specialty was pulla, a Finnish sweet roll made with sourdoughbread that Bree was particularly fond of. But she didn’t really want to take it back home. She’d spent too much time alone lately.
    “It’s usually not this busy until later. You might see if there’s anyone willing to share a table,” Molly said before hurrying off to the kitchen.
    Bree glanced around the restaurant again. Fay sat in a corner booth with her elbows on the table. She caught Bree’s eye and motioned to her. Today Fay looked like a fifteen-year-old on her way to school, her hair casually windblown and her pale complexion devoid of makeup. A backpack even lay at her feet. An ashtray holding two cigarette butts sat next to a cup of coffee between Fay’s elbows.
    Molly scurried by with a cup of coffee for Bree and a plate of half-eaten eggs for Samson. “For our hero,” she said.
    “You look a little green,” Bree told Fay. “Try eating some toast or crackers.”
    “How long does this last?” Fay moaned. “I don’t have time to be sick.”
    “Going climbing again today?” Bree asked, pointing toward the backpack. Though the U.P. didn’t offer world-class mountains, there were some pretty good cliffs in the area.
    “I might as well, if I can muster the energy. Steve is working, and I’m bored.” Fay fiddled with one of the distinctive gold hoops that adorned her ears. Then she dropped her hand and sighed.
    “Are you sure it’s safe for you to climb?”
    Fay grimaced. “I told you last night, I’m not going to change my life for this baby. I’m still me. The doctor said I could do whatever I’m used to doing.”
    Bree felt a twinge of guilt for the judgment in her question. No need to dig her hole any deeper. “Have you remembered anything more about the cabin and the airplane seat?”
    Fay scowled. “No. Steve and I had another fight last night, and I didn’t get a chance to think about it. Give me a few days. If there’s anything worth remembering, it will come to me.”
    So the story about the woman and the airplane seat was just a bid for attention. Bree doubted the same could be said of Fay’s encounter with Eric the night before. Bree had a feeling she should know something about Eric, something she’d read or heard. She wanted to ask Fay about him, though it was none of her business. She decided against it.
    They drank their coffee and talked about last night’s