Free Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 03 - Secrets at Sea by Peggy Dulle

house?”
    “And miss all this chaos and fun?” he laughed, then continued, “so besides getting mugged, how’s the vacation going?”
    I told him about Betsy.
    “Wow,” he said.
    I told him about the other woman who had been killed.
    “It doesn’t sound like a very safe inn, Teach.”
    I ignored his comment and the fact that Tom would agree with him. “Have you found anything on Adam?”
    “Not yet. I went over to the high school but they were working in the computer lab and I couldn’t get on.”
    “Okay, add Betsy to your list and see if you can find out anything about the other dead woman in our inn.”
    “Sure. They said they’d be done today and I could go in on Monday and use the machines. If my mom would just pay for something besides dial-up, I’d already have the information for you.”
    “Maybe I should pay for it,” I suggested.
    “You know Mom wouldn’t let you.”
    “I could pay you for all your searching, then you could get the high-speed connection yourself.”
    “Now that she might go for, Teach.”
    “Perfect, tell her and when I get back I’ll give you the money to set it up.”
    “Thanks.”
    “No, thank you. I couldn’t do this job without your help.”
    I heard Shelby barking in the distance. “Oh no,” Justin said. “My mom just turned on the vacuum. I forgot to tell her Shelby attacks it. I’ve got to go.”
    “Okay, bye.”
    “Bye,” his voice faded and the connection dropped.
    “Justin’s mom is having fun with Shelby, I hear,” Tom said.
    “Yes, Shelby’s creating havoc everywhere she goes.”
    “You’re going to pay for Justin’s Internet service?”
    “Yes. He’s always looking things up for me and he always has to go over to the high school to use their computers.”
    The waitress brought the bill. Tom paid it and we left the restaurant. Since it was after nine, the sky was dark and lit with stars. The lights from the shops and on many of the boats moored at the marina made the walkway look even more beautiful at night.
    When we turned the corner toward the parking lot, Detective Ramirez and Hansen stepped forward. They were both frowning with their hands firmly planted on their hips. My stomach sank. Now what?

Chapter 8

    Even before they started to speak, I put my hand up. “It’s not my fault I got mugged. It’s your town.”
    Ramirez and Hansen looked at each other, then back to me.
    Tom leaned over and said, “They didn’t know about the purse-snatching, honey. Of course, now they do. They’re here for something else.”
    Detective Hansen stepped forward. “Someone took your purse?”
    “Yes,” Tom told him. “Someone grabbed her purse while she waited in front of the restaurant.”
    “I chased the kid who took it. A couple of bicycle officers caught him,” I explained.
    “You got your purse back?” Hansen asked.
    “No, the kid threw it to someone in a boat. The boat sped away.”
    “I’ve never heard of that before,” Hansen said to Ramirez, “have you?”
    “Nope.” Ramirez shook his head, then pointed at Tom, “And where were you when all this took place?”
    Tom frowned. “I was in the restaurant putting our name down so we could get a table.”
    Ramirez chuckled. “If I were you, I wouldn’t leave this little lady alone for a minute. She’s trouble waiting to happen.”
    Tom stepped toward him. An altercation was imminent. I’d seen the stern and determined look on Tom’s face before. I stepped between the two men.
    “Are you tailing us?” Tom took another step toward Ramirez.
    “No,” Ramirez scoffed, advancing.
    “How’d you find us?” Tom’s tone matched his demeanor, agitated and on the verge of exploding.
    Ramirez didn’t back down. He matched Tom’s tone. “All I had to do was call the parking lots in the area. I knew you’d be in one of them. Of course, I’m surprised you used the valet service. The Sheriff of Gainesville must make better money than us lowly Long Beach cops.”
    Tom moved in. I