Free Gull Harbor by Kathryn Knight Page A

night, if I forgot to say it then.”
    “You said it,” he replied. And a whole lot more . “Are you going to tell me how you ended up hanging out at The Scrimshaw all week?” He set a mug of coffee on the table in front of her, then poured his own and sat down across from her.
    She sipped her coffee, making appreciative noises. “I researched drug busts and arrests in the area, and that place kept coming up. So I figured I might find out something about Gary Williams from the people there. I pretended I was an old friend of his, back in town.”
    “Jesus, Claire,” he said, shaking his head.
    “I was subtle. But I was making so much progress last night, I guess I ended up having one drink too many,” she said with a shrug.
    “More than one, I would say.”
    “Well, it paid off! Listen to this—Gary was a heroin dealer. Can you believe that? Apparently there’s a huge market for it on the Cape.”
    “I know. And once users are hooked, there’s not much they won’t do to get their next fix. You need to remember that.”
    She nodded, her eyes growing wide with excitement despite his warning. “Here’s the best part…I found out where he was getting it. A boat would come into the harbor, and he would take a smaller boat out to meet it and pick up his supply. The heroin boat is called the mother ship. That has to be what I saw in my vision—the Barracuda is the mother ship!”
    “That makes sense. But it still doesn’t tell us how your ghost fits into this scenario.”
    A frown clouded her pretty features. “I know. And I won’t figure it out staying over here. But I have to admit, it was great having uninterrupted sleep. Thanks again,” she said, glancing down at the table as a blush returned to her cheeks.
    “Anytime,” he said firmly, rising from his chair. “I have to get going now. Will you be okay?”
    “Wait—don’t we need to go get your bike? I can get dressed quickly and drop you off at The Scrimshaw.”
    “Already done.” He pulled his keys from the pocket of his jeans and dangled them in front of her. “You were asleep for a long time.”
    “Right. Sorry about that.”
    “I’m glad you got some rest. You’re welcome to hang out here as long as you like.” He paused on his way out of the kitchen. “You won’t—”
    She interrupted him, smiling weakly. “I won’t go back to The Scrimshaw. I promise.”
    His eyes narrowed as he watched her for signs she was lying, but she meet his gaze without flinching. “Good,” he said, heading for the front door. “Then you can come by the tavern later. I’ll see you tonight.”

Chapter 11
    “Yeah?”
    “Gary, it’s Jake. From Gull Harbor.”
    Gary Williams sneered into the phone. “I know who it is. I can read the caller ID. Why are you calling? I’m trying to keep my distance from that place.”
    “I know,” said Jake. “But it’s important, I think.”
    “I’m waiting,” said Gary, looking out the window of his shabby apartment. Summer in the city was miserable. And this part of Connecticut was a dump. But all the kids in the ritzy surrounding suburbs knew where to find him now, and they popped pills like nobody’s business. He could barely keep up with the demand.
    “There’s this girl—she’s been hanging around The Scrimshaw, asking questions about you. Says she’s an old friend of yours.”
    “Oh yeah?”
    Jake hurried on. “Yeah, but she didn’t look like a friend of yours, no offense. I did a little checking, and it turns out she’s living in your old house.”
    Gary’s eyes narrowed. “Some old couple lives in my house. They bought it at auction when I left town.”
    “Not right now, dude. The old couple hired her to—get this—cleanse the house of evil spirits or something.”
    A sickening fear washed over him. “What the fuck are you talking about, Jake?”
    “I’m just telling it like it is. Apparently, weird shit was happening in the house, and they hired this woman to make it stop or