Free Vineyard Prey by Philip R. Craig

Vineyard Haven?”
    His dark eyes flicked to her face and she met his gaze so calmly that I was sure she’d anticipated my question when she’d heard I was coming.
    â€œNo,” she said. “I’m sorry, Joe. I probably should have told you, but I wasn’t sure that it meant anything. I’m still not sure.”
    â€œTell me now,” said Joe. There was no rancor in his voice but his eyes seemed to glow.
    She told him about the man in the green coat, and about meeting me, and about driving out of town without a tail. “It’s possible that he was just a guy hoping to pick me up,” she said. “Maybe he went away because J.W. got to me first and knew my name.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Joe. “You’re an attractive woman. A lot of men would be drawn to you.”
    She colored slightly and I wondered again if she wished he were one of those men. Then I wondered if, perhaps, he actually was, since many a happily married man has had a fling with another woman. But when I looked at Joe’s face I saw no sign of affection there, only a thoughtful expression.
    â€œThere’s more to the story,” I said, and told them about seeing the man again, across from the bookstore, then about spotting the black car behind me, and then about the episode on the road in the state forest. “He may have gotten my license plate number,” I said. “If he did, he probably knows who I am and where I live.”
    Joe frowned. “Have you told Zee?”
    â€œI’ve moved her and the kids out of the house for the time being. I went back home this morning. There was no sign of anybody having been there.”
    â€œWith luck, your family won’t have to be away from home for long.” Joe looked back at Kate. “I think we can be pretty sure that your admirer wasn’t just interested in a hot date with you. You’d better stay put here for a while until we figure out who he is and what he wants. Describe him for me.”
    She shook her head. “I only saw his back as hewas crossing the street. Medium height, slim, forest-green winter coat, soft hat. I didn’t see his face. He walked fast and he was out of sight very quickly.” She looked at me. “You saw more of him than I did.”
    I nodded. “Clean-shaven; brownish hair, I don’t know how long or short because his collar was turned up and his hat was pulled down. I couldn’t tell his eye color. Straight nose in a thin face. Very average and forgettable. He was pretending to read a novel but he was really watching Kate. That’s why I noticed him. If I hadn’t known her, I wouldn’t have given him a second glance.”
    Joe sipped his cooling coffee. “Sound like anybody you know, Kate?”
    â€œI know a lot of forgettable men.”
    Begay smiled. “If he is one of the bad guys,” he said to her, “how did he find you?”
    She spread her hands. “I can’t guess. At home I hang out in bookstores more than most but the Bunny probably wouldn’t know that, and even if he did I doubt if he’d plant himself in the Bunch of Grapes and wait for me to come in, especially since there’s no way he could know I’m even on the island.”
    â€œWho does know you’re here?” I asked.
    She gave me a cool glance. “You do.”
    I ignored her sarcasm. “Who else besides Joe and me?”
    â€œIf your friend Spitz is as smart as you and Joe think he is, he may have figured it out.”
    â€œI don’t think Jake would tell the Bunny,” I said.“Did you tell anyone where you were going when you left Bethesda?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œYou didn’t tell your boyfriend?”
    She snapped a look at me. “I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment!”
    I smiled. “How about a girlfriend?”
    She didn’t smile back. “I have women friends, but I don’t have a