Free Sunny Side Up (Lake Erie Mysteries Book 1) by Maureen K. Howard

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.”
    “That sounds reasonable to me. We can head back to the boat once all the commotion dies down. Maybe Hammond saw something and can fill us in when we get back.”
    Sirena’s nose wrinkled as she pushed herself away from the table. “Suit yourself, ladies. I really think I need to go.”
    I could not identify either the strange look on her face or the words she mumbled to herself as she left.
    “What do you think that was all about? She seemed awfully distracted.”

Chapter Ten
     
    June sipped her drink, appreciating its soothing effect, then replied, “Well, what do you expect? She’s left sitting here with her new squeeze’s former partner. Awkward! Plus, she doesn’t know us at all, and finally, she’s probably genuinely worried about her store. Everyone seems to be heading in that direction. It is a shame about her cocktail though.”
    I watched Sirena stride resolutely away from us. “Hey, check it out, June. She isn’t a goddess after all. She has toilet paper stuck to the seat of her skirt.”
    “Hmmm. Looks more like a dryer sheet to me.”
    The excitement was winding down almost as quickly as it had begun. We sipped our drinks and speculated on all the possible causes for the mad rush.
    “Maybe we should be a little more concerned. Everyone was headed in the direction of the marina. I hope our boat is okay. Maybe there was a big bust and they captured those minnow bandits Hamm told me about. Maybe they had guns or there was a fight.”
    “What the heck are you talking about? What’s a minnow bandit?”
    “Oh, sorry. I never got the chance to tell you. It’s a pretty strange story. Morgan asked us to be on the lookout