Free Murder on the Half Shell (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 2) by Shawn Reilly Simmons Page B

awaiting her response.
    “Yes, of course,” Penelope said, finally letting go of him. She linked her fingers in his and smiled. “This is a wonderful surprise.”
    “I rented a cabin for the week on the south end of the beach, wherever that is,” Joey said.
    “I’ll help you find it. I was just heading to the boat to get my things. Do you want to come and say hi to Arlena?”
    “Sure. Hey, I just saw two officers hustling a guy in handcuffs onto a police boat over there,” Joey said, pointing at the now empty slip. “I thought you said this was a sleepy little island.”
    “I know that guy, actually. I have for a long time,” Penelope said quietly, looking away from him.
    “Oh, sorry,” Joey said sheepishly. “What happened?”
    “It’s a long story,” Penelope said. “I’ll fill you in when we get to the boat.”
    Joey took Penelope’s hand and led her down the dock, his suitcase bouncing across the warped boards. When they passed the old fishermen, Penelope noticed they were still scowling, but with less menace. They must’ve moved on to the drinking portion of the day.
    When they entered the main salon of the boat, Arlena and Max greeted Joey warmly and invited him to stay. Penelope removed her backpack and sat down on the nearest couch, motioning for Joey to sit next to her. Max offered beers to everyone, and Joey happily accepted.
    Joey twisted the cap and took a sip. “Now my vacation can start.”
    Penelope pulled Emilio’s papers from her bag and started to open them, then wondered if she should.
    “What’s that?” Joey asked, eyeing the paperwork.
    “That guy you saw? He was one of my teachers back in culinary school. He just got arrested and asked me to take these papers to his wife on the other side of the island as a favor.”
    “What is it?” Max asked, leaning against the galley island.
    “I think it’s the contract for the restaurant building. Maybe the building permits and plans, financial information he didn’t want the city council to see. He insisted I take it to her.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Joey said. “What was the guy arrested for? Violating building codes?”
    “Kidnapping two teenage girls,” Penelope said quietly.
    Joey’s beer bottle stopped halfway to his mouth and he turned to look at her. “Seriously? What’s going on around here?”
    “He says he didn’t do it,” Penelope said quickly. “I want to believe him, give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he deserves it.”
    Joey eyed her tenderly and said, “Sounds like you’re got history. You really want to help him, Penny?”
    “I think so, yeah,” Penelope said, unsure herself. “He just wants me to take this to her. It’s not like he’s asking me to testify on his behalf or anything.”
    “Not yet,” Arlena chimed in.
    “What evidence do they have on him?” Joey asked.
    Penelope caught Joey up on everything they had just seen, including finding the purse in Emilio’s truck.
    “Sounds like he’s up against it, Penny. The girls were found alive?”
    “As far as I know,” Penelope said. She glanced at the paperwork in her hands and unfolded the top portion. She saw Transfer of Deed printed at in the header in swirly letters. Emilio’s name was typed onto the buyer’s line with the name Elizabeth Haverford on the seller line.
    “Sometimes innocent people appear guilty, even when they’re not,” Penelope said, standing up from the couch and heading to the galley. She pulled open the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
    “Hopefully he’s telling the truth and he really had nothing to do with this,” Joey said, finishing his beer. Max held up his bottle to offer him another but Joey declined with a wave. “You believe this guy, and that’s good enough for me. Let’s go deliver the papers to his wife and then we can start enjoying the first day of my vacation.”

Chapter 10

      
    Penelope called the head of transportation to see if they could borrow one of the