Maritime Caper (Coastal Fury Book 12), Matt Lincoln [good books to read for beginners TXT] 📗

“This really is a beautiful place,” Tessa told her. “And we really appreciate you agreeing to come with us today to check out the nautical museum.”

“Oh, of course, of course, my dear,” Paulina said, getting up and gathering up our dishes for us despite our protestations. “I don’t mind at all. I’m always happy to escort my guests around town if they wish. And I’ll get to catch up with an old friend to boot!”

I exchanged a look with Tessa and could tell that she was thinking the same thing that I was. What were we going to tell this woman when Martha, the museum manager, inevitably freaked out upon our arrival? We didn’t exactly want to get kicked out of our hotel or anything.

But it was the best plan we had, and there was some hope that Paulina’s presence might temper Martha’s reaction or make her more amenable to talking with us.

As Paulina scurried around in the kitchen, Tessa leaned in to talk to me.

“So what’s the plan?” she whispered in my ear, her breath tickling pleasantly against my face. “What happens when the manager flips out when she finds out who we are?”

“How about we just play that by ear?” I suggested, glancing over to make sure that Paulina was still out of earshot. “Either way, she already knows I’m in law enforcement. I don’t know that it’s a huge deal to keep the secret from her, and if she kicks us out, oh well. We’ll just shack up at a Best Western or something until we’re ready to head home.”

“I guess that’s a plan,” Tessa chuckled, folding up her napkin and placing it on the table.

“We should just go now,” I murmured. “As soon as Paulina’s ready. We should get this thing over with in case I need to leave, and I want to catch the manager before she figures out we’re here.”

“Do you really think she could know?” Tessa hissed, her eyes widening.

“If there was really someone watching us last night, yeah,” I sighed, not wanting to alarm her. “Who knows? It could’ve been the manager herself.”

“Well, I guess in a way that would make me feel better,” Tessa said with a quiet laugh. “I doubt that that woman could be any danger to us. I was worried it was some mob goon or something like the ones who attacked us back in New York.”

“Well, that’s not exactly off the table, either,” I sighed, shaking my head at the memory of Tessa and I being attacked in that restaurant. “But anyway, we have to find out. And remember to stick close to me and do what I say in the event that something does happen.”

“I already promised that remember?” she asked, sounding a little irritated.

“I know, but it’s worth repeating,” I said, looking her in the eye so that she knew that I was serious. She nodded, and I got up to shoot a message to Diane.

I texted her quickly, asking her to update me on anything that happened at MBLIS and reiterating that I would fly back to Miami at any moment if she wanted me to do so.

“Stop worrying, Marston,” she texted back quickly. “I’m surprised you didn’t message me earlier. I’ll keep you updated.”

I decided not to press the matter and sat down at the foot of the stairwell to wait for Tessa and Paulina.

15

Ethan

Once Paulina was done clearing up the table, having rejected any help from us, Tessa and I drove with her back downtown in our rental car. I parked in the same lot as before, and we headed down the steeply sloped street toward the front entrance to the museum.

As I locked my car, I glanced back in the direction of the next street over, where Tessa and I had had that odd feeling and heard that noise behind us the night before.

I still had an eerie feeling, being back there, and judging by the wary expression on Tessa’s face as we walked, she was feeling the same. But the area was different in broad daylight, and there were lots of people walking around, giving me a greater sense of security.

There were more people on the beach at the end of the sloped street that morning, and I watched as kids and dogs played in the shallow water, and adults lounged on the beach with books and mimosas. It looked like a nice place. I thought that if we had time, maybe I could take Tessa down there one morning, and we could actually get some relaxing in before we left.

The museum doors were open this time, and the light was shining from almost every window in the building. There only looked to be a few people scattered throughout the exhibits as I peered into the ones I could see as we passed.

“Foot traffic will go up in the later morning and afternoon,” Paulina said cheerily, noticing my interest in the crowds. “Not many people get up this early when they’re on vacation! Though I suppose that two high-powered people like you are go-getters even when you’re supposed to be resting.”

“You know me too well already,” I chuckled, thinking that Holm and Diane would never let me live it down if they heard this stranger say that about me.

We let Paulina go in first, just in case the manager was watching. There was just a young man who I recognized from the museum’s website as the intern, Pierce Leal.

Thankfully, he didn’t seem to recognize Tessa or me.

“Good morning, Paulina,” he said brightly when he saw us. “What brings you in today?”

“Oh, I just wanted to stop by and see if I could talk to Martha,” the old woman said, walking up to the front desk where Pierce was and clutching her purse tightly in front of her. “I have some guests who would like to see the museum.”

I breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t said our names as Pierce smiled brightly at us.

“Of