Deceived - Laura S. Wharton Page 0,10
he got killed. They need to be stopped, but I don’t know where Lee put the key. I’ll be on the last ferry to Southport today.” The note was not signed.
Key? Where? And to what?
After putting the note with the notebooks in the engine compartment, Sam slipped on his Teva sandals and locked the hatches. He drove to Jenny’s to see about Lee’s keychain, but she wasn’t there. Looking at his watch, he saw that the day was zipping by and he hadn’t eaten anything yet.
He headed to Bungie’s Deli where he ordered a mile-high sub with everything on it and a cold tea. As Sam sat outside under the blue-striped umbrella, Andy drove up in his unmarked car. He was still dressed in his uniform.
“Hey, Sam. Sorry you missed the lunch. Edgar put on a real nice spread for us. I think he’s going to miss one of his best customers.” Andy sat down opposite Sam on the cement bench.
“Chuck tells me you are going to take a few days off. If you decide to go sailing and want some crew, let me know. I haven’t taken my boat out in a while, so I would love to go if you’re going. I’ll see if I can get an afternoon off to join you.”
“Thanks, Andy. I’ll call you if I go out. Right now, I’m more interested in what happened.”
“I hear ya, man. It’s a tragedy. But Chief’s got a few ideas, and he’s working on this case. I spoke with him briefly after the service today and he’s got that look in his eyes.”
“What look is that, An’?” Sam asked with a mouthful of sub.
“That look he gets when he is burning inside about a case. I’ve seen it before. It means he won’t quit until he finds the answers.”
“Hmm.” Sam nodded his head, his mouth too full to speak.
“Well, I think I’ll get one of them teas. Give me a call if you want crew, hear?”
“Sure thing, Andy.” Sam raised a hand in a single wave and shoved another bite in. He watched Andy order a drink and leave in his car.
Then Sam headed back to Jenny’s.
Chapter six
Jenny was still in her black dress when she opened the front door for Sam. Without a word, she walked to the beachside screened porch and resumed sitting, staring into the ocean’s midday glare.
Sam followed like a chastened puppy, afraid to break the silence, but eager to ask about Lee’s keys. He sat down on the wicker ottoman at her feet and took a deep breath before speaking.
“Jen, I wonder if I could borrow Lee’s keys.”
“Keys? They’re in the clamshell on the dresser. Help yourself. But what do you need them for? I already gave you the key to Stormy Monday.” Not once did she look away from the ocean’s glassy horizon.
“I just thought I would drive his car so you wouldn’t have to. It’s important to run that Mustang’s engine every couple of days, you know.”
“That’s what Lee always said, too. Sure, you know where it is. Excuse me if I don’t join you.” With that, Jenny looked right through Sam and stepped out on the beach.
Sam watched her walk toward the water’s edge, then turn north. Her walk was slow and steady now, not like this morning at the service, Sam noticed. He headed to Lee and Jenny’s bedroom and found the keys in the wide shell on top of the dresser.
Doing as he said he would, he opened the garage door and slid into the driver’s seat of the classic 1968 Acapulco Blue fastback. This vintage model was a four-speed with a V8 engine. The polished chrome-styled steel on the wheel rims gleamed, and the blue interior looked like something out of a showroom. Even though he was not the Mustang buff Lee was, Sam knew Lee’s car was worth about $25,000 in its current condition. He had helped Lee many nights, taking apart some aspect of that car and putting it back together again. Sam smiled at the dream of owning it, but he shrugged it off when he thought of his salary.
Sam fingered the keys hanging from the ring while the engine purred. No unusual keys, just a house key, a key to Jenny’s maroon Jeep, and the one in the ignition.
Sam pulled out of the driveway and drove toward the highway to warm up the car’s innards. Poor Jenny. One more thing to deal with, Sam thought. But at least this car was a