the house, and he followed her. He immediately took off his police cap.
“Is Ray here?” he asked.
“No.”
“That seaweed business of his must really be booming.”
“I guess.” She looked down at her shoes, having caught the sarcasm in his voice. “He doesn’t tell me much about his business dealings.”
“And to think we swam in that stuff as kids, not knowing we were swimming in money the entire time.”
“Show me the green, right?” she said, feeling vulnerable while standing, dressed to kill, before her old boyfriend. “Are you here to give me some bad news about Willow?”
“Preliminary results are showing the remains to be that of a male teen, but that’s between you and me.”
“Dakota James?” The shock of this news caused the fine hairs on her arms to stand up. Did he notice?
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Isla, but you look amazing. Night out with the girls?”
“Not exactly.” She walked over to the coffee table and picked up her black purse.
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Please, Karl. I’m a little more thick skinned than to take offense at a compliment.”
He paused. “What did Bob Oden want?”
“For me to vote for Don Hansen for town council. It seems that both men are fans of Prop Six.”
“Oden’s been pretty bitter ever since his family’s boatyard went into foreclosure after his parents died. A developer from out of town scooped it up for next to nothing and started putting up those McMansions.”
“Have they determined how the boy died?”
“No, but he’d been dead for more than a few months. Looks like murder.”
“Murder?” She covered her mouth. “Do you think his death is connected to Willow’s and Katie’s disappearance?”
“Not really sure yet.” He shrugged. “Ray taking you out tonight?”
“Ray taking me out? Now, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year. I’m lucky if he brings home a pizza or a few burgers every so often.”
Karl didn’t respond.
“Okay, if you really must know, then I’ll tell you. But I’m begging you not to say anything.”
He zippered his lips.
“I’ve been invited to a fund-raiser this evening at Samantha McCallister’s club. It’s being thrown to get one of her friends elected to the town council.”
He chuckled. “Poor Bob Oden would have flipped his wig had he known about that.”
She pointed menacingly at him. “That’s between you and me, Karl.”
“You won’t hear a peep out of this guy. Besides, I’m not sure I approve of taxing one group of people disproportionately because Bob Oden’s been holding a grudge all these years.”
“I hate to sound selfish, but I know for a fact that Samantha’s husband will tear down the building my salon is housed in if this proposition passes.”
“That would be terrible. Make it hard to find another space in the downtown area at the right price.”
“Exactly. He cuts me a break because my grandfather owned the barbershop there for over fifty years. If that goes, so goes my discount.”
“Your grandfather was like a fixture in this town.”
“I miss my grandfather so much. He taught me most everything I know about this business.”
“I’d come to your shop for a trim, but you charge big-city rates. So I do it myself.”
“And believe me, it shows.”
“You think?”
“It’s uneven and all hacked up. Quite a mess, Karl, if you must know the truth.”
“Never really noticed.”
“Too bad, because I might take pity on a charity case like you.” She craned her neck and checked out his hair. “Judging from the looks of it, you should really come and see me. I could work my magic on you.”
“I might take you up on that offer.”
“You really should.”
“Didn’t think it was that bad.”
“I doubt you’ll win over many hearts in this town looking like that Dumb and Dumber guy.”
He laughed, and it reminded her of when they were teenagers.
“I’ll certainly consider it,” he said. “Word of warning, though. You better be careful at that fund-raiser tonight.”
“Why’s that?”
“Those affluent folks want everyone to know how rich and privileged they are. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with your face plastered all over the society pages. People around here might take that the wrong way.”
“I never considered that.”
“Well, you should,” he said. “How’s Katie doing?”
She heard a car coming up the driveway and knew her mother-in-law had arrived. “She’s moved to her bedroom. Says the light hurts her head.”
“Can I swing by and talk to her soon?”
“Please call before you come over,” she said, grabbing her sweater off the chair. “I gotta run, Karl. Ray’s mother is here.”