see the idea of not driving back to the bed and breakfast wasn’t going over well, but then Neal came in from outside and joined the discussion. I couldn’t hear what was going on, but soon Greg came back to sit by me.
“What’s the plan?” I whispered, keeping my gaze away from Steve and Nan.
Greg held out his hand to help me from my chair. “If you’re ready, we can head home. Neal’s talked them into letting him drive them back. He explained it was all about his insurance, and that if something happened, even a fender bender, he’d be liable. So they agreed to let him drive them back to the B and B.”
And just like that, a possible tragedy had been averted.
Chapter 4
Greg’s cell rang way too early. He reached over to the nightstand, answered it, and like the perfect gentleman he was, took the call out into the hallway. Or maybe downstairs, as I heard Emma going down, probably wanting out.
I glanced at the clock. Three a.m.! I’m an early riser, but this was ridiculous. I rolled away from the light and went back to sleep.
When my alarm went off I reached over and found Greg’s side of the bed cold. Either he hadn’t come back to bed or he’d already gotten up and was downstairs drinking coffee. I rubbed my bleary eyes and then rubbed Emma’s head as I slipped on my flip-flops. “Hey, girl, do you need to go out? Isn’t Greg downstairs?”
That question got a responding woof, which I took to mean that Greg, like Elvis, had left the building. I’d call him later. I went through my morning routine and when I got downstairs I checked the weather. Emma and I would run this afternoon. I had time now, but it was still a little chilly this morning. Besides, the beach looked a little creepy as the fog settled around rock formations and the shore. I liked my run bright and shiny so I didn’t run into anything. Or anyone.
I sat down with my coffee and a banana muffin I’d brought home from the shop. Well, I’d brought home an assortment on Monday, but that was just because they hadn’t sold over the weekend. Technically, I was doing the shop a favor. I dialed Greg’s number. It went straight to voice mail. “Hey, just thinking about you. Call me and tell me what was so important you had to leave our bed at three in the morning.”
I hung up, certain I’d thrown just enough guilt into the question so he’d feel obligated to answer. I hated to do it, but a girl’s got to have some tricks up her sleeve. I finished my breakfast and took the extra time to read a little in the new romance. I set an alarm to go off just before the shop opened, just in case I’d gotten lost in the story.
I’d been right. And when the alarm sounded my head was running with some new book boyfriend who enjoyed long walks on the beach and blowing things up. In a totally good way.
I gave my dog a kiss and started walking into town. Esmeralda’s house was dark. She’d probably already left for work an hour ago. I had planned on talking to Greg about how weird she’d been last night, but we’d gotten sidetracked when we arrived home. My cheeks flushed at the memory. And then cooled off right away when I crested the hill and saw the emergency lights ahead. Right in front of the Drunken Art Studio.
Police cruisers and an ambulance were parked in front of the building, lights flashing, but no one except Meredith stood outside the front door. She was staring inside one of the large windows and didn’t see me approach. I reached out my hand to touch her arm and she jumped.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I glanced around at the empty street. “What happened? Is Neal all right?”
“Besides being a lying cheat?” Meredith shook her head. “Yes, I mean, I guess I don’t know. He didn’t come home last night. We got in a stupid fight about me treating him like a servant. He has an art degree too. He does digital stuff. It’s amazing, just not very popular or accessible for most people. That’s why I teach the classes. I’m better with humans. I’m so glad I have a kickboxing class later to wear off all this negativity. I really need to beat on something.”
I