A Watery Death (A Missing Pieces Mystery Book 7) Read Free Page B

about you, Kevin?”
    “What’s not to like? The Blue Whale Inn is always full. That’s good for me.”
    “It’s the extra traffic on the roads,” I explained. “Everyone has been at Missing Pieces complaining about it. There’s also the problem with extra criminal activity, just like Sheriff Riley warned. Residents don’t like it.”
    Cody agreed. “Chief Michaels said he arrested twenty shoplifters last month. That’s a record for us, even over the summer. He and Sheriff Riley are behind Mad Dog on getting rid of the gambling ship.”
    “It should be an interesting conversation,” Kevin said. “In my experience, it’s not easy to get rid of something you’ve already allowed.”
    I knew Kevin was right. The nervous council members had discussed it. It might only be people who lived here full-time who didn’t like the gambling ship, but they were the people who voted.
    Cody said he’d see us later and headed toward the kitchen.
    “So when is the next wedding party?” Kevin asked. “We’re not hosting it at the Blue Whale.”
    “That’s because it’s at Trudy’s grandmother’s house in Kill Devil Hills. I think the one after that is at her aunt’s house.”
    “And when is our first engagement party?”
    “Right after Trudy leaves on her honeymoon.” I smiled at him as I got my things together to leave. “Do you want to host it at the inn?”
    Kevin got his credit card back from the cashier, and we left Wild Stallions.
    “That’s fine.” He took me in his arms as we stepped out on the boardwalk. There was a small, secluded corner beside the restaurant locally known as Lover’s Nook. “And when are you moving in with me?”
    He kissed me, and I waved to several Duck residents who laughed at us hiding in Lover’s Nook like a couple of teenagers.
    “After the wedding?” I wasn’t quite sure about that part.
    I wanted to marry Kevin, but I felt bad leaving Gramps alone at the house. I knew he could take care of himself, but he’d never lived alone. He was born and raised there. My mother hadn’t left home when she’d found out she was pregnant with me. Then my grandmother died, and my mom and I lived there with him. Now there was only him and me.
    “I don’t have to be gifted to know that you’re not telling me everything,” Kevin half joked. “What’s wrong, Dae?”
    “It’s nothing,” I told him with a big kiss. “I should get back to the shop. This is my biggest weekend, you know. I don’t want to miss an important sale.”
    Kevin walked back to Missing Pieces with me but didn’t bring up anything else about us getting married or moving in together. I was glad, since I had no ready answers to why I was troubled about leaving Gramps.
    It was probably just pre-wedding jitters. Trudy had been worried about all kinds of crazy things while we’d been planning her wedding.
    We parted with another kiss and a long hug at the open door, until a customer brushed by us and went into the shop.
    “I’ll see you later. I love you, Dae.”
    “I love you too, Kevin.” I watched him walk down the boardwalk, troubled by our conversation and something more. I could feel a prickling of something about to happen between my shoulder blades.
    It was hot, and the air-conditioning was on, but I wished I could leave the door open as I did spring, fall, and winter. The breezes from the sound were always pleasant, but the back of the shop got hot and humid if the door stayed open too long. Most customers didn’t like lingering to look things over in that kind of environment.
    A few customers came and went in quick succession. I was alone again and sorry that I’d sent Kevin away. Maybe we could’ve talked out the problem about the wedding. There might be an answer that I wasn’t seeing about Gramps. But I knew Kevin was busy at the inn too. We’d talk later.
    Since I wasn’t busy, I lifted the coral horn that I’d stashed in the locked glass case until I could put it away. I didn’t want