Suspicion At Sea Read Free

but his backwoods family never approved of her.
    When they were trying to get pregnant, with no luck, Suzy went to a specialist only to find out she had female problems and was the reason she couldn't get pregnant. It made their relationship even more strained. Mary McGill, Jade's mother, made Suzy feel like less of a woman every chance she got. Suzy went into a severe depression, and didn't start getting better until I got home.
    I had been helping her the past few months with finances, trying to figure out how she could get her money back in the divorce. We found out that Jade had worked the business to be only in the McGill name. Suzy had even signed her rights away to the business. She obviously did not know that was what she was doing. He told her they were some tax papers. She trusted him, so she signed with no questions asked. It states specifically that in the case of a divorce, the McGill Fishing Company was not subject to assets owned. About a month ago we contacted a lawyer and he told Suzy it was a very iron clad contract. And with Suzy's signature there in black and white, it would be hard to fight.
    “What's up?” I ask, using my towel to wipe the sweat from my chest and arms. Grabbing a beer from the mini fridge, I tilt the bottle toward my father to offer him one and he shakes his head. With a suit-yourself shrug, I twist open the bottle and take a long swig.
    “Was wondering what you think about the disappearance,” he says. So he's wanting my opinion. I was sure I was going to be arrested as a suspect. Everyone in town knows I would rather punch Jade McGill than look at him. We've had more than one confrontation over the years. When he started cheating on my sister, he hid it at first, but after a while it was like he couldn’t care less and he wasn't sneaky about it either. He didn't have anything to lose, after all, and I was sure he was going to be hitting her with divorce papers before we could. Like I said, we had been working on finding a loophole.
    “I don't know, have you looked into the alien abduction thing?” I deliver my smart ass comment and get a look of disappointment.
    “Son,” he says in a firm, serious tone. I know it's not a joking matter, but I say good riddance to the McGill boys. Fucking assholes, all three of them. They got themselves into something and I think they've paid the price. Now, what that something is and how they disappeared, I can honestly say I have no idea. “The coast guard played the mayday for Mary McGill, and she swears the voice is not one of her boys,” he tells me, talking about their mother, who is the worst of them all.
    “Okay.” I'm not sure what the hell I'm supposed to say here.
    “They want to play it for Suzy, but she hasn't answered her phone and has not been at home. Do you know where she is?” he asks. I know he loves his daughter, but their relationship has also been strained. My sister looks just like our mother, and it is hard for my dad to deal with.
    “She's been staying with a friend in Augusta. I'll see if I can get her to come back.” I mainly say this to get my father to leave. She's been staying there for the last few nights after the news of their disappearance. Tammy Coons, Jade's girlfriend, has been wailing all over town about the loss of the love of her life.
    “Thanks, son,” my father says before leaving, stepping off the boat and onto the dock. I swear my father is clueless. Either he ignores the gossip in town about his son-in-law and Tammy, or he is really just that dense. I watch as he walks down the dock to his patrol car parked in the lot in front of the row of docks. I just shake my head, going in to take a shower.
     
    That evening I walk to The Gull. I haven't talked to Jim in a few days and am wondering what the new gossip is. When I step into the tavern my eyes go directly to the woman sitting at the bar. It's the same woman I saw watching me today; the drop-dead-gorgeous tourist who is staying at Esther's