Catch of the Dead (A Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) Read online

  Do not let your down guard.

  Do not be afraid.

  Ask for help when necessary.

  Love,

  Caroline

  Hannah read the letter again before she handed it to Jack. Her mind swirled. How could her father get control of the property from her? It didn’t seem possible.

  Never mind the overly dramatic warnings. Don’t be afraid? Afraid of what?

  Jack read the letter. “I wouldn’t worry about this too much. I think Caroline must have been concerned before the property was in your name. What could your father do now?”

  Hannah swiped her finger across her upper lip, wiping away a bead of sweat. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Although, if she was honest with herself, her father was clever and she was glad for this warning. Just in case. Her father would never get his hands on the beautiful ocean front property as long as Hannah had a breath in her body.

  She steeled her shoulders, pushed a few stray hairs behind her ears, and stood. “I have a business to run, and Meg is probably wondering where I’ve been. I hope she isn’t too swamped with customers at the snack bar, plus the extra planning for Sunday’s Taste of Hooks Harbor.”

  Jack chuckled. “Meg will complain regardless. It’s her nature. But you know she’s as loyal to you as Nellie is. If you’re father does try anything, he’ll have to get through her first.”

  Nellie woofed at the sound of her name.

  Hannah followed Jack and Nellie outside. “We’ve been focusing on my life, but don’t you have something to share, Jack?”

  He turned toward Hannah. His cheeks were suddenly a shade of pink that Hannah had never seen on his face before. “What are you talking about?”

  “Shelly Vaughn? Rumor has it that you’ve been spending an awful lot of time at her house.” Hannah tried to keep a big grin from erupting across her face but she lost that battle.

  “Meg told you, didn’t she? She can’t keep her mouth closed if it’s stuffed full of a handful of her hand cut, cooked-to-crispy-perfection French fries.”

  “Don’t try to change the subject. It’s about time you’ve started to enjoy the company of the opposite sex. I don’t know why you felt you had to keep it a secret.” Hannah linked her arm through her friend’s. Even though at least fifty years separated their ages, Hannah and Jack had a close friendship.

  “It’s Pam.” Jack shook his head. “You know my daughter. She’s testy in the best of times and I don’t think she can handle me seeing someone since her mother died. Shelly and I are friends. That’s it. It’s enough for both of us. But Pam will jump to all sorts of conclusions and make my life miserable.”

  “Give her some credit. She’s a grown woman and she should be happy for you.” Hannah jiggled Jack’s arm as they approached The Fishy Dish.

  “She should be, but I’m afraid that’s not how Pam will see it. You know she still doesn’t like you much.” Jack sighed as he reached to open the back door leading into the snack bar’s kitchen. “No, I’m afraid Pam wants to be the only female in my life.”

  Meg, Hannah’s cook and right hand helper at The Fishy Dish, turned around at the sound of the squeaky door. “About time. Someone’s been sitting outside asking every five minutes when you’d be here, Hannah. She’s a doozy.”

  Hannah peeked through the kitchen door overlooking the big deck with the ocean beyond. She saw long straight blond hair. “Great. It’s Adele. I wasn’t expecting to see her this soon.”

  Hannah’s stomach churned.

  “Who is she?” Meg asked.

  “A part of my past that I was hoping would never find me in Hooks Harbor.”

  3

  Without giving herself a chance to change her mind, Hannah pushed through the door of the snack bar kitchen and walked toward Adele who sat fidgeting with her sunglasses at a table outside under the bright sun.

  “Jeez, where have you been?” she asked as soon as Hannah came into her line of vision. “Aren’t you supposed to be running this place?”

  It would have been nice to hear Hi, Hannah. Haven’t seen you for a while. You sure do have a nice place here. But Adele was all about Adele.

  She continued without waiting for a reply from Hannah. “I only have another five minutes before I have to get back to my sand sculpture. I took a break because your father said he’d meet me here.” She stood and put her hands on her hips.

  Hannah was annoyed to see that Adele was even prettier than she had been in high school. Her long hair, hanging halfway down her back, was that golden-blond color that comes from plenty of time in the sun. Her skin glowed with a healthy tan over a perfectly smooth surface, and a silver mermaid necklace glistened above her pink tank top. The scent of sunscreen wafted to Hannah’s nose.

  “Well? Have your parents arrived yet?” She rubbed her silver pendant between her thumb and forefinger.

  “I haven’t seen them yet. They didn’t exactly fill me in on their minute by minute schedule.” Or even their day to day plans, for that matter.

  “Well, tell them I had to get back to my work. They can find me at the beach next to the marina. I’m sure they’ll want to see my sculpture since your father told me that’s the reason they’re coming to this speck-of-dust town anyway.”

  “Sure. I’ll let them know.” If I remember, she added to herself.

  Adele started to walk away but stopped and turned back toward Hannah. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she gave Hannah a full-body scan. “Oh, you put on a few pounds since I saw you last. Not flattering.”

  Hannah felt her mouth fall open but she quickly closed it. She didn’t want Adele to have the satisfaction of knowing she managed to get under her skin with a twist-of-her-knife-blade insult.

  She felt an arm encircle her waist and she managed to relax a couple of her tense muscles.

  “Don’t listen to her. She sounds like an entitled, spoiled brat.” Cal, Hannah’s boyfriend, whispered in her ear. The air from his words tickled her cheek. “You’re perfect just how you are.”

  Hannah leaned against Cal’s strong chest. “Thanks. And you hit the nail on the head with your analysis. I should know better than to let her goad me but I’m a little out of practice since I haven’t seen her for about ten years.”

  “Close your eyes and take a deep breath of this salty ocean air. That will clear away all toxins, even those that come packaged in the body of a mermaid.”

  Hannah let her eyelids close. She breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. Cal was right; concentrating on a cleansing breath sent all thoughts of Adele Bailey out of her system. For the moment.

  “Now that you’ve taken care of that problem, come on up to see your new abode. I think you’ll be thrilled with the final result.”

  “Can I move in today?” Hannah asked, her excitement soaring.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Perfect, because I’m having a sleepover tonight.”

  Cal wiggled his eyebrows. “I like the sound of that.” He took her hand and led her up the path to the new cottage.

  “I don’t want to disappoint you, but someone else is coming.” Hannah had to jog to keep up with Cal’s long strides.

  Cal’s bottom lip pouted out as he looked down into Hannah’s upturned face. “Should I be worried?”

  “Only if you’re afraid of a little competition from an energetic six-year-old who wants to roast marshmallows and sleep on the floor.”

  Cal laughed. “Oh, and I’m sure Olivia will be bringing Theodore with her.”

  “Of course, that stuffed bear goes everywhere with her. I never knew Theodore would be her dearest companion when you entrusted him to her.” Hannah remembered how Cal had helped Olivia through a sad time by sharing his thirty-year-old childhood bear with her. Olivia took the responsibility of caring for the bear very seriously.

  “Close your eyes,” Cal instructed Hannah as they approached her new cottage.

  She dutifully put her hand over her eyes but did leave a small sliver for peeking. Her hear
t raced with anticipation.

  Cal held her elbow and guided her up the stairs onto her porch. He turned her around. “Sit.” After she was comfortable, he said, “Open your eyes.”

  Hannah lowered her hand but didn’t open her eyes immediately. Instead, she relaxed and let her other senses take over with the call of seagulls filling her ears and the ocean’s salty breeze filling her nose.

  When she finally opened her eyes, an uninterrupted view of the ocean spread out for miles. Waves made their steady race to shore. The seagulls she heard now swooped through the blue sky, dancing on the wind currents. In the distance, boats chugged along, barely visible. Everything fit together in perfect harmony. Could it last, she wondered?

  “What do you think?” Cal asked with an unmistakable twinge of concern.

  Hannah pushed herself on the hanging swing. The back and forth motion seemed to be timed with the ocean surges. “This is my paradise, my Slo N EZ little paradise.”

  “Want to go inside?” Cal held his hand out.

  “I could sit here all day and enjoy this peaceful feeling with the hope that nothing would ever happen to end it.” She stood, knowing that was an impossible wish. “I had a bit of disturbing news this morning.”

  She rubbed her fingers on the ocean-blue lettering—Slo N EZ—carved into the sign as they walked inside. Cal waited for Hannah to continue.

  “Ruby just found out that our parents are coming to Hooks Harbor.”

  “That’s bad?” Cal asked.

  Hannah had never told him too much about her parents, only that they were traveling all the time. “The visit itself is stressful but there’s more. Great Aunt Caroline left a letter for me to read in the event that my father showed up here.”

  Cal and Hannah stood looking out the big window of her new living room. “She warned me that my father could try to take this property away from me.” She held up her hand to keep Cal from interrupting. “I know it sounds impossible, but I know my father and he never gives up on what he wants.”

  “Take the warning with a grain of sand, pun intended,” Cal grinned at Hannah. “Caroline wrote that letter before she died and she couldn’t know how events would evolve after you moved here. This paradise is yours, and if I know anything about you, no one will take it away.”

  Hannah leaned against Cal. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. My brain tells me that’s what makes sense, but my heart is filled with dread and it’s hard for me not to have some uneasiness surrounding this weekend. My father and Adele Bailey are a hard combination to fight against. They drain my energy.”

  The screech of an excited little girl and the thump of sandals hitting the front porch made Hannah forget her worries. She bent down and scooped her niece off the floor and twirled her around in circles. “I hear that someone wants to have a sleep over.”

  “Yes. Theodore is so excited to come and visit. And me, too,” Olivia added as if her teddy bear could visit Hannah on his own.

  Everyone laughed. Cal nudged Hannah and leaned close to her ear. “Just think of Olivia when you start to have a stressful moment this weekend. She’ll put a smile on your face and recharge your batteries.”

  Hannah nodded but decided dreaming about Cal with eyes that rivaled the blue of the ocean and hair that matched the sandy beach would relieve her stress even better.

  “I’ll bring over pizza and beer tonight if you let me hang out with you girls at your campsite,” Cal suggested.

  Olivia jumped up and down. “Yes. I want cheesy pizza and Theodore likes that, too. But I don’t like beer.” Her bottom lip turned down into a grimace.

  Cal patted Olivia’s head. “I’ll get you some lemonade along with that cheesy pizza. How does that sound?”

  “Yay!” Olivia danced around the empty space. “Where will we build the tent, Aunt Hannah?”

  That presented a problem since there was no furniture to drape sheets over. “I’ll surprise you. By the time you and your mom get back here, I’ll have it all set up. Just bring your sleeping bag and your toothbrush. Come back at six.”

  “And Theodore,” Olivia reminded her aunt. “He’s really looking forward to a sleepover.”

  Ruby rolled her eyes after Olivia ran past her to the porch. “I swear, she thinks that teddy bear is real.”

  “He is to her and it’s not a bad thing.” Hannah wrapped her arm around her sister’s waist. “I’m heading over to the sand sculpting event to try to head off Mom and Dad showing up here when I least expect them.”

  “Like tonight when you’re enjoying your new cottage?”

  “Exactly. I had a visit from Adele not too long ago.” Hannah pulled her braid over her shoulder and rubbed her fingers on the silky ends of her hair.

  “And?” Ruby stopped and turned to face Hannah. “There must be more to that comment.”

  Hannah shrugged. “Nothing worth repeating.”

  “Come on, Hannah. Tell me what you two talked about.”

  “She told me my extra pounds aren’t flattering, and the only reason Mom and Dad are coming to Hooks Harbor is to see her. She hasn’t changed one iota, or maybe she has. She has probably matured into a more self-centered, full-of-herself, entitled brat than we ever knew when we all lived in California.”

  “Wow. Don’t mince any words,” Cal said with a tone that implied he hoped to lighten Hannah’s mood. “Can you use her to your advantage somehow?”

  Hannah’s face bloomed into a grin. “Of course. That’s the perfect suggestion. Since Mom and Dad are here to see Adele, and they didn’t give us any notice, we’ll have to explain we are already tied up for the evening. Unfortunate, but unavoidable,” Hannah added with a mock sad face.

  They all stood on Hannah’s porch and drank in the peaceful view. “As far as they know, I’m still living in Cottage One. I’ll get them settled into their cottage, Something’s Fishy, and they’ll be on their own with Adele.”

  Olivia was already halfway down the path to the snack bar with Nellie faithfully at her side.

  “That sounds like a good plan,” Ruby agreed. “For now, I’d better catch up with Olivia and get her home for a late lunch. We’ll see you at six, sharp. Hannah?” Ruby rested her hand on Hannah’s arm.

  “What?”

  “This is important to Olivia. Please don’t get sidetracked with anything else.”

  “Nope. I’ll get some furniture moved up here.” Hannah glanced at Cal and he nodded. “We’ll have my new living room transformed into the best sleep over space she could imagine.”

  Ruby smiled. “Sounds perfect. Good luck with Adele.” Ruby jogged after Olivia and they disappeared down the road to their house.

  “I take it you’re hoping for some help moving furniture?” Cal walked beside Hannah.

  Hannah bumped her hip into Cal. “I’m so glad you can read my mind. Let’s start with a couple of chairs. That can be my foundation to hold the sheets for our tent.”

  “Our tent? I like the sound of that.” Cal returned the hip bump. “Camping is kind of romantic. Even if it’s in your new cottage instead of in a real tent.”

  “Well, don’t forget, there won’t be much romance with a wiggly six-year-old and her teddy bear jostling for space between us.”

  “At least I’ve finally managed to be included in the overnight part. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to crash this all-girl party.”

  “It’s the least I can do with all the help you’ll be giving me for the next hour.”

  “And don’t forget the pizza and beer contribution,” Cal added. He opened the door of Hannah’s half of Cottage One and followed her inside. He looked at her belongings. “One hour? To move all this?”

  “Only what we need for tonight. I don’t want it to look empty and tip off my folks. They can think I still live here and I’ll be safe in Slo N EZ. We’ll get a few things in the new cottage, then I’m off to the beach to see what’s going on with the sand sculpting.”

  Cal picked up one of Hannah’s comfy chairs. “I heard that
Rory Duff is the hands-down favorite to win the competition. You know, the home boy thing and all. And his girlfriend has made no secret of the fact that the prize money will be their ticket out of town.”

  “That won’t sit well with Adele. She never loses when she sets her focus on something. I doubt she even cares about the money; winning is her game. Rory definitely has his hands full if he expects to win this competition since Adele has more tricks up her sleeve than a magician.”

  4

  Before Hannah and Cal left for the sand sculpting event, they managed to make a cozy sleepover space in her new cottage. Using two chairs, a small table, and lots of sheets, they transformed her mostly-empty cottage into a magical wonderland that any six-year-old would love. Cal attached two thin ropes to the ceiling to act as the frame and Hannah attached pink sheets with clothes pins. A few glow in the dark stars plus strings of fairy lights on the ceiling created an enchanted indoor sky for when it got dark. A big blanket was spread out next to the tent for their picnic area, and Hannah brought her special bag of toys to play with until Olivia went to sleep.

  When they arrived at the beach, it was packed with tourists. All of Hannah’s thoughts of her sleepover with Olivia flew out of her brain. As soon as she saw Adele putting the finishing touches on her sculpture, her blood pressure soared. She hated to admit how lifelike the sand mermaid appeared with its individual scales, long flowing hair, and sly grin as it rested with one elbow on a wall of carved stones.

  Another sculpture, beyond Adele’s, that caught her eye, captured the essence of Hooks Harbor. A lobster boat with a trap and several lobsters inside drifted on a wave carved on the beach.

  “Hannah, come over and take a look at Rory’s creation. He’s sure to win.” Jack waved to Hannah as he stood with his arm resting on Shelly Vaughn’s shoulder.

  Cal leaned close to Hannah and whispered, “Is that Jack’s new girlfriend?”

  “He says they’re only friends.” Hannah waved to Jack and dragged Cal closer.