Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Charmed Summer by Kathi Daley (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📕

“We’re supposed to meet Booker for a drink, but the walkway to the marina’s office is blocked by the two cops who seem to be herding people away from Deputy Todd and the group he’s talking to,” Jemma said.

I glanced back toward the beach where the group that had gathered had begun to break up. Deputy Todd was carrying the paddleboard toward his car, and the teens that had gathered began wandering off in different directions.

“It looks like Todd is about to be freed up,” Parker said, turning and trotting in his direction.

“Did you know Zane?” I asked Jemma.

“Not really, but I know who he is, and I’ve chatted with his mom, June, a few times. June works part-time for the town and she volunteers at the library. She’s a nice woman, and I know she adores her children. I hope Zane’s okay.”

“And Zane’s father?” I asked.

“He’s actually a bit of an ogre. I never really liked him or his politics.”

“Does Zane have siblings?”

Jemma nodded. “He’s the baby of the family, but he has a sister named Cora, who I think is a freshman in college this year. I seem to remember I heard that she was headed toward the east coast this past fall.” Jemma paused, furrowing her brow slightly. She glanced back toward the beach. “I don’t know Zane well, but I do know someone who might know something about what’s going on.”

“Oh? Who’s that?”

“A boy named Artie Drysdale. Artie is Jim Drysdale’s son, the man who owns the curio shop a few doors down from your office. I think Jim knows Josie from a book club the two used to belong to.”

“And you think Artie might know what’s going on with Zane?”

“Artie and Zane run with the same group of kids, so I think he might.” She looked at her watch. “I’ll text him and ask him to call me when he has a minute. I don’t know for certain if he knows anything, but if he was part of the crowd Zane was supposed to meet up with, at the very least, he should know if he ever showed up.”

“It seems like it might be worth looking into things. If Zane’s missing and still alive rather than a drowning victim, then finding him as soon as possible is important.” I glanced back toward the crowd. “Should we try to make our way over to Booker?”

“Yeah. Let’s give it a try. If we can’t get in for some reason, I’ll text Booker and suggest he just meet us at the bar.”

Chapter 2

The cops near the marina’s entrance weren’t letting anyone in, so Jemma texted Booker to suggest that he just meet us at the bar down the street. He indicated that he would and that he should be there shortly, so Jemma and I went ahead and set off in that direction. When we arrived at the pub where we’d arranged to meet Booker, Jemma headed to the bar for a couple glasses of wine while I snagged a table near a window.

“So, how’s the PI business been treating you while I was away?” Jemma asked once we’d settled in to wait.

“It’s been slow, but I knew going in that getting established would take a while.”

“I guess you really don’t need the money.”

I thought about the bank account Warren had established for me. “No,” I answered. “I guess I don’t need the money, but I enjoy the challenge of taking on a new case and helping people.”

“Anything interesting?”

I shrugged. “Not really interesting. I was asked to help one of the vendors on the boardwalk figure out who was vandalizing his cart at night, and after my success with Lizzy’s lost cat, I’ve had a few lost dog cases. Oh, and a woman asked me to try to figure out where she might have left her purse. I guess she had a bunch of cash inside when she misplaced it.”

“She misplaced it? Where was it?”

“She’d left it in the ladies’ room at a restaurant she’d visited earlier that week. Once we retraced her steps, it was pretty easy to find. I don’t know why she even needed my help, but she did seem confused, and I think having someone to talk things through with helped her remember. I didn’t charge her for such a simple case, but she did give me an unopened roll of mints as a tip.”

Jemma smiled. “Well, I guess everyone has to start somewhere. It sounds like your name is getting out there.”

“Yeah. I feel like that first big case is just around the corner.” I waved at Booker, who’d just walked in. He motioned that he was going to grab a beer, and then he crossed the room and joined us.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” he said after he slipped onto the stool.

“No problem,” Jemma said. “We were happy to. I think it’s sweet you’re going to so much trouble for Tegan’s birthday.”

“What are you trying to find?” I asked.

“A first edition of The Prairie Wife Cookbook. It was originally published in eighteen eighty-two. It wasn’t super popular like Betty Crocker cookbooks, so there aren’t a lot of copies out there. Tegan told me a while back that her grandmother had one, and she’d always wished she’d kept it since it reminded her of the woman who’d first taught her to cook.” He pulled his phone out and showed Jemma the cover. “I tried all the ordinary places but haven’t had any luck. I thought you might have more luck.”

“I’m happy to take a look. Can you text me that cover?”

He nodded and did so. I wasn’t sure why a meeting was required for this simple request, but I supposed Booker really did want to make sure the gift was a