Dead Reckoning (Lantern Beach Mayday Book 2) Read online

  She couldn’t see herself purposefully trying to ruin someone else’s life. But if she didn’t do this, then someone else would purposefully try to ruin Jimmy James’ life.

  Neither option seemed fair.

  And neither option seemed like one she could live with.

  Kenzie rubbed her arms as she stared at the senator and then at Jimmy James.

  What was she going to do?

  Later in the evening, Kenzie stood at the rail looking at the horizon.

  “Hi, there,” a soft voice said.

  She glanced over and saw Lori Williams approaching.

  Kenzie quickly flashed a smile. “Good evening.”

  Lori paused, leaning on the rail beside her. “I love it out here. It’s so peaceful, and it helps me feel balanced, if that makes sense.”

  “I totally understand. I feel the same way.” Kenzie straightened, realizing she was feeling a little too comfortable. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  Lori waved her hand in the air before touching the necklace at her throat. “No, don’t be ridiculous. Consider yourself off duty.”

  Kenzie smiled again. She liked this woman. She seemed sweet and down-to-earth—not the kind of person Kenzie would ever want to purposefully hurt. Not that she’d want to hurt anyone.

  She suppressed a sigh.

  “It feels so good to get away from everything,” Lori continued. “You can’t imagine the pressures of this political race.”

  “No, I can’t. You seem to retain your composure well.”

  “It’s taken a lot of practice. Believe me. I wasn’t born this way. I was shaped this way.”

  Kenzie wasn’t sure how to take that statement. But part of her understood being forced into a role that you weren’t quite comfortable with. She’d broken away from those expectations for her life.

  But this was just the start of forging her own way. It wouldn’t be easy, but she hoped the payoff was worth it.

  “Whatever you do, don’t let anyone make you into someone you’re not.” Lori gripped the rail until her knuckles turned white. “Because, one day, you might wake up and realize you’re just a shell of who you used to be.”

  Kenzie swallowed hard. “Thanks for the advice.”

  “You probably think I’m crazy.”

  “I don’t. Not at all. In fact, I’m here against my family’s wishes. I was supposed to go back to med school soon.”

  Lori’s eyes lit. “Good for you, taking control of your own destiny. Color me impressed.”

  “Thanks for the encouragement. I doubt myself sometimes.”

  “Everyone else will doubt you,” Lori said. “The only person you can depend on to believe in you is yourself.”

  Lori’s words echoed in her head. It was true. She had to believe in herself. She couldn’t wait for other people to catch up.

  Before they could talk anymore, a new sound rang in the darkness.

  Gunfire.

  Kenzie sucked in a breath before yelling, “Duck!”

  Then she tackled Lori to the deck.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The bodyguards rushed toward them.

  Kenzie’s heart pounded as she waited, anticipating the worst. Anticipating pain. Chaos.

  Danger.

  “It was fireworks,” one of the guards said.

  Kenzie felt herself freeze. “Fireworks?”

  As if to answer her question, red and blue lights cascaded in the sky from the shore in the distance.

  The bodyguard nodded, quickly rolling his eyes to the side as if annoyed. “That’s right.”

  Kenzie pulled herself away from Lori and frowned as she realized she’d overreacted. “I’m so sorry, ma’am.”

  The guards helped Lori to her feet, and she brushed her designer pants off as she composed herself. “It’s . . . okay. You really are trained well on this charter, aren’t you?”

  “I . . . my mind went to worst-case scenarios. I apologize again. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “No, you didn’t. I appreciate your diligence.” She fluffed her hair before nodding toward the interior. “But I think I’ll retire for the evening now. I’ve had my excitement for the night.”

  “Of course.” Kenzie’s cheeks still flushed.

  As Lori departed, the two guards flanked either side of her.

  Kenzie fanned her warm face, wishing she could have a redo. The fireworks still exploding in the distance almost seemed to taunt her, each explosion reminding her that she’d overreacted.

  Was this what Kenzie’s life had come down to? Always being nervous about what was going to happen next?

  That’s how it seemed.

  She wasn’t sure she was going to be able to move past this until whoever had killed Ashley was put behind bars.

  Who could the murderer be?

  Initially, she’d thought it might be Thatcher or one of his men. But they had alibis.

  Could Ashley Nelson have enemies who’d followed her here?

  Who was the woman Sunni had seen arguing with Ashley?

  Was Harbormaster Stevie-o hiding something?

  Kenzie still had so many questions and not enough answers.

  Jimmy James heard a knock on the door behind him and turned, hoping to see Kenzie step onto the bridge.

  His hopes were dashed when he saw Senator Williams instead.

  Jimmy James forced a smile. “Senator. How are you?”

  “Hello, Captain Gamble.” Senator Williams took another step inside. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” Jimmy James said. “Come on over.”

  The senator came and stood beside him at the helm. “I hear your crew is very well trained.”

  Jimmy James frowned. He’d heard what happened with Lori Williams. He knew Kenzie was on edge after everything that happened.

  But guests couldn’t be tackled for no reason.

  “I apologize for that,” Jimmy James said.

  “It’s okay. It’s kind of funny, actually. Maybe not to Lori but . . .” He shrugged.

  Jimmy James was thankful they weren’t more upset about the incident.

  The senator shoved that topic aside and began asking questions, and Jimmy James explained how the boat operated.

  “Let me just tell you,” Senator Williams said. “It’s great to be here. I look forward to getting away from the rat race, and I appreciate you accommodating us. I know that our request was last minute.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you even hear about us?”

  “Through a friend of a friend,” he said. “He told me you guys were new and, because of that, had some openings. I didn’t even know charters like this left from the North Carolina coast.”

  “I can only imagine that things are probably pretty stressful for you around this time of year with the election looming,” Jimmy James said.

  “You can say that again.” Senator Williams stared into the water. “I love what I do, but I don’t actually love campaigning. It takes away from my real work—making this country live up to her potential. To do that, you have to make compromises sometimes.”

  Jimmy James swallowed hard as questions circled in his head. “I imagine the scrutiny is hard.”

  “It is. I guess you learn that it comes with the job.”

  “And the threats?” Jimmy James glanced at him, hoping he wasn’t overstepping. “I’m assuming you have some since you brought two bodyguards with you. Seems like it would come with the territory.”

  Senator Williams frowned. “Yes, there are always threats—especially from the Kinnakeet Society.”

  Jimmy James’ breath caught. “The Kinnakeet Society?”

  Senator Williams threw a surprised glance at him. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of them. It’s an environmental group, and they’ve decided that they hate me ever since I gave my support to an oil company that wants to drill wells in the ocean.”

  “They’re that upset, huh?”

  He let out a garbled chuckle and nodde
d. “Yes, they are. In fact, they poured oil all over my car one day—oil, the very substance they’re so opposed to. It only escalated from there.”

  “They sound pretty vile.”

  “They’re passionate and vile—a very dangerous combination.”

  Jimmy James stored the name of that group in the back of his mind, just in case it was significant.

  If someone for some reason was targeting the senator, maybe it was a member of that group.

  Jimmy James couldn’t say for sure that the senator was being targeted. But it seemed like too much of a coincidence for him to be here and not be in some sort of danger.

  His back muscles bristled at the thought.

  Just what had he gotten himself into as captain of this charter?

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The first day of the charter had proven, so far, to be uneventful. At least, in Kenzie’s estimation.

  The senator and his family had been pleasant to be around and hadn’t been too demanding like some guests tended to be. Kenzie had heard stories about some guests who demanded hundreds of peach roses to adorn the space during their charter or exotic fruits shipped from other countries or expensive workout equipment.

  As Kenzie headed toward the laundry, she paused when she saw the senator reading a book on one of the lounge chairs.

  She glanced around but didn’t see anyone else nearby. His two guards were stationed on either side of the boat, but not near the senator. Not right now, at least.

  Kenzie licked her lips. Was this her chance to do something?

  Her stomach turned at the thought of it. It did seem like a good opportunity. All she had to do was step close to him and start up a casual conversation. Maybe brush something out of his eye. Maybe pretend to stumble and have him catch her.

  She didn’t want to do any of those things. They weren’t in her nature. In fact, thinking about the request just made her angry.

  There was no way she could do this. No way.

  But if she were to do it . . . then this would be the perfect time. It was like the opportunity was right in front of her.

  Jimmy James’ face flashed in her mind. Then she thought about him giving up everything to go to jail.

  Part of her thought that it was her fault. She was the one who had caused this. As a result, now she was being targeted, as was Jimmy James because of his connection to her.

  Whatever happened, it felt like it would all be her fault.

  She rubbed her throat as she felt it tighten.

  Maybe she should do it. Just make it something innocent and quick. She could deny it later because nothing was going to happen.

  She frowned again. She just couldn’t bring herself to go any closer. Every fiber of her being rebelled at the thought of it.

  “Could you get me some water?”

  Kenzie startled at the sound. She looked up and saw one of the security guards standing near her.

  How long had he been watching her?

  She wasn’t sure. The fact that she wasn’t sure made her uncomfortable. She had to pay better attention.

  Either way, it looked like her opportunity was now gone.

  Kenzie smiled at the security guard. “Of course. One moment.”

  Then she disappeared into the galley to retrieve his drink.

  They anchored the boat for the evening off the coast of Beaufort, a small, historic town nestled on the North Carolina coast.

  In the meantime, Jimmy James stepped onto the main deck and spotted the senator reading in a lounge chair.

  Did Williams have any idea he could be in danger? Did he have any idea that the woman who’d died in Lantern Beach harbor was somehow connected with the man running against him for office?

  His gaze went to the security guards flanking either side of him.

  Something about their presence on the boat bothered Jimmy James. Maybe it was their aloofness. The secret looks they exchanged. The way they acted as if they were the top authority on the boat.

  Feeling satisfied for the moment that everything was okay, he headed back to the captain’s quarters.

  After grabbing his computer, he looked up that environmental group that the senator had told him about earlier.

  Kinnakeet Society.

  He scrolled through pages of things they’d objected to. Many of their protests were centered along the North Carolina coast.

  And they were very vocal about their opposition.

  They had a distinct symbol—a circle with waves at the bottom and a silhouette of a pelican above it.

  He’d seen that somewhere before.

  Where?

  Jimmy James couldn’t place it, but he thought for sure it was a sticker he’d seen on a car at the harbor recently.

  Was that significant?

  He wasn’t sure, but it could be.

  Next, he went to Ashley Nelson’s page on social media and began to scroll through all her posts. He didn’t expect to find anything.

  But he saw a post from a year ago.

  A post that was shared from the Kinnakeet Society.

  Ashley had clearly been aware of who they were. Was this group the connection he’d been looking for? Was Sampson somehow tied in with this whole mess also?

  There were too many pieces that didn’t connect . . . Not yet.

  But if Jimmy James wanted Kenzie safe, then he needed to figure out how all these people were connected. Maybe when he saw where the lines intersected, he’d have his answer about what had really happened.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Kenzie still felt uneasy as she grabbed a quick turkey and cheese sandwich in the crew mess. It was late, but she hadn’t eaten yet, and their guests—minus the children who’d gone to bed—were still going strong. That meant she couldn’t end her shift yet.

  She knew she’d made the right decision earlier. She wouldn’t be able to set up any type of incriminating photos of herself with the senator. She couldn’t do it. Ever. For any reason.

  But she needed to figure out a way to also help Jimmy James in the process. She just didn’t know what that was.

  She took another bite of her sandwich as she sat at the small, cramped table. The only way she’d be able to truly help him was to figure out who was behind this. Who was the man in her car?

  Clearly, someone was in great opposition to Senator Williams. That person would do whatever it took to make sure Williams didn’t get reelected.

  Did this also tie in with the murder of Ashley Nelson? It was the only thing that seemed to make sense. But how were they connected? That’s what Kenzie couldn’t put together.

  She took another bite, hoping the answers would come to her. Hoping that the answers were easy, and she just wasn’t seeing them yet.

  But she couldn’t be sure how all of this fit together.

  A moment later, her phone buzzed. She grabbed it from the table and glanced at the screen. She’d gotten a text message.

  She clicked on it and a picture popped up.

  She gasped at what she saw.

  It was a photo of Jimmy James aboard Seas the Day.

  Incriminating, undeniable evidence.

  Someone had sent her a picture to taunt her. To threaten her.

  Below that was a text message that read:

  Don’t miss another opportunity or else.

  Kenzie’s blood went cold.

  Somebody on this boat knew what was going on. They knew she’d missed the opportunity to set up the senator. They were keeping an eye on her.

  The shiver raking through her only deepened.

  This boat was no longer safe.

  Now Kenzie had to figure out exactly what she was going to do about it.

  As Jimmy James checked the boat, he kept his eyes open for Kenzie.

  He knew her shift was almost over, so she was probably trying to finish up then get some shut-eye. He couldn’t blame her.

  He was still worried about her being here. About how the events of the past week were messing with
her emotions. About how he’d blown things with her.

  He paced the deck another moment, his thoughts churning.

  The money he’d make from these charters would help him add to his nest egg. As soon as he had enough money, he was going to buy a bigger boat. He would start his own charter business.

  He was going to make something of himself.

  Jimmy James had promised to make his father proud. Though there was nothing wrong with being a workingman at the harbor, he didn’t want to do this for the rest of his life. He wanted a better future for himself with more financial security. He wanted to do work that he found fulfilling.

  Kenzie’s image again filled his mind.

  Would Kenzie see him differently if he made more of his life? She claimed she already thought a lot of him. Maybe she did. But he feared any of that would wear off over time.

  Besides, he may have ruined things between them for good.

  He let out a sigh and continued to monitor the boat.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Kenzie collected some leftover glasses and plates—her final task before she turned in the for the evening.

  But questions continued to swirl in her head.

  Every time she thought about how someone on this boat could be responsible for Ashley’s murder, a shudder went up her spine. How was she going to figure out what to do?

  As she grabbed another plate, footsteps sounded behind her. She twirled around, halfway expecting to see someone threatening.

  Instead, Sunni stepped toward her with a strange look on her face.

  “Hey.” Kenzie straightened, still holding the cleaning rag in her hands. “Do you need help with something?”

  Sunni paused in front of Kenzie, that worried look intensifying. She lowered her voice as she said, “Actually, I need to tell you something.”

  Kenzie gripped her rag more tightly as she edged toward the chief stew. Based on the tone of Sunni’s voice, whatever she had to say was serious.

  “What’s going on?” Kenzie asked quietly.