Dead Reckoning (Lantern Beach Mayday Book 2) Read online

  He nodded. “Stevie-o has it in there somewhere. I’m sure I can find it.”

  Stevie-o was Jimmy James’ friend and the harbormaster here.

  “Would you do me a favor? Maybe we can speed up this process if you go find out who the owner of that yacht is. We can give him a call, and maybe he’ll let us onboard of his own free will.”

  “Shouldn’t he be onboard now?” Kenzie stared at the yacht and felt her jaw tighten. “If you own a yacht like that, you don’t usually get a hotel to stay in overnight.”

  “That’s a good point.” Chief Chambers frowned and followed Kenzie’s gaze. “But until we know more answers, let’s try not to jump to any conclusions.”

  Kenzie nodded. The chief’s words made sense.

  Her emotions were tangling with her logic, and she needed to get a grip.

  Chief Chambers would figure out some answers. She and her officers just needed a little more time.

  Jimmy James watched as a Mercedes pulled into the parking lot fifteen minutes later. A man climbed out and marched toward them. Based on the expensive polo shirt and khakis this guy wore, Jimmy James could only assume this was the owner of Seas the Day.

  Even though it was almost midnight, it didn’t appear the man had been asleep. His hair was still in place, and his clothes didn’t look rumpled.

  The man paused in front of Chief Chambers, his narrowed eyes almost appearing to scowl. “What’s going on? Something happened with my boat?”

  “Thank you for coming.” Chief Chambers snapped her head straighter as she observed the man. “Are you Thatcher Davenport?”

  “I am. Now, what’s this about?” His voice sounded brisk and impatient.

  Irritation flickered through the chief’s gaze, but she remained even-keeled. “Someone reported seeing a woman assaulted and shoved off your boat into the water tonight.”

  He scoffed and jerked his head back as if that news shocked him. “That’s impossible. I haven’t been here all evening, and the boat is locked up.”

  Jimmy James stood beside Kenzie, watching and listening to the entire interaction. He tried not to form too many judgments, but this man was clearly so pompous that it was hard not to.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, where have you been?” Chief Chambers stared at Thatcher, her gaze unwavering.

  “I was having dinner with some friends who are staying on the island for the week, and they invited me to stay over at their beach house tonight so we could catch up. We’ve been shooting the breeze for most of the evening. Why?”

  “It’s just a routine question,” Chief Chambers assured him. “I would like to board your boat to look around and make sure that everything is okay.”

  Thatcher stiffened as he seemed to consider the implications of her request. But, finally, he nodded. “Of course. Whatever you need to do. But I personally think this whole thing is ridiculous. I have ten people who can verify I was with them this evening.”

  “And I will need their names. But remember that someone could have snuck aboard your boat. Do you have anyone manning it when you’re not there?”

  He scowled again. “I do, but I gave them the night off. Thought this area was safe. Thought there were people around to keep an eye on things.”

  His cool gaze went to Jimmy James, and his look turned pointed.

  This man was sizing him up, trying to figure out if Jimmy James was one of those dockworkers who’d failed to keep the area secure.

  His dislike of the yacht owner grew stronger.

  “How long are you here?” Chief Chambers continued.

  “I planned on staying until the end of the week so I could visit with my friends more before getting back to my summer home in Florida. It’s a little too hot down there at this time of year, even for my tastes.”

  Chief Chambers nodded slowly. “Understandable. I’m going to go look on your boat myself, and if you would please stay with my officer, he has some additional information he needs to get from you.”

  “Whatever you need.” The man’s words came out briskly, as his jaw seemed to lock in place in annoyance. “Here are the keys.”

  As Chief Chambers walked toward the gangplank and an officer walked away with Thatcher, Jimmy James turned to Kenzie. She was obviously shaken, and he was concerned about her.

  “How are you holding up?”

  She shrugged and shook her head then shrugged again. “I don’t even know how I’m doing. This all just seems like a nightmare.”

  Jimmy James wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. As he did, Kenzie nestled her head against his chest. The way she so easily molded against him made Jimmy James feel like a million bucks. If he could hold her like this for the rest of his life, he would be a happy man.

  “I know it seems like a nightmare,” he said. “But hopefully Chief Chambers will find something on that boat. Maybe we’ll have some answers soon.”

  Kenzie pulled away, and her gaze trailed across the lot to Thatcher Davenport. “He looks like someone who would get along well with my father and Leesa.”

  Leesa was Kenzie’s stepmom, and, from what Jimmy James had heard, she was the type who liked to keep up appearances. He knew the two of them had a strained relationship and that Kenzie didn’t think highly of her stepmom.

  Jimmy James followed her gaze and frowned as he watched Thatcher talking to Officer Dillinger. The man’s motions appeared stiff.

  “What do you think that guy does for a living?” Kenzie asked.

  Jimmy James shrugged as he studied the man. “He either owns his own business or he’s a lawyer. What do you think?”

  “I’m leaning toward lawyer. He gives off that vibe somehow.”

  Those were Jimmy James’ thoughts exactly. Thatcher Davenport seemed like an ambulance chaser disguised as someone too prestigious to accept that label. He probably took on big cases that made him lots of money. Money that allowed him to buy a yacht like the one in front of them.

  Jimmy James wasn’t envious of rich people, but he didn’t like how they often acted pompous and above others.

  He stared at Seas the Day another moment.

  He couldn’t stop picturing a woman being choked and then pushed into the water.

  If he’d just gotten out here more quickly . . . if he’d looked more fervently . . . would he have been able to save her?

  However, a body hadn’t been discovered yet, which still seemed strange to him. Something wasn’t adding up.

  Several minutes later, Chief Chambers strode from the boat toward Thatcher, handed him his keys, and quietly spoke with him. The man nodded, not seeming overly upset by whatever she said.

  Kenzie straightened as she stared at the scene. Her eyes narrowed with thought. “What do you think she’s telling him?”

  “That she likes his shirt?”

  Kenzie playfully elbowed him. “Good one.”

  “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

  After chatting with Thatcher for several minutes, Chief Chambers nodded toward the man and stepped back.

  She glanced over at Jimmy James and Kenzie and started their way. Based on her frown, she didn’t have good news.

  Chief Chambers paused in front of them and grimaced. “I’m afraid the boat is as clean as a whistle. My guys searched the water from the docks, and the marine police will be arriving in their patrol boats soon to search as well. But, so far, there’s no sign anything happened on Mr. Davenport’s boat. I’m not sure whether to say I’m sorry or to celebrate.”

  “But I know what I saw.” Kenzie’s voice cracked as she said the words.

  Chief Chambers pressed her lips together again before saying, “I’m not questioning what you think you saw. But are you sure your eyes weren’t deceiving you? It was awfully dark out here.”

  Kenzie adamantly shook her head, leaving no room for doubt about how she felt. “I definitely saw a woman being pushed.”

  Chief Chambers’ gaze met Jimmy James’, and he saw her unspoken words.


  She was afraid Kenzie might be losing her mind, wasn’t she?

  Jimmy James didn’t believe that. But he also had no idea how to explain what had happened tonight.

  No evidence. No body.

  No crime?

  Chapter Three

  Kenzie bit down as Chief Chambers went to join her officers on the other side of the harbor.

  She still couldn’t believe this was happening. How could that woman’s body have disappeared? It made no sense.

  She shivered, and it wasn’t because of the balmy breeze that swept up from the water.

  She had to give credit to the Lantern Beach PD. They were swarming the area. Police lights flooded the scene. In the distance, she even spotted a marine police vessel puttering around in the water.

  As they stood there on the once-peaceful dock, Jimmy James’ hands went to her shoulders. He gently massaged her tight muscles, working out the knots that had formed.

  “Maybe when it’s daylight outside, the police will discover something they didn’t see before,” Jimmy James murmured.

  Kenzie wished those words brought her comfort, but they didn’t. She was still on edge. The woman who’d fallen into the water couldn’t have just disappeared.

  But without a body, Kenzie couldn’t blame everyone for the strange looks they gave her.

  Certainly, there had to be some kind of evidence . . .

  Yet she’d seen Thatcher drive up. He wouldn’t have had time earlier to get his car and pull away while she and Jimmy James were outside watching. And she hadn’t seen anyone else on that boat . . .

  “Does he look like the man you saw?” Jimmy James nodded toward Thatcher as he stood near the cops in the distance. Thatcher’s hands were on his hips, and his stance looked tense and bristled as he stared at his boat. “Could he match the basic description?”

  Jimmy James still stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, and Kenzie leaned back against him, relishing his strength and support.

  She followed his gaze to Thatcher and let out a sigh. “It’s hard to say. I only saw silhouettes. He could be the same size as the man but . . . I just can’t say for sure.”

  As if Thatcher heard them, he turned their way and started toward them.

  Kenzie braced herself for whatever this conversation would hold. Based on the squared set of Thatcher’s shoulders and his determined stride, he was going to give them the third degree.

  He stopped in front of them, and his hands went to his hips. “Are you the ones who reported this incident?”

  Kenzie squeezed her lips together, the man’s tone rubbing her the wrong way. Before she could answer, Jimmy James pushed himself in front of her, his muscles bristled with protectiveness.

  “Why does it matter?” Jimmy James demanded.

  “I have a feeling I know what’s going on here.” Thatcher’s jaw flexed as he stared at them with a judgmental gaze.

  Kenzie shook her head, totally clueless as to what he was talking about. “What would that be?”

  His gaze narrowed. “You’re working for Williams, aren’t you?”

  Williams? Was she supposed to recognize that name? “I have no idea who Williams is.”

  Thatcher shifted, irritation rising from him like fog on the water. “Luke Williams? The senator?”

  “Why in the world would you think I’m working for him?” Kenzie’s voice rose in pitch as she asked the question.

  Thatcher stepped closer but quickly backed off as Jimmy James blocked him. He may not have growled, but he might as well have.

  But Jimmy James’ actions only deterred Thatcher for a moment. He turned back to Kenzie and shook his head. “If this is some kind of scheme, know that I can ruin you.”

  Kenzie gasped at his sharp tone. As the meaning of his words hit her, she drew back.

  Before she could speak, Jimmy James spoke for her. “Is that a threat?”

  “It’s not a threat. It’s reality. You’re not going to play these games and think you can get away with them. And I’m not going to let your little bodyguard here scare me either.” He looked Jimmy James up and down. “You’re just trouble, aren’t you?”

  As she felt Jimmy James bristle again, Kenzie touched his arm, trying to bring him back to reality.

  Jimmy James let out a little growl—a real one, this time—but said nothing. But Kenzie didn’t miss how his hands fisted at his side.

  “I think you need to leave,” Jimmy James hissed.

  “Fine.” Thatcher took a step back. “But I’ll be keeping my eyes on you two. No one is going to play me for a fool. No one.”

  Jimmy James felt adrenaline surging through him. Who did that guy think he was? Coming here and threatening them like this? He had another thing coming for him if he thought—

  “It’s okay, Jimmy James.” Kenzie’s soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

  He snapped out of his daze and turned to her, studying her expression and anxious to see how she was handling that confrontation. She seemed surprisingly calm as her head tipped back and she let out a breath.

  She had so much grace for others. While others might have written certain people off, she seemed to want to dig deeper into their makeup until she learned the truth about them.

  Maybe that was why she hadn’t run away from him yet.

  Most women like Kenzie would.

  Jimmy James felt his jaw twitch. “He has no right to talk to you like that.”

  She shrugged. “Look, I think that the guy is a jerk. I’ve been around people like him my whole life. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t play into him.”

  Jimmy James watched Thatcher as he climbed into his car. “Could he be the guy behind this?”

  She nibbled on her lip for a moment before saying, “I just don’t know how he would have gone from strangling a woman and pushing her into the water to driving up in his car fifteen minutes later.”

  “What about this Luke Williams guy? Do you know anything about him?”

  Kenzie shook her head. “No, I don’t. Although I think I heard his name on some type of TV ad.” Kenzie let out another long breath. “So, why would working for Senator Williams have anything to do with what happened tonight? How were we trying to set someone up?”

  “I’m not sure.” Jimmy James shrugged, trying to make sense of it himself. “I heard from some guys on a fishing charter that the upcoming race for senate is pretty contentious this year.”

  “Who is this Williams guy running against?” Kenzie asked. “Do you know? Since I’m not from the area, I haven’t kept up with the politics here.”

  “It’s a newcomer named Abe Sampson, if I remember correctly.”

  She nodded slowly as if storing his name away. “Thatcher must think we’re some kind of political operatives. I wonder what Thatcher’s connection is with Abe Sampson.”

  Jimmy James shrugged. “I’m not sure, but it might be worth looking into.”

  “I’ll mention this connection to Chief Chambers when she gets back tonight. I guess there are some perks to staying at the police chief’s house.”

  Jimmy James nodded and glanced at his watch. It had been a long day and detaining Kenzie here would only keep her on edge. The best thing for Kenzie was to get her out of here.

  “Speaking of which, maybe I should take you home,” Jimmy James said. “It’s getting late.”

  Kenzie slipped her arm in his and nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. Maybe I’ll wake up in the morning and discover this was all a nightmare.”

  Jimmy James wished that would be the case.

  But he had a feeling this was far from over.

  As he walked with her to his truck, he heard an engine rev.

  He turned just as a dark-colored sedan appeared from seemingly nowhere.

  It charged right toward them.

  As the headlights blinded them, Jimmy James grabbed Kenzie and threw her out of the way.

  He only hoped he wasn’t too late.

  Chapte
r Four

  As Kenzie hit the gravel, her heart pounded out of control.

  What had just happened?

  She looked up in time to see a car pulling away from the harbor, driving entirely too fast.

  “Are you okay?” Jimmy James asked, cringing as he sat up beside her.

  “Thanks to you, I am. Thank you.” She rubbed her elbow, which throbbed. She might have a bruise in the morning, but it could have been much worse. She glanced toward the car again. “Did you happen to get a license plate?”

  He shook his head. “There wasn’t one.”

  “Do you think that was purposeful?”

  “It is dark out here, but it’s hard to say. I’ll mention it to Chief Chambers, just in case. In the meantime, let’s get you home.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Jimmy James walked Kenzie to the front door of the beach house where she was staying.

  A burst of warmth filled her chest when she remembered how he’d thrown her out of the way tonight, putting himself in potential danger to protect her.

  She enjoyed being around Jimmy James more than she’d ever expected. His company was so pleasant, yet exciting.

  And when she wasn’t with him . . . she wanted to be.

  Jimmy James wasn’t her type. If someone had asked her a few weeks ago, she would have said her type was more of the academic sort. But something about Jimmy James absolutely fascinated her.

  The man was tall and big, with bulging muscles and tattoos. He had a rough past, but he’d turned his life around—and Kenzie thought that was admirable. Really admirable.

  In fact, it was easy to live a good life when you were handed everything. But a lot of people Kenzie had grown up around had even found that difficult.

  For someone to go from making bad choices to doing a one-eighty was so much more commendable.

  That wasn’t to mention the fact that Kenzie found Jimmy James’ protectiveness adorable. And comforting. He’d been there for her on more than one occasion and had made it clear that he had her back.

  They paused on the deck of the oceanfront home.