Dead Reckoning (Lantern Beach Mayday Book 2) Read online

  He let out a long breath at the chief’s question. How was Kenzie doing?

  Jimmy James tried to think of a quick answer. But he couldn’t.

  Kenzie was clearly upset with him and shaken about yesterday’s incident.

  Finally, he cleared his throat and said, “She’s hanging in, just as expected.”

  “That’s good. Keep an eye on her. If the alleged killer really did see her face, then she could be a target.”

  He gripped the phone tighter. “Those were my thoughts exactly.”

  “Watch your back too. Because if she’s a target, then you might be one too by association.”

  He ended the call and frowned. Just when he hoped life might get simpler, everything felt way too complicated again.

  Jimmy James didn’t have time to dwell on that now. He had a crew that was depending on him to lead them.

  His only hope was that the friend he’d met with last night might have some information for him soon.

  Almost Paradise made it to Wilmington by midmorning. When they arrived, they docked at the harbor so Kurt and his crew could do a tour of the film area.

  Wilmington—called Filmington by some—was the filming location for several movies and TV shows including scenes from Iron Man 3, A Walk to Remember, and Dawson’s Creek. Many people found the area fascinating.

  It wasn’t just the filming sites that made it unique. The town was picturesque with its waterfront location on the Cape Fear River and the inclusion of the battleship USS North Carolina docked on its banks.

  Kenzie had been asked to accompany the group on their outing along with Jimmy James and Owen.

  She’d enjoyed herself. The group had even been able to see part of a show being filmed—one called Relentless featuring actress Joey Darling.

  As she toured the town, she kept her eyes wide open.

  She had no reason to believe anyone had followed her here. In fact, the thought was ridiculous. But Kenzie couldn’t afford to let her guard down, considering everything that had happened.

  To end the tour, the group stopped at an ice cream shop.

  As the guests ordered their treats, Kenzie felt her phone nearly burning a hole in her pocket.

  Every chance Kenzie got, she searched the internet for missing women. She’d started with searching this area. Then she’d moved to the whole East Coast. Now she’d broadened her search to missing women across the US. It was hard to narrow down where exactly that woman may have come from.

  But Kenzie hadn’t made her up.

  She glanced around and saw that everyone was occupied. Then she slipped outside and leaned against the brick wall of the building to resume her search.

  As she stood there, goosebumps popped up across her skin.

  She froze before raising her head then glancing around, trying to find the cause of the reaction.

  Was someone watching her?

  She didn’t see anyone.

  She scanned her surroundings once more, but still couldn’t pinpoint anything.

  Swallowing hard, she turned back to her phone and scanned various headlines of missing women before stopping on one.

  The breath left her lungs.

  This woman could be the one.

  It was hard to say for sure since Kenzie hadn’t been able to make out the woman’s features. But, still, something about the woman—the way she looked and her slim build—raised all kinds of flags in Kenzie’s mind.

  Ashley Nelson. Twenty-five years old. From Indiana. A law student and top scholar who volunteered for a local homeless shelter and had received awards for her service.

  Kenzie scrolled through all the pictures she could find, looking for some kind of clue.

  There was nothing—only photos of a happy law school student with a small lightning tattoo on her collarbone.

  She nibbled on her lip. She had no way to prove it. But her gut told her this was the woman.

  So, what was she going to do with this information? Would it be like that lingerie she’d found last night—useless? And, if so, how could she change that?

  Chapter Eighteen

  As Kurt continued to talk to Jimmy James about his Fruit Cocktail Mafia game, Jimmy James glanced out the window of the ice cream shop.

  Where had Kenzie gone? He’d seen her step outside, and part of him had wanted to follow her.

  He’d stopped himself, trying not to be overprotective.

  Instead, Jimmy James scanned outside the window, trying to smile and nod at Kurt as he talked ad nauseum about his game. Unfortunately, playing on his phone had never been Jimmy James’ thing. He’d rather be outside fishing.

  Finally, he spotted Kenzie leaning against the building, her phone in her hand and a tight expression on her face as she stared at the screen.

  Something was wrong.

  “So, I’m thinking about adding some more exotic fruits—”

  Jimmy James raised a finger. “I hate to interrupt you, but could you excuse me a minute? There’s something I need to check out.”

  Kurt shrugged and took another bite of his mango ice cream. “Of course. Of course.”

  Jimmy James wove between the tables then out the door toward Kenzie.

  He paused beside her as she stood on the sidewalk. “Everything okay?”

  She looked up at him, her gaze startled yet ignited as if she had discovered something. “You’re going to think I sound crazy.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve been scanning the headlines for missing women. I keep broadening my search. And just now, I found her.” She held up her phone and showed him a picture of a missing woman named Ashley Nelson.

  He sucked in a quick breath. Of all the things he’d guessed Kenzie might say, this wasn’t one of them. “Why do you think it’s this woman?”

  “I don’t know . . .” Kenzie shook her head before rubbing her temples with her free hand. “She just . . . she fits that description.”

  “I thought you couldn’t see her well the night of the murder, that you couldn’t make out any details?” He eyed Kenzie more carefully, trying to get inside her head and figure out what she was thinking.

  “I couldn’t see her clearly. I could only see her profile, her silhouette.”

  Jimmy James didn’t say anything for a moment. But the evidence seemed flimsy, like she was reaching a little too hard.

  A frown tugged at Kenzie’s lips. “You do think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy. But I do feel like you might be overreaching right now. Why would this woman from Indiana be in North Carolina? Why would she be with Thatcher Davenport?”

  Kenzie shook her head. “I don’t know. I have no idea for that matter. Should I tell Cassidy?”

  Jimmy James thought about it a moment, not wanting to lead Kenzie astray. But this was a leap. There was absolutely no proof that her theory was correct. They needed more information before they told anyone about this possibility.

  “Let’s go back to the boat and do some more research first,” he finally said. “When does your shift end tonight?”

  “I’m working until ten.”

  “Let’s meet after that and see if we can find out some more details. Okay? Because we don’t want to cry wolf. If we are going to tell Chief Chambers that this might be the girl then we need to have more proof. We need to look at this woman’s social media posts. See if there’s anything that connects her to North Carolina or Thatcher Davenport.”

  Kenzie nodded. “You’re right. That would be the smartest thing to do.”

  Relief washed through Jimmy James at her easy agreement. He’d been halfway expecting an argument, another lapse of judgment like the one she’d had when she’d sneaked aboard Seas the Day.

  “Okay then,” he finally said. “I’ll see you on the bridge somewhere around ten?”

  “It’s a deal.”

  He nodded to the charter guests inside the ice cream shop. “Now, let’s get this group back on the boat so they can start
getting ready for dinner.”

  Kenzie could hardly wait for dinner to be over. Although the beef tenderloin and fingerling potatoes had smelled savory and delicious, her mind was elsewhere.

  She thought she’d done a decent job covering her anxiety as she served guests their food and refilled their drinks. But she couldn’t be sure. Every time Kenzie allowed her mind to drift, she thought of the picture she’d seen of that woman.

  More than anything, Kenzie wanted to sit down with her computer and see what else she might discover.

  But there was no time for that now.

  When dinner was finished, their guests disappeared onto the aft deck for some late-night cocktails. Kenzie quickly helped in the kitchen, then worked on some laundry, and emptied several trashcans.

  Finally, her shift ended.

  She took a quick shower, changed, and then headed toward the bridge.

  Dread filled her when she thought about seeing Jimmy James. Dread and excitement.

  How could she feel both of those things about the man? He’d listened to Kenzie’s father instead of listening to what she wanted. How could he do that to her?

  She didn’t know, but she didn’t appreciate it either. Despite those hard feelings, another part of her still cared about Jimmy James more than she would like. Being around him was difficult, to say the least. Every time she saw him, she was reminded that he thought their different backgrounds would ultimately keep them apart.

  Part of her wanted to try and convince him otherwise. But she didn’t want to have to convince someone to be with her. She knew firsthand that when a person wanted something badly enough, they’d fight to get it.

  Jimmy James’ eyes lit with attraction as soon as he saw her, but the emotion quickly faded as if he pulled himself back in place. They were no longer a couple, and they probably never would be. Both of them needed to keep that at the forefront of their minds.

  He raised his head. “You’re late.”

  “I smelled like a mix of seabass and sweat, I’m afraid. I had to get cleaned up.”

  He didn’t react to her statement. He only nodded toward a bench seat against the wall. “Why don’t you have a seat, and we can do that research we talked about earlier?”

  That sounded perfect to her. She only wished his tone didn’t sound so aloof.

  As Kenzie sat, she angled herself so she wouldn’t be too close to Jimmy James. Another part of her wanted to scoot closer until she could smell the sandalwood scent of his soap. But that would be a very bad idea.

  “So, let’s see what we can find out about this Ashley Nelson lady.” He pulled out his laptop and began typing, his thick fingers almost seeming too big for the keyboard. “Everything people are saying about her in the interviews make it sound like Ashley is a pretty clean and wholesome girl.”

  Kenzie leaned closer, desperate to see what he was reading. “A clean and wholesome girl isn’t likely to have an affair with someone like Thatcher, is she?”

  “You’re right. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility, but it does seem unlikely.”

  Kenzie leaned back, still trying to sort out her thoughts so she could offer some direction or insight. “If Thatcher is an attorney, and Ashley is in law school then maybe that’s the connection.”

  “Good theory.” Jimmy James typed in a few more things before shaking his head. “It looks like she was in school up near Chicago. So that still doesn’t provide us any connections.”

  Kenzie leaned back. She didn’t want to admit that Jimmy James was right, but he was. There was absolutely no proof that Ashley Nelson was the woman she’d seen murdered.

  “What about news articles about her disappearance?” Kenzie asked. “When was the last time she was seen?”

  “According to this article, she was last seen three days ago. She told her family she was going to visit a friend down in Arkansas, but she never showed up.” Jimmy James turned toward her and frowned. “I’m sorry, Kenzie. But I just don’t know if this is enough to tell Cassidy about her.”

  Again, she wanted to argue. But she couldn’t because Jimmy James was right.

  What Kenzie had was more of a whim than anything else.

  How could she find proof?

  She wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t ready to give up yet.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As soon as Kenzie left the bridge, Jimmy James grabbed his cell and called his friend. He kept an eye on the controls as he waited for an answer.

  On the second ring, Axel Hendrix picked up. “Hey, man.”

  Axel was a former Navy SEAL who worked for Blackout, the private security organization Ty Chambers had cofounded.

  Jimmy James had gotten to know Axel through their common interest in motorcycles. He’d asked Axel to meet at the docks last night. He had a job for his friend.

  He didn’t know what the going rate was for hiring Blackout—he hadn’t asked—but he’d pay whatever necessary if it meant keeping Kenzie safe.

  He’d asked Axel to do some background checks on various people Jimmy James considered suspects. Axel was also keeping an eye on things at the harbor while Jimmy James wasn’t there. Jimmy James was anxious for an update.

  “Any headway?” Jimmy James felt his lungs tighten as he waited for what he might hear.

  “I’ve been asking around, and I’m pretty sure one of these guys who works for Thatcher Davenport is Damon Hedges. He and his colleagues work as bodyguards and are based out of the Raleigh area. The other guy—Matt Davis—seems clean. But Damon . . .”

  Axel’s statement seemed to fit everything Jimmy James would have guessed about the two men he’d seen with Thatcher. “What about Damon? You know anything else about his background?”

  “He spent five years in the military before being dishonorably discharged. From what I can tell, he has an assault charge on file. I suspect that’s why he took this job.”

  Jimmy James frowned. “Has he been hanging out at the harbor anymore or did he leave?”

  “I’ve been keeping my eye on the docks all day, and both Damon and Matt are still there. I’ve seen them and Thatcher together. I tried to strike up a conversation, but none of them seemed too talkative.”

  “Thanks. Your information helps give me a better feel for the guy. I appreciate your help. And if anything else pops up, let me know.”

  “It’s no problem,” Axel said. “And I’ll keep this between you and me.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  Jimmy James stared out over the water and locked his jaw in place.

  He definitely had a lot to think about.

  As Kenzie lay in bed, she tried to rest—especially since she actually had some time alone. Sunni was working a later shift tonight, and Kenzie wasn’t complaining about having their bunkroom to herself for a little while.

  But instead of relaxing, her mind continued to race through everything that had happened.

  She was going to go crazy if she kept thinking about that murder. That’s why she wanted to find answers—so she could put her mind at ease.

  Instead, trying to find answers was only serving to cause more trouble.

  What was she supposed to do? Against her better instincts, she stared at a picture of Ashley with a woman named Merilee Foreman, who was tagged as her BFF in several pictures. On a whim, Kenzie searched for the woman’s contact information.

  She was surprised at how easily she found it.

  She nibbled on her lip a moment before spontaneously dialing the number. Merilee answered on the first ring.

  Kenzie sat up, wishing she had thought this through some more. “Merilee, my name is Kenzie. I know it’s late to call, and I apologize. But I had a couple of questions about your friend Ashley.”

  “Have you seen her?” Excitement—and hope—lit the woman’s voice.

  “No, I haven’t. Not really.”

  “Not really? What does that mean?”

  Kenzie shook her head, realizing this conversation wasn’t going well—and it had jus
t begun. “I mean, I wondered if I’d seen her, but I’m not sure. Is there any chance she came to North Carolina?”

  “North Carolina? Where in North Carolina?”

  Kenzie swallowed hard, hoping she wasn’t sharing too much. “Lantern Beach.”

  Merilee let out a soft grunt. “She never mentioned Lantern Beach. Why? Did you see her there?”

  “I thought I might have, but I’m uncertain. I just . . . I just felt it impressed on me that I should ask, just in case.” Kenzie paused, contemplating what to say next. “What about a man named Thatcher Davenport? Did Ashley ever mention him? Maybe she worked with him at his law practice or something?”

  “The name doesn’t ring any bells,” Merilee said. “But I’ll tell the police. Maybe they can check it out—”

  “I don’t have any proof of anything,” Kenzie rushed, feeling panicky at the mention of the police. “I’m sure they get tons of false leads and—”

  “Is there something you’re not saying? Do you know more?”

  Kenzie pressed her eyes closed. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.”

  Before Merilee could ask any more questions, Kenzie hit End. She held the phone to her chest, her heart pounding out of control.

  That had been a mistake. Not only did she not have any answers, now she’d potentially given Merilee false hope. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Merilee that her friend may have been murdered.

  Kenzie had just started to drift to sleep when her phone buzzed. She snatched it from her chest where it still rested and glanced at the screen.

  Was it Merilee? Was she calling back to ask more questions?

  Instead, Kenzie saw she’d gotten a text from an unknown number.

  Out of curiosity, she clicked on the notice, figuring it was most likely junk.

  But as the message filled her screen, a picture appeared.

  Her gut clenched.

  A picture of her. In Wilmington. Earlier today.

  Somebody had been watching her.

  This person had snapped a photo of Kenzie leaning against the wall at the ice cream shop and holding her phone. And this person was sending this to her so she could have no doubts that somebody was watching. This was a subtle threat.