The cutter docked at the Coast Guard headquarters in the bay. Alec pointed Libby to the ladies’ room, then he walked with his friends across the grassy field toward the parking lot.
“Buddy, you better watch out,” Curtis said.
Josh grinned and moved his hand like a diving airplane. “Kaboom! You’re about to crash and burn.”
Alec stopped and stared at them. “What are you two idiots talking about?”
Josh poked Alec’s arm. “We’re talking about you, my friend. And that pretty lady. You’re already halfway smitten.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve only known her a few days.” He started walking away.
Josh exchanged a long look with Curtis. “We’re too late, Curtis. He’s gone past denial to defensiveness.”
Alec wanted to scowl, but he couldn’t hold back the bark of laughter. “I’m just helping her, guys.”
“That’s what they all say,” Curtis said. “I get to be best man though, right?”
“No, I get to be best man,” Josh said. He punched Curtis in the arm. “Just because you’re a month older, you think you get to do everything.”
“No one is best man,” Alec said. “There’s no wedding.”
“You mean we get to come to your house and watch the Dodgers play forever?” Josh whooped. “Now you’re talking.”
Curtis was grinning as he watched Josh cavort along the lawn. “What do you really think of Libby?” he asked Alec. “Any news on the case at all?”
“Not that I know of.” He told his best friend about the disastrous interview with Earl, and Libby’s admission about erasing the video.
“That’s bad, Alec,” Sara said. “You’re sure it was accidental?”
“I believe her. Why are you asking? Do you know something about hacking?”
Curtis gave an innocent smile. “Well, this is all hearsay, you understand. I’ve never actually done it myself.”
Alec grinned. “Okay, spill it. When did you hack a website?”
“Well, in college, there was this girl I liked. She had a website and I thought it would be cute to hack it and put up a poem I’d written for her.”
Sara punched him on the arm. “Get out! You didn’t. Poetry? From you?”
Curtis grinned. “I did. But the next day I wished I didn’t. She wouldn’t speak to me. So much for that relationship.”
“How’d you learn to do it?” Alec asked.
“I was taking website design. If you know a little, you can do a Google search and get the directions on how to do it. As long as the website doesn’t have a good firewall. And many don’t.”
“What about the cams here? Do they have good firewalls?”
Curtis shrugged. “I’d think so, but with the budget cuts, it’s hard to say.”
“So maybe a college student could have done it. Or just anyone with a little knowledge.”
“Maybe.”
“Is IP tracing always accurate?”
Curtis shook his head. “A trace can be misdirected. So you need more evidence than a trace.”
Alec gestured to the building. “Here comes Libby.”
“When are you going to take her out on a real date?” Josh asked.
“Where would we go? Get a grip, Josh.”
“You’ve got a boat. Take her for a nice, romantic dinner in Kill Devil Hills.”
His friend had a point. Maybe Alec would do just that.
Zach’s face was set and strained. Alec eyed his nephew’s expression as they stood on the church lawn filleting fish with half a dozen men. Residents from all over the village had brought their gas grills and skillets. Griddles stood ready to cook the seafood, and news of the fish fry brought most of the townspeople to the church with dishes the women had prepared.
Curtis threw a mullet into the bowl. “You think that’s enough? We’re not going to clean all of these, are we? Where’d you get a haul like this, Zach?”
Zach shrugged. “Out past the sandbar. I knew the fishing would be good.”
“I think that nephew of yours can read fish minds,” Josh said to Alec. He pursed his lips like a fish. “Come catch me. I’ll be good eating.”
Zach’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Ha ha.”
“When are you going to join us in the Coast Guard?” Curtis asked.
“Like, never,” Zach said. “I just want to fish.”
Josh poked a scale-covered finger at Alec. “Look at your uncle. He serves his country and fishes too. A perfect combination.”
Alec wanted to tell them to lay off, but he was curious to see if their ribbing would get Zach to reveal why he was in such a rotten mood. He placed another fillet on the growing mound in the big stainless bowl. But Zach hunched his shoulders and continued to work on the fish. He didn’t look at either of Alec’s friends.
Pearl hurried across the lawn toward them. “We’re going to start cooking the fish. This was wonderful of you to do, Zach. You’re a thoughtful boy, just like your dad. He would have done this too.”
Zach straightened and smiled. “Thanks, Mrs. Chilton.”
She patted his cheek. “So polite.”
Zach grinned and so did Alec. Pearl could change anyone’s frown into a smile.
“I think we’re ready to start cooking,” Pearl said. “Zach, would you carry the bowl for me? It’s about as big as I am.”
Zach carried the big stainless bowl overflowing with fish fillets to the grilling station. A dozen men stood by, ready to start the cooking. The aroma of charcoal made Alec’s stomach rumble. Side dishes covered the tables that had been hauled from the church basement.
He loved Hope Beach. It was a gift from God that he’d been able to live here all his life. Good people, good friends—what more did he need in his life? His contentment vanished when he caught a glimpse of Libby. Okay, so maybe he was a little lonely.
Josh nudged him with his elbow. “Look away. Resist the pull.”
Alec grinned. “Maybe I don’t want to resist.”
“Be like me. A confirmed bachelor.”
“Right. I’ve seen you looking at Sara.”
Josh folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” Curtis knocked Josh’s hat off. “I don’t know why you don’t ask her out, man.”
Josh retrieved his Dodgers hat. “It would mess up the working relationship. What if it didn’t work out but we still had to work together? Besides, it’s better to be alone. Then I can do whatever I want, when I want.”
“In Genesis God says man was not meant to be alone,” Alec said, “that a woman completes him. My mom always reminded Dad of that when he complained about something.” Alec grinned at the memory.
“All my parents did was fight,” Josh said. “Until my mother lit out for somewhere else with another guy. I never saw her again.”
“Sara’s not like that,” Curtis said. “If you don’t ask her out, I will.”
Josh stiffened. “Oh, come on now, that’s not playing fair. She wouldn’t go with you anyway.”
“Want me to ask and see?”
“No. Just lay off, okay?” Josh’s good-natured grin was gone. “I’ll ask her if I get good and ready.”
Alec had never seen his friend so serious. Who knew Josh’s joking hid so much pain? He put his hand on his friend’s arm. “Okay, we’ll lay off. But think about Sara, okay?”
“Someone mention my name?” Sara was smiling as she joined them. She looked different out of her uniform, happy and carefree with her honey-colored hair blowing in the wind.
Josh shot them a warning glare. “We were just wondering where you were.”
She lifted the dish in her hands. “I made my famous sweet-potato casserole. It’s about the only thing I know how to cook.”
Josh’s face was red and he didn’t look at her. Alec decided to take pity on him. “Hey, Sara, would you make an effort to be a friend to Libby? I think she feels a little out of place. Her family has been less than welcoming.”
“I’d be glad to.” A smile hovered on Sara’s lips. “We talked a little out on the island today. I’m glad you’re interested in her. I like her.”
He wanted to protest that he wasn’t interested, but they’d all know he was lying.