On the bike ride home, Kate decided it was time to go native. At least until she got steadier on her wheels she was sticking to the sidewalks. While that wasn’t quite cricket in many parts of New York, it was totally legal in Florida.
She’d finally collected her phone and the charger from the police. It was—no surprise—completely dead. And she wasn’t in any hurry to charge it.
Riding through downtown, Kate planned her first baking session in the Cookie House. In honor of Ginger—and Oliver and Maxi—the first batch would be ginger snaps. Then she’d follow up with a couple of the classics: Toll House and peanut butter.
She was contemplating the merits of tossing a few chocolate chips into one of the batches of peanut butter cookies when she rounded the corner and passed a familiar stocky figure. Ball Cap Man.
Today’s ensemble: pale green Hawaiian shirt, tan cargo pants, and a straw hat. With the same humongous sunglasses. Instead of a shopping bag, he had a gray fanny pack. The “I’m just another tourist” look.
Kate wheeled straight past, like she hadn’t even seen him. But instead of making for the Cookie House or the flower shop, she turned the corner and headed for Oy & Begorra. Ben hadn’t been at the station. And anything before two o’clock was still technically lunchtime. Besides, if she could track him down herself, what did she need with a phone?
As Kate hopped off the bike, she spotted Ben coming out of the pub.
“Detective!”
“Ms. McGuire. Nice ride. Claire?”
“Kate. And yes.”
He shook his head. “Sooner or later, that girl will make converts of us all.”
“I saw him. Ball Cap Man. He was standing in front of Coral Cay Books. He’s wearing a mint-green shirt, big sunglasses, and a straw hat that looks kind of like a bucket. And tan shorts, with a fanny pack.”
“I’m on foot. Mind if I borrow your wheels?”
Kate handed over the bike and watched him cut smoothly out into the street and pedal up the block. Even wearing a blazer and a walking cast—and with a bike that was clearly much too small—the detective made it look easy.
Kate fast-walked in the same direction. If the guy ran from Ben, she’d chase him. And tackle him, if necessary. With a sidewalk full of tourists and a cop on a bicycle, she was feeling brave.
As she retraced her route, semi-jogging, she saw Ben. With Ball Cap Man.
Caught!
While the detective was placid, the man was using agitated hand gestures. Even without hearing their conversation, Kate knew he was upset.
About time.
“Hey, Kate, I’d like you to meet Manny Stenkowski. Mr. Stenkowski is a private detective.”
“A totally respectable profession,” the P.I. said. “And legal.”
“Stalking isn’t,” Kate spat.
“She’s got you there, Manny,” Ben said. “You want to press charges, Kate? If you do, we can haul him in.”
“Oh man, that is bull,” Manny said. “You can’t do that! I have a license. I play by the rules.”
“I’d rather know who he’s working for,” Kate admitted.
“I can’t tell you that. I took an oath.”
“Yeah, Manny, you’re a regular priest.”
“I tell you and I lose a client. And if they talk, I lose all my clients. I got two ex-wives and a beagle, and they depend on me.”
“That thing with the beagle, that’s good,” Ben said. “Here’s the deal. You tell us, I don’t arrest you for stalking, loitering, littering, and wearing those shorts, what, every single day this week?”
“It’s not the same pair. I’ve got five of ’em. Wash and wear. They have pockets that hold all of my stuff, and they’re tan, so I don’t attract attention.”
“Should have gotten yourself a whole suit made of the stuff,” Ben said. “Then maybe we wouldn’t be standing here. So what’s it going to be?”
“I have an ethical duty to uphold the canon of my profession.”
“Cannon? I loved that show as a kid. Now there’s a private eye.” He grabbed a pair of cuffs from the back of his belt and flashed them in front of Manny. “You, my friend, have the right to remain silent. Anything you say—”
“Evan Thorpe! I was hired by Evan Thorpe.”
Kate’s mouth dropped open. Ben looked at Kate and gave a small nod.
“Evan? Why? What were you supposed to do? Scare me? Make me run back to New York?”
“No! Nothing like that. The guy is worried about you. You never answered your phone. Then you just up and moved. He’s really sweating it. I mean, I think he wants you back. But all I was supposed to do was trail you and make sure you were OK. Nose around and see what you were up to. See if you needed anything. If you did, he wanted to help you, what’s the word? ‘Discreetly.’”
“How did he even know I was here?”
“He tracked your phone as far as the mainland, then to the resort area. That’s when he knew he needed a pro. So he hired me,” Manny finished proudly.
“Don’t think so,” Ben said.
“OK, he hired a buddy of mine. But his wife went into labor, so I caught the case.”
Ben nodded.
“Do you smoke?” Kate asked.
“Uh-uh, no way! But what’s that got to do with the price of rice?” Manny asked, puzzled.
Ben shrugged.
“You’re local?” Kate asked.
“Out of Orlando,” Manny said. “But we cover the whole state. Are we square?” he asked Ben.
The police detective nodded.
“But we’re not,” Kate said, making a snap decision.
“Wait, what?”
Ben shrugged.
“He promised not to arrest you,” she said, pointing to the police detective. “But the first thing I’m going to do is call Evan and tell him exactly how I discovered he hired a P.I. And just how furious that’s making me.”
“Aw, lady, you can’t!” he said. “I’ve got—”
“Yes, I know—two ex-wives and a beagle,” she said, smiling. “Lucky for you, I think we can come to an arrangement.”