Mick was long gone by the time Monday morning rolled around and the storm had ended. He’d walked her home in the pouring rain, helped towel try her hair then left around midnight. His musky scent, a remnant from the long, lingering kisses he’d left her with, stayed with her until well after dawn when sleep finally found her.
Smiling, she pressed her black dress and hung it in the bathroom then sat on the front step with her coffee to listen to the mourning doves. What the hell did she think she was doing? Mick was the worst possible man for her to get involved with. She knew that, so why didn’t her hormones? Sure, he was handsome and built like a marble statue, but still…
“You look like a cat that swallowed a whole bottle of cream.” Thayer walked through her front gate. A scowl darkened his face as he sat next to her. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Heat burned her chest and radiated upward to the roots of her hair.
“That’s an awfully bright color for nothing.” Fabio, carrying a tray with three cups of coffee, joined them. He checked the cups then handed her the one with a big black G on top. “Vanilla latte. I had the girl froth the milk then add cinnamon and chocolate curls.”
“How thoughtful,” she said. “Are you here to arrest me or something? If you’re asking questions, we can go downtown.”
“Now that sounds like something straight out of a gangster movie.” Thayer grabbed his coffee, which sloshed onto his right hand and shirt cuff. He frowned and juggled the cup to his left while he wiped his right hand on his pants. The hot coffee left an angry red mark behind. “Where were you last night? We stopped by to talk to you, but you were gone.”
“Staff meeting.” She sipped the coffee and got a mouthful of mostly foam and cinnamon. “Mick wanted to sit down and make sure we were all on the same page.”
“With each other or with the police?” he asked. “We checked the school, but no one was there. Is Mick trying to close ranks against us?”
Fabio rolled his eyes and indicated the porch swing. “Do you mind if we sit up there? My sciatica’s acting up. That storm last night kept me up half the night.”
“No problem.” Gilda and Fabio took the swing and left Thayer the wicker chair with the lumpy cushion.
When Fabio took the lid off his cup, froth clung to the inside. “I imagine the deaths of two instructors caused quite an uproar. It can’t be easy to go to work there.”
“No, it’s not.” She blinked back tears.
“Do you have any suspects in mind?” Fabio asked. At least he tried to befriend her, not like Thayer who barged in and offended everyone, mostly her.
Gilda sighed. “Not really.”
Thayer snorted. “Sure she does. She probably has a ton of evidence against Mick, but won’t turn it over because she’s in love with him and doesn’t want to lose her job.”
Of course she didn’t want to lose her job, but in love with Mick? Gilda wasn’t ready to make that leap and refused to let him goad her. She sipped her coffee and scalded her tongue but refused to let Thayer see her pain.
“She already gave us the evidence she found, remember?” Fabio said. “Why don’t you go down to the beach and see if anyone there saw anything strange Thursday night or Friday?”
Thayer grumbled as he rose and sauntered to the gate. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“That’s funny.” Gilda smirked. “He’s clueless when I try to get rid of him.”
Fabio waited until Thayer was several houses away before he sat back and turned his full attention on Gilda. “Some days he’s smarter than he looks. You’re lucky you got away before you were stuck with him for good. I have to work with him until the chief ships him off to Alaska or the Everglades.”
“I’d really work on that if I were you,” she said.
“I know you work with Mick and it’s hard not to be loyal.” He sipped his coffee. “Mick and I trained together for years, both in karate and at the gym. When I got shot, he made sure I had whatever I needed. There’s no way he’d murder anyone.”
Tears blurred her vision. Finally something positive about Mick she didn’t know. “So who’s on your suspect list then?”
“Aside from everyone in town? Razi and Xavier top my list, but I hoped you could tell me more about Yoshida. I stopped training with him a long time ago.”
“Yoshida? Seriously?” Her eyes widened. “Was he always so strange?”
Fabio shifted his weight, rocking the swing. “From what I hear lately, he’s got a few more screws loose than he did back then. I know he’s been hanging around Sandstone Cove more than usual since his wife dumped him six months ago. Any idea why?”
“Chloe told me she ran into him in the store.” She hesitated. “He bought tampons.”
Fabio hummed. “That explains a few things. Do you know who he’s seeing?”
“No.”
“Relax, Gilda. I really don’t suspect you of anything either. Well, not unless you’re dating Yoshida. I don’t think you’re seeing anyone, are you?”
“Thayer would have told you if I was.” Not unless hanging out with Mick at the beach last night and running home in the rain with him counted. Probably not. It wasn’t like they did anything but talk or swim and kiss several times. Her face warmed.
“I’m sure the right guy will come along soon enough.” He patted her knee and winked.
“Are you trying to set me up?” she asked.
Fabio grinned. “Just giving unwanted advice.”
“Is that why you’re really here?” She sipped and savored her latte, enjoying the touch of cinnamon and chocolate.
“I want to know who’s on your short list. Two of your coworkers are dead. I assume you have a few ideas about who’d want to kill them.”
Gilda’s stomach churned. “I thought I did, but now I’m not sure of anything. Everything I thought I knew was way off base. I don’t even know if I can go back to the school anymore.”
“I’m sure no one would hold that against you.” He studied her. “Who gave you the shiner and fat lip the other day?”
“Yoshida.” She winced. “We did kumite in our workshop Tuesday.”
“I’m guessing that’s who tagged Mick’s face as well.”
“Yoshida lost it.” The memory sent shivers up her arms. “He started to spar me then went completely nuts. Mick stepped in. I should’ve been able to fight back, but the look in Yoshida’s eyes scared me. It was like he was possessed or something.”
“Possessed or stoned?”
She froze. “I don’t think he does drugs. Does he?”
“Just a story I heard at Happy’s. Something Marion Yearly told Happy.” He paused. “How well do you know Marion?”
“She’s one of my best friends and took me to the hospital when I got hit on the head, but I haven’t seen her in a few days.” Gilda hesitated. “Chances are, if it was something serious, she’d know. Of course, if it was gossip, she’d know that too.”
“Good to know. Would you do me a favor? If you hear find out anything else, please let me know.” He handed her a card. “My number’s on the back. Don’t worry about Thayer. I’ll deal with him.”
“Sure.” She stared at the card.
He placed his hand over hers. “Keep in mind, if you’re keeping things from us, we may have to arrest you for your own protection. I’d really hate to see you behind bars, so make sure whoever you’re protecting is worth it.”
Gilda sucked in a sharp breath. “What makes you think I’m protecting anyone?”
“Call it a hunch.” He pushed to his feet. “I hope you know what you’re doing, honey. By the way, tell Mick to work on his back stroke the next time you two go for a midnight swim.”