Crazy in Paradise Read online

  “What kind of problem?”

  “One of her girlfriends got involved with a swindling playboy. When their romance ended, he helped himself to several pieces of expensive jewelry. Elizabeth and I got to know one another during the investigation and became friends. Then there was a time or two she saved my butt.”

  “How did she do that?”

  “Long stories. Elizabeth was a woman you wanted in your back-up arsenal; she never said no to helping me. I wish I’d gotten to talk to her one last time.”

  “You don’t get off that easy.”

  “Another time. Over dinner?” He smiled at me.

  I was learning things about my aunt that I never knew. I had drifted away from our relationship during my marriage. It was hard being married to someone no one liked.

  “Elizabeth told me you were coming for the summer. I know she had plans to talk to you about staying in The Cove. She was also going to introduce you to all of the crazies around town, myself included.”

  I sighed and, with a tinge of sadness in my voice, said, “We were close my entire life. She was an amazing aunt and we got to be best friends when I was in college. I loved her so much. We drifted apart over the last few years and that was my fault.”

  “Elizabeth wanted you to take control of The Cottages.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” I told him. “Mostly because no one expects me to step up and do the job. I’ve changed a lot. The new me likes to act and then think about it later. I’m trying to remember that doesn’t always work out so well. I want to think carefully about the decisions I make.”

  “What would your family be most surprised about?” he asked.

  “Probably that I enjoy a certain amount of crazy, and living on the edge.” I could see my answer surprised him.

  “You seem like a straight arrow; a by-the-rules kind of girl.” He reached out, pulling on one of my red curls.

  “A by-the-rules girl doesn’t take in a complete stranger with a gunshot wound,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware of where the line is. I just want to kick it around. What about you?”

  “I’m thirty-eight years old, six feet tall, and one hundred and eighty five pounds. Italian on my mother’s side, and Portuguese from my father. I’m the oldest of two sisters and one brother and, as the oldest, it was my responsibility to make sure they all stayed out of trouble. After a year of college, I got bored and left. I joined the Navy and became a Seal. I’m very good at being a tough guy.”

  His fingers were all tangled up in my hair. “You said you met Elizabeth when she hired you. Did she find you in the yellow pages?”

  “We knew some of the same low-lifes. One of them recommended me. I’m the owner of AZL Securities; a private investigation firm that specializes in security for large and small companies.”

  He began massaging the back of my neck and head with his fingers. I wanted to close my eyes and concentrate on how amazing it felt. “Does everyone call you Zach?”

  “My parents call me Anthony and so do the people I grew up with, friends from childhood. When I’m in trouble, my mom calls me Antonio, usually followed by ‘now’. She’s not a woman to ignore, especially when she’s mad,” he laughed. “My mother rules the family. My father lives to make her happy. If you seriously want to piss off my father, upset my mother.”

  “Who shot you and why?” I reached out, touching his arm.

  “You get straight to the point, don’t you?” He pulled my hand into his.

  “No misunderstandings that way.”

  “I’m working on a case for one of my largest clients and it took a turn I didn’t expect. Getting caught by surprise can be deadly. When I leave here, I figure I can wrap up loose ends in a couple of days. No drugs, okay? I need a clear head.”

  “I want you to promise you’ll at least take the antibiotics.”

  He pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me, hugging me. “Thank you for all of this.” I was content to have my face pressed against his bare chest. I could smell my bath soap.

  I pushed away from him. “How about a swim?”

  “Sounds good.” He stood up and began unzipping his pants. “You’re staring,” he smiled.

  Please do not let me embarrass myself. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m not swimming in my jeans, and I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

  He stripped to his underwear and jumped into the pool. I was so happy I had my bathing suit on. I wouldn’t have to come up with a reason why I wouldn’t swim in my underwear. I dove in after him.

  Chapter 5

  I woke up and opened my eyes. Jazz lay stretched out on the other pillow, staring at me. He stood, arched his back, and meowed in my face, clearly translated as “Get up and feed me.”

  “Where’s our houseguest?” I asked.

  It was another humid day outside, and my reasonably straight hair had turned into a big curly mess. My attempt to blow dry it straight failed miserably. Looking in the mirror, I shrugged and added a touch of makeup. I had no patience for something I wasn’t skilled at.

  Zach was sitting on the couch and watched me as I walked down the stairs. I was wearing a full white skirt, green sleeveless top and carried a pair of sandals.

  “Do you ever wear a bra?” he asked.

  “I wore one to the funeral.”

  He sat there with a stupid grin on his face.

  “What are you, my mother? I have a camisole on.”

  “Can I see?”

  “No.”

  “One of these days you’ll say yes,” he winked.

  I followed the smell of coffee into the kitchen. Barefoot and bare-chested, Zach walked up behind me and stood extremely close

  “What’s for breakfast?” I asked.

  “There’s not a lot of food in this house. All I found were some raisin muffins and cereal.”

  “In case you’re not aware, a lot has been going on around here. You’re lucky I’m good with take out.”

  “I am lucky,” he smiled.

  I wondered what he would say if I told him, I’ve rethought the sex thing and let’s do it now, right here in the kitchen. He looked at me, still smiling. I had a feeling he’d read my mind, and knew I’d been fantasizing about him naked again. “Coffee’s good.”

  “What are you doing today?”

  “I’m going to The Cottages to have a look around and introduce myself to the manager. I’ll bring something back for dinner.”

  “Would you get a charger for my cell? Does Elizabeth have phone service here?”

  “No, but Elizabeth had the same cell you do, and I got her charger out. Your phone is in the office, plugged in, and is probably ready to talk on by this time.”

  “I’m surprised the damn thing hasn’t been ringing like crazy.”

  “I didn’t turn it on.”

  “Did you think I might get urgent calls?”

  “No, not really, but I thought your recovery should be top priority. And you’re welcome.”

  “You remind me of someone,” he laughed.

  “If this is where you tell me I’m like your mother, keep it to yourself.”

  “I’ve noticed women don’t like being compared to good ole mom.”

  “You think?” I laughed.

  “I like that I can make you laugh.”

  We locked eyes. It was definitely a moment. “Anything I can get you before I leave?”

  He crooked his finger. “Come over here.”

  “No.” My cheeks turned red. “Jazz, make sure he behaves, and no wild parties,” I said, closing the front door behind me.

  * * *

  Tarpon Cove is an unpretentious beach town full of old rambling houses and wide porches that had survived the ravages of weather. I love driving through town, especially on a morning with little traffic.

  The Cottages, a ten-unit property, faces the Gulf of Mexico. There are five units on each side of the driveway, in addition to an office, pool, and barbecue area. The beach is just
beyond the access gate at the end of the drive.

  As I turned the corner onto Gulf Boulevard, I questioned the impulse to come here. But this was my property now, and I wanted to learn everything so that I could be a part of the decisions. I’m not a person to sit around and wait for things to happen.

  I parked in the space reserved for the office. Elizabeth always had a manager who lived locally and worked days, but Tucker had told me the new manager, Will Todd, lived at the property. Another person my aunt had never mentioned.

  A sign on the office door said ‘Closed’, with a handwritten note that the manager was located in Cottage One. The two waterfront units generate the most income and are reserved for short-term guests. Why was Will living in one of them? Why would my aunt allow that? It didn’t make smart business sense.

  I walked to the manager’s unit to introduce myself, and knocked. Someone shuffled around inside and then nothing. I knocked again. How strange no one was in the office, and no one answered at the manager’s unit. When the vacancy sign was turned on, who rented out the available units?

  The place to get answers would be at Joseph’s. He’s lived here forever, and nothing happens at The Cottages that escapes his notice. The truth is, if you need any information about what goes on in The Cove, he either knows or can find out.

  Joseph is a Vietnam War veteran with myriad health problems he keeps at bay by smoking weed and drinking beer. It was too early for him to be drunk. Joseph has two sides, the one that would give you the shirt off his back, and his drunken side, when he’s mean, surly and loves to starts fights. He pits people against one another, steps aside, and cheers on the brawl.

  The door to his cottage stood open. Joseph was sitting on the couch, feet up, drinking a beer, and watching General Hospital.

  “Joseph, how are you?”

  “About time. I was wondering when you would come by. The place is going to hell.”

  “You’re looking good,” I told him. In truth, it was a bold lie. He looked sick. “Mind if I sit?”

  “You want a beer?”

  “No thanks, I’m here for conversation.”

  “I feel like crap, but only some of the time, so that’s not bad.” He shook his head. “I went to the funeral, but I left when that ass Quattro went up to the podium. Who had that stupid idea? Did Miss January really get up and speak?”

  “Oh yes, she did.”

  “Gossip has it you let little Dickey what’s-his-face plan everything.”

  “I had zero input. Tucker did all the planning.”

  “Why would you hire a slimy weasel like him? You’d better watch your back.”

  “You’re not the first person to tell me that.”

  He stood up, stomped on his beer can, threw it into the trash and walked with a slight stoop into the kitchen to get another.

  “Elizabeth chose Tucker to be the executor,” I said, shaking my head, making it clear I didn’t understand the choice either.

  “For the most part, Elizabeth had good sense,” Joseph said, popping the top on his beer. “Not so much when it came to certain people. She was too nice for her own good. Nice in this town gets you walked on.”

  “You may have to remind me of that. What’s going on here? Why’s the office closed in the middle of the day? And there’s no manager on the property. Does that happen a lot?”

  “Willy-boy’s around. He doesn’t miss a trick. Don’t tell him anything we talk about. I don’t want to get kicked out.” Talking about Will made Joseph angry. Clearly, he didn’t like the man.

  “Calm down. No one’s kicking you out. You’ve lived here since my aunt has owned the property, and I promise you’ll continue to live here now that I own it. Don’t worry. Keeping secrets is a specialty of mine.”

  He stared at me for a long moment. I could see he was trying to decide if could trust me and I knew it wouldn’t be easy for him.

  “Well?” I said.

  “Even as a kid, you never went around blabbing,” he conceded.

  “What we talk about will be kept between us. This no blabbing thing goes both ways.”

  “Will and his boyfriend showed up several months ago. They were regular tenants. Will was forever kissing Elizabeth’s ass, always Mr. Helpful. Slowly, he got all the tenants to come to him, and anyone who crossed him was kicked out. Since Elizabeth died, he’s gone all over town telling anybody who’ll listen that he owns the place.”

  “How did he become manager?” Everything I was hearing contradicted what Tucker had told me.

  “All I know is when Tucker came around they always had their heads together. The day Elizabeth died, Will moved to the waterfront unit and began calling himself the manager.”

  “You’re telling me he’s been manager for less than two weeks?” I asked, shocked. “Why would Tucker do that?”

  “Will and your lawyer are thick. When Will’s flashing that fake smile, you better check your back and remove the knife before you bleed to death. I’ve shook some cages, and no one knows anything about him or the boyfriend. In a town where dirt is easily available on anyone, that right there is suspicious.” He paused to light a cigarette.

  “The boyfriend keeps to himself,” he continued. “No one even knows what his real name is. The first time I met Will, he referred to him as Pete, and then when I met Pete, he told me his name was Forrest. I said to him, ‘I thought your name was Pete.’ He got right up in my face, and told me I was wrong, and I backed off. He gave me the creeps. Besides, I don’t think he’d hesitate to kick this old ass. Piss him off and, in my opinion, he becomes dangerous. I’d bet money he’s done prison time.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Trust me.”

  “So Will and Forrest are a couple?”

  “Oh yeah,” Joseph laughed. “When they first got here they told everyone they were brothers. Then I saw them kissing.”

  “Some relatives are friendly.”

  Joseph really laughed at that one. “I need another beer,” he said, walking into the kitchen. “Sure you don’t want one?”

  “I’ll take a bottle of water.”

  “Will’s always sneaking around here,” he said, handing me the bottle. “He’s into everyone’s business, goes through the units when no one’s around. He wanted mandatory inspections and I told him he could kiss my ass.”

  “Inspections? Was this before or after Elizabeth died?”

  “In fact, two days after your aunt died, he passed out a letter signed by Tucker saying Will was in charge. He made it clear if we had any problems we were to come only to him and not to contact Tucker or you.”

  “I wonder why he didn’t want you talking to me.”

  “Tucker told Will you were inheriting the property and wouldn’t be interested in day-to-day operations. He also told him you’d be selling. Want a smoke?”

  “Smoking will kill you.”

  “I also have a bad liver. Which one do you think will kill me first? They can fight it out amongst themselves and let me know who wins,” he joked.

  “Tell me who lives here.”

  “There’s four regulars: myself, Miss January, Julie and her kid Liam, and Creole.”

  “Creole? Where does he live?”

  “In the end unit. Totally keeps to himself. I rarely see him. When I do, he’s either coming or going, comes out of his door and disappears. Will doesn’t rent any units out daily anymore.”

  Will Todd was beginning to be one big surprise after another. “Why not?”

  “Don’t know. I do know he has a night job as a private nurse for some paralyzed millionaire. His boy pal is a construction worker. Forrest leaves for work in the morning, and comes back in the afternoon. He never hangs out with anyone, does most of his prowling around in the middle of the night.”

  It was a lot of information to consider. “As usual, you always have the best info. Here’s my phone number. If you have any problems, or if there’s anything I should know, call me anytime.” I stood up and gave
him a hug. Outside, a man walked across the driveway.

  “Who’s that guy?”

  “Local drug dealer.”

  “Drug dealer? What’s he doing here?”

  “He comes to see Creole. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with drugs.”

  “I have zero tolerance for drugs.” I’d already been down that ugly road with my ex-husband. There’s a situation where I learned from someone else’s mistakes. Responding to Joseph’s remark, I asked, “What makes you think that?”

  “Instinct,” Joseph said matter of factly.

  “Take care of yourself. I need a friend,” I smiled.

  “Come back anytime.” He turned the sound up on the television as I headed out the door.

  * * *

  Outside, I sucked in the fresh air, happy I didn’t smoke. A sheriff’s car was parked in front of Cottage Four. I walked across the driveway, raised my hand to knock, and the door flew open.

  A man in a sheriff’s uniform stood in the doorway. “What do you want?” he asked. Tall and clean-cut, he would’ve looked like a cop in or out of his uniform.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine here, move along.”

  “Kevin,” Julie called out, running to the door. “I want you to meet Ms. Westin, Elizabeth’s niece and the new owner.”

  “Hi, I’m Madison,” I said, extending my hand to him.

  “This is my brother Kevin,” Julie introduced.

  He looked at me closely. “Nice to meet you,” he said. But he didn’t sound as though he meant it.

  “I’m happy there’s no problem. Say ‘hi’ to Liam for me. I enjoyed talking to him at the funeral,” I commented. They both stood in the doorway and watched as I waved, turned and walked across the driveway to my SUV.

  I was reaching for the handle when I saw the reflection of a man standing behind me. I yelped and jumped back.

  “This is private property,” he growled. “What in the hell are you doing going door-to-door?”

  He was in his late twenties, rather ordinary, a man who wouldn’t create much notice. “Who are you?” I asked, taking a step backwards.