Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) Read online

  “If we pretend we’re okay, will it happen?” Jezzica brushed her hair from her face.

  “There’s a multitude of old sayings: Life goes on. Life is for the living. They all have a thread of truth woven through them. My answer to your question is yes.” Julia fingered the edge of her plate. “There are many mornings I want to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed. I force myself to get up. I remind myself how much I enjoy baking. And I keep going step by step and before I know it, the end of the day comes, and I’m tired enough to sleep. So yes, sometimes we have to just go through the motions until it gets easier.”

  “It’s difficult to move on with life when the biggest part of it’s gone.” Emotion clogged Jezzica’s throat. She blinked back the tears, seriously wanting to hear what Julia was saying.

  “But then one morning, you notice the sun shining. You notice the birds chirping. You notice the flowers blooming. And you start to feel again.” Julia twisted the cap back on the thermos, as though she needed to do something with her hands.

  “Would you ever think of dating?” Jezzica nibbled on the edge of her sweet roll.

  Julia’s laughter boomeranged through the room. “Sorry, don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to worry about it.” Her expression turned serious. “You’re young and if God gives you another chance at love—don’t be too quick to toss it away. Life zooms by, and honey, nothing compares to traipsing through life with someone you love, and who loves you in return.”

  They both looked up as Zack strutted into the shop. “Morning, ladies.”

  Julia scooted back and eased out of her chair. “Hunting down your coffee?” She grinned at him.

  “You know it. Best coffee in Serenity Cove—no, make that the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  A soft glow spread over Julia’s cheeks, broadcasting the pleasure she had found in his compliment. “The time slipped away from me. I better go open my doors before half the town knocks on your door.” Julia eyed Zack and tossed Jezzica a knowing wink before waltzing out the front door.

  Jezzica caught Julia’s signal, and a heated blush settled on her face as she focused on Zack. “This is a surprise.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I dropped by to apologize. You made your position clear and I crossed the line. Is it possible to take a step back to being friends?”

  “Friends.” She extended her hand. “You didn’t cross any lines—I sent conflicting messages.” It wasn’t easy to restrain the words that wanted to burst forth and tell him she wanted to be more than friends. Except an equally strong voice, from the same place in her head, screamed no. I’m becoming mentally deranged.

  “I’m still on vacation. Where should we begin?” His eyes wandered over the interior of the shop.

  “Several boxes of books were delivered—they’re in Maggie’s storage room. It would be a huge help if you brought them to the bookshop.”

  Zack eyed the big shelves that had been refinished with the soft sheen of a cherry wood stain. “I’ll give you a hand with the shelving units first.”

  Jezzica went to her desk, retrieved a sketch she’d drawn and handed it to Zack. “This is the placement I want. I’m going for the ambience of a private library in someone’s home, one that might have been found in the early nineteen hundreds.”

  Zack looked the shelves over. “These need to be secured to the walls with brackets. Otherwise it could pose a safety issue.”

  “Oh, right. I have the old brackets from when the shelves were removed.”

  “Good.” He went outside and returned with his toolbox. He positioned the shelves along the walls according to the sketched design.

  Jezzica began working on the children’s section. She went in the back and came out, attempting to drag a rolled-up rug.

  Zack shook his head and with a chuckle ran to her rescue. “Here, let me get that.” He hefted one end against his shoulder, then helped her center it in the children’s area.

  “Perfection.” Jezzica clapped her gloved hands.

  Zack nodded, and returned to installing the shelves. “There seems to be hollow places behind the paneling on this wall.”

  Jezzica stood next to him. “Wonder what’s behind it?”

  “Only one way to find out?” He looked at her for approval.

  “Do it. Let’s see what’s there.” If it had been Christmas morning and she had been eight years old, her excitement would not have reached any higher.

  With the help of a hammer and large pry-bar, he pulled off the first sheet. He ran his gloved hand over the exposed rustic brick.

  She touched the brick. “A fireplace?”

  “Maybe. You want to keep going? It may have been covered up because of a potential hazard issue.”

  She blew strands of hair off her face. “Take it down. If it’s a problem, we’ll cover it back up.”

  “Electric logs would eliminate the smoke and ashes.”

  “You’re a genius.” Jezzica tugged her work gloves tighter and helped Zack remove the panels.

  With the paneling and supports removed, the space revealed a fireplace with a raised hearth and floor-to-ceiling brick.

  “Picture club chairs on each side of a glowing hearth. And in the summer months, I’ll put plants inside it. I love it.” Jezzica threw her arms around Zack. “Thank you so—” Heat ignited—and not from the fireplace. She stepped back. “I’m sorry.”

  He removed his gloves and tossed them aside. His tightened jaw said he understood. “I’m going to Rubi’s and getting sandwiches.”

  Jezzica recalled her earlier conversation with Julia. “Life zooms by and honey, there isn’t anything else that compares to traipsing through life with a man you love and who loves you in return.” How do I move forward when my insides are like two friends, each with an equally strong opinion? A session with Dr. Ellie—am I up to the challenge?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Zack lazed on his deck with his morning brew, a rare luxury. His Bible lay open on the table as he stared out at the sea. The ringtone on his cell interrupted his silent contemplation. He shoved his coffee mug on the table, exchanging it for the demanding phone.

  “Hey, what’s up?” The call shredded his plans as if he’d taken time to write them down on paper. Ted had spotted someone lurking in the alleyway behind the shops. Zack grabbed his keys and jumped in his truck. The tires squealed as he rounded the corner and came to an abrupt stop in front of the florist, then jetted on foot to the back of the shops.

  Ted scrunched down, observing the person of interest, and motioned Zack to the ground beside him. “So far he’s just hanging out in the alley.” Ted nodded toward the possible suspect.

  “Let’s talk to him—see what his deal is.” Zack walked toward the man.

  “Are you sure we should approach him—he isn’t doing anything.” Ted fell in beside him.

  “Morning.” Zack continued to move in closer.

  The man turned and faced them. “Good morning, officers. What can I do for you?” Evidently, Ted’s uniform hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  “Curious why you’re back here.” Zack shot him a stern look. He had always relied on the expressions he’d learned well from the principal of Mariner Bay High School. The administrator had made no effort of being a pal during Zack’s frequent visits—well, summonses—to his office. He’d had ample opportunity to study his facial contortions, which he now put to good use.

  “Am I breaking a law?”

  “Depends on why you’re here.” Zack narrowed his eyes and the intensity of his glare spiked.

  “My wife is shopping and this seemed like a good place to walk and do a little thinking.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “I need to see some identification, sir.” Zack wasn’t thrilled with the guy’s demeanor.

  He patted his pockets as if searching for his wallet. “My wallet is in my wife’s purse.”

  Zack eyed the phone clipped to the guy’s belt. “Call her.”

  “Umm. Sure.”
He grabbed his phone and began punching numbers.

  Ted jabbed Zack in the ribs and motioned to two men entering the alleyway. Zack gave him a signal to call for backup and positioned his gun in his hand.

  “Sir, I need you to put your hands behind your back. Now.” Zack made sure he saw the drawn gun.

  The two men who had entered the alleyway turned and dashed the other way, but Alec had already blocked the exit with his patrol car, and had his gun leveled on them. Nicole came around from the other side of the vehicle and made quick work of handcuffing their hands behind their backs.

  Alec and Nicole loaded the three suspects and headed to the station.

  “Good work.” Zack slapped Ted on the back. “Didn’t know all I had to do was take a vacation.”

  “Do you think they had something to do with the robbery at the flower shop?”

  “And probably scoping out their next victim.” Zack retrieved his truck and made his way to the station.

  He barged into Logan’s office, the adrenaline still pumping, and took a seat on the other side of his desk. “Any idea what we’re dealing with?”

  “Still in the process of being fingerprinted and checked in. Here comes Alec.” Logan nodded toward the door of his office.

  “One of the suspects had some checks made out to Magnolia’s Antiques.” Alec tossed several checks on Logan’s desk.

  Logan signaled Zack to follow him. They were barely in Logan’s truck before he was spinning the tires out of the parking lot. He squealed to a stop in front the antiques shop and raced through the door. Muffled groans came from the rear of the shop. Maggie thrashed about on the floor, bound and gagged.

  Logan knelt next to her. Zack joined him and could see she was in shock. “I’m going to remove the gag and untie your hands and feet.” Zack proceeded to free her.

  Her hands flew to her mouth, covering the outline of redness from where the tape had been ripped off. “I was so scared, they intended to kill me.” She tried to swipe away the tears, and accepted the tissues Zack handed her.

  Logan wrapped his arms around his sister. “I’ll kill whoever did this.” He used a few more words—the kind of language Zack doubted Maggie had ever heard come from her brother’s mouth.

  Zack took the reins. “Maggie, do you need to go to the hospital?” He heard Logan groan as though the thought hadn’t occurred to him.

  “No. They didn’t hurt me, just tied me up.” Her voice trembled as she answered through her tears.

  Logan gently lifted her from the floor. “Let’s find a place to sit. We need a statement from you. We may have the perpetrators in custody.”

  Logan kept his arm around his sister and led her to a sofa she had on display. He signaled Zack. “Lock the front door and put out the Closed sign.” He turned to Maggie. “Zack needs to ask you some questions.”

  Zack took his notebook from his pocket. “Did you get a look at the assailants?”

  “They had knitted ski masks pulled over their faces. But I recognized their shoes—they’d been in the shop yesterday. They had asked questions about several items and promised to be back later with their wives.” Maggie began sobbing. “They forgot to bring their wives—they brought guns instead.”

  Anger flashed on Logan’s face. “Give us a description, Maggie.”

  Zack listened and made notes as she identified the two suspects that had entered from the end of the alleyway. He looked at Logan. “That’s them—they’re the ones we have in custody.”

  Logan grimaced as if to control his words. “Zack, rush back to the station and make sure nothing goes wrong. I’m taking Maggie to Samantha.”

  “You got it, Chief.” Zack arrived at the station and found the place in a total frenzy. Ted and Nicole were both yelling over each other. Alec was attempting to quiet the two of them down. Zack stepped in and separated them. “What’s going on?”

  Ted scrubbed his hand across his face. “The suspects—they walked right out of the station.”

  “What do you mean they walked out? Three suspects just strutted out of a police station?” He gave a quick shake of his head, trying to unjumble the words so they made sense.

  “They snuck out of the interrogation room and waltzed right out the door.” Nicole shot an accusing glare at Ted. “Under Ted’s watch.”

  “Stop.” Zack eyed Ted and then Nicole. “Take this up with Logan later. Let’s get out on the streets and find these culprits.”

  On the way to his truck, he called Logan. The chief’s response echoed his own, as he threatened to fire the whole force.

  Logan ordered the whole team to meet with him. Hank had set up chairs in one of the rooms. They filed in. Ted, Nicole, Alec, and Zack. Besides Hank, who manned the phones part-time, they made up the entire Serenity Cove Police Department—along with the chief, of course.

  When Logan entered, the room went still and silent. His face looked as though he’d spent too much time in the sun—only with the burn of anger. “I don’t want to hear one excuse as to how or why these criminals strutted right out of this station. I want them caught and I want them behind bars or you’re going to be gracing the unemployment line. And I want a written report from each one of you on my desk by the end of the day.” He turned and stalked out of the room.

  Zack followed Logan into his office. He opened the file folder he’d ordered from the detective division in Stone Valley and threw the sketches on Logan’s desk. “These guys know they’ll be recognized on sight. There’s a good chance they’re heading out of town. I’m thinking we should call the Mariner Bay division and have them throw up a roadblock halfway between Serenity Cove and Mariner Bay.”

  Logan hesitated briefly. “Where the old covered bridge stands?”

  “That works.” Zack nodded in agreement.

  Logan shook his head as he picked up his phone. “This isn’t the first time a department has had to swallow its embarrassment and move forward. It sure tastes bitter.” Logan finished his call and shoved his phone into the clip on his belt. “Okay, the roadblock is being set up. I’m going to follow your instincts on this one—it’s all we’ve got. But there is a chance they’ll lie low right here in Serenity.” He grabbed his cap. “We better get a move on it.” On the way out, he instructed Alec to ride with him and Zack. He called out to Ted and Nicole to follow. “Let’s go create a gridlock and catch some criminals.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Warm summer evenings had arrived on an earlier flight than expected. Jezzica sat with Catylen, watching Tasha and Lauren in a game of volleyball on the beach below.

  “Want to go down on the shore and get closer to the action?” Jezzica rose from her chair on the deck, putting Rusty inside the cottage and closing the door.

  “You know what would be fun? Making a fire.” Catylen slid her feet into her sandals. “Let’s take matches and marshmallows.”

  “Don’t you think the girls are little past an old-fashioned marshmallow roast?”

  “That’s up to them. Their mom is going to indulge in crispy messy goodness.”

  “Sounds like a candy bar commercial.” Their laughter filled the early evening, that time between light and dark, as they tromped down the steps and onto the sand. “I’m still blown away by how grown up Tasha and Lauren are. I guess I expected teenagers instead of young college women.” Jezzica felt a nostalgic fondness for her only nieces.

  Catylen blew out an exaggerated breath. “I’m concerned about Lauren—she’s so reserved and quiet. Something is obviously wrong.”

  “I’ve noticed she tends to stay secluded in her room or takes off to the beach. Maybe it’s the situation with you and Mike.”

  “Mike and I agreed to not tell the girls, at least not yet. We need time to work this out for ourselves. Not that I’ve heard much from him recently.”

  “There’s an empty fire pit!” Jezzica kicked up sand as she dashed to it. She waved to her sister, still trailing behind, and staked her claim by plopping the bag of marshmallows on th
e edge of the bricks. They soon had a blaze going, and speared the marshmallows onto the sticks they had brought with them.

  “What we need is chocolate to dip them in.” Jezzica laughed as her sister tried to tell her it was hot around a mouth stuffed full of the melted concoction. “Caty, that’s exactly what you used to do when we were kids.”

  “Yeah, but it’s so good. Aw, here come my elusive girls.”

  Tasha dropped down on the sand beside her mom. “Hey, great. Okay if we invite a few friends?”

  “Sure,” Jezzica said. She and Catylen moved, giving the group room to crowd around the pit. “Tasha, there’s more marshmallows at the cottage if you need them.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Jezz.” Tasha traipsed through the sand and one of the young men jumped up and followed with an offer to help.

  Catylen raised her eyebrows at her sister. “I wanted to tell them no. But I’m not with them when they’re at college.”

  “Yep, can’t keep them tied to your apron. But Harrison isn’t a problem. He’s one of the guys that found Samantha when she fell at the cove last year. She also recommended him if I needed help at the shop.”

  “How’s the shop coming along? I’ve haven’t been in since the girls arrived.” Sincere interest reflected in Catylen’s eyes.

  “It’s almost ready, thanks to Zack—he’s been a big help.”

  “And how is that hunk?” Catylen chuckled.

  Jezzica took a deep breath. “He’s a real dilemma. Every time I see him, it creates a problem.”

  “Give it time.” Catylen’s words held a tone of confidence—as thought she thought Jezzica and Zack were destined to be together.

  “I haven’t seen him since the day he uncovered the hearth. One minute I was excited and the next I practically threw him out of the shop. He’s most likely had enough of my hysterics. I’ve never been one for drama and now—” She quietly groaned as the subject of her conversation trudged toward her.

  Zack nodded hello to Catylen and turned to Jezzica. “Sorry for the intrusion. We need to talk.”