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“Grudges?”
“Yeah, like, how long did I hold a grudge. I said I didn’t. Life’s too short, you know? I think when I was younger I kind of did—like my best friend in high school stole my girlfriend and I didn’t talk to him for the rest of the year, and intentionally drilled him in batting practice—I was a pitcher in high school, but didn’t go to college. I could have, I guess, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I’ve always liked the Coast Guard. My grandpa was in the Navy.”
“And Neil? Grudges?” She pushed him back to the subject. “Did he tell you why?”
“No. We talked about high school and sports and football—I don’t really like football, but I know enough to get by.”
“And you didn’t find the question a little odd?”
“It was kind of Neil’s way. He always had these hypothetical questions that really didn’t have answers, you know? Like he was trying to figure things out but didn’t quite say what he was trying to figure out.”
“Where can I reach Jamie?”
“Today? Well—she’s working tomorrow at the Fish & Brew. Eleven thirty to eight. Today she’s at her dad’s place on the other side of the island but will be back before dark. You want me to have her call you?”
Kara considered. Cal seemed forthcoming, and the second bombing pointed more fingers at IP, but she still couldn’t get Neil’s investigation out of her head, or the gas leak at his house.
Still, she needed to verify what Cal said. She slid over her card. “Yeah, have her call me to set up a time. I’ll go to her. Just to clarify, when did you hear about theWater Lily?”
“Jamie told me. After Kyle took over, I drove to her dad’s place to talk, so we could work things out. She looked like she’d seen a ghost, told me that the TV news reported a boat explosion. We watched more of the news together, then I left and came back here—to West End, I mean. Told her to stay at her dad’s until we knew what was going on. I drove back out there on Saturday—and we worked everything out. Mostly.”
“Worked what out?”
“We’ve been engaged for years and she finally set a date—September—but then she felt insecure because she ran into one of my ex-girlfriends. Jamie had...well, let’s just say she had a shitty boyfriend before me. I love her, I love Hazel, and she now knows it. I mean sheknewit, but now I think she believes it, you know? But she keeps thinking that we’re too perfect. Which is stupid. I mean, she’s not stupid, but the idea that we can’t be happy because then something bad will happen, that’s just wrong thinking. So we’re good. She’s nervous, was getting cold feet about the wedding—we’ve been living together for nearly four years, but I want Hazel to have married parents. I guess that sounds old-fashioned, but whatever. And I know she wants it, but her parents had a crappy marriage, and she says she doesn’t want to mess things up. Like she evencould, you know?”
Cal was genuine. Nice guy, a bit on the beta side, loved his girl. Kara would confirm everything—because she’d met a couple of so-called “nice guys” who were total two-faced jerks or turned into assholes when they drank. She didn’t see that with Cal, and everyone who knew him had the same story: he was loyal, friendly, loved his family, enjoyed the quiet island life.
“One last thing. Did you know anyone on board other than Neil and Kyle?”
“No—I mean, I knewofMr. Jeffries. He was friends with Ted. But I think I only met him once or twice, when I was working. I bartend at the club when I’m not working a charter.”
“And his wife?”
“No, Mrs. Jeffries didn’t come into the bar, but I think I saw Lynn—that’s Ted’s sister—having lunch with her a couple of times in the dining room.”
“Tell me about Island Protectors. They have a beef with West End because of a fuel spill?”
He rolled his eyes. “I want to support their cause—I mean, I’m all for protecting the environment, I recycle everything, we even used cloth diapers for Hazel. But they’re wrong about West End. The fuel leak was really an accident. They were in the middle of retrofitting their boats. Yeah, they probably should have decommissioned all the affected boats until they could fix them, but then they would have had to lay off staff, and they are one of the top three private employers on the island. And the Colfax family has been here forever, they love the islands, they would never intentionally cause damage, you know? I think they—IP—just got a bee in their bonnet, as my grandpa used to say. One mistake—an accident—and they laser focused on them. I mean, I get it, the fuel leak could have been devastating, but they cleaned it up fast and there were no long-term consequences. Sometimes, I think people just like to stir up shit because they like to stir the shit.”
“Anyone in particular stand out to you? Someone who held a more...specific grudge against them?” She intentionally used the word he used when talking about Neil.
He shook his head. “I really don’t know those people but—well, I shouldn’t say this.”
“Yes, you should.”
“Pete’s been so good to Jamie, gave her time off during the pregnancy, always adjusts her schedule when she needs it. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“You won’t.”
“I think Ashley—well, she’s a great kid. Both of his girls are. But I’ve seen her hanging out with the IP group. Pete would be livid if he knew. He’s close to Ted—they went to school together, have been friends a long time—in their graduating class, they’re two of maybe a half dozen that stayed on the islands. That kind of bonds people. I don’t want to get her in trouble, but if anyone knows those people, it’s her.”
Confirmed everything Kara had learned about Ashley, but hearing a different perspective was helpful.
“Okay. I might need to ask more questions, and if you think of anything else, call me. Anytime.” She got up but he stayed seated.
“Are you really going to talk to Jamie?” asked Cal.
“Yes,” Kara said.
