Zach scribbled down Detective Morrissey’s phone number. “Give this guy a call. He’s a good cop, and he may think of a question I haven’t. But, listen, I need a few more things, and you know what? If anyone wants to know, you never saw me today, okay?”
“Anything you say,” Jorey said, but he was looking at Caer again, grinning foolishly.
In no time, they were ready to go, with their shovels, sieves, a pick and two metal detectors, and a canvas duffel to carry everything in.
When they reached the dockside office, Zach pointed out the Sea Sprite, a small, one-masted boat with a powerful motor and shallow draft. “I need you to go inside, and if Cal and Marni are both in there, give me a wave, then keep them occupied for a few minutes.”
She stared at him as if she thought he was nuts for playing at being James Bond.
“Caer, please, we have no idea just who might be involved in all this.”
“What do I say to them?”
“Ask Marni if she’s all right after the incident with the pie yesterday.”
Caer nodded.
A few moments later, she opened the door and waved to him, then stepped back inside. He hauled his bag onto the little boat, checked the gas gauge and looked her over, then headed for the office.
“Morning, Zach,” Cal greeted him. “Did you see the paper this morning?”
“Actually, no. Sean was reading it when we left.”
“They’re recalling those blueberries,” Cal said grimly. “There was a big article on how they think some psycho is out there, maybe some ex-employee with a grudge.”
“I’m glad they got right on it,” Marni said. “They can make sure no one else winds up with a mouthful of glass.”
“Are you absolutely sure you’re all right?” Caer asked her with concern.
“Oh, I’m fine. Honestly,” Marni said.
“We could have sued,” Cal said indignantly.
“And what would that have done? We’re far too litigious in this country,” Marni said firmly, shaking her head. “And I’m just fine.” She lowered her voice, though they were the only ones there. “It’s such a relief to know that some stranger did this, and that it wasn’t someone in the house. You know what I mean. It was awful, Amanda accusing poor Clara, on top of Kat being so certain Amanda has it in for Sean.” Marni dropped her voice even further. “Although who can blame her? Let’s face it, we all think the woman is a total bitch.”
“Sean loves her,” Cal reminded his wife. “And who knows? Maybe she loves him, too. Who the hell are we to judge? Not to mention that it’s pretty insulting to him to think there’s no way Amanda is actually in love with him. Did that make sense?”
“It did,” Marni said, looking at her husband affectionately. “It’s just that she and I are about the same age, and I look at Sean like a father figure.”
“Well, I’m going to show Caer around some more,” Zach interrupted. “See you folks later.”
“Any action on the wharf?” Marni said. “I get restless when we’re not busy.”
“I saw some people walking around checking things out,” Zach told her, but it was a lie. He didn’t want either Cal or Marni out on the water, not until he and Caer were long gone.
Cal led the way to the door, with Marni following close behind them. Zach was anxious to get going, but Cal opened the office door and stepped outside, then gasped sharply.
“What is it?” Marni demanded, pushing past Zach and Caer to reach her husband.
It was a bird. A dead bird—and a huge one.
Not a blackbird. Not a crow.
A raven.
It was lying on its back directly in front of the door, talons curled in, sightless eyes wide open.
Marni let out a frightened scream.
Cal put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Marni, it’s just a bird. A very big, very dead bird.”
“What the hell was it doing, dying right in front of the office door?” she demanded. “Oh, God, it’s a bad omen. Something awful’s going to happen.”
Zach stepped forward, ignoring her, and said firmly, “You got a garbage bag in there? I’ll pick up the poor thing and set it aside. You can call someone to pick it up.”
“We can just feed it to the fish,” Cal said.
“I wouldn’t,” Caer said quickly. They all turned to stare at her. “What if it died because something was wrong with it, because it was sick? Maybe animal control ought to incinerate it or something.”
“She is a nurse,” Marni said. “And it’s a good point. But get it away from me.”
With a shudder, she hurried back into the office, where she got a large garbage bag. Cal and Zach bagged up the bird together, and then Cal laid it by the Dumpster, saying that he would call animal control.
At last Zach and Caer waved goodbye to him and headed to the Sea Sprite.
“Hop on,” Zach said, loosening the mooring ropes after she stepped lithely to the deck, then boarding himself. As he took a seat at the helm and turned on the motor, he told her that she would find both the galley and the head in the small cabin.