Len Creighton was off work, and he considered his free time as totally his own. He sat nursing a double stinger at the Tiki Hut. He needed it.
He’d been behind the desk when a news brief had interrupted the television program in the lobby with the stunning information that millionaire tycoon Seth Granger was dead, apparently by drowning. There was little other information at the time, but he’d heard more about it once the boats had returned to Moon Bay. It had been pretty much the only topic of conversation in the Tiki Hut.
He was still hearing the buzz about it from other tables when Hank Adamson sat down in front of him.
“Long day, huh?” Adamson said, indicating Len’s drink.
“Longer for you, I imagine, Mr. Adamson.”
“You can call me Hank, please. Yeah, we were there a long time. The sheriff asked everyone if anyone had seen Seth go out or fall in the water. No one had.”
“No one saw him? How sad,” Len said.
Hank lifted a hand to order a drink. After giving his order, he told Len, “Sad thing is, I don’t think anyone cared.”
“I care,” Len said in protest. He shrugged sheepishly. “He always tipped well.”
“He was rude as hell to the waitress today. You don’t think she pushed him into the drink, do you?”
Len smiled, but knew he had to be careful with Hank Adamson. “I’m sure he was just tipsy and fell in himself.”
“That old sheriff…he’s something, though. Ever had a homicide in this area?”
“Not since I’ve been here.”
“Well, there you go. A local-yokel sheriff just trying to make a name for himself.”
“Nigel’s a good guy,” Len defended.
“So you think he really thinks there was foul play?” Hank asked, smiling at the waitress and accepting a beer from her.
“He’s no yokel,” Len said.
Adamson leaned toward him. “Why would someone murder Granger? They aren’t going to be blaming it on any ex-wife. If he was killed, it had to be someone who was with us at that bar. Someone on the staff at Moon Bay?”
“No way!” Len protested.
“Your boss admits he wants in on a lot of action,” Hank said. “He’d love to get into the salvage operations business.”
Len stood up. Writer or no, Hank Adamson had crossed the line.
“Jay is as honest as the day is long,” Len said firmly.
“Hey, an honest man can be driven to murder,” Hank said, smiling as he took another sip of beer straight from the bottle. “Sit down. I like your boss. In my opinion, the jerk just fell off the pier. Finish your drink, and I’ll buy you another.”
Len hesitated. Then, looking across the dance floor, he noticed Jay, who saw him, and motioned that he’d be over momentarily.
Len smiled. “Jay will be joining us in just a minute,” he told Hank. He sipped his drink, then was embarrassed to experience a huge yawn before he could suppress it. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“Way too long. I don’t guess many of us will be hanging around here too late tonight,” Hank said.
A few minutes later, when Jay came over, Len rose, stifling another yawn, and bade the two good-night.
There was no sign of Laurie Smith at the lagoons, but she wasn’t required to be there—it was her day off, for one thing. Still, Alex was surprised. Laurie really loved the dolphins and tried to spend time with them every day.
She hesitated, then pulled out her cell phone and tried Laurie’s room. There was no answer. She dialed Laurie’s cell-phone number next, but got voice mail. Strange.
Mandy and Gil were both there, though. They’d already heard what had happened but she gave them the full story of how she’d found him.
“Man, imagine that. A guy can have everything in the world, and still…” Gil said, shaking his head. “Just last night, he was flirting and drinking half the beer in the place. He had one hell of a capacity for liquor.”
“I guess so. That seems to be what everyone says,” Alex said.
“Tragic when anyone dies like that,” Mandy said, shaking his dark head. “He was coming on to that Ally woman last night, and she was eating it up. He was boasting about something really big he was into. I thought the guy was a jerk, myself.”
“Hank Adamson was there when it happened, right?” Gil said, rolling his eyes.
“He was there. One of the last to see him alive,” Alex said.
“Bet he’ll love telling that story,” Gil said. “Anyway, I know you want to hear about these guys,” he told her, indicating the dolphins.
Mandy showed her the log book for the day. “We were bringing them their good-night snack,” Gil said. “Didn’t know when you’d be back. But you can take over.”
“That’s all right,” she said.
Mandy laughed. “No, it’s not. We know you like to tuck them in.”
She smiled. “You two do fine without me,” Alex said.
“Hell, the swim was a piece of cake next to your day,” Mandy said. “Seth Granger dead. Go figure.” He made a face. “And you found him floating. I’m glad it wasn’t me.”