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  Captain Dead Man

  Sweetfern Harbor Mystery #3

  Wendy Meadows

  Copyright © 2017 by Wendy Meadows

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  1. July Preparations

  2. Night of Celebration

  3. Boat Race Complications

  4. The Race Must Go On

  5. Suspect List

  6. More Suspects

  7. Discovery

  8. The Switch

  9. The Confession

  10. The Big News

  Thanks for reading

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  About the Author

  Also by Wendy Meadows

  1

  July Preparations

  Brenda Sheffield twirled her hand around to focus on every aspect of the beauty of the ring Mac Rivers had just slid onto her finger. The sun glistened on the intricate facets of the diamond in its delicately pronged setting. Her eyes matched the sparkling stone when she looked up into his eyes.

  “I love you, Mac Rivers. I want to be with you forever.”

  “I will love you forever, too, my love.” He looked into her eyes as if he could see forever written there.

  She leaned her head closer to the man she loved, her heart beating joyfully in her chest. Brenda wanted the magic spell of this moment to last the rest of her life, but she stepped back when she heard voices from a distance.

  “Here come Allie and Phyllis,” said Mac with a half-smile.

  Brenda turned to look with a huge grin on her face. “I can’t wait to tell them the news.”

  She watched the two women cross the sprawling lawn behind the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast where Mac had just asked her to marry him.

  Mac looked at the two employees of the bed and breakfast, and back at the owner, his new fiancé.

  “Wait a while before we announce it,” he said. He smiled at her baffled look. “There will be plenty of time to spread the news. Right now, you will be busy with the upcoming boat race and I’m sure your bed and breakfast will be sold out of rooms. That alone will keep you seriously occupied.” He didn’t like the cloud that crossed her face and tried to amend his words. “Let’s just wait until everything settles down again and then we can talk about whether to shout it from the rooftops.”

  Brenda’s face fell for a moment before she took a breath and then finally answered. “If you think that’s best, then I’ll wait.” As Allie and Phyllis approached, she didn’t have time to consider his words and so simply tucked them in the back of her mind. She turned toward Allie Williams, her office assistant, and her housekeeper, Phyllis Lindsey. It would be very hard to keep this news from her employees at the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. It would be especially hard to keep it from Phyllis, who had become her best friend and confidant. At the last moment, Brenda turned the ring over to hide the gem and clasped her right hand over her left one. She thought to herself that perhaps later she would ask Mac to take it back until he was ready for them to make the announcement to everyone – but why didn’t he want her to tell everyone right away? Her disappointment turned to unhappiness, which she managed to squelch within her. He had his reasons and she would be patient, for now, but the issue would have to be discussed soon.

  “Brenda, there is a young couple here with a baby. We wanted to ask if they could have the room in the back of the second floor,” said Allie. “I know it means switching them with the older couple coming in, but with the baby…we thought its cries might disturb the other guests if they were in the front room.”

  Phyllis interjected. “Of course, we don’t know if the baby will be a crier or not, but just in case, don’t you think it would be better for them to be away from the others?”

  Brenda felt relief spread through her. Switching back to what she knew best was comforting. “That’s a good idea. The older couple won’t arrive until closer to dinnertime. They’ve not been assigned a room at this point and they didn’t give any instructions or preferences in regard to which room when they made their reservation, did they, Allie?”

  “No, they didn’t ask for anything special. I believe they are devoted hikers and the wife told me the stairs won’t bother them. They’re in their sixties, but she told me they have won commendations for some of their hiking expeditions.”

  They chatted a little longer about the guests who were expected to arrive and then as a group, headed back toward Sheffield House. As they reached the porch, before the women turned to go back inside, Phyllis looked at Brenda in a curious manner. Her housekeeper and good friend knew her better than anyone had ever known her. Brenda, who had kept unusually quiet, avoided the scrutiny of her gaze until Phyllis seemed to take the hint and finally decided to follow Allie back inside. When they were at last out of earshot, Brenda turned back to Mac.

  “If I can’t tell anyone our news yet, I think it would be better if you hold on to the ring until I can. There is no way I can wear it without questions,” she said unhappily, twisting the ring around her finger again.

  Mac was visibly taken aback. “Why not keep it in your apartment until after the boat races? Then we’ll decide together when it is time.” He bit his lip watching her look of unease, knowing he had cast a shadow over their moment of happiness, and he couldn’t take it back.

  Brenda’s heart ached a little to look at the man she loved and to realize they had had a disagreement like this only moments after she had just felt such intense joy at his proposal. She wanted nothing more than to believe his words and wait until the hustle and bustle of the boat races was over to make the big announcement. But something made her hold back from asking him why, and that something made her heart ache all the harder.

  Mac searched her face as if he wanted to lift her spirits with the sheer force of his smile. “You did a great job when the Seaside Theatre Festival was here, Brenda. Everyone in town was impressed by how smoothly the performances went. I know you had a lot to do with that by the way you answered every need the performers had while they stayed at the bed and breakfast.”

  “That’s to say nothing of the horrible events everyone went through.” Brenda was lost in thought for a moment, thinking back to the tragic murder of the star of the show, a well-known and admired actress. “I’ve had to go out of my way to make sure the bed and breakfast didn’t get a bad reputation just because someone committed a hideous crime here. It was so awful, but it wasn’t our fault.”

  “That murder is still the talk of the town. You were outstanding in getting to the right suspect, too. Again, I’m so very sorry I doubted your innocence in the matter.” Brenda didn’t respond. She felt it was all in the past and wished intensely that the subject hadn’t come up right on the heels of their disagreement. She sensed that Mac knew it was time to change the subject again. He cleared his throat before continuing, “You know, I have a very good friend who is a fellow detective, from Brooklyn. His name is Bryce Jones. He grew up here in Sweetfern Harbor. He knows all about how you were the one who solved Ellen Teague’s murder and he wants to meet you.”

  Brenda’s eyes grew wide. “I didn’t know word spread like that.”

  Mac laughed. “I can assure you everyone in my field knows you from coast to coast. Ellen Teague was a pretty famous na
me and you were bound to become famous yourself when you figured things out.” He bent and kissed her. “I have work to do and so must move along. I love you, Brenda, and I’m more than happy you accepted my proposal.” He clasped her hands gently in his own and then let go and walked off across the lawn, back to his car.

  After he left, Brenda slipped the engagement ring off her finger and dropped it into the pocket of her slacks. With a kind of heaviness in her heart that she tried to ignore, she went to her apartment and secured the sparkling ring in a locked case. As she turned the key, she told herself firmly, the ring is as safe as his love for me. But she had a nagging feeling of sadness as she pushed the case to the back of the drawer.

  Her thoughts moved to Bryce Jones. She was curious about him. It was the first time Mac had mentioned the name to her, though there had never been a reason to do so before now, she thought. Perhaps a visit from Mac’s friend would be a welcome distraction during the busy week. After all, it might be nice to trade tips and tricks with an old pro who appreciated her skills.

  She went back downstairs. On the wall along the staircase hung nautical paintings her uncle had procured for the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast before his death. When she walked into the dining room, one painting caught her eye. The sky in the painting was as blue as the ocean, only the texture of the surface changed between the two expanses of blue. It was so real she could almost guess where the artist had been sitting by the harbor when he had painted it. She knew the painting’s subject told of a boat race twenty years ago. Every July the races were held in Sweetfern Harbor. In the blue distance of the ocean in the painting were the bright sails of three outstanding boats as they raced past under a brisk wind.

  “I love that painting especially,” said Phyllis. Brenda turned quickly to see her housekeeper standing a few feet from her. “Those boats have raced here every year. They’ve always had the same captains, though I think they’ve rebuilt or bought newer boats over the years.” She pointed to each one as she named them. “That’s the Scully and this one is the Pratt. The third one is called the Eddy. They are owned by three men who have been close friends and fierce competitors for several decades now.”

  “I guess it’s a deeper tradition than I realized,” said Brenda, examining the tiny boats in the distance of the painting.

  Phyllis kept her eyes on the painting and nodded her head in agreement. “There is a $50,000 prize for the winner, but they look forward to winning the silver cup most of all.” She smiled. “Of course, I’m sure the money is coveted, too, but they probably spend it all on fixing up their boats each year. That silver cup is the crown of the race.”

  They talked of the many events that would herald the annual race on the water until Phyllis excused herself, saying she had one more room to clean. The rest of the guests would be arriving soon.

  As she turned to go up the stairs, Phyllis turned to Brenda and said, “Oh, and by the way...the last room just got booked. We’ll have a detective visiting from Brooklyn. Maybe Mac has mentioned him to you? Mac is older than him, but they were next door neighbors and every kid on the block grew up playing together. He and Bryce Jones, along with Bryce’s older brother, used to get into plenty of trouble when they were young.” Phyllis was momentarily lost in memories of the past. “But I suppose Mac has told you all about Bryce.”

  “He just mentioned him to me a little while ago,” Brenda said, but she didn’t voice aloud the rest of her thoughts. She wondered why Mac failed to mention his friend would be her guest. She had not gone over the guest list with Allie yet, but it was next on her list. “What else do you know about him? Is he a good detective?”

  “From what I’ve heard, he is good at his job.” Phyllis hesitated. “This is off topic, but I have a secret to tell you, Brenda. We don’t want the word out yet, or at least Molly doesn’t, but…she is engaged to be married! I can’t believe my daughter will be a married woman within the year.” Phyllis was beaming. “But please don’t tell anyone. She’s not quite ready to put the news out there. She says it’s because every tidbit of news spreads too fast in this town. They want to keep it to themselves a while longer.”

  Her smile was wistful. Brenda understood instantly how anxious Phyllis must be to spread the news about Molly and Pete Graham, and how hard it was to wait. Brenda expressed her happiness at the news and simply bit her tongue about the rest. She wished so badly she could tell her friend her own news, but she held back as promised to Mac. She left Phyllis and headed for the office. She and Allie looked at the guest list. The young couple with the baby had settled in and were happy with their room. It was almost time for the rest to arrive for their stays. Both women looked up when they heard footsteps in the foyer.

  Allie went out to the desk to greet the handsome man in front of her. “Hello, welcome to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. Are you...um, that is, are you checking in?” Allie dimpled with her best smile at the new guest, whose good looks almost threatened to make her forget what she was doing.

  “I’m Bryce Jones, and I have a reservation.”

  Brenda came out of the office and introduced herself. “Mac told me you are his friend, and a detective in Brooklyn. I understand you and Mac have known one another for many years.” Brenda too couldn’t take her eyes from the extremely good-looking man in front of her. Penetrating deep, his gray eyes focused on her. Fit, tanned, and very well-dressed, Bryce Jones looked much younger than either she or Mac. He flashed a quick smile at her and she blinked and looked down at some paperwork as she tried to get her wits about her. She surmised he was in his mid to late thirties.

  But he wasn’t deterred. He leaned in to the counter. “Ah, Brenda. At last I get to meet the famous amateur sleuth. Your reputation has spread far and wide. From what I’ve heard, perhaps you should drop the word ‘amateur’ from your resume.” Brenda was surprised at his words even though Mac had said the same thing about her name getting out. His head tilted slightly to one side and the grin spread across his face. “I can’t believe you outsmarted Detective Mac Rivers. I heard he tried to arrest you for some unfathomable reason. I mean, who could ever find it in his heart to arrest such a beautiful young woman?”

  Allie exchanged a quick glance with Brenda and hid a smile. She noted a slight flush creeping into her boss’s face.

  “I have your registration all set,” Allie cut in. She hoped to spare Brenda further embarrassment.

  The sixteen-year-old found it hard to take her eyes from their guest. He smoothly took the key to his room from Allie while his eyes remained fixed on the owner of Sheffield Bed and Breakfast as she stammered a little, thanking him for his kind words. Brenda welcomed him again and told him if he needed anything, to ask any staff member. All heads turned when the door opened again. Mac Rivers looked at Brenda’s flushed face and then greeted his friend with a firm slap on his shoulder. “I take it you’re here for the boat races, Bryce.”

  “You know me too well. I haven’t been back here for several years and yearned for my former home again. Plus, I couldn’t hide my curiosity about Sweetfern Harbor’s newest detective,” he finished with a conspiratorial glance at Brenda.

  Mac grinned at his friend’s words and then spoke to Brenda. “I left my cell phone here a little while ago. I’ll go outside and see if it’s still on the table near where we were sitting.”

  “I have it right here. Phyllis just brought it in a short time ago. I was going to call the station and let you know,” said Allie helpfully, offering him the phone from where it had been sitting behind the desk.

  Mac thanked her and took the phone. His eyes clouded when he turned to see Bryce, whose eyes seemed locked onto Brenda as he peppered her with short questions about the bed and breakfast. He hoped the man would enjoy the races and then leave for Brooklyn as soon as possible. He couldn’t be trusted around women.

  “Did Susan come with you?” Mac asked his friend deliberately, clamping one hand down on the younger man’s shoulder.

  “Who? Oh, Susan
. We broke up last week. It was a good thing. She’s a little too clingy and I had to let her go.” He laughed easily and glanced at Brenda again. She was certain he winked at her and when she looked at Mac, she was sure he saw the same thing. She looked down and could suddenly feel herself blushing. Was this handsome young man flirting with her in front of Mac? Before she had time to answer that question, Mac swooped in and saved her.

  “Brenda, I thought you’d like to meet the three famous captains in town,” said Mac. “I just saw Molly Lindsey. She mentioned they were in her coffee shop. Do you have time to walk down there with me and meet them?”

  Brenda was happy for the much-needed distraction. “I’d love to meet them. Phyllis was just telling me all about the famous racing families.”

  Mac reached for her hand and gently pulled her toward the door and out from beneath Bryce’s clutches.

  “Word is that the town is just packed with tourists again,” Brenda added, trying gamely to speak politely to her guest and to Mac, who was obviously trying to get her to leave quickly.

  “Yes, people come from far and wide for the sailing race. I know neither of us can spend a lot of time away from our work, so now may be the only chance to meet the three captains. They are experts in sailboat racing and come from old seafaring families,” said Mac. “A lot of knowledge is stored in those three brains when it comes to living and working on the water. By now, they are all retired and spending their money and time on boats. There is a healthy competition between them.” Mac finally succeeded in getting her out the door and away from Bryce’s piercing gray eyes.

  Bryce watched until they closed the door behind them. He shrugged his shoulders and told Allie he would get settled in.