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Caleb levered into one of the padded deck chairs. It was a cool evening, but the men still sipped on chilled beers.
“What about your surveillance cameras?” Caleb asked.
“Not enough of them to provide full coverage. They’re pretty easy to avoid if that’s your intention.”
“You should get more.”
“I’ve ordered more.” It was one of the first moves Matt had made. He took a chair himself.
“Did you call the police?” TJ asked, sitting down.
“Not yet. I can’t imagine it would be a priority for them. And I want to make sure we’re right before I waste anybody’s time.”
“So, Tasha is wrong?”
Matt found himself bristling at what was only the slightest of criticisms of Tasha. “No, she’s not wrong.”
“I’m just asking,” TJ said, obviously catching the tone in Matt’s voice.
“And I’m just answering. She’s not one hundred percent convinced yet either. So, we’ll wait.”
“Until it happens again?” Caleb asked. “What if it’s more serious this time? What if whoever it is targets more than the marina?”
“Are you worried about the Crab Shack?” Matt hadn’t thought about the other businesses in the area, including the Crab Shack restaurant run by Caleb’s new wife, Jules, who was five months pregnant with twins.
“Not yet.” Caleb seemed to further contemplate the question. “I might ask Noah to spend a little more time over there.”
“Nobody’s going to mess with Noah,” TJ said.
“He’s scrappy,” Caleb agreed.
Caleb’s sister-in-law’s boyfriend had spent a short time in jail after a fistfight in self-defense. He was tough and no-nonsense, and he’d protect Jules and her sister, Melissa, against anything and anyone.
“What about your security cameras at the Crab Shack?” TJ asked Caleb. “Would any of them reach this far?”
“I’ll check,” Caleb said. “But I doubt the resolution is high enough to be of any help.”
“I’d appreciate that,” Matt said to Caleb.
It hadn’t occurred to him to worry about Tasha’s or anyone else’s safety. But maybe Caleb was onto something. Maybe Matt should take a few precautions. So far, the incidents had been minor, and nobody had come close to being hurt. But that wasn’t to say it couldn’t happen. The incidents could escalate.
“Matt?” It was Tasha’s voice coming from the pier below, and he felt the timbre radiate through his chest.
He swiftly rose and crossed to the rail, where he could see her. “Are you okay?”
She seemed puzzled by his concern. “I’m fine.”
“Good.”
“Never Fear and Crystal Zone are both ready to go in the morning. I’m heading into town for a few hours.”
“What for?” The question was out of Matt’s mouth before he realized it was none of his business. It was after five, and Tasha was free to do anything she wanted.
“Meeting some guys.”
Guys? What did she mean guys? He wanted to ask if it was one particular guy, or if it was a group of guys. Were they all just friends?
“Hey, Tasha.” TJ appeared at the rail beside him.
“Hi, TJ.” Her greeting was casual, and her attention went back to Matt. “Alex will fill the fuel tanks first thing. The clients are expected at ten.”
“Got it,” Matt said, wishing he could ask more questions about her evening. Or better still, invite her to join them, where they could talk and laugh together.
Not that they were in the habit of friendly conversation. Mostly, they debated. But he’d be happy to engage her in a rollicking debate about pretty much any subject.
As she walked away, TJ spoke up. “I may just take another shot.”
“Another shot at what?” Matt asked.
“At your mechanic.”
“What?” Matt turned.
“I like her.”
“What do you mean another shot?” Matt was surprised by the level of his anger. “You took a shot at her already?”
TJ was obviously taken aback by Matt’s reaction. “I asked you back in the summer. You told me to go for it.”
“That was months ago.”
“That’s when I asked her out. I suggested dinner and dancing. That might have been my mistake.”
Matt took a drink of his beer to keep himself from saying anything more. He didn’t like the thought of Tasha with any guy, never mind TJ. TJ was the epitome of rich, good-looking and eligible. Matt had seen the way a lot of women reacted to him. Not that Tasha was an ordinary woman. Still, she was a woman.
TJ kept talking, half to himself. “Maybe a monster truck rally? She is a mechanic.”
Caleb joined them at the rail.
TJ tried again. “Maybe an auto show. There’s one coming up in Seattle.”
“You can’t ask her out,” Matt said.
The protest caught Caleb’s attention. “Why can’t he ask her out?”
“Because she’s already turned him down.”
“I could be persistent,” TJ said.
“I really don’t think dinner and dancing or persistence was the problem,” Matt said.
“How would you know that?” TJ asked.
Caleb’s expression took a speculative turn. “You have a problem with TJ asking Tasha out?”
“No,” Matt responded to Caleb. Then he reconsidered his answer. “Yes.”
TJ leaned an elbow on the rail, a grin forming on his face. “Oh, this is interesting.”
“It’s not interesting,” Matt said.
“Is something going on between you two?” Caleb asked.
“No. Nothing is going on.”
“But you like her.” TJ’s grin was full-on now.
“I kissed her. She kissed me. We kissed.” Matt wasn’t proud that it sounded like he was bragging. “She’s a nice woman. And I like her. But nothing has happened.”
“Are you telling me to back off?” TJ asked.
“That’s pretty loud and clear,” Caleb said.
TJ held up his hands in mock surrender. “Backing off.”
“She said she was meeting a guy tonight?” Caleb raised a brow.
Matt narrowed his gaze. “She said guys, plural. They’re probably just friends of hers.”
“Probably,” said TJ with exaggerated skepticism, still clearly amused at Matt’s expense.
“It took you long enough,” Caleb said.
“There is no it,” Matt responded. It had taken him too long to notice her. He’d own that.
“Have you asked her out?”
“We’re a little busy at the moment. You know, distracted by criminal activity.”
“That’s a no,” TJ said. “At least I took the plunge.”
“You got shot down,” Caleb reminded TJ.
“No risk, no reward.”
“She’s gun-shy,” Matt said. He didn’t know what made her that way, but it was obvious she was wary of dating.
“So, what are you going to do?” Caleb asked.
“Nothing.”
“That’s a mistake.”
“I’m not going to force anything.” The last thing Matt wanted to do was make Tasha feel uncomfortable working at the marina.
He wanted her to stay. For all kinds of different reasons, both personal and professional, but he definitely wanted her to stay.
* * *
The Edge Bar and Grill in the town of Whiskey Bay was a popular hangout for the marina staff. It also drew in the working class from the local service and supply businesses. The artsy crowd preferred the Blue Badger on Third Avenue. While those who were looking for something high-end and refined could choose the Ocean View Lounge across the highway. While the Crab Shack was becoming popular, drawing people from the surrounding towns and even as far away as Olympia.
Tasha liked the Edge. The decor was particularly attractive tonight, decked out for the season with a tree, lights and miles of evergreen garlands. A huge wreath over the bar was covered in gold balls and poinsettia flowers.
As was usual, the music had a rock-and-country flare. The menu was unpretentious. They had good beer on tap, and soda refills were free. She was driving her and Alex home tonight, so she’d gone with cola.
“Have you heard of anybody having any unexpected engine problems lately?” she asked Henry Schneider, who was sitting across the table.
Henry was a marine mechanic at Shutters Corner ten miles down the highway near the public wharf.
“Unexpected how?” he asked.
“We had some water in the fuel with no apparent cause.”
“Loose cap?”
“Checked that, along with the fuel source. The water separator was full.”
“There’s your problem.”
“I swapped it out, but I couldn’t figure out how it got that way.”
Henry gave a shrug. “It happens.”
Alex returned from the small dance floor with another mechanic, James Hamilton, in tow.
“So, no reports of anything strange?” Tasha asked Henry.
“Strange?” James asked, helping Alex onto the high stool.
“Unexplained mechanical failures in the area.”
“There’s always an explanation,” James said. “Sometimes you just have to keep looking.”
“You want to dance?” Alex asked Henry.
“Who says I was through dancing?” James asked her.
“Dance with Tasha.” Alex motioned for Henry to come with her.
