Authors: Lance Zarimba
I retraced my trek from the night before. The ocean waves calmed me again, but my blood pressure rose slightly as I stepped over the spot where... My eyes scanned the area in the daylight. Was anyone watching? No trace of the body remained. Had everything been washed clean with the morning tide? Or had Geoff and his cohorts cleaned up?
How many people knew about the murder? Looking around the beach, the vacationers seemed to be enjoying the sun. It didn't look like the news was too well known, if at all. Maybe all that talk in the dining room
was
about Tom. Could Sergio have been right? Not that I was going to tell him that.
Ducking past a game of volleyball, I spotted Tom in the last set of chaise lounges under a palm frond umbrella. He was crouching on the side of a chaise, sunglasses pulled low on his face, ready to pounce on a skinny guy with red spiked hair.
I slowed my pace, not wanting to intrude, unsure if I should approach.
The skinny man waved his arms around wildly. Angry words were shouted back and forth between the men. The redhead turned and pointed at the guests, the ocean, and the sun. “You need to get out there and mingle. What am I paying you for...?” He pulled out his wallet and waved it under Tom's nose.
Tom's face turned red. He bolted to his feet and pushed the man backward. “Don't make me angry!"
As the redhead stepped back to maintain his balance, he dropped his wallet in the sand. Red bent to retrieve it, and Tom spotted and waved me over. He pushed his sunglasses up on top of his head, and forced a huge smile. “Taylor. Over here."
He actually wanted me to join him.
The gangly man turned, squinting into the sun, trying to see who was distracting the focus of his rage.
Over the redhead's shoulder, Tom caught my eye. He motioned to the guy with his eyes and waved his hands to shoo him away. “Where have you been?” he called. “I was getting worried."
"Sorry. Sergio wanted to talk and I couldn't get away.” I turned to face the guy. “Some people never know when they've overstayed their welcome.” I smiled and closed in on the vacant chair. “Thanks for saving me a seat."
The redhead stepped to the side, slowly, uncertainty playing across his face. “No problem,” Tom said, standing his ground. “You invited Sergio to join us, right?"
"Yes, and I also ran into Logan. You know how it is when you run into him. He can never stop talking.” I rolled my eyes to Tom. I pulled my beach blanket out of my bag, shook it, and spread it across the vacant plastic lounger.
"It was nice seeing you again, Sean. I hope you have a great vacation too,” Tom said. He reached over, grabbed my tote bag, and pulled out a book, Elizabeth George's
In the Presence of the Enemy
. He held it up to me. “You remembered to bring it. Thanks."
I could feel my brows wrinkling with confusion.
Sean turned to stare at me.
I unfurrowed my brow.
His anger was easy to read. His eyes ran me up one side and down the other. He sized up my scrawny body and lack of tan.
I could hear his thoughts, loud and clear. Glancing over at Tom, I saw his expression as he pleaded with me. “Oh. Don't mention it,” I replied, playing along.
Sean turned, rage still burning behind his eyes. He glared at me one more time and forced a smile. “I'll let you two enjoy the sun. Glad to see you're not hiding in your room, Tom.” He nodded and stormed off down the beach.
"Another adoring fan?” I asked.
"He's my agent, and he got Club Fred to pay me to be here. Sorry about that, and thanks for bailing me out. Sean thought that he was going to be my date for the week.” He paused as his face flushed.
"I'm getting pretty good at going with the flow. Sergio's teaching me well. Being a movie star must be a rough business, never a free moment. Your life must be so exposed.” My face burned red.
Tom face fell. “He told you, didn't he?"
"Sergio said something, but...” I paused. “I never know what to believe, and I don't believe half of the stories he tells me."
"You don't have to hang out with me, if you don't want. I'd understand if...” and his voice trailed off.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?” I interrupted and sat down on the chaise.
"No. I just meant..."
"I know what you meant. I don't mind. Your job is your job, but it isn't all you are."
"You really didn't recognize me, did you?” Then the realization came into his eyes. “You're not..."
"I'm not what?” I asked. “Gay?"
"Never mind. That's not a fair question to ask.” He sat down on the lounger. “So, how the hell did you get all the way down here from South Dakota?"
"It's a long story.” I pulled out the bottle of sunscreen and started applying a thick coating on my legs.
"I think I have the time.” Tom rolled over onto his side, propping his torso up with his left arm.
The white cream matted the hair on my legs into big clumps. The more I tried to massage it in, the more sand it gathered, and the chunkier it appeared.
"Is that the waterproof kind?” he asked.
I read the label. “It says it is."
"Once you have enough on, wait a few minutes, and then go rinse the extra off in the ocean. The sand should go with it."
"Thanks.” It took five minutes to finish applying the lotion. “I'll be right back."
"I'll be here. I can't wait to hear how
you
got here."
After rinsing off and returning clump free, I told him about Molly and how blind faith planned my vacation. “So, don't mind me. I haven't had a very relaxing trip so far."
"Here's your book back. I hope you didn't mind me rifling through your bag.” He straightened out the canvas. “Mayhem in the Midlands? What's that?"
"It's an annual mystery convention. It's held in Omaha over Memorial Day weekend. The conference is a great chance to meet your favorite authors and get your books signed."
"I hope I didn't get any suntan lotion on your book."
"Don't worry. I brought used books I wanted to read on vacation. I didn't want to ruin any of my signed copies on the beach. Read it if you want. I started this other one.” I held up my Ian Rankin.
Tom said, “So, you're a man of mystery. I don't get to read very much, but have you read a book called
Slaughterloo
? Now that was one of my favorites."
"Really? I loved that one too.” I paused for a second before continuing. “It's funny that you said that, because Logan Zachary is here, at this resort. That was
the
Logan that I ran into, literally."
"Cool. I think I have his new book in my room.” He held up my paperback. “You don't mind if I read this then?” he asked, shaking it at me.
"No, not at all. I have more back in the room."
Tom set the book down next to him. He had visibly relaxed. He leaned back, stretched out on his chair, and closed his eyes. “How did you sleep last night?"
"Let's just say that I didn't get as much sleep as I wanted."
Tom opened one eye and smirked at me.
"And not for that reason."
"I was just kidding. When I was getting ready for bed, I thought I saw some kind of commotion on the beach, just down there a little way.” Tom pointed exactly to the stop where I had tripped.
A cold shiver ran down my back. “Did you see anything?"
"I thought I overheard something about a body washing up on the beach."
"Really?” I tried to act surprised.
"Do you think it was one of the guests?"
I didn't answer.
Tom sat up and rested his arms on his knees. His eyes narrowed. “What do you know?"
"Nothing."
"You know something, don't you? You have a very expressive face. I doubt that you can hide very much.” Tom pointed at me.
Lady Gaga wouldn't think I had a poker face. I tried so hard for my feelings not to show.
"Come on, tell me,” Tom encouraged.
"All right, I'll tell you. I was the one who found the body."
"What? No way. That was you? Tell me what happened."
But before I began my story, I had the distinct impression that Tom had known I was the one who had found the body. Or was I just being paranoid?
Sergio appeared with his towel and my camera in hand. His eyes were still glazed.
"Did you want to join us?” I asked, glancing up from my book.
"Come on. Pull up a chair,” Tom said, pointing to a vacant one a few feet away. He stood up and moved his chair over to make more room for another lounger.
"Are you sure?” he asked, a questioning but excited look playing across his hopeful face.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes."
Sergio threw his towel and the camera at me and ran to pull the chair over. He picked it up and carried it between Tom's and my chairs. “Just kidding.” He smiled and moved his chair on the other side of me.
Tom looked over at me when Sergio had his back to us. I shrugged my shoulders in question. Tom smiled and relaxed back, closing his eyes against the sun's intensifying rays.
Sergio retrieved and spread his towel over his chair and motioned for my camera.
I shook my head.
"What's wrong?” he asked.
"I don't think this is the time for pictures."
"I wasn't going to take
your
picture,” Sergio said. “I just wanted to remember this trip and
all
the beautiful people I see."
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Honest. Scout's honor.” Sergio held up three fingers and crossed his heart.
"Like you were ever a scout."
"I don't mind, Taylor,” Tom's voice came from behind us before Sergio could respond.
"Thank you, Tom.” Sergio grabbed the camera from my hand and aimed it out to the shoreline and snapped a picture. “I wasn't going to just take your picture without your permission, you know.” He said to Tom, but looked directly at me. “Taylor, check that out.” He pointed down the beach.
Geoff waded in the surf with a camera taking pictures. He stood near the spot I had tripped last night, but instead of the crime scene, he was snapping photos of an older man with a very young male companion, barely eighteen.
"Sergio, you can take my picture. I'm used to it. It does get a bit old sometimes. I just don't want a crowd to mob us. Do you?” Tom asked, rolling over to face us.
"No. I just want to get some sun.” Sergio lowered his camera and his voice. “At least, I don't need as much as Taylor does.” He turned back to me. “You do have sunscreen on, don't you? Molly would kill me if I let you come back as a French fry."
"Yes, Mom.” I turned away from Geoff and smiled at Sergio.
Tom sat up. “You know this Molly too?"
"Don't we all?” Sergio said. “She's a mutual friend back in Sioux Falls."
Tom smiled, settled back, and closed his eyes.
Sergio pulled off his T-shirt and applied a smooth even coating of sunscreen before settling back into his seat. His lotion absorbed right in, no clumps or anything.
I opened my book and started reading, but the sand and surf and sun kept pulling my attention away from the story. My eyes grew heavy, and my body slowly melted into the chaise. After five minutes of trying to read the same page and retaining nothing, I closed the book and decided to relax and enjoy the sun.
Just as I closed my eyes, Sergio asked in a hushed tone. “Did you hear that there were a few celebrities running around at this resort?"
My eyes met his from under his sunglasses, and I glanced over at Tom, who didn't look up. His breathing had become even and rhythmic. Playing along with Sergio's game, I asked. “So, who's supposed to be here? Mel Gibson? Tom Cruise?"
"Don't I wish.” He waved his hand at me. “No. There is a famous porn star here."
I wrinkled my brow, shaking my head. “Really. Tell me something new.” I glanced over at Tom, feeling uncomfortable talking about him while he slept.
"He's sleeping, and I doubt he heard a word I said.” Sergio reached over and twisted open his bottle of water. The day's humidity had condensed on the outside. A trail of drops crossed his towel and chest. He took a drink, recapped, and set it back down in the sand. He savored the water in his mouth and finally swallowed. “There's supposed to be a famous author here too.” Sergio's eyes lit up with excitement. “A famous mystery author."
"Logan Zachary.” I said.
"How did you know?” Sergio looked crestfallen. “Did Tom tell you?"
"No, I ran into Logan after breakfast."
"Yeah right.” But Sergio paused. “Like you've met him already? You sure work fast for a straight boy.” He pushed his sunglasses up onto his head. “So you've actually talked to Logan Zachary?"
"Well, yes. I had to apologize for hitting him."
"You hit him? Was he getting fresh with you?"
"No. I told you, I ran into him. Bang. Who else is here at the resort? You said there were
celebrities
staying here."
"Well there are, Logan and him.” Sergio nodded toward Tom.
"But that's only two."
"How many do you want? Two is all you need to put the ‘s’ on celebrities."
"Out of all these people..."
"I'm sure there could be more, but they're on vacation, just like us, so let's let it drop."
"Let it drop? Now wait a minute, I wasn't the one who was all...” I opened my mouth and closed it, searching for the right words, “...all, I've got a secret. You started this."
"I just thought that you'd like to know that a famous mystery author was here. That's all. I'm sure you're a fan of his. I'm not like some groupie, clinging to the shirttails of some celebrity, like...” Sergio nodded back to Tom again.
"Why would Tom be hanging onto my...” Then the realization hit me. “Are you jealous?"
"Hey, Taylor,” a voice called from the left.
Sergio and I turned to see who was calling. Logan approached with a towel, a bottle of water, sunscreen, and a notebook. A white cap, like Gilligan's, was perched low on his head.
"Do you mind if I join you guys?” he asked.
"No, not at all.” A sinking feeling started to settle over me. I doubted that I was going to get to spend the week reading on the beach, after all. I wanted a vacation away from people, and here, I had my own little crowd of
all
the celebrities at Club Fred. So much for my reading and relaxing. At least I was blending in and getting to work on my tan.