an inheritance, he must have known he’d have to show up to claim his father’s body, arrange a memorial service.”
“Maybe he couldn’t face that.”
“Too grief stricken. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he lost his father.” I could still remember the shock and sadness I felt at losing my own father. I shook my head.
“I hate to see you looking so sad, Rafa.”
I managed a smile. “In spite of his grief, Pablo must have known he’d be one of the first persons of interest in an investigation. Kane, I don’t think Pablo had anything to do with his dad’s death. I’ve wondered now and then why Mother and Cherie were so close to Diego. You know the skinny on that? Guess I was never interested enough to ask, just sorta took his friendship for granted.”
“Anything I know is gossip. Old timers say that after only a short time on the island, Diego fell in love with Key West, settled down here, and planned to stay. He met Brick Vexton when he stopped at his marina trying to buy a boat. For a while he used the runabout for making a living of sorts by doing small chores for people around the waterfront.
I’ve heard Brick say Diego soon learned a boat was only a hole in the water where you poured your money. But Diego was a hard worker, and Brick hired him to help out at the marina. Eventually Diego worked up to the position of chief dock master Guess he met important people at the marina.”
“That figures,” I agreed. “Diego’s outgoing personality and reputation for honesty must have helped get him elected as a councilperson. But he continued to work at the marina. Didn’t want to let Brick down.”
Kane nodded in agreement. “The news of his death must have hit the Vextons hard. And it will hit your mother and Cherie hard, too. Wonder when they’ll get back home.”
“Soon, I hope. I rather enjoy working alone at The Frangi, but I’m eager to get back to writing full time. Of course everyone’s been a great help to me the past few days. Couldn’t have kept The Frangi running so smoothly without help.”
“You’ve done a great job, Rafa. Don’t put yourself down.”
No point in telling Kane I was used to putting myself down where Mother and Cheri were concerned. The black sheep of the family. That was me.
“Kane, I need to investigate Diego’s murder. I need to do it to help get that killer off the streets.”
We’d finished our salad, and when we stood, Kane pulled me into a deep embrace. We exchanged several long kisses, before I pulled away—reluctantly, and I tried not to let his nearness distract me from what I’d needed to say.
“I have to investigate Diego’s murder, Kane. I have to.”
“Nobody’s asked you to do that.”
“And I’ve thought of another thing.”
Kane shook his head and sighed. “I’m almost afraid to ask. But what else have you thought of?”
“Maybe I have an agenda that goes beyond taking a killer off the streets. I can’t help thinking I could take careful notes during my investigation and use them later in my writing—in writing a book, perhaps a mystery novel. Having my name on a dust jacket is high on my list of lifetime goals.”
“You were planning a column on Diego, right?”
“Right. And maybe I’ll still write it after the talk about his death dies down, but one day I’m going to write a novel. It could be a book based on this horrible murder. I’m going to involve myself in primary research, in unearthing facts that nobody else is privy to. My need to write a book may help solve Diego’s murder, and every case that’s solved takes a criminal off the streets. That’s important to me and to everyone who lives here.”
“Guess there’s nothing I can say to stop you.” Kane shook his head in defeat. “But Rafa, please remember this. I insist on fitting into your life somewhere—somewhere important to both of us. And remember that right this minute a killer who might harm either one of us walks free
“Maybe he couldn’t face that.”
“Too grief stricken. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he lost his father.” I could still remember the shock and sadness I felt at losing my own father. I shook my head.
“I hate to see you looking so sad, Rafa.”
I managed a smile. “In spite of his grief, Pablo must have known he’d be one of the first persons of interest in an investigation. Kane, I don’t think Pablo had anything to do with his dad’s death. I’ve wondered now and then why Mother and Cherie were so close to Diego. You know the skinny on that? Guess I was never interested enough to ask, just sorta took his friendship for granted.”
“Anything I know is gossip. Old timers say that after only a short time on the island, Diego fell in love with Key West, settled down here, and planned to stay. He met Brick Vexton when he stopped at his marina trying to buy a boat. For a while he used the runabout for making a living of sorts by doing small chores for people around the waterfront.
I’ve heard Brick say Diego soon learned a boat was only a hole in the water where you poured your money. But Diego was a hard worker, and Brick hired him to help out at the marina. Eventually Diego worked up to the position of chief dock master Guess he met important people at the marina.”
“That figures,” I agreed. “Diego’s outgoing personality and reputation for honesty must have helped get him elected as a councilperson. But he continued to work at the marina. Didn’t want to let Brick down.”
Kane nodded in agreement. “The news of his death must have hit the Vextons hard. And it will hit your mother and Cherie hard, too. Wonder when they’ll get back home.”
“Soon, I hope. I rather enjoy working alone at The Frangi, but I’m eager to get back to writing full time. Of course everyone’s been a great help to me the past few days. Couldn’t have kept The Frangi running so smoothly without help.”
“You’ve done a great job, Rafa. Don’t put yourself down.”
No point in telling Kane I was used to putting myself down where Mother and Cheri were concerned. The black sheep of the family. That was me.
“Kane, I need to investigate Diego’s murder. I need to do it to help get that killer off the streets.”
We’d finished our salad, and when we stood, Kane pulled me into a deep embrace. We exchanged several long kisses, before I pulled away—reluctantly, and I tried not to let his nearness distract me from what I’d needed to say.
“I have to investigate Diego’s murder, Kane. I have to.”
“Nobody’s asked you to do that.”
“And I’ve thought of another thing.”
Kane shook his head and sighed. “I’m almost afraid to ask. But what else have you thought of?”
“Maybe I have an agenda that goes beyond taking a killer off the streets. I can’t help thinking I could take careful notes during my investigation and use them later in my writing—in writing a book, perhaps a mystery novel. Having my name on a dust jacket is high on my list of lifetime goals.”
“You were planning a column on Diego, right?”
“Right. And maybe I’ll still write it after the talk about his death dies down, but one day I’m going to write a novel. It could be a book based on this horrible murder. I’m going to involve myself in primary research, in unearthing facts that nobody else is privy to. My need to write a book may help solve Diego’s murder, and every case that’s solved takes a criminal off the streets. That’s important to me and to everyone who lives here.”
“Guess there’s nothing I can say to stop you.” Kane shook his head in defeat. “But Rafa, please remember this. I insist on fitting into your life somewhere—somewhere important to both of us. And remember that right this minute a killer who might harm either one of us walks free
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