Chapter 2
Later that night, Gabe handed Caleb a cup of coffee. “Did you get the sound system installed?”
“We did. As long as it works tomorrow, I’ll be happy.”
Caleb was some kind of IT specialist. He’d lived in Sapphire Bay for twelve months before a job had sent him to Washington D.C. Two years later he moved back and started a consultancy business. He was a bit vague about what exactly he did, but that was nothing new. Secrets were a big part of Gabe’s life at the moment. Caleb would tell him what he was doing when he was ready.
“Knowing you, the sound system will work perfectly. If you hadn’t told Mabel you used to work in a theater company, you wouldn’t have been roped into helping.”
“I didn’t think she’d remember,” Caleb grumbled. “Are you coming to the concert?”
Gabe shook his head. “I need to get some writing done.”
“How are you going to find inspiration if you lock yourself away? You only leave the cottage when I drag you into town.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
Caleb smiled. “Nothing, but tickets are selling fast. I have it on good authority that no one should miss a Ryan Evans concert.”
“Did those words of wisdom come from Mabel?”
“How did you guess?”
Gabe snorted. “It wasn’t hard.”
“It’s for a good cause. The local search and rescue team needs all the help they can get.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Caleb grinned. “Good. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock. And don’t worry about tickets—I’ve already bought two.”
“You’re a bad influence on me. At the rate I’m going, it will be Christmas before my book is finished.”
“What did you do about the dead body?”
“It washed ashore at Slaughter Beach and was stolen from the morgue. The killer buried the body in Zac Connelly’s orchard.”
“Nice.”
A year ago, Gabe’s first book in the Zac Connelly series had hit the bookshelves. The thriller became an overnight success, propelling him into the limelight and making more money than he’d ever earned with the police.
Nine months later, book two was published. Sales of both novels skyrocketed, making him one of the most sought-after authors in America. But along with the fame came a lot of unwanted attention. Attention that had brought him to Sapphire Bay.
Caleb frowned. “If you don’t want to go to the concert, it’s no problem.”
“The concert’s fine. You’re right. I need to get out more.”
“Since we’re talking about your social life, what happened to the woman I saw in the general store?”
“Her name is Natalie Armstrong. She’s my new neighbor.”
“Lucky you.”
Gabe didn’t think he was lucky. He’d come to Sapphire Bay to get away from everyone, but it wasn’t working out that way. “I’ll be too busy writing to enjoy anyone’s company.”
Caleb groaned. “I almost feel sorry for her. Has she met Sherlock?”
The dog in question was lying at Gabe’s feet, softly snoring.
