Page 52 of D for Dead

‘Uh, sure.’

Immediately alert and ready for duty, Boaz lurched for the dog as he ran past him, catching his collar. Huckleberry wasn’t amused at being stopped in his tracks and yanked hard. As Boaz tightened his grip, the dog tried to pull forward and, like a scene playing out in slow motion, the officer lost his footing and, taking Huckleberry with him, tumbled face down into the surf.

‘Oh God, no.’

Mortified, Amy rushed forward to help Boaz. Beside her, Heidi giggled, clearly amused by the situation.

Boaz wasn’t impressed, muttering under his breath, a scowl on his face. Amy almost had him back on his feet when he lost his footing again and fell on his butt. She ignored the splash of water that soaked her sundress. Boaz was drenched. And he looked pissed off.

‘I am so sorry,’ she apologised, helping him to his feet.

Behind her, Huckleberry woofed. He had run out of the sea ahead of them and Heidi had caught hold of him, trying to avoid a soaking as he shook off the excess water. Fortunately, the poodle had passed.

Boaz started emptying his pockets, his wallet, badge, his cell, unclipped his gun.

‘If anything is damaged, I will pay for it,’ Amy told him, not sure how to compensate. It was a fifteen-minute drive back to her apartment. She would get him some towels, dry his clothes for him.

‘Is everything okay here?’

Amy glanced round. It was the jogger from further up the beach. For a moment she didn’t recognise him, maybe because of the bandana around his head. Troy.

He clocked it was her about the same time. Smiled. ‘Amy? I didn’t expect to run into you here.’ He glanced at Boaz, dripping wet. ‘You look like you need a towel.’

Boaz scowled at him. ‘Very funny.’

‘No, I’m being serious. I live right over there.’ Troy nodded in the direction of the beach houses.

‘Umm…’ Amy looked at the puzzled looks on Heidi’s and Boaz’s faces, realised she hadn’t made any introductions. ‘This is Troy.’ She left it at that, not sure how to say she knew him. That he was the boyfriend of her stalker fan wasn’t appropriate. ‘Troy, this is my friend, Heidi, and Officer Boaz.’

Troy nodded a hello to them both, looking mildly curious at Boaz, but questioning nothing.

‘I can get you a towel,’ he said. ‘Lend you some sweats.’ He smiled at Amy. ‘I’m guessing if not he has to ride back into the city wet?’

‘Well, okay, thanks. A towel and sweats would be good.’ Boaz shot a wary look at Huckleberry, now on his leash and sitting grinning, resting against Heidi’s leg.

‘This way.’

Without preamble, Troy led the way across the sand towards his house, Boaz close behind him.

Heidi gave Amy an intrigued look and mouthed, ‘And who is he?’

Trouble, Amy thought, but didn’t say it out loud. She didn’t want to go to Troy’s house. What if Nadine was there? After their last encounter she hoped never to see the woman again, but Officer Boaz was wet and it was her fault.

Brushing past Heidi and Huckleberry, she muttered, ‘Come on,’ and grudgingly followed the men up some wooden steps and onto a decked veranda. The set up was nice: bamboo and glass table and chairs, plumped up cream cushions, in the corner of the decking, a hot tub. Amy remembered Troy saying he worked designing security systems, a job that paid well. The patio door was open, suggesting someone was already home.

Nadine.

‘Come on in,’ Troy beckoned them, entering the house.

‘I’d better stay out here with the dog.’

Troy glanced back, smiled at Amy. ‘He’s fine; all hard floors inside. Besides, the place needs a clean, so it’s not a problem.’

Out of excuses, Amy reluctantly stepped inside.

The living room she found herself in was simply furnished and she was surprised by the minimalist modern style. Not her taste, but better than the kind of place she had imagined Nadine to live. In her head she had pictured the woman to have fanciful tastes: lots of ornaments, flowers, painted plates and dolls. This was the complete opposite: all black, white and chrome with uncluttered surfaces.

‘Come with me, Officer Boaz. Let’s go find you a towel and some dry clothes.’