Page 123 of Death of a Grill Master

“No,” Buddy said. “She wasn’t.”

He looked annoyed by that. Not relieved. Just … annoyed. “I mean, the guy who did it? Some marine biology nut with a grudge and a wet suit? What is this, a James Bond movie?”

Hayley shrugged. “Bar Harbor’s been weirder.”

Buddy let out a dry chuckle. “Still feels wrong. Like the cast list doesn’t match the plot.”

Hayley didn’t disagree.

That’s when she noticed Kylie and Chase again, holding hands in a way that felt more like a performance than affection. They looked content.

Too content.

“Anyway,” Buddy said. “just wanted to say thanks. Heard you had something to do with catching the guy.”

“I helped,” Hayley said.

He nodded. “Good. Whatever else happens, I’m glad my dad’s killer is off the street.”

Eventually, the chairs were folded back up. The snack tables were cleared. The crowd thinned.

Hayley stood alone for a moment, watching the sea.

Peter Baird had confessed to everything.

Almost everything.

But he was adamant that he hadn’t taken Doug Marsh’s gun. Said he’d used his own. Said the murder weapon—the real one—was at the bottom of the sea.

But if he was telling the truth, who planted the gun in the cooler? And why was a bullet matching the one found in Hank’s chest missing?

She didn’t like loose ends.

They kept her up at night.

Bruce returned to her side.

“What’s got you so distracted?”

She turned quickly. “Nothing. Just … thinking about Tina.”

He gave her a look. She gave him a smile.

He didn’t buy it.

But he didn’t press.

She slipped her arm through his and walked with him toward the path that led back to the parking lot. The waves behind them continued to lap at the shore, as if it knew there was more to bring ashore.

The case was closed.

But Hayley knew better than anyone—

Sometimes the past has a way of washing back in.

Chapter 39

Hayley took a deep breath as she stood in the narrow hallway of the Bar Harbor Police Department. Everything about the place suggested someone was about to get scolded, and Hayley had a sneaking suspicion it was her. She’d been summoned by Chief Caleb Maddox first thing that morning, the tone of his voicemail flat and humorless.