Death Rides the Surf Read Online Free

too old.
    Kate thanked Mary Frances, searching for the off button on her new cell phone.
    “What’s your interest in those boys, Kate? Thinking about signing up for surfing lessons?” She giggled.
    “You know, that’s a great idea.” Kate snapped the phone shut, rendering Mary Frances speechless.
    She marched down the hall to the bathroom and banged on the bathroom door. “If you don’t come out of there, young lady, I’m calling your mother and father. You’re wasting time and money. If you continue to behave like a child, I’ll treat you like one.”
    Marlene, on Kate’s heels, shouted, “Don’t force her.”
    Except for Marlene’s dramatic outburst and the water still running full blast, Kate’s threat was greeted by silence.
    “Okay, Katharine. I have my cell phone ready and I have your mother on speed dial. I’m counting to five. That’s Jennifer.” Kate wasn’t bluffing; she’d place the call. “One. Two. Three. Four.”
    The door opened. The steam heat almost bowled Kate over.
    Her granddaughter, red as a lobster and wrapped in a purple towel, glared at Kate.
    “Aunt Marlene said I can stay.” A defiant Katharine swung her head toward Marlene, who started.
    What was wrong with Marlene? Puzzled, Kate decided she couldn’t be distracted. “Don’t use that tone of voice with me, Katharine.”
    “Nana, I can’t talk to Mom and Dad.” Katharine sounded contrite, and something else. Frightened? Determined? “They’d never understand.”
    Sure she was being played, but wanting to find out what the devil was going on, Kate said, “Let’s have a cup of tea, Katharine. I’m sure we can work this out.”
    The muscles in her granddaughter’s jaw relaxed.
    Marlene made pancakes and Katharine, who’d lost weight, too much in her grandmother’s opinion, dug in like a stevedore. Kate took that as a sign that Katharine still believed her grandmother could somehow make everything okay.
    On her fourth cup of tea of the morning, Kate decided to call her daughter-in-law and sell Jennifer on the idea of Katharine spending her fall break in Palmetto Beach. A week ought to buy them enough time to sort it all out.
    Jennifer and Kevin weren’t aware that Katharine had left New York City, but her daughter-in-law agreed to Kate’s suggestion. If Kate’s plan worked out, maybe Katharine’s parents would never have to know she’d run away from home. Not to mention classes, college, and chastity.
    “Okay, I’ll move to your condo this morning, Nana,” Katharine said. “Just know I’m never going home. I’m getting a job and an apartment and I’m staying in Florida forever.”
    Right. Kate had six days to find out what the hell was going on and to get her granddaughter back to college. “So darling, would you and Auntie Marlene like to have lunch with Nick and me?”
    Katharine grinned, her grandfather Charlie’s grin.
    God, Kate hoped her invitation hadn’t made it sound as if she and Nick Carbone were a couple.

Six
    The Sea Watch Restaurant perched above the dunes on a wide expanse of sandy beach, a mile south of Ocean Vista. From their window table, the teal blue Atlantic seemed to stretch from here to eternity and soft, puffy clouds hovered over the whitecaps. Kate knew the food was as wonderful as the view. Snowbirds weren’t yet in full flight, but at noon, the restaurant had no empty tables. Those without reservations waited at the bar.
    Their waiter, a buff blond, asked, “What can I bring you guys?”
    Kate cringed. When had that annoying way of waiters addressing customers reached South Florida?
    Nick replied, “The three ladies will have piña coladas. And this guy will have a Scotch and soda.”
    Katharine smiled at Nick. Katharine damn well knew her parents would have ordered her a Diet Coke. Kate was surprised Carbone, a by-the-book detective, could break the law so cavalierly. But his gesture broke the ice as well. If Kate didn’t like Katharine dating a surfer, her