The Crêpes of Wrath: A Pancake House Mystery Read Online Free Page A

eyes away from Jimmy’s body, I made my way down to the sand and settled on the same rock as before.
    Leigh came up behind me and rested a hand on my shoulder. “I asked Ivan to lock up when he leaves.”
    I tried to thank her, but my throat burned too much to speak.
    “I’m so sorry, Marley.” She had tears in her eyes.
    I reached up and gave her hand a quick squeeze. Swallowing against the burning sensation in my throat, I forced a question out. “How did you find him?”
    “I walked down to the beach while I was on the phone with Greg. I noticed someone lying on the rocks and took a closer look. As soon as I realized it was Jimmy…” She blinked against the tears welling in her eyes.
    I gave her hand another squeeze and then closed my eyes and focused on the scent of the salty air, the sound of the waves breaking against a sandbar, trying to seek some comfort from the beach I’d loved for as long as I could remember. But my thoughts didn’t stop spinning and the ache in my chest didn’t wane.
    Cousin Jimmy was dead.
    Stubborn, fun-loving Jimmy was gone forever.
    A burning sensation in my eyes joined the one in my throat. A tear escaped from my left eye and trickled down my cheek. I wiped it away with the back of my hand.
    Brett sat down next to me and Leigh found a nearby rock to settle on. We stayed quiet, waiting. Again, I focused on the scent of the salty sea breeze, on breathing in and out. A seagull landed on a nearby log and happy, indistinct voices carried across the cove to us from three children who ran across the wet sand toward the receding water line.
    The world went on without a pause, as if nothing had changed. But my world had changed. My already small family had lost another member, and I wondered, not for the first time, if I were destined to lose everyone I loved.
    After several minutes had passed, Brett stood up and touched a hand to my shoulder. “They’re here.”
    I followed his line of sight. Two paramedics and two men from the sheriff’s office stood at the top of the rocks. They’d driven into the public picnic area on the point and were now working their way down the rocks on foot. Brett pointed in Jimmy’s direction and stood watching as they closed in on the spot.
    Unable to bear watching as they examined Jimmy’s body, I left the others behind and walked down toward the water. I picked my way across a strip of pebbly rocks and onto a wet sandbar. My sneakers left shallow depressions in the sand and a clam spat at me when I stepped near its clam hole. When I reached the water’s edge, I stopped and stared out at the horizon.
    The San Juan Islands were visible to the north and to the east, Mount Baker. Puffy white clouds had gathered around the mountain, but above me the sky was clear and blue, the morning’s fog long gone. The beauty of the world around me was such a sharp contrast to the turmoil within my head and heart.
    Drawing in a deep breath, I turned away from the ocean and slowly followed my footprints back toward the dry sand.
    Brett met me there, a small crease between his eyebrows. “Why don’t you and Leigh go back to the restaurant? My uncle Ray is the sheriff. I’ll tell him where you’ve gone. He’ll want to talk to you, but that doesn’t have to happen here.”
    “All right,” I said, finding my voice.
    I glanced up at the rocks. One of the men from the sheriff’s office, the younger of the two, remained perched over Jimmy’s body. The other had climbed back up to the grassy area above the rocks along with the paramedics. My eyes flicked back to Jimmy’s body, but then I forced them away.
    They came to rest on an emerald-green feather dancing about on the breeze. It drifted down toward me and I reached out and caught it.
    Green was Jimmy’s favorite color.
    Swallowing back an ever-growing lump in my throat, I tucked the feather into the pocket of my jeans.
    Leigh hooked her arm through mine and together we walked slowly back along the beach toward