familiar face in the restaurant, so he was pleasantly surprised when he realized Mac was sitting at the bar, nursing a beer and talking to the bartender. He wasn’t dressed for duty tonight. Cooper approached and said, “Hey, Deputy.”
“Cooper,” he said, putting out his hand. “What brings you out on such a wet night?”
“Food,” he said, sitting up at the bar.
“Cliff, bring my friend Cooper a beer.”
“Cliff?” Cooper repeated with a short laugh. “That’s convenient.”
“Yeah, right,” the guy said. “What’s your pleasure?”
“Draft,” Cooper said. “This must be your place, Cliff.”
“Must be. Menu?”
“Thanks.”
“Just get the grouper,” Mac said.
Cooper peered at him. “And how do I want that done?”
“He’ll have the grouper. Just trust me. So, what’s happening on the other side of the beach?”
“Got most of the smell out, went through most of Ben’s things, donated, threw away stuff, you know. It’s not functional. Ben was working on that septic system way back when I was waiting for him to meet me in California. I guess he never quite got it fixed,” Cooper said.
“So, what next?”
Cooper drank some beer. “I don’t know. I’m thinking. I pulled down part of a wall—I don’t know if there’s mold or rot. Maybe it needs to be leveled. I don’t know.”
“You’re still here,” Mac observed.
He took another swallow of beer and shook his head. “Feels like unfinished business around here. I find out something new every day, but half the time it leaves me with more questions.”
“About his death?”
“About his life,” Cooper said. “How’d he make ends meet? He bought deli food from the deli, but he didn’t mark it up....”
“I think Carrie gave him a break,” Mac said. “He bought all his supplies, including liquor, from big-box stores and I bet he made a decent profit on that. I mean, there was no rent, right?”
“He took care of things. Of people. I have Rawley working again, for now.”
Mac grew serious for a moment, then put a firm hand on his back, as if to say thanks.
“I ran into a kid on the beach today who was Ben’s friend, so he says,” Cooper went on. “Ben’s created a habitat for those birds on the point. I feel like I should find out what Rawley needs before I leave. Like I owe it to Ben. I wonder, though...he took care of people but everything is broken down to the point of falling apart. How’d he live?”
“I don’t think making money was ever a priority of Ben’s, but don’t quote me. You probably know more about his business than I do. Than any of us do.”
“Well, he didn’t have much money, for one thing. And didn’t worry about it, from what I can figure out. Why didn’t he give that place to someone else? Why didn’t he give it to the town?”
Mac laughed. He took a pull on his beer. “The town would’ve sold it. Like I said, there are people in town who like things the way they are—simple. Then there are people who think a big business on the bay would be good for the town.”
“What do you think?” Cooper asked.
He gave a lame shrug. “I think a big business, like a golf resort or something, would turn us into a town full of busboys, waiters, maids and valets. I think it would put Carrie’s deli, the Pizza Hut and the diner out of business. But it could help the chamber of commerce and commercial fishermen, especially if we ended up with a five-star restaurant at that resort. You want to know what I’m talking about? Drive up to Bandon Dunes. People come from all over the world to stay there, play golf there, hold events from business conferences to weddings there. It’s really something. Very high-class. There’s a lot good about it. And the help comes from Bandon.”
“It’s work....”
“And not to be taken lightly,” Mac admitted.
“It could help the local economy,” Cooper said. “Increase the value of your property.”
“It could,” Mac said. “You’ve been here about a week. Have you told anyone about Ben’s will?”
“I might’ve mentioned I was responsible for the bait shop, but you’re the only one with the details. You and Rawley.”
“Well, Rawley doesn’t talk. People are already assuming things that are probably true—like that you own it. And you could sell it.”
“There’s still a little legal wrangling to be done,” Cooper said. “I don’t have to hang around for that, though.”
“Why are you still here?”
“As near as I can explain, I want to understand Ben’s intentions, if I can. That doesn’t mean I’m planning to meet his expectations—maybe I just can’t. But I owe it to the guy to see if I can figure them out before I make a plan.”
Mac glanced over his shoulder, glanced back and said, “Well, get ready to make a plan, Cooper. Incoming...”
Almost before he finished his sentence, a woman appeared. She was at least fifty-five, but trying to look thirty-five. Her suit was some kind of satiny red material, low cut to reveal her cleavage. The miniskirt exposed legs that were short, and her pumps were high, very high. Hair bleached blond, of course. Nails, long and red. She wasn’t dressed for church; in fact, she’d look pretty at home with a pole to swing around.
“Well, Mac, how are you?” she said, leaning toward the deputy for a cheek press and kiss-kiss. “And who is your friend?”
“Ray Anne, meet Cooper. Cooper, this is Ray Anne. Cooper was a friend of Ben’s.”
Her face crumpled on cue. “Oh, Cooper, I’m so sorry for your loss. Ben will be greatly missed.”
“Thank you. Pleased to meet you,” he said. But he knew beyond a doubt that Ben didn’t have a relationship with this woman. In contrast, he had understood Ben’s relationship with Rawley almost immediately.
There were a few minutes of chat, Ray Anne asking after Lou and the kids, wondering if any progress had been made on that traffic light in town. Did Mac hear anything about a “domestic situation” involving Charlie and Donna? To which Mac replied, “No, was there a situation?”
Without answering, she turned to Cooper. “I heard a friend of Ben’s was in town. How is everything out at his place?”
“A wreck,” Cooper said. “I’m exploring ways to deal with it.”
“Well, if you need any help, feel free to call.”
A business card appeared; she was a Realtor. Apparently, the woman knew sleight of hand. That card must have been in her hand the whole time, yet had remained invisible until her strike. Cooper looked at it briefly, looked back at Ray Anne, smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“I know every good contractor in the area, no matter what you need—paint, flooring, structure damage, anything...”
She knew everything. “Mold removal?” he asked.
“Yes!” she said, beaming. She tapped the hand that held the card. “Just give me a call. That’s my cell. Anytime!”
“Appreciated,” he said. The grouper arrived.
“There’s your dinner,” she said. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around town. Take care. And let me know if there’s anything you need, Hank. Always more than happy to help a friend.”
Mac