Gull Harbor by Kathryn Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

a cell phone. Her financial situation is pretty shaky. She had to get a loan to pay for her last year of college, and she’s been trying to support herself and pay it off ever since. And she’s not exactly making the big bucks.”
    Max silently cursed Judge Linden. The man was just a well-educated bully. “How can she not have a cell phone? Damn. Do you think you can bring her to the tavern tonight? I want to tell her what I’ve found out, but I should have been at work a half hour ago.”
    “Oh.” Dan’s ruddy cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as he struggled through his reply. “I don’t think she’ll want to…I mean, I’m not sure I can get her to come to the tavern. She might be busy.”
    Max narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his friend. “You know something. About me and Claire.”
    “No comment,” said Dan, lifting his hands in surrender. “I promised her I wouldn’t discuss it.”
    Anger flared and he tamped it down. None of this was Dan’s fault. “Just remember there are two sides to every story.” He stood up, grabbing the remainder of his sandwich off the plate. “I really have to go now. Try and find a way to get Claire there tonight. Tell her I have information for her about the house and the previous owner, and then pretend you have no idea what that info is.”
    “You got it. I’ll do my best.”
    He paused as he pulled open the door, a reluctant smile tugging on his lips. “And tell her tonight’s special is fettuccine Alfredo.”
    “Is it?” Dan asked.
    “It is now. I’ll see you later.”
    ****
    Claire studied the random words written in her notebook as she waited for Dan. “Barracuda” was at the top of the lined page. The new addition was the strange combination of “Day Han Solo.” She frowned. First a fish, now a Star Wars character . This was absurd.
    A knock at the door made her jump. “Come in,” she called. She glanced once more at her notebook before depositing it on the couch. How was she supposed to make any sense out of that crazy phrase?
    Dan stepped into the hallway and gave a low whistle as she stood up. “You look great.”
    She flushed as she tugged at the strapless white top she had paired with dark skinny jeans and a silver cuff bracelet. “It’s not too much?”
    “It’s perfect.” He stood back and allowed her to pass through the door, then waited as she locked it. Nodding at the cracked window to the right, he said, “I see you’re still making sure you have multiple points of entry.”
    She laughed. “A girl’s got to be prepared for anything.” Dan held the car door open for her and she slipped into the seat. “Does Han Solo mean anything to you?” she asked once he was behind the wheel.
    “Like Harrison Ford’s character in Star Wars?”
    Claire sighed. “Yeah. I thought I heard Maria say something like ‘day Han Solo’ last night, but that’s not exactly right. It’s hard, because she’s not talking directly to me. She just kind of wails things while she’s crying.”
    Dan shuddered. “I don’t know how you stand it.”
    “It is getting exhausting,” she admitted. “Between the sobbing and the destruction, I don’t get much sleep.”
    He glanced at her. “This may sound weird, but you’re always welcome to spend the night at my place. If you need a break, I mean. I know you want to figure this out, but you need to sleep sometimes to be able to do that.”
    “Thanks, Dan. I may take you up on that.”
    “Anytime.” He put the transmission in park and circled around the car to open the door for her. As they approached Max’s tavern, he squeezed her hand. “You sure you’re okay with this?”
    She shrugged. “I’m looking at it as my job. If Max has information for me, I have to listen. Plus, I get to have dinner with you,” she added with a smile.
    Max was behind the bar when they entered. He nodded toward them, his blue eyes traveling down the length of her body before he turned his attention to the other