Deep Waters

whirlpool in the river that was his relationship with Garrick Keyworth.
    But all of those problems seemed more manageable now than they had before he had stepped into the elevator.
    "What else did you buy at the Market besides noodles and balsamic vinegar?" Charity asked.
    "Some good capers, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, bread, wine. The basics."
    "Wonderful. I do believe it's your turn to cook."
    "Going to be tough to beat your peanut butter sandwiches."
    "I'm sure you'll come up with something."
    Elias let that slide. "Your sister doesn't approve of me. I doubt if your brother does, either. Loftus looked worried, too,"
    "It's your reputation as a man of mystery that concerns them. They don't really know you. Don't worry about it, Elias. It's not as if we're getting married."
    Elias's good mood went south in a single heartbeat. He gazed straight ahead at the road that was taking them back to Whispering Waters Cove. "What if we were?"
    Charity turned her head to look at him. The wariness in her was sudden and profound. "I don't understand."
    "I just asked a simple question."
    "It's not so simple, and you know it."
    It had seemed simple enough to him, but he did not want to get into an argument about it. He could sense the riptide waiting in the shallows. "Will you answer it?"
    She was silent for a few seconds. "All right, if we were planning to get married, which we're not, I wouldn't let Meredith's or Davis's opinion influence me. There. Satisfied?"
    "Yes," he lied. He was far from content with her answer. But he knew that was his own fault. He hadn't asked the right question. Water flows in the channel that is provided for it. The wrong question created the wrong channel.
    Crazy Otis was perched on a slow-moving carousel horse, preening his feathers, when Elias arrived to fetch him late that afternoon. The parrot squawked in greeting and stretched his wings.
    "Ready to go home, Otis?" Elias stepped onto the revolving carousel and held out his wrist. "Our turn to cook tonight."
    "Heh, heh, heh." Otis ambled onto Elias's arm and climbed up to sit on his shoulder. He nibbled playfully on a few strands of hair.
    "Sure am glad to see you," Yappy said as he shut down the carousel. "Gettin' tired of running this thing for that bird. He's been riding all day for free."
    "Thanks, Yappy." Elias stepped down onto the pier planking. "I know Otis is very appreciative."
    "Uh-huh." Yappy scowled at some parrot droppings that had landed on a golden horsetail. He jerked a handkerchief out of the pocket of his overalls and wiped up the evidence of Otis's recent presence. "It's Charity's fault. If she hadn't hit on the idea of using my carousel to cheer Otis up, he'd never have developed a taste for riding it."
    Elias reached up to scratch Otis's head. "Guess there's a bit of the thrill-seeker in Otis. Charity discovered it."
    "Well, I can't complain too much." Yappy wadded up the soiled handkerchief and tossed it into a sack. "The kids go crazy when they see Otis sittin' on one of the horses. Always do a lot of business when that bird is here."
    "If you're thinking of a long-term contract, I'm sure Otis would be willing to negotiate a reasonable rate for his time."
    "What are you? His manager? I ain't payin' that bird no fee. He gets free rides, and that's it. Take it or leave it."
    "When you put it like that, how can he refuse?" Otis uttered his dark chuckle again. Yappy shrugged. "Deal."
    "Any local news? Has Tybern made an arrest?"
    "No. If you ask me, it was one of those Voyagers that killed Gwen Pitt. Most of 'em have left town. All had alibis, Tybern says, but who can be sure where everyone was that night? Seems logical to me that one or two of 'em could easily have lied for some of the others."
    "If you want my opinion," Ted said as he came up behind Elias, "I think Swinton did Gwen Pitt. Probably pissed because she wouldn't give him what he considered a fair share of the profits."
    Yappy shrugged again. "Possible. Real possible. Bea thinks Swinton did it, too. So do most folks in town."
    "I don't know," Elias rubbed Otis's head. "Swinton is the type who sends other people to do his dirty work."
    "So maybe he hired someone to kill her," Ted suggested. He walked forward and lounged against a carousel horse. The slogan on his T-shirt of the day read Tectonics Happen.
    "Maybe," Elias said. "But I don't think so."
    "Why not?" Ted asked.
    "It's not as easy to find a hit man as films and mysteries make it appear. It costs,