Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

was spring, but you wouldn’t know it save for the fact that the snow had finally melted. The sun hadn’t pierced the gray overcast sky in what seemed like forever. The east wind was relentless. Hats, gloves, coats, it didn’t matter―that cold, penetrating wind made it impossible to feel warm.
    Jack had just returned from a run. Even when running during the winter, he was always able to warm up. Not today. He didn’t even take time to catch his breath before he went inside.
    “Son of a bitch,” he mumbled to himself as he opened the door and climbed the steps to his apartment.
    As he took the final step and stood in his doorway, he nearly tripped as Cat tangled herself up in his legs.
    “Rrowh.”
    Jack dropped his gloves and hat on the floor and bent down to scratch her head. A sweat ball dripped off his forehead and landed on her head. She skittered away, clearly offended.
    “Well, hello to you too.” She stopped, sat, and gave him that look of curious contempt that only cats who have trained their owners properly can give. Then she began to groom herself.
    The warmth of his apartment and the simple fact that he was out of the wind made his cheeks feel as though they were burning, so he held his cold hands against them for relief. For a moment he was tempted to go back downstairs and stand outside, but then a chill went through him. His wet clothes were making him cold. Stripping off his jacket he dropped it on the floor. He kicked jacket, gloves, and hat into the corner and pulled off his wet shirt.
    Jack paused and looked out the window, over the salt marshes. The marsh grass was being pummeled by the wind. The tide was high and he could see the wind gusts pulsing across the surface of the marshes like the beacon of a lighthouse sweeping over the sea. He shivered again. A hot shower and a cup of tea would do the trick, then he would go over to Ben’s, have a bite to eat, and wait for Max to get out of work. Cat had moved to a chair and watched as he put the teapot on the stove and entered the bathroom. He didn’t hear the phone ring.
    * * *
    Even though Ben’s was just a short walk from his place, he decided to drive over. When he had passed Ben’s at the end of his run, the parking lot had been nearly empty. Now there were still only a few cars in the lot, and he recognized several as belonging to regulars. He pulled his coat close and hurried in. The wind pushed the door closed behind him, sending a blast of cold air down the entry hall announcing his arrival. Patti peeked around the corner and flashed a smile. Then, with a wave, she disappeared back into the bar.
    When Jack turned the corner into the bar, Max looked up and seeing him, smiled. Standing by the bar, Patti was busy placing drinks on a tray as fast as Max made them. When she set down the last drink, Patti turned to Jack and asked, “Were you really out running?” Before he could answer, she turned back to Max. “Runners are such idiots. I just don’t get it―Dave’s the same way. I’m surprised they didn’t run together today.” Patti’s natural exuberance often made her conversations seem like a monologue.
    Max just nodded silently. She knew that to do otherwise was a wasted effort. As Patti picked up her tray of drinks and turned to go, Max looked at Jack again, rolled her eyes, and smiled. He understood perfectly. Max then turned and went out back to pour him a draft while he took a seat.
    Max smiled as she filled the glass. Her thoughts began to drift. To say that the past year and a half had been tumultuous would be an understatement. Her aunt had been murdered, Max herself had been kidnapped, and then rescued by Jack. She had inherited a huge diamond, then had a torrid affair with Daniel, which took her all the way to Belize. There, Daniel had disappeared, leaving her stranded with his boat, and, yes, once again Jack had rescued her. Jack. He was always there for her. And now her life was beginning to return to normal, if there was ever such a thing. Even though she and Jack were not actually living together, they did seem to spend each night together either at her place or his. She had had enough excitement and was content with things as they were right now.
    Leo, Ralphie, and Paulie had been at the bar since the beginning of her shift at four. It was now six. As she returned to the bar with Jack’s beer, Ralphie’s voice rang out.
    “Max, isn’t that right?”
    “Isn’t what right?” she said, turning toward