Written in Stone (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

stubble, no ratty baseball cap, no greasy fingernails. In fact, I’d dare to suggest that this man uses hair product.”
    Hudson wasn’t convinced. “Forget the clothes and the hair, Olivia! Did you see his eyes? Did he look at you?”
    “No.”
    “Then you haven’t seen him. Not really. When you do, he’ll look right through you.”
    He always did,
Olivia thought. After all, she’d spent ten years with a man who rarely spoke to her, let alone showed her affection.
    “Well, I can’t go chasing him now,” she said testily, standing on tiptoe in order to get a glimpse of the festivalgoers heading toward the exit. She didn’t see her father’s lookalike, but she did spot Fletcher, Judson, and Annette heading in her direction. “How’s The Bayside Crab House tent going?”
    Hudson seemed to welcome the change of subject. “We’re slammed. People are lined up all the way down to the beach and we’ve handed out three hundred take-out menus already. I’ll have to send someone back to the restaurant for supplies or we’ll never make it through the dinner rush.”
    “Wow, you’re knocking it out of the park, Hudson. All those competing vendors and you’re running out of food? Nice job.”
    “Thanks,” Hudson mumbled and Olivia could practically see him scuffing the ground with the toe of his sneaker, smiling with pleasure over the compliment. “Michel stopped by earlier. Bought a sampler platter to share with his pretty chef lady. She asked me a bunch of questions about Oyster Bay. Guess she’s thinking of moving.”
    Olivia raised her brows. “Oh? And what did you tell her?”
    “That it’s a good place with good people. You’ve got your fair share of annoying tourists, but those folks’ll fill your piggy bank. Schools are decent. There’s stuff to do. Cost of living isn’t too steep and there’s plenty of beach to go around.”
    Laughing, Olivia said, “What a romantic picture you’ve painted.”
    “Must have been enough to whet her whistle,” Hudson said. “She’s going to ask to see that space you’ve got for lease.”
    “Well, well.” Olivia could already picture the dessert shop opening on Main Street. She was certain it would be a success, and no one else had expressed an interest in the storefront up to this point. Then again, how would Shelley Giusti becoming a permanent resident of Oyster Bay affect Michel? Would he moon after her night after night, the dishes he prepared for The Boot Top suffering as a result of his fickle passion?
    “I gotta go,” Hudson said suddenly. “A pissed-off customer at the front of the line is making a scene.”
    * * *
    He rang off and Olivia slid her phone into her purse just as Millay and Talley returned to the booth.
    “Sorry.” Talley sniffled. “I’ve got to pull it together before the dancing starts.” She noticed Annette Stevens approaching and raised her hand in the air. Her whole being seemed to be willing the tribal chair to walk faster. Olivia could see how desperately Talley wanted Annette by her side. Her yearning to be comforted was so strong that it was almost palpable.
    Annette Stevens didn’t say a word, but strode into the booth and enfolded Talley in her arms, rocking her back and forth and stroking her long hair. Talley’s shoulders relaxed and she sighed. Olivia knew that for a few precious seconds, the heartbroken girl felt safe and loved. She could only hope that the chief wanted to do right by Talley, because Talley obviously trusted her. If Annette Stevens were abusing that trust, she’d be sorry. Not only would she have Olivia to answer to, but she’d also have to face Millay, who had obviously adopted the role of Talley’s protector.
    “This is a Hallmark card in the making,” Millay muttered under her breath as she sank down on the chair next to Olivia. “Annette had better—” She stopped abruptly, taking note of the bag on Olivia’s lap.
    “The memory jug broke,” Olivia said. “A couple of kids bumped into it. Guess they saved me the trouble of having to do it myself.”
    Millay’s expression turned sympathetic. “Yeah, but still . . . that sucks. I would have rathered it was your choice.” She gestured at the bag. “Was anything, like, revealed?”
    Having been derailed by the vision of her father, Olivia hadn’t yet examined the shards, so she passed the bag over to Millay. “Why don’t you take a look? I feel like I’m going to need several shots of whiskey before I can move from