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an explanation.”
    “I have to do more than that,” Suzie said with determination.
    “I'm warning you, Suzie, if you get in the middle of their investigation, they will not be happy. Parish PD is not like Garber, they will not hesitate to make you face consequences for interfering. I really should get going I’m in the middle of my shift,” he frowned. “Are you going to be okay, Suzie?”
    “No,” Suzie replied with wide eyes. “No, I won't be okay until Paul is standing here beside me, safe and sound.”
    “It's okay, Jason, I'll be with her,” Mary assured him. “But please call us if you hear anything more.”
    “Of course,” he nodded and took one long look at Suzie. “I'm sorry, Suzie.”
    Suzie could only nod before turning to look out over the vast ocean. “Where are you, Paul?” she whispered.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    “This can't be happening,” Suzie kept repeating as she paced back and forth across the living room. Mary was perched on the edge of the couch as if she was prepared to tackle Suzie if she bolted for the door.
    “It's going to be okay,” Mary said for what might have been the hundredth time.
    “How?” Suzie asked as she turned to face her friend. “How could this possibly be okay? Not only is Trent dead, but Paul is the main suspect in his death. You and I both know that Paul couldn't have killed him, so where does that leave Paul?” she gasped out.
    “I…,” Mary tried to think of something that would comfort Suzie, but no good solution came to her mind. “I'm sorry, Suzie, I'm just not sure,” she finally replied before closing her eyes.
    “I think there has to be something I can find out at the crime scene,” Suzie said firmly. “I need to be there, not holed up here waiting for news that may never come.”
    “You heard what Jason said, Suzie,” Mary warned her sharply. “If we get in the middle of the investigation it might look even worse when it comes to their suspicion of Paul.”
    “Suspicion of Paul,” Suzie blurted out with rage in her voice. “Those incompetent pinheaded cops from Parish couldn't run an investigation if they tripped and fell into the murderer.”
    “That's one person's opinion,” a voice carried from the porch of Dune House. Suzie had left the door open in case Jason came back. She wasn't expecting anyone else. But the voice wasn't familiar. Suzie and Mary exchanged a quick nervous look before Suzie went walking towards the porch.
    “Be careful, Suzie,” Mary said as Suzie stepped through the open door and out onto the porch. Leaning against the front railing was a classic, small town police officer, right down to cowboy boots and a toothpick between his clenched teeth. Suzie noticed that like herself he appeared to be in his fifties, but that was where the similarity ended. His eyes were hard and icy as they settled on her.
    “Are you Suzie Allen?” he asked.
    “What if I am?” Suzie replied calmly and folded her arms across her stomach.
    “Well, if you are Suzie Allen,” the officer replied and paused to chew lightly on his toothpick. “Then you're who I need to talk to. My name is Officer Brown, and I work for Parish PD.”
    “Have you found Paul?” Suzie asked urgently. “Is he hurt?”
    “So, you are Suzie Allen,” he said as he narrowed his eyes once more. “Unfortunately, your boyfriend is still missing.”
    Suzie cringed at the term. It sounded so juvenile when the officer said it.
    “Are you looking for him?” Suzie gasped out. “He must be lost, or injured.”
    “Or he's on the run,” the officer suggested in a hard voice. “He killed a man, and decided the best escape was to flee on his boat.”
    “He didn't kill anyone,” Suzie argued with determination.
    “Ma'am, are you going to deny that there was a physical confrontation over breakfast this morning?” he asked as he turned to face her. His muscular frame was rather intimidating. The way he flicked his toothpick was just as