A Timely Vision by Joyce and Jim Lavene Page B

a good excuse for a tour. “I can come anytime. I was about to close up for the day.”
    “Fantastic! Let’s have some dinner and look for the key.”
    I started to agree, then remembered my promise to Tim. “I can’t today. Maybe tomorrow. I have a date, sort of.”
    “A date! That’s worth not finding my key. Anyone I know?”
    “Probably not since you’re new here.” I went on to explain about the purse snatcher and how Tim had saved the day. I didn’t go into how the evening would end with another marriage proposal.
    “I know Tim. You can bring him along. I’ll call Shayla, and we’ll make it a foursome.”
    The smile on his face seemed devilish to me, as though he already knew about Tim’s infatuation. Adding Shayla to the mix was like scratching a fingernail on a chalkboard. “I don’t think so. Thanks anyway. I’m sure we’ll have time to look for the key later. If not tomorrow, the next day.”
    “I guess that’ll have to do.” He followed me out of the shop after I turned off the lights. “I heard you chased down that guy who took your purse. That wasn’t very smart.”
    I locked the door with a loud click. “I got my purse back.”
    “He could’ve turned around and shot you.”
    “But he didn’t. I’m safe and sound and probably in better shape after running all over the parking lot. I appreciate you letting me know about the SBI.”
    He held up his painting. “And I’m glad I came in. I guess I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    “Unless you hear from me in the middle of the night when the SBI comes for me.”
    I smiled as we walked in opposite directions. Kevin seemed to be on his way to the General Store or Wild Stallions, the little bar and grill tucked into the corner of the boardwalk. I headed down to the town hall to check my messages with Nancy.
    Kevin was much different than I’d imagined when I first met him. He was a little trickier than I’d originally thought. I don’t know why he struck me originally as being a straightforward kind of man. Not a bit like Chief Michaels, Gramps or Tim, the three other law enforcement men I knew well. They were always to the point. I kind of liked the difference.
    Chief Michaels was in my office when I arrived at town hall. Nancy got up from her desk with a worried frown on her thin face. “He’s been here for an hour already. I think he wants to take you down to meet with the SBI people. They want to question you about finding Miss Elizabeth.”
    Since I knew about the meeting ( thank you, Kevin ), I was calm and collected as I took my mail and messages and went through to my office. I’d decorated it myself. It had been a storage room, but it had a good window overlooking the sound. I’d painted the room blue and brought in all the sea paraphernalia I could find, including a ship’s bell from a freighter that went down in a storm in the early 1800s. I felt relaxed and calm when I was here. Even now, Chief Michaels’s worried face didn’t upset me.
    “You wanted to see me?” I sat behind my white oak desk and picked up my letter opener.
    He put his hands on the desk. “The SBI wants to talk to you, Mayor. It’s routine. Nothing to worry about. Except for the part about you finding things. I don’t know how that will play out. Tell the truth and everything will be fine.”
    My heart started pounding a little faster. “What do you mean? Of course I’ll tell the truth.”
    “I don’t think you should mention your gift for finding things, or that Millie had asked you to find the watch. You know what I mean, Dae. We understand that kind of thing out here. Other places, not so much.”
    I put down the letters and the opener. “Kevin already told me that they know about me finding things. What do you want me to do?”
    “He did?” He looked uncomfortable. “For your own sake, don’t emphasize it. Tell them you were out looking for Lizzie like the rest of us. They don’t have to know anything else.”
    “That would be lying,