A Watery Death (A Missing Pieces Mystery Book 7) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene

barely two a.m., I got up and went up to the attic to look for the rainbow unicorn. If there was a chance, I’d be willing to take it.
    Gramps found me there two hours later. “What in the world are you doing up here? Have you been up all night?”
    “I’ve been looking for something that belonged to Mom. A rainbow unicorn she got from a carnival when she was a kid. There was a psychic. Sound familiar? Do you have any idea where that could be?”
    “I’m sorry, Dae. I don’t know what you mean.” He surveyed the crowded attic, most of which consisted of tumbled boxes, old clothes, and toys.
    I told him about my visit with Grandma Eleanore.
    He wasn’t happy about it. “I thought you said she told you it was dangerous to go into the past.”
    “I don’t care. I have a chance to warn Mom about the day she died. How can I let that go?”
    Gramps frowned. “I don’t know what to say, honey. But right now I have to get to work, and you have to go over to town hall to get everything set up. You have the parade schedule. If you aren’t there to get the cars and floats lined up, who will?”
    Reluctantly, I agreed with him. I noticed he was wearing the dark blue Duck police officer’s uniform. It made him look completely different, more like when I was a child and he was the sheriff.
    “You look nice,” I told him. “Be careful out there today. Do you have any idea who you’re going to tap to be temporary police officers?”
     “Cody volunteered. Reece wanted to as well, but they couldn’t both be away from the restaurant for full shifts. Mark Samson’s daughter, Diane, offered to help out. And Dale Fargo said he’d give us a hand. He’s only working part-time at the gambling ship.”
    “You sure got them signed up fast since last night.”
    “Email. And I don’t mess around when I have a promise to keep.”
    “To Chief Michaels?”
    He hugged me and whispered, “To my granddaughter. I promised her I’d stay safe.”
    “I love you. Grandma Eleanore said to tell you that she loves you too.”
    Gramps let me go as he looked away. “About that, Dae. I have a good thing going with Mary Catherine right now. She and I have a lot in common, and I think I might be in love with her.”
    That didn’t really surprise me. I could tell they were attached to each other because they were so happy together.
    “I know. It’s okay. You both deserve to be happy.”
    “The thing is, honey, I can’t keep thinking about your grandmother and let myself feel anything for MC. It feels like I’m cheating on Eleanore when I kiss her.”
    That was depressing. “So you don’t want me to try to bring her back?”
    He rubbed his hand over his freshly shaved face. “I don’t know what to think about it. Do you think I should push MC away until we figure out if your grandmother is coming back?”
    “No. Of course not. Grandma Eleanore says she can’t come back, not without some catastrophic event happening. Mom either.” I sighed and felt like crying. “I guess we go on without them.”
    He rubbed my arm. “I don’t know what else to do but move forward. You’re the only one left of my family. I’ve had to put a lot of loss behind me. The only way I know to do that is to keep making fresh starts.”
    “I understand. I won’t bring it up again.”
    “I don’t mean that like it sounds,” he amended. “I’ll always love Eleanore, but in a different way than I love MC right now. I suppose that’s hard for you. I’m sorry.”
    “I understand.” I kissed his cheek. “You’d better get going so you can summon the troops. Any word on Chief Michaels?”
    “Actually, I was already there this morning. He’s still isn’t awake from his surgery, but the doctor said everything went well. Agnes Caudle and Betty Vasquez are down there now so Ladonna and Marjory can get some rest.”
    “That’s good news. I guess I’ll see you later.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “I’m fine. I hope you get to see some