Distortion Control (A Makayla Rose Mystery Book 3) by Audrey Claire Page B

serious about solving his brother’s case, or was there something darker going on? Okay, maybe I jumped to conclusions, but it didn’t excuse his being missing. I had enough to deal with. I was determined not to leave him alone until I found out what his motives were for coming to Briney Creek.
    Since he hadn’t specifically told me he was staying at a hotel, I first called Pattie Lane, the owner of our local inn, to see if he was staying at her establishment.
    “Good morning, Pattie,” I said when she answered the phone. “This might sound strange, but I’m looking for Ashton Norwood. I’m not sure if you’ve met him. He—”
    “Oh, yes, Ash.” I could hear the blush over the line and knew Ash had been up to what I now knew in such a short acquaintance was his “old tricks.” He had been flirting with Pattie so much that just asking about him caused her to blush. “I-I-I’ve met him. He seems…nice.”
    I chuckled. Too late to adopt a casual attitude, young lady. “I agree. Ash is nice, among other things. He’s been working with me to help Spencer, and I lost track of him. Have you seen him? Is he staying at your inn?”
    “I wish… I mean… No, he’s not.”
    She faltered so terribly, I felt sorry for her.
    “I believe he’s staying at the hotel not far from here. If you need it, I can give you the number.”
    If she thought I would miss that little hesitation and how she started to say how much she wished he were staying at her inn, she was sadly mistaken, poor thing. I knew the sound of a desperately lonely single woman when I heard one. Of course, that had nothing to do with me, mind you.
    “No, that’s okay. I think I’ll just drive around a little and see if I can spot him. Thanks for your help, Pattie.”
    “No problem, Makayla. Have a good day. Goodbye.”
    “Goodbye.”
    I ended the call and moved ahead with my plan to drive around and look for Ash. The challenge was that I didn’t know him very well. I had no idea what might interest him or what leads he might’ve come across to explore. I didn’t know who he had decided to interview or even who he might have already spoken with. Well, aside from a flustered Pattie.
    So far all I had learned about Ash was that he was not forthcoming with information. What I heard from Ash was what I had to pull from him after the fact.
    Twenty minutes of driving around Briney Creek, subject to the happy waves of every citizen I came across, I determined I wasn’t making any progress. Being unable to see inside the shops or know if Ash met with someone in their home, I couldn’t find him.
    I pulled to the side of the road and parked my car. At least today it wasn’t raining. The sun peeked through the clouds, but the temperature was a chilly forty-five degrees. I bundled up tighter in my jacket and started walking.
    Along Vineberry were little storefront shops that sold souvenirs and other trinkets produced locally and of interest to tourists. Unfortunately, with it being winter, the street was not as busy as it had been in the summer time. Most shops were either closed during this cold season or the hours open were truncated.
    Peeking into the windows didn’t produce a glimpse of Ash anywhere. I decided I needed a better, more deliberate plan of locating the man rather than wandering around. Retracing my steps to Main Street, I headed in the direction of David’s jewelry shop. I had been putting off talking to him, and I suspected he was doing the same with me. Now might not be the best time for our heart-to-heart, but I meant to have it soon.
    Just as I reached his side of the road, I spotted a man who I thought was Ash at the other end of the block. His long legs moved at clip that would soon distance him from me if I didn’t pick up my pace. I sped up, tucking my hands into my pockets to keep them warm, and was glad that I had decided to wear sneakers today rather than the more professional pumps I wore to the studio. I could keep up with