Sunny Side Up (Lake Erie Mysteries Book 1) by Maureen K. Howard
Authors: Maureen K. Howard
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added my red patent-leather flip-flops.
Hamm wouldn’t give up his cargo shorts, but he changed into a cobalt blue Tommy Bahama button-down shirt. June arrived at the boat dock on foot, looking impressive in a white miniskirt and body-hugging navy blue top. She wore a turquoise scarf and turquoise flats that perfectly matched the new color streak in her hair. The turquoise ring on her index finger added a nice finishing touch to her outfit. She bounced on the balls of her feet, practically crackling with energy.
“Let’s walk to the Island House,” I suggested. Frankly, I had had about all I could take of bike riding for the day.
“Fine with me,” June agreed. At least I think that’s what she said. She had managed to hop aboard the boat and zero-in on the snack plate. Her mouth was full of crackers.
Hamm and I strolled leisurely hand-in-hand down Division Street toward the heart of downtown and the charming Island House Restaurant and Martini Bar. It was nice not to be in a hurry tonight. June walked just a few steps behind, stopping frequently to take casual photos with her iPhone. White picket fences surrounding the property wore mantles of purple clematis blooms and gave the setting both charm and a sense of intimacy. It was such a nice evening, I was glad we had agreed to meet the others at the outdoor bar.
“Hey, June...” I was about to tell her about the whole minnow bandit mystery, even though Hamm didn’t think it was a good idea. How could I keep such a bizarre little mystery from my best friend? She had dropped back and was stopped on the side of the road. She bent over, affectionately rubbing the ear of a tall, handsome stranger, who happened to be a German shepherd. Accompanying the friendly dog was an intimidating-looking man. I thought special-ops or sniper, but then, I was always running movie scenarios and play scripts through my mind, and this guy would most definitely have been the darkly handsome, unpredictable star of the show. June was acting like she knew the pair. I hoped so because otherwise she was getting pretty desperate to hook up with someone, and that didn’t seem like her even though I knew she wasn’t looking forward to being the fifth wheel at dinner and watching her ex-husband perform his great-catch act for the benefit of his new love interest.
I later learned that the stranger’s name was Michael (no last name) and his dog answers to Gunner. June had uncovered the mystery behind the man and his dog when she met him last summer while spending some leisure time at the lake in between assignments. Michael spends his days coming and going between the islands, Kelleys, Middle Bass, and South Bass, always walking with his dog in silence, always with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, and always carrying a newspaper tucked under his arm. June couldn’t stand the fact that none of the locals knew much of anything about him, so she pursued him for an entire month, pulling out all the stops, using all of her investigative, journalistic, and flirtatious skills until he finally conceded to sit with her for an informal interview.
She never wrote a feature story or even published an editorial about Michael because for all of her in-depth questioning and expert interviewing skills, the only verifiable information she ever got was his name and the fact that he is ex-military and likes his privacy and his dog. She didn’t think of the time invested as a waste though because first of all, she wasn’t working on a paid assignment, and secondly, she liked him and respected his request to remain private. In the end, June relented, satisfied that at least Gunner had warmed up to her and always stopped for a bit of loving when she encountered him.
After a quick visit, June left the duo and caught up with Hamm and me. I guess he wasn’t going to be June’s dinner partner after all.
It was a little before eight, and although the patio seating was quickly filling up, we were able to
Hamm wouldn’t give up his cargo shorts, but he changed into a cobalt blue Tommy Bahama button-down shirt. June arrived at the boat dock on foot, looking impressive in a white miniskirt and body-hugging navy blue top. She wore a turquoise scarf and turquoise flats that perfectly matched the new color streak in her hair. The turquoise ring on her index finger added a nice finishing touch to her outfit. She bounced on the balls of her feet, practically crackling with energy.
“Let’s walk to the Island House,” I suggested. Frankly, I had had about all I could take of bike riding for the day.
“Fine with me,” June agreed. At least I think that’s what she said. She had managed to hop aboard the boat and zero-in on the snack plate. Her mouth was full of crackers.
Hamm and I strolled leisurely hand-in-hand down Division Street toward the heart of downtown and the charming Island House Restaurant and Martini Bar. It was nice not to be in a hurry tonight. June walked just a few steps behind, stopping frequently to take casual photos with her iPhone. White picket fences surrounding the property wore mantles of purple clematis blooms and gave the setting both charm and a sense of intimacy. It was such a nice evening, I was glad we had agreed to meet the others at the outdoor bar.
“Hey, June...” I was about to tell her about the whole minnow bandit mystery, even though Hamm didn’t think it was a good idea. How could I keep such a bizarre little mystery from my best friend? She had dropped back and was stopped on the side of the road. She bent over, affectionately rubbing the ear of a tall, handsome stranger, who happened to be a German shepherd. Accompanying the friendly dog was an intimidating-looking man. I thought special-ops or sniper, but then, I was always running movie scenarios and play scripts through my mind, and this guy would most definitely have been the darkly handsome, unpredictable star of the show. June was acting like she knew the pair. I hoped so because otherwise she was getting pretty desperate to hook up with someone, and that didn’t seem like her even though I knew she wasn’t looking forward to being the fifth wheel at dinner and watching her ex-husband perform his great-catch act for the benefit of his new love interest.
I later learned that the stranger’s name was Michael (no last name) and his dog answers to Gunner. June had uncovered the mystery behind the man and his dog when she met him last summer while spending some leisure time at the lake in between assignments. Michael spends his days coming and going between the islands, Kelleys, Middle Bass, and South Bass, always walking with his dog in silence, always with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, and always carrying a newspaper tucked under his arm. June couldn’t stand the fact that none of the locals knew much of anything about him, so she pursued him for an entire month, pulling out all the stops, using all of her investigative, journalistic, and flirtatious skills until he finally conceded to sit with her for an informal interview.
She never wrote a feature story or even published an editorial about Michael because for all of her in-depth questioning and expert interviewing skills, the only verifiable information she ever got was his name and the fact that he is ex-military and likes his privacy and his dog. She didn’t think of the time invested as a waste though because first of all, she wasn’t working on a paid assignment, and secondly, she liked him and respected his request to remain private. In the end, June relented, satisfied that at least Gunner had warmed up to her and always stopped for a bit of loving when she encountered him.
After a quick visit, June left the duo and caught up with Hamm and me. I guess he wasn’t going to be June’s dinner partner after all.
It was a little before eight, and although the patio seating was quickly filling up, we were able to
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