✔Secrets of Saltwater Bay

🐶Chapter 5

Music was another language for others to express themselves. It calmed the mind.

Derrick had a nice setup of records and other old musical supplies. Coming from the age of iPod nanos and MP3 players, the old timely vintage record players seemed complex to me. Why the hell did that one have a horn attached to it?

The musky smell of staleness was suffocating. I had to tread carefully around the rickety shelves, brimming with boxes of ancient records. From the old disks I saw, I didn't recognize any of the artists. Most of them were probably before our time.

"Isn't it crazy how music has changed?" I said.

Casper nodded. "Imagine what it will be like when we're in our sixties, or older. We'll still be using iTunes and Spotify while they've got something new."

The shop seemed to be vacant. There were no signs of employees, but the sign outside was rotated to open and the front door was unlocked. Someone had to be around. Finding them in the cluttered store might prove to be difficult.

"Do people still listen to records?" I asked as I plucked one out of a box. "With all the new ways to get music, I doubt many of these will ever play again. They'll just stay here and collect dust."

"I think they're more like collectors items," Casper replied.

"I never understood the point in collecting stuff." I slid the record back in the box. "Why hold onto junk you just stash away? My dad likes to collect guns. He tried to get me to do it too. I just wasn't interested."

"You don't talk about your dad much," Casper said. "Come to think about it, I haven't spoken to him in a long time. How's he been?"

I shrugged. "He rarely talks to me, but I guess he's doing okay."

"I'm sorry, Silas." Casper rubbed my arm.

"Don't be. My dad just couldn't handle the fact that his son is dating another guy. I understand. My parents weren't expecting me to be this way."

"You're supposed to love your kids regardless of who they date," Casper said.

I shrugged. "It is what it is. Anyway, where the hell is the owner?"

"I'm not sure." Casper approached the checkout desk, standing on his tip-toes to get a better look. "Maybe he went out for lunch."

"I guess we can wait awhile for him to return," I suggested.

"If he doesn't show in five minutes, we'll leave and come back tomorrow," he replied.

We wandered around the ancient shop more, taking in the assortment of records. When we reached the back corner, I noticed something peculiar protruding from the unorganized clutter of boxes labeled: broken.

A brown loafer.

"Casper." I tugged on his arm and pointed toward the shoe sticking out. "Is someone injured?"

"Shit. Stay back." Casper held his arm in front of me and cautiously stepped closer.

A glisten of sweat formed against my forehead as I watched my boyfriend inch closer to the foot I discovered. I couldn't believe what was happening. Did I seriously just find a dead man?

Just as Casper leaned over to shuffle the boxes aside, a man with a rainbow printed headband shot straight up. Unprepared for such a colorful awakening, we both staggered back and screamed.

In return, the long haired hippie also screamed.

"Whoa dudes. Why we yelling for?" Derrick asked.

"We thought you were dead!" I took a deep, consoling breath. "Fucking gave us a heart attack."

"Sorry dude. I got sleepy so I went to sleep over here. I didn't expect no customers."

"We're actually here to talk to you about an ex of yours," Casper said.

"Really?" Derrick emerged from his bed of boxes. "Is it about Rachel?"

Casper and I exchanged mutual looks of confusion. Did he say Rachel?

"You dated Rachel?" I asked him.

"Not long. We just didn't click, ya know?"

"We're here to talk about Natalie," Casper told him.

Derrick's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Wowie. Haven't heard that name in a long time. What do ya want to know?"

"Tell us about your relationship with her," Casper said. "Why did you break up?"

"You a cop?" Derrick shifted his eyes at my boyfriend.

"No, but I plan to become a detective in the future," he replied.

"That means you won't tell a soul if I smoke a bit-o weed here?"

"I really couldn't care less," Casper told him.

We waited impatiently for the man to roll his blunt so he'd proceed with the story. Any day now. I glanced at my phone for the time, wishing he'd hurry up and get to the point.

"So, you want to know about me and the pretty gal, Natalie's relationship?" Derrick asked.

Casper nodded. "Anything can help."

"It was fake."

Well, I didn't anticipate that answer.

Casper frowned. "I'm sorry. Fake? Can you clarify?"

"We weren't really a couple. We pretended," Derrick replied.

"Why the hell would you do that?" I questioned.

"Natalie was my friend. She didn't want her family to know who she was really dating," Derrick replied. "She had me swear to secrecy. I haven't told a single soul about it until now. Why now? I dunno. You guys look like I can trust ya."

"Who was she actually dating before she went missing?" Casper asked.

"Rachel," he replied. "They were childhood sweethearts. She wasn't just attracted to Rachel's looks, but her soul, ya know?"

"Didn't you say you dated Rachel?" Casper asked for clarification.

Derrick nodded. "But it didn't work out. She was still in love with Natalie. I don't think she ever got over the loss of her first love."

"Are you still in contact with Rachel? Do you know how we could get a hold of her?" Casper followed up.

"Her cell phone number was disconnected a few months ago when I tried to call and see how she was doing. But, I have an address. I'm sure she'd be happy to hear someone is finally trying to get justice for Natalie. We all know that whole runaway cover-up story was a bunch of bologna."

Derrick retrieved his receipt book and a pen to jot down directions to her residence. As we approached the checkout desk once again, I examined a framed photograph closely. The image was of Derrick and two other brunette girls in bikinis at the beach. One of them held a puppy.

"Is that Natalie and Rachel with you?" I asked him.

Derrick nodded, gazing at the photo, grief-stricken. "We were the best of friends. Until Natalie went missing. After that, we grew apart. Rachel keeps to herself most days now. When Natalie's sister made accusations about Rachel being responsible, the police kept a close eye on her before giving up."

He handed Casper the receipt and I peered over his shoulder to see what it said.

"Seashore Avenue." I read the address out loud. "That's out near Saltwater Bay."

Casper nodded and checked the clock above. "It's only a quarter past ten. We'd have enough time to get there and home before lunch."

"If you find out something, come tell me," Derrick said. "Ya know, it's the first time anyone's been looking for her. Can't help but think maybe them bones that washed up could be her. Horrible to say it, but I dunno. Just weird."

"We'll do the best we can. Thanks for all your help," Casper replied and turned to me. "Come on, Silas." We made our way outside, with Casper tugging me close behind. "I think I might be close to figuring out who the killer is."