She had the most bizarre thought that when she accepted his handshake, he would wrench her forward, and then his fingers would wind around her neck. The fear became so palpable that she almost screamed aloud to the girls to run.
He took her hand briefly in a firm but not too powerful grip, then released it. Amber, Kim, he said, and shook their hands as he spoke.
So are you folks are from the area? he asked, and looked at the girls, smiling. Apparently hed already written Beth off as a total flake.
She slipped between the two girls, feeling her bulldog attitude coming on and setting an arm around each girls shoulders.
Yep! Amber said.
Well, kind of, Kim said.
I mean, were not from the island were standing on, but nearby, Amber said.
Hensons smile deepened.
Beth tried to breathe normally and told herself that she was watching far too many forensics shows on television. There was no reason to believe she had to protect the girls from this man.
But no reason to trust him on sight, either.
Are you planning on camping on the island? Beth asked.
He waved a hand toward the sea. Im not sure yet. Im with some friendswere doing some diving, some fishing. We havent decided whether were in a camping mood or not.
Where are your friends? Beth asked. A little sharply? she wondered. So much for being casual, able to easily escape a bad situation, if it should prove to be one.
At the moment Im on my own.
I didnt see your dinghy, Beth said. In fact, I didnt even notice another boat in the area.
Its there, he said, the Sea Serpent. He cocked his head wryly. My friend, Lee, who owns her, likes to think of himself as the brave, adventurous type. Did you sail out here on your own?
It might have been an innocent question, but not to Beth. Not at this moment.
She had been swearing for years that she was going to take kung fu classes or karate, but as yet, she hadnt quite done so.
She always carried pepper spray in her purse. But, of course, she had been wandering inland with the girls, just walking, and she wasnt carrying her purse. She wasnt carrying anything. She had on sandals and a bathing suit. Like the girls.
Are you alone? Keith Henson repeated politely.
Politely? Or menacingly?
Oh, no. Were with my brother. And a whole crowd.
A whole crowd Amber began.
Beth pinched her shoulder.
Ow! Amber gasped.
Lots of my brothers friends are coming in. Sailorsboat peopleyou know, big guys, the kind who can twist off beer caps with their teeth, Beth said, trying to sound light.
Amber and Kim were both staring at her as if shed lost her mind.
Oh, yeah, all my dads friends are, like, big, tough-guy nature freaks, Amber said, staring at Beth. Yeah right, the kind that open beer bottles with their teeth.
They are? Kim asked, sounding very confused.
At any rate, there will be a bunch of us. A couple of cops, even, Beth said, realizing immediately how ridiculous that sounded.
Time to move on!
Tugging at the girls shoulders, she added, Well, its a pleasure to meet you. Wed better get back to my brother before he misses us. Were supposed to be helping with the setup.
Well see you, if youre hanging around, Kim told him cheerfully.
Yes, nice to meet you, Amber said.
Bye, then, Keith Henson said.
A plastic smile in place, Beth continued to force the girls away from the man and toward the beach where theyd come ashore in the dinghy. And where they would find her brother, she prayed. Surely he hadnt gone wandering off.
Aunt Beth, Amber whispered, what on earth is the matter with you? You were so weird to that man.
Kimberly cleared her throat, Um, actually, you were pretty rude, she said hesitantly.
He was alone, he appeared out of nowhereand we had just found a skull, Beth said, after glancing back to assure herself that they were out of earshot.
You said you werent sure if it was a skull or not, Kim said.
I wasnt sureIm not sure.
But it looked like he just got here, too, Amber said. And the skullit is a skull, isnt it?had been there a while.
Criminals often return to the scene of the crime, Beth said, quoting some program or other, and anxiously moving forward.
Amber burst out laughing. Aunt Beth! Okay, so you got the heebie-jeebies. But puh-lease. Did you see a gun on him?
Or anywhere he could have stuffed one? Kim asked, giggling.
They werent such bad questions, really.
No, Beth admitted.
So why were you so rude? Amber persisted.
Beth groaned. I dont know. I guess when you think you might have found a skull, you become very careful about your own health and well-being, okay?
Okay, Amber said after a moment. He looked like a decent guy.
He probably is.
Kim giggled suddenly. He was hot.
Hes way too old for you guys, Beth replied a little too sharply.
So is Brad Pitt, but that doesnt mean hes not hot, Amber said, shaking her head as if it was a sadly difficult thing to deal with adults.
Right, Beth murmured.
A thud sounded from behind. Beth jumped, ready to cover the girls with her own body against any threatened danger.
Aunt Beth, Amber said, it was a palm frond.
Beth exhaled. Right, she murmured.
The girls were looking at one another again. As if they had to be very careful with her.
As if she were losing her mind.
Come on, lets find your dad, Beth said to Amber.
THE WOMAN HAD TO BE ONE OF the strangest hed ever come across, Keith decided, watching as the threesome walked away.
Shed acted as if shed been hiding something.
As if she was guilty ofsomething.
He shook his head. No, not with those two teens at her side. They were far too innocent and friendly for anything to have been going on. Not that teens couldnt be guilty of a lot. But he had learned to be a pretty good judge of character, and those two were simply young and friendly, like a pair of puppies, fresh and eager to explore the world, expecting only good things from it.
But as for the woman
Beth Anderson. She and the tall girl were obviously related. Both had the same very sleek dark hair. Not dead straight, but lush and wavy. And Beth had the kind of eyes that picked up the elements, that could be dark or light, that held a bit of the exotic, the mysterious. Very nicely built, which was more than evident, since all three were in two-piece suits. She appeared to be in her mid to late twenties, naturally sensual and sexy, though not in an overt way. Athletic. With shapely legs that went forever
She was compellingly attractive.
And a little crazy.
No. Frightened.
Of him?
This was his first trip to Calliope Key. But he surely looked the part. So why had he appeared so menacing to her?
She wouldnt ever have come to the island with the girls if she had been afraid of something from the get-go. So?
They must have found something.
He looked quickly around the clearing. There was nothing immediately evident that would have disturbed anyone, whatever theyd found had to be right around where they had been standing.
She wouldnt ever have come to the island with the girls if she had been afraid of something from the get-go. So?
They must have found something.
He looked quickly around the clearing. There was nothing immediately evident that would have disturbed anyone, whatever theyd found had to be right around where they had been standing.
For a moment everything in him seemed to tighten and burn; his jaw locked. The heat of anger filled him, the raging sense of fury that the world was never just, and no effort on his part could change that.
And that was part of the reason he was here, he reminded himself, though he kept that fact private. Keep your eye on the prizethat was the standing order. There was one objective. Find what they were seeking, and do it discreetly. Then the rest would fall into place. He hoped. He wasnt certain anyone else really believed that, and he would be damned if he even knew what he believed himself.
He heard his name called. It was Lee.
He forced a deep breath, aware that he had to tamp down his emotions over his current situation.
He shouted back, Im over here.
A minute later, Lee Gomez and Matt Albright appeared in the clearing. Whats going on? Lee asked him. Half-Ecuadorian and half-American mutt, Lee had brilliant blue eyes and pitch-dark hair, and skin that never seemed to mind the sun.
Not much. Met a woman and two girlstheyre with the womans brother, maybe some other people, camping on the island tonight, Keith said.
Matt shook his head, swearing. He was the redhead in their group, quick to anger, quicker to apologize, but at all times easily irritated. Theres more. Two more good-size boats, both anchored not far from us. I saw a dinghy coming in with several people.
Well, what are you going to do, Keith asked with a shrug. Boaters have been coming out here sincewell, hell, probably since forever.
Yeah, but dammit, they shouldnt be here now, Matt muttered.
Hey, we knew wed be in public view, working around whatever happened and whoever appeared. People are here, so lets make the best of it, Keith said. And think about it. Its not much of a shock. Its a weekend, the perfect time for boaters to take a little break.
You dont think we could dress up as pygmies and scare them all off the island, do you? Lee murmured dryly.
Pygmies? Matt said.
Some kind of tribal islanders, maybe cannibals? Lee teased.
Keith laughed. Oh, yeah, that would make us really inconspicuous. Besides, while theyre on the island, theyre not out on their boats, checking out the reefs. Its a weekend. Lets do like the others. Play tourist. Get to know the folks. Check out what they knowand what theyre thinking. And what theyre afraid of, he thought, but he kept the possibility that anyone on the island might suspect them of something to himself.
Lee shrugged. All right.
So we roll out the cooler and the tent and make like party people, Matt said. He laughed suddenly. Not so bad. One of the people on the boat was a woman, and man, she sure as hell looked like a hottie. From a distance, anyway.
One of the people on the boat? Keith thought. You should have seen the woman in this very clearing, just minutes ago. And I wasnt any distance from her. None at all.
Doesnt matter if shes hot as blue blazes, no getting too close to the locals, not tonight, Lee warned sternly.
Hey, Im just going to be a party boy. A friendly guy, just looking for fun, a good ole boating fool, Matt assured him.
Well, you can be a good ole boy later. Im not hauling stuff off that boat by myself, Lee said. If were turning into Boy Scouts and doing the camping thing, you guys can do some of the lugging, too.
Actually, camping isnt such a bad idea, Keith said.
No, and getting to know folks from the area isnt a bad idea, either, Lee said. He grinned. I think Ill own the boat.
Hey! Matt protested.
Someone has to own the boat, right? Lee asked.
You can own the boat, Keith said.
I get to own it next time, Matt said.
With any luck, there wont be a next time, Keith said. He stared at the other two, and he couldnt help feeling an edge of suspicion.
Lee stared back at him. His eyes were enigmatic. Ever the optimist, huh?
I just know what Im doing, Keith said.
Lee assessed him for what seemed like an eternity. I hope, Lee said. I hope to hell youre focused on what were doing.
Im focused. You can count on it, Keith said, and he knew his tone was grim.
Cmon, then, lets go play tourist, Lee said.
Sure. Be right there, Keith said.
Hey, were all in this together, you know, Matt reminded him, his eyes narrowed.
Yup.
They were in it together, true. But the other two didnt know that hed been warned specifically to keep an eye on them.
Damn, Keith, youre acting bizarre, Lee said, staring at him. Think of whats happened. Focus is the most important thing here.
More important than human life? Keith wondered. Ill be right with you.
Hes working on that instinct thing hes got going for him, Matt said, shrugging. Come on, Lee, lets get started. Wonderboy will be along.
Keith waited until they walked back toward the northern shore.
And then he began to search the clearing.
Oh, yeah. He was focused.
There were certain images a man could never quite get out of his mind. Dead men. Dead friends. Friends whod had everything in the world to live for. Young. The best of the best.
He stiffened, listening. People were coming. The island was becoming more crowded by the minute. He swore softly.
Hey there, came a throaty, masculine voice.
A man of about sixty, followed by a petite young woman and two men about his own age, was entering the clearing.
Hey, Keith replied, stepping forward, a smile on his face.
Ah, yes, the masses had arrived. He didnt know why he was suddenly so certain that he and his associates werent the only ones traveling incognito.
BETH AND THE GIRLS EMERGED from the lush greenery in the center of the island to reach the beach. It was beautiful. Once upon a time there had been a very small naval base on Calliope Key, a research center. It had been abandoned, but back toward the interior the ruins of the old buildings remained, allowing a safe haven of sorts if the weather turned really foul. Today, though, the sun was streaming down, a soft breeze was blowing, and the sea appeared incredibly serene.
Ben was on the beach, barefoot, in cutoffs and shades, dressed remarkably like the man who had just scared Beth. He glanced up when he saw them coming. Back so soon? I thought you were exploring, seeing if there was anyone else around.
At thirty-four, Beth thought, her brother was in his prime. He had, however, taken the task of raising his daughter to heart. Despite the fact that he had lost his wife years ago, he was still far more prone to spend his nights at home rather than out at the boat clubsthough he did belong to Rock Reef, where she worked as a social directorseeking companionship. Beth actually wished he would be more of a sinner at times. She knew how much Amber meant to him, but she was afraid that he wasnt allowing much room in his life for the future. He had been madly in love with Ambers mom, his high-school sweetheart, and nothing had ever changed his desire to see that Amber had everything he could provide, including his companywhether she wanted it or not, since Amber had reached that age where she wanted to spend her nights prowling the malls with her friends, rather than bonding with her dad. She adored him. She was simply being a teenager.