So where is it?
I dont know! She stared around the clearing. There was plenty of debris about; area storms could be fierce, blowing hard against fragile palms and pines.
But though she kicked up every inch of the clearing, dragging away every palm frond and branch she could see, there was no sign of anything that so much as resembled a skull.
Then...
Aha! she cried, and dug, only to dig up a conch shell.
Theres your skull, Ben said.
No, this isnt it. Ben, Im telling you, I saw a skull. And I didnt dig it up while the kids were here because it looked like there was still hair attached, even rotting flesh.
Come on, Beth. Youre too into CSI and Autopsy one-two-three-four-and-up-to-fifty-or-a-hundred-or-whatever-it-is-now. Im heading back to the campsite.
Ben!
What? he demanded, turning back to stare at her.
Im telling you, there was a skull. And then there was that guy
You know what, Beth? Im a guy, a lawyer, and yes, I tend to be a little nervous because I know the kinds of people who are out there in the world. Hell, I have a gun, and I know how to use it. But think about it, Beth. You just saw the guy a few minutes ago. And what you thought was a skull had to be down to the bone.
Not completely, she murmured, feeling a little ill.
Beth, Ben argued, how could a guy who just got here be responsible for a skull that may or may not exist, and, if so, is almost down to the bone? I am not going to ruin this weekend with my daughter and her friend, so please...
She stood up, dusting off her hands again, lips pursed. She nodded. I know its the weekend. I know that its bond-with-your-daughter time. Yes, well have a good time. I promise.
He started back along the trail to the beach.
Beth hesitated. She felt night coming, felt the breeze whispering through her hair.
Could she have been mistaken?
No!
Damn it! She had seen it, and it had been a skull. A human skull. So where the hell was it now?
A chill settled over her.
Had he taken it?
Was the skull the reason he had come to the island?
The palm fronds around her began to whisper. She turned quickly toward the trail. Ben?
Her brother didnt reply.
She glanced around quickly, then called out again, Ben! Wait for me!
With those words on her lips, she raced after him, clinging to the words he had said to her.
I have a gun, and I know how to use it.
But did he have it with him?
And what if the other guy had a gun and knew how to use it, too?
2
Theres your guy, Ben said as they walked back onto the beach. He pointed down a stretch of sand.
And indeed, there he was. Along with two other men, one dark and Hispanic looking, the other a blazing redhead, he was securing a large tent pole in the sand. They had respected the silent privacy rule all boaters who used the island obeyed, staking out their territory a distance away from anyone else. From where they stood, Beth couldnt make out the expressions of any of the men.
The redhead stopped working, however, elbowed Keith, pointed toward them, then waved.
Ben waved in return.
Youre not waving to your new hottie, Ben teased.
Hes not my anything, Beth retorted.
The girls were impressed.
The girls are young and impressionable, she snapped.
Her brother looked at her quizzically. What is the matter with you?
Nothing. Its just that, no matter what, I know I saw a skull.
Which we couldnt find.
No, she admitted. But Im telling you, there was something there. That guy was there, too. And now the thing isnt there, and the same guy is on the beach!
I can walk over and ask him if he just dug up a skull, Ben said.
She glared at him. And if he did, hes just going to say yes?
Beth, what do you want me to do? Ben demanded, shaking his head.
Be careful.
All right, Ill be afraid. Very afraid.
Ben...
Beth, honestly, Im not ignoring what you said. But dont ignore what I said, either. Im capable of watching out for my own family. I never forget that I have two teenagers in my care when I take the girls out. Okay, you got spooked and you remembered that missing couple. But I read the stories, too. They wanted to explore the world, take off by themselves. They planned on an endless trip, on going wherever they chose.
But still, they just...disappeared, Beth said stubbornly.
Beth, its legal for adults to disappear, if they want to.
Their friends were concerned.
Maybe they wanted an escape from their friends, Ben suggested.
Who would do that? Beth demanded.
Beth, please. This is a weekend. Were here to have fun. Just let it go, okay?
She exhaled loudly in exasperation, spinning away from him and heading toward the girls. The were studying a Hollywood-gossip magazine and seemed to have forgotten that they might have stumbled across human remains.
But Amber looked up when Beth hunched down and joined them in the little outer room of their tent.
Was it a skull? she asked.
I dont know. It wasnt there anymore.
A strange look filtered through Ambers eyes.
Do you think he took it? Kim demanded.
Shh, Amber commanded. Hes here.
Beths head jerked around. The man who had introduced himself as Keith Henson was therestanding just outside the tents, where Ben had been building a small fire to cook their evening meal.
The other two were also there: the tall, lean, redhead and the darker man with the stockier, well-muscled build.
Beth overheard introductions and realized her brother was telling Keith that she had mentioned meeting him earlier.
Beth sprang into action, hurrying out. The girls followed her quickly. More introductions were made. The other two were Lee Gomez and Matt Albright.
Keith was still wearing the sunglasses, allowing no insight to his thoughts. He was smiling, however, and Beth had to admit that he was gorgeous, with classic bone structure that also offered a solidly sculpted strength. Lee Gomez was also striking, with his dark good looks, and Matt, though freckled, gave the initial impression of the charming boy next door.
Keith was just saying that they brought a portable grill and have enough fresh fish to feed an army, Ben said.
She stared at her brother. He wanted them to join these strangers?
Ive also made a mean potato salad, Lee offered, grinning.
We must have something to offer, dont we? Ben asked Beth.
The salad, Amber answered for her. We have chips, too, tons of soda and some beer.
Sounds great. Were right down the beach. Hopefully the alluring aromas will bring you right over, Matt said.
Well? Ben asked her.
Of course, Beth said, seeing no graceful way out of it.
We met some other people, down the beach on the other side, Keith said. They said they know you. Theyll be joining us, too.
Oh, the Masons, Ben said.
We met some other people, down the beach on the other side, Keith said. They said they know you. Theyll be joining us, too.
Oh, the Masons, Ben said.
Thats right. The Masons are here, Beth murmured. She could see Hanks yacht, Southern Light, out on the water. She was a fine vessel, forty-five feet, forty years old, but her motor had been completely rebuilt and the interior redone. She was often referred to as the Grand Dame at the club.
Actually, Im not straight on exactly whos who yet. Except for Amanda, Keith said.
Of course hed gotten Amanda right. She was five-five, shaped like an hourglass, with blue eyes and light blond hair. Few men ever missed Amanda.
Theres an older man, Lee said.
Roger Mason, her dad, Beth said.
Hank has to be here, Ben said. Amandas cousin. The boats his.
Yes, right. Hank. And the other guy is...
Probably Gerald, another cousin, Beth said. He lives just up the coast from the rest of the family, in Boca Raton.
So...theyre all cousins? Matt asked, a hopeful note in his voice.
Hank, Amanda and Gerald are cousinssecond cousins, I think, Ben said.
He hadnt seemed to notice the hope in the question. He wouldnt, Beth thought. He was always too busy being a father.
Theres a young couple camping just beyond them, Keith said. Even though Beth couldnt see his eyes, she knew he was staring straight at her. Maybe you know them, too. Brad Shaw and a woman named Sandy Allison?
She shook her head. The names arent familiar. Again she looked out to the water.
She had missed the fourth boat because it was anchored just beyond Hanks Southern Light.
The last vessel was a small pleasure craft. She looked as if she needed paint, and she probably offered no more than a small head, galley, and perhaps room enough for two to sleep in the forward section. There were lots of small boats docked at the club, and some of thoseespecially the motorboatswere incredibly expensive.
On the other hand, some of them werent. One of the things Beth had always liked about working at the club was the fact that the people there were honestly dedicated to the water. They came from all lifes corners, just like their boats did. The initial membership fee was steep, but after that, the annual dues were reasonable, so people from all different social strata could afford to join, once they saved up the initial investment. She was also proud that the club specialized in lessons in sailing, swimming, diving and water safety.
At the club, though, no matter how inexpensive any of their boats might be, the members, even the broke ones, took pleasure in caring for themunlike the sad little vessel out beyond Southern Light.
Four boats, Beth murmured.
Anyway, Keith said, weve asked everyone over to our little patch of beach.
Great, Ben said.
Come on over whenever you feel like it, Keith said. Were not far, he said, indicating the short stretch of sand that separated the two camps.
Want help? Amber asked enthusiastically.
Beth was tempted to grasp her nieces arm.
I think weve got it under control, Keith said gravely. But if you need help hauling chips and salad, you let us know.
He had dimples and a pleasant way with the girls. He wasnt inappropriate or flirtatiousas some older men would have been, just nice. He should have seemed charming, Beth knew, but she was too suspicious of him for that.
Well see you down there in a bit, Lee said.
The three men waved and started off down the sand. Ben turned to Beth. Feel better? he asked her.
She stared at her brother, shaking her head.
What? Still scared? Nothings going to happen. Some of the other members from the yacht club will be with us, he reminded her.
Ben was a member. She was the social manager, and she loved her job and most of the members, who were always pleasant and appreciative.
Then there was Amanda.
Luckily she wasnt there on a dailyor even weeklybasis. Hank was the real boat fanatic. It had been his father who had first joined the club, which had been formed back in 1910. Originally it had been just two lifelong friends, Commodore Isaak and Vice Commodore Gleason, who had gotten together to drink and chat in their retirement. By the 1920s, there had been ten members, rising to nearly a hundred before World War II. With far too many able-bodied sailors in the navy, the facility had been used for a while as rehab for returnees. The 1950s had seen a resurgence in membership, and it had become a casual place in the seventies. When the hippies became yuppies in the nineties, the price of membership had soared. At the moment, there were about two hundred members, a hundred of those with boat slips, and at least fifty who could be considered fairly active. Ben and Beths father had been a commodore, and with his passing, Ben had taken up the family participation in the place.
Beth, with a degree in public relations, had taken a job.
Had she realized that she would be dealing with the Amandas of the world, she might have thought twice. Amanda was the type to drop a letter on her desk and, without looking at her, tell her that she needed copies. She complained at the slightest mistake made by any of the help. Two waitresses in the dining room had quit in tears after serving her.
Ben didnt jump when Amanda was around; he seemed to be immune to her wickedly sensual charm and oblivious to her frequent vicious abrasiveness.
There was no use trying to explain Amanda to her brother. He would just think it was feminine envy.
Having them here makes everything just perfect, she assured him dully.
Amanda, Amber said, making a face.
Ben rolled his eyes. Is something the matter with her? he demanded.
Dad, shes a bitch.
Amber!
Its not really a bad word, Amber said.
Not like a four-letter word or anything, Kim added hastily.
Beth, Ben said, arent you going to say something?
She shrugged. Theyre calling it as they see it, she told him.
He frowned. I dont like that language.
Amber, your father doesnt like that language. Please dont use it.
All right, Amber said, Miss Mason is a rude, manipulative snake, hows that?
With really big boobs, Kim added.
Kim... Ben protested.
Sorry, Kim said, without meaning it in the least.
Ben pointed a finger sternly. You will be polite.
Of course, Beth said. I mean, shes always so polite to me.
Ben groaned out loud and turned away, walking to the spot where he had pitched his own tent, his back to them. Maybe youll like the new people better, he said irritably over his shoulder.
She could hardly like them any less, Beth thought.
It wasnt exactly as if they were going out, but Beth chose to throw a cover-up on over her bathing suit, and the girls did likewise. They hauled their coolers with sodas and beer, and their contribution of salad and chips, down to the meeting point before any of the Mason family appeared but just after the arrival of the new couple, Sandy Allison and Brad Shaw.
She had sandy hair that matched her name and pleasant amber eyes, a medium build and was of medium height. She wore a terry cover-up and sandals, while Brad, about six feet even, with the same sandy hair but green eyes, was still in swim boxers with a cotton surf shirt over his shoulders. They were both cheerful and hailed from the West Coast, according to Brad.