She saw Jay Galway on the other side of the bar, conversing with Seth Granger and a few of the other guests. He was staring at herglaring, reallyand giving her a big smile. Sign language, Jay Galway style. She was supposed to be as nice as possible, suck up big-time.
She gave an imperceptible nod to Jay and smiled as instructed at Hank. He slid out the chair opposite her and sat. Okay if I join you and ask a few questions?
Sure.
In his lanky way, he was actually very attractive, she realized.
He grinned. You look so wary.
Do I? Well, we all know that the pen is very powerful.
Update to computer, he said dryly.
Okay, the written wordno matter how its written.
Honestly, you dont have to be so cautious. I didnt come to do a simple review. Im going to do a whole piece on the place.
A good pieceor a bad piece?
Good, badtruthful.
Were a good place, she said.
His grin deepened. Actually, yes, Moon Bay does seem to follow through on every promise it makes. Thats whats important. A little mom-and-pop establishment can get a great write-up, as long as it delivers on what it offers.
Um, were not exactly mom-and-pop, Laurie murmured.
No, but so far, Ive gotten a good bang for my buck, and thats what matters.
Laurie smiled. Thats great. I love Moon Bay. Its not just that I work hereI really love it. Its a wonderful place for a vacation.
With the happiness and well-being of the guests foremost in everyones mind at all times?
Yes, of course Laurie murmured, looking down at her hands suddenly. Was that true? What if that hadnt been a prank on the beach today? If Alex had been right, and a woman had been deadand what if the killer had come back, aware that the body had washed up, and moved it?
What is it? She suddenly knew why Hank Adamson was considered so good. He asked casual questions; people gave casual answers. So casual you didnt realize that your mind was wandering off and that you were about to betray your real thoughts.
What is what? she asked innocently.
You were about to say something. Do you feel that maybe, just sometimes, management isnt as concerned with safety as they should be? Id never quote you by name.
Laurie stared at him and smiled slowly. Well She leaned on the table, edging closer to him.
He did the same, anxious to hear whatever dirt she had to dish.
She leaned back. Sorry, I dont have a bad thing to say about the place.
Adamson sat back, as well, obviously disappointed. He shook his head. If there was something going onsomething big, do you think that the employees would get wind of it?
Like what? The president arriving, or something like that?
Nolike Moon Bay being involved insomething.
Drugs? Here? Never, she assured him.
I wasnt referring to drugs, he assured her.
She laughed softly. Illegal immigrants? Not with Jay around. He wouldnt hire an illegal if his life depended on it.
Not illegals, Hank said.
Just what are you getting at? she demanded.
I dont know, he said. I was hoping you did.
That makes no sense. This is a resort, specially licensed for work with sea mammals. What could be going on? Other than a body that appeared on the beach, then disappeared.
Have you ever heard of a woman named Alicia Farr? Adamson asked her.
Sure. Shes almost like a young, female Jacques Cousteau.
Have you ever met her?
Nope. I think shes friends, kind of, with Alex. Shes worked with David Denham. Im pretty sure Jay Galway has worked with her, too.
She hasnt been here, then, in the last couple of weeks?
Not unless shes been hiding in the bushes. Laurie was actually enjoying her conversation with him now. Shed had a few Tiki Hut specials, but she always watched her drinking here. And she could stand up to a grilling by a man like Hank Adamson. Is she supposed to be here?
There was a rumor she was going to be, but I guess it wasnt true.
I guess not.
Youre sure shes not here? he persisted.
There are private cottages here, twenty of them. Eight of them belong to the staff, and twelve are rented out. But this is an island. Room service is the only way to get food. Theres a little convenience shop in the lobby, a boutiquebut, honestly, I think it would be pretty hard for someone to hide out in one of the cottages. Maid service is in and out, engineeringIm pretty sure she wasnt here. Were off the Middle Keys, and there are lots of secluded places on the other islands. Maybe shes on one of them. Im sorry to disappoint youwere you really trying to get a story on her?
I am doing an article on Moon Bay, he told her. You know how it is, though. Lots of times, reporters get wind of a bigger story while theyre in the middle of something more routine.
So if youd run into Alicia Farr here, that would have been nice, right?
It would have been interesting, he said. You do know what she looks like, right? Youd know her if you saw her?
Sure. Ive seen lots of articles on her. And Ive seen her on television, Laurie said with a shrug.
She yawned suddenly, and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Sorry. She was. He was appealing in his lanky way, but he wasnt interested in heronly what she might know. And she had no intention of telling him anything. Shed been ordered not to mention Alexs certainty that shed seen a corpse, and she wouldnt.
She rose. Please excuse me. Saturdays are very long here. People coming down from Dade County, locals who just like to come eat at the restaurant. The place is always busy.
He had risen along with her. Thanks, he told her quietly.
Sure. This place really is wonderful. Im not lying, or just trying to keep my job by saying that. And Alexwell, theres no one better.
So they say, he murmured, then asked politely. Can I walk you to your cottage?
I dont rate a cottagenot yet, she told him with a shrug. I just take the trail back to the fork in the road and head for the staff quarters. Ill be fine. She grinned to take the sting out of her next words, moved a step closer to him, and whispered, Feel free to go question another employee. Youll find out every word I said was true.
He had the grace to flush. She gave him a wave and made her way past two couples on the dance floor, both a little inebriated, but heck, they werent driving anywhere. If you were going to feel the influence of alcohol, this was the place to do it.
She could hear the band long after she had left the Tiki Hut behind. She started off thinking nothing of the night or the shadows, the trails were lit by torchesnot like the ones at the Tiki Hut, which were real, but electrical torches made to give the grounds an island feel. Still
Once the Tiki Hut was well behind her and the noise from it had dimmed, she thought the night seemed especially dark. Strange, because her dad had shown her once before how the glow that radiated from Miamisixty or seventy miles away, still extended this far when the sky was clear. But clouds were out tonight. It was storm season, of course. Theyd had several nice days in the last week, though, she mused.
Nice days. A few with calm seas, a few others when the water was choppy. But then, the water didnt have to be wild to carry somethinglike a corpseto the shore.
She stopped dead suddenly and instinctively, some inner defense aware of a rustling noise. She felt the hair rising at her nape.
She spun around. Nothing. But the bushes seemed to be very, very dark.
She had a sudden, vivid and ridiculous image of a corpse stalking her along the trail
Dont be ridiculous, she said aloud to herself.
But thena rustling in the bushes
She stared in the direction from which the noise had come, her heart racing a million miles an hour. Slowly, she made a circle where she stood, looking around.
The noise came again. She spun sharply, staring into the brush once again.
Thena fat possum waddled out from the bushes and moved slowly across the path.
She let out her pent-up breath and giggled.
Then she turned, ready to set out along the path again. Instead she plowed into something dark and solid, and before her numbed mind could react, arms reached around her.
Alex, for the love of God!
Davids voice was muted by the glass, but his impatience was evident. She was so relieved to realize that he was the figure on the porch that she didnt really think. She opened the sliding-glass doors, but she had to yell.
You son of a bitch! What the hell are you doing out there? You nearly scared the life out of me.
He pushed his way in. It was dark, only the lights in front of the house illuminating the area around them. She could see that he still looked like a million bucks, dressed in dark chinos, a red tailored shirt and a light jacket.
She rued the fact that she was wearing a tattered T-shirt with the words Moon Bay embroidered in powder blue against a deep aqua background. She was equally sorry that it was very short. Silly. Even if they hadnt been married and she didnt have every inch of his anatomy etched into her memory forever, they spent their lives in bathing suits. She wondered why the T-shirt made her feel so naked. And vulnerable.
He walked through the cottage, checking the front door, looking around. Is there any other way in here? he asked, turning around slowly and studying the living room.
Abracadabra? she suggested.
Cute, Alex. Is there any other way in here?
Front door, back door, as you can see.
He ignored her and headed for the small hallway that led to the bedrooms and bath.
Hey! she protested. She started to follow him, then paused, determined that the last place she wanted to be with him was a bedroom.
A moment later, he was back.
She frowned slightly, realizing he looked as if he had been running his fingers through his hair. She turned on the kitchen lights and stared at him once again. He looked tense. He reminded her of a shark, giving the impression of deceptive ease, while eyeing his prey to strike.
What the hell are you doing? she demanded.
There was someone walking around your cottage, looking in the windows. I chased him around one sideand lost him, he told her.
If theres anyone slinking around here, she said softly, its you.
He threw up his hands. Alex, Im serious.
And Im serious, too.
Get this straightIm concerned.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she said firmly, David, get this straight. You dont need to be concerned about me. I dont care about a technicality. Were not married anymore. I might not have been here alone.
Actually, knowing you, you do care about a technicality, he informed her.
He was far too relaxed. You followed me, she accused him. You followed me when I was with another man, who was more than capable of taking care of me if Id been in any danger.
Alex, I dont really know that guy, and neither do you, and most important, he said very softly and seriously, we are talking about a life-and-death situation.
She suddenly saw the man she knew from television, interviews and even, once upon a time, her personal life. The ultimate professional. Reeking of authority and command. Absolute in his conviction.
And for some reason, she shivered.
The woman on the beach had been dead. No matter what anyone tried to tell her. There had, beyond a doubt, been a corpse.
And it had disappeared.
Maybe youd like to explain it to me, she said.
He stared at her for a long moment. I keep thinking youre better off, the less you know, he said quietly.
Why? You already think Im in some kind of danger.
Yes, I do.
Why?
You found a body on the beach. A body that disappeared.
She shook her head, watching him warily. Weve been through this. Jay and the sheriff were both certain I was duped.
But you know it was true.
She wished so badly that she didnt feel such a desperate desire to keep her distance from him at all costs. Because she did know him. And she knew that he believed her. It wasnt necessary for him to have been therehe believed her.
If youre so convinced, there must be a reason, she said flatly.
Want to put some coffee on? he suggested.
No.
Mind if I do?
Yes. Even as she spoke, she knew he would ignore her. He gave her a glance as if she was behaving like a spoiled child and moved into the kitchen. His arm brushed hers as he strode past her, and she felt as if shed been burned.
Apparently he hadnt even noticed. He was heading for the cupboard above the coffeepot.
Would you stop making yourself at home here, please? she said, walking past him and shoving him out of the way. Ill make coffee. You talk.
What did she look like? The woman on the beach. What did she look like?
She turned around and stared at him. Likea woman. Blonde.
You didnt recognize her? He stepped past her, impatiently taking the carafe and starting the coffee.
Recognize her? Alex said, startled.
Yes, did you know who she might be?
No. She was at a strange angle. And she had longor longish hair. It was covering her face. I touched her throat, looking for a pulse. And thenI dont know how to describe it exactly, but there was no way not to know she was dead.
But you let them convince you that she couldnt have been, that you were wrong, and she just got up and walked away? he demanded.
There was a note of disappointment in his tone.
The sheriff was there, she told him sharply. He doubted me. There was no body. What the hell was I supposed to do?
He turned his back on her, opening a cupboard door.
Cups are over here, she said impatiently, producing two from another cabinet.
He poured the coffee. He drank his black, so she was startled when he went to the refrigerator, absently taking out the milk to put a few drops into hers.
She accepted the coffee, watching him, feeling again an embarrassed awareness of his crisp, tailored appearance and her own tattered T-shirt. Ridiculous to think about such things when they were talking about a corpse, she told herself.
Did you mention your discovery to lover boy? he inquired, sounding casual as he put the milk back in the refrigerator.