[26]
Maddy didn’t plan to stay on the island long. She just wanted to get out there, grab the hat, put her nightmares to rest, and get home to reunite with Quinn. Especially that last part. If he’d come to terms with his past and would let himself. Simple, right?
Right. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see she’d slept most of the flight. Seemed she did her best sleeping in the air. Probably, she subconsciously knew no one was going to try to kill her while she was strapped in a plane seat. She pulled her phone from the clip and checked it.
A text from Haley and a text from Quinn. The second one caused her heart to beat a bit faster. She responded to Haley, letting her know she was fine. Then she looked at Quinn’s text.
Hey, I’ve got a lot to talk to you about. Would you be available to meet?
Maddy gnawed her lower lip. He sounded awfully formal. She texted back.
When and where?
She glanced at the time on her phone. She’d land in about an hour. If all went like she expected, she’d return home by midmorning tomorrow. Maybe they could do lunch. She added another text to her last one.
Lunch tomorrow?
Great. Looking forward to seeing you.
1:00 okay?
Sure.
Her stomach flipped. Yes, flipped. She almost laughed out loud at her response to the thought of seeing him. She’d missed him this past week. Missed him and prayed for him. Tomorrow morning couldn’t come soon enough.
An hour later, Maddy grabbed her small carry-on and waited for the pilot to open the door. Was she doing the right thing? She could have simply called Sheriff Danvers and asked him to get the hat for her. She felt sure it was still in the cave. It wasn’t in the evidence that had been retrieved from the island, so it had to be there.
So why hadn’t she simply asked him to get it for her?
Because this trip was more than just getting the hat. It was facing her fears. It was her therapy. She stepped out of the cool plane into the south Florida heat and felt an immediate sweat break across her forehead. “Ugh.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the pilot said. “I share the sentiment.”
She smiled. “Thanks for a smooth ride. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. What time will you be ready to go in the morning?”
“Is six too early for you?”
He winced. “No, not at all.”
She laughed. “Great, see you then.” She’d be back home by eight o’clock and would be eating lunch with Quinn. Sounded like a perfect plan to her.
She pulled up the number to the cab company she’d programmed in her phone and was told she would be picked up shortly to go to the marina.
Quinn stepped out of the helicopter and Sheriff Danvers was there to greet him with a smile and a handshake. “I’ve got eyes on the Tabor household. Both Bobby’s and Brad’s cars are in the drive.”
“Great. We can talk to both of them at the same time.”
They headed for the sheriff’s SUV. “Why exactly is it that you think Bobby had something to do with your kidnapping and subsequent stay on the island? He’s no hunter. He hates being outside except when he’s on a boat.”
Once Quinn had his seat belt fastened, the sheriff pulled out of the parking lot of the station. Quinn shifted so he could almost face the man. “I think we’ve been so focused on trying to figure out who had it in for me and Maddy that we missed a huge clue. How many cameras were found on the island?”
“Almost two hundred.”
“So virtually every move we made was watched and recorded.”
“Yes. I guess Leonard—or Robert—or whoever—didn’t want to miss a minute of y’all’s ‘fun.’”
“Exactly.”
They fell into a companionable silence. “What about Brad, then?”
“What about him?”
“I think we need to look a little deeper into him.”
“I think.”
Danvers turned into the drive and nodded to the two news trucks parked across the street. “They still smell a story.”
“And I’m afraid we’re about to give them one.”
At the gate, Danvers lowered his window and flashed his badge to the guard. “Open up, Clay.”
“What’s going on?” The security guard stepped out of his little building and leaned down into the open window. “What brings you out here now?”
“Just paying one more visit to Bobby about his father’s death.” He jerked a thumb toward the vans. “Keep the vultures at bay, will you?”
“Of course.” The gate began to swing inward.
“Nice neighborhood,” Quinn said.
“One of the best. Right on the ocean. And only a few minutes to the marina when he’s in the mood to make a run—or take his own boat out for a spin. The best of both worlds.”
“He keeps a private boat at the marina?”
“Sure. I think he has one docked here too.”
“Who needs two boats?”
“When you’re rich, I guess it doesn’t matter what you need. It’s all about what you want.”
“That’s one way to look at it, I suppose.”
Danvers shrugged. “I’ve never had that much money and don’t figure I ever will.”
Quinn laughed. “Join the club.”
They walked up to the front door and Danvers rang the bell. “So is a butler going to greet us?” Quinn asked.
“No, probably Dottie, the housekeeper.”
“Right.”
They waited. Danvers pressed the bell again. Another half a minute passed and the door finally opened. A woman in her midfifties stood there in a silk bathrobe, her gray hair hung in a long ponytail over her left shoulder. “Hello?”
Sheriff Danvers stepped forward. “Mrs. Tabor?”
“No, I’m Mrs. Nance.”
“Ah, of course. I apologize. This is Quinn Holcombe and I’m Sheriff Danvers. Do you remember me?”
Confusion flickered in her eyes, then they lit with joy. She gasped. “Oh my, you’ve brought my Peanut home, haven’t you?” She looked behind him.
Danvers placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Um, no, not today. She’s still at school, remember?”
Mrs. Nance looked terribly disappointed. Then touched a hand to her head like it hurt. “Oh yes, I know. That’s right. It just seems she’s been gone such a very long time. She’s going to be a doctor, you know.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Is Leonard with you?”
The sheriff gave her a sad smile. “No, he’s not. Where’s Dottie today?”
“She wasn’t feeling well, so she didn’t make it.”
“I see. Say, do you mind if we come in and talk to Bobby?”
“Of course, of course.” She moved back and Quinn shut the door behind him. “Bobby’s friends are always welcome here. He’s upstairs playing in his room. Follow me and I’ll show you.”
She led them up the curved staircase, down a short hall to a room at the end. As they got closer, Quinn could hear the sounds of a video game behind it. “He’s playing one of his games, just go on in.”
“Is Brad with him?”
She blinked, her eyes vacant. “Brad?”
She laughed, a pretty sound that sounded young and carefree. “Silly, Ashley’s not married.”
Danvers sighed. “Right. So is Bobby’s friend, Brad, here?”
“Oh! That Brad. He was, but I think he left a few minutes ago in the boat.”
“Rats,” Quinn muttered.
“That’s fine,” Danvers said. “We’ll just talk to Bobby.”
She motioned for them to go on in, then turned and floated down the hall to the top of the stairs.
“Sad,” Quinn muttered.
“Very. You ready?”
Quinn nodded. Danvers turned the knob and opened the door. Quinn stepped inside the room and stared openmouthed at the sight before him. It was every gamer’s dream. Multiple games, several computers, and a big screen on the far wall.
A screen where a cartoonized man and woman raced through the jungle dodging crossbow bolts.
Quinn’s phone buzzed indicating a text. He tore his gaze from the screen and glanced at it.
It’s time to take the game off pause. Ever heard of a red herring?
He frowned. Looked at the number and didn’t recognize it. He texted back.
Who is this?
It’s a literary term.
He knew what a red herring was. Why was—
It hit him and he froze. He looked at the man who was so engrossed in his game that he was oblivious to their presence. He hadn’t seen them and he hadn’t sent the text.
Which meant his gut was right about Nance, but he’d just picked the wrong man. Bobby wasn’t the killer, and he and Maddy were still in danger.
Do you know where Maddy is? Because I do.
Maddy tried to calm her nerves as the boat plowed through the water toward the place where her darkest nightmare had happened. The closer she got, the harder the panic wanted to hit.
“How much longer?”
“About fifteen minutes.” Her guide, the young man she’d met just a few days before, looked back. Nathan Truett had helped her into the boat with a smile. “I’ll get you out there and back in no time.” Now he stood, left hand on the wheel, wind whipping through his blond hair. His tanned arms flexed with strength, and he simply exuded confidence in his ability to handle the craft.
“Not much longer,” he called. He hit a wave and she held on tight. She liked the water. She liked boats. Especially on beautiful sunny days. But today, she just wanted to be in her home on the couch reading a good book, not going back to a place that held nothing but nightmares for her.
Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen. A text from Quinn.
Nance wasn’t our killer. Watch your back, you’re still in danger.
Maddy’s heart stopped for a full beat, she was sure. She stared, then texted back.
What do you mean? Who’s the killer?
Not sure. Stay with someone, have someone with you at all times.
“We’re getting close to the island,” Nathan told her.
She looked up from her phone, fear racing through her. Then she forced herself to take a deep breath. No one knew she was here. She was fine. This had been a spur-of-the-moment trip. So Nance wasn’t the killer. The real killer had no idea she’d decided to return to the island. She was still safe. For now.
But her heart thundered and her damp palms had nothing to do with the humid weather. She drew in several more deep breaths and still felt light-headed, so she leaned forward to put her head between her knees.
“Hey, you okay? You feeling sick? We’ll be there in about five minutes.”
“I’m fine,” she muttered loud enough for him to hear. And she was almost convinced she’d actually be all right until her gaze landed on some strands of gray hair sticking out behind the seat in front of her. She reached out, snagged the strands, and pulled. Then held up a long-haired gray wig.
“What are you doing?”
She looked up and into Nathan’s eyes.
Terror ripped through her as she realized who the killer was.