Page 46 of Island Rescuer

“And why do you say that, Miss Ellington?”

She met Swenson’s gaze. “I’ve been pampered and privileged my whole life,” she began. “And though our parents taught us not to take it for granted, it was obvious we had money and advantages. As a result, I’ve been cautious and even jaded when it comes to relationships. I’m most likely to be the one to shut things down now, and I tend to do so quickly after several instances of trusting the wrong people.”

“We all have moments like that,” Bruce soothed.

She appreciated his support even as she wondered who might have burned him. Her father’s brother had never married, although in her mind he was a hell of a catch. “With Landon it was a little different,” she continued. “He was persistent, in a charming way, about asking me out. Once I agreed to the first date, he was determined to prove that he wasn’t after my money, making a point of talking about his investments and business successes.”

“That made you more wary?” the investigator asked.

“Yes.”

“Landon Walker?” Knox shook his head.

She shot him a look. This was not the place to rehash her mistakes. He could get all the details later. In private.

“Do you know Mr. Walker?” Swenson asked Knox.

Knox held up his phone. “Searched his name because it sounded familiar. We haven’t crossed paths. But he’s in real estate.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Harper said. Either the Guardian Agency researchers were even faster than advertised or Knox had additional information he wasn’t sharing. “He deals with multi-million-dollar commercial projects and developments.”

“Why do you think Landon Walker would start a fire in your apartment?”

She held Swenson’s stern gaze, though it wasn’t easy. With her knees threatening to buckle, she shared her last major relationship blunder with these men. “As I said, he was relatively charming. As cautious as I am, I went out with him several times before I realized he was grooming me to support him on a land deal.”

“What. The. Hell.”

It was the response she expected from Knox, but it came from Bruce. She ignored him. Had to get the facts out before she lost her courage. Facing Knox after this was not going to be fun.

“You heard me, Uncle Bruce. Landon wanted me to invest. Instead, I ended things. Told him I wasn’t interested in dating him anymore and definitely wasn’t in a position to back an out-of-state land deal of the magnitude he was proposing.”

“It’s a big step, resorting to arson,” Swenson pointed out. “Any thoughts on that?”

“Because it started ages ago. When cajoling didn’t work, things got ugly,” she said. “Texts, a few nasty phone calls followed by regretful calls with those backhanded apologies some people think are okay.”

“People like Landon Walker,” Knox said.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “But I thought he gave up. I didn’t hear from him, haven’t even seen him around since then. Frankly, he was long forgotten.”

“He didn’t forget you,” Knox said, picking up the story. “It escalated. Threats were sent to her parents’ home and we believe he tried to run her off the road a few days ago. He’s likely the source of the boat fire the other day. Probably hired out that deed. Which is why she wasn’t here when this fire broke out.”

Swensen whistled. “All right. Do you have any evidence?”

“I kept screen captures of all of it, but deleted him from my phone,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t make the connection until I realized that fire probably started in my desk under the window.” She explained as they all stared at her. “One of the first fights we had was about Landon coming back to the suite with me. I didn’t want him to.”

Swenson frowned. “But it’s your home, right?”

“Yes. My resistance clued me in. If I didn’t want him close, I probably shouldn’t date him at all.”

“You don’t want anyone that close.”

She shot Knox a look. “True. But he threw a fit about it. Honestly, once he stopped reaching out, I put him out of my mind.”

“We’ll send everything we have,” Knox said.

She’d expected him to distance himself from her disastrous personal life. Instead, he inched closer, lending support. She appreciated that more than she could say.

“How does the desk fit?” Swenson pressed.

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