Page 49 of Island Rescuer

She chuckled. “If only. You’ve been around long enough to know things aren’t always so cut and dried. His financials delivered. I found two transactions that are most likely payoffs. And there’s news about your other inquiry.”

His stomach dropped. “The bastard is tied to my parents, isn’t he?”

“He is.” Jenna made it sound like an apology. “In fact, Landon’s cell phone was in Georgia last night. At a hotel near your dad’s office. Several investors were invited to look at a prospectus for a new business space. It’s a cool concept they’ve got in mind.”

The out-of-state deal. He shook his head. “It won’t be cool when it falls apart halfway through construction,” he muttered. Somehow his dad would still come out with a profit, leaving his investors with the loss. “You’re saying Walker didn’t have any connection to the fire?”

“I’m saying the opposite,” she replied. “Walker will be miserable to learn that I caught his sleazy mug on a gas station security camera a mile from the resort just before the fire department went roaring by to answer the call.”

The break they needed. He nearly cheered. “You’ve sent all of this up the line, right?”

“Of course. But you and I have a deal when it comes to your parents, so I’m giving you a heads up.”

“Thanks. Do you think Walker is just acting out or do you think his intention is to somehow blackmail Harper into giving him that fifty-k he demanded?”

“Investigation is your strong suit, but in my opinion all Walker wants is revenge. He might have started this hoping to make himself the hero for Harper, thinking he could get back into her good graces and lure her into the deal.” She huffed. “That ship sailed. It’ll never happen with you in the picture.”

A terrible thought occurred to him. He swore. “Walker didn’t want to draw Harper out, he staged the fire to see who would show up with her.”

“You think?”

“Yes. We were discreet, but I didn’t exactly hide myself on this job. If he tells my parents I was with her, they’re going to pushmeto arrange a meeting. For as long as I can remember, my dad’s been in competition with the Ellingtons.”

“They don’t even run in the same business circles,” Jenna said.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s about assets and net worth. Everything with him is like that.” Just one more reason he should’ve turned down this assignment and kept his distance from Harper.

“Have they called yet?” Jenna asked.

“No.”

“Maybe you’re being paranoid.”

“I’ve never hoped for anything more in my life.” He was only half joking. “Track Walker the best you can. He’s too arrogant to think we are on to him, especially if he left his phone on in a hotel room hundreds of miles from the latest crisis. Do you think he’s making another attempt to be her hero?”

“I’ve dated my share of jerks,” she said. “A guy like this, who thought he had her charmed and ready to fall in line with his plans? That would piss him off. Something’s driving him. Not just money or he’d be making another ransom demand. Pride, maybe,” she mused.

“Was he on one of the boats that came to help that day?”

“If so, it wasn’t under his real name. Either this guy is lucky in crime, or he deliberately avoided both the passenger log and the cameras that day.”

“My money is on luck,” Knox said.

“Same,” Jenna agreed. “I’ll keep digging. If you want my advice, don’t answer any calls from your parents or numbers you don’t recognize.”

“That’s every day that ends in Y.”

“Good. Stay smart and be safe out there.”

The call ended, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Naturally, he was drawn toward Harper. It seemed like he never had anything good to share with her. As much as he wanted to be someone different, he was the son of two scheming parents intent on doing anything for an easy dollar.

What he wouldn’t give to ask Landon Walker if his parents had hatched this scheme, or if targeting Harper was just a wild coincidence.

He didn’t have long to dwell on it, because another call came through. Grateful to recognize Bruce’s number, he picked up, hoping for some good news. The call was brief and he headed down to fill in Harper.

“Hey.” He dropped down to the sand beside her. “Bruce just called.”

Her hand reached over, linking with his. “And?”

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