Page 18 of Last Ticket to Paradise

Miguel returned with the tea. Jake took the steaming mug from him and offered it to Georgette. “Miguel, callClive.”

Miguel’s eyes bugged out. “Clive? You want me to call the constable?”

Jake gestured to Georgette. “She wants to call the constable.”

Shaking his head, Miguel went back to the bar to make the call.

Georgette bit her lip. “Is the constable crooked or something?”

Jake shrugged. “Let’s just say Clive isn’t above accepting a bribe or two. Hell, I’ve bribed him myself a few times.”

“I bet you have.” Her eyes narrowed.

That had been a stupid thing for him to say. “Look, Georgette, I know now that Jamie Lawson is your sister. We need to talk about her.”

“I’m not discussing my sister with you.” Her back stiffened, and she pulled away from him.

He closed his eyes and drew in a long breath. Apparently, that had been a stupid thing to say, too. “Are you still cold? I’ll hold off Clive if you want to change clothes.”

“I’m not cold.” She folded her arms. “I’ll wait right here.”

He invited her back to the office he kept by the pool to wait for Clive, and they didn’t have to wait long. Clive Jensen shuffled into the office, rubbing his hands, his watery blue eyes darting around the room. The constable was always on the lookout for a way to make a quick buck.

Jake made the introductions, first names only. If Georgette found it odd, she didn’t say so. She took Clive through the incident tonight and the one at Devil’s Teeth, and he jotted down copious notes. At least he was scribbling something in that tattered notebook.

“Why didn’t you report the threat at Devil’s Teeth?” Clive chewed on his pencil.

Georgette pulled at her wrinkled dress. “I figured it was just a joke, and I wasn’t hurt. But tonight was more serious. Somebody wants me off this island for some reason.”

Clive tapped one of his teeth with the eraser end of the pencil. “Which brings us to motive. What is the purpose of your visit to Palumba, Georgette?”

Jake nudged her toes under the table with his foot. If she brought up Jamie Lawson now, all hell would break loose on the island.

“Just a holiday.” She pushed his foot away.

He let his breath out slowly. She didn’t hate him that much.

Clive finished his questioning, and they all rose. “Tell me, do you plan on leaving the island?”

“No.” Georgette tossed her hair back.

Lifting his shoulders, Clive said, “Perhaps it’s just some misunderstanding, Miss...I’m sorry, I didn’t get your last name. We are rather informal on the island, but I do need it for my report.”

Jake gathered in that breath again and waited.

Georgette squeezed out the hem of her dress, flattened it against her thighs, and ran her fingers through her mass of curly hair. “Lawrence. Georgette Lawrence.”

Clive extended his hand. “If anything occurs during your stay, give me a call.” He chuckled. “I know Jake likes to think Palumba’s his private kingdom and the Palumba Falls his castle, but I am still the law on this island.”

Jake and Georgette walked with Clive to the front of the hotel and watched him duck into his little car. Then Georgette spun back toward the hotel.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Jake caught her arm.

She shook him off. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

He squared his shoulders and stood in front of her. “We need to talk. You’re in danger.”

She snorted. “You just figured that out, genius? You’re pretty quick for a party boy.”

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