Page 22 of Last Ticket to Paradise

The next morning, Georgette staggered out of bed, kneading her stiff muscles. She popped a couple of ibuprofens before heading to the breakfast buffet.

Spotting Nicole in the sparse crowd, Georgette wended her way through the tables, balancing her loaded plate. “Can I join you?”

Nicole, perfectly coiffed and made up, glanced up from her Bloody Mary. “Certainly, darling.” Her bare shoulders shuddered. “How can you eat at this time of the morning?”

Georgette’s eyes darted between her plate of food and Nicole’s drink, but she kept her mouth shut. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Besides, she needed the sustenance for what she had planned.

Nicole toyed with her straw. “Are you one of those disgusting creatures who can eat whatever you want and not gain an ounce?”

Georgette drew her brows together while she buttered a slice of toast. She never worried about what she ate like most women of her acquaintance, including Linda and Jamie. “Yeah, I’m afraid so.”

Nicole dabbed her lip-sticked mouth with a napkin. “Did you enjoy your evening stroll with Jake?”

Georgette bit into her toast. She’d enjoyed the stroll until Jake’s crack about her not standing on tiptoes. That had brought the reality of Jake and Jamie crashing down on her. She licked a dab of creamy butter from her lips, remembering Jake’s kiss. “Jake’s very attentive to his guests.”

Nicole arched an eyebrow. “Some of his guests anyway.”

Georgette crunched her toast. Yeah, hot babes in bikinis and lonely bookshop owners. Time to forget Jake and get to work. “Nicole, I heard the silly rumor about my sister, Jamie, being a Palarosa ritual victim.”

Nicole ran her fingers up and down her straw. “There were some wild stories circulating because that local woman disappeared a few months ago.”

“She hasn’t been found?”

Shrugging, Nicole said, “It’s all nonsense. That local woman’s lover also disappeared. They probably ran off together.”

“I saw the end of the show at the Costa Azul last night.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“It was effective.” Not as effective as her own personal show later, but Georgette wasn’t going to broadcast her unintentional midnight swim.

“Yes, it’s a good show, and the tourists love it.” Nicole waved a waiter over and ordered another Bloody Mary.

Georgette dug into her seafood omelet. “Where did the locals hold their ceremonies in the past?”

“Ask Jake. He knows all about the island. Or better yet, buy a book on the local history in the bookstore here. I’ve never been interested in the local culture. I’m here to relax and rejuvenate. I’m having a massage and facial after breakfast. Care to join me?”

Georgette shook her head. She had her own agenda today.

After breakfast, Georgette slipped away to the hotel shops. No T-shirts or knickknacks made in China at the Palumba Falls. High-end boutiques and jewelry stores bordered the quad. Jewelry stores. Maybe they carried topaz necklaces.

Georgette studied the displays in the window. The glittering jewels caught the light and winked back at her. She took a deep breath and entered the store. She scanned the display trays while the clerk helped a couple decide between two bracelets, modeling them on her delicate wrists.

The clerk left the couple and approached Georgette. “Hello, can I help you with something?”

Georgette never shopped for jewelry. Brice had picked out the small square-cut diamond engagement ring that she’d thrown in his face. “I’m looking for topaz, a topaz necklace. Do you have anything like that?”

The clerk tapped her chin. “We just got a shipment of topaz pieces last month.”

She walked around to a different display case, and Georgette followed. She pulled out a black velvet tray aglow with deep-blue gems and swept her hand over them. “This is what we currently have. This is a beautiful necklace.” She dangled a large oval topaz set in gold from her fingertips. “This would look lovely on you. You have the perfect neck to carry off a large stone like this.”

She did? Georgette reached up to stroke her throat. “Do you have anything with diamonds? A topaz surrounded by diamonds?”

The clerk wrinkled her brow. “We did have a piece like that, but I believe someone bought it.”

“Can you check?” Georgette’s heart pounded.

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