Page 36 of Last Ticket to Paradise

Chapter Eight

Georgette swayed toward the jewels in Jake’s hand. The Palarosa ritual rock? Oh God, what did that mean?

“When did you find it?”

“When I saw you out there.” Jake stuffed the necklace back in his pocket. “I found it on the ground.”

Georgette gripped her hands in front of her to still their trembling. “Jake, do you think...?”

He swept his hands over his face and raked them through his hair. “Do I think she lost it during a ritual sacrifice?”

She covered her mouth. No. She couldn’t believe it. Wouldn’t believe it. Not Jamie.

Jake stepped over the cot and pulled her into his arms. She leaned against his hard, bare chest, soaking in his warmth. He hadn’t slept with Jamie. And he wanted her—Georgette Lawson, the plain twin, the serious twin...the living twin.

She twisted out of his grasp. “We have to find out what happened. We have to tell the constable.”

He pivoted away from her and paced a few steps. “We can’t do that, Georgette.”

“Why not?” She spread her arms wide. “The full moon is coming in several days. Are we going to sit here and wait for another woman to disappear?”

He stopped, folding his arms over his broad chest. “We don’t have any proof Jamie was sacrificed. She could’ve lost the necklace while having a look at the rock.”

Georgette clenched her teeth. Jake would do anything to squelch negative publicity about the island. Well, if Jamie was involved, Georgette wasn’t going to allow him to sweep this under the rug. “Then where is she?”

“With Jean-Claude.”

“Why didn’t she check out?”

“She plans to return.”

“Why isn’t she sending postcards anymore?”

He banged the wall with his fist. “I don’t know. She got writer’s cramp.”

Georgette shook her head. “How can you joke about this? She’s my sister.”

Jake covered the distance between them in two strides and took her hands. “I’m sorry. Because of the rumors, Clive already made inquiries when Jamie took off. But when it was discovered that Jean-Claude left as well, he figured your sister went with him.”

“Did he check airline passenger logs or anything like that?” She left her hands in his.

“He did and came up empty, but many people take boats and the ferries to the other islands. The ferry companies don’t keep records. Georgette, Jamie is an adult. There’s no evidence of foul play. She’s not a missing person.”

She studied his blue eyes, recalling their fire when he devoured her naked body with his gaze. If only Jamie would come back tomorrow, Georgette would be free to explore this man, body and soul. She grimaced. Even though Jake and Jamie hadn’t slept together, Jamie was still between them.

“I have to get to the bottom of this, Jake. I have to find out what happened to Jamie, and I have a plan.” The plan had been nibbling at the edges of her mind ever since she’d stood on that gray, soot-covered rock.

He squeezed her hands. “What’s your plan? I’ll help if it means you’re not running around the island asking questions about Palarosa.”

“I’m going to be the third sacrifice.” She crossed her arms and drummed her fingers on her biceps.

Jake dropped her hands as his eyebrows disappeared under a lock of his sun-bleached hair. “What?”

She nodded. “It’s perfect. I’ll draw out the people who are practicing the old ways. It’ll be easy. We already know the time and place where the crime will be committed. If someone had taken the disappearance of that first woman seriously, Jamie would be with us today.”

Jake smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand. “You’re crazy. How are you going to go about making sure you’re the third chosen woman?”

She smiled. “That’s easy. Lokin wants a fallen woman, right? I’ll give him what he wants.” She gestured to the door. “This evening should start the ball rolling. I think everyone in the spa heard us.”

---