Page 58 of Sing with Me

And right then and there, Diehl knew what he had to do. He hadn’t planned to do this, hadn’t intended to work this summer, but when the opportunity presented itself, how could he reject it?

He had known Jared a very long time. That man wasn’t into restaurants. He spent more money investing in building projects than anything else. Brinley had told Diehl about the mixed-used properties he tried to buy on the island here and also in Savannah, about an hour’s drive north of St. Simon’s.

Why the sudden interest in restaurants? For the simple reason that, as long as Diehl had known him, Jared was an opportunist. If he saw a situation in which he could exert control, he would do it, regardless of the consequences. Whatever he needed to do to get his way, he’d do it in a heartbeat.

Diehl determined then and there to do everything in his power to prevent Jared from pushing Skye around. Jared wasn’t getting his way this time, not with anyone Diehl knew, and certainly not with anyone Diehl was interested in.

Am I interested in Skye?

He was sure he was, but right now, his son seemed to do better than he was.

“Skye, would you like to take a walk on the beach with me?” Ethan asked. His politeness oozed.

Skye glanced at Avery, who tried not to laugh again.

“Why don’t weallgo for a walk?” Diehl said.

“Daaaddd!” Ethan bellowed. “I asked only Skye.”

“We’re all in this picnic together, Son.”

Ethan pouted. Now he looked just like his sister…

Diehl scooted forward in his seat, looked around. “Where did Elisa go?”

Isobel’s warnings from a few years ago came to his mind. She had insisted that Diehl hired private security for the family. He had always balked at the extra costs involved. He remembered telling her, “That’s what 911 is for. We paid our taxes!”

“Elisa?” He sprinted outside the canopy.

Skye followed him, and so did Avery.

Only Ethan remained in his beach chair. His arms crossed his chest.

“She wore a black shirt and long black tight pants,” Skye told Avery.

Avery nodded.

“We need to pray that God will help us find her,” Skye said.

“You pray.” Diehl’s eyes swept the crowded beach for a child dressed in all black.

“I am,” Skye said as she looked the other way—toward the dunes and boardwalk.

She placed her hand on her forehead above her aviator sunglasses. “I see someone.”

She sprinted toward the boardwalk.

Diehl followed her. He stopped suddenly. “Ethan, are you coming?”

Ethan refused to reply.

Diehl grunted. Glanced back at Skye who was almost at the boardwalk. “Ethan, we have to go find your sister.”

Caught between two children. How could his son be this selfish? What had Diehl taught—or not taught—him?

Ethan sighed. “Just trace her cell phone.”

Diehl’s shoulders sagged. He retrieved his phone and checked. Sure enough, Elisa’s phone was near Brinley’s beach house. Still, Diehl didn’t trust technology. He wanted to see his daughter face to face. To hold her, make sure she was okay.

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