Page 11 of Light of Day
He held up his hand to stop her before she confessed to anything really bad. “No arrests. We’re just looking for a guest who’s missing.”
“Oh.” She looked over at Heather, then cocked her head. “I know you. Heather McPhee, right?”
Heather blinked in surprise. Luke bit back a laugh at her stunned expression. His sister Fiona didn’t miss much. Anyone who assumed she was nothing but flighty and spoiled would be in for a surprise.
Well, she was certainly spoiled, he wouldn’t deny that part. Her gauzy halter top dress and the gold puffer jacket she wore over it, could both testify to that. He didn’t even want to think about what her boots must have cost.
“Whatever you’ve heard, probably only about half of it is true,” said Heather, making Fiona laugh.
“I remember when you got that job atBoiling Point. It’s my favorite drinking game show. Take a shot whenever anyone pounds the table.” His sister’s lips curved in a merry smile. “I’m Fiona Carmichael, this guy’s older hag sister.”
“And shameless fisher for compliments,” Luke added. “Feel free to ignore.”
She struck a tragic pose. “But my self-esteem needs constant support. It’s practically a disability. I should really have a placard that requires people to praise me.”
“That’s not a thing.” Luke caught Heather’s eye, signaling that they should continue onwards, but Heather ignored him. Maybe she thought Fiona would have relevant information about Gabby.
“It’s nice to meet you, Fiona. How long have you been back?”
“Oh, a week or so. Urgent call from the lord of the manor.”
Luke’s interest sharpened. “Dad asked you to come?”
“I know it’s a shocker, but yes. I’m supposed to be in Italy with my friend Kayla, now we’re stuck here instead.” She waved a hand toward the conservatory, at a tall redhead sipping on a cocktail, who gave them a jaunty salute. “We’re all gathering, except Rufus and Ruby. They have finals.” She leaned closer to both of them, bringing the scent of jasmine with her—a fragrance he associated with warm climates, not Maine. “I think he’s worried about that potential buyer. He wants me to check him out. He considers me his personal social media guru, and since Tatum is a YouTuber, in Dad’s mind that puts him in my sphere of influence.”
“Tatum?” Heather’s eyes widened. “Tatum DeBatum? We tried to get him on the show.”
Luke looked from his sister to Heather in complete confusion. “Sorry, is that an actual person?”
Fiona rolled her eyes, then caught sight of something across the foyer. “Heather, you’d better explain it to him on your way out of here, unless you want to get trapped in the middle of a family scene. Daddy’s here.”
Luke glanced behind him to see his father stop at the concierge desk, towering over it as he did with most things. With his big barrel chest and heavy limp—he’d crushed his femur during a sailing accident—his father had the look of a weathered oceangoing adventurer. Up until the crash, he’d been a top contender in competitive yachting, even racing in the America’s Cup. Trust his father to pick one of the most expensive sports on the planet.
“Before we go, do you mind if I ask if you’ve seen my friend?” said Heather quickly. “She was staying here and she’s gone missing. She’s Black, taller than both of us, often to be seen with her laptop.”
“Doesn’t ring a bell, sorry,” Fiona said vaguely, gesturing once again for them to leave. “But I’ve been in and out and I only pay attention to the flirt-worthy men. Shoo, now.”
They gave Fiona a quick goodbye and left through the French doors that opened onto the bluestone terrace. He led her to the stairway, situated between two terracotta planters filled with trailing roses.
Once they were back inside his truck, he turned to Heather, bracing for some kind of judgement about his fucked-up family.
Instead, she patted his arm sympathetically. “I guess growing up in the lap of luxury doesn’t insulate you from family drama, huh?”
“Why would it?” He started the truck. “It might make it worse, adding lots of money to the mix. Should we go see Denton Simms?”
“He’s probably out on the water right now.”
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it. “My mom. She’s back. I need to check in with her.”
“I’ll drop you back home, and see if I can get ahold of Denton in the meantime.”
He steered the truck down the long curving road back to sea level. The farther they got from the hotel, the more his tension eased. John Carmichael was a stubborn bastard, and he was a master at holding a grudge. After Luke had gotten involved with Carrie, his father had threatened to take away his trust fund if he didn’t dump her. Luke had told him to go ahead. With or without Carrie, he didn’t want to be controlled by his father’s money. What bothered Luke much more was that he showed no interest in Izzy, his own granddaughter.
But he couldn’t let himself get distracted from this case. A woman was missing. That was the most important thing right now.
“Will you be around later, around low tide?” he asked Heather, who seemed lost in thought as she watched the Lightkeeper Inn grounds slide past. “I want to search the shoreline, and another set of eyes would be helpful.”
“Absolutely. And let me know if you manage to find Denton. How well do you know him?”
