Page 47 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
She laughed. “Now that I would love to see.”
He hated to leave her there, standing alone like that. The sting of loss was too acute. He couldn’t look at anyone he loved anymore without terror shooting through his bones. Knowing they could, and would, be gone in an instant.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, tilting her head.
He sucked in a breath. “Yeah. I need to get back to work. I’ll talk to you soon. Can you call me when you make it home?”
She cracked a small smile. “Yes. We’ll talk soon.”
The drive back to the Anacortes ferry terminal ran out the clock on hisMindhunterbook. There were similar books in his queue, but he thought it might be good to take a break from serial killers for a while.
At the same time, what if something more light-hearted couldn’t keep his mind occupied? It always went to places he didn’t want it to go.
He started the next audiobook, a thriller with a jewel heist and a kidnapping. It kept him busy until the ferry got to San Juan Island.
The ferry was pleasant and, as he drove off the boat, he called Phil. “Where are you guys?”
“We’re at the tea shop. Addy’s inside with her sister and her mom.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m outside. Don’t worry, I’m watching the doors.”
Rick clenched his jaw. Not good enough. At least he was only a few minutes away. “Everything go all right yesterday?”
“Yeah,” Phil said. “Not much going on. She worked a bit. Took the seaplane out –”
“The seaplane? To go where?”
“Oh man, you’re not going to believe this. Mia Westwood met up with us. You know, the actress? She’s just –wow. She’s a ten.”
“I told you not to leave the island.” Rick jerked the wheel onto Turn Point Road.
He thought by taking the car, he’d keep them out of trouble. How could Addy be so reckless?
“I’m just following orders,” Phil said, an edge to his voice. “That’s what Addy wanted to do.”
Rick didn’t have an answer. He hung up the phone and shoved it into his pocket.
The tea shop rose into view, like an image from a whimsical postcard. He’d kept imagining this moment and the relief he’d feel when he was back.
Instead, his heart rate picked up. Rick pulled into a spot and shut the car off, jumping out of the driver’s seat. Phil stood on the shore, looking out at the water.
Rick had half of mind to shove him into the ocean for being so negligent, but there was more urgent business.
He jogged up to the tea shop and pushed the door open. Marilyn sat in the corner, trapping a woman with wide eyes into a story. Patty was helping customers at the front desk, and Sheila and Addy sat at a table together, heads huddled, voices hushed.
The tension in his chest cracked. She was all right.
Addy looked up, her face lighting with a smile. His breath caught in his throat.
“You’re back!” Addy said.
She stood and, for a second, he thought she was going to throw her arms around him.
He braced himself, but no hug came. “I am.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
