Page 68 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Thank you,” Dawn said weakly as they followed Daniella down the long corridor to the door at the end, which was labeledstaff only.
Brad reached over and opened it, letting Daniella and Dawn enter first.
“Please hit the latch,” Daniella told Brad before leading Dawn to one of the few overnight rooms.
Brad latched the door, checked the others that led into the clinic, and pulled the blinds. He sat in the waiting room and pulled out his phone to call Harriet to find out how it was going at the police station.
“Hello.” Harriet’s tone was clipped.
“I take it things aren’t going too well there?” Brad sat back and rested his ankle on his knee.
“Something like that.” Harriet’s voice was laced with anger. “Whoever thought that Vanessa Turner and Rowen Ashton could work together on a movie was very, very wrong.”
“What’s going on?” Brad asked.
“The police detective interviewing Clover doesn’t believe that the dog bite on her arm is from a large dog like Caroline’s,” Harriet informed him. “Alex found Vanessa and dragged her and her purse dog to the police station, and now she’s threatening to sue everyone and throwing her father’s name around.”
“That sounds like something she’d do.” Brad drew in a calming breath and closed his eyes.
“Rowen is accusing Vanessa of trying to get his sister fired to make him look bad so we’d kick him off the show,” Harriet continued the story. “Rowen threatened Vanessa if she didn’t hand over her dog to the local vet to check its bite.”
“What did he threaten her with?” Brad felt his headache coming back.
“I have no idea.” Harriet paused, and Brad could picture her physically gathering her control. “Something about exposing who she really was to the world. Vanessa told him to go ahead, and she’d make sure her father destroyed his career.”
“So, a typical society catfight?” Brad rubbed his temples as he felt his shoulders tensing. “What do you think about Clover’s story?”
“I know you don’t like her,” Harriet said, “but I think Clover’s telling the truth. Oh, and the police technical support went through Caroline’s laptop and found some sort of program that allowed for remote access to her laptop.”
“Many people have remote access software on their computers,” Brad pointed out.
“Not this sort of remote access software,” Harriet’s words alarmed him. “The tech guy said that it was the sort of tool used to hack into a person’s computer, and it could enable the camera.”
“I doubt Caroline would’ve had something like that on her laptop,” Brad said.
“It was installed the night of the break-in,” Harriet’s words made his spidey senses tingle.
“Maybe Caroline and Jennifer didn’t interrupt the burglar taking the laptop but returning it,” Brad suggested. “After installing the spyware on it.”
“That’s what the detective thinks,” Harriet told him. “They’re keeping the laptop until the case is resolved and using the software to trace its source.”
“It’s just as well I bought Caroline a new laptop,” Brad said, relieved at his decision.
“Yes, thank goodness,” Harriet agreed. “I’d better get back to the circus to try and moderate the negotiation to get Vanessa’s dog’s teeth tested.”
“Keep me informed,” Brad told her. “Oh, and if you have to fire anyone, and you believe Clover is telling the truth, fire Vanessa.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Harriet said, her voice filled with disdain for the woman. “And I am beginning to believe that Clover has been set up.”
“It seems that way to me as well,” Brad admitted. “Set a meeting for me with Rowen for later this afternoon.” He looked at his wristwatch. “Dawn and I should be finished at the clinic in an hour or so.”
“Sure, I’ll see what I can do,” Harriet promised. “How’s Dawn?”
“I’m waiting for Daniella,” Brad told her. “I’ll let you know.”
“Likewise,” Harriet said before hanging up.
Brad stretched out his legs and leaned back in the chair, rubbing his face warily. This was what happened when people didn’t stick to his carefully mapped out schedule. Pieces got bumped out of order and flew everywhere, and that’s what he felt was happening to his carefully laid-out project. It was unraveling, with pieces flying in all directions every time another tightly pulled project string snapped.
