Page 77 of The Cottage on Plum Island
He looked up from the phone and saw she had her phone in her hand.
“Annie runs the mental health institute in Newbury Port,” Harley told her. “I’ve known her for years. She was Randal Wesley’s assistant for years while getting her degree in psychology.”
“Annie!” Jennifer nodded, looking past Harley, her eyes widening.
Harley turned to see Duncan being brought into the police station in handcuffs with James, Andrew’s driver, rushing behind him.
“Don’t worry, Duncan, I’ll get Mr. Gains. He’ll help you,” James’s voice was frantic.
“I didn’t do this, Uncle James. I promise you,” Duncan said, his eyes frantic. “We were helping Angela. Find Angela, and she’ll tell you who the—“
“James?” Andrew’s voice cut through Duncan’s tirade. “What on earth is going on here?”
“The police arrested Duncan and are accusing him and my Annie of murdering Miss Clair,” James told Andrew.
CHAPTER 15
“Uh-oh!” Jennifer whispered as she watched the commotion unfold in the police station. She snatched Angela’s phone from Harley and shoved it into her purse. “I think it’s time for us to leave.”
“Wait! I’d like to talk to James about his nephew.” Harley stood.
“I don’t think now is a good time to talk to James,” Jennifer reasoned. “And if Duncan is James’s nephew, it means James is somehow connected to what happened forty years ago.”
“Forty years ago?” Harley’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Jennifer before his eyes widened in realization. “An old case that Andrew worked on.”
“Uh-huh!” Jennifer nodded, glad that Harley caught on quickly. “If we exit right without getting caught up in all this,” she made a circular motion with her hand toward where James was telling Andrew why Duncan was arrested, “I’ll bring you up to speed.”
“I thought I was already up to speed on what’s happening here?” Harley shook his head.
“No.” Jennifer shook her head. “You’re up to speed on everything I know about Angela and Clair but not about how everything connects together.”
“Jennifer!” Andrew called.
Shoot!Jennifer rolled her eyes.This is what I get for being nice and wanting to offer the man a ride home.“Hi!” She gave him a small wave. “I see you’re busy, and now that James is here, you don’t need a ride home.” She tugged Harley’s arm to get him to leave with her. “So we’ll leave you to sort this out. We have to return to Plum Island,” Jennifer said as she glanced at her wristwatch. “Oh wow,” she breathed. “We’d better get going if we want to get home before dark.”
“It’s a two-hour drive, and it’s not even midday yet!” Harley pointed out.
She shook her head at Harley, who was clearly distracted by everything going on as he didn’t see theget with the picture, Harley,lookthat Jennifer shot him. Jennifer would’ve elbowed Harley to get his full attention if Andrew hadn’t pinned her with his gaze.
“If you could just give me a few minutes before you rush off?” Andrew asked, his eyes darkening with emotion as his voice dropped. “Please.”
“Fine!” Jennifer couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that rushed through her at the look that clouded Andrew’s eyes.
“Thank you.” Andrew gave her a tight smile before turning his attention to James. “James, maybe you should go home, and I’ll call you when I have news. This is going to take some time.”
“I would rather stay here and wait, Mr. Gains,” James told him.
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed as she looked at James.So James was Duncan’s uncle!Her eyebrow raised as she nodded, biting the side of her mouth.This puts a whole new spin on things.She rubbed her chin.Mm. Maybe talking to James isn’t such a bad idea after all. I can find out how James and Duncan are related.
“Earth to Jennifer!” Harley’s warm breath tickled her ear, making her jump. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He looked at her curiously. “What is going on in your mind with those razor-focused thoughts?”
“I was just thinking about James’s connection to Duncan,” Jennifer told him, watching the interaction between Andrew, James, and the detective. “And wondering how Duncan is related to James?”
“As Duncan called James his uncle, I’d say that’s the relationship!” Harley commented.
“I get that,genius!“ Jennifer mocked. “What I meant is, is Duncan James’s sister’s child because they had different last names? Is James an uncle by marriage?”
“Okay, I get it!” Harley told her. “Here’s a thought!” He looked at Jennifer. “Why don’t you ask him?”
