Page 38 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“You’re right,” Sam agreed. “Although I feel the wheels had been set in motion before Carly was fired from a Blackwell Production movie.”
“You mean Ethan Blackwell’s movie!” Daniella wasn’t letting Sam skirt over the facts.
“Danny, if you go over the year before this happened to Carly and look at the bigger picture, you realize that the Blackwells were just another nail in Carly’s career coffin,” Sam pointed out.
“You mean the final nail,” Carly’s voice resonated with bitterness.
“No!” Sam’s eyes filled with worry and fear. “I don’t think it was the final nail sweetheart. I think whoever’s behind this has a deeper agenda.”
“What makes you say that?” Carly asked in alarm, her heart racing at his words and her palms suddenly clammy.
“While we couldn’t get much information from the PIs between mine and Harley’s contacts, we managed to follow the money. Money which didn’t go through the PIs firm.” Sam told them.
“What does that mean?” Carly nervously wiped her hands on her jeans. “They were doing a private job?”
“Yes.” Sam nodded. “And probably didn’t want it to go through the company’s books because each PI was recently paid a large amount of money into off-shore accounts.”
“Oh!” Daniella said. “That won’t make the IRS happy.”
“The thing that’s worried me most about those two PIs is that they aren’t just an investigation firm. They’re also a security firm,” Sam said. “The owners used to be ex-military, so it just leaves a whole lot of worrying questions.”
“Like how they’d let themselves get caught?” Daniella guessed and explained when Sam and Carly looked at her curiously. “Oh, come on. You didn’t think it strange that Harley caught both men so easily?” She shook her head. “Uncle Sam, you told us they were security, ex-military, and a PI firm for the stars. I’m betting the number one rule in their firm isnot to get caught!”
“Are you suggesting the PIs wanted to get caught?” Carly looked astounded.
“Think about it,” Daniella said. “What does our small police station share a space with?”
“The town hall.” Sam’s face dropped as realization dawned. “Where all the town’s records are kept.”
“Bingo!” Daniella finished her coffee and put the mug on a coaster on the coffee table. “Access to all the local people and information inone neat little town hall, not to mention the other small part of that building.”
“The local newspaper. All the information they needed to find out about Carly and …” Sam’s voice trailed to a whisper, and his eyes moved from Carly to Daniella before shooting back to Carly. “Maybe you shouldn’t do the show.”
“Or maybe I should,” Carly decided, realizing what her uncle was thinking. “That way, it will draw attention to me and give you and Harley time to figure out who the PIs are actually after.”
She turned to see the fear widen her cousin’s eyes. “And maybe it’s time for all of us to leave Plum Island,” Daniella reasoned.
“No!” Carly shook her head, deciding it was time to make a stand. “Plum Island and Cobble Cove have become our home, and we won’t letanyonebully or frighten us away.“ She looked at Sam. “I’ll do the show.”
CHAPTER 10
Ethan Blackwell stood on Carly Donovan’s front porch, his heart hammering in his chest like an over-zealous percussionist. He glanced up at the sky, noting the ominous clouds gathering overhead that mirrored his feelings of trepidation. As Ethan raised his hand to knock, he hesitated, his fingers clenched into a tight fist. He didn’t want to come across as pushy or intrusive. Still, Sam had called him over with news about the private investigators tailing him and Carly.
“Hey Ethan. I thought Uncle Sam would call you here as well,” Harley’s voice came from behind him.
Ethan turned to see Harley sauntering up the walkway, and a flood of relief washed over Ethan. At least now he didn’t have to face the awkwardness of walking into Carly’s house alone.
“Harley,” Ethan acknowledged, hoping his relief was evident on his face. “Yes, Sam told me he had news about the PIs.”
“I wonder what he found out,” Harley said, a frown marring his brow. “I have some news to share when we’re done here.”
“Great,” Ethan said. “Let’s hope it takes us a step further in uncovering whatever’s going on.”
Harley nodded and opened Carly’s front door without knocking, and Ethan trailed behind him. Each step echoed his uncertainty and tension over how Carly would react when she saw him in her house.
“I’ll do the show.” Carly’s decision sent tiny waves of shock through Ethan.
Is she serious?Ethan’s first thought was to tell her no! He was retracting the offer. But he knew he had no right to dictate her choices.
