Page 42 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Because Alex is the weak link here,” Harley realized. “If you figured out what was going on, making sure the evidence stacked against Alex would ensure he’d be isolated from the family.”
“If it wasn’t real and an immediate threat to our loved ones,” Ethan admitted, “it would be a brilliant movie plot.”
“Maybe it could still be.” Harley shrugged. “Especially once we solve this mystery, and we will.”
“But why?” Ethan burst out, angry that some unknown person or people were manipulating them like puppets on invisible strings. “What could whoever’s behind this possibly gain from ripping our family and lives apart?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face, emotions churning as he tried to rack his brains for a motive for someone to do this to him and Carly. It wasn’t just them. It affected so many people in their lives. If Harley’s deductions were correct, their family and loved ones were being pulled in and used as pawns.
“That’s what we need to figure out,” Harley stated. “I need you and Carly to list anyone with a grudge against you. List their names and the reason for it.”
“There could be hundreds of potential candidates,” Ethan told him. “I’m a film director. I have a lot of disgruntled employees and actors who I’m sure would love to take a shot at me.”
“I would say this had to be someone that connects you and Carly,” Harley told him. “So start there.”
Ethan stood and went to his desk in his home office to get a pen and notepad. Back in the living room, he sat across from Harley again, leaning on the coffee table, his mind whirling.
“Start with someone who may have been unhappy that you cast Stella Hart as the lead in your movie,” Harley suggested.
“Daphne Rose!” Ethan pointed with his pen.
“That’s a name I heard often when Carly was Stella Hart,” Harley said. “Definitely put her on her list.”
Ethan jotted down the name. “My ex-father-in-law hates me and has commissioned PIs to tear my life apart after my late ex-wife died.”
“Does he know Carly?” Harley asked.
“I don’t think so.” Ethan shook his head. “But maybe he went after Carly as a warning to me?”
“Put his name down,” Harley suggested.
Ethan leaned back and put the notepad on his lap as he jotted down his ex-father-in-law.
“Do you know Carly’s ex-husband at all?” Harley asked. “He could’ve held a grudge against you for not casting him. The man is a vindictive lout.”
“Our paths never crossed,” Ethan told Harley, but he suddenly realized that wasn’t true. “Actually, that’s a lie. When he first started acting, he was using his real name, Shaun Vos, and my brother fired him because he was harassing the women on the film crew.”
“That man was a womanizer.” Harley’s eyes flashed angrily. “He’s also a terrible father who used Reef as a media prop to show the world how family-oriented he was.”
“What a sleaze,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “Why don’t I make a column where we can list my potential suspects, Carly’s, and a column in the middle for people who overlap in our lives?”
“Good idea.” Harley nodded. “I think you should put Shaun, or rather, Davin Giles and Daphne Rose, in the middle column.”
Ethan nodded and started a new page. In his column, he wrote his ex-father-in-law and a few disgruntled actors. He had Davin Giles, Daphne Rose, and Alex in the middle column.
“There’s no one in Carly’s column,” Ethan commented, staring at his brother’s name. “I had to put Alex on the list. When Stella Hart started rising to fame, we both had a huge crush on her.”
“We’ll talk to her in the morning,” Harley told him. “I’m sure Alex has had a crush on many rising actresses over the years.”
“Yeah!” Ethan sighed, tapping his pen on the pad.
“Just keep jotting down anyone who you know has sent you hate mail or threatened you over the past three to four years.” Harley eyed Ethan’s list.
“I will,” Ethan promised, looking at his wristwatch. “Darn, I need to make a call quickly.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Harley said. “I have to be going anyway.”
Ethan walked Harley out. “I’m going to tell Carly what’s going on,” he told Harley. “I don’t like to keep secrets from her. I can see she wants to trust me, but so far, I’ve given her no reasons to.”
