Page 41 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
They fell into a companionable silence. Ethan sipped his whisky while Harley twirled the glass in his hand.
“Your uncle does make a good point about how everything seems to come back to Alex.” Ethan still clung to whatever straw of hope he could that Alex hadn’t betrayed him.
“Yeah, I agree.” Harley brought the glass to his lips and drank before continuing. “I have to admit I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around why Alex would do all this.” His eyes lifted toward Ethan. “It doesn’t make sense to sabotage your film, fire Carly, and then destroy her in the press...it just doesn’t make sense.” His brow creased tighter as he looked questioningly at Ethan. “Is your brother jealous of you?”
Ethan shook his head. “No,” he snorted. “Alex isn’t jealous of anyone. He goes through life throwing caution to the wind with a carefree attitude, not caring less whatanyonethinks of him.”
“I know.” Harley nodded in agreement. “That’s why it doesn’t make sense that Alex would be behind this.”
“No, it doesn’t make sense,” Ethan agreed grimly. “Alex can be reckless sometimes and do the most outrageous things, but outright malicious? That’s not my brother.”
He thought back over the years, remembering Alex’s antics and improprieties, his loyalty, and moments of clear-headed wisdom. His brother had his want to throttle the guy moments, but Alex would never hurt the people he loved or cared about.
“There must be something we’re missing,” Harley said frustratedly. “A big missing piece of the puzzle that we’ve probably been staring at all along but didn’t think it would fit.”
“I agree,” Ethan said. “We need some context or explanation. Alex can be impulsive, but he’s not cruel.”
Harley nodded slowly, though his expression remained troubled. The idea of Alex being involved was still difficult for him to digest. Ethan knew Harley and Alex had become good friends over the past year when the film crew had arrived in Plum Island.
“I think we should question Alex,” Harley suggested. “At least we’ll be able to get his side of the story.”
Ethan agreed. The sooner this mystery was resolved, the better, as he couldn’t shake the feeling that the next phase of what had been started three years ago was waiting for him and Carly around the next corner.
Ethan leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees as he contemplated Harley’s words. There was a bigger picture here, obscured by shadows and missing pieces. Alex might hold some of those missing pieces.
“You’re right that we need answers from Alex himself,” Ethan said slowly. “But something tells me there’s more at play than sabotaging a film production or leaking gossip to the tabloids.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Or ruining Carly’s career. I can’t shake the feeling that it’s all just the beginning of something bigger.”
He lifted his gaze to meet Harley’s, seeing his own unease reflected there.
“Those events three years ago didn’t just ruin careers. They destroyed relationships and sowed the seeds of doubt,” Ethan pointed out. “Carly and I had a budding relationship alongside our professional one,” he admitted. “She told me on the evening before I left for Paris that being with me was the happiest she’d been since the birth of her son.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Harley told him. “I arrived in New York to visit her a few days after you’d left for Paris. My sister seemed like she was floating on air.”
“Trust me, I felt the same way,” Ethan assured Harley. “I hadn’t felt that way since…” His heart squeezed as the feelings of guilt resurfaced. “Since I met my late ex-wife.”
“I can understand that,” Harley told him. “Until I met Jennifer a couple of months ago, I’d locked my heart away after my ex-wife cheated on me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ethan said, holding up his glass. “Here’s to our first loves and the women who gave us the strength to love again.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Harley grinned, raising his glass. His brow creased in contemplation as he folded one arm across his chest. “What if the goal three years ago was to destroy your and Carly’s happiness?”
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly at the implication. “You think that was the real goal?” he asked quietly. “To break our spirits by shattering our dreams and ensuring Carly and I would be ripped apart?”
Harley nodded, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “It makes a twisted kind of sense, don’t you think?” Harley swirled the amber liquid in the glass. “Carly’s newfound happiness with you was ripped out from under her before it could blossom.”
“I withdrew from society once again,” Ethan added, deciding Harley could be right with his deduction. “Your family blamed me for what happened to her, especially when her life exploded and shattered her career into bits.”
“You, not knowing what really happened with Carly, blamed her for your first movie flop and being dragged over the coals in the media,” Harley continued the scenario.
“That ensured I wouldn’t try to find her and demand an explanation.” Ethan was convinced Harley was onto something. “If I ever found out about it, all paths would lead to my brother…”
“That would cause a family rift in the famous Blackwell family, who prided themselves on the strong, supportive family bond,” Harley stated.
“My brother already lives on the edge of my parent’s nerves.” Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “The press would have a field day with this, which would probably put my father in the hospital because of his heart condition.”
“Only driving a wedge further between Alex and his family.” Harley’s eyes narrowed.
“But why make Alex the fall guy?” Ethan asked.
