Page 77 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
Ethan explained how he found Parker.
“Parker called me,” Harley explained. “He was babbling something about Carly being taken by Daphne?”
“Help me wake him up.” Ethan’s voice was urgent. “We need to find out what happened.” He tried to rouse Parker without success.
“We can try cold water,” Harley suggested, and Ethan nodded.
As Harley dashed to the kitchen to get the water, another visitor arrived.
“Carly?” Harriet’s voice echoed through the quiet house. “Your front door was wide open. I hope you don’t mind that I just…” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes widened in shock. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything!” Ethan exclaimed.
“Oh, thank goodness it’s you, Ethan.” Harriet breathed a sigh of relief. “For a moment, I thought you were Alex, and I’d have to find bail money.”
Ethan gave her a weird look and brought her up to speed on what had happened.
“Did you say Daphne?” Harriet paled.
“Yes,” Harley startled her as he walked into the room with a jug of ice water.
“She was here last night,” Harriet told them about what happened.
“That’s why my uncle’s not answering his phone,” Harley said through gritted teeth. “Let’s wake this guy and get some answers.”
He was about to throw a jug of ice water in Parker’s face when Daniella’s voice made him freeze.
“What are you doing?” Daniella rushed into the room and immediately examined Parker.
“We were trying to wake him up,” Ethan explained.
“He has a head injury.” Daniella pointed to the gash on Parker’s head. “What’s wrong with you?” She glared at her cousin, Harley.
Harriet blurted out what was going on, leaving Daniella gaping at them as all the color drained from her face. She glanced at Parker. “We’re not going to be able to wake him.” She looked at Harley and Ethan. “Carly did tell me she had a meeting at her restaurant with Parker early this morning. Why don’t you two go look for clues there.” She looked at Harriet. “I need you to stay and help me with Parker until I can get my EMT here to help.”
Ethan and Harley nodded, then dashed out of Carly’s house.
“We can take my pickup,” Harley suggested, eyeing Ethan’s jogging clothes. “There’s deodorant in the glove compartment.” He gave Ethan a smug smile as they climbed into his truck and roared off towards Carly’s restaurant.
Arriving at Carly’s restaurant, the sight that greeted them was one of chaos—the door had been splintered off its hinges, and signs of a struggle were evident. Ethan nearly screamed in fright when Oz, Shay’s bodyguard, emerged from Carly’s office. He, too, had blood running down his head and looked dazed.
“Thank goodness it’s you two,” Oz slurred slightly. “Shay and Carly… they’ve been kidnapped,” he revealed.
The news struck Ethan like a physical blow, leaving him reeling.
“I’m so sorry,” Oz grabbed onto a wall as he looked from Ethan to Harley. “I was blindsided.”
“You were hit in the head,” Harley pointed out.
“Someone threw a rock at me,” Oz told them. “I have something to show you.”
Oz led them into Carly’s office, where he was going through the security footage. Ethan and Harley stood staring in horror as they watched Carly and Shay’s abduction. The images were stark, chilling—Carly and Shay, bound and helpless, being forced into a vehicle. Ethan’s resolve hardened; they needed to act fast, but how? The car had no license plate, and all the men wore ski masks. There was not a lot to go on, and only two witnesses had been knocked out.
“Let’s get this footage to the police,” Harley suggested as he and Ethan helped Oz up. “We need to take Oz to the clinic.”
“No,” Oz said. “I’ll be fine. I want to help.”
“You’re not going to be much help passing out and bleeding all over my truck,” Harley told him. “Come on, let’s let the doctor decide.”
