Page 23 of The Library on Plum Island
Daniella opened the document, not allowing herself to dwell on the photo pinned the wrong way around on a document labeled Doctor Ron Jackson—Neurosurgeon. Daniella flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning all the people who had sided with the man. Daniella was still shell-shocked at how he’d managed to turn everyone against her. He even got to the medical board on his side. Daniella shuddered—the man was a master manipulator and had a powerful family behind him.
As she flipped to the last page, Daniella froze. Cold, icy fingers of fear strummed up her spine as she stared at a photograph. Daniella swallowed as her heart started to pound in her chest, trying to break free and get the heck out of town like she should be doing. The realization hit Daniella like a wave—the stranger in the store wasn’t just a random passerby. He was connected to her past, a past that was threatening to engulf her present. Panic set in as she raced to Uncle Sam’s room, document in her hand that trembled with fear as she pounded on his door.
“Dani!” Sam’s eyes were wide and alert. “What’s happened?”
“I know him!” Daniella’s voice trembled.
“You know who, Dani?” Sam’s brows creased.
“Stanley Wells!” Daniella held up the photo. “The man at the store was Stanley Wells.”
“Are you sure?” Sam took the photo. “Honey, this is a picture of Howard Cooper, the private detective the hospital’s legal department contracts out to.”
“I know!” Daniella said impatiently. “But the man who knocked into me at the store was Stanley Wells. He worked for Howard Cooper Private Investigations.”
Sam’s face fell and paled as he took the photo. “Are you sure it was Stanley?” He frowned. “The man who Howard had following you, as per instructions from the person who hired him?”
Daniella nodded and frowned as she remembered the look in his eyes. “Yes. It was him, and I have a feeling he bumped into me because he wanted me to know he was following me.”
“Why on earth would he do that?” Sam’s frown deepened. “And why would you think that?”
“Because of the look in his eyes when he apologized for bumping into me,” Daniella told her uncle. “I wondered why the encounter had left me feeling so uneasy.” She looked at her uncle. “It was because he was apologizing for more than bumping into me.”
“Dani, if you’re right…” Sam’s voice trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at the photo of the crooked PI in his hands before catching Daniella’s eyes again. “You know what this means, right?”
Daniella nodded, and a calming resolve washed over her. “Do what you need to, Uncle Sam.” She raised her chin. “No more running. Plum Island will be my Alamo.”
Sam nodded, pride and fear for his niece shining in his weathered blue eyes. “I’ll make the arrangements right away.”
“Uncle Sam,” Daniella said before turning to leave. “All I ask is that Emily is taken somewhere safe. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time.”
“I’m going to get Harley right now,” Sam assured her, giving her a tight smile. “We’ll make sure he never darkens your life again this time, sweetheart.”
Daniella nodded, turned, and went to Emily’s room instead of her own. She quietly slipped in beside her daughter and wrapped her arms around Emily.
“Mom?” Emily asked. Her voice was a little stilted as she turned to look at her mother and signed.Are you okay?
Yes.Daniella lied.I was just worried about you. I’ve asked Harley to take you to Boston tomorrow to see a plastic surgeon about the scar.
Really?Emily’s eyes widened.
Yes.Daniella nodded.Harley and Jennifer will take you shopping as an early birthday present.
Can Shay come with me?Emily asked, blissfully unaware of the danger looming around them.
We can ask Ethan,Daniella promised.Now, let’s get some sleep.
Emily smiled, flipped over, and snuggled up to Daniella as she went back to sleep. Daniella’s heart squeezed. She hated lying to her daughter, but she didn’t want Emily to be scared or caught up in Daniella’s mess again!
CHAPTER 6
Thefirstraysofthe sun painted the sky in a palette of pink and orange hues, casting a gentle light over the sea. Alex found himself on the balcony of the main living room, a glass of freshly squeezed juice in his hand, its coolness a contrast to the warmth beginning to envelop the day. Despite the splint immobilizing his slightly throbbing hand and a mild headache, he couldn’t help but savor the tranquility of the moment. Yet, beneath the calm exterior, his thoughts were tumultuous, constantly drifting back to Daniella. Alex had known he was in trouble the moment he’d first seen Daniella. In fact, he’d been trying for longer than he cared to remember to get her out of his mind.
Just when he thought he had, fate had decided to throw him in her path, and the moment he’d seen her again, Alex had known she was in his thoughts to stay. The past year had been torture for him, being so close to her but so far apart. He’d tried to keep his distance, but in hindsight, becoming best friends with her cousin, Harley, probably wasn’t the best way to do that. Especially when Daniella and Harley were a lot more like brothers and sisters than cousins. Every party of Alex’s that Daniella had attended with Harley had pulled Alex deeper and deeper under her spell. The irony about that was Daniella didn’t even realize she’d cast a spell over him.
Alex had even tried a more serious relationship to keep himself at arm’s length, but that was a terrible mistake. Wow! Not only had that relationship nearly destroyed his relationship with his parents, but it had turned into a nightmare—one that kept reoccurring just when he thought it was gone for good. His mother and siblings thought his father had sent him back to Plum Island and clipped his wings as a punishment. Alex shuddered. They’d be horrified if they knew the truth of the situation. Thank goodness for his father, Alex thought. Not that he wanted to burden his father with it, especially because of the heart condition.
His father’s voice echoed through his mind:Remember, we can’t help you if you don’t tell us the truth.
