Page 84 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
He was still not convinced of Estelle’s innocence with what was happening to Harriet’s family or her part in what happened to his family. Unlike Harriet and her mother, Finn wasn’t fooled by the poor little Estelle routine. The woman could wear many faces.
“Shall we get back to your suite, Harriet?” Finn asked. “I think we should order you something to eat and discuss your security in more depth.”
“Yes.” Harriet nodded and turned to Estelle. “I hope you understand, Estelle, that until all this is cleared up, you’re still under a sort of house arrest.”
“I know.” Estelle nodded. “I’d rather be here where you all can see I am not involved with whatever’s going on.” She sighed. “Even my calls are monitored, and my phone is in custody.”
“I’ll get news to you as soon as I can about Murphy,” Harriet promised. “Please listen to the guards, but if you have any doubts or feel unsafe, call me right away.” She patted her pocket. “Or call Finn right away, as I still don’t have my phone.”
“I will,” Estelle promised and hugged Harriet. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Don’t thank me just yet,” Harriet told her.
Finn ushered Harriet out of Estelle’s room. She was stopped by one of the security detail in the living room.
“Excuse me, Princess Harriet, could I have a word in private, please?” the young man said.
Harriet nodded and looked at Finn. “I won’t be long.”
Finn waited patiently at the door while Harriet disappeared into the kitchenette with the young man. Their backs were turned to Finn, so he couldn’t see what they were doing or saying.
When she came back, Finn asked. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, it was just some things about visitors for Estelle,” Harriet told him. “I’ve sorted it out.” As they stepped out of the room and to the elevator, Finn hit the down button. “Where are we going?” Harriet asked him.
“I’m taking you for lunch at the Summer Inn Restaurant, where we can chat undisturbed,” Finn told her, stepping back for Harriet to enter when the elevator arrived. “I get the special booth reserved only for Liam, his friends, and family. There’s not much we can do until we hear from Harley about your messages, the sleeping powder, and your uncle.”
“Okay!” Harriet said. “I’m starving anyway. I won’t be any good if I’m hungry and can’t think straight.”
“I thought it would also be a good place for us to get through the phone Estelle gave you,” Finn added. “It will give us something to occupy our minds until we know our next move.”
“Are you sure you want me to do that with you?” Harriet looked at him, surprised. “From what Estelle told me was on there, it’s a lot of personal information about your late ex-wife.”
“No secrets between us, remember?” Finn reminded her, immediately being racked by guilt over keeping what he and Julie discussed a secret.
“Yup!” Harriet nodded and smiled. “And while we have no secrets. I’m sorry I ducked out of the room and went to Estelle’s.”
“Do you really think any of us in the living room didn’t think you were going to try and duck out?” Finn laughed. “We even had bets going on how you’d try to escape. We knew as soon as you were told you couldn’t get out of the room and had to be escorted, you were going to try to prove us wrong.”
“Murphy shouldn’t have brought reinforcements thinking I wouldn’t be able to escape,” Harriet pointed out. “He knows that when you do that, it’s like declaring war on the rebel inside me. I’m going to prove that I can, I will, and I’ll take a picture to show him I did.”
“Only you couldn’t take a picture because Sam has your phone,” Finn said, smiling. “And without your phone, you’re hard to track.” He kept eye contact so as not to look at the object he was about to talk about. Her necklace was given to her by her mother and father for her fortieth birthday, and she always wore it. “Luckily, Murphy and Harley know how to track you.”
“If you’re talking about the tracker in my necklace,” Harriet surprised him by saying, “I took that out of my necklace ages ago.”
“How did you know about that?” Finn stared at her in disbelief, stepping aside for her to exit the elevator when it dinged to a stop on the ground floor.
“Did they really think I wouldn’t find it?” Harriet asked with raised eyebrows. “Besides, I didn’t break the device; I just put it in my watch. It seemed to make more sense to do that. I don’t shower with my watch on, and I figured if the device shorted in the shower, I would be less likely to get electrocuted.”
Finn couldn’t help but chuckle. Harriet really was extraordinary. “You’re a delightful nightmare.” He couldn’t help but kiss her on the forehead and had just stopped himself from kissing her lips. “Come on, let’s get you fed and go through the footage on this phone.”
The moment Finn stepped into the restaurant, he was greeted by the host, who took them through Liam’s personal booth. They gave the waiter, who was not far behind the host, their refreshment order. Harriet declined a menu and ordered a pizza and salad. Finn ordered a burger and salad.
“I hope they hurry with our order,” Harriet told Finn as they slid closer on the round seats of the booth. “I’m starved.”
“I’m also hungry,” Finn admitted, putting the phone on the table. “Do you know the passcode?”
“Yes, it’s FinnShaw,” Harriet told him, making his brows shoot up.
