Page 53 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“That’s Dawn’s,” Wade told him. “I forgot to return it to the reception.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Shoot. I knew I was forgetting something.”
Liam’s eyes widened as he examined the card. There was one way to prove if it was the original card key. “Mind if I take this?”
“Go ahead.” Wade watched him wearily. “Care to explain why my sister attacked me and hurled more accusations at me?”
“I think I may have had something to do with that,” Liam confessed, and he explained the thefts and what the detectives had told him.
Wade stood staring at Liam. His expression was blank, but Liam had seen the flash of pain before the shutters went down. That’s when Liam knew his gut wasn’t leading him astray, and he wasright not to give into the doubt that had crept into his mind as the evidence stacked up against Wade.
The silence hung heavy in the air as Wade continued to stare at Liam as if the man was sizing him up before he sighed, turned, and walked to the table, picking up the folder and then handing it to Liam.
“Here,” Wade said. “Show that to the police.”
Liam took the folder, looking at Wade curiously. “Look, man, I’m not trying to get involved in your family business.” He cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable. “But Dawn is my friend, and my hotel’s reputation is taking a beating. I have to ask.” He glanced at the folder.
“Then ask,” Wade suggested. “It’ll be a first.”
Liam looked at him curiously before asking, “Did you or do you think any of your crew could’ve been involved in what’s going on at my hotel or could be tormenting your sister?”
“No.” Wade shook his head. He indicated toward the folder. “Everything you need is in that folder.”
Liam frowned and nodded. “I’d better go check on Dawn.” He started moving toward the door, and Wade walked with him.
“I’ll need that back by tomorrow afternoon,” Wade told him, pointing to the folder.
Liam opened the door and stepped into the hall, stopping to look at Wade. “What did you mean it will be a first?” He looked questioningly at Wade. “In response to me asking you a question.”
Wade’s laugh had a bitter edge. “It’s just that no one ever just asks me things directly. They usually demand answers or expect me to say what they want to hear, never just a simple question expecting a truthful answer.”
Liam nodded, understanding more of the complex dynamics at play. He held up the folder. “I’ll get this back to you.”
Wade nodded, and Liam heard his door click shut while Liam headed back toward Dawn’s suite. The door was slightly ajar. Liam knocked softly, and Dawn called for him to come in. He pushed the door open and stepped in. Dawn was curled up on the sofa. She watched him walk in.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” Dawn apologized. “Please, don’t feel bad about having to hand my brother or his crew over to the police.” She gave a derisive snort. “Trust me, I’m used to my baby brother being tangled with the law.”
“Dawn,” Liam said softly, moving to sit beside her on the sofa. His attention was caught by the card key on the kitchenettecounter. He frowned and stood to go get it. He walked back over to her. “I don’t think Wade was the one who put those items in your room.”
Liam sat beside her again.
“Why are you taking his side?” Dawn asked, looking at Liam wearily. “Please don’t tell me you fell for his lies. My brother is a master at deception.”
Liam knew he was probably about to destroy any chance of forming a relationship with her. But he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t say something. “No. Because of this.” Liam pulled the card key he had taken from Wade’s suite. “The card key you got from the reception wasn’t yours.”
“But it opened the door to my suite,” Dawn pointed out.
“It is yours,” Liam explained. “But not the one you use. It’s the spare key.” He pointed to the code on top of the card. “This code means it’s the spare.” He held up the original. “This is your card key, which was still in Wade’s room.”
“That only proves my point that Wade must’ve used it to get in here and put those items beside my bed,” Dawn said stubbornly.
“There’s one way to prove it,” Liam told her, taking her hand and standing, pulling her with him. He reached down and picked up the folder.
“Where are we going?” Dawn asked. “I need to put my shoes on.”
Liam stopped and looked at her feet. “Then put them on.”
Dawn slipped into her room and got her sandals. She was back out in a few seconds, slipping them on. Dawn called Hicks as they left her suite. Liam took her to his office, where he switched on his computer and logged into the new security system to which he had access. Liam punched in all the card-key access codes to Dawn’s room.
“Look here,” Liam said. “Your card hasn’t been used to access your room since five-thirty this afternoon.”
