Page 61 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“That must be what we’re looking for.” The man pointed to where Hicks was.
Between all of them, they managed to find how the panel opened, and the four men, led by Hick and Liam, traversed the tunnel and came to a cavern, where they found Carl passed out. Liam breathed a sigh of relief and prayed that Carl would be okay. The next few minutes went by in a blur as Carl was eventually taken away in an ambulance.
Liam and Hicks watched the ambulance depart. Two of Scott’s employees went with Carl, and the other two waited with Liam. He tried to call Dawn, but she didn’t answer. Liam tried her suite, but she didn’t answer. He tried Wade’s suite, but there was no answer. An uneasy knot twisted in his gut, tightening with each passing second. Liam asked one of Wade’s crew members to call his mobile, but there was no answer.
“What about Ben?” Liam asked.
“There’s no answer on his phone either,” the one crew member said, frowning.
Scott called as Liam hurried toward the elevator with Wade’s crew following him.
“Hey, Scott,” Liam answered. “Carl is on his way to the hospital. The doctor who’s standing in for Daniella is going with them to Newbury Port.”
“That’s good to hear,” Scott sounded relieved. “Have you heard from Dawn?”
“No.” Liam shook his head and was distracted when Donna, the night desk attendant, walked up to him. “Hold on,” he said to Scott.
“Mr. Gains,” Donna said to him. “This was left for you while you were in the back.”
Liam frowned and took the envelope. Alarm bells started to ring in his head as a cold feeling crept down his spine.
“Thanks, Donna,” Liam took the note, and Donna retreated.
“What’s going on?” Scott asked.
“I’m not sure,” Liam told him, balancing his phone between his ear and shoulder as he opened the door and froze. “No!”
“Liam?” Scott asked.
“I’ve just received a note,” Liam told Scott. “I know why we can’t get hold of Dawn or Wade.”
“What’s going on?” Scott’s voice became more frantic.
Liam read the note to him:Wait for our call. No cops, or you’ll have two dead people on your hands. Bon voyage for now.
CHAPTER 11
Dawn’s senses clawed back to consciousness at the sound of her name being called. “Dawn,” the voice said again, a deep, unsettling murmur that seemed to vibrate through the fog of her awakening mind. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light, focusing on the wooden panels of a cabin ceiling.
“Thanks for finally joining me,” the voice muttered, rough around the edges as if draped in weariness and worry.
Dawn turned sharply towards the sound, her heart thumping erratically against her ribcage. Ben was sitting beside her on a narrow cabin bed, his expression a mixture of relief and tension. The sight of him, so unexpectedly close, jolted her fully awake.
Instinctively, Dawn sat up, her movements jerky with alarm. Her stomach churned, a wave of nausea sweeping over her as the boat seemed to sway beneath her, mixed with her fear of Ben.
“What did you do to me?” she demanded, her voice shaky.
“What didIdo to you?“ Ben looked at her in disbelief. “Trust me,princess,I’m as confused as you are.”
“Where are we?” Dawn pulled as far away from him as possible.
Ben ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his face creased with uncertainty. “I’m not sure. I woke up just before you did, right here.”
Dawn didn’t buy it. She was sure Ben had played this scene before, but only this time, Dawn was his victim. She shot up from the bed and made a beeline for the cabin door. It swung open quickly, revealing the corridor that led to the deck. Freedom was a mere sprint away, but just as she set off, Ben’s hand clamped around her arm. She twisted violently, trying to shake him off, but he held on, dragging her back into the cabin.
“Calm down,princess, listen!“ he insisted, kicking the door shut and pressing his ear against it. Dawn’s heart raced as panic clawed at her throat. Ben’s other hand pressed over her mouth; she bit down hard, tasting a hint of salt from his skin, but he didn’t even flinch.
“Dawn,” he whispered urgently, his eyes holding hers. “I’m not thrilled about this either, but we need to be quiet. Footsteps are heading this way. I’ll take my hand from your mouth if you promise to keep quiet.”
