Page 45 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“First, Dawn has been here for over a year,” Detective Rickshaw stated. “Along with a whole lot of others these two have a grudge against.”
“Such as Alex and Ethan Blackwell,” Detective Winslow added. “Brad Danes, and then there’s your highly anticipated superstar guest who is set to arrive to take over a major part in The Cobble Mysteries.”
“A few superstars are starring in that show and staying here,” Liam told them.
He was desperately trying hard to find a way to dispute the dots that detectives were connecting that led to Dawn’s brother and Ben Hardy, whom Liam knew was a part of Wade’s crew that checked in the previous night.
“This one is only arriving in a few days.” Detective Winslow flipped a page in Ben’s file, and Liam’s eyes widened. “Arno Littleford.”
“He was the key witness in Ben’s trial?” Liam looked at the name.
“And the man that married the love of Wade Vanderbilt’s life,” Detective Rickshaw told him.
“Arno is arriving tomorrow.” Liam stared at the file. A cold feeling enveloped him as he realized how this was going to affect Dawn. His jaw clenched while he shut the files, pushing them back to the detectives. “This still doesn’t mean anything and is all circumstantial.”
“You must understand, Mr. Gains,” Detective Winslow warned, “we have to look at this from every angle, and right now, our lens is pointed at Wade Vanderbilt and his crew, which include Ben Hardy.” She pushed the folders back toward him. “These are for you to go over.” Her eyes locked with his. “We’ve been asked to keep a close eye on these two guests of yours.”
The two detectives stood, getting ready to leave. “Especially as we’ve just learned that Bailey Blackwell will be arriving a few days after Arno, whose brother Marco, is Bailey’s best friend.”
Liam’s brows knitted together as he realized what they’d just hinted at, and he remembered a conversation with the Blackwells about why they needed such tight security—their younger sister had been kidnapped when she was eighteen.
CHAPTER 9
Dawn was dressed and ready for an evening of ice skating with the teens and Liam. Her vintage Levi jeans hugged her slender legs and fell just right over her ankles. She wore a soft pink cotton shirt and pink sandals with a slight heel. Mary had taken her into town to a sports shop to get her own pair of skates, explaining that Liam and Lila had their own and it was better to have a personal pair. Dawn also bought a pair for Harper after Scott confirmed her shoe size. As she thought about her older brother’s recent comments, her eyes narrowed, and she fumed silently.
Dawn, are you sure you want to go ice skating? You remember you couldn’t skate, right?
Dawn had asked how he knew that she hadn’t been taking lessons. To which Scott had laughed and reminded her that she’d had two years of lessons when she was twelve.
“I can ice skate,” Dawn told Hicks, who barked in reply. “Thank you, Hicks. I know I might not be the most elegant skater, but I can stay upright and go forward.” Hicks barked. “Okay!” She pulled a face at him. “I do wobble a bit and fear hitting the ice and having my fingers chopped off by another skater.”
Woof, woof,Hicks barked.
“Trust me, it can happen. I’m not being paranoid,” Dawn assured him, grabbing her oversized tote bag that was filled with a change of clothes, two pairs of ice skates, her purse, and room card key. “Where’s my phone?”
She frowned, and Hicks took off somewhere while Dawn looked for her phone. He bumped her leg, and she turned and smiled when she saw him lay the phone at her feet.
“Aww…” Dawn’s brow crinkled. “You’re such a good boy.” She crouched and patted his head. “I may just have to steal you from Finn.”
Hicks barked again.
“Come on.” Dawn pocketed her phone and picked up his leash. “Let’s go drop you off with my brother.” They walked down the hall to Wade’s room. “Now I’m counting on you to keep an eye on my baby brother. He can get up to mischief.”
Hicks barked as if in understanding. She knocked on his door and froze when it opened, and she came face to face with someone she thought she’d never see again.
“Dawn!” Green eyes narrowed and turned cold, sending a shiver down her spine. “Capt. Jet. It’s for you.” He called over his shoulder. “And my queue to leave.” He gave Dawn a curt nod. Stepping past her, he patted Hicks. “Hey there, boy.”
“I’ll see you at the boat in an hour,” Wade came to the door.
“Sure thing, Cap.” He saluted and walked off.
Dawn stood staring in disbelief at the tall man’s broad shoulders as he walked toward the elevator.
“Hey, big guy,” Wade’s voice snapped Dawn out of her shock as she swirled and turned on her brother.
“What is he doing here?”Dawn said through gritted teeth. Her heart was pounding with a mixture of fear and anger.
“If you’d bothered to answer any of my phone calls or read any of my messages over the past year, you’d know,” Wade told her, straightening. “And thanks for lunch today, by the way. I really enjoyed another day of being let down by my sister.”
