Page 52 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“That there are hidden passages in the new part of the hotel as well?” Dawn had never wanted hidden passages linking to her room as badly as she wanted to hear it right now. Because that would be a better explanation than what she feared it really was.
“No.” Liam’s voice was soft. “The detectives I met with today suspect your brother and his crew of being the phantom thieves.”
Dawn hadn’t taken her eyes off the items in his hands. While she heard what Liam was saying, Dawn didn’t want to believe it and tried to deny it was the first thought that had hit her when she’d seen the journal.
“They weren’t even in the area when my journal, watch, or locket were taken,” Dawn said, still staring dumbly at the items in Liam’s hand.
“No, Dawn,” Liam said. “Your brother and his crew arrived in Newbury Port two weeks ago.”
Red-hot anger burst inside her like Fourth of July fireworks. Before she could stop herself, she snatched the items from Liam and stormed off—destination: Wade’s room.
CHAPTER 10
Liam’s heart pounded in his chest, echoing the rapid tap of his shoes against the polished hotel corridor. He was only a stride behind Dawn, who stormed ahead like a tempest in full fury. Her hand was balled into a fist, knuckles white as she pounded on the door to Wade’s room with a force that Liam felt vibrating through the floorboards under his feet.
The door swung open abruptly, revealing Wade, his hair tousled, leaning sleepily against the frame. His expression changed from groggily annoyed to alert as Hicks peeked around him, tail wagging but his senses picking up the tension. Wade’s eyes widened as he registered the scene—his sister, eyes blazing with anger, and Liam, tense and protective, a step behind.
“What’s going on?” Wade’s voice was thick with sleep but edged with concern as he straightened up, his gaze flicking between Dawn and Liam.
Without a word, Dawn thrust the journal and the jewelry at Wade. “What is this, Wade?” she demanded, her voice sharp as the edge of a knife.
Wade looked down at the items in confusion. “A book and some jewelry,” he replied, his voice cautious, a frown creasing his forehead.
“Stop lying!” Dawn’s voice cracked like a whip in the quiet hallway. “I’m tired of the lies, the evasion, the walls you put up!” Her face was a mask of pain and fury, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she shoved the items closer to his chest. “Was this some twisted game? A way to get back at me for choosing the law, hoping that you might learn your lesson?”
Wade’s expression shifted from confusion to hurt as he took a step back, absorbing her accusations. “Dawn, I—“
She didn’t let him finish. “Every time I think things might change, you find a new way to break my heart all over again.” Her voice trembled, her emotional dam near bursting, as she continued, “I did everything to save you from sinking with Ben and Clem. But nothing, not even tough love, works for you, does it?” She sucked in a shaky breath. “This time, you’re on your own. No more bumpers to keep you from going off-course. Now,you’re bowling in the big leagues, and you’ve just thrown a gutter ball.”
Wade reached out, his hand hovering as if to touch her arm, but she recoiled and grabbed Hicks’s collar pulling him towards her and away from Wade. “No,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Think of this as your formal lunch cancellation call. I have a feeling you’ll be otherwise occupied at the police station anyway.”
Turning sharply to Liam, her eyes met his, “Liam, can you… can you change my room? I can’t—“ Her voice broke off, and she couldn’t finish her sentence, her gaze darkening as she glared at Wade and then back to Liam. “I wouldn’t put it pasthimto have a copy of my key card.”
Without waiting for a response, Dawn turned on her heel and dragged a bewildered Hicks down the corridor. Her shoulders were rigid, every line of her body screaming her anger.
Liam watched her go, the sound of her retreating footsteps like the fading beats of a drum. He turned back to Wade, who stood shell-shocked, staring at the space where his sister had been.
“What just happened?” Wade finally spoke, staring at Liam like a sleep-walker who had just woken up to find himself in a strange place. “What are these?” He held up the journal and jewelry.
Liam’s brow creased as he looked at the genuine confusion in Wade’s eyes. Liam scratched the back of his neck. Something in his gut told him that Wade really didn’t know what was going on, but that didn’t excuse Wade’s bestie, Ben. He didn’t want to get involved in a family drama, but he’d never seen such devastation on Dawn’s face as he had a few minutes ago.
“Where were you tonight, Wade?” Liam asked him.
“Here, in my suite.” Wade frowned. “Except for earlier when I took Hicks for a walk.”
“You didn’t go into your sister’s room to return those?” Liam pointed at the items Dawn had shoved at her brother.
“What?” Wade looked at Liam, now totally confused. “I haven’t gone into my sister’s room at all.” His frown deepened. “I even bought Hicks a new bed, bowls, and food.” He raised an eyebrow. Bitterness twinged his voice as he said, “I know better than to step foot into any of my siblings’ domains.”
Wade stepped back for Liam to enter. Liam walked into the suite. His eyes swept the neat living room, and he followed Wade to the kitchenette. Liam saw the costly, non-slip food and water bowl connected to an automatic time feeder. The water bowl was attached to a temperature-controlled filtered water gadget.
“Those things cost a fortune,” Liam pointed out, amazed.
Wade didn’t say a thing. He just shrugged. “Hicks seemed to get a kick out of it. He spent hours playing with the food feeder.”
Liam noted that Wade hadn’t spared any money on the food either. That’s when his eyes turned to the folder on the dining table, but it wasn’t the folder he was interested in. It was the card key on the table. He walked closer, and it was clearly marked with Dawn’s room number. Liam picked it up, looking at Wade.
“Where did you get this?” Liam asked.
