Page 65 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
He shook his and continued dragging back onto the deck. “The Black Ocean didn’t deserve that.”
“Neither did Alex,” Dawn pointed out.
“That’s debatable,” Ben muttered, glancing around. “We need to see if there’s an inflatable dinghy on the yacht.”
“Oh…. no.” Dawn started pulling back. “No, no, no. I’d rather chance the C4.”
“I doubt there’s any C4 on this boat,” Ben assured. “But what is on here is a giant setup that’s not going to end well for me.” He raised his eyebrows. “Trust me, I’ve played through this scene before.”
“Ben, if you’re being set up, I’ll make sure whoever finds us knows it,” Dawn promised.
“Trust me, they see me as just an ex-con; they’re not interested in if I’m guilty or not,” Ben told her. “My police record declares me guilty, no matter if I am or not.”
They searched the boat, but there was no escape pod as Dawn thought of it. They were stuck in the middle of the ocean. While her imagination started mapping different plot lines, Dawn forced her creative switch off as she and Ben sat in the top lounge and watched the sun slowly rise.
Ben gave a self-mocking laugh and blew out a breath. “This seems to always happen to me when I get tangled with the Vanderbilts and Blackwells.” He ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head. “I guess I should enjoy my final sunrise.”
“Don’t say that, Ben,” Dawn told him. “I promise to sort this out if that does happen.”
“That’s sweet,” Ben said. “But I know how this goes down.” His eyes narrowed. “For all I know, the Blackwells set this up to put me back behind bars.”
“I don’t think so,” Dawn told Ben. “Scott said that he was reworking the case.”
“What?” Ben spluttered, his eyes widened and filled with fear as his face paled. “He has to stop, Dawn.”
“Scott wants to clear yours and Wade’s name,” Dawn said, looking at him confused, doubt over his innocence creeping in once again.
“And that’s great of him,” Ben told her. “But it’s best to leave the past in the past. I’ve paid for what happened, and so have Wade and my sister.” His jaw clenched again as he looked out over the golden horizon. “No one else has to pay.”
“I don’t understand.” Dawn looked at him, even more confused.Why wouldn’t he want his or Wade’s name cleared?“This could change everything for you and Wade.”
“Change things, yes,” Ben said. “It will never get that time back. I’d rather leave it where it is and move on. I don’t want to relive that again.”
“Leave the past behind, you mean?” Dawn thought that was a strange thing for him to say.
“Yes, sorry, that’s what I meant.” Ben gave her a tight smile.
Dawn had a feeling that was no mistake. Ben had said, leaveitwhere it was. She gave herself a mental shake and admonished herself for an overactive imagination.
You’re reading into things where there’s nothing to read,Dawn told herself. “Ben, will you tell me your side of the story?” She saw the weariness in his eyes. “I know it’s years too late.”
“It’s a long story,” Ben hedged.
Dawn glanced around. “It doesn’t look like we have anything else to do.”
“I could try to figure out if there’s a way to start this boat,” Ben suggested.
“Or we could wait,” Dawn told him. “I’m sure we’re being looked for right now.”
“You mean the authorities are hunting for me,” Ben corrected her and sighed, sitting back and crossing his ankle over his knee. “I never thought I’d land up on the wrong side of the law.”
“Are you going to resume studying law?” Dawn asked.
“Nah,” Ben said, shaking his head. “I saw how horribly it can fail people.”
“I would’ve thought that was all the more reason to get your degree,” Dawn stated. “To help make it right and keep it from failing others.”
Ben looked at her and pursed his lips, nodding. “I never thought about it like that.”
