Page 93 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
Scott looked at Dawn. “When did your journal go missing?”
“Pizza night,” Dawn answered. “A couple of nights ago. Wait… I haven’t actually used my journal for over a week. I was so busy helping Daniella and Harriet get things together for their double wedding.”
“So it could’ve gone missing at any time,” Liam said, leaning over the desk and tapping the notepad with his pen before writing. “Time that journal was taken—unknown but somewhere within the past week.”
“Or it was taken at the same time as your watch,” Liam stated. “And why return it with the watch and locket?”
“The full script isn’t in my journal,” Dawn told them. “So YNOF had to either have taken it from my laptop…” Dawn started.
Liam finished for her, “Or they got their hands on it when Harper gave it to Bailey.”
“Which brings us back to Bailey,” Scott said. “The scene with you and Ben on the boat was way too eerily like the actual abduction.” He rubbed his chin in contemplation. “I just don’t know why she’d be doing any of this though. Bailey was the one who advocated for both Wade and Ben to sail Alex’s new yacht to Plum Island.”
“Maybe to try and set them up again?” Laim said, grasping at ideas.
“You might want to put Greg Albright on that list,” Scott suggested.
“Oh?” Liam said, looking at Scott curiously.
“He’s my sister’s ex,” Scott offered and then winced when Dawn kicked him beneath the table. “Oops. Sorry,” he whispered for Dawn’s ears only. “I take it Liam doesn’t know about Greg yet?”
“Well, he most certainly does now,” Dawn whispered back. She sighed and rolled her eyes, deciding this wasn’t how she’d envisioned having the conversation about their exes with Liam. “Greg is my ex. He’s the CEO of Albright Investments.”
Liam’s eyes widened, and he gave a low whistle. “That Greg Albright.”
“Oh, do you know him?” Dawn was a little alarmed.
“We’ve met a few times,” Liam told her. “We’re both in the finance field.” He frowned as he looked at Dawn. “I didn’t think he’d be your type.” His words were laced with concern. “He doesn’t have the greatest reputation with relationships.”
“He wouldn’t have tried any of his usual tricks with our sister,” Scott assured Liam. “Greg would know better.”
And there was the reason Dawn hadn’t told her familyeverythingabout her relationship with Greg. She didn’t want any more of her family to land in jail or get into trouble with the law. Wade’s foray into problems with the law was enough. But Scott did have a point. Greg was a sore loser and vindictive. The yacht flashed through her mind.
“Do you think Greg owned the fake Black Ocean II?” Dawn asked, and all eyes turned to her. “When Ben and I were stranded on it, Ben saw an emblem on the mirror in the main cabin.” Her brow creased a little tighter. “It was a dagger. Ididn’t think about it at the time as I was stranded with a potential kidnapper, but isn’t that the emblem for the Blade Corporation?”
Dawn noticed Liam and Scott exchange a look before Liam looked at her. “Yes, that emblem was on most of the windows of that yacht as well.”
“They make windows and various other components for boats, motor vehicles, aircraft and so on,” Liam listed a few of the items he knew one of the companies under the Blade Corporation made.
“That’s right,” Scott said. “I’d say, look into Marco and Arno Littleford, Greg’s half-brothers as well if we’re putting Greg Albright on the list.” Scott looked at Liam. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Greg’s vendetta isn’t only against Dawn. It’s nearly all of the Vanderbilt family.”
Dawn’s head snapped toward her brother. Her heart beating with shock. “You think Greg put Harper and Lila on the boat as payback?”
“Payback for what?” Liam asked.
“Scott and Tracy testified against Greg to remove all custody of his daughter from him and only supervised visits,” Dawn said. “I know the man, and that would infuriate him. Especiallywhen his vicious ex-wife, some attorney, got full custody of the daughter.”
“Tracy was the one that reported Greg to child protection services,” Scott confessed. “While the pig wasn’t physically abusing her, he was emotionally abusing her.”
“Greg blames us for losing his daughter,” Scott told them, and Liam jotted that down on his notepad.
“And me dumping him twice,” Dawn stated as she saw Liam’s eyebrows shoot up. “We dated briefly in college.”
“But Dawn dumped him for her career,” Scott filled Liam in. “Then for being incompatible about two years ago?” He looked to Dawn for clarification and she nodded.
Dawn frowned in contemplation. “If he’s read the manuscript…” her eyes widened and they met Liam’s. “That would explain why he wants me dead or abducted.” She reasoned. “It may also explain why Lila was on the boat with Harper. He was jealous of Liam.”
“That’s what I’m wondering,” Scott said, looking as perplexed as everyone was feeling. “Unless Lila was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
