Page 94 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“But Lila’s locket was taken and not given back until Dawn’s watch was,” Liam reminded them. “Then the night Dawn’s watch was returned was the night Dawn and Ben were taken.”
“A calling card, to make sure we all knew why Dawn was on the boat,” Scott guessed. “And Ben as a scapegoat to blame it all on.”
Scott’s phone rang. “Excuse me,” he said, answering the call. “It’s the Coast Guard. Hello?”
Dawn and Liam sat quietly listening to Scott on the phone. “Thank you for the update.”
“Well?” Dawn and Liam said in unison.
“The Coast Guard’s divers managed to pull the voyage data recorder from the yacht,” Scott informed them. “They also found two bodies the coroner believes were dead before the boat exploded.”
“Do they know who it is?” Dawn asked, a prickly sensation tingling through her.
“Vet Chris Nicols and his receptionist,” Scott told them. “Didn’t Sam mention the vet’s office being closed?”
“Yes,” Liam answered. “I guess that explains that.”
“Oh what a shame,” Dawn said. “It was such a nice vets office. I even took a pamphlet to look into their animal charity, the Nicol-Travis Animal fund. They rehouse animals.”
Before they could say anything else a phone started ringing on Liam’s desk.
“Is that my phone?” Dawn asked.
Liam nodded and pushed it toward her. “Ben had it on the dock.”
Dawn looked at her phone and frowned as she reached over and took it. “I don’t know this number.” She glanced at the two pairs of eyes watching her intently. “Hello?”
“Is that Miss Dawn Vanderbilt?” the soft female voice asked.
“It is,” Dawn replied. “Who is this?”
“Kelly Peters,” she said, sounding upset. Dawn’s frown increased as Kelly’s voice sounded a lot different than when they’d spoken earlier that day. “I’m calling about Tiger. My brother and I aren’t getting anything from the vet.” She paused. “I’ve been trying to call the man the entire day, but there’s been no answer.” She cleared her throat. Dawn could hear how upset the woman was. “I’ve also tried to call my late grandmother’s attorney. That terrible woman won’t take my calls either. I warned my grandmother about her. My brother and I never trusted her.”There was a pause. “I’m sorry. It’s been a terrible time for us. The sudden loss of my grandmother…” another pause, and Dawn heard Kelly drag in a shuddering breath as her voice broke. “I’m sorry. I still haven’t gotten over it. I just don’t understand, you know. One moment, my gran was fit as a fiddle, the next, she’s having a massive stroke, and now we don’t even have Tiger.”
“I’m sorry, Kelly,” Dawn was confused.
The woman she’d spoken to earlier was cool and calm, with a smoky voice. But this Kelly was an emotional wreck or an outstanding actress.
“I’m so sorry to worry you. I just want to know if Tiger is okay.” Kelly sucked in a shaky breath.
Dawn was so confused. “I told you earlier today that Tiger was at the vet. I’m sorry I haven’t called back with an update. It’s been a hectic day.”
“When did you call?” Kelly asked her. “Did I miss a voicemail? Or maybe you called my brother? I know he left you his card.”
“I thought you’d called earlier.” Dawn’s mind raced.This is weird.
“Uh… no, sorry, this is the first time we’ve talked,” Kelly told her. “My brother will freak when he finds out I’ve troubled you.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” Dawn assured her, confusion clouding her brain. “I can tell you that Tiger is fine. He went to a different vet this morning.”
“Oh, thank you.” Kelly’s voice wobbled as if she was about to burst into tears. “I’ve been wanting to do that since my grandmother died. Tiger was so sick, but there was this stipulation in my grandmother’s will that he had to go to Chris Nicol.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Dawn said. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t null anything in the will.”
“No, it’s fine,” Kelly assured her. “You didn’t know and that’s got to mean something.”
And the good vet is dead so I’m sure that nulls the clause right there,Dawn thought. “Why don’t I try and talk to your grandmother’s attorney about you getting Tiger back?”
“I’ve been trying to do that,” Kelly wailed. “That shrew of a woman is being impossible.” She paused again. “If you wouldn’t mind calling her.” She sniffed. “I’m sorry. That sounded awful, calling Jackie Travis a shrew.”
