Page 100 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“What?” Connor looked at her as if she had three heads. “First, you try to pin your scheme on me, use me, and let’s not forget the lying and part where you tried tokill me,and you’re trying to make out as ifI’mmad?”
“Mentally ill, Connor.” Jackie’s face fell, and her eyes filled with concern. “We don’t use the word mad or crazy, remember.”
Two officers appeared at Liam’s office door.
“You are a piece of work.” Dawn stood, and Liam’s eyes widened at the look of rage on her face. He wondered if he should intervene but decided not to. “First, you mentally abuse your daughter, manipulate a nice man into your evil schemes, and then do this to your own brother?”
“Half-brother,” Jackie corrected her. “My mother wasn’t mentally unstable like his.”
“Hey!” Connor seethed and stood up to face his sister. “How dare you! My mother raised you like you were her own daughter. Your mother was the one that died in a mental health facility.”
“He’s delusional,” Jackie dismissed him and turned her angry eyes on Dawn. “Kind of like you. I have no idea what my ex-husband saw in you. You’re so… boring and one-dimensional.”
“What?” Dawn looked at her in confusion. “I don’t care what you and your creepy ex-husband think. I care about what the two of you were plotting. Do you even know that other people’s lives are just as important as yours?”
“Do you need us to arrest her now?” The one officer asked the detective.
“I want to do this one.” The detective stood and took out her handcuffs, “Jackie Travis, you are under arrest.” She listed off the list of charges and read Jackie her rights.
“What?” Jackie hissed, trying to fight the detective off. “Are you kidding me? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s the voice,” Dawn said. “She’s the one who pretended to be Kelly and the one who was talking to Carl after he’d gotten shot with the pseudo poison.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Jackie told the police officers the detective handed her over to. “She hates me because Greg is still in love with me. She’ll say anything to get me out of the way.”
“It’s too late, Jackie,” Connor told her, his eyes smoldering with anger. “I’ve told them everything I know, and so has Greg, who they have in custody and is a weasel just like you.”
“You little snitch,” Jackie spat at him before her eyes locked with Dawn’s once again. “This is all your fault. You should be dead. Just know your luck can’t hold forever, and I’ll find out who your guardian angel is and kill them too.”
“You know, Jackie, I may not be a lawyer, but I do believe you shouldn’t say anything else because you’re just incriminating yourself more,” Dawn told her with a smug smile.
“We’ll be in touch to wrap this up,” the detective told them. She took Connor by the arm. “Come on, kid, let’s get you to your parents.”
“It was really nice to meet you, Miss Vanderbilt,” Connor said. “I just wish it was under better circumstances.” He glanced from Liam to Dawn. “I’m really sorry for my part in all this.”
When they left, the office quietened down. Liam closed his door and locked it, then went to stand in front of Dawn, taking her hands and putting them on his waist before cupping her face.
“I’m so glad this is finally over,” Dawn said with a sigh.
“Me too.” Liam nodded. “Now, where were we?” He smiled, his voice growing hoarse.
“Mm,” Dawn said, smiling up at him. “You were about to get me something to eat?” she teased.
Liam chuckled. “I have something to tell you first.” His eyes caught and held hers. “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while now.” He dipped his head forward and kissed her softly on thelips. “I hope this doesn’t spoil our friendship, but I’m head over heels in love with you, and I hope we can be more than friends.”
“I’m so glad you said that,” Dawn’s voice was soft and alluring. “Because I was hoping we could be more than friends as well. Because I’m head over heels in love with you, too.”
“For some reason, I want to say snap!” Liam grinned before his lips claimed her, and the world faded around them. When he withdrew, their foreheads rested together. “I think you have a great ending for your book.”
“I have to agree,” Dawn smiled, lifting her head to join their lips once again.
While Dawn and Liam were lost in each other, a well-dressed gentleman of advanced years left the Summer Inn Restaurant. His crystal clear blue eyes were framed by silver brows the matched the color of his hair nearly all hidden beneath his fedora. He walked with a black cane sporting a pewter lion’s head with brilliant blue eyes that mimicked his own. He titled his hat politely to greet everyone who passed him by with a charming smile on his still handsome face. Two bodyguards dressed in the standard black gear, earpiece, and dark shades flanked him.
He walked to the front desk and Mary, who had just taken over for Donna, helped him.
“Checking out Mr. Wallace?” Mary asked him with a warm smile.
“I am indeed. My work here is done,” he paused, “for now.” His smile broadened. “And I’ve told you how many times, Mary, to call me Ford.”
