Chasing the Lost Read Online Free PDF Page B

Russian mob it, could be—” She paused, obviously trying to think through her emotions as the reality seemed to catch up with her.
    Chase waited.
    “It could be your neighbor, Peter Rollins.”
    Chase remembered the man with the gun. “What? Who the hell is he?”
    “Rollins is—well—” She shook her head as if to clear it. “He’s a big part of Hilton Head Island. His father was one of the first to buy up large tracts on the island, before there was a bridge. It was a quiet backwater barrier island, up until that bridge.”
    Chase had come to the island for the first time twenty-seven years ago with his mother. Just two years prior to going to the Military Academy. He’d never heard of Rollins. And he was pretty sure Rollins hadn’t recognized Sarah earlier.
    “How do you know Rollins?”
    “I don’t know him, I know of him. Most of Walter’s clients are on the island or in Savannah.”
    Chase shook his head. “I don’t understand. If Walter lives here and—”
    “Walter and I haven’t been close for a long time. I live in New York. I’ve always made it a point to stay away from Walter’s business locales, both here and in Antigua. Works better that way.” She seemed to anticipate his next question. “Walter wanted me to come down with Cole to the house that he rents when he comes here. He comes in by private boat, and doesn’t go through customs because there’s a warrant for his arrest for the gambling site. It’s the only place in the States we can meet. We were going to celebrate after the Super Bowl.” She sighed. “Things have been hard for us the last couple of years. This was supposed to be a big step toward a reconciliation.”
    “What’s Rollins got to do with what happened?” Chase walked over to the rocking unicorn and gave it a slight push.
    “Oh, I don’t know for sure,” Sarah said, slapping her palm down on the couch, resulting in a dull rattle of beans. “I don’t know who did this. But it happened on the island, and anything that happens on the island, Rollins knows something about. Notice that Spanish Wells Security didn’t show up. You think nobody on that street called in the shots?”
    “How would Rollins know about Walter? Is he a client?”
    “Yes, and I think he’s into SAS for a lot of money.”
    “I don’t see why Rollins would do something like this.” Chase glanced toward the door, behind which his long-ago summer fling had just saved his new dog’s life. There was no longer the sound of metal on metal.
    “I don’t know, either,” Sarah said. “But you saw him with that gun. The man isn’t all there. And Walter told me that Rollins has been doing some questionable land deals, and Rollins is one of the biggest land speculators in the area.”
    Chase felt his anger surge as he heard Erin moving about inside the operating room. Shooting a dog. That was pretty damn low. What the hell was it with people? Chase wondered as he looked about. He noticed a couple of small statues of unicorns on the counter where the receptionist would work. The unicorns stirred something about Erin, but he couldn’t latch onto the memory.
    “Is Walter going to do what the kidnappers want?”
    “He told me he was going to check with his business partner.”
    “Who is...?”
    “I don’t know.”
    The door to the operating room swung open and Erin came out, pulling off her surgical cap. “She should be all right,” Erin said. “Barring infection, she’ll recover quickly.”
    “Thanks,” Chase said.
    “Who shot her?” Erin was eyeing the gun, which was clearly visible in the middle of his back.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Where are the cops?” Erin asked.
    “It’s a bit complicated,” Chase replied.
    Erin regarded him for several seconds. “Always getting in trouble. Nothing’s changed, has it? I’d hug you, but the blood—”
    Chase stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms. Two women in one night. Both with blood on them. The circumstances could have