Starfish Island Read Online Free PDF Page B

line. “You’re new here on the island, the beneficiary of an old woman who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind or tell people exactly what she thought of them. She had enemies. They might become your enemies.”
    His grip was hurting her arm, and she wanted to yank herself free and run. She didn’t know why; she only knew she had to get away from him, but her dignity and training wouldn’t let her struggle. Her mind flashed back to her stepfather, but she quickly quashed the memories.
    “For your safety’s sake, you must report the slightest threat or disturbance. If you don’t care about yourself, think of the Russells. They’re old, and you wouldn’t want to involve them in any danger.”
    Danger? All at once, the house seemed frightening, far away from her familiar world in Santa Fe. Panic engulfed her. She tugged at her wrist to release herself from his grasp, but he had other ideas. He gently rubbed where he’d grabbed her wrist and kissed the slight redness.
    “Do you speak for all my neighbors?” she asked, forcing a mocking tone into her voice.
    “As a matter of fact, I do.” He brushed a red curl behind her ear and added sharply, “Did you tell Ellis Sadler you suspected you were being followed?”
    “Why would I?”
    “How long had you been followed?”
    She thought back. “I first noticed the black Escalade when I turned off the interstate. If they were tailing me, they did a lousy job, constantly showing up in my rearview mirror. One exit before Starfish, the SUV turned off. The only stops I made were for gas.”
    “When you stopped, did you say who you were?”
    “I never talk to strangers—” Nicole smiled. “—except you.”
    “Did you see that SUV at any of your stops? Who told you how to get here?”
    “Black SUVs are everywhere. I can’t be certain I saw that particular Escalade again. Ellis emailed me directions, but I use my GPS everywhere I go anyway. I do remember one man in particular who checked me out as he walked out of a convenience store, but only because he stared so openly: appraising, but not friendly. It made me uncomfortable. He had dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and a pockmarked face. He eventually got into the back seat of an SUV parked at the pump.”
    “Did you get a look at the person driving?”
    “He had on a baseball cap; couldn’t get a better look with the dark tint of the windows. Usually, I don’t pay attention to such things, but he appeared to be staring, and it was hard not to notice.”
    Michael took his phone out of his pocket and made some notes. “Anything else?”
    “The man on the passenger side got out. He was tall, with a pale complexion and white hair. He looked me over in detail.”
    “You’ve given me an excellent description,” Michael said, smiling. “The white-haired one could be Franklin Henderson, a good friend of your grandmother.  Henderson and two of his associates serve on the board of directors for our bank. Since her voting stock devolves to you, you’ll meet them all. They and Caroline respected one another but had a frosty relationship.”
    He stared into the dying embers. “You’ve come to what I believe is one of the most beautiful parts of Florida, the Gold Coast. This section has mostly been left unspoiled by big developers. You’ll meet a lot of different people here who have the good of the island at heart. The majority of them, that is,” he qualified.
    Nicole wondered if he was thinking of Ellis Sandler.
    “Do you remember anyone else?” he asked.
    “The white-haired man came back to the SUV with a blond girl, all wide-eyed and innocent-looking, big dimples in her cheeks. I noticed her because she had an uncontrollable giggling fit. The tone of her laughter sounded intimate.” Nicole sighed. “After the Escalade turned off, I didn’t notice another car until I almost ran into you. All the other cars on the causeway whizzed by me, even though I drove a little over the speed limit.” She smiled