Swept Away: A Squeaky Clean Honeymoon Novella (Squeaky Clean Mysteries Book 12) Read Online Free PDF Page B

wouldn’t do to go over there and question everyone myself . . .
    “Again, we’re not sure. There’s no evidence at this point that these crimes are connected with the show.” He rubbed his forehead again. “Now, about this break-in at your place . . .”

Chapter Four
    N o sooner had Old Yeller left than did Wally appear on the sand below. He watched the chief leave, an almost amused look in his eyes.
    “You get to talk to the police again?” he said from down below. “Lucky you.”
    “I suppose,” Riley said. “What can we do for you?”
    He squinted up at us, still sporting that Miami Vice vibe in his sports coat and sunglasses. “Do you mind if I come up for a minute? Or would you both come down?”
    “We’ll be right there,” Riley said, before muttering to me, “What’s one more interruption to our trip?”
    I could tell he was getting frustrated, and I felt badly about it. He’d worked hard to plan this, and nothing seemed to be working out as he’d envisioned.
    We met Wally at the back door.
    “Everything okay?” Wally pulled his sunglasses down on his nose as he looked back-and-forth from Riley to me. “I saw the police activity outside.”
    “Just a little break-in,” I said.
    His eyebrows shot up. “Break-in? Maybe we should do a better job scouting our locations for Looking for Love . I feel like we should be filming CSI or one of those other crime dramas. Anyway, I wanted to know if you’d had a chance to look at that contract I left yesterday . . .”
    I couldn’t hold my tongue. “You’re still worried about that? One of your contestants is missing!”
    He put on an overly animated expression of sorrow. “Of course, we’re concerned about Vivian. Deeply concerned. We’re doing everything we can to get her back. But we also have a business here. Time is money when you’re working on these shows, and we’re already over budget. Ricky’s agent knows how to get a good cash advance.”
    “He has an agent?” I asked. “So he’s an actor, not some guy off the street who wants to find his soul mate?”
    I really shouldn’t have been surprised by that fact. It was just that I’d only recently started to believe in love again, and I hated to see people being fooled by cheap imitations of the real thing.
    Wally scoffed. “No, of course not. He’s looking for love.”
    I doubted that. I wondered how many of the women were also actresses. Reality TV wasn’t grounded in any reality at all.
    “I’m surprised you’re still filming,” I said, not ready to let this drop.
    “We’re not. Not right now. We’re going dark for at least twenty-four hours to be respectful.”
    “And after that?”
    “After that, we’ll have to see. Vivian would want the show to go on.”
    Uh huh. I was sure she would. I mean, most reasonable people would want others to forget about them and what happened to them after a dramatic abduction in which there was no resolution. I kept my sarcasm at bay.
    “How’s Joey?” I asked, remembering how upset she’d seemed.
    His jaw flexed. “Joey’s hanging in. We brought in a masseuse to help the ladies cope.”
    “A masseuse? What about a counselor?” Riley asked.
    “Oh, one of those too. Of course. But to these women . . . everything is better with some wine, pampering, and a lot of air time.” He let out a clipped laugh before clapping his hands. “So, about those release forms . . .”
    I shook my head. Riley and I hadn’t even talked about it—we’d all but forgotten about them with the excitement—but the answer was a no brainer, and I felt certain Riley would agree. “We’re not signing. I don’t want to be connected with this show in any way, shape, or form.”
    “Are you sure? There could be some compensation involved . . .” His voice lilted upward, as if money might tempt us.
    “We’re not interested,” Riley confirmed. “Especially not now that a woman is missing.”
    He stared at us another moment before nodding coldly.