Tidewater Inn Read Online Free PDF Page B

spare tire is flat too. Tom needs to take better care of this vehicle. Hop in. I’ll take you anywhere you need to go. Tom can collect the car later.”
    She studied his face. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know you.”
    He couldn’t blame her for being cautious, especially considering what had happened to her friend. He dug out his Coast Guard ID and held it out. Her fingers grazed his when she took it, and the bolt of adrenaline he experienced nearly made him snatch his hand back. She was beautiful, but he’d seen beautiful women before.
    She returned his ID. “Thank you. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
    â€œNo offense taken,” he said while he fetched her belongings from Tom’s car. “It’s always wise to be cautious.” He jerked his head toward the passenger side of the truck. “The door sticks. Give it a jerk.” He put her suitcase in the truck bed, then slid behind the wheel of his truck and quickly moved some nets and tackle off the seat.
    She yanked on the door, then climbed in. She wrinkled her nose as she shut the door. “I guess you have been fishing. The truck reeks of it.” She smiled. “Sorry, I don’t like fish much.”
    â€œYou just haven’t had the right fish. I went crabbing this morning. Nice haul.” He started the engine. “The smell grows on you. Where you headed?”
    She hesitated. “I was going to go to the Tidewater Inn, but you can just take me back to town and I’ll call them.”
    â€œYou live in the Outer Banks?”
    She shook her head. “Near Virginia Beach.”
    â€œYour friend was here on vacation or something?”
    She stared out the window. “Or something.”
    He didn’t like the way she didn’t look at him. Like she was hiding something. “By herself? She didn’t say anything about being worried about someone? No one was following her?”
    She shook her head and rested her cheek on the window.
    â€œI get the feeling you’re not telling me everything,” he said. “I have a nose for deception. Comes with the job.”
    She finally lifted her head and turned to face him. Her dark eyes were anxious and strained. “It’s personal.”
    He turned the truck into Dead Man’s Curve and headed for downtown. “Might have something to do with your friend’s disappearance though.”
    Her face was pale. “Do you know Horace Whittaker?”
    Was she in some kind of trouble? “Sure. He was born and raised here on the island. Good man, good attorney.”
    â€œHis secretary gave Nicole some interesting news. She said my father has left me some property out here.”
    He tried to think who had died lately. “Who’s your father?”
    â€œRay Mitchell.”
    Alec raised his brows. “You’re Ray’s daughter? I never knew he had any other kids except for Brent and Vanessa. You never visited him here. I would have seen you.”
    â€œI thought he died when I was five.” She pressed her lips together and looked down at her hands.
    He absorbed the news. So the information that Ray had only died a month ago would have come as a shock. “Who told you that?”
    â€œMy mother.”
    â€œYour mom lied to you?”
    She gave a barely perceptible nod.
    He made a quick decision as he parked in front of the jail. “Give me Tom’s keys. I’ll have a couple of deputies handle the car situation, and we’ll go see Horace.”
    She handed him the keys. “You think he knows what happened to Nicole?”
    â€œHe can tell us what he knows of her visit here. Maybe something will point to whatever happened. Though I doubt it’s related to your inheritance, I could be wrong. Do your brother and sister know you’re here?”
    She shook her head. “Seems crazy that I have a brother and sister I didn’t know about until yesterday.” She stared at