Wickingham Way (A Harbour Falls Mystery #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

closely shorn brown hair.
    Max had once frightened me, especially after he’d discovered me spying on Adam on the day of my fateful hike. I’d been so frightened that when he’d covered my mouth with his big hand, stifling my scream, I had fainted in his arms. Since then, however, I’d grown to care for the big security guy. Max was a gentle giant…but lethal when he needed to be. That fact had been made clear on the night Jennifer Weston had held me captive at the lighthouse. Jennifer had had every intention of killing me, but Max had shot and killed her before she could execute her sinister plan.
    I shuddered at the memory from not so very long ago.
    Adam, taking notice, put his arm around me. “Cold?” he inquired.
    “Not really,” I said. “Just a little freaked out with all this…” I raised my eyes and waved a hand at one of the electronic devices lodged up in a tree next to where we stood.
    “I know, babe.” Adam sighed. “And hopefully this won’t go on for too long. As soon as we have more intel, we can apprehend whoever issued the directive.”
    Yeah, the directive to kill Adam , I thought. Lovely.
    My stomach twisted. I didn’t know what kind of “intel” Adam and the government needed exactly, but I prayed they’d find it quickly.
    To end the uncomfortable conversation, I nodded and quietly murmured, “Okay.”
    Adam refocused on Max, and I continued to follow along as we made our way farther down the long driveway, in the direction of the main road. I questioned silently why Adam had even asked me to tag along.
    But then I knew why.
    Adam wanted me close to him at all times so he could protect me if need be. After all, the island wasn’t fully secured just yet.
    Max stopped at the next trail, this one hidden by a tangle of dried leaves left over from the fall season. I knew from the single time Adam had transported us in one of his speedboats—from the mainland to Fade Island—that this trail led down to a small, secluded dock, one for Adam’s use only.
    “This is of particular concern,” Max began, nodding somberly to the trailhead. “The brush is so thick I’m afraid surveillance equipment allows us only a limited view of the dock area.”
    “What do you suggest?” Adam asked, his brow creasing with concern.
    “I can keep an eye on it personally for the time being, but I’m afraid I have to recommend closing this dock down indefinitely. It’s the safest option.”
    Adam frowned, and Max added, “We could always put additional manpower in place around this area, if that’d be more acceptable.”
    “I think that’d be wise,” Adam responded. “But even so, go ahead and close this area down. Just wait until later today. Agent Lenehan is due to arrive in”—Adam checked his expensive watch—“less than an hour. We’ll seal everything off after.”
    “Very well,” Max replied.
    I perked up, still focused on what Adam had just said. Agent Lenehan was coming to Fade Island? Great! I’d finally have the chance to meet the elusive Boston contact.
    I wonder what he’ll be like , I thought. I’d decided the agent was most definitely a man, so I wondered if he’d turn out to be a stuffy FBI bureaucrat. Or perhaps someone much more interesting, like a smooth James Bond secret agent type.
    While I ran through the possibilities, Adam relayed to Max the details of the speedboat the agent was due to arrive in. “White, with a blue stripe down the side. The driver will be a male in his early twenties. Besides Agent Lenehan, there should be no other passengers.”
    “Got it,” Max said. “Once they’re cleared and docked, I’ll escort them up to the house.”
    “Uh, just bring Agent Lenehan up,” Adam said. “The driver is trained. Leave him to guard the boat. An extra set of eyes can’t hurt until we get this island completely secured.”
    Adam then told Max he and I would be heading back to the house, where we’d wait in the study for the agent to arrive. Agent