Parked outside the marina, my gaze roamed across the water to the mysterious island. There was something about the way it loomed in the distance—a constant mist circling as though possessed by tormented spirits—tall conifers guarding the border like an Indian tribe protecting sacred land. No matter how many times I pushed the mental image aside, trying to tame my unrest, the island continued to haunt me.
Levaughn crept up behind me and snaked his arms around my waist. “What’s got you so entranced, babe?”
Without turning around, I caressed his cheek. “Hey, you.”
He gave me a gentle squeeze. “You all right?”
I nodded yes.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“I dunno. My heart aches for Boomer.” I spun, the side of my face tucked against his rock-hard chest, his strong arms holding me tight. “Promise me nothing will ever tear us apart.”
Lips pressed to the top of my head, he murmured, “I promise.”
A lone tear tricked down my cheek. “What if we don’t find her in time?”
He didn’t answer.
Not that I blamed him. The whole situation sucked. Loving parents torn apart by tragedy wasn’t easy for anyone to consider, never mind witness. For Maya, the destruction of her mother and subsequent annihilation of her father would impact her entire life. Regardless of how hard Boomer tried to shield her from the past, his inner turmoil would always reveal the desperation he felt without Daphne in their lives. Of this, I had no doubt.
Inherently kids knew when a parent’s heart shattered beyond repair. Even at Maya’s tender age—less than a year old—she probably sensed something wasn’t right. She didn’t understand what it was, of course, but her mother’s MIA.
A keening tangled around my ribcage, writhed deep and long, strangling my ability to breathe normally without constriction.
Behind Levaughn, a car door slammed.
Through an opening between his arm and his side I spotted Boomer, who scrubbed a hand over his face as though taming the beast within, or summoning the rage to obliterate the man who dared to touch his one-and-only. When he soldiered toward the door, determination crossed his face, and I squirmed out of Levaughn’s grasp to head him off.
“Boomer—wait!” Bounding over to head him off, I flashed splayed hands. “Don’t go in there half-cocked. Please.” My whole body pleaded with him to reconsider. “We can’t risk not getting the answers we need to find Daphne.”
Dead in his tracks, he stopped. His hands dropped, dangling by his side as his shoulders rolled forward in defeat. “Got a better idea? I’ll tell you right now, I’m not spending another minute worrying what she might be going through when we’re this close. I need her home. Now.”
“I know you do. We want that too; believe me.”
Levaughn nodded in agreement.
“Let me do it. Who knows? Maybe I can get him to obsess over me instead so he lets Daphne go.”
“I appreciate your willingness to trade your life for Daphne’s, I really do, but I can’t let you do that. Besides, he’ll kill her before he’d ever let her walk free. Don’t forget, she can ID him now.”
“He’s right, Shawnee. Plus, I’m not letting you be bait. Are you insane? No way.”
“Then I don’t know what else to do. I mean seriously, do you really think he’ll tell us where he took her if we ask nicely?” I rolled my lips. “Fat chance of that.”
“Okay, okay, relax.” With two fingers Levaughn hooked the belt loop of my cut-off jeans, pulling me near. “This may surprise you, but the art of interrogation is kinda in my wheelhouse.” Smirking, he winked. “You two stay here. I’ll be back.”
As he sauntered away with that unbelievable sexy swagger of his, I called out, “Nicely done, Detective.”
He returned a Cheshire Cat grin, flawless white teeth gleaming against silky bronze skin, his jawline chiseled as if sculpted by Michelangelo himself. Mm-mmm. His firm, round ass and muscular legs tingled areas that had been neglected for days.
For one selfish moment, I envisioned myself tackling him in the sand, straddling his hips as we kissed long and hard, then running my tongue down his chest—his six-pack abs flexing in anticipation—to one perfect line of hair extending from his belly button to the most beautiful, rock-hard cock I’d ever had the pleasure of devouring.
When Levaughn entered the building he dispelled the lustful reverie, and my mind snapped back to reality. Had Boomer noticed my immodest stare, visually ravishing my man, my body aching for his touch, my lips parted with desire?
No sooner did the question stir deep-seeded shame, sorrow washed over his face, his eyes saddening more and more with each millisecond that ticked by without his soulmate, his everything.
“Crap.” Here I am eyeing my man like a feline in heat while some sicko torpedoed his life. Not cool. “I’m sorry.”
“Shawnee, you have nothing to apologize for.” Arms folded on his chest, he leaned against the grill of my Mitsubishi Montero. Silent. Tortured. Racked.
Ten minutes later, Levaughn led a kid about twenty-two out the door. Nothing about him screamed dangerous. “Tell them what you just told me.”
“Wait,” I interrupted. “Are you Derrick?”
“Yep.”
This dude couldn’t kidnap a woman if she gave him a head start. Never mind someone as self-reliant as Daphne. “Am I missing somethin’? He can’t be the guy.”
“He’s not.”
Boomer grunted his disapproval.
“Just listen to what he has to say.” Levaughn urged Derrick, “Go ahead.”
“Like I was telling him—” he jabbed his chin at Levaughn— “Denise used to hang around the marina almost every day. She got off work before I did. I swear I didn’t hurt her. I love Denise. But she did have words with the sunset cruise captain, more than once. She hated Denise, and wasn’t shy about telling me to dump her.”
Now he had Boomer’s full attention. “Did you say ‘she’?”
“Yeah. Ms. Darling. It was weird too. One minute she’d be all sweet and nice toward Denise, and the next, she didn’t want her inside the marina.”
“Sounds like a crush,” remarked Boomer, “but we should still question her. Do you know where Ms. Darling is now?”
“Home, probably. Today’s her day off.”
“You wouldn’t know where she lives, would you?”
“Yep.” He pointed at the lake. “This is actually Brandy Pond where we are, but once you go under the bridge you’re back on Long Lake.”
“Make your point.” A thick vein pulsed in Boomer’s forehead. “What does any of this have to do with Ms. Darling?”
“Everything. See that island in the distance? Her family’s owned that land forever. I heard stories growing up, but I’ve got no idea if they’re true.”
Boomer cocked one eyebrow. “What kind of stories?”
“Y’know, the usual crap. Some say they swear they saw a woman in white walking the beach at night, like it’s haunted or something. Tight-knit communities have way more legends than truth sometimes. The rumor about kids screaming, I believe, because growing up I heard it myself. Used to freak me the hell out too. I lived in the beach house next to Joan London, which isn’t far from the island.”
“Kids screaming?” Boomer’s gaze shot to me. “Call Nadine.”
“On it.” Scrambling out of ear shot, I dialed Nadine’s cell. Hopefully she had her phone with her.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Nay, it’s me. Is everything okay there?”
“Fine. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“No reason. Boomer asked me to check in, so that’s what I’m doin’.”
“Tell him, Maya is such a good little girl. I just adore her. Right now, we’re reading Green Eggs and Ham.” She lowered her voice. “Between you me, I don’t think Christopher’s thrilled about being here.”
“Sorry I messed up your plans. I’ll make it up to you.”
“No worries. Did you find Daphne?”
“Not yet, but we’re close. We’ll be home in a couple hours. Okay?”
“Sure. Take your time. We’re fine.” In a soothing tone, she said, “Aren’t we Maya?”
“Okay, cool. Thanks, Nay. I gotta go.” After she said goodbye, I disconnected and darted back to the men. “Everything’s copasetic. Nadine’s reading Maya Green Eggs and Ham.”
A quivery smile trembled his lips. “Her favorite. Daphne’s read it about a hundred times.” Head hung, he played with his Navy SEAL ring. In a split-second his mood changed and he turned his attention to Derrick, his hand balling into a fist of rage. “We need to get to that island. Do you have a jet-boat available?”
“No. Sorry. The only one here is reserved for two o’clock.”
He pulled out a wad of cash and counted off ten crisp one-hundred dollar bills. “Call and cancel. I need that boat.”
Boomer’s size alone was enough to intimidate a scrawny kid like Derrick, who slipped the money into the front pocket of his knee-length shorts. “Yes, sir. The boat’s all gassed up. I’ll get the keys.” He darted into the marina.
While we waited, Boomer paced like a caged lion at the circus.
“Here ya go, man.” Derrick passed Boomer the key, dangling from a spongy, banana-yellow buoy, “Long Lake Marina” printed on one side. “Dock C, slip 3. I’m giving you a multi-day rate, but she has to be docked by sundown for the insurance. That only gives you a few hours. Hope that’s okay.”
Boomer didn’t respond.
Derrick continued. “Return it tomorrow around this time, or the next. Whatever works. If you need it longer, call me.” He passed Boomer a business card. “My cell number’s on the back.”
I doubt Boomer heard a word after Ms. Darling, the island, and the possibility of finding Daphne. Yet, he acted like he had. “Will do. Thanks.” Hooking an arm at me and Levaughn, he then hustled toward the docks. “C’mon. We have to hurry.”
“Thanks for your help.” Levaughn shook the kid’s hand. “Appreciate it. If anyone asks, we were never here.”
“No problem, man. Hey, if you find Denise, can you do me favor? Tell her to call me.”
“No one told you?” Involuntarily my hands shot above my shoulders, slapped my thighs as they fell. “Unbelievable.”
“Tell me what?” With an unfocused stare, Derrick backed away as if mentally preparing himself for the answer—waited a beat—and then fired off questions faster than a bullet left its chamber. “Did the cops find Denise? Where was she? Is she okay? Why hasn’t she swung by or called? No. Don’t say it. Something’s happened, hasn’t it? What hospital is she in, Bridgton? Oh. My. God.” Tears swarmed his deep-blue eyes, his clef chin dimpling in disbelief. “My boss, Dave, said a woman drowned by falling outta one of our canoes—cocked—too wasted to save herself. Are you sayin’ he was talking about Denise?”
“Call the Maine State Police and tell them who you are,” I said. “Tell them, you and Denise are in love. Tell them how affected you are by her disappearance; how much it hurts. Call right away, though. Don’t delay.”
“Okay,” he said, hesitant. “And why am I doing that?”
“Because you deserve answers. You deserve to know the truth.”
“Excuse us, Derrick.” Levaughn weaved his fingers with mine, and squeezed. In other words, don’t trample through another department’s case. As it is, you’ve said too much.
“We really need to go, babe.” He pulled me away, then shot an erect finger at Derrick, who stood motionless as if dumbstruck by my words. Probably frightened too. “Make that call.”
When we hustled out back to the specified dock, Boomer already had the motor running. Smoke billowed out the pipes of a sleek, burgundy-and-white jet-boat with dual exhaust, chromed. The raging roar of the engine matched the expression on his face, brow pulled low, his gray eyes slitted. Muscles flexed in both arms, bursting the seams on his tight T-shirt. Legs slightly apart, laser-focused determination, and a scowl at the island—his entire persona screamed he was ready for the fight of his life. One way or the other he was taking his life back. Not tomorrow, not next week or next month. Today.
I, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. Ms. Darling could be anywhere. Hell, we didn’t even have a description. She could give us a fake name, and we’d have no way to prove she lied. What if she had no part in these killings or the disappearances? The possibility existed that she was, in fact, innocent.
As we approached the boat, he ordered Levaughn to untie the ropes, and then extended a hand to help me board. Wow. Chivalry was alive and well, even under the worst circumstances. Gotta love country boys. Even so, I’d never trade my man. Ever. If this nightmare taught me anything, it’s never to take those I love for granted.
After Levaughn tossed the bumpers into the boat, he jumped aboard. “Fenders and line are all set.”
Boomer’s eyebrows lifted in amazement, a smirk toying with the corners of his lips. “Very good. I wasn’t sure you knew the correct terminology, being a marine and all.”
“Touché. Whaddaya say we bring your future wife home?”
“Sounds good.”
One might think with that kind of send-off, we’d jet away from the dock with a happily-ever-after ending. Sadly, that didn’t happen. In many ways our quest had just begun. Plus, in the “No Wake Zone” boats couldn’t go faster than five miles-per-hour. At idle speed the vessel couldn’t create “wakes,” which added to the anti-climactic departure.
As much as I hated to ruin the positive vibes, I leaned aside to Levaughn, hushed, “How do we know Daphne’s even on that island?”
“We don’t.”
“Then why would you get his hopes up? If this lead doesn’t pan out, it’ll crush him.”
“I realize that, Shawnee. We’re grasping at straws here, but what else do you want me to do? The island is the only place we haven’t searched. Remember when I asked you what all the vics had in common?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, when Boomer said Daphne bought tickets for the sunset cruise, it finally clicked. At some point during their vacation every victim, whether alone or with family, visited Long Lake Marina. Shortly thereafter, they went missing. If my hunch is correct—and you know as well as I do it hasn’t failed me yet—Ms. Darling knows why.”
“So, you think she’s the one kidnapping couples?”
“By herself? Doubt it. I can’t see one lone female subduing two healthy adults, even in a blitz attack. But she could be involved somehow. Maybe the reason couples are being targeted is because the suspects are in a relationship of some sort. Or maybe, they want to be involved romantically and something, or someone, is holding them back. Aack.” He swatted a dismissive hand. “We could speculate all day. Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of time. If we don’t find Daphne soon, we may not find her at all.”