Heather Graham - Heather Graham Bundle - The Island / Ghost Walk / Killing Kelly / The Vision

“Shit,” Lee swore suddenly.

“What?”

The television mounted over the doorway to the aft area had been on, the sound muted. Lee reached for the remote and turned up the volume. The news was on. The tragic death of a local charter-boat owner and dive master was being reported.

“Another one,” Lee said.

“They didn’t say anything about him being anywhere near Calliope Key,” Matt pointed out.

“It’s time we get our own asses back out there,” Lee said. He shook his head. “Keith is crazy, thinking he can find out something at that yacht club. We need to be out there. Watching. Shit. Where the damn hell is he, anyway?”

WHEN KEITH RETURNED, Beth’s house was dark.

He wasn’t accustomed to even feeling uneasy, so it disturbed him to realize he was feeling something akin to growing panic. He dialed her number, but there was no answer. Where the hell was she—and, worse, where the hell was Jake? When the answering machine came on, he felt like an utter fool, but he started speaking. “Jake, dammit, answer. Beth, pick up. You don’t have to see me or let me in, but pick up. I see your car. I know you’re there, and I’m worried. If you don’t answer, I’m going to get the police out here.”

She picked up. “Yes?”

“You are there.”

“Yes.” The terms “icy” and “distant” wouldn’t begin to describe the tone of her voice.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. Is there a reason I shouldn’t be? Jake is here, remember.” If anything, her tone grew harder still.

“You guys didn’t answer the phone,” he said irritably.

“Jake is in the bathroom, and I’m fine. We don’t need to talk right now. It’s late.”

“Beth, look, I’m sorry. I told you, I had some things I needed to do, and I knew you’d be all right with Jake there. But…we do need to talk.”

“I’m not calling the police. And as for you…don’t be sorry. You were around to run them off and now…now I’m with a friend. So don’t be sorry. We all have an agenda, don’t we? I just don’t care to see you or talk about it any more right now.”

“Beth…” He hesitated. There was nothing he was at liberty to say to her.

“Beth,” he said, “it was a strange day.”

“I just want to be alone, all right? Jake is here. I’m fine.”

She hung up.

He sat there, his phone in his hand, for several seconds, just registering the fact that she had cut him off so coldly.

Well, what the hell had he expected?

It didn’t matter. He was loath to leave. Nothing had been solved. Jake had a job and a family. He couldn’t just turn his life over to keeping tabs on Beth.

His phone rang. He expected it to be Jake, and he answered quickly.

“Where the hell are you?”

It was Lee, and he was aggravated.

“Busy. What’s up?”

“The noose is tightening. We really need to move.” Lee was quiet. “They found another diver. The news just came out. We need to get back on the boat.”

“I know we need to get back out there. I just need a little more time.”

Lee was silent. “I told you before, we need to focus. There’s the project, and that’s it.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Listen to me, Keith. We’ve got to get back out on the reef.”

“I’ll be there. I have something to solve first.”

“Look,” Lee said, sounding seriously pissed, “we need to talk. We have a job to do. You can’t go taking care of the rest of the world. We have to be back on that reef by tomorrow morning.”

“Where are you now?”

“Right where we’ve been. Waiting.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

“Really soon,” Lee said.

Keith hung up, contemplating the situation. He hesitated, then dialed Beth’s number again. She had been attacked. And then there was the skull on her desk. That had to mean something, as well.

Why the hell couldn’t he just find the connection?

He closed his eyes for a moment. There was money in this, big money. Maybe Mike was right. Money often meant corruption.

He called the house number, determined to tell her at least some of what was going on, and to hell with the consequences. The machine came on.

“Beth, I know you’re angry. You have a right to be. But I’m worried about you. Jake can’t stay there forever. Listen. I think that you were followed today, from Nick’s to the club. A couple left right in your wake. That was why I followed you. A couple, Beth. It might have been Brad and Sandy, in disguise. If they’re the pirates, they’re dangerous.” He paused. “Guilty of murder. Jake has to go home sooner or later. You need to stay with someone.”

“What’s happening?” she picked up and demanded. “Why did you leave, then, and come back so worried and determined?”

“I had a meeting, that was all. I said I’d be back. Put Jake on the phone, if you just want to fight with me. Please. Honestly, if I knew what was happening, I’d tell you,” he said bitterly.

He heard her sound of frustration. “Listen, Beth, I’ll explain everything to you as soon as I can, I promise. For now…please, pack a few things and go with Jake to his place.” He was quiet. “I’m not leaving until I see you go with him.”

“All right.” She hung up on him.

He remained where he was, tense, pondering his next move. Then his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and realized she had hit Redial. “Beth?”

“It’s Jake. She’s coming back to my place.”

“Thanks.”

“She still won’t agree to filing a police report. I’ve tried everything but brute force,” Jake told him.

“Just keep her safe, huh?”

“You bet,” Jake assured him.

Keith remained where he was. He expected a long wait, but it was no more than ten minutes before Jake and Beth appeared. She locked the house but didn’t glance his way. Jake gave him a wave as he got into the passenger seat of her car.

Despite Jake’s presence, Keith followed. He pulled out his phone and dialed when he realized she was going in the direction of Nick’s.

Lee answered. “I’ll be there in about another ten minutes,” Keith told him. “You can bring the tender and get me at the dock at Nick’s.”

“Great. Glad you’ve had your entertainment for the night,” Lee said sarcastically.

Keith hung up.

He waited in the car while Beth parked at Nick’s, grabbed her overnight bag and headed toward the rear with Jake. Then he followed.

The place was jumping. It was a Saturday night. Nothing could go wrong with that many people around.

Please, God, he thought. Let that be the truth.

He saw Ashley, her youngest child in her arms, making her way through the tables to meet Beth and Jake.

Once they were all together, Keith circumvented the busy patio and headed out to the pier.

He heard the motor of the tender soon after. Lee had come. The stare he gave Keith spoke volumes.

“No involvements,” Lee muttered with disgust. “Yeah, like hell. We came in for information. Not for your entertainment.”

“Let’s just go,” Keith said.

“Hell, yeah. Let’s just go. Eye on the prize, pal.”

Keith swung on him. “Hey, swallow this, pal. Fuck you. The prize has changed.”

IF NOTHING ELSE, it had probably been the longest, most eventful day of Beth’s life. By the time she reached the privacy of Ashley and Jake’s place, in an ell off the restaurant, she was so keyed up she was ready to scream—and not at all sure of where to start.

“You lied to me,” she told Ashley.

“I’m not at liberty—” Ashley began.

“I’ve already explained that,” Jake said, staring at Beth. “Over and over again.”

“Oh, come on. You know I would never say anything to anyone else if you told me not to. What the hell is going on here? I can’t imagine that you’ve become buddy-buddy with some kind of criminal, but he keeps denying that he’s a cop.” Beth stared from Ashley to Jake.