LITMIR.BIZ

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snack,” Gil said. “Didn’t know when you’d be back. But you can take over.”

      “That’s all right,” she said.

      Mandy laughed. “No, it’s not. We know you like to tuck them in.”

      She smiled. “You two do fine without me,” Alex said.

      “Hell, the swim was a piece of cake next to your day,” Mandy said. “Seth Granger dead. Go figure.” He made a face. “And you found him floating. I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

      “You look all done in. We’ll take off and leave you to your babies,” Gil said. “I’m sure you don’t want to replay the afternoon anymore.”

      “It’s okay, but you’re right. Truthfully, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Not now, anyway,” she agreed.

      “Good night, then,” Gil said.

      “Hey, wait!” she called. They stopped, looking at her expectantly. “Has either of you seen Laurie today?” she asked.

      “I haven’t,” Gil said, looking at Mandy.

      “I haven’t either. But it is her day off,” Mandy said.

      “I haven’t seen her since last night. She left the Tiki Hut kind of late. She’d been talking to Hank Adamson. She was holding her own against him, too, and the guy can be a real pain,” Gil said.

      “Yeah, he can. Did he grill either of you?” Alex asked.

      “Nope,” Gil said. “I was at the Tiki Hut after she left, but…I don’t remember seeing Adamson after that, either, actually. But hey, I’m a bald guy with a gold earring, and Laurie is a cute girl. I’d grill her, too, if I were Adamson.” He frowned suddenly. “Are you worried about her?”

      “No. Not really. It’s her day off. She’s free to come and go as she pleases,” Alex said.

      “Actually, come to think of it, Len was looking for her earlier, too,” Mandy said.

      “Why?”

      “I think he had mail for her. Or maybe he just knew that she’d been talking to Hank Adamson, and wanted to make sure she hadn’t said anything she shouldn’t.” He shrugged.

      Gil let out a snort. “Adamson is going to write what he wants, no matter what any of us say. Only thing is, now he’s going to have an awful lot more to write about, having been there when Seth Granger bit the big one.”

      “Gil…” Alex said with a groan.

      “I’ll take a walk by Laurie’s room and knock,” Gil said. “But maybe she just doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

      “Yeah. She could have a hot date,” Mandy agreed.

      “You think?” Alex said. She shook her head. “She would have told me. She hated that Date Tournament thing she went on.”

      “Yeah, but…she sure was impressed by your ex-husband,” Mandy said.

      “And the blond guy chasing you around the last few days,” Gil commented.

      “Well, they were both there today when Seth—as you so gently put it—bit the big one,” Alex said.

      “I’m sure she’s fine,” Gil said. “I’m sure she’ll turn up by morning. Maybe she’s somewhere right now, hearing all about Seth Granger. Jay must be having fits. That kind of publicity, connected to his precious Moon Bay.”

      “Haven’t you heard? There’s no such thing as bad publicity. We’ll probably get more people hanging around. In another year, Warren will be advertising that he has a ghost,” Mandy said.

      “Hey, the guy is barely cold!” Alex protested.

      “Sorry,” Mandy told her.

      “Let’s get out of here and let the boss have her private time,” Gil said to him. “Night, Alex.”

      The two walked off. Alex suddenly felt very alone.

      For a moment she felt a chill, but then realized that the Tiki Hut was blazing with light and music, and she was just across the lagoon from it. She didn’t need to feel alone or afraid, she assured herself. And she wouldn’t.

      The time was now. And there wouldn’t be much of it.

      Using the pass key he’d obtained, he slipped it into the front door of the cottage, quickly closing it behind him, then locking it again.

      If someone should arrive, there was always the back door.

      Where to look…?

      The bedroom. He’d been there before.

      He went straight for the dresser, staring at the things on top of it. He picked up the dolphin again, studying it, shaking it. Perfume sprayed out at him. Choking, he put it down.

      There was a beautiful painting of a dolphin on the wall. He walked over to it, lifted it from its hook, returned it.

      Anger filled him. He didn’t have enough information, and despite all he’d done, he couldn’t get it. Hell, everywhere he looked, there were dolphins around this woman. Live ones, stuffed ones, ceramic ones.

      He heard footsteps coming toward the cottage and hurried for the back door. As long as he wasn’t caught, he could come back and take all the time he wanted to study every dolphin in the place.

      And he wasn’t going to be caught. He would made sure of that this time.

      Outside the cottage, he swore. He could have had more time right then. It was just one of the damn maids, walking down the trail.

      He smiled at her, waved and kept going.

      Back toward the lights and the few people still milling around at the Tiki Hut.

      David’s phone rang as he headed back along the path. When he saw Dane Whitelaw’s name flash on the ID screen, he paused, taking the call.

      “What did you find out?”

      “I’m fine, thanks,” Dane said dryly. “How are you?”

      David paused. “Sorry, how are you? The cat, the dog? Wife, kids…the tropical fish?”

      Dane laughed on the other end. “I researched your navy boy. Seems he’s telling you the truth. He left the military a year ago May. Was married to a Serena Anne Franklin, no kids. They split up right about the time he left the service. He’s in business for himself, incorporated as Seymore Consultants—there are no other consultants listed, however. There is one interesting thing. He was in Miami for a month before coming down here.”

      “So…it’s possible he met up with Alicia Farr there?”

      “It’s possible, but there are millions of people in the area.”

      “Great. The guy may be legit—and may not be.”

      “I’ll tell you one thing, he has degrees up the kazoo. Engineering, psychology, geography, with a minor in oceanography.”

      “Don’t you just hate an underachiever?” David muttered.

      “Bet the guy made a lot of contacts over the years. Men in high places. Foreign interests, too, I imagine.”

      “So just what are you saying? Does that clear him, or make him more suspicious?” David asked.

      “In a case like this, I can tell you what I’d go by. Gut instinct.”

      “What does your gut instinct say?” David asked.

      “Nothing. You have to go by your own gut instinct. You know him. I don’t. Hey, by the way. I see it’s getting even more tangled down there. I saw it on the news.”

      “Seth Granger?”

      “You bet. Millionaire drowns and it’s on every

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