Excitedly, the little boys ran toward their cabin. The mother followed after her offspring. “Thank you.”
“What do you make of that?” I touched Ronnie’s door.
“That there’s something going on I need to find out about, and you should keep sticking your nose in my father’s business. He’s up to something.”
“I thought you said stay away from him.”
“I said don’t trust him. He trusts you, so your job is to keep throwing a wrench in his plans.”
My heart pitter-pattered. Ted knew what I was doing. And he approved. Kind of. But I was sure he’d prefer I not find myself coming to in dark cellars after getting hit in the head by an object. “You know.”
“I saw my dad buy diamond earrings yesterday, and now you’re wearing some.”
I should’ve remembered to take them off.
“And I know you well, Miss Hunter.” Ted raised my chin and brushed his lips across mine. My body tingled. I clung to his shoulders. Ted deepened the kiss and pulled back after a few moments. I felt his reluctance.
“You better go get them a flashlight.”
My words came out throaty. I headed for my room.
“Can you remember that for me?” Ted’s lips twitched.
“What?” I unlocked my door.
“That I know my stuff. It’ll save me aggravation down the road.”
I grinned and slipped into my room. “And where’s the fun in that?”
TWENTY-ONE
My poor travel journal was becoming a case book. Instead of being sung a lullaby to fall asleep last night, I had scribbled down all my thoughts. After all the worries were out, I could finally fall into a light, untroubled sleep. The morning looked beautiful and I hoped it stayed that way. I was ready for a new day and port to explore.
The line to leave the ship moved quickly and soon I stepped off the gangplank onto a long stretch of white asphalt. A sign promised plenty of beach and shopping awaited cruisers at the end of the long walk. There were two other ships in port and clusters of people set off to enjoy St. Maarten. Off on the side, tour guides held signs in the air, awaiting their charges.
Anxiety finally grabbed onto me. I had wondered when it planned on showing up. This morning, I was proud of myself for remaining calm and not allowing my overactive imagination to take control. Usually upon waking, I’d have filled my brain with a dozen scenarios of why going on this excursion with William was a horrible idea. Taking in a deep breath, I raised my head and let the sun warm my cheeks.
“Faith,” Ted called out to me.
My mood dipped. I knew he had plans with his daughter today, and I had wanted to avoid witnessing a tantrum—and explaining my adventure for the day. Conjuring up a smile, I turned.
His green eyes sparkled and a bright smile stretched out his cheeks. His happiness at seeing me transformed my smile into a real one, and it had nothing to do with Ted being alone. He tossed a beach towel casually over his shoulder. The man looked good in a tight fitting t-shirt and blue board shorts. He took me in and a slight frown developed. Scrap it all. Gave myself away. It was clear there was no way I planned on spending time on the beach since I wore jeans, sneakers, and a long-sleeve cotton t-shirt.
“How’s your head this morning? I’ve been worrying about you. I mentioned it to Garrison so don’t be surprised if he wants to examine you.” Ted’s concern gaze traveled over my body.
“No lingering effects. I actually slept okay last night. I can’t wait to take on this day.” I grinned at him. “I have big plans.”
Ted slung an arm around my shoulders. “You shouldn’t have to spend the day alone.”
“I’m not,” I said. “I have plans.”
Disappointment flickered in his eyes. “I was hoping we could all spend some time together.”
“Your daughter has been looking forward to her first beach experience with her dad. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“You wouldn’t ruin it.”
I sent him a sidelong glance and pursed my lips at him.
“Okay, it wouldn’t thrill my daughter to have you along, but she wouldn’t complain.”
I repeated the look.
Ted grinned bashfully. “Not too much. Her mother and I had a long talk with Claire. We apologized for telling her that we had news to share with her on the cruise. It’s understandable she thought it meant we were getting back together, especially since Grandma had us all rooming together. My news was introducing her to you, and Elizabeth’s news was her engagement to Neal.”
Poor kid. Her parents set her up for a big fall. “Promise me no surprises. You’re not very good at them.”
He crossed his heart. “I promise. I guess I’m not good at any kind of deception. Spend the day with us. Elizabeth wants to get to know you better.”
“I appreciate the invite, but I’m okay. Truly, I am.” I cuddled into his side for a moment, showing him I meant what I said. “This vacation has been hard on everyone. I’m sure Claire senses something horrible happened and isn’t sure how to deal with it. I’m going on an excursion to see the island.” I patted my tote. “Take some pictures. Write in my travel journal. I want to experience everything I can. I’m looking forward to scrapbooking this trip.”
“I hope I’m in it,” he said.
“Daddy, wait up!” Claire raced for us.
So did I.
“You’re welcome to join us when your tour is over.” Ted placed a hand on Claire’s shoulder and looked down at her. “Right?”
Claire, who was out of breath after her mad dash, nodded.
“It’ll be hard to find you. I’ll see you guys back on the ship tonight at dinner. It’s steak and lobster night.” I grinned. “I’ve been looking forward to tonight’s menu.”
Claire’s eyes twinkled. She was a smart kid. She already figured me finding them on a crowded beach would be a Herculean task, so she knew it was safe to agree with her dad. I had to admit I liked that about Claire. She was quick and had a small amount of deviousness in her. I just wished she didn’t use it all on me.
Elizabeth joined us. “Your mom told me about a wonderful café where we can get a picnic lunch to take with us to the beach. They also rent beach chairs there.”
“Daddy invited Faith to come with us. I hope that’s okay, Mommy.” Claire’s voice was all breathlessness and innocence as she beamed up at her mother. Ted smiled proudly, sharing an I-told-you-it’d-work-out look with Elizabeth.
What neither of them spotted was Claire’s crossed fingers hidden behind her back. So much for the talk swaying Claire to give me a chance. She was hoping for a resounding no from her mother. I’d give the girl her wish.
“As I told Ted, I’d love to, but I have plans,” I said. “The excursion won’t end until right before it’s time to board the ship. I’ll have just enough time to get a present for my grandmothers. I have to go. I’m holding up the group.”
The tour guide for the ATV excursion was glancing around the area, waving a sign frantically over his head. Most people were paired up two by two, the exception being William and Francis. An older couple stared at the ATVs with a mix of excitement and horror. I hoped Ted didn’t figure out this was a couples’ trip and I was the second half of William’s pair.
Fortunately, Claire was eager to drag her dad away from me, so no explanation needed. And there would’ve been. I hated ATV’s and always found a way out of going ATVing with friends. Ted knew this. While it would’ve been nice to picnic on the beach with Ted, I had a feeling I’d have better luck with sharp turns and steep inclines than I would of having a pleasant and enjoyable lunch with Claire around.
William shifted from foot to foot, glancing at his watch in random intervals. I never knew anyone who was so interested in the time when on a vacation. This was a working vacation for William. I walked over to him. “I hope you don’t mind I’m filling in for Ruth.”
“Does it matter if I do?” William shoved his hands in his pockets. No Mr. Charming this m
orning. “This little switch was concocted without any input from me.”
His sister just died; of course he wasn’t in a good mood. I implanted the thought in the forefront of my brain. “Ruth was so upset about you being alone and I spontaneously offered to go in her place.” And thereby getting a free trip. Heat raced across my cheeks. “I’ll reimburse you for the ticket. I was a little scatterbrained yesterday and forgot to offer. I’m sorry.”
William heaved out a sigh. “It’s fine. The money isn’t an issue. I told Ruth it was okay for her not to come, that I’d be fine on my own, but she said she found a replacement and it wasn’t nice to disappoint you.”
“I guess you’re stuck with me.” I smiled at him.
“That I am.”
Spending the day with Claire suddenly sounded more appealing. I figured company was preferable on a trip where the rest of the people paired up like they were going on Noah’s Ark. Unless there was a reason besides seeing the island to go on the excursion.
The tour guide counted the group. “Wonderful, everyone is now here. My assistant will be passing out sustenance bags to every couple. You’ll have snacks and water. I also advise to put any valuables into the bag as it can get bumpy and the packs are designed to attach to hooks in the back of the ATV.”
I went to put my small tote inside and William stopped me.
“Keep your ID and room card with you. You’ll have a heck of a time getting back on the ship if you lose those.” William stared at the guide.
The man draped his arms around Paul and Glenda, the old couple from our muster drill. The couple beamed at everyone. “My friends here will set the pace for the tour. We might not get to do everything, but what we do experience are memories of a lifetime.”
Paul hiked up his knee-length khaki shorts and grinned at us. His bright blue shirt with pineapples made him the perfect person to follow. “Been dying for this trip. I can’t believe me and the missus are here.”
Glenda smiled shyly and dipped her head. The missus wore an outfit matching her spouse’s, topped off with a sunbonnet and huge Jackie O style sunglasses shielding her eyes and face. A scarf dangled down from her shoulder. Tears filled my eyes.
William drew in a shaky breath.
Ronnie’s lifetime had ended.
This wasn’t what I signed on for. The helmet felt heavy on my head, but I was thankful for it. No wonder Ruth bailed on this trip after watching the video. This wasn’t a relaxing drive along the beach or on a trail. We were zipping down the highway, cars merging in and out of our pack.
Our excursion group was fifteen deep, with William and me toward the end, driving down a very busy road in St. Maarten. Cars zoomed past us. If I was stupid enough to reach out, I could touch one. A car veered toward us—or did William veer toward it?—and honked. The blare worked its way into my body, tightening my muscles. This was a bad idea. Very bad. I wasn’t this desperate to learn William’s true plan for this outing. I wanted out. But it was too late. No way was I jumping off. I gripped the bar on the back of the ATV and squeezed my eyes shut. Almost as soon as I closed them, I opened them back up. I’d rather know what I was facing. It might be the only way to survive.
Plus, missing all the sights was silly. I couldn’t write in my journal about the tour if I closed my eyes, ignoring the world around me. I soaked everything in, paying attention to the details that made these buildings different than the ones in Eden. The colors were softer. More pastel than the neutrals I often saw in my hometown. People ambled along the sidewalks, gazing into windows rather than walking with a purpose. Life seemed slower. Of course, most of the people I watched were likely vacationers and in no hurry. We passed an apartment complex. The large gate and guard in front of the complex contradicted the serene and inviting environment the pale pink and cream colors radiated.
I hoped we left the paved road soon. I yearned for a scenic view of the lush trees I caught a glimpse of and the ocean I smelled. I leaned forward, keeping hold of the bar. The helmet shifted forward. “Why are we using the main road? This is kind of dangerous.”
“Lunch. Beach. Scenic route on the way back. This is the quickest way and allows more time at the beach.”
I didn’t bring a suit. At least I had the option of rolling up my shirt sleeves. My jeans were another story. “So no tour of the entire island? The favorite spots of the residents. The most scenic places. None of that?”
“Didn’t you listen to the guide? Change of plans. Now keep quiet. I’m driving.”
I swallowed hard, pushing down my panic. A roundabout loomed before us. I hated them when driving in a car. I was hating them even more being a passenger in an ATV with cars whipping by on the other side. If I lived through this, I’d never, ever get on an ATV again.
Okay, if I didn’t live through it, I wouldn’t be doing it again either.
The first ATV in our group, driven by one of our guides, entered the roundabout and our line of vehicles followed like a bunch of ducklings following their mama. It wasn’t so bad. Not too fast. Not too slow. The cars around us slowed down, allowing us plenty of space. My nerves settled down. Time to enjoy the experience instead of fearing it. I wanted to tell Ted I had a fabulous time and mean it.
The group exited the roundabout and merged onto a sandy path. The beach was before us. I regretted leaving my cell in my tote. The white sand glistened and twinkled like glitter, a perfect complement to the blue waters stretching out from it. My hands tingled, eager for a touch. Small white caps broke the surface. The moment William parked, I sprang from the ATV, ready to enjoy the beach even though I had forgotten my suit. I’d roll my jeans up as much as possible and frolic in the water. No way was I missing the opportunity.
Our main guide pointed at a section of beach between two large blue flags. The breeze from the ocean tickled the fabric, making the flags sway ever so gently. The rest of the beach was crowded with vacationers and local women walking up and down the sand, selling handcrafted items. “Right over there is our area. Beach chairs will be brought over after lunch. It’s picnic style, and your sandwiches and drinks are in your bags.”
The second guide handed out a beach blanket per couple. William snagged ours and tossed it to me. “I need to use the restroom. Start without me. Might take a while.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that and didn’t want to ask. Some things I was better off not knowing. I fluttered the towel. The blue terrycloth material drifted down, staking our claim on a small section of sand. I plopped down and opened up our bag. There were two sandwiches, an ice pack, bags of chip, two bottles of water, and apples. I arranged the items in the middle of the towel and waited out of politeness.
“Mind if I join you?” Francis asked, placing his towel beside me.
“Not at all.” I shaded my eyes. Where was William?
Francis dropped onto the towel, sending small puffs of sand into the air toward me. “I should mind my own business, but you seem like a nice person so I feel like I should warn you.”
“About what?”
“William. He’s not a nice guy. He’s friendly and all, but it’s for a purpose. The only reason he talks to someone is because he wants something from them. It’s the same way he treated his sister.”
I was actually the one with a hidden agenda. William had rather I found another activity to join. “How did Ronnie feel about him?”
“Adored him. He was the only family she had left.” Francis glanced around before pulling out two beers from his backpack. “Want one? I only brought two, but I’m willing to give one up.”
“No thanks.”
“Don’t pin any hopes on William. You’re not his type.”
“What do you mean by that?”
A tight smile stretched Francis’s lips. “Let’s just say William likes his women old. Real old. Like ready-to-die old. I swear that guy is a beneficiary in the will of half the senior citizen ladies who cruise on the Serenade.”
Francis shoved a quarter of a sandwich in
to his mouth and scooted away from me. A shadow fell across me. William had returned, and he was unhappier than ever.
TWENTY-TWO
My breath caught in my throat. I raised myself a little off the ATV seat, wanting a better view of the beautiful scenery before me. The curvy road led us to a spot that showed off the island and ocean to perfection. A section of the land jutted out into the ocean. The waves lapped at the rocky terrain. I removed one hand and raised my cell phone, snapping quick shots. The dirt road made it impossible to hold the camera steady with one hand. Our group was traveling at a slow speed. I removed my other hand from the bar and steadied my phone with both hands. Excitement flowed through me as I envisioned my cruise scrapbook.
“Hold on.”
Those were the first words William had said since we left the beach. I wasn’t sure if he’d heard what Francis said, and I sure wasn’t asking.
I continued snapping pictures. The ATV picked up speed and the back tire hit a largish rock. I bounced up into the air, nearly losing my grip on my phone—and my place on the back of the seat.
“You should listen.”
Quickly, I shoved my phone into my front pocket and grabbed on with both hands. By the time the excursion ended, I’d need pain medication, as my left hand was getting stiff. Clamping onto the bar for so long was aggravating the injury.
We drove over another rock. One by one, the vehicles in front of us pulled over onto a large expanse of grass. William brought us to a stop.
“Brief picture stop,” the lead guide said. “This is the best place for a panoramic view of this side of the island.”
I hopped off and took some pictures. William wandered along the side of the road. Besides Paul and Glenda, everyone else stood near the ledge, snapping away. The elderly woman remained on the back of the ATV adjusting to secure her beach hat. Her husband placed his hands behind his back and stretched. He winked saucily at his wife.
William was at the edge. There wasn’t a barrier between the shoulder and the ledge. One wrong step and you’d take the tumble of your lifetime down a rocky hill and land on some pretty ominous-looking boulders. The tops of them resembled little knives, ready to stab a person in the back and any other body parts that touched them.
Masked to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Book 5) Page 19