The Sometime Sister by Katherine Nichols (e novels for free .TXT) 📗

to me. It was common knowledge she was married to some rich guy. People said he was a jerk. I was like sure. I mean, she was super-hot. But she just wanted to learn to surf, and she was a natural.” He shrugged. “I was cool with that. We hung out a few times a week, depending on the waves. And then she stopped showing up.”

“How long ago was that?”

“It’s been a little over a year. I tried getting in touch with her, but she wouldn’t pick up, and she never called back.”

“In a place like this you must have seen her or heard something about her.”

“There was talk she was seeing somebody, but no one wanted to say too much about it. This is a small town, and you can get in serious trouble for talking out of school. I liked Stella, though, and she really missed you.” He gave me another strange look and shook his head. “So, I made some calls when I realized who you were. If you want, I’ll set you up with someone who might help, but she’ll only speak to you. And you have to ditch the muscle.”

“You mean Harry and Justin?” I wanted to ask how he knew my sister really missed me, but I needed to stay focused. “That won’t be easy.” Thinking of how upset Justin had been when I’d gone off script with Ben, I thought it would be impossible. “And who is ‘she’?”

“It’s Eva, Stella’s housekeeper. They were pretty tight. She called me after Stella went missing. Wanted to know if I had any word from her. She sounded real worried. Told me Wilcott had flipped out when Stella disappeared, but she didn’t buy it. She asked me to get in touch if I learned anything. Then they found her. Don’t worry about your buddies. I can take care of that for you. Just be ready tomorrow at ten o’clock.”

Prez jumped at the sound of voices. It was Justin and Harry coming down the pathway. “Quick!” He stepped out of the shadows into the villa’s entrance. “Get inside and let’s keep this between you and me.” He turned the key and shoved me through the doorway. “Remember,” he whispered. “Be ready at ten.”

“What do you mean ‘take care of that’?” I asked, but he had already vanished into the night. I eased the door shut and rushed to the bathroom. By the time I got out, the lights were off in the living area and the entire apartment was quiet. I put on my pajamas and sat on the bed, wondering if I should tell Harry and Justin about the proposed meeting with Eva.

I had no doubt they would insist on going with me or on following Prez and me. And while he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, I suspected he’d spot a tail. But if I let him “take care of it” would I be putting the men in danger? Or would I be walking into it myself? Several times I almost knocked on Justin’s door to tell him about my plans, but I didn’t trust myself to stick to business.

I would wait until morning to see how he planned on getting rid of my chaperons. If it looked as if they might be in trouble, I’d come clean. If not, what harm could there be talking to the one person Stella could have confided in?

Chapter 22

The morning sun streamed through my window. I watched the slow rotation of the ceiling fan and thought of the peaceful flight of the gulls in my dream. A thick blight of sorrow and dread dimmed the sunlight. Would this be the course of every day for the rest of my life? A few moments of emotional amnesia, then hours and hours of painful reality. Before I could fall any deeper into the grief pit, there was a knock on the bedroom door.

“Are you awake?”

It was Justin. I grabbed my robe. “Almost.”

“Harry and I need to talk to you. I’ve got coffee started.”

“Sure. Just give me a minute.” I needed more time to consider whether to tell them about my late-night visitor, but stalling wouldn’t do much good. I put on a pair of jeans I’d only worn once and a fresh T-shirt, sloshed mouthwash, fluffed my hair, and joined the men in the kitchen.

Justin handed me a cup of steaming coffee.

“Hope you slept well.” Harry didn’t wait for a response. “We’ve got a situation going on. Luis Cordoza called late last night. There’s been a security breach in his office, and he needs my company to get involved. I’d send one of my guys to check it out, but he said it was an extremely sensitive issue. He wants me to take care of it. Says it could be several days. I feel good with Justin handling things here, or I wouldn’t consider it. You two can manage without me, can’t you? If you want me to stay, say the word.”

Luis Cordoza? There was no way Prez had gotten to one of the chief political advisors in the country. Was there? Harry was still waiting for my answer.

“You should go. We’ll be fine.”

“You’re a trooper. Remember, I’m less than three hours away if you need me.” He shook Justin’s hand and left.

“I hope you meant what you said about us being fine because we will be.” Justin began pouring another cup of coffee for himself. “I want to run something by you, too.” He gave me a piece of paper with block letters printed on it, reminiscent of a ransom note. “Prez stuck this under the door.”

“McElroy, if you’re serious about doing business here, this is your man. Be there at 10:00 am. Come alone.” He’d written the name Franco with what must have been a local address beside it. On the back was a roughly drawn map.

“I hope this doesn’t piss you off, but you need to sit this one out. I’m