Protector, Lover...Husband?: In the Dark / Sure Bet / Deadly Exposure

Len hesitated. Then, looking across the dance floor, he noticed Jay, who saw him, and motioned that he’d be over momentarily.

Len smiled. “Jay will be joining us in just a minute,” he told Hank. He sipped his drink, then was embarrassed to experience a huge yawn before he could suppress it. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“Way too long. I don’t guess many of us will be hanging around here too late tonight,” Hank said.

A few minutes later, when Jay came over, Len rose, stifling another yawn, and bade the two good-night.

There was no sign of Laurie Smith at the lagoons, but she wasn’t required to be there—it was her day off, for one thing. Still, Alex was surprised. Laurie really loved the dolphins and tried to spend time with them every day.

She hesitated, then pulled out her cell phone and tried Laurie’s room. There was no answer. She dialed Laurie’s cell-phone number next, but got voice mail.

Strange.

Mandy and Gil were both there, though. They’d already heard what had happened but she gave them the full story of how she’d found him.

“Man, imagine that. A guy can have everything in the world, and still…” Gil said, shaking his head. “Just last night, he was flirting and drinking half the beer in the place. He had one hell of a capacity for liquor.”

“I guess so. That seems to be what everyone says,” Alex said.

“Tragic when anyone dies like that,” Mandy said, shaking his dark head. “He was coming on to that Ally woman last night, and she was eating it up. He was boasting about something really big he was into. I thought the guy was a jerk, myself.”

“Hank Adamson was there when it happened, right?” Gil said, rolling his eyes.

“He was there. One of the last to see him alive,” Alex said.

“Bet he’ll love telling that story,” Gil said. “Anyway, I know you want to hear about these guys,” he told her, indicating the dolphins.

Mandy showed her the log book for the day. “We were bringing them their good-night 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.