Charmed

Lorrie stared up at him and then said weakly, “Big one, isn’t he?”

Ashley chuckled. Leave it to Lorrie to say whatever came into her mind. At that moment, for the first time since the horrible nightmare began, she truly believed her sister was going to be all right.

“Could I ask you a few questions, Lorrie?” Brad asked politely in a nonthreatening tone.

“It’s all fuzzy…like a bad dream,” she said in a tremulous voice. “What happened…what happened to me?”

“Someone knocked you out and put you afloat in a boat,” Brad answered evenly. “Lorrie, do you know anyone who might want to harm you?”

In a weak voice, she whispered, “Maybe Sloane.”

“Why Sloane, Lorrie?”

Ashley could tell Brad knew who Lorrie was talking about, but before her sister could answer, a nurse interrupted them.

“You have to leave now. Doctor’s orders.”

“Can’t I stay with her?” Ashley protested.

“All you would do is watch her sleep,” the nurse answered briskly. “Come back tomorrow. She’ll be ready for a visit.”

“It’s okay, Sis,” Lorrie mumbled weakly. “Tell the Langdons—”

“Don’t worry about the inventory,” Ashley said. “I’ll work on it until you’re well.” Her background and experience in textiles was strong enough to satisfy the auction company.

She kissed Lorrie’s cheek and blinked back tears as they left the room. She felt totally drained, but as they made their way out of the hospital, anger began to surface. “Who is Sloane?”

“A drifter. Comes and goes. Works the lobster boats sometimes. Makes just enough money to keep himself in drink and cheap food.” Brad clenched his jaw. “He’s bought himself a pile of trouble this time if he’s the one who did this.”

“You’ll arrest him?”

“If there’s any evidence he’s guilty.”

“Lorrie said it was Sloane!”

“No, she said it could have been Sloane,” Brad corrected her. “That’s a big difference from saying she knew for certain he was the one who knocked her out and set her adrift in the rowboat.”

“Who else could it be? My sister doesn’t go around making enemies.”

“I promise I’ll check on Sloane, up, down and sideways. If he’s the one, he’ll pay plenty for this attempt at murder.”

“And if he isn’t?”

“We’ll just have to keep looking.”

A HEAVY SILENCE engulfed them as they headed back to the island. Brad was lost in his own thoughts. Ashley was weak with relief that her sister had been found alive; that miracle crowded out everything else.

It was midafternoon when they docked the patrol boat.

Brad said, “I’ll drive you back to the Langdons’.”

“Thank you, but I’d rather walk,” Ashley replied quickly. “I need some time to myself. You know, digest everything that’s happened.” Her voice choked. “Thank you for finding Lorrie…saving her life…and everything.”

“You’re the one with courage,” he replied gently. “I wish I had a sister who would turn the world upside down for me if I was in trouble.” As if surprised by what he’d said, he added briskly, “I’ll keep you posted.”

She walked quickly past the cluster of buildings dotting the area around the wharf and started back up the road she’d walked that morning.

Now that the fog had lifted, she could see summer cottages hugging the shoreline and nestled in wooded areas. Most of them seemed deserted.

The moanful cry of a loon seemed to follow her as she made her way along the high bluff where the Langdon mansion rose against the sky.

As she approached the front door, it opened suddenly and an athletic-looking man dressed in slacks and a Norwegian knit sweater came out. When he saw her, his mouth curved in a pleasant smile.

“Miss Davis?”

She nodded with a slight questioning lift of her eyebrows. Thick, dark, slightly gray hair framed a strong, masculine face. She guessed him to be somewhere in his mid to late forties. A diamond ring flashed on his hand as he reached out to shake hers.

“I’m Paul Fontaine,” he said, introducing himself. “My law firm handles Mr. Langdon’s legal affairs.”

She nodded, surprised that he was a lawyer. He didn’t seem to fit the stereotype of the legal profession. He was dressed too casually and his manner too effusive.

“The family was just telling me you were here and about Lorrie’s disappearance. I didn’t know. I’ve been busy on the mainland for a few days. I only chatted with the young lady a couple of times. Is there any news?”

“Yes, we found her!”

“Alive?”

“Yes, she’s in the hospital. Thank God, she’s going to be all right.”

“Wonderful. The family will be delighted. I can’t wait to see their faces.” He added, quickly, “They’re in the family room.”

Ashley had no idea where the family room might be in the maze of halls and connected rooms. “I’m not familiar with the house.”

“It takes some getting used to,” he admitted with a slight chuckle. “I still get lost sometimes.”

“You stay in the house?” she asked, wondering why she hadn’t seen him the night before.

“No,” he responded, shaking his head. “I use the guest cottage when I fly in from New York for a conference with Clayton and Jonathan.” He lowered his voice. “Frankly, it’s a break from the office routine, and I like to do a little deep-sea fishing when the weather’s good. They loan me one of the cars to get around the island and I was just about to drive down to the wharf. But I’m in no hurry. Come on, I’ll show you the way to the family room.”

Ashley tried to keep her bearings but she became lost as they passed through connecting doors, adjoining rooms and down a series of short halls. When they finally descended down some wide steps and entered a high-ceilinged room with large windows, she was surprised to find herself in a pleasant sitting room that opened onto a terrace.

In contrast to the rest of the house, the room was light, and airy, and she could see why the two men and Ellen had gathered there instead of in last night’s formal drawing room.

Fontaine broke the news to them before Ashley had a chance. “They found her. Alive!”

Ellen cried, “Oh, dear Lord!”

Old man Langdon leaned forward in his chair. “What…what?”