Charmed. Leona Karr
a choice.”
“You must be reckless—or stupid. You’re damn lucky to be on solid ground. I’ve got a heater in the car.” He picked up her suitcase and started down the pier.
She didn’t move. She was not going anywhere with this stranger. He was a tall, well-built man, wearing jeans, a knit pullover, a windbreaker and no hat. In the shadowy light, she guessed he was probably in his thirties. He might not be drunk like Jenkins, but he presented another kind of threat.
When she didn’t follow, he turned around. “Are you going to stand there shivering all night?”
“Who are you?” she demanded without moving an inch.
Jenkins snickered. “He’s a big shot.”
“That’ll be enough out of you, Jenkins,” he said as he walked back to Ashley. “I was just trying to get you out of this weather before the storm breaks, but I should have introduced myself. Brad Taylor, police officer.”
“You’re a policeman? Where’s your uniform?” she demanded. Big-city skepticism instantly flared.
“I’m off duty.”
“He’s a big shot around here,” Jenkins repeated. “Likes to throw his weight around.”
Ashley felt an instant rush of relief. She quickly introduced herself. “Please take me to the police department. My name is Ashley Davis. I need to know what’s being done to find my sister.”
“My apologies. I didn’t realize your urgency.” As increasing blasts of wind and rain whipped the water, he said, “Let’s get in the police cruiser and I’ll explain the situation.”
“What about me?” Jenkins asked, following them. “Where’s my pay?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Ashley quickly drew her wallet out of the shoulder purse and gave him the agreed-upon amount.
“Thank ye.” Clutching the bills, he sauntered off, obviously heading for a well-lighted bar near the wharf.
“He’s already drunk,” Ashley said. “I didn’t realize it until it was too late.”
“You’re damn lucky. We’ve lost a lot better pilots than him in rough waters like this.” He guided her to a police car parked close to the pier. He told her there were only a few cars on the island because they had to be brought in by hired transport. The ferries were passengers only. As he slipped into the driver’s seat beside her, she could see shaggy, reddish-brown hair that framed well-defined cheekbones, a strong chin, and an expressive mouth. He was probably darned attractive in a uniform, but there was a sexy toughness about him that was disturbing. Should she ask to see his badge? What if he had an agenda of his own for offering her his help?
“Do you often patrol the wharf at night?”
“No, I just happened to be down at the wharf when I saw Jenkins ram the boat into the pier,” he said as he started the car.
“Has there been any news of my sister?”
He shook his head.
Anxiety made her voice strained. “I want to talk to someone in charge.”
“I guess that would be me.”
She must have misunderstood. “What?”
“I’m the only law officer on the island.”
“No, that can’t be.”
“I’m afraid it is,” he replied firmly. “Greystone Island has a year-round population of only a few hundred people. Granted, in the summer months it doubles, but for the most part, the demands for law enforcement are slight. I can handle it by myself and with my one deputy. But the fact is—”
“That you’re not qualified to handle anything serious,” she finished in a strained voice. She couldn’t believe it! Her sister was missing and there wasn’t any qualified police force looking for her.
“You’re quick to assume the worst, aren’t you?” he replied as his dark brown eyes appraised her.
“I don’t hide from the truth in any situation.” Her lips trembled. “Not even one as devastating as this one.”
“I see.” His jaw tightened. “Well, I was about to assure you that I have over ten years of experience as a police investigator for the state of Maine. I’ve handled almost every kind of crime you want to mention, and I came to Greystone Island a couple of years ago as the resident police officer.”
“Why?” Her tone clearly inferred there must have been some impropriety involved in the change of assignment.
“I was raised on the island and for personal reasons wanted to come back,” he answered curtly.
“I see.” But she didn’t. She was too much of a city girl to imagine living on a tiny island that was hardly more than a speck in the ocean.
His jaw tightened. “I’ve handled your sister’s disappearance as I would any case, here or on the mainland. A hunting party was organized to scour the island, radio announcements were transmitted to boats coming and going from the island. My deputy and I circled the island in our patrol boat, but in the enveloping fog and thickening storm clouds, visibility was poor.”
“But it’s been hours since she disappeared!” Ashley protested.
“I had to call off the search ’til morning,” he said firmly.
“Someone must have seen her leave the house.”
“Apparently she went for a walk right after breakfast. A fisherman’s wife who brings fresh produce up to the Langdon kitchen came upon some of her things at the edge of a steep drop-off and saw one of her shoes at the bottom of the cliff. I was immediately notified and began the search.” He backed the car away from the pier and headed along a road leading away from the water.
“I’ve questioned the hired staff: a housekeeper, a male Asian cook who doesn’t speak much English and an all-round housemaid. The rest of the help is hired on a needs basis.”
“Yes, Lorrie told me a little bit about it.”
“Apparently your sister sometimes took meals with the family, and sometimes she didn’t. On occasion, she’d walk down to the Wharf Café for breakfast or lunch, and sometimes had dinner at the Chowder House. After a few days, the household paid little attention to her coming and going. We’re fortunate to have discovered her disappearance as soon as we did.”
Not soon enough. She bit her lip to keep back the sharp retort.
“I assume you’ll want to stay with the Langdons.”
Ashley nodded. “If they’ll agree to it.” They would know whether or not Officer Taylor was as capable and well-trained as he presented himself to be. She didn’t know how to justify her feelings, but she felt more should have been done in the hours her sister had been missing.
“Do you know the Langdons well?” she asked in an even tone as if she’d accepted his explanations.
“I guess it depends on what you mean by know. Of course, everyone on the island knows them, but mostly by name and reputation. When I was a teenager, I attended some annual celebrations they sponsored on the lawns of their property, but since my return over a year ago, I haven’t had the occasion to be in their company. Until now, with the investigation.”
“They stay on the island year round?”
“No. In the summer there’s a parade of wealthy visitors who rent the summer cottages on the southwestern high cliffs, but after Labor Day they are mostly deserted. Usually the Langdons have left by this time, but for some reason, the elder Clayton Langdon is staying longer than usual.”
“My sister told me that his son, Jonathan, is really in charge. Lorrie said he wasn’t very friendly. All business.”
“I