Chapter 9

Sawyer

Even if her agreement to meet was civil, and even if I haven’t been able to find any evidence she’s been overstepping her bounds in regards to her job, it’s obvious Liz Anderson resents me being here.

From the terse way she opened the door, and the way her blue eyes narrowed behind her long bangs, to the shake to her hands, it doesn’t take a genius even less pleased about my poking around than her boss was.

As I enter, I glance around the small office and find myself looking at more of Marlene’s photographs arranged over the white-washed walls.

More awards for excellence in journalism for both Kurt and Marlene sit on a large bookcase filled with pot plants.

At her prompting, I take a seat as she sits behind a perfectly ordered desk. “Marlene said you wanted access to her mail?”

I nod, relaxing into the chair so I seem less threatening. “Have you checked today?”

Her voice catches as she pushes a strand of chin-length strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. “No, after Marlene called I decided to wait for you.”

When her eyes keep flicking around the room, I keep my expression neutral and lean closer. “I’m here to help Marlene; I’m just looking for the person responsible. So if you aren’t that person, you can relax.”

She swallows, and her face pales a little. “Look. This is difficult. I like Marlene, she’s a nice person, but I don’t think I want to keep working for her.”

Any suspicion I had that she was out to get Marlene dissolves with the next words out of her mouth. “I know these letters and emails aren’t meant for me, but it feels like they are. Everyone knows I read her mail and run her messages for her. She’s forever telling people how indispensable I am…”

“She said you do a lot for her. She holds you in very high regard,” I say.

Guilt twists her face. She lets her gaze travel to the pile of mail in her inbox. “I feel bad even mentioning it. But someone still has to check her mail, and after the second letter, I just don’t know if I want that to be me anymore.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Second letter?”

She nods and starts to toy with a pencil on her desk. “Kurt told me not to tell Marlene. He said even if she wouldn’t admit to it, she’d be even more freaked out if she knew another one was sent.”

Nice of Kurt to relay that piece of information. “Do you still have the letter?”

She shakes her head. “Kurt told me to throw it out.”

I keep a lid on my irritation at Kurt’s interference. “You won’t need to worry about opening any of Marlene’s mail for a while. I can do that.”

Her shoulders relax a fraction. “Will that be a permanent arrangement?”

She looks so eager; it’s impossible to miss she’s looking for an excuse to quit working for Marlene. “It’s temporary. Soon as I catch this guy, things will go back to usual.”

Her nod is brisk and she’s back to professional in a flash. “Of course. Well, anything I can do to help.”

When she shifts to cross her legs, I gently ask her a question I think I already know the answer to. “Marlene tells me you worked for Kurt first?”

Her smile slips from her face. “That’s right.”

I scratch my stubble. “Must be awkward working for them both now they’ve split?”

A flickering of uncertainty appears before she answers. “A little.”

“But they don’t involve you in any petty arguments? Bickering? Make you feel like you need to choose a side?”

She’s quick to shake her head. “Not at all. Marlene isn’t like that, and Kurt…”

A tiny measure of satisfaction swells in my middle. “Kurt is now available?” I finish for her.

Her eyes pop open and she inhales sharply. “I didn’t say that.”

I shrug. “Like I said, that’s not what I’m here for. I just need to know who benefits from Marlene feeling afraid. Do you have any reason to want her to feel that way?”

Liz slumps back in her chair. “I don’t want her to feel afraid. I like her. But…and please don’t mention this to her. But Kurt and I, well, a couple times when he came back without her…”

It’s hard to keep my voice level as I contain my anger. “You and Kurt were intimate while he and Marlene were together?”

Her head hangs ever so slightly. “I know how bad this makes me look. And it’s why I haven’t been able to say no to her.”

Liz’s eyes meet mine. “But I can’t keep working for Marlene. It’s bound to come out. And as stupid as it is, I still want to keep working for Kurt.”

I hold in a sigh. Mainly because Marlene will likely learn about all this at some point.

But mostly because Kurt’s history of cheating is one of the reasons I dislike him so much. He’s always been one of those guys.

The night I met him he was hooking up with a girl behind his girlfriend’s back.

Messing around when you’re a teenager is low, but why the fuck would you mess around on a woman like Marlene?

I don’t say anything about that to Liz, not when she’s so obviously into him.

I focus on doing my job instead. “I’ll leave you to work all that out. But if you could answer a few questions for me that would be great.”

She nods briskly; all personal problems pushed away as she retains her composure again. “What can I help you with?”

“The proofs she sends you. I’d like to take a look.”

Her shoulders pull back, and her face sets rigid. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t have permission to show you them.”

I’d expected as much. And I can’t force her. So I focus on other areas and ask her about any problems with clients, anyone unhappy with the photos they’ve purchased via Marlene’s website.

Nothing comes up as a red flag, which means another dead end.

She’s still not at ease, so I spend my time making sure she knows I’m not going to cause trouble.

By the time I leave, I have the keys to Marlene’s PO Box.

I also know that Liz isn’t interested in hurting Marlene if anything she’s riddled with guilt. All of which means I can move on to my next suspects.

I grab a coffee and sip it as I walk back to where I parked my truck. My lip curls as I think about the morning we shared a cup of coffee. When she was wearing my shirt and nothing else.

When my thoughts about Marlene head south and are not going to help me find her stalker, I pull out my cell.

“Hey, Jake. Did you get that info for me?”

His answer is brisk as always. “I emailed it twenty minutes ago. But I can condense it if you like?”

Since I’d like to take a couple minutes to drink my coffee, I settle on hearing the condensed version. “That’d be great.”

Jake takes a breath and then starts talking rapid-fire. “Kyle Landers. DOB 12 Jan 1983. No arrests, no parking tickets, no speeding tickets, pays his bills on time. No registered weapons, no record of being terminated from employment, born via home birth in Landers Island, parents alive and both in a retirement village in Bangor, no siblings, never married,” he takes a breath and carries on.

“Inherited Landers Convenience when his parents moved into a rest home, second cousin to Jacob Landers owner of Island Realty.”

I take a swallow of coffee and squint against the sun. “Can you pull up recent sales of property sold by Island Realty?”

I know he can, and I already know Jacob sold Marlene her lighthouse, I just need to know what else sold.

Jake exhales into the phone. More tapping then he answers. “Not a lot of sales to report. Last three months, only four properties sold.”

“Who sold the lighthouse?”

“Looks like that sale was listed by the wife and sold by the husband.”

I down my coffee as thoughts start to spin a web. “Great thanks. I’ll take a look at everything, if you haven’t already, send through the blueprints, and all the contractors involved in the refurb on the lighthouse.”

Jake’s growl travels down the line. “Already done. And you’re welcome.”

I chuckle goodbye and end the call. My computer is in my truck and my coffee break is officially over so I ditch the empty cup in the trash and climb in my truck.

I reach over and grab my laptop and open it up. I roll my neck while the screen loads.

After I tap in my password, I find the email Jake sent. There’s nothing in here to contradict what he said, and I know he’s good at what he does, so I scroll to the list of contractors who worked on the property.

Most of them aren’t from Landers Island, none of the names raise any red flags, and since bidding on the auction is confidential, I can’t see at a glance who else was interested in purchasing Marlene’s lighthouse.

I scroll through the rest of my emails, then switch to check my personal account.

I do a double-take when I see Marlene’s email address come up. The subject header is blank, but there are attachments and a very brief message.

Hey,

These are a few shots I got. Landline is all set up, and I got a new laptop this morning, so give me a call and let me know if I can tell Liz what it is.

M

She’s included her phone number, but as much as I want to, I can’t call her right now.

I store the number in my phone, and with a frown, I tap out a reply, letting her know Liz is in the clear before I close my laptop, buckle up and head back to the office.

***

Marlene

I’m stepping out of the shower after a late afternoon shoot on the beach, and thinking about the Haddock soup and opening a bottle of white when I hear my new phone start to ring.

It’s beyond weird to hear such an out of place sound but since only a couple people have my new phone number, I wrap my towel around me and hurry to pick it up.

“Hello?”

A husky masculine voice makes my skin rise. “It’s Sawyer.”

I smile as I take a seat and curl up on my sofa. “Nice to hear from you. So Liz is in the clear then?”

There’s a certain amount of hesitation in his reply which puts me on edge. “Yeah. She’s not your stalker.”

I frown at my toes. “You don’t sound so sure?”

He clears his throat. “She’s not your stalker, but I’ve found a couple other people I need to chase up. I’d rather do it from there, but I’m tied up right now. It’ll be a while before I can get back.”

I exhale slowly, keeping my disappointment from my tone. “Is there anything I can do to speed that up?”

The tiniest of teases comes through in his voice. “I wish there was. I’d rather be in Landers Island.”

I smother a smile. “Did you get the photos?”

“Yeah. I’m looking at them now. Are you going to sell them?”

I wipe a drop of water from my nose. “Maybe. Liz usually sorts all that out for me.”

The silence is almost palpable. “Sawyer? You still there?”

“Yeah. Sorry, who else was on the boat with you?

I scrunch my face up at the switch in topic. “Um. The captain, his crew—”

“This is Sean? And Jimmy, Mike, Gary?”

My eyes open a little wider. “Wow. You’ve done your research.”

He almost growls down the line. “Yeah. I’ve been reading the local papers. There was a lot of opposition to the sale of the lighthouse.”

I breathe a sigh. “There was.”

Sawyer growls down the line. “Dammit Marlene, why am I only just hearing this now?”

I growl back at him. “Because nothing ever came of it. People have been really welcoming.”

“That you know of.”

I huff out an irritated breath. “I’ve seen no evidence that anyone is pissed off with me.”

“You wouldn’t have. But I’m looking at a petition signed by residents and I’m seeing way too people on here who know you.”

Heat rushes through me. “There was a petition? Kyle said a few people have their noses put out of joint; he never said there was a petition.”

Sawyer exhales slowly as if he’s exasperated with me. “Well, there was. I’m looking at it right now. Half the island objected to the government decommissioning and selling rather than allowing it to remain open to the public. The local council would have made money from tourists.”

My stomach tightens. “The realtor never told me any of that.”

Sawyer’s laugh is caustic. “That’s because Jacob Landers was trying to make a sale. It was a conflict of interest when he accepted the listing from the coast guard and his lost his place on the council because of it.”

My heart is beating a steady drum. How did I not know any of this? I mean, sure I don’t attend the town meetings, and I haven’t been around for more than a few months, but the realtor had an obligation to tell me.

“Well, this is just great. Half the Island resents me.”

“It’s a small-town mentality. They don’t want outsiders encroaching on what they consider a part of their heritage and history. The Landers Keep Lighthouse has a significant part to play in the founding of the island.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah. I know. And that’s why I made it known I wouldn’t be changing a thing.”

“Known to who?”

My lip catches my teeth as I try to recall. “Sean, Kyle, um, Jacob and his wife when I put the offer in.”

Sawyer just sighs loudly. “Look, this might not mean anything. It could be completely unrelated, but these are the sorts of things that can fester and cause problems later.”

“Wonderful. So even if this is unrelated, and you find my stalker, I’ll come into grief later on?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m saying that if this is related, then the stalker is trying to get you to leave. And that just made every single person on the petition a suspect. What I need is for you to tell me who has your personal information. I can send the petition through now. You have your new laptop handy?

I reach for my new Lenovo and open it one-handed. It fires up immediately. “Yup. Did you manage to get my data off my Dell?”

“Not yet. I have a guy working on it. He’ll need another day or two. And let me know the cost of the laptop, I can reimburse you.”

I shake my head as I open the email from him. “The insurance covered it, and I was due an upgrade.”

“I’ll find a way to pay you back. You get the list?”

I scroll through the list of names, starting to shiver as I read through. “I did. Let me just get dressed. I’m freezing my ass off here. I was getting out of the shower when you called.”

A long breathy silence comes down the line. “So, you’re naked?”

I hold in a laugh as I walk back to the bathroom. “Uh-huh.”

“Too bad we aren’t doing a video call then.”

I do laugh as I drop my towel and pull on my robe, keeping my phone pressed to my ear. “I have the internet now; we could do that.”

“Hmm. We could. Maybe look at the list then I’ll call you back on your laptop?”

I slip into my Ugg boots and pad back into the living room. “Okay. We can chat face to face.”

“Good. I have a couple topics in mind that require me seeing you naked.”

I crack a smile as I sit in front of my laptop again. “I never did get to take those pictures of you.”

He chokes out a laugh. “Next time.”

I smile as I scroll through the names and see a couple I recognize, including the locksmith Jacob gave me the name of. “I know a few of these people. I haven’t met them all. And I haven’t given them my details.”

And now I’ve seen the local locksmith probably hates me; I won’t be dealing with him either.

“Okay. I’m expecting a call in a couple minutes that should confirm something. I can call you for a video chat in five?”

“Only if you promise to get naked.”

He chuckles. “I will if you will.”

I bite my lip. “I’m already naked remember.”

He groans. “I’m trying not to. I think too much about that; I’ll get in my car and come back.”

A little of my humor disappears as I realize he wants to be here as much as I want him to be. “Then come. You can work from here.”

The empty air is too long for him to be really considering it. Rejection is already stinging when his tone changes from playful to serious. “Marlene, it’s not that simple for me, if I could come, I would.”

I cross my legs, no longer sure I want to video chat with him. It’s a painful reminder I can’t have him completely, just a one-dimensional image on a screen when I need all of him.

“See, that’s just it. I don’t know. I don’t know because I don’t really know you. Kurt says you’re good at convincing people to tell them their secrets. How can I trust you aren’t just stringing me along?”

“You’ve been talking to Kurt?”

I nearly groan aloud. That’s what he got from that? “I called him, yes.”

“To ask about me?”

I don’t know why he sounds irritated. “It’s only natural I’d want to know more about you. You know pretty much everything about me—”

“What’d he tell you?”

I growl, my voice rising an octave. “Nothing I hadn’t already guessed.”

“Don’t ask Kurt for information about me. He’s the last person I’d share anything with. When I can, I’ll tell you in person. Not now, that’s not an option, so don’t ask.”

Any trace of lust I had flies out the bordered-up window when I almost spit into the phone. “Fine. Let’s just keep this purely professional. Let me know when you have something solid.”

I’m too angry and hurt to let him get another word in. I feel worse than stupid I even asked him to come back.

I scowl at the phone and fling it on the sofa as I stalk across the room. I need a glass of wine. A big one. And I need to stop thinking about Sawyer.

I grab a bottle of red and pour the contents into a glass so angrily, liquid spills over the sides and onto the bench.

I down half the glass when I hear the phone start to ring again. With a glare in the direction of the living room, I stomp back ready to give Sawyer a piece of my mind.

I grab the phone, mouth opening when a distorted voice makes my blood run cold. “Leave while you still can you whoring bitch. I’m coming to take what’s mine.”

The line goes dead as cold dread rushes through my body.

Bile is rising to my throat as my thoughts spin painfully, spiking into me as the threat resounds on an endless loop.

He’s coming to take what’s his.

My legs buckle at precisely the second my laptop signals an incoming video call from Sawyer.

Too afraid to move, my fingers curl around the phone as my heart crashes against my ribs.

When I’m sure I can control my voice, I press the accept button. Sawyer’s face is tight with anxiety when I answer with a breathless hello.

If he was calling to apologize what comes out of his mouth next, is almost worse than the horrible phone call. “Marlene. I think I know who the stalker is. I’m leaving right now. I can be there in a few hours.”

I’m too stunned to do more than stare at his grainy picture. “I just got a phone call from him.”

He nods, cheeks flushed as he stands up and I get a view of a gun at his waist, he lifts the laptop so I can see his face. “I heard. I bugged your house before I left. Do you have the gun I gave you?”

He bugged my house?

Sweat has started to pool at the back of my neck; my palms are growing slippery. I don’t even care he invaded my privacy. I’m trying to think rationally and to not allow myself to be crippled by fear. “It’s in the lighthouse.”

Sawyer curses and his hand goes to the top of the laptop as if he’s about to close it. “And your clothes?”

I flinch. “In the lighthouse.”

His smile is tight. “Take the phone, and the laptop and go lock yourself inside until I get there.”

He closes the laptop leaving me staring at the screen, utterly astonished.

My hands are shaking and the wine is doing little to penetrate the cold spilling through me.

I have no real clothes inside the house apart from wet washing in the machine. Everything I need is inside the lighthouse.

And if Sawyer is worried enough to drop everything and come here, I can only imagine what he discovered.

With my heart in my throat, I check the doors are locked and shove the phone into my pocket.

I grab the laptop and hurry to the back of the house. Since the connection is no longer there, there’s nothing but a stretch of grass, still covered in debris from the hurricane I haven’t cleared.

The light is failing, casting eerie shadows as I peer out at the lighthouse base and the door I need to get behind.

I’m poised to make a mad dash for the door and lock it behind me when a figure appears from the shadows of the lighthouse.

Terror makes my lungs seize as I try to control my panic.

I should have listened to Sawyer. I should have started carrying the gun. I should have taken the threats seriously.

But it’s too late for should-haves.

The person who wants to do vile things to me is standing ten feet away trying to get into the locked lighthouse.

With no choice, I slip back into my cottage and quietly pull the door closed.

My hands are shaking so hard; I fumble as I twist the lock on the door.

Since the lock is as flimsy as the connection, there’s nothing more I can do to stop them from getting inside.

I switch off the lights and stay as quiet as I can.