“Yes.”
Down to the right, hikers walked along a trail. To the left, a reflection flickered—sun bouncing off a person’s cell phone or sunglasses or a metal water bottle. This place wasn’t uninhabited in daylight but no doubt it became isolated after dark.
What happened to you, Alexis?
Jeremiah’s cell phone rang, and he connected the call. “Hello?”
“Is this Jeremiah Camden?”
“It is.”
“This is Seaman Collins with the Coast Guard. We’ve found your boat.”
ChapterSixteen
Anton called Jeremiah three days later. “I learned who Kelly is.”
“Oh?”
“Remember me offering to reach out to Renee, one of the women listed in Alexis’s calendar?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I just got off the phone with her. Turns out she knows Kelly and that Kelly is a guy. He and Alexis were mixed doubles partners in tennis.”
A guy? “I assumed that Kelly was a woman.”
“Same here.”
So, there had actually been two men listed in Alexis’s calendar during those final two weeks—her trainer and her doubles partner.
“Renee mentioned,” Anton said, “that Kelly always plays in the drill that starts at five thirty. Want me to swing by and pick you up? There’s just enough time for us to drive over and chat with him before it starts.”
“Sure.”
Several minutes later, Jeremiah slid into the passenger seat of Anton’s Mercedes and they set off. A sense of familiarity washed over him, which jogged a memory. He saw himself, sitting in the passenger seat of another car as they inched along crowded city streets. Anton driving, profile serious.
“Did you drive me places a lot?” Jeremiah asked.
“All the time. To and from the hotel and the track. To and from your apartment. To where we trained. To press conferences.” A pause. “All the time.”
“What kind of work do you do now?”
“At the moment I’m writing a book about my time in Formula One.”
Anton played relaxing indie folk music. They spoke little. Jeremiah’s subconscious recognized both things—that style of music and the easy silence between them.
They passed the country club’s iron gates and followed a road that snaked past manicured flower beds and ancient trees. Inside the clubhouse, the timber beams, stone accents, and thick carpets smacked of luxury.
Anton greeted the young woman at the reception desk. She brightened, obviously familiar with Anton. When Anton asked if she remembered Alexis Camden, her pretty face immediately showed sorrow. “I do, yes.”
“This is her husband, Jeremiah.”
She turned awestruck eyes in his direction. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“While we’re here,” Anton said, “I thought I’d introduce Jeremiah to Kelly Dupont, Alexis’s doubles partner.”
