In the end, she didn’t find any trail at all.She wound up thrashing her way through the dense brush until she reached someone’s back fence.She and Rufus followed it until a break appeared at the end and they finally emerged onto a dead-end street she recognized as several blocks from her house.
Once back inside, she let Rufus off his leash to go get a drink, then enhanced the pictures before sending them to Rafe.
Just found this way off the beaten path in the woods behind my house.I’ll bring the coded sheet in today.
She waited a few minutes to see whether he responded.When he didn’t, she jumped into the shower to get ready to meet Tripp.
By the time she finished getting ready, there was still nothing from Rafe, and the delay from the detour in the woods had put her behind schedule.She didn’t have time to stop at the sheriff’s station before meeting Tripp, so she’d drop off the evidence after.
She left the TV on for Rufus and drove into town, the building anticipation at spending the day with Tripp replacing the disquiet she’d felt from discovering the ammo cache.There was no good reason for anyone to have their hands on that amount of ammo.It was like someone was preparing for war.
Although she couldn’t imagine what would justify anyone having that amount of ammo.
Tripp’s truck was parked at the marina.The main and overflow lots were both completely full.
She had to circle the block twice before finding a spot on a side street and parallel parking there.Leaving her backpack with the coded sheet tucked out of sight under the glove box in the passenger seat footwell, she grabbed her light jacket and hat and hurried down to the marina.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Tripp talking to an older man beside a zodiac-style boat berthed at the end of the main dock, his muscular build showcased by a pair of worn jeans and a T-shirt that hugged his sculpted chest and shoulders.
He looked over, and his welcoming smile sent a hot zing through the pit of her stomach.
Oh boy.The chemistry between them was more powerful than ever.
“Ahoy there,” she called out, then caught her breath when she realized who Tripp was talking to.“Mr.Rawlings!”
His grin was almost identical to his son’s.“Hey, sweetheart.”He enveloped her in a hug, smelling of the same cologne he had always worn.“How are you?”
“I’m great.”She shared a smile with Tripp over his father’s broad shoulder.“It’s been a while.”
“Too long.”He released her.“Really glad you’ve come back to the island.Mary would have wanted you to.”
“I’m here because of her.You look fabulous, by the way.”
“Oh, thank you.So do you.”
“Are you joining us on our adventure today?”Much as she’d like to spend the day alone with Tripp, she wouldn’t mind his dad coming along.
“No, I just helped Tripp deliver a finished piece to his client, and came here to say hi before I head back up.”
“Ah.”She looked to Tripp.“What are we doing, by the way?”
“We’re going to spend a few hours with some of the locals, along with someone I think you’ll recognize.”
“Willow!”
She spun around, gasped in surprise.“Xanthe!Oh my God, I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I know.”The tall, lean brunette came over to hug her.“I hear you’re coming out with us today.”
“I hear that too.Can’t wait, it’s been years since I’ve gone whale watching, and I’ve never been out with an actual marine biologist before.”
Xanthe shrugged.“Not gonna lie, I know all the local whales pretty well.We’ll start boarding in a few minutes.See you soon.”
She turned back to Tripp.“Now I’m even more excited.”
“Figured you would be.Is Rufus still enjoying his spy holes?”
“He freaking loves them.Obsessed with them.And also...”She took out her phone and pulled up the pictures she’d taken.“He found this buried in the woods behind my place this morning.”
