Outside, the lake lapped gently against the shore, the same as it had for thousands of years. Stars glimmered overhead, unconcerned with the human drama unfolding below. And Isabel Stewart, who’d come to Sapphire Bay looking for a quiet place to start over, found herself at the center of something she couldn’t have imagined.
But as she sat in Frank’s house, waiting for the police to finish their work, she realized she didn’t regret a single choice that had led her here.
CHAPTER 33
The next day, Isabel arrived at the bookstore earlier than usual. Organizing books and counting inventory seemed like a wonderful distraction after the previous night’s chaos. She’d hardly slept, and when she had, her dreams replayed what had happened in bright, technicolor clarity.
She’d only been in the bookstore for a few minutes when Lynda unlocked the door and threw it open. Kathleen was close behind her. Both wore identical expressions of concern.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Lynda said, pulling Isabel into a tight hug. “When you weren’t in your bed this morning, we were worried.”
“I’m sorry.” Isabel pulled them further into the store and locked the door behind them. “I couldn’t sleep, so I left the house early and had breakfast at The Starlight Café.”
“You should have woken us when you came home,” Lynda said.
Isabel held her friend’s hand. “It was late, and I was exhausted. I thought it’d be easier to talk about it this morning.”
Kathleen pulled out her cell phone and showed Isabel the community Facebook page. “It says the FBI has cordoned offpart of the lake. Mabel saw police cars, and Natalie called this morning saying there’d been a shooting at Frank’s house.”
Isabel took them into the small kitchenette and made coffee for everyone. “Someone shot at William and Tommy while they were on the dock last night.”
“My goodness,” Lynda gasped, sinking into one of the small chairs. “Are they all right?”
“They’re safe,” Isabel assured her, the coffee forgotten as she sat down with them. “When Frank and I ran outside to see if they were okay, someone fired another shot. We had to hide under the dock until the police arrived.”
Kathleen’s hands trembled as she held Isabel’s. “It must have been terrifying.”
Isabel nodded. “It was, especially seeing Tommy so cold and scared.”
“Is this because of Frank?” Lynda asked, leaning forward. “I thought everything had calmed down.”
Isabel sighed. “I wish it had. The man in the suit that we saw at the dinner works for Frank’s old company. When Frank didn’t give him the information he wanted, he tried to kill us.”
“Where are Frank and Tommy now?” Lynda asked.
“They’re at a safe house.” Isabel swallowed hard, remembering Frank’s promise:I’ll come back to you. “The FBI took them away last night.”
Kathleen stood and went to finish making the coffee, giving Isabel a moment to compose herself. “You care about them,” she said softly, her back to Isabel as she poured water into the machine. “Both of them.”
It wasn’t a question, so Isabel didn’t treat it as one. “I do,” she admitted. “More than I thought I did.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t take long,” Lynda said gently.
Kathleen returned with three steaming mugs. “So what happens now?”
Isabel wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic mug, gathering her thoughts. “I don’t know. I think they’ll have to stay hidden until the trial. William said they could be gone for weeks.”
“And what about you?” Lynda asked. “Are you safe, or do you need to leave, too?”
That same question had kept Isabel awake. “Frank wanted me to go with them, but I’d rather stay here and keep busy. The FBI person I spoke to said to be extra careful. If I’m the least bit worried, I have a number to call straight away. But I’m more worried about Frank and Tommy.”
Kathleen leaned forward. “They’ll be okay. The FBI must know what they’re doing.”
Isabel swallowed the knot in her throat. “What if they don’t come back?” The fear that had been lurking at the edges of her mind finally surfaced. “What if Sterling Industries gets past the safe house’s security?”
“Don’t think like that,” Kathleen said firmly. “The FBI is protecting them. And from what I’ve seen of Frank, he knows how to look after himself.”
Isabel nodded, trying to find comfort in her friend’s certainty. “I just keep thinking of Tommy. He’s already lost his parents. If anything happened to Frank?—”
