CHAPTER THREE
Sam
“It was huge!”I laughed when Ben asked us what the mansion looked like.
It was Tuesday. We were currently having lunch at Seaside Steakhouse, and we had come together to discuss what we’d all found out.
“Can you use your descriptive words?” He cut into his ribeye, a small smile playing on his lips.
“I mean, it has to be like three or four floors. I saw a tennis court, and one of those infinity pools…which is weird, right? I mean the ocean is right there.” I shrugged. “Anyway. We saw a lot of people coming and going and bringing bags and stuff. No view of the owner, though.”
“Yeah, but yesterday, Barnes came into the ice cream shop, and was saying how Lukas Farren was an asshole. Made fun of him because he couldn’t move some eight-hundred-pound sculpture by himself. Called him puny or something.” Nat popped a fry into her mouth.
“Damn, he’s a jerk?” I slumped in my chair. I’d hoped he would be a nice guy and would tell us all about the history of the family that books couldn’t.
Natalie nodded. “But that’s just Barnes saying that. We don’t know the whole story.”
“True. Like that time Jimmy Holden was in love with you in third grade, and you didn’t like him that way. He was so hurt but told everyone you kissed him and he was the one who turned you away.” I beamed at my best friend. She hated every time I brought that up.
“Uh-huh, sure, Sam. Just like that.” She sighed and looked at Ben. “Did you find anything out?”
“Not much. The guy is rich—that much I know, but he doesn’t have a wife, husband, kids, nothing. I couldn’t even find where he moved from. It’s all so weird that there’s not much on him, especially since he’s worth billions.”
“Is that cop still sweet on you, Sam?” Natalie was referring to Officer Reed, who liked to ask me out a lot. He was nice and all, but there was no connection.
“Why?”
She played innocent. “Just thinkin’ maybe you could entice him to find out some things on our Lancaster Island resident.”
“I’m not whoring myself out for intel, Nat.”
Ben snorted. “And Sam just got Reed to stop asking him out.”
I pointed at Ben with my fork. “Facts.”
After lunch was done, we walked outside. The sun was shining but not too hot. It was October, and the trees were turning gold, red, and orange. The breeze off the water was cooler, and soon Halloween decorations would fill up Main Street and all the homes and shops.
“What are you up to now?” Nat asked me after Ben drove away.
“Doctor appointment, you?”
Her brows dipped. “Is it a regular appointment or…”
I squeezed her arm. “Regular, don’t worry.”
“Want me to go with you?”
I shook my head. “No, thanks. What are you going to do now?”
“I’ll go to the shop and help out Dad. He really gets frustrated with the high school kids that work for him. He’d be happier if you and I just worked all the time.”
“I’m sure he would. I’ll call you later.”
She waved, hopped on her bike, and peddled toward Cone Creations. I got into my red VW Bug. It had been my mom’s once upon a time, and when I’d turned sixteen and gotten my license she’d gifted it to me. I loved that car so much, and she took me everywhere I needed to go without issue.
My doctor’s office wasn’t too far but not close enough that I’d want to walk. I parked and entered the building to the receptionist’s beaming smile.
“Hey, Sam.”
