“What the fuck?” he mutters under his breath and continues to stare at me with wide eyes. I’m not sure what he wants, so I stare back in silence.
“Who are you?” he demands.
“Elliot.”
“Elliot?” His forehead wrinkles, and he eases closer to me. “You look exactly like…” His face pinches in confusion. “Did youknow Nathan Carter?”
“The archaeologist? No, I just moved to Maverick Key. I’m from Miami.”
“You lookexactlylike Nathan Carter. But you can’t be him because he’s dead. Who are you?” he asks again.
Where is he going with this? Now, all the people on his boat are staring at me in shock.
“I don’t know who I am.” I hate how small my voice sounds, and who the hell does this guy think he is, anyway. “Who the hell areyou?”
He lets out a short, amused laugh. “Scott Rickter. Sorry. It’s just that you… Didn’t you just tell me you were Elliot?”
“Elliot’s the name I took at the hospital. I have retrograde amnesia.”
A flash of recognition crosses his face. He’s staring at the leather band around my neck. Or the shell pendant. His breath hitches, and his fixed hazel eyes flicker with a rim of tears in the corners.
“How long have you had amnesia?” he asks in a shaky voice.
“Almost seven years.”
Silence.
“The fuck,” he mumbles.
I jerk when he puts his hands on my shoulders and he pulls me into a hug. A hard hug. His serious expression softens into a joyful one.
“I don’t know how the hell this is possible, but what the fuck!”
“You know me?”
“Yes, man. I know you. I’m your brother-in-law. Damn.” He squeezes me again, and all the people from his boat have circled around us, their faces covered with excitement. Unnerved by their attention, I stumble. Scott helps me catch my fall. “Hey, you’re good.”
I catch my breath. He lifts a hand and motions to the spectators to move back to give us room. “You must have a million questions. But let’s start with something simple. Where are you staying?” he asks breathlessly.
I give him the address of the Driftwood Inn and my cell number. He stares at me, puzzled.
“I’m the new housekeeper. I’m supposed to move into the inn tonight. I’ve been staying at the Cooper Motel.”
“Ah, well, is there anywhere you need to be right now?”
I’d forgotten about the charter, and it’s already gone. “Nowhere.”
“Then let’s go see your sister.”
In the truck, I try to think while Scott drives.
I’mNathan Carter. Maddie is my sister, and Maverick Key really is my home.
What am I feeling right now?
Happy? I think so. I’m restless in my seat, and there’s only so many times I can run my fingers through my hair to keep my hands busy. And as much as I’m trying to control my hammering heart. I can’t. My sister’s in the hospital because she’s had a baby. I’m about to meet her for the first time, along with my little nephew, Christopher. I’m curious and excited, but I know I should feel something more specific and deeper.
Confusion. Definitely confusion. What happened to me? This Mark guy that supposedly confessed to killing me… what did he do to me? Obviously, I’m not dead. Why would he confess to killing me if I weren’t dead? Why did he do it?
