“Oh my gosh! I’ve been robbed!” The scream sounds again.
“I think that’s Enid,” I say as we hurry back to the house. We step inside, and immediately, I hear Enid screaming incessantly.
“I’ve been robbed! I’ve been robbed!” Hunter runs past me and up the stairs, and I follow behind him. We head toward Enid’s room, and I see that Preston and Amethyst are also there.
“What’s going on, Grandma? What’s happened?” Hunter says, worry in his tone.
“I’ve been robbed. My diamond necklace. It’s gone.” She looks around with wild eyes.
“It’s gone. Stolen.”
“Are you sure? Is it not in the safe deposit box?” Preston asks.
“No. I took it out the other night because I wanted to wear it to dinner, but I decided to wear the rubies instead, and—oh no, darling, my diamond necklace.” She gazes at Hunter and clutches his hand. “It was from my great-grandmother. It was a million-dollar necklace.” I gasp as she states how much it cost. Hunter looks at me with narrowed eyes, and I look back at him. I’m not sure why he’s giving me that questioning look, but I’m not going to worry about it right now. I look at the faces of everyone in the room. Amethyst looks bemused. Preston looks unconcerned.Hunter looks confused. Enid looks panicked. And I’m not sure what expression I have on my face.
“Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?” Enid clutches her chest.
“When’s the last time you saw the necklace, Grandma?” Hunter looks around the room.
“The night of the dinner,” she says. “And I just came to put it back in the safety deposit box, and now it’s gone.”
“So you’re sure it was stolen?” Hunter presses his lips together.
“It was stolen.” She looks very upset. Then she says the words that make my heart still. “It was stolen, and if I’m not mistaken, it was stolen by someone in this house.” I see Hunter’s eyes move to me, along with Amethyst’s. I don’t want to say they’re accusing, but they’re definitely not as friendly and sweet as they had been previously.
My heart races, and all I can think is that if I’m the number one suspect in a missing million-dollar necklace case, I’m in a lot of trouble.
A lot, a lot of trouble.
I bite down on my lower lip and just stand there because I don’t know what to say or do.
My mind is still fluttering from the kiss with Hunter. My body is still on fire.
How am I supposed to process that intimate moment with the shock that this necklace has now gone missing?
I don’t know what to do, but I know I have to call Emma. She’s always the voice of reason. In moments like this, she would help me calm down and figure this out. Because one thing I know for certain: I am already in over my head, and I don’t know how I am going to make this all right.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Hunter
A million thoughts fill my mind as I head down Main Street toward the post office to check my post office box. Whisper Cove is such a quaint small town. It's so different from New York City, yet I feel more at home here than I've ever felt anywhere else. I gaze out at the calm, turquoise-blue water and watch as some young sailors head out to the bay. It’s a nice day, with a mild wind, and for a few moments, I think about going on a boat ride. I tilt my head up to the sun and stand there for a couple of moments, allowing the warmth of the day to kiss and caress my skin. I feel myself calming down and take a few deep breaths. I’m still upset that someone stole my grandmother’s necklace, but I just don’t know who it could have been. Even my grandparents had been shocked by the blatant theft. I know my grandfather, and I still hoped that Grandma had somehow misplaced it. I didn't even want to think about the possibility that Gina could have taken it. She crosses my mind as I walk past Christie's Cupcakes and Bakery, and I think about that day for a moment. I debate popping in to see if they have any of the StrawberrySpecial cupcakes that I got the other day, but laugh to myself at the thought of taking one home for Gina. I’m not sure what she would say if I turned up with one.
I continue on my way, turn the corner, and get ready to cross the street when all of a sudden, I hear my name shouted. I look to the side in surprise, first noticing the two pigeons fighting over a piece of bread and then noticing the crowd of people gazing at me. I stifle a groan as my shoulders tense up.
“Hunter Waverly! Hunter Waverly! Can we ask you a couple of questions?” Four men with cameras come running over to me, shouting loudly, and I increase my pace and ignore them. I should have known they would find me. The paparazzi are here in Whisper Cove. My privacy is now officially gone. Even Whisper Cove isn’t safe from this scum. I know it's a job for them, but constant hounding feels invasive.
“Hunter Waverly! Can I get your attention?" A bald man full of tattoos starts running toward me. "I’m from theNew York Sun. My name is Daniel Marque. Can I ask you a question?”
“No,” I say, avoiding eye contact and continuing to walk quickly. There is no way I want to speak to any of these reporters.
“Is it true that you and Sophia Limone are about to get married? Can you confirm or deny the allegations that she is pregnant? Can you confirm or deny the talk that you're already married and have a baby?”
“No.” I move faster. Just hearing Sophia's name makes my blood boil.
“Can we get a definitive answer from you about your engagement?”
“No,” I say loudly. “Please just leave me alone.” I increase my pace and keep my head down.
