“Nothing you say can change what happened,” I continued.
“I was broken, Gabby.” He grabbed my hand. “I hardly wanted to live with myself. I know you don’t believe me when I say that I left because I loved you, but, at that time, that’s exactly what I was thinking. In retrospect, I can see where it was a dumb idea.”
“You actually left her?” Angelina gasped. “I knew we had problems, but Bo never left me when the going got tough.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Riley started, exasperation staining his voice.
“Then what was it like?” Dr. Turner crossed his legs and gave us his full, undivided attention.
All eyes in the room riveted on Riley. I almost felt sorry for him, but I was powerless to correct this now.
Riley sighed, long and heavy. “I had a brain injury, and my recovery became my life. The more my pain and frustration grew, the more my vision became cloudy until I couldn’t see clearly anymore. I ended up moving back home with my parents.”
Angelina snickered, at least having the respect to cover her mouth. “You moved in with your mommy?”
Riley cut her a sharp look and frowned. “It’s complicated. Honestly, I didn’t want Gabby to turn her whole life upside down in order to take care of me.”
“She’s your wife, though,” Farrah said. It was the most passion I’d seen in her eyes since we’d started this marriage retreat. Unfortunately, it was directed at Riley and me instead of her husband. “That’s what spouses do.”
“I also didn’t want her to see me in that state.” He grimaced as he said that last part. His hand brushed over his face, and the agony inside him was obvious.
“Did you think she’d see you as less of a man?” Dr. Turner asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut, suddenly realizing what a bad idea it was to have this conversation. It wasn’t meant to be had in a group like this, especially not since everyone had jumped in to contribute their opinions.
“Being in the place I was in was humiliating. I learned a lot in the process. There are things I would have changed if I could now. But hindsight is always twenty-twenty, right?” Riley’s voice had lost a lot of its liveliness. In fact, this conversation looked downright painful for him.
I wanted desperately to reach over and touch his back. To smooth his tight muscles. To tell him everything would be okay.
I could do none of those things, though.
I had to keep my distance. Keep things superficial. Take my emotions out of this equation.
“Gabby, how did this make you feel?” Dr. Turner turned toward me.
I rubbed my neck, wishing my muscles didn’t feel achy. But it was the same way I’d felt when I’d learned my mom had cancer. I was grieving in my own way for all the things I’d lost.
“It made me feel like I wasn’t enough.” My voice sounded raspy, clear evidence of the turmoil I felt inside. “I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I felt rejected—again. All the men in my life have let me down, and I added Riley to that list.”
Maybe I’d been too honest. Maybe I should have tamped down what I’d said. Most likely, I shouldn’t have said it at all. But again, for some reason, the truth insisted on pouring from my lips.
Riley’s gaze was so intense on mine that I wanted to cry. But I somehow managed to hold myself together.
“Riley, what do you have to say to that?” Dr. Turner said.
You could have heard a pin drop in the room. It was that quiet. Everyone watched us like we were on an episode of VH1’s Couple’s Therapy. This was one time I didn’t want to be the center of attention, though.
Riley swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up then down again. “I never wanted to hurt you. I only wanted what was best for you. Sometimes I don’t feel like I’ll ever be able to make things right.”
“Gabby?” Dr. Turner said, his voice solemn.
That did it. A tear escaped and drizzled down my face. “I don’t know either.”
“And here I thought the two of you were the only normal ones here.” Angelina snorted, pulling us out of the moment. “I guess we all have our problems, don’t we?”
“Yes, we do,” Dr. Turner said. “We’re all human, and that makes us imperfect. I think we’ve covered enough here tonight. Why don’t you all have some time to yourselves before we call lights out?”
Riley and I having time to ourselves was the last thing I needed. I didn’t think I could handle talking about this anymore. And this look in his eyes just made it all more confusing. It made me want to turn to mush and fall into his arms. Either that or slap him. Neither option was appealing.
“Dr. Turner?”
We all stopped and turned toward Steve.
“Yes, Steve?”
“Has anyone seen Blaine?”
We glanced at each other and shook our heads.
“No, not since dinner,” Dr. Turner said. “What’s wrong?”
“She wanted the staff to meet with her about some improvements she’d like to see. However, she didn’t show up. I’ve got stuff to do.”
I immediately tensed. Oh no. Not Blaine. What had happened now?
CHAPTER 34
I gripped my flashlight as I walked outside along the oyster-shell pathway. The night had grown quite brisk, and I shivered as I gulped in a deep breath of frosty air. We’d split into teams to look for Blaine, and somehow Riley and I had convinced Dr. Turner to let us search outside. He’d urged caution but agreed.
My gut churned with anxiety. Where could Blaine be? No one would be able to deny something odd was going on if three things happened at this retreat center.
The silence between Riley and me was downright uncomfortable. I wanted to do whatever it took to avoid it.
“Gabby—” he started.
“This is probably the worst time ever to talk about what happened back there,” I rushed before he could go any further. “I guess I played my role a little too well.”
That’s right. Pretend this is all part of our cover.
I knew he’d never believe it.
“That’s because you were telling the truth,” he said quietly.
I focused on the path ahead. “It doesn’t matter, Riley. That’s all water under the bridge, as the saying goes.” Before I could talk about it any more, I pointed to a maintenance shed in the distance. “There’s a wheelbarrow against the door. I don’t remember seeing it there before.”
He frowned, hesitated a moment. “Let’s check it out. But I’d really like to finish this conversation later.”
I decided not to confirm or deny his request. With any luck, he’d forget about it or we wouldn’t have the opportunity to talk about things. Except luck was rarely on my side.
Right now, I was going to concentrate on Blaine.
We reached the shed and pulled the wheelbarrow from in front of the entrance. When we pulled the door open and shined our flashlights inside, I spotted someone curled in the corner.
It was Blaine.
I crouched beside her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, obviously frazzled. “I came out here to get a hammer and nails. I’ve been waiting for someone to fix a rickety table in the Therapy Lounge, but I decided to just do it myself. When I stepped inside, someone pushed me and slammed the door. I gave up yelling for help about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Let’s get you inside,” Riley said. “Can you walk?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I can walk. Thank you.”
Despite what she said, Riley and I walked on either side of her until we entered the hall and lowered her onto a bench in the entryway. After I yelled for help, I studied Blaine a moment.
There were cut marks on her arm. How had that happened? Had someone hurt her?
Blaine followed my gaze down to her cuts. She pulled her arms closer, as if trying to disguise her injuries. “It’s nothing. I was just trying to get out. I thought I could prop myself up and get to a high window. I cut myself on the cinder blocks on the way down.”
�
�Are you okay?” Farrah asked. “Maybe I can put something on those cuts.”
Blaine shook her head, suddenly not looking so composed. “No, I’m fine. Thank you. I think I’ll just go take a shower and get ready for bed. If you’ll excuse me.”
Though she’d insisted she wanted to be alone, I followed her anyway. She stopped outside her door and turned to me. “I know you’re worried, but I’m okay.”
“But first the boat crashed and then this . . .”
She licked her lips. “I’ve thought of that also. You think I’m going to be the next person to get hurt?”
“That appears to be the case. You can’t deny that something suspicious is going on here.”
“As far as the boat, it was my fault. I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m not sure what happened tonight, though. Maybe there’s someone here that resents my position with Dr. Turner.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “The doctor pays well. I’m his right-hand woman. There are plenty of other people who’d like to do my job.”
“Like Steve?”
She shrugged again. “I’m not naming names. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I really would like a shower.”
Just as she stepped into her room, I called her again. She paused.
“Blaine, I saw you in Onancock a couple of weeks ago. Do you go there often?”
She swallowed hard. “As a matter of fact, I do. My sister has a gift shop there.”
I nodded. Her explanation made sense.
But nothing else on this island did.
CHAPTER 35
Riley and I stepped outside later that night while everyone else slept. A blustery wind swept against the building, sending sand in our faces.
“Feels like a storm’s brewing,” Riley said, looking toward the horizon.
Just as he said the words, lightning flashed in the distance.
“You got that right.”
“Where should we go to keep a lookout? You have any ideas?
“I want to go down by that rocky shoreline. The boat that keeps coming and going could provide some answers. There’s only one way to find out exactly what’s going on.”
“And if we come face-to-face with a killer?”
I swallowed hard. I hadn’t thought of that. We had no cell phone service so we couldn’t call for help. No one would hear me if I screamed.
“Then we get tough,” I said. “And I have my gun.”
“You have a gun?”
I shrugged. “You’re not the only one who was affected by Scum.”
Scum was the name of the serial killer who’d nearly ended Riley’s life. He’d nearly ended mine as well. The memories were still painful, and they hit me at the oddest times, inducing nightmares that didn’t allow me to sleep.
But not many people knew that. No one could understand.
No one but Riley, and we hadn’t really talked about it. In fact, instead of allowing the incident to draw us closer, it had pushed us further apart.
“I know it was hard on you also, Gabby,” Riley said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Well, at least he’d put that out there. His plea for forgiveness left me speechless. I wanted to say, “It’s okay,” but it wasn’t okay. Nothing was okay, and that was becoming more and more obvious the more time we spent together.
“Well, life happens, right?” It was the best I could come up with.
“Don’t try to brush it off.” He grabbed my arm and planted himself firmly in front of me until I looked at him.
My hair, once smooth, now whipped around me in the wind. Lightning cracked the sky, illuminating his face. The sight took my breath away. There was a new intensity to his gaze.
I could have been imagining things, but he seemed to be leaning closer to me. I could feel the pull between us. The tension—it could push us away or draw us together in a heartbeat.
Which direction would this moment go?
“Gabby,” he whispered. His hand brushed my jaw.
I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t go down this rabbit hole again. Even if everything in me cried out to get closer, to reminisce old times, to feel connected again.
At that moment, a light in the distance caught the corner of my eye.
“Get down!” I pulled him toward the ground before we were spotted.
We tumbled into the prickly grass beneath us.
“There’s the boat.” I pointed. “We’ve got to get to the stairs and go down to the beach,” I whispered. “It’s the only way we’ll figure this out.”
“I agree. Let’s go.”
Staying low, we made it to the steps. We crept down them until our feet hit the sand at the bottom. We ducked behind one of the large rocks that formed a natural bulkhead and waited as the boat came closer.
I could hear two men talking. I tried to make out what they were saying, but it was nearly impossible with the wind and the approaching storm. Thunder rumbled overhead.
Any minute now, the sky was going to burst.
“Can you understand them?” I asked.
“All I heard was ‘Be quiet.’”
Another odd sound filled the air. It was almost a scraping, a shuffling, but it was filled with occasional loud clinks and plops. It sounded like someone was dropping something into the water and then pulling it back up a few minutes later.
I couldn’t put together what was happening. It just didn’t make sense.
At that moment, I spotted someone else coming down the stairway. The footsteps were loud and heavy, but I couldn’t make out whom they belonged to.
I nudged Riley and nodded toward the figure. We slipped deeper into the shadows. Concealing ourselves could be the difference between life and death right now. I wasn’t sure what exactly we were in the middle of.
As lightning lit the sky again, I recognized the figure rambling across the sand.
Captain Leroy.
Was he involved in all this?
I heard a yell and another loud plop. From my position behind the rocks, it appeared that a man jumped out of the boat and waded through the water toward Captain Leroy.
Was this it? The big moment when we’d finally get some answers?
As I waited to see what would play out, suddenly lights illuminated the area. Over a bullhorn, a deep voice rang out. “This is the Virginia Marine Police. Everyone, put your hands up.”
CHAPTER 36
I watched as Leroy and the man he was meeting raised their hands in the air.
Two other boats pulled up, and police officers appeared on the shoreline, surrounding the men.
The man in the water—the one from the boat—didn’t even ask why they were there. He just looked resigned and maybe angry, with his hunched shoulders and flared nostrils.
Had the marine police been investigating him for the death of Anna and the attempted death of Ginger? I couldn’t remember exactly, but I thought they primarily checked fishing licenses and boating permits.
“You’re under arrest for the illegal poaching of oysters from the Chesapeake,” the officer said through the bullhorn.
Again, there was no argument from anyone.
That must mean they were guilty.
Illegal poaching of oysters? What? I didn’t even realize that was a crime, nor that a person could be arrested for doing so.
The men talked while the police examined the boat. I supposed that was the sounds we’d heard. They’d been harvesting oysters.
Who would have thought?
I tried to stay still, but legs were beginning to ache from crouching low. The rocks were uncomfortable and hard beneath me—huge boulders filled with smaller stones and pebbles. Sharp crags dug into my skin.
“Someone else is coming,” Riley whispered, crouching lower beside me.
I glanced at the steps leading to the beach and saw Dr. Turner descend. He wore his infamous cardigan and loafers. His hair, normally neat and in place, flew like a kite in the wind. Mr. Rogers Guest Stars on Cops.
>
“What’s going on down here?” he asked. “Leroy? Are you involved in this?”
Leroy didn’t say anything. He just looked the other way.
At that moment, I tried to readjust my position before I fell over. But my plan backfired. I lost my balance and fell backward. My hand hit a rock, which sent several stones cascading downward. It wasn’t my best moment.
“Is there someone back there?” a voice called out.
I froze when I realized the light was pointed at me.
With a frown, I rose to my feet, my hands in the air. Riley followed suit.
“Gabby? Riley?” Dr. Turner asked. Disappointment saturated his voice.
We stepped out, trying not to make things worse.
“What are you doing out here?” he continued. Then realization dawned across his features. “Sleepwalking.”
“She appears lucid now,” an officer said.
“We were kind of stuck down here once all this happened,” Riley said. “We were scared, so we hid.”
“You two certainly have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Dr. Turner said. “Why do I have a feeling there’s more to this story?”
I started to object when Riley cut in. “We do. It’s Gabby, actually. She’s a little on the nosy side.”
“I can see how this would affect your marriage, but we’ll have to save that for another conversation,” Dr. Turner said.
I waited for Riley to deny it, but he didn’t. Not that we were really married. But, really?
I didn’t have time to think about it at the moment. One angry-looking marine officer was waiting to hear our explanation as well.
***
Dr. Turner had asked to meet with Riley and me the next morning. This was after a short church service in the “chapel” at the lodge. We hadn’t had one last week after what had happened with Ginger. Everyone was too weary after being awake all night talking to the police. Dr. Turner presided over today’s Sunday morning gathering, after informing us that he was also an ordained minister.
We stayed behind, and I fully expected to receive a lecture. I was tense all over as I waited for him to begin. Riley and I sat on an uncomfortable pew that was covered in burgundy. Dr. Turner sat in front of us.
Dust and Obey Page 17
