But not today. Today she was going to work.
Or I will be, she thought as she watched a Lincoln pull into the driveway. As soon as I have this same stupid conversation for the third time in fifteen minutes.
“Your dad is home,” Marsden said triumphantly. His confidence made her even more determined.
“Hey, Daddy,” she called, a big smile plastered across her face. “Did you have a nice visit with Brother Phelps and his family?”
Despite the hot and humid weather, Reverend Jessup was wearing a suit and tie. He never left the house in anything else. Even when he went to the gym, he dressed in a suit and changed into his shorts when he got there. Today his tie was blue with little red crosses printed all over it. Like at least half the ties he owned, Ada had bought it for him for one holiday or another. She always bought her dad a tie, and he always acted like it was the greatest gift he’d ever received.
There was a time when she couldn’t understand why he didn’t wear old university shirts and jeans like other dads, but that was when she was younger and thought everyone’s dad was a preacher who had become a bestselling author and world-renowned speaker through his teachings on the healing power of prayer. Once she was old enough to start understanding things like public image, she no longer questioned it. Reverend Jessup was a Well-Respected Man of God, capital letters and all. Well-Respected Men of God wore suits. End of discussion.
“Very nice,” Reverend Jessup said, answering her question with the same pleasant optimism he did everything. He always sounded like a call-in radio therapist. His voice was just deep enough to sound authoritative, even when he spoke softly, which he normally did. “Brother Phelps is feeling much better. Well enough to tell me how I planted my watermelons all wrong this year and will be lucky to get one or two big enough to eat.”
He stopped at the bottom step, one hand on the railing he coated with fresh white paint every spring. “What are you kids doing out here in this humidity? You should be inside, enjoying the air conditioner and some lemonade. I know Mandy made some up fresh this morning.”
Ada squared her shoulders. “I’m actually on my way to work, Daddy. I’ve got the earlier shift tonight, so I’ve got to be there by four.”
“Work?” Reverend Jessup’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but it was enough to make Ada squirm. “I thought we talked about that when we left the hospital.” He emphasized the latter part of the sentence, as though Ada could possibly forget where she’d spent the early hours of the morning.
“You said I shouldn’t go in if I was having issues, but I’m not.” She took a deep breath, the fake smile still on her face. “One hundred percent issue free.”
“Ada Pearl Jessup, you were released from the hospital less than nine hours ago. I believe that qualifies as an issue.”
“I’ve been trying to talk some sense into her, sir,” Marsden said to her father as if she wasn’t even standing there. “She’s in one of her stubborn moods today.”
“All of Ada’s moods are stubborn.” Her father climbed the three steps up to stand in front of her, effectively blocking her in since her back was to the door and Marsden was on the side where the porch swing wasn’t. At that moment, she did feel a little short of breath, but it had nothing to do with her disease. Claustrophobia was the more immediate issue. “Sweetheart,” he said, laying a hand on her shoulder, which didn’t help with the closed-in feeling at all. “You need to call Mr. Rudolph and tell him you won’t be coming in today.”
“I can’t. He already sent me a text to let me know he would be out of touch today. He’s taking Dorian to some treatment facility down in Nashville.”
“Then you will call whoever your supervisor is for today—”
“It’s Misty, but she can’t cover my shift because she’s been there since I left last night.”
“One of the other—”
“Martin and Sandy are still out with the stomach flu, Jo has the late shift tonight, and Donna is in Indiana meeting her new grandbaby. There isn’t anyone else to work.”
Her father’s other hand came up to rest on her other shoulder. He wasn’t much taller than her, but when he bent forward to meet her eyes, she felt completely enclosed. She had to remind herself she couldn’t just push him away and get some air.
“That’s not your problem, Ada. You don’t own that resort. You’re not even a supervisor. You let one of them worry about who is going to work.”
It would be so easy to say “Yes, Daddy,” and let it go. It would make her dad, Marsden, and her mother, who was the first person to tell Ada she should stay home, happy. They would spend the evening eating pizza and popcorn while watching movies together in the family room. It would be nice. Her parents loved Marsden, possibly more than they loved her. Her dad was training him to be a preacher, and her mom thought he was the “the nicest thing” and mentioned on an uncomfortable number of occasions how he reminded her of a young Denzel Washington. The only person in the family who wasn’t a member of the Marsden fan club was her little sister, Kinsey, who thought he was boring and stupid. But even Kinsey would put up with Marsden for the evening if it meant renting on-demand movies.
“Dad, I made a commitment to these people. They shouldn’t have to worry about covering my shift, because I’ve agreed to do it.” She bit her lip, knowing this next part was a gamble, but one she was willing to take. “You raised me better than to turn my back on my responsibilities just because I had one difficult night. That isn’t what a Christian does. A Christian picks themselves up and keeps going, their head held high and love in their heart.”
She didn’t dare breathe as her father worked over what she just said. She wondered if knowing he had an audience would affect his decision. Finally, when she thought she couldn’t wait another moment, he said, “You’re right. If a Christian can’t set the example of duty and perseverance, then who can?” He squeezed her shoulders. “I’m proud of you, sweetie. You’re growing up to be a fine Christian woman.”
Ada smiled, hoping he didn’t feel her muscles clench at his words. “I learned it from the best,” she said, before escaping to her car.
Chapter 5
Ada was fifteen minutes late to work. Misty didn’t write her up, but she did make several passive-aggressive comments about people not finishing their shifts and showing up late. Ada didn’t blame her. She would have probably been more aggressive than passive if she’d just worked thirteen hours straight.
Like most things in Ada’s life, the beginning of her work shift had its own special routine. First, she switched off the radio, which was playing smooth jazz, plugged her phone into the sound system, and pulled up her “Feeling Groovy” playlist. Then, she turned on the air purifier and Lysoled the back office and front desk. Finally, she hit up the vending machine, smiling at the empty spot where the Kit-Kats normally resided.
By the time she settled into the worn leather chair in the back office, Marsden had texted her four times. After the radio silence from the day before, she was happy to see he was back to normal, even if normal was treating her like she was incapable of taking care of herself. She might have been more annoyed if he was alone in his delusion, but since most everyone treated her as if she should be ensconced in bubble wrap, she let it slide. She quickly fired back a message, and his response was almost immediate. They’d been messaging back and forth for over fifteen minutes when the office door banged open.
“Duty calls,” Ada typed in. “Later.”
“Well, if it isn’t NYPD Blue,” Kathy said, easing herself onto the leather couch taking up the entire back wall of the office. “What kind of excitement do you have planned for this afternoon? Maybe a car chase? Or even better, a boat chase, complete with on-water explosions?”
Ada leaned back, threw her feet up on the desk, and folded her hands behind her head. “Just doing what I have to do to keep the streets safe.”
Kathy snorted. If anyone understood how unexciting the streets of Serenity Shores were, it was
the housekeeper who had worked there since it opened over twenty years ago.
“So, Mr. Rudolph…?”
Ada didn’t have to explain what she was asking. It was another benefit of talking to the resort’s oldest employee. Kathy not only knew all the ins and outs of every aspect of the business, she was practically part of the Rudolph family. She knew how Dorian was, and was more than aware of his father’s inability to handle the truth of his behavior.
“He doesn’t blame you, if that’s what you’re asking, hon,” Kathy said. “Actually, I think he’s kind of relieved. He knew this day was coming sooner or later, no matter how much he was unwilling to admit it. It’s good for him to have it over and done with.”
Ada breathed out a sigh of relief. The texts she’d received from her boss didn’t seem to hint at any blame, but it’s hard to tell tone from words on a screen. But if Kathy said he wasn’t ready to kill and/or fire her, then she knew she could rest easy. Kathy wasn’t exactly the kind of woman who spared feelings.
“It’s been kind of quiet today,” Ada said, realizing the phone hadn’t rung once since she’d clocked in. She knew all the cabins were already filled with guests who had reserved them through the week, but usually afternoons were when calls started pouring in from people who needed extra towels or couldn’t figure out how to turn on the television. “Our new guests tend to keep to themselves, don’t they?”
It’d been this way since they’d started checking in a few days ago. People from all over the world were staying at the resort. Ada had never heard so many different accents in her life. While they were checking in, it was absolute chaos. Mixed up reservations. Credit cards getting denied. Some crazy man who tried to pay with gold coins. But once everyone was checked in and settled, it was like the resort was empty.
“They’re a bunch of weirdos is what they are,” Kathy said. “I wouldn’t want to be caught in a dark alley with half their men, and those women are just as creepy. Today one of them told me she could see my ancestors and descendants standing beside me and that I was loved. What kind of crazy crap is that?”
Ada smothered a laugh behind her hand. “What I don’t understand is what they’re all doing here for Scout Donovan’s wedding. She grew up in my dad’s church. Her sister is my little sister’s best friend. The Donovans are about as normal as they come, so why are they attracting all these crazies?”
Kathy leaned forward and dropped her voice. “If you want my opinion, those Donovans aren’t quite as normal as you think.”
“Really? What makes you say that?”
“Besides that supposed kidnapping by domestic terrorists a few years ago?”
“You mean the thing where Scout was kidnapped by domestic terrorists?”
Kathy gave Ada a bless-your-heart look. “That’s just what they want you to think.”
“Okay, so besides the Illuminati conspiracy surrounding Scout’s disappearance forever ago, what makes you think the Donovans are less than normal?”
“Well, there was the house fire.”
“Personal tragedy happens to everyone. Not experiencing it would make you abnormal.”
Kathy waved a finger in the air and made a little tsk-ing noise. “But not everyone’s personal tragedy comes at the hand of an arsonist.”
“It wasn’t an arsonist. It was an electrical fire.” Ada was starting to wonder if Kathy was one of those crazy people who thought the moon landing was filmed in Hollywood and President Bush orchestrated 9-11.
“That’s not what Glenn Jamison with the Timber Fire Department said. He said that fire was set on purpose.”
“Why would someone want to burn down the Donovans’ house?”
“Because they’re involved with something.” Kathy tapped the side of her nose like some sort of cheesy detective in an old movie. “I see things. Like the way all these people fall all over themselves to do what that Scout girl and her fiancé say. And the way it seems like they’re guarding the Golden Pond cabins. There is always someone loitering outside, looking around as if they’re expecting someone or something. At least one of them was carrying a gun. I could see the outline of it through his shirt.”
“Guns?” Ada’s ears perked up.
“Yes, guns. And you’ll never guess what I found in one of the Golden Pond cabins today.”
“What?”
“A bloody t-shirt tossed into the fireplace.”
Ada sat up so quickly the chair nearly toppled over. As it was, her feet managed to send her phone flying through the air and behind a stack of papers which were supposed to be filed a decade ago. She had to follow the sounds of Art Garfunkel’s voice to find it.
“Are you sure?” she asked as she dug behind invoices dated 1996. “It was blood and not barbecue sauce or ketchup or something?”
Kathy knew she had Ada’s attention, and if there was one thing Kathy liked, it was attention. She sighed rather dramatically and folder her arms over her frighteningly large breasts. “I have five kids, none of which ever shied away from a playground brawl. I know the difference between a blood stain and a mess caused by condiments.”
Ada didn’t say anything. She was too scared to say anything. She kept thinking about the picture Jase had shown her of Joshua. Maybe it was her imagination filling in what she thought she should see, but in her memory Joshua was pale with dark circles shadowing his eyes. He had been smiling, but even though she’d only known him half an hour, she could tell it wasn’t his real smile. He looked like he was in pain.
He looked like he’d been shot.
Not that Ada actually knew what people looked like after they’d been shot, but she suspected she was right about this one.
“Was it a Star Wars shirt?” she asked already knowing the answer.
Kathy’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know that?”
“Last night, during that whole fiasco with Dorian’s party, one of the real guests got shot. I saw it happen, but no one would believe me. They… no, Jase Donovan was covering for him.” Either Ada just swallowed the crazy conspiracy theory pill, or Kathy was right. There was something up with the Donovans. “He was wearing a Star Wars shirt. The one with the original 1977 poster on it.”
“That’s the one,” Kathy confirmed. “It was laying in the fireplace, like maybe they were going to burn it to hide the evidence.”
Ada’s mind was firing so quickly she couldn’t process any of it. The phone in her hand buzzed, announcing a text from Marsden asking her to meet him at Landing Park when she got off work. She stared at it in confusion for several minutes before she understood what it said.
“So, what do you think it is?”
What Ada thought was that it was a not-so-subtle booty call, but she didn’t see how that was anyone’s business but hers.
“What the Donovans are into,” Kathy explained. “What do you think it is? Drugs? Human trafficking?”
Well, at least she could think clearly enough to answer that.
“Have you met Dustin Donovan? Just the mention of drugs or human trafficking would probably break him out in hives he’s so tight-laced.” It was one of the things her father liked most about the father of the Donovan family.
“Maybe they’re a cult. Or maybe they’re the terrorists and that whole kidnapping ploy was to throw the government off their trail.”
“Maybe,” Ada said, although none of that sounded right either. The Donovans didn’t seem cultish or terroristic to her, but she had to admit something was off with them. Something was making them lie to her about Joshua, and come midnight, she was going to figure out what it was.
Chapter 6
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Angel Donovan said, standing above the couch where Joshua was laid out trying to rest. Her hands were on her hips and her eyes were narrowed to tiny slivers with only a hint of blue peeking out. “I am twelve-years-old. That’s like a teenager.”
“No,” Joshua argued, trying to ignore the pulling sensation coming from his shoulder. “That’s like a t
welve-year-old. Thirteen is when you graduate to teen status, munchkin.”
If the tweenage girl towering over him looked angry before she was downright furious now. “Don’t. Call. Me. Munchkin!”
She was like a magnificent volcano of fury, and Joshua couldn’t resist pushing to see if he could make her erupt.
“It’s a school night. Don’t you need to be in bed now, munchkin?”
A high-pitched screech threatened to burst his eardrums.
“I am the tallest person in my class. Not the tallest girl. The tallest person,” she said, and Joshua believed her. Over the past year, Angel’s hormones had gone into hyper-drive. She’d gone from sweet little kid to being taller than both her siblings and having curves that caused each of the men in the Alpha Pack to have to threaten a random stranger at least once. “And it’s June. There isn’t any school, so I don’t have a bedtime. Because I’m a teenager.”
“A pre-teen,” Joshua corrected. “And I think we’re going to have to reconsider this no bedtime thing. You get awfully cranky late at night. It happens with little kids, you know.”
Angel kicked the couch with all her might, and not for the first time, Joshua was glad she didn’t possess her sister’s strength. As it was, instead of injuring the couch or Joshua, Angel injured her toe.
“It’s broke,” she bellowed, falling to the ground. “I broke my toe, and it’s all your fault.”
Joshua lowered himself to the carpet. “I didn’t tell you to kick the couch,” he said, pulling her injured foot into his lap. “See if you can move them.” Whines and complaints filled the air as five toes decorated with bright pink polish wiggled at him. “Not my fault, and not broken. You’re zero for two, munchkin.”
Angel opened her mouth to argue, but she was cut off by someone knocking on the front door. Joshua pressed his finger to his lips, but Angel had already gone silent. Her hand moved to the pepper spray Joshua made her keep tucked in her pocket at all times, but there wasn’t even a trace of fear in her big blue eyes.
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