Island of Deceit

by Candice Poarch

  Barbara decided to call Lambert Hughes’s family immediately. It was Sunday, the best time to find them home. She first tried his son. No response, but she didn’t leave a message. She dialed the daughter next.

  “Ms. Houston. My name is Barbara Turner,” she said when someone answered. “I recently moved to Paradise Island, Virginia. I’m calling about your father. He—”

  “Is he okay?” the woman interrupted.

  “Oh, yes. As far as I know. I’m not calling about his health.” She paused, debating how to handle this without sounding like a lunatic. “I thought you should know your father’s companion is known for fleecing senior citizens out of their life’s savings. I know this because her husband stole hundreds of thousands from my grandmother less than a year ago. I couldn’t save her, but I’m hoping that this information will help you save your father from the same financial nightmare.”

  “Did you report this to the police?”

  “There’s no concrete proof. As far as the authorities are concerned, the Stones haven’t committed a crime here. There’s nothing they can do. They couldn’t help me with my grandmother after the fact, and I’ve decided to take matters into my hands, but it takes time.”

  “My God. She should be in jail.”

  “Like I said, they don’t leave evidence behind. And they change their names all the time. I’ve found five people who have been fleeced by that family within the last two years. I’m sure there are more. In my case, Minerva dressed up to look like my grandmother and cashed out her savings. She wore a huge floppy hat and averted her face from the security camera.”

  “This is all so hard to absorb. Minerva seemed so kind and caring. I interviewed her myself. And I felt comfortable with Dad being so far away from my brother and me having someone responsible and so caring with him each day. Someone he can call if he needs help. She’s always calling me with updates. His last companion wasn’t quite as reliable. Many days she didn’t show up for work at all. Minerva never misses a day.”

  “It’s how confident people work. She’s there. None of your father’s family is close by, so he begins to rely on her. Also, you should know the police recently found the body of your father’s previous companion, Sarah Rhodes.”

  “The one we thought ran away?”

  “Yes, her body was found in the marsh a little over a mile from your father’s house. They think she’s been there since her disappearance.”

  “They killed her?”

  “I think Minerva’s husband killed her.”

  “Minerva’s husband? But she told me she was single and living with her brother and his son.”

  “The man she introduces as her brother is, in fact, her husband, and Andrew is their son.”

  “Then my father’s life is in danger.”

  “They can’t get money from him if he’s dead. So, physically, I think he’s okay right now. She hasn’t gotten the money yet. If she had, they would have left.”

  “Thank you so much for calling me. My brother and I will come to the island immediately. This time I’ll convince him to move to California with me. It’s going to be difficult, but I can’t monitor him closely from this distance.”

  “I’ll give you my number if you need to talk to me. And since I’m spying on them, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use my name. These people move from family to family, and I plan to put a stop to it. They leave their victims devastated.”

  Barbara couldn’t help but wonder if there was another way to solve this situation. She wished she could go to Harper. Although Grandma always said she was strong enough to handle her own problems and not to look for anyone to solve things for her. But look what happened to her.

  Harper was already peeved that she wouldn’t testify against Andrew, but what would it accomplish? Minerva and Elliot would still be free to rob unsuspecting seniors. No, she was doing the right thing. They needed to know they could be as easily scammed as the next person.

  Barbara slid a few CDs into the player and listened to music as she cooked. Harper had a huge appetite. At the grocery store she’d selected steaks and salad fixings. It didn’t take long for the scallops she’d taken from her freezer to thaw. She’d serve them with baked sweet potatoes. Tasty, yet simple.

  She still wasn’t certain dating Harper was a sound idea. At first she was glad Andrew was in the way to keep temptation at bay. She could feel herself weakening for Harper and had been on the verge of giving in countless times. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person. But when it came to men, she wasn’t a good judge of character.

  Barbara wanted what any woman wanted. She yearned for intimacy with a caring, loving man. What would it cost to at least test the waters with Harper? What did she have to lose? An inner warning told her the cost could be very high if things went wrong. Secrets and lies could blow up in her face. But this was a temporary stopgap. Her heart saddened. Now that her grandmother was gone, there was no reason for her to move to a place full of strangers. This was not her home. But she’d been away from Philly so long that it wasn’t home either.

  She’d focused on her career and her grandmother her entire life. Dorsey had taught her self-sufficiency. Barbara’s mother and father had died when she was a baby, leaving her with her grandmother, her only other relative. Fearing that Barbara might be left alone when she was still young, Dorsey had raised Barbara with a strict hand.

  She made Barbara stand up for herself. If Barbara had a problem with her teacher, she’d tell Barbara how to fix the problem—the first time. The second time Barbara was to come up with her own solution. It was only after Barbara had resolved the problem that Dorsey would go to the school and have a talk with the teacher. And the same effort went with dealing with troublesome classmates.

  It wasn’t that Dorsey wasn’t loving, because she was. Barbara got forty-five years of hugs, kisses, and care. And Dorsey always told her she loved her with every beat of her heart, but Dorsey always said, Life was a series of picking up your boots and moving on until you find someplace to plant them. She’d always said she was a grandmother, not a mother, and if she died, she didn’t want Barbara in the grave with her. She wanted her to be able to deal with life’s trials and make a meaningful life for herself, whether Dorsey was here or gone.

  Tears ran down Barbara’s face. She knew Dorsey wouldn’t want her dwelling on grief this way, but she couldn’t help it. The tears wouldn’t stop rolling.

  When she calmed down, she thought Dorsey would like Harper. Besides, what was wrong with her deriving some pleasure for a change?

  Barbara took in a deep breath. Dating after a long absence was like rowing upstream. You never forgot. Or like diving into a cold ocean. Dip your toe first to test the temperature before you dove in.

  If only it were that easy.

  Harper glanced up when John strolled into the office. He was wearing a blazer over his jeans.

  “Just came back from interviewing Ben.”

  “What did he have to say?”

  “According to him, he broke off the relationship. He’s been sniffing after Lisa Claxton and thought he could get something going with her. I know he’s had a crush on her for a long time.”

  “Did he start a relationship with Lisa?”

  “She wouldn’t give him the time of day,” John said, sinking into a chair across the desk.

  “What’s your gut instinct?”

  “Ben’s telling the truth.”

  Harper nodded. He’d never thought Ben was a viable candidate. But now they’d come up against a dead end.

  “The old boyfriend from Norfolk could have come here to kill her. That rental cottage is rarely rented out this time of year.”

  “It’s possible,” Harper mused.

  “Was there a connection between Sarah and Andrew?”

  “Why don’t you check it out?” Harper flipped through the folder. “I ran a check on the Stone family. There are no speeding tickets, parking tickets, no professional licenses. Nothing.”

&
nbsp; “Not one ticket among the three of them? Not even a speeding ticket?”

  Harper shook his head. “Nope.”

  “That’s strange. Most teens get a few. At least one or two. You gave Alyssa a few.”

  “I haven’t forgotten,” Harper said. “She was worse than her brothers.”

  “You could have given her a break,” John said, chuckling.

  “I did, but she showed no compunction to improve. She was a spoiled brat.” But Harper admired the fact that Alyssa was a hard worker and didn’t take crap from anyone.

  “She wouldn’t agree. She always says you ticketed her for spite.”

  Unrepentant, Harper nodded. “Especially after she told me I was just filling my quota.”

  John chuckled again. “She still gets pissed every time she talks about it. Her mother took her car away for an entire month. She could get away with murder with her dad, but not her mom. And she made her use her allowance to pay for them.”

  “Her mama was a smart woman.”

  John shook his head.

  “I didn’t have to worry about her speeding after that, did I?” Harper asked, sliding his chair back. “I have a feeling we’re missing something big on this case. The islanders are getting nervous and I don’t like it. I just haven’t put my finger on it yet, but stay on the Stones. Andrew hit Barbara. This can’t be the first time he’s hit a woman, yet he’s never been arrested.”

  “His record is too clean,” John agreed, walking to the door with Harper. “You got all decked out. Got a hot date or something?”

  Harper ignored him and opened the door.

  “With Barbara?”

  “None of your business.”

  “You’re allowed to date, you know. All the women want to save you from yourself. You don’t have to be so secretive about it. It’s all over town anyway that you kissed her at the B and B.”

  Harper groaned. “It’s impossible to keep any secrets here.”

  “Especially when you have me to tell all.”

  “Not if I fire you.”

  “My lips are sealed. She seems like a nice lady. I just can’t understand why she didn’t want Andrew arrested.”

  “Leave it alone, John. Only Barbara knows her reasons. And we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

  He reached his car.

  “Enjoy your date. Tell Barbara I said hi. And for God’s sake, don’t be cheap. Take a gift.”

  “Got that covered. You think you’re dealing with a kid or something?”

  “I know how your head gets wrapped up in a case and you forget the world around you.”

  Sam Lyon’s gardening shop was closed, but Harper caught him at home. And since Sam’s greenhouse was at his house, he made up a flower arrangement.

  “I really appreciate this, man.”

  Sam rarely smiled, but Harper thought he saw a glimmer in his eyes. “John called. I was expecting you.”

  Harper smothered a groan. “Guess this is going to be all over the island.”

  “Guess so.” Sam was dating Alyssa’s cousin, who was working on her master’s in nursing.

  “Set that wedding date yet?”

  “Regina wants to wait until she gets her degree.”

  “When will that happen?”

  “May.”

  Sam was a guy of few words. But he worked quickly and Harper was soon headed to Barbara’s place. First, he had to run by home for the wine he left chilling in the fridge. Women liked nice things. He had to do this right.

  He pulled into her driveway at five. She must have had the fan on because the aroma from the food had drifted outside, making him remember he hadn’t eaten anything since lunch.

  Harper stood at his car, scanning the area. Barbara was pretty isolated out here. Her house was on the ocean side. So was his, and boats could pull up at night without her knowing. He wondered if that had happened with Sarah. Could someone have stopped the boat at the marsh and dumped her body? Was it someone she knew or some crazy serial killer like Stanley Kingsley? It wasn’t unheard of. But this place was too small to have two serial killers in a year terrorizing the area. His better judgment told him Sarah’s killing was deliberate, not some serial killer. It was up to his department to determine the motive and opportunity.

  He climbed the stairs to the front door.

  Barbara wore a flowing peach dress that extended to the floor. He could barely see the outline of her generous curves. It had a scooped neckline that ended at the top of her breasts, tantalizing him. Her smile nearly undid him. He forgot he had the flowers.

  “You’re just in time,” she said.

  He finally remembered he was holding flowers and wine. He extended his arms. “For you.”

  “Opus II.” Any kind of Opus wine was expensive. They only produced two wines each year.

  “What are we celebrating?” she asked, and moved aside for him to enter.

  “The fact that I finally have a date with you. And a home-cooked meal.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly, but she pulled back a bit.

  He was moving things too quickly for Barbara’s comfort.

  “Something smells wonderful,” he said.

  “It’s almost done.” She smiled even prettier. “Thank you. I’ll put the flowers in a vase. They’ll make a nice centerpiece.”

  “Why don’t I open this for you so we can enjoy a glass with dinner? I had it sitting on ice so it’s the right temperature.”

  “Perfect.”

  He followed her into the kitchen. Food was on the stove. While he opened the wine, she dished the food onto platters.

  “Looks like you’ve been cooking all day.”

  “Not quite. So how was your day?”

  “Busy. I had a speaking engagement at church.”

  Barbara paused. So that was the reason he was dressed in his suit. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He shrugged. “Half of my job is public relations.”

  Barbara debated candlelight, but she loved to cook and entertain, and she saw no reason to change her ways because she was having dinner with a handsome, charming, totally irresistible man. She placed the flowers between the candles. When she looked up, Harper regarded her closely.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “Of course.”

  “You’ve been crying.”

  She offered him a wry smile. “I thought I erased the traces.”

  He approached her. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “I was just thinking of my grandmother.”

  “Come here, baby. Why didn’t you call me? Why did you suffer in silence?” he asked, regarding her a moment before he pulled her tightly into his arms. Barbara felt like crying again, but she contained her emotions. She didn’t feel quite alone anymore either and that was good. Sighing, she inhaled a light whiff of his soap but mostly the unique essence of him. His heart beat comfortably against her chest.

  His lips brushed across her forehead, yet there was nothing remotely intimate about the contact, merely a human connection from a caring soul. Barbara liked that.

  The timer dinged and Barbara leaned back enough to meet his gaze. It was then she realized her hand was on his chest.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I better get that.”

  “Anytime, babe.”

  He followed her to the kitchen and put the wine within easy reach. She put a dish of scallops on the counter before she sipped hers.

  “Are you hungry, or would you like to relax for a while?” she asked.

  Harper wanted to choose relaxing, but he was hungry. His pause was so long Barbara glanced at him with a smile.

  “Why don’t we eat now and relax later,” she murmured.

  “Sounds like a winner. Can I help with anything?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Just keep me company.”

  “I’ve got that covered.” He leaned against the counter and watched her, the aroma of various flavors wafting around him. It was a roomy, immaculate kitchen with wooden floors, granite c
ountertops, cherry cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances. The window shelf over the sink held several pots of herbs, and beyond was the fading view of the ocean, a few lights twinkling from boats. It all seemed designed to lull stress away.

  “Your place is beautiful,” he said.

  “My grandmother and I planned the renovations together.”

  Harper didn’t want to make her sad again. It was obvious her grandmother’s loss was still fresh.

  The image Barbara presented to the world was a self-contained woman, warm, but she kept a part of herself isolated. Had he not come at the right time, he would never have known how upset she was.

  Harper sipped his wine and studied this woman who fascinated him.

  Sonya placed the money back into the pillowcase. “This isn’t all of it,” she told Boyd. “Only half.” Their housemates spent the day in Virginia Beach and hadn’t returned, so they had the place to themselves.

  “You think they spent the rest already?”

  She shook her head. “Elliot’s hiding it somewhere else. But I know it’s in the house. He’s such a control freak, he’s not going to take it to a bank.”

  “You had a hard enough time getting in there the first time. It’s going to be impossible to get in there again. He’s going to be guarding that place something fierce.”

  Sonya looked smug. “There’s always a way.”

  “I hope we get this over with quickly. I have to get back home, soon.”

  “How soon?”

  “I can wait a few weeks. I’ve already made my excuses for Thanksgiving.”

  “If I know Elliot, things will be wrapped up by then.” She wouldn’t care if Boyd did go back to New York. Sometimes she wished she hadn’t hooked up with him.

  They met when she tried to run a con on his uncle and Boyd caught her at her game. He told her he knew someone vulnerable with a lot of money, only he wanted to work with her. That he really liked her and they could work well together—as a couple.

  Okay, the sex was good. Boyd knew his way around a woman’s body. But she’d always worked solo. She’d hooked up with Andrew because of the trust fund. Only she had to get him away from Elliot to take advantage of it. And she needed enough money to last the five years until that trust fund was available to him.