The lobby looks the same, cool and professional. The arrangement of magazines on a small black stand might be new. The air feels suffocating as if too many depressed and desperate people have walked this path. The secretary behind the desk doesn’t even look up. I stand in front of her desk, the envelope clutched to my chest. I need to get rid of it.
She finally looks up. Her hair is pulled back in a tight bun. She peers over the edge of her glasses, her eyes taking me in, with a look that wonders what a girl my age could want with a lawyer. “May I help you?”
“I need to return this.” I know this won’t go over well. She probably doesn’t even know that someone bribed me to make sure Chad worked for his dad and followed through with the internship. But even if I helped, I don’t want to be paid for my relationship with Chad. I would’ve done it anyway.
“What is it?”
“Someone from your offices gave me this. You don’t know about it. Just give it to Mr. Blake. He’ll understand.” I take a deep breath then drop it on her desk.
I hear the gasp behind me. “Miss! Wait! You must be mistaken.”
I turn at the door. “I’m not. And I don’t need to be bribed to have a relationship.”
The tears flood and I crash through the door and run back to Justine’s car. I start it up and drive away before any henchman can hunt me down. I drive and drive. I don’t head back to the Inn. I need space. I need to think.
I head to Raker’s Bluff. The perfect spot to sit and think and let the sea breeze wash away my misery. No one will find me there. No one should be there during the day. When I’m close, the same Camaro passes me. I shudder and decide not to pull into the Bluff.
After several turns, and with confidence he didn’t follow me, I drive toward a small beach, less popular with the tourists. I park, then walk along the shore. The warm sand sifts between my toes and just like I hoped, the breeze refreshes my jumbled thoughts. By the end, I’ve come to a couple conclusions. I need to let go of Chad. Before I do that though, I want answers.
I want to know his secrets.
Chad
The darkness hides me, but I still sink down in the front seat of Jimmy’s car. The moon barely shines and the few stars don’t reveal my spot down the road from Kingston’s house. Yesterday at the bluff, he said something about money and tonight. That’s all I know and it’s not much to go on.
If I can follow and figure out what’s going on, then I’m done with this job and can try to figure how the hell to quit this internship. I don’t need solid proof that will hold up in court, just enough so my father knows to pursue this direction.
Something about this job makes me feel dirty. Even last year I might not have had a problem with it, but after spending time with someone who sees the world through glasses unlike anyone else, especially my dad, I know he could go about this case differently. I’m being used so my tight-fisted ass of a father doesn’t have to pay the private investigators until he knows there is something to pursue.
My thoughts wander to Katie and last night but I push it to the back of my mind. Until I can come clean with everything, I’m staying away from her, hoping she’ll listen later. She’ll understand. I hope.
The light in Kingston’s room flickers off. I slump farther down in the car but not so far that I can’t see out the window. Minutes later, his Camaro roars out of the private drive. I wait and follow a good distance behind. I expect him to head toward Raker’s Bluff. In fact, I almost set up in the brush there again, but he’s driving toward the boardwalk. Where’s he going? A spot to pick up money? A trade off? The drugs for the cash?
He pulls into The Salty Dog. I drive by, thoughts racing. Maybe the deal will take place in the back parking lot or in the bathroom. I turn around and park down the road. As I slip into the bar, staying to the sides, I’m wishing Jimmy and the guys were with me. Lately, I’d been giving them the brush off. I order a drink and take a seat in the corner. Kingston doesn’t notice a thing, standing at the bar, slamming down shots.
The door swishes open and a draft of cooler air rushes past, the smell of the ocean riding in with it. I see the legs first, then the short skirt. My eyebrows raise. The curves. The tight tee. The blonde hair.
Holy shit.
I choke back the beer I just swallowed. Katie? What the hell is she doing here looking like that? Her hair swirls down her back in loose curls. A girl her age walks in behind her, looking just as hot. I recognize her as the friend from the restaurant.
They giggle. Katie glances around, her hands twisting in front of her. Justine tugs her toward a stand-alone table near the bar. Her friend goes to order drinks.