Page 21 of Island Whispers
It hadn’t seemed relevant at the time. She grinned. “Why does this suddenly feel like a first date?”
He studied her closely as he sipped his water. “Maybe that’s how we should look at it.” He set the glass on the table, his fingers tracing the condensation. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the way his hands moved. “We have a second chance to explore something that could be special. Obviously, we like each other.”
“Obviously?”
His response—one she was eager to hear—was cut short by a loud buzzer. “My doorbell,” she explained.
“Is there a camera?” He spun out of his chair, shifting so swiftly into protector-mode it stole her breath
“N-no. Just the intercom.” She bristled under his glare. “There wasn’t any reason. No one shows up after hours. Anyone who visits, sends me a text when they arrive.”
“But you don’t have your phone.” He moved to the door. “Wait here and—”
“Lock the door,” she finished for him.
With a brisk nod, he pulled a handgun from under his shirt as he left. Had he been hiding that all day? She hadn’t noticed at all. He really was good at being discreet.
She waited near the door, trying to remember the cost of adding a camera to the security system. It couldn’t be too much. Everyone seemed to have them. Living over the business and keeping the early hours that she did, there hadn’t been much point. When she socialized in town, it was at the Pelican, with her parents at their place, or with friends. Her place was perfect for her, but too small for any serious entertaining.
Hearing Boone’s relaxed voice, she knew the visitor had been cleared and she opened the door, ignoring his disapproving glare. But the sight of Jess turned her skin cold and clammy. Nina recognized Jess’s official cop face. Whatever news brought her over tonight wouldn’t be pleasant.
When they were inside and the door locked once more, Nina urged everyone toward the seating area that divided the kitchen end of the apartment from the two bedrooms.
“I brought you a phone.” Jess extended the device. “It’s a different number, but I set up forwarding for you. I also added the contact information for your parents, Nash, me, Boone, and Celeste. Along with Molly, Henry, and your primary supplier.”
“Wow, thanks.” It was a bit unnerving how much Jess knew about her life and business. “What else do you need to tell us?”
Jess gave her a sheepish smile. “I forget how good you are at reading people.”
“People I know, anyway.” She didn’t feel like she could read Boone well at all. “Did they catch the carjacker?”
“Not yet,” Jess replied in her all-business tone. “We have a name and more insight, though.”
“And more indication of a threat?” Boone asked.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Jess sat forward. “The carjacker’s name is Bob Spratt.”
Nina felt dizzy. Spratt had been on trial for a double homicide. His eventual conviction had been all over the news a few years ago. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize him.”
“It’s been five years and you were in the middle of a crisis,” Jess soothed. “I didn’t recognize him either.”
Nina’s fingers dug into a pillow. “You didn’t live here then.”
“No, but—”
“This is bad, isn’t it?” She glanced at Boone. He was scowling at his cell phone, probably looking up Spratt’s criminal history. What she remembered of the case was enough to give anyone nightmares. A career criminal, Spratt had escalated from petty theft to assault to murder. The police suspected him of several homicides, but only convicted him in the last case. He’d been sentenced to life without parole, trading a death sentence for information on other cases.
Jess nodded. “Prison hasn’t reformed Spratt at all.”
Boone whistled. “He escaped while on a work release. With his record, that’s a dumb move.”
“Obviously,” Jess agreed, her voice tight. “He’s got a reputation for cruelty and he rose to power among the criminal set by making an example of anyone who tried to undermine him or failed to carry out an order to his satisfaction.”
“You make him sound like a mob boss,” Boone observed.
Jess tipped her head to agree. “He had that kind of attitude. Those delusions. I can’t say he’s a mastermind, but he’s clever and determined. The car he stole after the van has yet to be found.”
Boone’s scowl deepened. “Meaning my presence isn’t an exercise in precaution anymore. You believe he will come after her.”