Page 22 of Island Whispers

“I do, yes,” Jess said. “According to the research team, that’s the prevailing theory. This guy doesn’t leave loose ends. The video with his face and name is all over the news tonight. It wouldn’t be without Nina. She caught him committing a crime. Everything in his past indicates that he will try and make an example of her.”

“Safe house?”

“We have to consider it,” Jess replied. “I’m looking into the options.”

Nina felt as if she was several steps behind Jess and Boone. “Wait a minute. What are you talking about?”

“Your safety,” Boone said. “At a safe house we can put better controls in place until they have Spratt in custody again.”

“Odds are good he will figure out where to find you.”

“Boone is here.” She was a champ at stating the obvious. “Isn’t that enough?”

“He’s one of the best,” Jess assured her. “First and last line of protection. I’ve already called in some additional support, in case you weren’t interested in going to a safe house.”

She thought of her business, her friends. “I don’t want to put anyone in jeopardy.” It would break her heart if her actions got someone else hurt.

“We don’t have any reason to think that’ll happen. He doesn’t know you, not really. His history is to be more direct.”

Maybe it was dumb, but that made her feel better. “Then I’m staying. If he knows where to find me, the authorities know where to look for him.”

Jess and Boone stared at her at length, but they didn’t argue with her.

“Can we make sure there’s someone looking out for Molly and Henry?” They were the two people most likely to get caught in any of Spratt’s potential revenge.

“Absolutely,” Jess stood. “I’ll update everyone and take care of it.”

“Thanks.” She gave her future sister-in-law a hug. “I appreciate everything you’re doing.” Stepping back, she excused herself. “I’ll let you two sort out the official details. I’m going to clean up and go to bed. Boone, make yourself at home.”

Ducking out and escaping the conversation Jess had interrupted was definitely cowardly. But it was only for tonight. Based on the news, she and Boone would have ample time to talk while they waited for the police to capture Spratt.

Chapter 6

The next morning came early. Boone had been warned about her schedule, and he was ready to do what he could to make things easier for her. But Nina had her routine and it was immediately obvious that the best way to help was to stay out of her way.

She’d turned down his offer to make breakfast, choosing a cup of coffee and then ignoring it. For a woman who typically needed to be going strong before the sun was up, she was struggling. Not that he’d mention it. She was pale, and that was evidently an oddity as the supplier asked how she was feeling. She waved off his concern with a gracious laugh, but Boone watched her closely. She handled her tasks, preparing flowers and checking any website orders, but her face was set in hard lines and he was pretty sure only willful determination kept her going. She was not loving her job today.

By the time Molly came in at ten, Nina was sounding better, her color was returning, though she lacked any real pep or vitality.

Boone did his rounds throughout the morning, being discreet while observing the ebb and flow of locals and tourists through town. Unless the authorities set up a roadblock at the ferry, the bridge, and patrolled the marina, it would be relatively easy for Spratt to get to Nina. Thankfully, Jess had additional personnel watching those points to prevent trouble.

When Nina sent Molly home before noon, he assumed she was closing the shop for the day.

“Want me to pull in the bucket and turn the sign?”

“No,” she replied absently while studying the wall calendar. She kept the event schedule in red and her regular contracts in green. Blue was for everything else.

“I’ll stay out front,” he said. He walked to the back door and set the alarm code. Without Molly, he’d have to cover both entrances. Thankfully, the security system would help.

As he headed back through the workroom to the customer area, he noticed that Sundays were blocked out on her calendar. He really needed to get a firm schedule from her so he could plan more efficiently.

“You won’t be open tomorrow?”

She glanced his way and he noticed her color was better. “No. Best to keep Sundays open. I only come in if there’s an event to prep for. And next week is event-free.”

He could see her mind was on other things. While she worked up arrangements, he parked himself behind the counter in case someone walked in. About an hour later, he was growing bored. No walk-ins and barely a handful of folks on the street paused to take a flower from the bucket.

“Do you want to go for a drive? After closing, of course.” The days were longer and he wouldn’t mind a break from the pressure that seemed to hover in the air.