Page 9 of The Fragile Truth

A heavy silence hung between them. Sadie broke it by asking, “What happened to the deputy? Has his body been found?”

“No.” He swallowed the tightness in his throat. “I’m still investigating the deputy’s disappearance.” He squared his jaw. “I won’t give up until I have some answers.”

“Do you have any leads? Surely, there must be someone who knows what happened to him.”

“I’m sure there is, but no one is coming forward.” Frustration simmered in his chest. Ian was a sheriff, not a detective. Maybe if he were more skilled, he’d have some leads by now. The hard truth was that if he hadn’t been so determined to nail Talon Chasing to the wall, then he might have made some real progress on the case. Quickly, he ran through all the steps he had taken. Immediately after Lina and Brent’s disappearance, he questioned the homeowners who lived near the lighthouse. No one saw or heard a thing. A man who lived near the lighthouse reported his boat missing, which substantiated Lina’s story of how she escaped. Dogs had been brought out to sniff for a body. When Lina resurfaced and claimed Brent had been shot, the lighthouse was searched for any bullet holes. There was nothing.

The only motorized cars allowed on Honeysuckle Island were utility and police vehicles. Brent’s police car was found parked behind his small office, located in a shopping plaza two doors down from the grocery market. The assumption was that Lina and Brent rode together in her electric golf cart, which was found parked along the side of the road, near the lighthouse, the day following Lina and Brent’s disappearance.

While Brent was given the assignment to oversee the affairs of Honeysuckle Island, he lived in Summerhaven. His home was searched, but no clues to his whereabouts were found. His truck was parked in the driveway of his home.

“What was the deputy like?”

“Huh?” He turned his attention back to Sadie, pleased to note that her expression was compassionate.

“Was he a good guy?”

“The best,” he shot back with conviction. “Brent wasn’t just my deputy, but a close friend.” Melancholy shrouded him as he took in a deep breath, offering an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. This is much too heavy for a first date.”

Surprise flashed over her expression. “Is that what this is?” She gave him a searching look. Her dark eyes reflected the flicker of the flame in the candle.

He was again struck by her wholesome beauty and how easily the conversation flowed between them. “Nah,” he teased. “This is just dinner. When I take you out on a date, I plan to bring flowers and chocolate.”

Delicate laughter rolled from her throat. “Flowers and chocolate. Wow, you’re pulling out all the stops.”

“I’m just trying to make it hard for you to resist.”

“No resisting here, Sheriff,” she joked.

Man, he liked this woman.

“What’s it like living so close to Honeysuckle Island?”

He settled back in his seat, relieved to be talking about something more pleasant. “The island is beautiful.”

“That’s what I hear.”

“The smell of honeysuckles is heavenly.” Nostalgia drifted over him. “When I was a kid, I’d take my bike over on the ferry. I’d ride all over the island and then jump in the ocean to cool off.” He chuckled dryly. “Once, I decided to work on my tan by putting on an accelerator.”

Her eyes popped open wide. “Ouch.”

“Ouchis right,” he laughed. “I got second-degree burns. It was so bad that I passed out. My mom was fit to be tied.” He grimaced. “I don’t know which was worse—the pain from the sunburn or my hurt ears from the lambasting she gave me.”

She giggled. “I’m sorry.”

They shared a long grin which caused his blood to pump faster. “It’s all good. I survived.”

“Tell me about The Oliver Hotel. The pictures I’ve seen of it are spectacular.”

Ian loved the old-world architecture of the hotel and was grateful that Effie Romeo’s renovation would preserve the grandeur and elegance of the bygone time. “It’s every bit as impressive in person. I’ll have to take you there.”

A pleased smile tipped her lips. “I’d like that.”

“The hotel is under renovation right now, but everything is scheduled to be wrapped up in the next few months. Or at least that was the report the last time I asked. The good news is that the hotel is still open for business. The employees can continue working, and tourism on the island is robust.”

She tipped her head, her eyes sparkling with speculation. “Are the rumors true?”

His stomach tightened. “What rumors?” Was she bringing up again the topic of Lina’s disappearance? He’d relaxed too soon.