Page 95 of Places I've Never Been

LT studied the screen. “You know it’s none of us. Someone got paid, and none of us need the cash.”

“Who had access?” Brandon asked.

“Any of the staff on the island could have done it,” LT said, “but the best bet is the photographer. He had the shot.”

Adam squeezed Mattie’s shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”

Adam stalked toward the hut where he saw several resort staff huddled together. Halfway there Mattie joined him, matching him stride for stride. The rest of the band followed close behind.

The clustered group of employees watched them approachwith wide eyed shock. One peeled off from the rest to run through the doors at the back of the hut where Adam assumed the manager was hiding.

A short, thin woman with speckled gray hair and a freckled face stepped forward as they entered the hut. Her hands were outstretched in the universal please-don’t-kill-the-messenger gesture. “Mr. Adam, I am Sonji, the day supervisor. I have just been informed that there may have been a…a…”

“I think ‘leak’ is the word you’re searching for.” Adam took the phone from LT and held it out to Sonji. “I want to know who sold us out.”

“Mr. Adam, no one here would do such a thing. No one. I am so sorry this happened.”

“Not as sorry as you’re going to be,” Adam said. He would do whatever it took to make this go away for Mattie.

“Where’s the photographer?” Cooper asked in the calm, neutral voice he used whenever he thought Adam needed to be handled.

Sonji spread her hands out wide. “I do not know, Mr. Cooper. He has gone. I do not know where he went. I am so sorry.”

The door banged open, and several resort staff rushed through, led by Mattie’s butler, Abayomi, and a tall woman dressed in a crisp linen suit and air of authority.

“Mr. Brooks, Miss Bellamy.” The woman held out her hand for them to shake. “My name is Veronique Labrosse, and I am the general manager for the Syer Island Resort. I apologize for taking so long to greet you. I wanted to check our records to be sure I could provide answers.”

“Where’s the photographer?” He tried to keep his tone polite, but anger made his voice shake.

“Mr. Donnelly has left the island, Mr. Brooks. My apologies, but he is no longer an employee.”

“When?” Cooper asked.

“Where the hell did he go?” Adam demanded.

Veronique looked apologetic. “He left two days ago on the supply shuttle. He requested a day pass to take care of some business on the main island and did not return. His number has been disconnected, and the address on file is a post office box in Los Angeles, California.”

“Bingo,” Brandon said. “We have a winner.”

“Why are we so worried about this?” Flynn asked. “The shot’s not that exciting.”

Adam gritted his teeth. “We’re worried about it because we came here to avoid this kind of crap.”

“I thought you vetted all the staff here,” LT said. “How’d this douche slip through?”

The manager clutched her hands in front of her. She looked professional and polite, but not nearly concerned enough for Adam’s liking right now.

“Mr. Donnelly was a temporary employee, hired from a very reputable agency to fill in for our regular photographer who was called away at the last minute. The agency performs rigorous background checks and sent him with the highest recommendations. We will, of course, be looking into this matter further with the agency.” Veronique spread her hands in a gesture of apology. “We pride ourselves on our discretion and service and I assure you this will not happen again. To make up for our lapse I will be providing a substantial discount on the final total of your stay. I hope this in some way alleviates the pain this has caused.”

“I don’t need a damn discount,” Adam snarled. “I need to know where this asshole went and what other shots he sold and where.”

“How much of a discount?” Cooper stopped in front of Adam and held out a placating hand to shut him up.

Veronique smiled. “I am happy to negotiate the exact number when you have time, Mr. Cooper.”

“I need someone to find this jerk.” Adam turned to LT. “Isn’t your cousin a detective or something?”

LT shook his head. “He’s a state trooper in New York. Won’t do you any good, man.”

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