Page 141 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

The lodge suites were oversized hotel rooms with a plush sitting area separating the sleeping area and a small alcove set up as a den. A balcony would have a view of the ocean, but the shutters were closed because of the storm.

“I’m really sorry about Diana,” I said, wondering if she was grieving.

“Diana,” Amber said. She was on her way to being drunk, but I don’t think she was yet there. “Love her, hate her. I wish she were here so I could tell her what an idiot she is!”

“Tell us what happened,” I said.

“You know!” Amber sat heavily on one of the love seats.

I sat across from her, and motioned for Brie to stay near the door. I didn’t know if Amber was dangerous or volatile, but I didn’t want Brie to get caught up in anything.

“She came here with documents she took from Parker,” I said.

“Teach him a lesson, she said, for cheating on me.”

I was confused. “I thought you and Diana were involved.”

“We are. Were.Everyonebetrayed me except Diana. She’salwaysbeen on my side, and I loved her for it. And she got herself killed!”

Tears welled in Amber’s eyes. She got up, walked to the mini-bar, and opened a fresh bottle of wine.

“So she stole something that Parker wants back, but hid it,” I said.

“At first I was all in, but then... Parker found out. Sunday he came to my house and said he was going after Diana.”

I must have gasped audibly, because Amber then said, “He didn’tkillher. He couldn’t even get here until Monday. He wouldn’t dare hurt her until he got his files back. Then he might have pushed her off a cliff.”

“What’s in the files?” I asked.

“I don’t know! Diana looked, of course. She called me and said we had everything to take Parker down. Parker would have his comeuppance, and we’d drink champagne and celebrate. We weren’t even supposed to come to St. Claire. We had a trip planned toEurope, but she said someoneherewould be interested in the documents. I don’t even know what that means! But whenParkerfound out that Diana had comehere, he blew his top.”

“So Parker knew who Diana wanted to give the files to,” I said, trying to keep up with Amber, but she was very confusing. Maybe my assessment of her partial sobriety was off.

“Hell if I know! But yeah, sure. Probably. And give? No. Diana did nothing without getting something in return.”

“Do you have any idea why they’re important?”

“Something to do with Ethan Valentine, but I don’t even think he exists. No one has seen him foryears.”

Valentine. Diana had gone to Ethan Valentine’s house the night she disappeared. Luis said he wasn’t home, but maybe she planned on selling the documents to him.

“Apparently...” Amber said, and drank half the wine, some sloshing over the sides without her noticing. “Ethan had a falling out with Parker’s father a few years ago, which is why he bought the island, to lick his wounds. Diana knew all about it. She knows everything. It’s because of her business.”

“Antiques?”

Amber blinked at me, then burst out laughing. “What made you think that?”

“The article in the St. John paper?” I said, trying to remember exactly what it had said.

“That’s herfamily’sbusiness. She sometimes works for them—she has a great eye—but Diana doesn’t have to do anything. She’sloaded. She goes to parties and charity balls all over the country and knows everybody.”

“Which is why,” I said, “she knew secrets about so many people here on St. Claire.”

“Diana is—was—the smartest person I’ve ever known. I’m going to miss her so much.” Amber collapsed on the couch, the tears rolling freely.

I didn’t know how smart it was to blackmail people—clearly, it hadn’t turned out well for Diana. I said, “Diana and Sherry Morrison belong to the same sorority.”

“Delta Gamma. Me, too, though I dropped out of school when I got a recurring role on a crime show.” She beamed. “It’s how I met Diana.”

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