Page 60 of Light of Day
“And…that’s our cue to head back to your mom’s,” Luke said dryly. “Where’s your jacket?”
As Izzy crawled under the table to retrieve her jacket, Luke said to Heather, “Meet at my house? It won’t take me long to drop off Izzy.” When she hesitated, he added, “Better yet, why don’t you come with us? That way you don’t have to ride in the dark.”
He was right, it was already getting dark. The first evening star glowed over Eagle Point, and the sky was settling into a dreamy sapphire blue.
“I can also drop you at your house if you prefer. Please,” he added. “As your constable, I should mention that riding bikes in the dark out here is a sketchy proposition. I’ve dealt with three bike crashes already this season.”
“How many of those were stoned teenagers?”
“All of them,” he admitted. “But my point stands.”
She gave in, partly because she hadn’t done this much bike-riding in a while and her butt was sore. They dropped off a sticky, yawning Izzy at Carrie’s house, which reminded Heather that she really did need to catch up with Carrie.
She shot her a quick text before she forgot, and they made a plan for coffee on Saturday, when Izzy had a play date with her bestie. Apparently she’d just committed to still being here on Saturday. Go figure.
“I’m sorry you’re upset about Gabby,” Luke began.
“Are you really worried she might be a target?”
“Maybe. I have a theory that she intended to be at the meeting at which Denton was killed, but Andy got in the way of that. Better to assume she could be, and prepare.”
“Oh God. What a nightmare this all is. If anything else happens to her—” She broke off, biting her lip to hold back her fear.
“Hey.” Luke put a hand on her leg, a gesture meant to reassure her, though it had another effect altogether. Tingles spread up her thigh and settled in her lower belly. “The best way to help Gabby right now is figure out who killed Denton and arrest their ass.”
“Good point.” She swallowed hard, wishing his touch didn’t have such a big effect on her. “So what’s next then? Aren’t the Harbortown police taking over that investigation?”
“Yes. I have to meet them at the wharf first thing in the morning. But until then…want to come talk to the Highgroves with me? I’m trying to get more details about what Andy knew. There’s a chance he saved her life by kidnapping her. But let’s not tell the Highgroves that. I want them worried and eager to please. Let me handle that interrogation, okay?”
“Mmm.” Her sound of agreement sounded more like a purr. Warmth radiated from his hand across her skin and through her limbs.
Goddamn it. She was going to have to do something about this ridiculous attraction. Either pursue it and see where it went, or flee the island once again.
27
“IsAndy going to face any charges?” Luke took note of Lily’s bloodshot eyes and frazzled appearance. She wore sandals and drawstring linen pants that looked casual but probably cost a mint. The entire Highgrove house had the same vibe, messy but expensive, like the Hawaiian lei casually tossed over a gold statue of a Hindu goddess. “I know he meant well.”
“He kidnapped someone and held them captive on a boat for three days.”
“Yes, but…” She clutched her hands under her chin. “He had good intentions. I know intention isn’t as important as impact, but…”
“Impact? He held a woman prisoner. Come on, Lily.”
She waved her hands as if trying to erase his words from the atmosphere. “Oh, you know Andy. He wouldn’t hurt anyone. On an energetic level, he was trying to protect Gabby. They were friends.”
Luke caught a smothered snort from Heather’s direction, and shot her a warning glance. So far, she was respecting his request to let him handle this interview. But he also wouldn’t blame her if she burst out laughing at Lily’s efforts to justify her son’s actions.
“Maybe so, but on a legal level, he could be in big trouble.”
“You have to help him, Luke. Please.”
Boom. He had her. “I’ll do what I can, but I’m going to need you to tell me everything he said. Word for word.”
“Well, he was in quite a state after you brought him home. I…I don’t remember exactly what he…I was pretty stoned,” she admitted. “We were celebrating the anniversary of…something. Hmm, okay, what did he say?” She drummed her fingers against her skull as if to wake it up. “He said that he’d overheard something when he was delivering lobsters to the inn. That’s part of what he does for Gary, you know, as his deckhand.”
“What did he overhear?”
“I don’t remember exactly, but whatever it was alarmed him.”
