Page 63 of Moonlit Hideaway
“Doesn’t matter. The next time she asks you, please let me know.”
“When is Jane going to be out of danger?” Emma asked. “Will she still sing with me at Harvestfest?”
“As long as everyone thinks she’s Jane and that other woman is Sierra, she’ll be safe.” Hank stood to leave. “I’m very proud of you for keeping quiet around the island. However, you never know who’s reading your social media posts and how they can put things together. No more posts about me or Jane, okay?”
“Okay. Sorry, Dad.”
Hank gave his daughter a big hug. “Thanks for understanding. I promise, when this is over, the three of us will go on a trip, and you’ll see Jane in action.”
“Wow! For real?” She jumped up and down. “You’re the best. Are you going to marry Jane?”
“Not in the cards yet.” He gave her cheek a gentle pinch. “But you’ll be the first to know.”
“And will I get to be a bridesmaid?”
Oliver grunted at her side and leaned against Hank in support of Emma.
“Looks like Oliver wants to be the ring bearer.” Hank petted the pig. “But for now, hold your horses, okay? And keep mum. We wouldn’t want to scare Jane away.”
“Okay. My lips are zipped.” Emma made a zipping motion that couldn’t hide her grin.
“Now, back to your chores and homework, big girl.”
He bade his daughter goodbye, and his unease deepened as he descended the stairs. Emma said those men had asked about Jane specifically, yet Jane “Dolan” had no ties to Hattokwa’s history. Why would they be so curious about a newcomer not connected to the inn’s lineage or the rescue operations memorialized around the island?
It made no sense unless… they suspected Jane’s true identity.
The implications weren’t good. Had mob associates somehow tracked Sierra here and were probing for information under the guise of innocent research? The timing was too coincidental.
Storming into the kitchen, Hank spied his mother talking to the mayor and the pushy real estate agent.
“Oh, Hank, glad you’re here,” the mayor said with a plastic smile. “Linda just sold the parcel next to yours to a resort developer. He will have the channel dredged and build a seaside golf course.”
“But those are some of the last stands of cedar and live oak on the island.” Hank swiped his hand through his hair. “It changes the character of the entire point.”
“Yes, it would,” Linda chimed in. “And that’s where we can make you an offer. The lot you’re on would make an excellent parking lot. I have an investor who would pay top dollar.”
“Absolutely not,” Hank thundered. “Something urgent has come up, and you’ll have to leave.”
“You haven’t even heard the offer,” Linda said as Hank steered them firmly toward the exit. The moment he shut the door, his mom faced him worriedly.
“Hank, what on earth?—”
“Who were those men asking about Jane?” he interjected. At her bewildered look, he quickly explained Emma’s disclosure. “What if they aren’t really writers at all?”
Mom blanched. “You… you don’t suppose they could be connected to that horrible man after her?”
“I mean to find out.”
“What are you going to do? They checked out already,” Mom said. “No address. They paid cash.”
“We have the tie tack, right? Maybe it’s a clue. I’m calling Ruth to keep an eye on them.”
“But they might be innocent,” Mom said.
“Not if they saw the picture Emma posted on social media of me and Jane. She even captioned the image, mentioning her name is Jane.” Hank pulled out his phone and showed his mother the post.
“My lord! I should have said something earlier.” Mom looked around and pulled him into the office, closing the door. “I know you’re in love with Jane, but this happened very fast, and you’re not going to like what I have to say, but… I’m not sure she’s the best influence on Emma. All the time you were gone, Emma was telling those men that she wanted to be a rockstar, and they were encouraging her. She was just bubbling and wanting to brag about her guitar teacher. It was Jane this, Jane that… Fortunately, she never slipped and used her real name, but shesang all of the hit songs and said she was working with Jane on a new song for the festival. She invited them to the festival.”
