Page 22 of Exposed

“This place is messed up, Beth!” He paced the quiet walkway where they stood, shielded by the foliage around them. There was nothing around except them and the sand and the birds squawking overhead. Sunlight filtered through the green leaves surrounding them, making if feel like a secluded jungle instead of the middle of a busy resort. “There’s some bad stuff going down here.” He was still processing what Hart had said and how he’d learned Eric’s true identity. We don’t want to get involved in it.”

“But that’s why we’rehere—to find out what’s going on.What about all the other couples here? The innocent people?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I mean, I get that you don’t care about my story, but what about them? Don’t you care about them? People are being taken advantage of. I need to find out how and reveal it to the world.”

“The risk is too high.” He shook his head and looked away. “We need to go home, Beth. Before something even worse happens.”

She watched him for a long moment then stepped closer, laying her palm over his heart. “Calm down, okay? Just breathe for a second.” He inhaled deep then exhaled slowly like she’d asked. “Good. Now tell me about what happened with your dad. All of it this time.”

At first, she’d thought he’d tell her to take a hike. But then all Eric’s bravado seemed to deflate before her eyes and he leanedback against the trunk of a large palm tree, staring down at his toes as he told her the sordid tale of his past.

“My dad wasn’t around much the first few years of my life,” he said, digging the toe of his sandal into the sand. “He took off shortly after I was born and didn’t show up again until after I’d turned seven. Of course, I was dazzled by him, thrilled to have a dad at last. He brought us all kinds of gifts and wooed my mom and made us think he was back to stay.” He paused then and seemed to gather himself for what came next.

“You must have been so happy,” she said softly, knowing something terrible was coming.

“I was. Then one day he asked me if I could help him tell a story to some people. He used this Halloween makeup on my face to make it look like I was pale and sickly, then paraded me in front of a bunch of TV stations and cameramen waiting to take my picture. At the time, he told me we were playing a game. I was acting the part of a sick kid and he was playing the kid’s father. He made up this whole story about a brain tumor and an experimental surgery I needed to cure me, asking people to donate. It went on for a couple of months, him parading me out and adding to the story, then buying me a bunch of toys and stuff afterward as a reward. Then one of the national news channels picked up the story and we got major bucks from people. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars.”

“He used you in a con. That’s…low.”Despicablewas the word in her head.

He gave a sad sigh and her heart ached for him. “My dad disappeared shortly after cashing the last check. Took the money and ran. My mom and I had no clue where he was, or what had happened to the funds. The FBI took her in for questioning.They threatened me with foster care, but we couldn’t tell them anything about the money or my dad’s whereabouts because we didn’t know. We didn’t hear from my dad again until he got arrested a few years later for fraud. He wanted my mother’s help. She refused. By then, I was old enough to understand what he’d done, and I told him to never contact either of us again.”

“What happened to him?” she asked. Hart had mentioned prison.

“He was convicted on multiple charges. They gave him the maximum sentence since he was a repeat offender. He’d bilked people for hundreds of thousands, maybe more. The good news is that he won’t get out until he’s eighty, at least.”

Beth blinked at him a moment, taking that in. “I’m so sorry, Eric. I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like for you.”

“Yeah, well, it’s over now.” He took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders then looked up at her. “But do you understand now why I say I know a con when I see one? That stuff Hart had on me back there… Beth, I don’t go by my father’s name—I haven’t for years. Mom changed both our names when I was ten to separate us from the whole scandal. Hart got past the fake name I was using to be here easily. That doesn’t surprise me. But anyone searching for Eric Harvey wouldn’t have found the story of my father connected to my name at all. It took some serious digging for them to find that. And if they had a file on me like that, it means they’ve got one on every person here, including you. That’s why we need to get off this island pronto. I think he knows why you’re here—that you’re doing a story on his retreat. That’s the reason behind the attacks. And I don’t want to give him the opportunity to strike again.”

She wanted to argue with him about leaving, but the more he talked, the more it sounded like a sensible idea. Beth wasn’t a woman who admitted defeat, who gave in, but the way Hart had acted in his office worried her. Maybe it really would be best to put the story on hold until she could make sure she and Eric would be safe. She reached out and took his hand. “C’mon. Let’s go talk to the registration desk. I remember seeing in the brochure something about a ferry you could rent. We’ll have to lie to the staff here to get them to arrange it, but once we’re on board, we may be able to convince the boat crew to take us all the way back to the mainland.”

They made their way to the main building and up to the desk where a staffer waited. The creepy vibes she’d been getting from Robert Hart and the rest of his crew since they’d arrived on the island only intensified now.

“Hi,” Eric said, laying on his charm again, flashing the female staffer a sexy grin. The woman blushed slightly but kept her expression professional. “My wife and I would like to see about renting a ferry to take us sightseeing. Is that possible?”

“When would you like to go?” the woman asked, typing on her keyboard.

“Today,” Beth said. “If possible.”

The woman frowned at her computer screen. “Oh, I’m sorry. All of the ferries are reserved for today and they’re not running tomorrow due to safety inspections.”

Another staffer came over and whispered something in the woman’s ear Beth didn’t catch. She clicked a few more keys then gave Beth and Eric the same small smile Robert Hart had earlier, the one that made Beth’s skin crawl.

“I’ve been informed there is a special private ferry that might be available for you to use today,” the new arrival said, her tone flat. “If you’d like me to make the arrangements, I’m happy to do so.”

Eric gave Beth some serious side eye, his expression clear.Hell. No.

Beth glanced around at all the other guests enjoying their stay, not a care in the world. They had no idea that Eric and Beth were being threatened over here right now. What would happen if they agreed to take the “special” ferry? She didn’t know—but she was certain she didn’t want to find out.

A shiver passed through her and she reached for Eric’s hand, glad for his warmth and strength. She tugged him back, away from the counter and gave the female staffer what she hoped was a convincing smile. “You know what? We don’t want to cause any trouble. That’s fine. We’ll just find something to occupy ourselves here on the island until Sunday. Thanks so much!”

They headed back outside and down the path to the boardwalk, Eric continuing to glance at her.

“That went well,” his tone dripped with sarcasm.

“Exactly. We’re stuck here.” She forced herself to continue on toward the bungalow, despite the prickling on the back of her neck like someone was watching them. She was probably just being paranoid, but it didn’t change the fact they were stuck here for two more days, safe or not.

15

Eric patrolled the perimeter of their bungalow again before returning to the living room and hunkering down on the sofa beside Beth. Funny how paradise could turn to perdition so fast. Whatever the hell was happening on this island, it wasn’t good. And it sure had nothing to do with fixing love.

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