The back of her throat grew tight. “No, there is no one else. I’m a dentist, and my office staff knew I was heading to an island, but Laura and Jen were the only ones who knew which island.”
“Any particular reason you chose this island and cave?” Ray blinked up at her.
Again, why did her reasons matter? But she wouldn’t antagonize a man trying to help her resolve this. “I... My father wrote about this cave in his journal. It was the last entry—the most recent. I haven’t seen him in years. I thought... I wanted to see something he’d seen. Walk where he’d walked. I know it sounds crazy, but I thought I could get some closure.”
Ray had been writing in his notebook again, but he lifted his gaze and studied Cobie. “Closure?”
“He disappeared six months ago.”
Someone behind her gasped. Adam stepped forward. “Cobie, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“It’s... He was absent in my life long before he went missing.” She shrugged, trying for an indifference she didn’t feel. She hadn’t wanted it to mean so much. But she was at this cave for that reason. Her mother had died when she was born, and her father and brother were all she had. Except her father had barely been part of her life or Brad’s life because his occupation required travel. He was even more distant, if possible, after Brad’s death. Then last Christmas, he’d called like always, but this time he’d told her he wanted to make up for lost time. To make up for the past. He just had something to take care of first. And those last words kept Cobie from believing that anything would ever change. There was always something more important than family in her father’s life.
But her indifferent words to Ray had done damage. Something behind his eyes changed. Next to her, Adam shifted on his feet. Cobie fought to keep her composure. She didn’t need complete strangers seeing her pain. Didn’t want Adam to see it, either.
Flipping his notebook closed, Ray gestured behind Cobie. “You and your friends can wait here, or we can escort you to your boat to wait there while we search the island. It might take a while. We’ll look for your attacker, though I doubt he’s still here. We’ll gather evidence if we find any.”
That he hadn’t asked her more questions, especially at the news of her father’s disappearance, surprised her.
“Are you saying we can get into the cave today?” Nate asked.
“I can’t say for sure now, but I’ll know more in a couple of hours. I had planned to explore the cave with you, and we’ll do that together, after we decide it’s safe.”
“You don’t think he could be hiding in the cave?” Laura spoke up.
“That remains to be seen. But if he has any sense, he’s long gone,” Ray said. “What’ll it be? Stay here or go to the boats?”
“We could chow down back on the boat. I’m getting hungry,” Nate said. “Besides, Gary will want to know what’s happening.”
“Okay, that settles it,” Mel said. “Everyone back to the boats. We’ll escort you there.”
“Should we leave our things, then?” Cobie asked.
“I don’t think anyone else is going to bother your stuff. Plus, after we search the island, I might want to look at the damage done here again. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure.”
Adam stepped up to speak to her, misery apparent in his eyes. But Laura and Jen got in his way, intentionally or accidentally blocking him; Cobie wasn’t sure. She snatched up a few of her own clothes from her bag—eager to wear something that fit, eager to be free of Adam’s clothes, though she slipped back into his rain jacket. And then her friends ushered her out like bodyguards. Ray and Mel followed them to the beach.
Laura led the way and climbed into an inflatable dinghy, Jen behind her. Ray approached Cobie before she got into the dinghy. “We’re going to look for evidence of another boat on the beach, though that alone won’t prove anything. Then we’ll head up to the cave entrance where you say the attack happened. If we can find the specific rock you hit him with, we may at least get DNA evidence.”
Adam joined them. “What about Cobie, Ray? She’s not safe.”
Ray tucked his chin. “He’s right. Until we know more, you need to be aware of your surroundings.”
“That’s it?” Adam clenched his fists. “Just be aware of her surroundings? She needs protection.”
“And she has it,” Laura said, brandishing her weapon.
“Cobie, you and your friends should go home.” Adam pressed his hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t a place you should stay, with this creep still out there. He knows you’re here. He could come back and try again.”
“I came here to get answers, Adam. I’m not leaving without them.”
* * *
The rain had finally stopped.
Adam stood at the stern of Laura’s boat. He needed to speak to Cobie. When he opened the hatch to head down the steps below deck, feminine voices rose to meet him. The tone was serious. He tried to make enough noise so they’d know he was on his way down. He didn’t want to hear anything he shouldn’t. Cobie’s friends didn’t like him; of that, he was sure.
She had her reasons for being at odds with him, but in spite of that, there was some sort of crazy electricity that sparked between them every time he saw her. Did she feel it, too? Even if she did, what did it matter? After what had happened, Adam would never let himself be hurt like that again. Secretly loving his best friend’s sister from a distance, watching the pain he’d caused, had scarred him. His actions, his poor judgment, had cost a life, changed lives and caused his own pain, forever affecting them all.
The thoughts weighed heavily on him, but he shook them off. He had more important matters to focus on. He paused before taking the steps down.
“I wish we didn’t have to head back tomorrow,” Laura said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you.”
“That’s why we need to do this today. See the cave if the powers that be will allow us inside. We’ll join Adam and his group if we have to.”
“I’m proud of you. I know these last few years have been hard. Having Adam here makes it worse, I’m sure.”
Adam cringed. Why hadn’t they heard him? Why had he stopped and listened? Now he figured he should turn around and go back to the boat that housed people who liked him. His friends. But he would finish what he started. He clomped down the steps and into the galley, making his presence known. No turning back now.
The three women stared wide-eyed at him.
“Uh, sorry. Thought you’d hear me coming down. Didn’t mean to surprise you.” For that matter, Adam could have been Cobie’s attacker and he would have caught them all off guard. So much for the overprotective, gun-brandishing Laura.
Tension crackled in the cabin.
“Are you hungry?” Jen grabbed a plate. “Might as well eat while we wait to get back on the island. I made my special—macaroni and cheese.”
Adam pulled off his hood and ran a hand through his tangled hair, his gaze snagging on Cobie’s amazing blue eyes. But she averted them. “No, thanks. I’ve already eaten. I...came to see Cobie.”
“Well, here she is. You see her.” Laura stirred the macaroni and cheese on her plate as if she was angry with it.
They weren’t making it easy for him. He saw the hint of a smile on Cobie’s pretty lips. She thought this was funny. When she dared to glance at him, he caught her gaze and trapped it with his own. She didn’t look away this time.
“I need to talk to you when you’re done eating.”