“I have something of hers, Dad,” Amber explained. “Something—personal.”
He assumed his daughter had taken some of his sister’s female necessities and was in a panic to give them back.
Whatever.
It had been a great night, but he was tired.
“Dad, she’s only two minutes away,” Amber said.
He forced himself to grin at his daughter. “Liar,” he accused with fake ferocity. “It’s at least five minutes.”
“Dad,” Amber groaned.
“All right, all right, we’re going.”
They turned onto Beth’s street, and he pulled his car up behind hers.
He frowned. Something seemed to be lying on the porch. A dark…lump.
“Um, Amber, stay in the car for a minute, huh?” he said.
He opened the gate and hurried along the walkway. His heart sank. It was an animal. Bending down, he saw that it was a cat. A black cat, and one that had evidently been in an accident. Poor thing; it had probably crawled off the street and on to Beth’s porch. Maybe it had somehow known that a softie lived inside, a woman who would have rushed a strange animal right to the vet, no matter what the cost, if the creature had lived.
He hesitated. He didn’t want his daughter or his sister seeing the badly mangled creature.
Amber was starting to get out of the car.
“Stay back!” he told her.
He returned to the car himself and opened his trunk. He tended to keep extra supplies for the boat in the trunk. Paper towels, toilet paper, dish detergent and, luckily, trash bags.
He went back for the cat.
“Dad?” Amber called.
He picked up the dead animal, deciding he would get rid of it without either woman knowing what had happened. “It’s all right, honey. Just a mess of foliage,” he called to his daughter.
He bagged the cat and walked around to the trunk. As he dropped it in, Amber emerged from the car.
With his daughter in his wake, he headed up the steps again and rang the bell. There was no answer. He rang again, then pounded on the door, which flew open.
Somehow, instinct warned him, and he ducked—right before a burst of pepper spray could hit him in the eyes.
“I’m calling the police, you pervert!” his sister swore, just before the door slammed shut.
10
THEY PULLED THE DINGHY UP to one of the club docks. Matt leaped out first, ready to secure the small boat.
“Nice place,” Keith murmured, following behind him.
Before Lee had even joined them, Keith heard a cry. “It is you!”
Lithe and sleek as ever, Amanda Mason was sashaying down the dock. “How delightful.”
“Amanda,” he murmured.
She hugged and kissed all three of them, as if they were long-lost relatives.
“I wondered when you all would make it in,” she said. She was in a sundress, the kind that showed off the perfection of her figure but also seemed fine for a casual night out.
Her sandals were studded with rhinestones. Her toes were painted perfectly.
“We decided we needed a little civilization,” Lee said.
“Oh, honey, no one ever promised to be civil,” Amanda said. “Come on in. We were about to leave. Thank goodness we waited. Daddy is here, and both my cousins are here tonight, too. It will be just like old-home week on Calliope. Well, minus Sandy and Brad. And I think the Andersons all just went home, too. But come on, Daddy would love to buy you guys a drink.”
“We should buy your father the drink—we’re invading his territory,” Keith said. He wanted to remain polite and friendly, even flirty. But it was difficult with Amanda. A bit too much encouragement and she would be all over a man. Under different circumstances, he might not have minded, but right now, he had business to see to. He had an address, and Lee had called ahead for a car. It should be arriving within the next half hour.
“So, the Andersons just left, huh?” Lee said.
Amanda pouted as if that was the saddest news in the world. “Just a little while ago. Come on.”
She linked arms with Lee and Keith; Matt was left to trail behind.
“Actually, you’re in luck. Do you know who’s here tonight?” she whispered.
“Who?” Lee asked.
“Maria Lopez, the award-winning dancer. If you stick around for our big event—the Summer Sizzler—you’ll get to see a real salsa queen in action.” She shrugged. “An aging queen, but the woman can dance. We’re in the dining room,” she said.
She led them into the dining room, with its teak trim, polished bar, sea-blue carpeting and white marble tiles.
“There they are,” she said.
The three men rose as Amanda returned. They had evidently just eaten. Waiters were clearing the table.
Except…
It didn’t look as if Roger had eaten after all. His spot was crumb free, there were no used plates, and the silver remained wrapped in a linen napkin.
Apparently Roger had just arrived as well, Keith thought, though that didn’t have to mean a thing.
As the plates were swept away, coffee was being served.
“In from the sea at last,” Roger said. Tonight, the patriarch of the clan was in a white suit. He wore it well.
Hank was more casual in a calypso shirt, and Gerald was wearing perfectly starched trousers and a tailored shirt, looking as if he had just shed his jacket and tie.
“So how’s life been going out on Calliope Key?” Hank asked politely.
“Fine,” Matt said. “What’s not to enjoy about beautiful days out on the water?”
“Are you staying on the boat now, or still camping?” Roger asked.
“Mainly on the boat,” Lee told him.
“Diving, diving, diving, huh?” Roger said.
“Nice life when you can get it,” Keith admitted.
“Discovered anything out there?” Roger asked.
“Clown fish, angels…rays—saw a huge ray yesterday,” Lee said.
“No sign of any wrecks?” Roger asked.
“No. Should we have seen something?” Lee asked.
Roger shrugged. “It’s shipwreck city in these waters,” he said.
“Did you see my girl out there?” Hank asked the newcomers. “The Southern Light has her berth here.”
“We saw her,” Keith said, thanking the waiter who was bringing over more chairs. “She’s a beauty. Your club is great, too.”
“I’ve actually been here before,” Lee said. “And it is great.”
“So, are you vacationing in Miami for a while now?”
“Taking a room anywhere?” Roger asked. “I can recommend some great places.”
“Daddy, they could stay with us,” Amanda said.
All three men in her group stared at her hard. Lee quickly said, “Thanks, but we’re