paint, but there’s no message painted on it.” Golden lacy fretwork . “You’re wrong. There’s a message,” she said numbly. Golden lacy fretwork . “I don’t see—” He broke off as he lifted his gaze to her face. “You know what it is.” “I know.” She swallowed, hard. Don’t be sick. “Throw it back into the sea.” “You’re sure?” “Dammit. Get rid of it.” “Right.” With all his strength he hurled the panel back into the sea. She turned the boat and headed back to shore. “Melis, you have to raise the net,” Kelby said quietly. My God, she’d forgotten. She’d never forgotten to safeguard the island in all the time she’d been here. “Thanks.” She turned the boat and headed back to the net. He didn’t speak again until they were once more on their way back to the cottage. “Are you going to tell me what message Archer sent you?” “Archer?” “Wilson says his name is Hugh Archer. If he’s the same man who leased that cruiser in Greece.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I didn’t have a chance. I just found out tonight and you were in no mood to listen. You were afraid for your dolphins.” She was still afraid. So much ugliness. She couldn’t imagine the degree of ugliness in Archer that had led him to send her that panel. “You didn’t answer me. Are you going to tell me what that panel meant to you?” “No.” “Well, that’s succinct. Then will you tell me if it’s a one-time contact or the opening play?” “There’ll be more.” She cut the engine at the pier. “Soon. He’ll want to hurt me again.” “Why?” “Some men are like that.” Was she talking about the past or present? They were blurring together. “He probably liked hurting Carolyn. Power. They like power. . . .” She started toward the house. “Melis, I can’t help you if you’re going to leave me in the dark.” “And I can’t talk to you right now. Leave me alone.” She went into the house and straight to her room. She turned on all the lights and huddled in the chair, staring at her phone on the bedside table where she’d thrown it. She had to stop shaking. He’d call her soon and she had to be ready. God, she wished she could stop shaking.
He didn’t call back. She gave up and went to take a shower when the first light of dawn broke over the horizon. The hot water felt good on her chilled body, but it didn’t relax her tensed muscles. Nothing would do that until the waiting was over. She should have expected him to draw it out. Waiting had always been a form of torture for her. He would know that. He would know everything. Kelby was sitting in a chair and nodded at the carafe on the table when she came out on the lanai. “I made fresh coffee when I heard you stirring.” His gaze raked her face. “You look like hell.” “Thank you.” She poured the coffee. “You don’t look very spry yourself. Have you been out here all night?” “Yes. What did you expect? When you ran into that room, you looked like a Holocaust survivor who’d been thrown back into Auschwitz.” “And you were curious.” “Yeah, you could say that. If you don’t want to give me credit for concern. Are you going to talk to me?” “Not yet.” She set her phone on the table before she sat down on the lounge chair. She stared out over the water. “He . . . has my files. I told Carolyn things I’ve never told anyone. He knows exactly what will hurt. He’s trying to find a way to manipulate me.” “Son of a bitch.” “Isn’t that why you followed me from Athens? You needed to find a hook to make me tell you about Marinth. He wants the same thing you do.” “I don’t believe I appreciate you comparing the two of us.” “No, there’s no one on earth as low as this bastard.” “How comforting.” She should probably apologize. She was so exhausted it was difficult to think. “I didn’t mean— It’s just that I’m caught and I have to