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“It seems to me it would be important to have friends,” Vic said. “As beautiful as this place is, it’s also a little isolated.”

“Which is perfect for someone trying to avoid paparazzi, fans, curiosity-seekers,” Harlow said.

“I’ve been thinking about your accident. Is it possible someone tampered with your car?”

“Tampered with my Ferrari?” Harlow stared at him. “I…reached for my phone. When I looked up, I was in the other lane and a big box truck was coming toward me. I jerked the wheel. The car seemed to be running fine before I crossed the center line.”

“It was just a thought. You never know.” Vic hadn’t come right out and said it, but the implication was clear. Was Robert desperate to get rid of his wife…so desperate he may have considered tampering with her car?

The suggestion chilled her to the bone. “Getting rid of me would solve all of Robert’s problems.” The fact he’d snagged Jillian a part in the upcoming movie meant her husband was moving on to his next big client / partner.

If she was out of the picture, he would get everything. The money, the movie residuals for past work, their properties. The whole enchilada. In other words, Harlow could be worth more dead than alive. “I wonder where the towing company took my car.”

“It’s a place off Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Got a friend of a friend who works there. Let me see what I can find out.” Vic placed the call and was routed to another person.

On the third try, he reached someone who knew about Harlow’s car. Unable to hear what was being said, she quietly listened to the one-sided conversation. Vic thanked the person and ended the call. “The car was totaled.”

“I heard.” Harlow shivered involuntarily, reliving the moment. “Was it checked over? Is it still at the shop?”

“Nope. Robert signed off on it after the insurance adjuster met him to inspect the damage. They towed it to a local junkyard so it could be sold for scrap. We have no way of telling if the car had been tampered with. I’m sure it’s in a million pieces by now.”

“Thanks for trying. Although, again, the accident was my fault. I doubt we would have found anything, anyway.”

“You’re welcome.”

Harlow finished scrolling through her messages. She found one from Nigel Beckworth. It included an attachment. Pages and pages of the agreement with a note at the end. He was meetinganother client on the island and asked if it would be possible to meet with her while he was there.

She quickly replied she was available. After some back and forth, Nigel confirmed the anticipated timeframe.

Harlow started to reply. She had a question, one that had been nagging at her. She dialed Nigel’s number. He picked up right away. “Hello, Harlow.”

“Hello, Mr. Beckworth. I figured I would give you a quick call. I have a question.” Harlow explained how her aunt and friend had gone to the apartment and helped themselves to certain items. “It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I talked to Robert and told him to put the money back into our accounts. He reminded me he planned to move it. I forgot.”

“So the bank accounts are in good standing?”

“As soon as he sends me the information on the updated account. Despite me being relieved he wasn’t trying something funny, things are deteriorating pretty quickly between me and my husband,” Harlow said. “He’s spreading rumors about me, alluding to the fact I may have intentionally wrecked my car.”

“You mentioned it during our previous conversation,” Nigel said. “He has no proof. It’s his word against yours.”

“I am concerned about him showing up on my doorstep and causing trouble.” Harlow thought about mentioning the anonymous email but decided against it. It could be totally unrelated.

“We can petition for a restraining order if you think it’s necessary.”

“Not yet, but I might consider it down the road,” Harlow said. “If you give me your travel schedule, Dad and I will make sure we’re home to meet with you.”

“Wonderful.” Nigel promised to forward it as soon as his assistant had everything in order and ended the call.

Harlow started to put her cell phone away when she noticed a text from Aunt Birdie.The coast is clear.

“We can head home. Caleb is gone.” During the return to the cottage, Harlow shared her concerns. Robert would not back down. Not one iota, but neither would she. In other words, it was going to get ugly fast.

As promised, the leftovers sat on the counter. While she and Vic ate, Harlow filled them in. “At least I have a cell phone that works and I don’t have to worry about it getting turned off.”

“What about your bank accounts? Do you think Robert will give you the new account information?”

“He said he would.” After finishing her food, Harlow wheeled her way to her room, grabbed her laptop, and returned to the table. Robert had sent a message giving her the new account information and access codes.

Harlow promptly logged in. With a quick click to view transactions, she confirmed every penny was accounted for. “I have access to the new accounts. The money is there.”