Page 122 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“Yes,” I said.

We got off and Jason checked the tank. “Dammit, someone drained the tank. It’s empty.”

“Why would anyone do that?” I asked. Silly question. He didn’t know any more than I did.

“We can’t stay here,” he said. “The tide comes in all the way to the edge of the cliff.” He looked at the cave. “I would say we could go back into the cave, but we would be trapped in there at high tide. Can you swim to the boat?”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s not too far.”

He looked miserable, as if all his plans had been destroyed. I was more angry—and a little scared—wondering why someone would sabotage Jason’s Jet Ski.

And who knew we were here.

Anyonecould know. At least, anyone who’d helped Jason put this all together.

“I need to pull the jet up behind the rocks, to the mouth of the cave,” he said. “It should be safe there overnight. Wait here.”

When he returned, he said, “I amsosorry.”

“It’s not you. It’s whoever sabotaged us.”

“When we get to the boat, I’ll radio security about what happened. I don’t want this to ruin our night.”

I wondered if whoever had messed with the Jet Ski knew I’d been asking questions about Diana Harden. I hadn’t exactly been subtle. But why? I didn’tknowwho’d killed her. I only suspected. Gino Garmon was at the top of my list, but Sherry Morrison had been acting just as strange, and she definitely had secrets, even if I hadn’t figured them all out yet.

And then I thought about Amber and Parker. They knew I’d once had the book. They could think I was looking for the documents Diana hid somewhere on the island, and sabotaged us to prevent me from finding them—not realizing that wasn’t my plan tonight.

I wanted to tell Jason everything I knew about Diana Harden’s life... and death. About her book, why I thought Amber and Parker had stolen it, about her blackmailing people—one of whom had most likely killed her.

Jason said, “We need to swim over before there’s no more light. Ready?”

“Let’s go.”

The water was cool when we walked in. Jason said, “It drops off quickly here, unlike the other side of the island. So be careful.”

He started swimming, and I followed. He continually looked back to make sure I was behind him.

The current pushed against me, so by the time I reached the boat, I was drained. Jason was already there, holding on to a ladder. When I reached him, he pulled me up. I was out of breath and shivering.

“I have towels and robes in here,” he said as he led me into the cabin.

A table, complete with flowers and unlit candles, stood in the middle, and a bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket secured to the corner. He opened a cabinet and retrieved two fluffy towels. We dried off, and then he handed me a robe. “You can take off your bathing suit if you want—you might be more comfortable.”

Even though the situation was less than ideal, I felt a jolt of anticipation as I thought about being naked under the robe.

“I’ll radio in, explain what happened. Then—if you’re still up for it—I did plan dinner.” He smiled. “I promised to feed you.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” I said. “After that swim, I’m starving.”

Ten minutes later, I came out of the stateroom wearing the robe with nothing underneath. There was a bedroom and bath, and I tried not to think about what we might do later in that bed. I’d found a comb in the bathroom and made myself partly presentable, brushing the worst of the tangles out of my hair.

Jason wasn’t there. For a split second, I panicked that whoever had disabled the Jet Ski had returned and done something to him.

I heard footsteps on the deck above, so climbed the stairs and called out. “Jason?”

He turned to me. “Radio is busted. Literally, someone ripped all the wires out, destroying them. I tried to put it back together, but then realized the cables were also cut. I inspected the boat—we’re not taking on water, the anchor is secure, and we have a generator for the lights—but the gas tank is empty, too. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I snapped. “This isn’t your fault. I was thinking—could someone be trying to sabotage the resort?”