“If you ever want to talk,” she said, appearing at his side, “I’m always here.” Then she laughed. “Well, you know that, because you’re always here, too.”
He forced a laugh. “Ha, yeah. Thanks.”
“I mean it, Rick.” She raised her eyebrows. “You can’t avoid me.”
“I know.” He looked down.
Stop being weird. Act normal.
Rick looked back up. Her grey eyes were focused on him, as calm as the sea.
She smiled and walked off, back to her seat with Sheila.
By the time he was able to tune in, talks on how to keep Addy safe were well underway.
Rick had his own opinions. It’d be best for Addy to move out of Russell’s house, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen. He’d have to install cameras. Maybe he could get IronClad Elite to pay for another bodyguard for more complete coverage? Anyone but Phil. Phil was useless.
Eliza stopped by his table. “Can I get you anything?”
“No. I’m all right, thanks.”
She leaned in. “I’m glad you’re back. Phil wasn’t all there, if you know what I mean.”
“I know. He was barely here at all.”
Though Phil definitely didn’t get panic attacks, making him more useful than Rick…
“I think Aunt Addy is glad you’re back, too.”
He looked down at the table. “Glad to be back.” He hesitated. “Actually, I have a favor to ask you.”
“Anything!” Eliza said, grinning.
“Could you get some flyers printed for me? I want the pictures of those guys all over the island.”
“I would be honored,” she said, hand to her heart.
He laughed. She was a good kid. They were a nice family, even with Marilyn casting the shadow of her ego over everyone.
His family had been a nice family once. It had only taken one tragedy to shatter it to pieces.
He wasn’t going to let anything like that happen to Addy.
It was hard to interrupt all the bickering, but eventually he got the pictures of the salesmen’s licenses and reached out to his contact to get background. He wanted to know everything about these guys.
Eliza got to work immediately and had a sample ready in thirty minutes. Rick asked her to addWANTED FOR QUESTIONINGat the top before approving it.
Patty swooped in and said she was friends with the Chief Deputy Sheriff, Hank. She also said his wife Margie knew all the ferry workers and would get the word out.
For the ragtag bunch they were, with a panic-ridden Rick at the helm, their defense came together swiftly. The salesmen wouldn’t be able to step foot on the island without being spotted.
Rick was happy with that. It was a good start, but it wasn’t enough. He ordered a camera system using the company credit card. It would take two days to get there. That was okay. He didn’t plan to sleep.
Through Patty, he secured a mechanic to fix Addy’s car. The guy would tow it, fix it up, and bring it back in three days. Top-tier service on this little island.
After two hours, Addy agreed to go back to the house. Once he’d checked the rooms and the property, he let himself relax a little, unlike at the tea shop, where his muscles had been tense and ready to spring with every opening of the door.
Addy didn’t seem shaken up anymore. She spent the evening laughing and playing a card game called “Sounds Fishy” with Sheila and Russell. Rick didn’t want to join, but they’d insisted they needed one more player. If there had been any sort of real threat, he wouldn’t have, but the laughter pulled him in.
