Free In the Dark by Heather Graham Page B

crawling with a strange assortment of visitors, including Seth Granger, Hank Adamson and your new friend—John Seymore. And then…I heard that you’d found a body on the beach.”
    For several long moments, Alex just stared at him, not at all sure what to think, or where to start. She felt chilled. She had found a body, and it could have been Alicia’s.
    No. Easier to believe Jay had been right. That she’d seen someone playing a sick—and very convincing—trick on someone else.
    “Maybe Alicia just decided that she didn’t want you in on her fabulous find after all. Maybe she’s already off on her expedition,” Alex said, her voice sounding thin.
    “And maybe someone else found out what she had and killed her to get it—or before she could set up an expedition to recover the treasure, so they could get it for themselves.”
    “If there was really a body, it’s gone now,” Alex said. “And Sheriff Thompson—”
    “I’ve spoken with him. He hasn’t seen Alicia, and your corpse hasn’t reappeared.”
    “Then…then you don’t really have anything,” Alex said.
    “What I have is a tremendous amount of fear that a friend and colleague is dead—and that someone may now be after you. Alex, maybe there’s someone out therewho thinks you saw something, and that could put you in danger.”
    Alex shook her head. “David, I’m not going to start being paranoid because of the things that might be. If Alicia is dead, and someone was willing to kill her for what she knew, wouldn’t you be in far more danger than I am? What about your own safety?”
    “I can handle myself.”
    “Great. Handle yourself doing what? Waiting? Watching people?”
    “I have friends looking for information now.”
    She stared at him. He had friends, all right. P.I.s, cops, law enforcement from around the world. And he was serious.
    A slight shiver raked along her spine. If all this was true…
    “All right, David. I appreciate your concern for my welfare. And I’m very sorry if Alicia is…dead. I know what she meant to you.”
    “No, actually, you don’t.”
    He walked up to her, angry again, and she tensed against the emotion that seemed to fill him, though he didn’t touch her.
    “There was never anything intimate between Alicia and me. She was a good friend. That’s all.”
    She didn’t look up at him as she raised her hands. “Whatever your relationship…was, it’s none of my business. As I said, thanks for your concern. I’ll be very careful. I’ll keep my eyes open, and I swear, if I hear anything, I’ll tell you. Now, may I please go to sleep? Or try, at least, to get some sleep?”
    “I can’t leave you.”
    “What?”
    “I can’t leave you. Don’t you understand? If someone out there thinks you can prove that Alicia is dead, that you might have seen…something, you’re in danger of being murdered yourself.”
    She shook her head. “David, my doors lock. Please go away.”
    They were both startled when his phone suddenly started to ring. He pulled it from his pocket, snapping it open. “Denham,” he said briefly.
    She saw him frowning. “Sorry, say again. I’m not getting a great signal here.”
    He glanced at Alex in apology and walked out back, opening the sliding door, stepping out.
    She followed after a moment. He was on the porch rocker, deep in conversation. She hesitated, then shut and locked the glass door. She was going to try to get some sleep. But how? Her mind was spinning.
    Before she could reach the hallway, she heard a pounding on the glass. Then David’s voice. “Damn it, Alex, let me in!”
    “David, I’m fine. We’ll talk tomorrow. Go away!”
    “I won’t leave you.”
    “Well, I won’t let you in.”
    “I’ll have to sleep on the porch then.”
    “Feel free.”
    She let the curtain fall closed. He slammed the glass with a fist. She was afraid for a minute it would shatter, despite the fact that it was supposedly hurricaneproof.
    She stared at the drapes a long time.