Free Deceived by Patricia H. Rushford Page A

far side of the island. The reef provides excellent opportunities for diving.”
    â€œSounds wonderful,” Gram said as they left the table and headed back to their staterooms to collect their beach gear.
    Sounds expensive—very expensive for a college student.
Jennie didn’t express her thoughts aloud, but they did present some interesting possibilities.
    They were all to meet on deck four, where they would disembark the ship and take a shuttle from ship to shore. Jennie had just enough time alone with Lisa to discuss her latest theory about the break-in of the night before.
    â€œI’ve been thinking,” Jennie said as she tossed a book into her beach bag.
    â€œUh-oh. That sounds dangerous,” Lisa chuckled. “You’re not planning to get us into trouble again are you?”
    â€œNo. It’s nothing like that. I can’t help wondering about Matt and Dominic. I mean…what do we really know about them?”
    Lisa stopped folding her towel and held it to her chest.
    â€œWhat are you getting at?” Her eyebrows shot up. Green eyes flashed with understanding and annoyance. “Tell me you don’t suspect them.”
    â€œGram says—”
    â€œI know, I know. Everyone is a suspect.” Lisa stuffed a beach towel in her bag, picked up her glittery baseball cap, and plopped it on her head. She also took her cell phone out of her bag and set it in the drawer of the desk. “This thing is worthless. Not only did I forget to pack the charger, we haven’t gotten any reception since we left port. But Matt and Dominic did not lock you in the sauna and break into our room. Matt was with me when it happened and Dominic was sleeping.”
    â€œDominic could have been faking. They could be burglars working as a team. Matt could have been keeping you busy while Dominic stacked the weights against the sauna door, took my key, trashed our room looking for valuables, returned my key, and put the weights back.”
    â€œJennie McGrady, I think the sauna fried your brain. I don’t believe for a minute that Matt or Dominic had anything to do with this. For one thing they don’t have a motive. And nothing was taken.”
    â€œMoney is always a good motive. They might have thought we were rich. You heard Dominic this morning. That’s what got me to thinking they might be running a scam. He’s been to the island before. He sails from Cozumel to Miami. He’s taking a cruise. In case you hadn’t noticed, all that takes cash—a lot of it. Question: Where do two college guys get that kind of money? Answer: They steal from the rich and famous. I saw this movie on television once about modern-day pirates of the Caribbean. They preyed on wealthy people who cruised from island to island on their luxury yachts.”
    Lisa grinned and shook her head. “Cool your jets, cuz. This time you’re way off base. In case
you
hadn’t noticed, we are not rich or famous.”
    â€œYes, but remember what Dominic said this morning about us being ducks—pigeons.”
    Lisa giggled. “He’s so cute when he misspeaks like that. I love a man with an accent.”
    â€œI thought you loved blonds like Matt.” Jennie hung her camera from her neck, checked her hair, and set a floppy straw hat on her head, turning it so the upturned brim and flower faced forward. “Anyway, don’t change the subject. Maybe we were a trial run for them.”
    â€œLike I said, we’re not rich and famous, but Dominic is. He doesn’t have to steal to support his lifestyle. Matt told me that Dominic is worth billions.”
    â€œBillions? I don’t believe it.”
    â€œWhy would Matt lie? Dominic’s father owned several gold mines and was one of the biggest producers of emeralds in the world. Dominic inherited all that when his dad died. And, his grandfather owns one of the biggest spreads in Colombia—grows coffee, I think.