Free Swept Away: A Squeaky Clean Honeymoon Novella (Squeaky Clean Mysteries Book 12) by Christy Barritt Page B

Everyone knows Ricky isn’t looking for love. He’s looking for a good time. I guess producers are okay with that.”
    “You mean, producers like Wally?” I asked.
    He scowled. “Nah, Wally seems like a good guy. It’s Alastair. He’s a money-hungry, soulless excuse for a man. He’ll do anything to make a dime.”
    “Even stage having one of the contestants abducted?” I asked.
    He jerked his gaze toward me. “You mean Vivian?”
    “Yes, Vivian,” I said softly.
    “I wouldn’t put it past him. That’s why I’m out here now. I don’t trust these guys.”
    I noticed the way his eyes filled with emotion and his jaw flexed. There was some deep emotion behind his words. “You cared about Vivian, didn’t you?”
    He remained silent a moment and continued to stare. “We met at a party before the show started and really hit it off, but she was already contracted to come on the show. We agreed if things didn’t work out between her and Ricky that we’d talk again when all of this was over.”
    “You’re the one she was talking to right before the show started airing,” I muttered, putting it together with what Joey had told me.
    He nodded. “That was me.”
    “What did you mean earlier when you said ‘you wouldn’t put it past Alastair’?” Riley asked.
    “I think Alastair is up to something. I’m waiting to see what. When he messes up, I’m going to be there to catch him and shut down this whole operation.”
    “Why do you think you’re going to see something out here now?” Riley asked. “It’s the middle of the night.”
    “I heard some men in the diner talking about how they’ve seen some suspicious boat activity out here at night. I want to see what’s going on.”
    Before we could talk any more, a scream sounded in the distance.
    We all took off running.

    * * *
    M y lungs were burning by the time I reached the other side of the beach near the mansion. The sand slowed my steps considerably, but I was determined not to let the guys get too far ahead of me. By the time we reached the shore, I spotted Joey hunched on the sand, staring toward the water. Her shoulders were stooped, her arms drawn across her chest, and tears flowed down her cheeks.
    Alastair raced from the house, as well as Wally and a few other people I didn’t recognize. They all gathered around Joey.
    So did a camera crew.
    Riley and I knelt by Joey, as did Wally.
    “Are you okay?” I asked.
    She nodded, even though she looked anything but okay.
    “Vince?” Alastair blurted, jerking his gaze away from Joey. “What are you doing here?”
    Vince ignored him, his gaze going to Joey. “What happened?”
    “I got a message from Alastair saying I should meet him out here,” Joey said. “But when I got here, these men tried to snatch me. They must have been waiting behind those rocks on the jetty.”
    Everyone turned to Alastair. He raised his hands. “I didn’t send any messages.”
    “Your name showed up on my phone,” Joey said.
    “You’re not even supposed to have a phone,” Wally added.
    “Someone else must have sent it. I don’t make it a habit to meet my contestants at night. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
    I turned back to Joey, figuring I’d mull over Alastair’s role in all of this later. “What happened next?”
    “I screamed, everyone showed up, and the men went running,” Joey said.
    “How many of them were there?” I continued.
    “Three. All wearing masks again.” She shivered. “What am I going to do? Someone is determined to kill me.”
    “Why don’t you release the poor girl from her contract and let her go home?” I asked Alastair.
    “Who are you?” He cocked one eyebrow and stared at me like I was an operative from another network.
    “I’m . . . I’m the girl next door.”
    “The girl next door?” His features perked with interest. “I had a series called that about ten years ago. It was about these girls who lived—”
    “I’m not really interested in any of