“So you’re here to . . . what? Bring them to justice for whatever it is they do? Or what?”
He laughed, his jade-green eyes shining. “You’re a tough nut to crack, aren’t you?”
She smiled. “Maybe.”
There was the sound of footsteps, then a knock on the door. Ali got up to answer, but Kit stepped in front of her, preventing her access to the door. “My treat, okay?”
“Sure,” she said, unused to this kind of behavior from a man. He was a little bossy, or assertive, she wasn’t sure which, but she liked him. He was handsome, intelligent, and had an important job; plus, he’d won a Pulitzer Prize for his work. She knew he was out of her league. For now, she would take pleasure in the few minutes it took them to eat the pizza. She could pretend they were a couple, just having a casual conversation over dinner.
He returned to the kitchen with a giant pizza box. The aroma of roasted tomatoes and garlic penetrated the cardboard, causing her stomach to grind in hunger. She’d been used to being hungry for so many years. Now, however, it reminded her of the past and how far she’d come.
“I’ll find plates,” she said. She opened a few cabinets before finding a large supply of paper products. She took two paper plates and paper napkins, placing them on the counter. Kit put a slice on a plate, gave it to her, then did one for himself.
Alison bit into the crusty dough topped with thick mozzarella cheese, bacon, ham, and sausage. There were also black olives, onions, and green peppers. She could only imagine what her breath would smell like after she finished eating. Not the time for a first kiss.
Why was she having these kinds of thought—and now, of all times? She should be focused on Renée and Valentina, not knowing if either was safe. Instead, she was in another woman’s beachside mansion with a man she barely knew, eating pizza.
Is this what normal people do during a crisis? Alison didn’t know for sure, but instinctually, she knew Valentina would insist she do exactly what she was doing if she were here.
“You’re too quiet,” Kit said between bites.
She swallowed before replying. “I don’t like to talk with my mouth full.”
“Good manners.”
“I suppose,” she said before taking another bite. “Whatever that means to you.”
“You’re not cramming pizza in your mouth, nor is there sauce on your face.” He stopped, then leaned so close to her she could smell his aftershave. “Oops,” he said, “there is a little speck right here.” He used his thumb to wipe the sauce from her chin, his eyes focusing on hers.
A trickle of excitement ran down her spine as he continued to stare at her. Ali couldn’t stop herself from returning his gaze, but after a few seconds, forced herself to look away. She stepped around him to get them drinks from the refrigerator. “There’s a variety of tea and soda if you want,” she said, taking another bottle of water for herself.
“I’ll have what you’re having,” he responded.
She took another bottle of water, handing it to him.
“Thanks. You like the pizza?” he asked as he placed another slice on each of their plates.
“It’s delicious,” she said, and it was. When life quieted, maybe she’d order a pizza and sit on the beach and watch the sunset. Ali forced her attention back to the present. “I’m going to call Valentina. She would’ve called by now if she had good news.”
“You probably should. I don’t have kids, but they’re a tremendous responsibility. My brother Rhett has a couple kids. They are super cute, but man, what a workout I get when I visit them.”
She supposed this was just small talk, him trying to ease her worry. She took the piece of paper with Valentina’s cell number, and took the house phone, then thought better of it and hung it up. If Valentina hadn’t found Renée and saw her home number come up on her cell, it would give her false hope, and she didn’t want to do that. Ali took her cell out of her pocket and dialed Valentina’s number.
“Hello,” Valentina answered. Her voice sounded like she’d been crying.
“Hey, it’s me. I just wanted to find out if you’ve heard anything,” Ali said as gently as she could.
“Nothing. Not one call or text. I’m in Fort Charlotte filing a missing person’s report now.”
“Oh my gosh, Val. I am so sorry. Do you want me to come down there? I could sit with you?” Ali realized she’d used the shortened version of her friend’s name, as she’d heard her use it when she’d been on the phone with Beth earlier.
“No, but thanks. If you can stay at the house a while longer, I’d appreciate it. The police want to search the house. See if any of her clothes are missing, or other things she’d take if she were leaving. I told them absolutely not, that she would never leave without her cell phone or her purse, but they seem to think she’s a runaway.”
“I can stay here as long as you need me to. I called Kit. He’s here now. I hope I didn’t overstep any boundaries.”
“Good. I’m glad he’s there with you. I believe he’s a good guy. I just want my daughter back.” Valentina broke down then, her cries pitiful.
“Are you sure you won’t let me drive you home? Or Kit?” She looked at him, and he nodded. “You’re upset; you shouldn’t be driving.”
“No, I can manage. I’m going to drive by a few areas where some of the high school kids on the island hang out. See if anyone is there or if they might know something. Maybe I can find her. If I’m not back before the police arrive, let them in Renée’s room, but don’t let them remove anything unless I’m there.”
“I promise,” she said, then hit the end button. To Kit, she said, “She’s filed a missing person’s report. The police will be here soon to search Renée’s room. Valentina’s returning, though she has a few stops to make on her way back. Apparently, there are a few high school hangouts she wants to check first.”
“Dang, I was hoping for good news. I wish there was something I could do. The Fort Charlotte police department and the sheriff’s office around here aren’t very well-liked. The sheriff is crooked, and the police chief spends most of his time on the golf course.”
“I wasn’t impressed with the sheriff’s department, either. The forensics guy tried to tell me that bone I found wasn’t a femur. Said he had to do some testing. I’m no medical expert, but that bone was a femur.” She paused. “Do you think the bone and the others that were found are connected to your cult story?”
Kit tilted his head. “I don’t know. Strange stuff is going on with this story, so nothing would surprise me at this point.”
Her decision to live here hadn’t been the least bit smooth. If anything, she felt like she was toxic. There were too many bad vibes, weird people, and now, Renée was missing. Add in Kit’s story of a cult here on the island, and she would be smart to put the cottage back on the market and hightail it south to the Keys. She never really thought of herself as smart, unless street smarts counted. Those she had in abundance. Common sense told her she couldn’t put the house on the market. She’d barely spent a couple of hours there. House flipping wasn’t her thing.