"Just because you don't believe people doesn't mean they're lying. If the sheriff had found evidence against anyone in our group, he would have pursued it."
"I don't know about that. Money is power, and on this island, the rich families at Chambers' Point wield all the power." He tipped his head toward James. "He should have had a DUI ten years ago, but Sheriff Ryan gave him a warning. You know why? Because the Connellys donated money to renovate the police station."
I couldn't argue with that one, because I knew it was true. I'd overheard Brooklyn and Kelsey talking about how lucky James was to have gotten off.
"Nothing to say?" Drake challenged.
"I heard that happened. It was wrong. He should have paid a price for driving drunk."
"You didn't say anything then."
"I didn't find out about it until weeks later."
"How convenient."
"I'm not the person you should be mad at, Drake. I loved Melanie. She was like my sister."
"You let her down."
The words hurt as much this time as they had the first time he'd said them. "Maybe I let her down, but I hope that wasn't the reason she disappeared. Now I need to get someone to help James." As I turned to leave, he grabbed my arm. I was surprised by the tightness of his grip. "Let me go, Drake."
"I want you to know something, Willow."
"What?"
"I will find out what happened to Melanie, and I will get justice for her. If that ruins Kelsey's wedding, then that's what happens. It might be for the best, anyway."
"How could it be for the best?" I challenged.
"Kelsey is way too good for Gage."
"You don't know that. You don't know any of us anymore." I pulled my arm free. "When did you get to be so cold, so ruthless?"
His lips tightened. "Ten years ago—August 19th." He let that sink in, then added, "I don't think anyone has changed as much as you think they have."
A chill ran down my spine as he walked away. He was going to do something. But what?
Chapter Six
I needed to warn Kelsey. Maybe she could talk to Drake. Perhaps he would relent if Kelsey asked him to back off, although I wondered again when they had gotten to be such good friends. Had something gone down between them all those years ago that I'd never known about? That thought was a little sickening.
As James stirred, I hurried back to the bonfire. I didn't want another encounter with him. Brooklyn, Carter, and Rachel were standing together on the periphery of the group. Since Rachel was James's sister, she could deal with him.
"James is passed out by the restrooms," I told them.
"Oh, man," Rachel groaned. "I knew he was drinking too much. Will you help me, Carter?"
"Sure," Carter said. "What the hell is wrong with him? He's been drinking since we got on the ferry. I thought he was supposed to have that under control."
"I don't think he wants to be here," Rachel said shortly, sending Brooklyn a pointed look.
"His drinking has nothing to do with me," Brooklyn said defiantly, folding her arms across her chest.
"That's not true," Rachel argued. "It has a lot to do with you. He's hurting. Can't you see that?"
"You should get James back to your parents' house, Rachel," Brooklyn replied, her lips tight, her tone cold.
Rachel shook her head. "I'm definitely not taking him there. They'll flip out. I'll take him to a hotel so he can sleep it off."
As Rachel and Carter left, I moved closer to Brooklyn. "We have a problem."
"James is not my problem," she said sharply. "He hasn't been for years. I don't know why everyone suddenly thinks I'm going to take care of him."
"Brooklyn—"
"Did James say something about me?" she interrupted.
"No. And the problem isn't James. Well, he might be a problem, but he's not the one I'm talking about. It's Drake. He just told me he's determined to find out what happened to Melanie. I think he's going to screw up Kelsey's wedding."
"He said that?"
"Yes. He believes someone in our circle of family and friends has withheld information all these years, but now that everyone is back on the island where it happened, someone might remember something and be willing to talk."
"Why would they suddenly do that now?"
"He said something about inducement, whatever that means."
"That's not good."
"No, it's not. Drake also can't stand Gage. He said Kelsey would be better off if her wedding was ruined, because she's too good for Gage. I tried to shut him down, but he wasn't listening to me."
"I'll talk to Kelsey tomorrow."
"Maybe we should do it tonight."
Brooklyn hesitated, then shook her head. "Gage and Kelsey are having fun, and there are too many people around. I'll talk to her later tonight or tomorrow morning. I don't really think Drake can ruin the wedding, but we need to figure out how to defuse him."
"The only way to do that is for someone to tell him something they didn't tell the sheriff."
"Well, we're going to have to find another way, because that won't happen. Let's keep this between us for now. No need to worry anyone else. I'll talk to you later."
As Brooklyn moved toward our parents, I walked back to the restrooms. There was no sign of Rachel, Carter, or James. One problem averted. I blew out a breath, debating what I wanted to do next. I didn't want to stay here, but I also didn't feel like going home.
Impulsively, I headed toward the street. The lodge was only about a mile from downtown, and it felt good to walk. I needed to burn off the stress and worry that had been weighing me down ever since I'd gotten on the ferry this morning. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours yet, and I was already feeling desperate to get off the island.
As I walked down the road, I drew my jacket more tightly around me. Luckily, I had found a heavier coat in my closet at the house. I hadn't come prepared for this weather; it was summer after all. But today was colder than any I could remember, with a series of storms threatening the next few days, although the weather report still suggested that Saturday could be dry. That was the most important day.
A big gust of wind lifted my hair off the back of my neck, and I shivered, feeling uneasy now that I was away from the lodge. I'd forgotten how deserted this stretch of road was. The path along the bluff had excellent ocean views in the daylight, but there were few streetlights, and with the cloud cover, the night felt very dark.
I picked up my pace, feeling more tension as a car came up behind me and appeared to slow down. I didn't recognize the vehicle or the man behind the wheel. He gave me a look and then sped up, disappearing down the road.
It was nothing, I told myself, but an odd memory flitted through my head. Had I been on this road before? I couldn't remember walking it at night. But I had walked somewhere that last night. My memories were splintered and cloudy, but I remembered a road—and headlights. Had they come up behind me or toward me?