Page 2 of Easton Island

“Thanks, Aunt Morgan.” Tristan was quiet all the way back, only replying to her questions in single-syllable answers as he absentmindedly rubbed the arrowhead, a gift mega movie star Harlow Wynn had given him during a recent visit to Mackinac Island. Clearly, the older kids had upset her nephew. It reminded her of an odd incident from the previous week when she’d picked him up from school.

Tristan had bolted out of the building and ran to her SUV. He hurriedly climbed in, tossed his backpack in the back, and asked her if they could hurry.

When questioned, he told her that he had to go to the bathroom. Although odd, she passed it off as normal “tween behavior,” and promptly forgot about it…until now.

Returning to Easton Estate, they ambled in through the rear entrance.

Mrs. Arnsby stood in front of the stove. She did a double take when she saw them. “What happened?”

“Tristan isn’t feeling well.”

He clutched his stomach. “I think I ate something bad.”

“Oh, dear. Your stomach is upset?” She bustled across the kitchen and pressed her hand to his forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”

“I’m going to my room.” The boy trudged off, shoulders slumped and head down.

Mrs. Arnsby waited until he was gone. “He was feeling fine when he left.”

Morgan told her what had happened. “The older kids were taunting him. The girl made a pig face, and they started laughing.”

“A pig face?” the cook gasped.

“Like this.” Morgan mimicked what the girl had done.

“That’s disgusting.”

“Something is going on. One day last week, he ran to my SUV, threw his backpack inside and practically begged me to hurry and leave.”

“Poor thing,” Mrs. Arnsby tsk-tsked. “It sounds like he’s being picked on.”

“Yep.” Morgan glanced at her watch. “And I intend to find out who is behind it.”

Chapter 2

“What are you doing?” Ronni, Morgan’s friend and Locke Pointe Bed-and-Breakfast’s manager, leaned over her shoulder. “You haven’t stopped staring at the computer screen since you sat down.”

“I’m searching for someone…or in this case, someones.” Morgan returned to the top of Easton Island Public School’s student list and began studying each photo. “A boy and a girl who are older than Tristan.”

“Because?”

She filled Ronni in. “I think he’s being picked on.”

“Kids can be so cruel.”

Morgan finally gave up and leaned back in her chair. “I can’t find them.”

“Have you talked to Brett?”

“I will when he gets home. I figured it was a conversation we needed to have in person.”

“Tough stuff,” Ronni sighed. “Hopefully, you'll get it sorted out.”

“On a brighter note, what time is Jax picking you up to whisk you away for your romantic getaway?”

“He should be here any minute.”

“You still don’t have a clue where he’s taking you?”