Page 19 of Two Favors Repaid

Rob sighed quietly. He missed Natalie at times like these.

The man waved his hands angrily in front of Rob’s face. “Are you listening to me?”

I wish I weren’t.

“I’m listening, Mr. Carlysle. So what would you like us to do?”

“Well, investigate, of course. Isn’t that what you’re here for?”

Rob resolved to count to ten. If he still felt like punching the man when he got to ten, he might just allow himself the pleasure and consequences be damned.

Seven. Eight. Nine.

A cheerful female voice sounded behind them. “Good afternoon, Mr. Carlysle, Chief Deputy Hope. I was wondering if one of you might be able to help me. My car won’t start, and I really need to get these shark poop samples to the lab.”

Rob watched, amused, as Carlysle physically recoiled at the woman’s words. He didn’t need to turn his head to know who the woman was—only one person in Sharp’s Cove would discuss shark fecal matter in that way. Dr. Jessy Long.

“Dr. Long. It’s always a pleasure to see you,” Carlysle leered. “I have to get back to work, but I’m sure Officer Hope can help you. He and I can finish our conversation later,” he added, fixing Rob with what Rob imagined aimed to be a meaningful stare.

Moving quickly before the billionaire had a chance to change his mind, Rob escorted the woman away from the pier and towards the parking lot.

“What’s the trouble with the car, Jessy?” he asked.

“My car?” she said. “My car’s just fine, Rob, but I thought you might need rescuing from that pompous ass.”

“I figured, since you know a lot more about cars than I do. You’re a convincing liar,” he said.

She considered his words for a moment, reaching back to pull her straight dark hair behind her ears. “I guess. But I don’t lie to my friends.” Her almond-shaped eyes shone like diamonds. “And we are friends, aren’t we, Rob? Since you’ve refused my invitation to become more than friends.”

Rob smiled, shaking his head. “We’re definitely friends, Jessy.”

“Here we are,” she said, approaching a sleek, black little Audi. The same color as her clothes. Jessy seemed to favor black above all other colors.

She pressed the unlock button on her key fob impatiently. “Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but I actually do have to get this refrigerated sample bag to the lab tonight.”

“You weren’t kidding about the shark poop.”

“I never kid when it comes to shark anything. Come on, you have no idea how difficult it is to get hold of this kind of sample. I got lucky this morning.”

Rob wrinkled his nose, holding the door open for the scientist. “I’d rather not think about it. Should I even ask … What do you expect to find out? You already know what sharks eat.”

“You’d be surprised at how much you can learn from studying shark feces.”

“I’ll have to trust you on that. Drive carefully, will you? It’s a long drive to the city.”

“You’re worried about me?” she asked, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners, the only wrinkle on her otherwise flawless skin. “That’s rather sweet.”

“What are friends for?” he asked.

Rob looked at the departing vehicle. Jessy Long was intelligent, pretty, and snarky. Exactly the kind of woman he might have been attracted to, in another lifetime. His mind went to another beautiful woman instead, one who saw the world in bright colors and whose kindness and joie de vivre had snared his heart.

Rob thought about going home to his boat but decided to go back to the station first. He hadn’t spoken to Susan all day and wanted to see her before calling it a day. He didn’t realize something was wrong until he found himself parking behind a dark sedan that had no place in Sharp’s Cove.

Chapter 6

Rob

“Susan? Alma? Are you both okay?” Rob asked, striding into the station.