Page 4 of Shallow Remains

Xanthe blinked at her in surprise. “Really? That’s great! It’s at seven, dress casual. We’ll leave at⁠—”

“I’ll take my own car. That way you guys don’t have to worry about me, and you can stay as long as you want.” Unlike her, Blaine and Xanthe were both social creatures. Loved parties and other social engagements, seemed to thrive on being around others. Whereas they drained Maddy of some of her life force.

“We don’t mind driving you, Mads,” Blaine said, pushing to his feet beside her.

“I know, but it’s better this way.” Better for all of them, and besides, Blaine and Xanthe needed more space on their own. It was time to admit that she’d become unhealthily dependent on Blaine since he’d carried her out of that concrete cell. “You know I’m not a party person.”

“I’m aware. This won’t be so bad though. Small gathering of locals, casual, and you’ll know pretty much everyone there.”

She nodded, holding back the single question burning brightest in her brain. Being socially awkward was hard, especially at social events like this. But that wasn’t the biggest cause of her current anxiety.

Nope, that was because of the potential attendance of an alarmingly gorgeous local man she’d done everything in her power to avoid the past few weeks.

TWO

Lachlan pulled a beer from the bucket of ice set up in the bar area off Tripp’s living room and twisted off the cap while he scanned the room. There were about a dozen people here so far. But not the one he’d been hoping to see again.

His brother walked into the far side of the room talking with Rafe, now the sheriff of Skeleton Island. That was still such a wild concept, considering what a hellraiser Rafe had been in his teens when he’d vacationed here with his parents during the summer.

He grabbed two more beers and headed over to meet them.

“Thanks, man, you read my mind,” Grey said as he took one.

“Regretfully, I’m gonna have to pass,” Rafe said. “Still officially on duty.”

“Now?” Lachlan asked in surprise. It was eight o’clock. “Has something else happened?”

Skelly used to be such a quiet place, with a small-town feel and a tight-knit community the island was known for. The past few months, it had been anything but quiet since buried ammo caches and militia activity had been discovered, then stabbings, arson… And a couple weeks ago, Blaine and Xanthe had been lucky to survive a floatplane crash into the freezing Strait of Juan de Fuca after someone sabotaged their aircraft.

“More like an ongoing situation,” Rafe said without elaborating as his gaze moved over the partygoers. He stilled suddenly, spotting someone across the room. “Excuse me, fellas. I need to go say hi to someone.”

Lachlan moved in to stand beside Grey with their backs to the wall. His “little” brother was several inches taller than he was. They watched Rafe make a beeline for a curvy woman with bleached-blonde hair wound into thick twists who was talking to Willow.

“Who’s that?” Grey asked.

“I think that’s Willow’s Canadian friend.”

“The archaeologist?”

“Yeah.” She’d helped identify some human bones Willow’s dog found on the beach in August. As far as he knew they were still awaiting forensic analysis on the mainland. Rafe sure seemed happy to see her. “Where’s Beth?” Grey and his girlfriend had been living together almost a year now.

His brother kept his gaze fixed across the room. “Home. Didn’t feel like coming.”

Lachlan nodded and didn’t comment. Beth barely ever came out anymore. He glanced at his brother, trying to get a read on him. Grey looked tired. More subdued than normal, and that was saying something. His brother was the most self-contained person he’d ever known.

“You good?”

“Yeah.” Grey took a sip of his beer.

Okay. Lachlan left it. Even though it seemed like his brother hadn’t been happy in a long time.

Tripp emerged from the kitchen, gave them a big smile as he headed over. He’d smiled more over the past few months than Lachlan had ever seen him do. All thanks to Willow. “Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, brother,” Lachlan said. “Good turnout already.”

Tripp nodded. “Food’s all set up on the kitchen island if you wanna eat before the others get in there.”

“Don’t have to tell us twice.” He and Grey crossed to the kitchen and took a plate from the end of the island. “Nice spread.” Everything from barbecue beef sliders to pulled chicken tacos and all the fixings, plus trays of appetizers, salads, fresh sourdough bread and butter.