“Did you take a nice pill when I wasn’t looking?”
“I can be nice when I want to be.”
“Are you still angry with me?”
The Gavin she knew and loved reappeared. His expression once more turning grim and threatening.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then do me a favor, if you did take a nice pill, then take the whole bottle. I have Prime; I’ll order you another.”
Chapter Nine
The Mokes continued steadily on the paved trail around the front of island, winding into a turn to the side of the island that faced Clindale. The majestic palm trees on Sherguevil provided camouflage for the large building, airport, and numerous smaller buildings from the shores of Clindale.
As the Mokes veered onto another trail, they stopped beside an outcropping of small beachfront bungalows. Guessing this was where they would be quarantined, they got out of the Moke.
Ginny frowned as she stared across the water to Clindale Island. Something was different. Frowning, she took a step forward, but was suddenly stopped.
“Mrs. James, Mr. James, you have been assigned this bungalow. The four of us will share the other three. I will be in the one closest to you. Two agents will take turns stationing themselves outside yours to ensure your safety.”
“Thank-you.”
Ginny walked beside Gavin toward the small bungalow that Agent Collins had indicted. Then any relief that she might have felt toward Agent Collins’ assurance was dispelled when he held out a hand toward Gavin.
“I need to check your duffel bag. I’ll return it to you when I bring Mrs. James’ luggage.”
Anticipating Gavin’s refusal, Ginny was surprised when he held it out without a comment. He might not have said anything, but his disparaging features had Agent Collins walking toward the other agents who had remained by the Mokes. Ginny, relieved he had restrained himself from having a no-win argument with Collins, gladly walked into the bungalow when Gavin opened the door for her.
The bungalow was larger than it appeared outside. It had a medium-sized living room with a cream and white plush sofa, matching chair, and a low glass coffee table that was half the size of the sofa; the table was engraved with birds on the legs. Two ceiling fans made the room feel airy, and with the green palm trees and colorful succulents, the scenery from outside the open window gave the impression of relaxed comfort. A tall vase filled with tropical flowers was centered on a long marble console table one the wall with a television. To the side of the room was a small kitchenette with a bistro-style table with two white cushioned chairs and there was a basket filled with a variety of fresh fruits.
Ginny remained beside the door as Gavin went to the door next to the table and opened it, seeing from where she stood that it was a bedroom. When Gavin went inside, Ginny followed.
The bedroom was lovely with a grey, thickly padded headboard. The full bed took up half the room and was covered in a subdued coral-colored bedspread. The matching curtains framed the patio doors, which had been left open allowing in fresh air. To the left of the room was an en suite bathroom with a diamond-shaped mosaic tiles, as well as a large shower the size of the entire wall. Caddy-corner with the shower sat a two-person soaking clawfoot tub that faced a window with a view of the sea. The room had an earthy, sensual appeal that had Ginny feeling uncomfortable.
Gavin was taking off his jacket to hang in the closet. Realizing she was completely alone with him, she decided to go back to the living room. She didn’t make it, as his voice stopped her cold.
“Have a seat while I check the room out.”
Nervous, Ginny went to sit on the end of the bed, watching Gavin as he took a lighter out of his jean pocket, then lifted the flame to the mirror that was over the dresser facing the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure it isn’t a two-way mirror,” Gavin explained, snapping the flame off before he went to the side of the mirror to run his hand along the frame. He removed each of the paintings on the wall, then stacked them inside the closet. He didn’t stop there. After removing the paintings, he went through the bedroom, picking up a small, artificial plant and a small clock, placing them in the closet, also. Thinking he was done, Ginny couldn’t understand what he was doing when he climbed on the bed to place a towel over the light fixture that was centered on the ceiling, giving the room a purple hue.
“Don’t you think that’s a little too much?”
Ginny really wished she kept the sarcastic thought to herself when Gavin jumped off the bed taking the comforter with him. He tucked it around the metal frame of the mirror above the dresser. Seemingly satisfied, he pulled the drapes closed over the balcony doors before going to the bedroom door. Her heart went to her throat when he turned the lock, then turned around to face her.
“My luggage should be here any moment,” Ginny hastily reminded him.
“They won’t be coming anytime soon.”
“Why not? It’s not that long of a drive from the airplane. Agent Collins already checked my luggage before I left.”
Gavin’s lips curled in a sinister smile. “I bet it only took him a couple of minutes, too.”
“Yes. Why does that matter?”
“I can guarantee nothing will be coming through that door that Allerton doesn’t want you or me to have that could be used as a weapon or a way to contact someone off the island. Do you have your cell phone?”
“Yes.” Ginny took out her cell phone. “See? We can call—”
“How many bars do you have?”
Ginny pressed the button on her cell phone and then her heart sank with a thud. “None.”
“Me neither.”
“When did you check?”
“When we got out of the Moke.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“You were too busy looking across the water at Clindale. Does it look like you remember?”
“No, and I don’t know why ….” Ginny still couldn’t put her finger on the difference, but then she became sidetracked when Gavin started dragging the chair over to the bedroom door.
“What are you doing now? You need to unlock the door if you’re going to put the chair in the living room.”
Small tendrils of alarm began filtering through her bloodstream as Gavin tilted the chair back to brace the door. Her eyes widened when he started undressing. Once his shirt was removed, he began unbuckling his belt, sliding it loose from his jeans as he walked toward her.
“What are”—Ginny lowered her shrill voice—“you doing? If you lay a hand on me with that belt, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” he goaded, moving closer to her with determined steps.
There was a time to reason, and then there was time to run. Now was the time to run.
Ginny hopped up from the bed, but before she could move a centimeter, Gavin reached his palm out to shove her back onto the bed. Finding herself on her back, Ginny didn’t miss a beat, rolling onto her stomach and bringing her knees up to begin crawling over the mattress in the direction that was closest to the bathroom. If she could make it there, she could lock the door and reason with him from the other side.
The jerk let her make it halfway before she felt a loop of leather snag her ankle. Astounded, Ginny turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. “Gavin—”