Chapter 10
TEN
Although we’re going to the yacht club for lunch the plan is to arrive early, so I can take the tour of Jack’s yacht.
The idea of seeing where Laura died terrifies me but how can I tell him when he is so excited?
I try to concentrate on the magnificent scenery.
I didn’t expect the Newport Yacht Club to be so picturesque.
Set on an impressive marina, my gaze is drawn to sleek yachts and sailboats rocking gently in the water.
As Jack guides his Porsche to a parking space with his name on a plaque, I absorb the elegance of the club’s classic architecture and marvel at the brightly colored flowerbeds.
There are even flags on top of flagpoles waving madly in the wind from the harbor.
“It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Jack slides from behind the wheel. “Wait until you see inside.”
I smile at him, as we enter a massive foyer.
The glossy wooden floors reflect the lights above as we walk to a counter to sign in.
My attention is drawn to wide picture windows that offer amazing views of the marina.
A large room to one side with tables covered with crisp white tablecloths and silverware has servers buzzing around preparing for lunch, no doubt.
Beside me Jack waves to someone and then we head to a group of tables, where his friends are sitting.
Everyone is drinking coffee and chatting.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting. I usually feel out of place in these swanky places but everyone is smiling, and I relax and decide to enjoy myself.
Everyone looks at me as we approach and I’m suddenly self-conscious.
“Hi, everyone.” Jack is smiling. “Let me introduce you to my beautiful wife, Willow.” He places a hand on my back to urge me forward. “Willow, these are my friends, Carol and Peter Sutton.”
I step forward as he indicates to a woman in her forties, tanned with eyes like a hawk; her husband Peter stands and offers me his hand.
He is wearing a blue and white striped polo shirt and white shorts; he is perhaps fifty with a protruding belly and graying dark hair.
His handshake is damp but firm. “Nice to meet you.”
“June and Martin Cleaves.” Jack indicates with his chin. “Missy and Jim Durum.”
The men—both Jack’s age, lean and good-looking—shake my hand.
June is a mousy woman, as in she resembles a mouse, and Missy is younger.
She is an example of a plastic surgeon’s best friend with her false eyelashes, plumped up cheeks and lips.
I blink at breasts big enough to use as a floating aid; she is friendly enough and stands to hug me and welcome me to Newport.
I like her. With all her enhancements she seems to be the only real person in the group.
They talk about sailing, fishing and the stock market.
I’m sitting beside Missy and she leans toward me. I turn in my seat to look at her.
“It must be difficult stepping into Laura’s shoes. She was larger than life.” Missy frowns and her forehead doesn’t move. “I was there, you know, the night she went missing.”
My ears prick. I know nothing about that night and lean closer. “Really? How terrible. What exactly happened?”
“No one knows for sure—but I always wonder if Tom was somehow involved.” Missy gives me a knowing look.
I frown. “Tom?”
“Well…” Missy leans closer. “There was something going on. I’m not sure of the details but after Laura died, Tom was demoted.
He used to live in the house. It screams coverup to me.
Jack suddenly didn’t want his bodyguard, and good friend since college, living in the house.
It’s as if they purposely distanced themselves from each other. ”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing but I don’t want her to stop. “Did anything involving Tom happen the night Laura died?”
“Yeah, Laura, Jack and Tom were all acting real strange—you know, what’s the word—forced.
As if they were trying to act happy.” Missy raises one perfectly manicured finger and points to the marina.
“We were all into our third or fourth bottle of champagne before we even noticed Laura hadn’t returned to the party.
She’d had an argument with Jack… well, let’s say a disagreement.
It’s very hard to get Jack to argue about anything, he is the coolest man I know. ”
Intrigued, I look at her. “Go on.”
“I gather she told Jack something about one of the staff and he didn’t believe her.
Laura lost it and Jack told her to go outside and cool down.
The next minute, Jack is pushing Tom into the galley to speak to him.
I never found out what that was all about.
Not long after, Tom went out on deck.” Missy leans closer.
“Laura didn’t take orders from anyone but she told me she needed some fresh air and Jack was being a jerk.
” She shrugs. “That was the last time I saw her alive. The thing is, Laura could swim like a fish. It’s unlikely if she fell overboard that she didn’t make it to shore. ”
I meet her gaze. “They never found her, so that never happened. Do you have another theory?”
“Not really. I blame the champagne but another thing someone mentioned is that one of the life buoys was missing.” She gave me a long look. “I guess it could have been washed overboard in the storm. Maybe Laura grabbed it before she fell?”
The idea of being washed overboard horrifies me and I swallow hard. “That leaves a ton of unanswered questions, doesn’t it?”
“I’m not saying anything but I find it hard to believe Laura fell overboard.” Missy shook her head. “She was a fine sailor.”
My gaze moves around the table and cold chills raise the hairs on my arms. “Why would anyone want to hurt her? You were all close friends.”
“That—” Missy rolls her eyes “—is the question I’ve been asking myself for seven years.”