5. CHAPTER 5
Daniella navigated the Cobble Beach Road as she had done many times before after tending to an emergency late at night. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard—midnight. Only, the times before, someone hadn’t called the clinic asking for a doctor, using a name that brought a chill to her bones. Now, every shadow or bump in the night had her jumping in fright and ready to grab hers and Emily’s go bag to get going.
Daniella turned onto Main Road and saw the lights for the all-night convenience store when she remembered they needed milk at home. Turning into the convenience store’s parking lot, Daniella’s thoughts briefly shifted away from her worries. The simple task of picking up milk seemed almost mundane in the context of the turbulent emotions and fears swirling inside her. She parked the car, exhaling deeply in an attempt to steady her nerves, before stepping out into the cool night air.
The convenience store was dimly lit but welcoming, with the soft hum of the refrigerators and the occasional beep of the cash register creating a familiar backdrop. Daniella grabbed a basket and started walking down the aisles, picking up not only milk but also a few other essentials that caught her eye, like a loaf of bread, some fresh fruit, and a box of Emily’s favorite cereal. As she made her way to the checkout, her mind drifted back to the events of the past few days, each thought adding weight to her already heavy heart.
One thought that kept swirling in Daniella’s head was how she could’ve missed that cut on Alex’s hand. Daniella was usually really thorough. She frowned, trying to picture his hand when she was examining it, which conjured a different image altogether, making her heart flip in her chest.
Think about Alex’s hand, not his eyes or sexy smile!Daniella berated herself. Your oversight nearly killed him! That thought quickly replaced the fluttering in her stomach with a tight knot.
Just as Daniella was about to reach the cashier, her path was suddenly blocked. She bumped into a man who was just as startled by the sudden collision. He fumbled, trying not to drop his phone.
Darn walking texters! Daniella grumbled to herself, and they both murmured quick apologies. As Daniella looked up to meet the stranger’s eyes, she was taken aback by a sense of familiarity. He was about six foot, fit, good looking, with sandy blond hair and golden brown apologetic eyes that bore into her.
“I’m so sorry,” the man said, his deep voice slightly accented. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“It’s okay, really,” Daniella replied. To be fair, she was deep in thought and wasn’t watching where she was going, either. She forced a smile. “It was just as much my fault. I was rushing to get out of here.”
“I don’t blame you,” the man said with a smile. “I hate being in convenience stores this late myself, but when you must, you must.”
Daniella nodded, stepped around the man, and headed to the cashier. As the cashier went through the motions, Daniella turned toward the man she’d collided with. A frown creased her brow as Daniella saw him duck into a row of items. It was going to bother her until she figured out where she’d seen him before. He wasn’t a Plum Island local.
Daniella paid for her groceries. Her mind was still trying to scan its memory banks to identify him. When Daniella reached her car, she glanced around, ignoring the eerie feeling of being watched. But that didn’t stop her heart from picking up speed or from how quickly she opened the door, jumped in, and locked it as soon as it was closed. Just for good measure, she checked out the back.
“I’m sure you’re supposed to check the backseat before you jump in and lock the door, Daniella.” She shook her head, starting her car.
The man she collided with in the store was probably part of the film crew in town for the Cobble Cove Mysteries series. It was possible he was associated with the production. Yet, something about their encounter left Daniella feeling uneasy. She drove home a little faster than usual and kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see the man following her.
She chided herself for being paranoid, attributing her heightened state of alert to the stress of Emily’s recent injury and the mysterious phone call that had disrupted their peace. The idea that her past might be catching up with her was a fear she wasn’t ready to confront, as that meant the possibility of once again uprooting Emily’s life and changing her identity… Daniella pushed the thought aside as her mind flipped to all the friends Emily and she had made here.
No, I’m not going to be negative. Uncle Sam will make sure everything is alright.
Daniella felt better when she arrived home, but she still dashed to the front door, slamming it open, kicking it closed, and locking it before spinning around and nearly plowing Uncle Sam down.
Uncle Sam steadied Daniella, his eyes brimming with concern while he smiled. “Where’s the fire, sweet pea?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood, seeing the distress on her face. He reached down and took the groceries from her hands.
“Sorry, Uncle Sam.” Daniella sighed, putting her car keys in the bowl near the front door. “I’m just on edge,” she confessed, her voice betraying her anxiety. “Since that creepy phone call, every shadow and noise makes me jumpy.” She frowned. “Then I had an odd encounter at the store.”
Daniella followed her uncle to the kitchen, helping him pack away the groceries she’d bought. While they worked in sync, Daniella recounted her meeting with the stranger.
“I’ve probably just seen him around the town with the other movie crew members,” Daniella told Sam, trying to dismiss it as a simple case of mistaken identity. Yet, the nagging feeling that Daniella knew the man from somewhere else remained.
“Why don’t I make us some hot chocolate?” Sam suggested.
“Because it’s the middle of summer?” Daniella smiled, remembering how Uncle Sam always made hot chocolate when his family needed cheering up or reassurance.
“It’s always a good time for hot chocolate,” Sam told her as he prepared the drinks. As he worked, his eyes reflected concern. “Honey, I have to say that Plum Island’s growing popularity is attracting a lot of much-needed attention, but where our family is concerned, it’s unwanted attention.”
Sam stirred tiny marshmallows into each cup, squirted cream, added chocolate sprinkles, and more tiny marshmallows before placing a mug in front of her. He took a seat on the opposite side of the kitchen counter.
“The plus side of Plum Island’s population increase is that I’ll have a better cause to get some more funding for the clinic.” Daniella took a sip of the sweet beverage.
It always made her nostalgic for the days she, Carly, and Harley would gather around this counter and listen to Uncle Sam’s stories with a cup of his special hot chocolate.
“I hear you.” Sam sipped his drink. “My business has doubled, and so have all the other local businesses.” His eyes caught hers, and his concern deepened. “Carly was discovered…” His voice trailed off. Sam placed the mug on the counter and rubbed his eyes. “When I think about how close we came to losing her,” he said.
Sam’s eyes reflected his fear.
“I’m so happy for Carly,” Daniella told Sam. “But the moment she did that television show, my first instinct was to start packing and looking for a new home for Em and me.”
“I had the same thought for you, Dani.” Sam reached over the counter and patted Daniella’s hand. “But then I thought, I don’t care who that man is. He doesn’t get to control your life. Not anymore.”
“What are you saying?” Daniella had a feeling she wasn’t going to like his answer.
“It’s time to stop running, Dani.” Sam’s voice dropped. “You have Harley and me, plus we’re now helping with the security for Blackwell Productions and Danes Studios.”
“I can’t expect them to thin their resources to help us,” Daniella said, shaking her head even though the idea was appealing. “They’ve already nearly lost two of their family members.”
“Trust me when I tell you this.” Sam paused and sipped his drink. “The Blackwells and the Danes will be only too happy to help you. After everything you’ve done for them and everyone else on this island.” He raised his hands in the air. “In fact, here you have an entire town backing you, and I can honestly say I speak for the entire town when I say we need you.”
“That’s very kind of you to say, Uncle Sam.” Daniella felt her heart contract.
She never thought she’d adjust to small-town life again after her career in Los Angeles. But once the trouble began, Daniella felt nothing but relief moving back here and reopening the small clinic. Working at the town’s only medical doctor had humbled her and took her back to why she’d gone into medicine—to help people. Sure, she was helping people in Los Angeles, but her career had started to go to her head. Daniella’s heart had hardened patient after patient until it became about chasing the numbers. Yes, she was saving lives, but more so because she never wanted to blemish her track record.
As her name in the cardiothoracic field became known, Daniella started receiving offers from all over the country. While she began honing her specialty like a finely sharpened blade, Daniella had always known deep down that pushing herself was the only way she knew how to cope after Tom’s death. She’d found a way to shut off the part of her that ached for him every single day. A way to plaster a smile on her face to help Emily cope with the loss of her father. Two years after Tom Died, Emily was struck down with meningitis and lost her hearing. Daniella and Emily had just learned how to cope with Emily’s hearing loss when they were forced to pack up their lives in Los Angeles, change everything about themselves, and flee to Uncle Sam on Plum Island two years later.
“It’s the truth, sweetheart,” Sam assured her. “Look how well you and Emily have settled here.” He smiled, thinking about his great-niece. “She’s thriving and coping better than ever with her hearing loss. Emily’s made good friends—friends that treat her like she’s a normal teenager.” He shook his head, his determination hardening his eyes. “I will not let some obsessed narcissist ruin your lives again.”
“So you do think it’s him?” Alarm shot through Daniella.
“Honey, to be honest, I wouldn’t put anything past that man,” Sam told her. “I would love to say otherwise, but I can’t lie to you because while I will protect you and Emily, I need you to be vigilant and prepared.” He patted her hand again. “While I have people watching him, nothing is stopping him from hiring someone to do his dirty work.”
Part of Daniella wanted her uncle to wrap her in cotton wool and tell her everything was going to be okay. But that wasn’t Uncle Sam’s style. He was more the ‘it’s better to be prepared’ type, which also gave her comfort because it meant she could trust him. Uncle Sam’s brutal honesty had always been an odd comfort.
“That’s what worries me, too,” Daniella admitted. “While I don’t really need it, maybe protection for Emily?” Her hands shook slightly as she lifted the mug to her lips, savoring the sweet taste that was in direct contrast to the bitter truth she may have to face. “Especially being hearing impaired.” She closed her eyes, trying to push bad thoughts away. “I’d hate for her to be taken by surprise even with faithful Hicks always by her side.”
“I’ve already organized someone to watch Emily,” Sam admitted. “Especially after what happened the other night.”
“Thank you, Uncle Sam.” Daniella breathed a sigh of relief and finished her hot chocolate. She glanced at her wristwatch. “What time did Emily finally go to bed?”
“At about eleven. Emily really wanted to go visit Alex, but I told her I’d take her tomorrow if it was okay with you and him,” Sam said, looking at Daniella questioningly.
“Alex doesn’t have anything contagious.” Daniella pushed the chair back and dropped to her feet. “I’ll check and see how he’s feeling later this morning.”
“I’ll take her as soon as you give the all-clear,” Sam promised.
“Uncle Sam, please don’t tell anyone about my situation.” Daniella swallowed nervously.
She knew it was better to tell the ones around you because they could be in danger. But she wanted to make sure the shadows of her past had caught up with her before letting anyone know about it. Daniella was a private person, and the only people who knew were her immediate family and Jennifer Gains.
“Okay, but for the record, I don’t think that is a good idea,” Sam stated.
“I know.” Daniella nodded. “But if we find my past has finally caught up with me, then we’ll tell everyone who needs to know.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe my life took this kind of turn.”
“None of us know what’s waiting for us around the next corner we turn,” Sam pointed out. “And NONE of this is your fault, sweetheart. You need to remember that.”
“For years, I tortured myself wondering if I did something, if I somehow showed more interest than I should have.” Her brow creased as her heart thudded. “But I didn’t, Uncle Sam. I didn’t treat him any differently than how I treated the other doctors and theater nurses I knew.”
“I know, Dani.” Sam nodded. “What that man did was cold and calculated. When you didn’t return his feelings, he tried to upend your life.” His eyes narrowed. “This time, I don’t care who his father is or how powerful his mother’s family thinks they are. I will ensure he ends up behind bars where he belongs.”
“I can’t believe how things got so twisted!” Daniella shook her head and pushed the thoughts away. “You’re right, though. I can’t let someone who means so little to me control my life with fear like he has been for the past three years.”
“I’m not saying we take the fight to him,” Sam made it clear what he meant. “But if he has found you, let him bring the fight to you because this time you have an army behind you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Sam.” Daniella walked around the counter and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to check on Emily and then go to bed.”
“But not sleep,” Sam guessed. “If you can’t, why don’t you jot down all the names and anything significant about three years ago for us?”
“I will do.” Daniella nodded, thinking it was a great idea because Uncle Sam was right. She wasn’t going to get much sleep tonight.
“Don’t worry about the mugs. I’ll clean them.” Uncle Sam waved Daniella off to bed.
On her way to her room, Daniella quietly snuck into Emily’s room. Hicks was curled up next to the bed with his blanket pulled over him and only his snout sticking out. He didn’t budge as Daniella tiptoed over to her daughter’s bed and kissed her forehead. With Emily asleep and Hicks keeping guard, Daniella went to have a soak in her tub and prepare for a long night of reflection. Although not that long as she needed to be up at nine.
After her bath, Daniella opened the safe Uncle Sam had installed in her closet. She pulled out a box and took it to her bed. Sitting on her bed, Daniella opened the box of memories. Most of it was family photos and mementos that documented a life she was abruptly forced to leave behind. The first photo she found brought tears to her eyes and an ache to her heart. It was a picture of Tom and Emily taken two weeks before he was deployed on that fateful mission.
Daniella held the photo before her, tracing his handsome face with her finger.
“Oh, Tom, you have no idea how much I miss you.” Daniella wiped a tear from her cheek. “How we both miss you and how messed up our lives became not long after you left us.” Their lives had been upended by tragedy, leaving Daniella to navigate a world filled with shadows and threats. Not ready to put Tom back in the box, Daniella put his photo on the nightstand before turning back to the box.
She found the folder she was looking for hidden at the bottom of the box. She pulled it out, and her breath caught in thought as she saw it simply labeled—May Day. Daniella had labeled that as a distress call, which is what she’d have to make if she ever needed to access the file again.
Daniella opened the document, not allowing herself to dwell on the photo pinned the wrong way around on a document labeled Doctor Ron Jackson—Neurosurgeon. Daniella flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning all the people who had sided with the man. Daniella was still shell-shocked at how he’d managed to turn everyone against her. He even got to the medical board on his side. Daniella shuddered—the man was a master manipulator and had a powerful family behind him.
As she flipped to the last page, Daniella froze. Cold, icy fingers of fear strummed up her spine as she stared at a photograph. Daniella swallowed as her heart started to pound in her chest, trying to break free and get the heck out of town like she should be doing. The realization hit Daniella like a wave—the stranger in the store wasn’t just a random passerby. He was connected to her past, a past that was threatening to engulf her present. Panic set in as she raced to Uncle Sam’s room, document in her hand that trembled with fear as she pounded on his door.
“Dani!” Sam’s eyes were wide and alert. “What’s happened?”
“I know him!” Daniella’s voice trembled.
“You know who, Dani?” Sam’s brows creased.
“Stanley Wells!” Daniella held up the photo. “The man at the store was Stanley Wells.”
“Are you sure?” Sam took the photo. “Honey, this is a picture of Howard Cooper, the private detective the hospital’s legal department contracts out to.”
“I know!” Daniella said impatiently. “But the man who knocked into me at the store was Stanley Wells. He worked for Howard Cooper Private Investigations.”
Sam’s face fell and paled as he took the photo. “Are you sure it was Stanley?” He frowned. “The man who Howard had following you, as per instructions from the person who hired him?”
Daniella nodded and frowned as she remembered the look in his eyes. “Yes. It was him, and I have a feeling he bumped into me because he wanted me to know he was following me.”
“Why on earth would he do that?” Sam’s frown deepened. “And why would you think that?”
“Because of the look in his eyes when he apologized for bumping into me,” Daniella told her uncle. “I wondered why the encounter had left me feeling so uneasy.” She looked at her uncle. “It was because he was apologizing for more than bumping into me.”
“Dani, if you’re right…” Sam’s voice trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at the photo of the crooked PI in his hands before catching Daniella’s eyes again. “You know what this means, right?”
Daniella nodded, and a calming resolve washed over her. “Do what you need to, Uncle Sam.” She raised her chin. “No more running. Plum Island will be my Alamo.”
Sam nodded, pride and fear for his niece shining in his weathered blue eyes. “I’ll make the arrangements right away.”
“Uncle Sam,” Daniella said before turning to leave. “All I ask is that Emily is taken somewhere safe. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time.”
“I’m going to get Harley right now,” Sam assured her, giving her a tight smile. “We’ll make sure he never darkens your life again this time, sweetheart.”
Daniella nodded, turned, and went to Emily’s room instead of her own. She quietly slipped in beside her daughter and wrapped her arms around Emily.
“Mom?” Emily asked. Her voice was a little stilted as she turned to look at her mother and signed. Are you okay?
Yes.Daniella lied. I was just worried about you. I’ve asked Harley to take you to Boston tomorrow to see a plastic surgeon about the scar.
Really?Emily’s eyes widened.
Yes.Daniella nodded. Harley and Jennifer will take you shopping as an early birthday present.
Can Shay come with me?Emily asked, blissfully unaware of the danger looming around them.
We can ask Ethan,Daniella promised. Now, let’s get some sleep.
Emily smiled, flipped over, and snuggled up to Daniella as she went back to sleep. Daniella’s heart squeezed. She hated lying to her daughter, but she didn’t want Emily to be scared or caught up in Daniella’s mess again!