Ring of Lies (58 page)

‘
It means I don’t want to discuss things
.
’
T
hey crossed the parking lot to his
car
.

‘
Whatever you were doing, it has something to do with Daniel’s death, doesn’t it
?
’

‘
No,
’
replied Jack. He
helped
her into the passenger seat, then
walked round to the driver’s side and
climbed in behind the whe
el.

‘
I don’t believe you.
’

He
stared
at her
,
expressionless
.
‘
I don’t lie
, Grace.
’

Twin stains of scarlet appeared on her cheeks. She took several long deep breaths.
‘
Diego wouldn’t tell me where you’d gone and I
—
’

‘
It’s personal
, okay?
I didn’t
expect it to
take so long.
’

‘
Then
why didn’t you say so?
’

Jack ran a hand through his hair
.
‘
It’s been a rough day for both of us. What do you say we go see if there’s any mail
waiting
for you at the
Island Pa
l
m, and then
grab something to eat
before heading back to
the
house
?
’

‘
If you’re sure we can spare the time
.
’

Jack fought through the heavy downtown traffic and crossed the bridge into South Beach.
T
he hotel parking lot wa
s full, so
t
hey left the
SUV
on a
parking meter
and
walked the
short distance
to the entrance.

The lobby
felt
cool after the
late afternoon
heat.
The concierge looked up from his book and smiled as Grace and Jack approached the desk.

‘
How can I help you?
’
he asked, laying the book aside and reaching for the computer keyboard.

‘
Are you holding
any mail for
Mrs.
Grace Elliott?
’

‘
Just a moment.
’
The concierge
consulted the computer.

Grace looked into the
large
gold-framed
mirror
that
covered the wall behind
the desk
.
Reflected in it were
t
wo men,
their f
aces creased with concentration,
as they
exam
ined
some
documents
spread out
on the table in front of them.
T
he thinner
faced
of the two looked up, as if conscious that he was being
observed
.
His gaze locked with hers
.
One corner of his mouth twisted upwards
.
Heat rose in
her
cheeks.
S
he cast her
eyes downward. But like a honey
bee seeking a flower
,
her gaze was drawn to the mirror once more.

‘
You look
great
.
’
Jack touched her arm
, h
is words
a
buzz
in her ear.

She started.
‘
What did you say?
’

‘
I said,
you look
great
. There’s no need to check
your make-up
.
’

She’d been so busy
observing
the thin man she hadn’t noticed the concierge had left his post.
‘
I wonder what’s keeping
him
.
’

‘
T
he
y store the
mail in the hotel safe
. H
e
went
t
o ask the manager for access
.
’

Grace
glanced in the mirror again. The man was still watching her.
Embarrassment turned to uneasiness. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears
, cold sweat trickled down her spine
.
She couldn’t breathe. For a moment
,
she was back in the graveyard
standing under the lych-gate being threatened by the nameless man with the darting tongue.

The buzzing in her ears grew louder.
Panic snapped at her throat.
Stop it
,
she told herself.
You’re not at the graveyard. This man has nothing to do with the one who w
as there that day.
You’re imagining things.

Disgusted with herself,
sh
e
tore
her gaze away from the mirror
and
noticed a stand of visitors’ brochures.
She
snatched
up
a leaflet advertising trips to
Key West
. She
’d
hardly
had time to admire
the photographs when the concierge returned.

‘
I’m sorry for the delay
,
Mrs.
Elliott,
’
he said,
push
ing
a large envelope
toward her.

Grace
stuffed it
into
in her
purse.
‘
Thank you,
’
she said and handed him a
ten-dollar
bill
, hoping it was a
n appropriate tip.
Jack raised one eyebrow, evidence that she’d given the man too much.
She backed away, turned on her heel and
marche
d
toward
the exit leaving.

‘
Whoa
! Slow down,
’
he said,
placing a gentle
hand on her
elbow
.

‘
Hurry up—slow down. What do you want me to do, Jack?
You said we had to be back on the island tonight.
’

‘
I
t’s only seven-thirty.
There’s a
great seafood
restaurant
close by
.
B
est
Grouper for miles.
’

Grace
matche
d
her
pace
to his
.
‘
Would you mind
very much
if we skip
ped
dinner?
’

Jack drew his brows together.
‘
I thought you were hungry
.
’

‘
I’ve lost my appetite.
’

‘
If you’re thinking about Pete Jacobs, don’t.
’

‘
I can’
t help it.
’

Jack unlocked the
car
and helped her inside, but rather than closing the passenger door, he cupped her chin tenderly in his warm hand.
‘
Talk to me, Grace. Tell me what’s really
bothering
you
?
’

She
slowly removed his hand from her chin,
and then
ran her hands restlessly up and down her arms.
‘
I feel as if I’m being stalked. That
whatever I do, wherever I go someone is watching me
.
’