Eyes of Fire

said. “I’d never heard of the theft in conjunction with the Beldona before, but my father was convinced that Don Carlos Esperanza had stolen the jewels. He was a man of standing in the community, and well to do, but not as rich as royalty, and it was often said that the young lady’s attraction to Captain Reynolds had a great deal to do with the fact that Captain Reynolds was as rich as Croesus. My father believed that, to convince the sweet and lovely young Theresa-Maria to fall in love with him, Don Carlos Esperanza stole the two missing Crown rubies. They were a matched set of rings, with enormous stones, nicknamed the Eyes of Fire.”

“Such jewels would definitely be enough to interest Robert Santino in finding the Beldona.”

Sam sat down across from him. “It’s obvious that Santino wants to find the ship. And maybe he’s sent his son here as a spy or whatever. But anyone can look for the ship. There’s nothing illegal in that.”

“There is something illegal about it if one party murders another party of that search.”

She raised a hand. “Let me try to get a solid grasp on everything you know—and suspect. Avery Smith is really James Jay Astin, we’ve established that. SeaLink is naturally interested in the discovery of the Beldona. They’re a marine company, and they have the financial backing and the wherewithal to bring up the treasure, should it be found. However, we have to assume that someone else is working for SeaLink—doing the actual diving with us, since we have the charming company of Mr. Smith for dinner but have yet to see him on the dive boat. Okay, back to the jewels. We have Jim Santino, son of organized crime boss Robert Santino—a man who might kill without blinking to acquire certain Spanish treasures. So it should be simple. One of them had probably been involved in the search for a long time, and when my father found the ship, he was killed.”

“You think your father found the ship?” Adam said.

Sam nodded.

“Then what happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“If he found the ship and was killed for finding it, why is the ship still missing?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense, does it?”

“If someone killed him once he found the ship so they could seize the treasure for themselves, wouldn’t the treasure and the ship have surfaced by now?” Adam mused.

“And why is Hank still missing?” she added.

Adam cleared his throat awkwardly and stood. “I’ve just found out about another guest on your island.”

“Who?” Sam asked.

“I’d asked a friend of mine who’s with the Metro cops in Dade County to do some searching for me. There was a diver with suspected crime connections who washed ashore about a week after your father’s disappearance was reported.”

Sam arched a brow. “Washed up—dead?”

“Yes.”

“Adam, if he was dead then and he’s on the island now, something strange is definitely going on.”

“Not the dead man,” Adam said, exasperated.

“Then…?”

“His name was Marcus Shapiro.”

“There are no Shapiros here.”

“Your honeymooner is his son.”

“My honeymooner—Joey Emerson?”

Adam nodded.

“You think that Joey Emerson is here for a reason other than his honeymoon?”

“Well, I know that Emerson isn’t the name he was given when he was born.”

“But he looks so…”

“Harmless?”

“Doting,” Sam said.

“Pussy whipped.” Adam laughed.

She cast him a glance of irritation. “Like Brad Walker would say, Joey and Sue are all mush.”

“They may really be honeymooners.”

“Right. So, this Marcus guy washed up on the Florida coast. Was he connected to the island in any way?”

“Not that I know about. He might have worked for Robert Santino now and then.”

“So Joey may just be a nice young man on his honeymoon who changed his name because his dad had mob connections.”

“Maybe.”

“You’re suspicious of everyone.”

“Sam, someone on this island tried to kidnap you,” he said in exasperation.

“There is the possibility that whoever attacked me isn’t a guest. Other boats do come here. Lots of people stop by for our lunch and dinner buffets, even breakfast. Sometimes they stop just for directions.”

“There is a slight possibility that our attacker came from somewhere else.”

“But you don’t believe that.”

“Not for a moment.”

“So what do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

She threw up her hands. “Who are you working for?” she asked again.

“I told you that I’d tell you soon. Very soon. For now, don’t you think we’d maybe better get on over for cocktail hour?”

“I think cocktail hour is over.”

“I’m famished, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I suppose,” she murmured.

“Weren’t you the one in a hurry before?”

“Before I thought that you weren’t telling me something important.”

He flashed her a smile. “You’re not telling me everything, either.”

“I’m trying to.”

“So am I,” he said softly. “Let’s go over, shall we?”

Sam stared at him, then nodded slowly. “Yes, let’s go over.”

It was Chinese night. Jacques had put together three different kinds of lo mein, vegetable, beef and pork. The fried rice came in “house special” and vegetarian. There were deliciously seasoned little ribs, shrimp or vegetarian egg rolls, hot and sour soup, mushu pork and beef, chicken chow mein, and more.

The mood in the dining room seemed strangely festive.

Sam was glad to see that Yancy had come down, and that the baby was with her as well. Sukee had decided to play with Brian, who was in his high chair, contentedly gumming a teething cookie and watching the conversation around him.

“Yancy, you okay?” Sam asked her, getting a word in while replenishing one of the chafing dishes.

Yancy jumped, startled. She looked pale.

“I’m, uh, fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you didn’t feel well this morning.”

“I was tired this morning, that’s all.”

Tired, and jumpy, Sam thought. Either that, or she was becoming paranoid herself, seeing things in others that just weren’t there.

“Jem’s cousin Matthew came in on the mail boat. He and Jem took their dinner over to Jem’s cottage,” Yancy said, changing the subject.

Sam frowned. “I don’t want you left alone,” she began in a whisper.

“I won’t be alone,” Yancy said.

“They’ll be back after dinner?”