will.'
In fact, he'd make damn sure they did. Eleanor might not be the cat he'd seen in the forest, or even the one in the inn, but something told him she was involved in the disappearances. The brief flash of confusion in her eyes the moment they'd met told as much. As did the shimmer of hate that shone through her aura.
He watched her walk away, then quickly entered the restaurant.
'Mr. Stewart, what a surprise to see you here.' Maddie forced a smile, and hoped she didn't look as nervous as she felt.
'I was about to say the same thing.' He dragged out a chair and sat down opposite her. 'This restaurant is not the usual tourist stop.'
'My sister recommended it,' she said quickly, then silently cursed her own stupidity. Any mention of Jayne and Evan was plain suicidal if this man was involved with her nephew's disappearance.
'Really? Does she come here often?'
Though Hank's question was casual, she couldn't miss the edge of tension around his thin mouth. She nodded, lowering her gaze as she took a quick sip of her drink.
'What's her name? Maybe I know her.'
'Jayne Smith,' she replied, knowing her sister had only visited Taurin Bay under her married name of Gaskell.
The dangerous light in Hank's eyes faded. He sat back in the chair and lightly toyed with a knife. She suddenly felt like a mouse facing a large and hungry cat.
'The only Smith I know is the lovely young lady now sitting opposite me.'
He meant to flatter her, but he only succeeded in making her feel ill. She pushed the rest of her milk shake away and gathered her bag. She'd be damned if she'd wait any longer for Jon—especially if Hank intended to keep her company.
'I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart, but I really must go.'
'No time for another drink? It would give me a chance to apologize for my abrupt behavior this morning.
You might even find yourself enjoying my company.'
She forced another smile and shook her head as she stood. 'I'm sorry, but I really have to leave.'
'Why? Are you meeting someone?'
Her gaze jerked to his at the question. He knows, she thought, studying his eyes. He knows I'm
But being safe wouldn't find Evan.
'What business is it of yours?' she retorted tightly, her fingers clenched against the strap of her handbag.
'Do you usually take this much interest in the inn's guests?'
He smiled lazily. 'No. Just the exceptionally pretty ones.'
The man was a sleaze, whether or not he was involved with Evan's disappearance. 'I'm sure the inn's owners will be pleased to discover you take such an interest.'
He laughed, white teeth flashing. Her stomach turned. Evil haunted the depths of his laughter. Maddie swallowed and looked away. What on Earth made her think that? God, she needed a drink.
She licked her lips and tried to ignore the thought as she watched Hank warily.
'I'm only kidding, my dear,' he said with a lazy smile. 'No need to get nasty.'
Despite his conciliatory manner, the amused light in his eyes told her he wasn't worried by her threat.
Why? Did he have some kind of hold over the owner? Or was the owner somehow involved in Evan's disappearance?
'Madeline Smith? Maddie? Is that really you?'
She jerked around at the sound of Jon's voice. He was threading his way through the tables, wearing a black leather jacket that emphasized the lean strength of his shoulders and the brightness of his golden hair. His gaze met hers for a moment, and fear ran briefly through her heart. Despite his easy smile, there was a light in his eyes that made him look very dangerous. But she'd never been more relieved to see anyone in her life.
'Fancy meeting you here.' He stopped beside her. His eyes held a warning as he lightly kissed her cheek.
She cleared her throat and tried to ignore the warm tingle his lips left on her skin.
'It's been a while,' he continued. 'What, six, seven years?'
She nodded, going along with his game. 'You're lucky you caught me here at all. I was just leaving.'
A hint of a smile tugged at his lips, but she sensed his attention was on Hank, not her.
'Surely you can stay for a cup of coffee?' He pulled out the chair she'd just vacated. 'Don't believe we've met,' he added, holding his hand out to Hank. 'Jon Barnett.'
'Hank Stewart.'
'Really?' Jon said, the surprise in his voice at odds with the slight narrowing of his gaze. 'You've changed. You look nothing like the photo that appeared in the Gazette ad a year ago.'
'Ah,' Hank's smile was easy despite the wariness in his eyes. 'That was my younger brother, Tim. He fills in for me quite often, and happened to be on duty the day the photographer came. Just as well, too.
He's more photogenic than me.'
The tension levels rose a notch. She touched Jon's arm, felt the tautness in his muscles. 'Look, I really have to get going.'
Jon took her hand from his arm and squeezed her fingers gently before letting them go. 'Really?' he said to Hank. 'Odd that we haven't seen him around much lately then, isn't it?'
Hank shrugged and rose to his feet. 'It's been a delight, Miss Smith. Maybe we can do this again another day.'
The predatory light in his gaze belied the blandness of his smile. She edged a little closer to Jon. 'Sure.'
'See you back at the inn, then,' Jon said.
'That you can be assured of,' Hank murmured. He nodded to Maddie and walked away.
She waited until he'd left the restaurant then grabbed Jon's arm, pulling him around to face her.
'What the hell was that all about?'
'You needed help, didn't you?' he replied mildly. He sat down at the table and reached across to her half- finished milk shake. 'May I?'
She nodded. 'What made you think I needed help? And why show yourself to Hank? He might be involved with the attempt on your life.'
'He might. He might not.' Jon shrugged and took a long drink.
She frowned. 'Why on Earth were you going on about that Gazette photo?'
Again he shrugged. 'Just stirring the pot, so to speak.'
Jeez, he could be so damn infuriating sometimes… 'Will you just answer my questions?'
'No.' He pushed the empty shake container away and sat up straight. 'Why didn't you tell me your brother- in-law was a cop?'
She blinked in surprise. 'What has that got to do with anything?'
'Plenty. He's reported you missing and claims that you may know more about Evan's disappearance than what you're admitting. The cops, as well as the FBI, are sniffing around Taurin Bay looking for you.'
Trust Steve to do something like that. The man was a pain. And obviously, Jayne hadn't mentioned the fact that she'd asked Maddie to search for Evan. 'Why is everyone in Taurin Bay? Why are you?'
'Because the bodies of several missing teenagers have been found nearby.' He hesitated, his gaze searching her face. 'And you didn't answer my question.'
'I didn't think it was important enough to mention.' Didn't think Steve's hate for her would blind his common sense. Damn it, it wasn't as if this was the first time she'd had a vision concerning Evan. Steve certainly knew about them, even if he didn't acknowledge them—or her. He'd even seen them hit her a couple of times.
But he also knew about her shady history with sudden disappearances. Maybe in his fear for Evan he was grabbing at straws. Maybe it was easier to believe she might have been involved in taking his son, simply because
