Page 11 of The Getaway

“Oh, I’m Florence, and this is Vienna,” the other girl said. Equally amazing eyelashes, but this one also had tiny jewels at the corners of her eyes, and her hair hung long down her back. No nose piercing, but one tiny hoop at the top of her left ear. Why did these two look so familiar? And where had they come from? “Can I hold her?”

The girl, Florence, was already taking the dog out of Suzy’s arms. Suzy was about to warn them that she didn’t like strangers, but Wintour didn’t seem to mind one bit. Florence kissed her on the nose, and Wintour’s skinny tail went bonkers.

“Oh, aren’t you so pretty? Yes, you are! Yes, you are!” Florence said, rubbing her face against the dog’s. “My mom won’t let us get a dog because my dad’s allergic.” Florence rolled her eyes like this was a totally insignificant reason to prevent her from having what she wanted. “She’s so freaking cute. V, how freaking cute is this dog? Look at the little rhinestone collar!”

She held the dog up, and Vienna snapped a photo with her phone. Then Florence proceeded to strike several poses. Kissy face, mouth open in surprise, dreamy/cuddly, while her sister conducted an impromptu photo shoot. Suzy felt like she’d stepped into an alternate universe.

“What’s going on here?” Marley asked wryly, coming up behind Suzy.

Wait. Marley. Marley had also gotten a note. What had hers said? In all the panic, Suzy had forgotten she wasn’t the only one. Was Marley’s equally disturbing? Juliet’s clearly had been. She was dying to ask, but not in front of the runway models. She studied her friend, who looked incredibly tense and pale, but she had looked that way upon arrival too.

“These lovely girls have somehow charmed my dog,” Suzy said, trying to act normal. She looked at Marley, hoping to communicate Where’s your note, and what was in it? with her eyes, but Marley just looked confused.

The new guy, Trevor, sauntered over from the direction of the bar, his hands clasped behind his back, which made his upper arms look huge. “Lunch is about to be served. Can I get you ladies anything to drink?”

His gaze traveled from face to face, lingering on Florence as she held up her fingers in a peace sign, angling Wintour toward the camera. Something about the look in his eye sent the little hairs on the back of Suzy’s neck up. It made her want to stand between him and these girls she didn’t even know.

“Ginger ale?” Marley asked hopefully.

“Double martini,” Suzy said.

“Oh, for me too!” Florence said.

“No, no, no.” Lincoln strode over from the direction of the patio, rubbing his hands together. The sight of him in that moment was like a punch to the gut. Could he really be planning to cut her off? Was he not at all scared that she would talk? She didn’t even want to think about what would happen if she no longer had that income. She’d have to give up on Nantucket, for sure, which was not an option. “We have all kinds of soda and ice tea and lemonade for you two.”

“Our parents let us drink,” Vienna informed him haughtily.

Lincoln chuckled. “You’re forgetting that I know your parents.” He took Wintour out of Florence’s hands, holding her under his arm like a football. “Why don’t we all go out to the patio? Hazel and Magdelena are about to bring out the food.”

Trevor sauntered off to fill the drink orders, and the rest of them fell in line behind Lincoln. At the mention of Hazel, Suzy’s brain seemed to clear. It was as if someone had placed smelling salts beneath her nose. She had the upper hand here. Yes, she stood to lose a lot if Lincoln stopped the checks and everything came out, but he stood to lose more. All she had to do was remind him of that.

“Suzy! Marley! So good to see you!” Hazel said, striding into the room from the direction of the kitchen. She had two huge trays full of sandwiches in her hands as she leaned in to air-kiss Suzy.

“Good to see you too, Hazel!” Suzy enthused. “Here! Let me help you with that!” She wanted Lincoln to see her close to his lovely new wife. Remind him of what he was risking.

“Oh, Suze, you’re a godsend!” Hazel said, handing over one of the two trays. Trailing after her was the longtime house chef, Magdelena, in her usual white sundress and blue apron, her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun. Magdelena had another tray laden with salads, sides, and rolls. “Are you all right? You look a little flushed. I can get you an ice water,” Hazel offered.

“No, I’m good, thanks. And I’m happy to help,” Suzy replied with a huge smile.

Marley and Magdelena, who had struck up an odd sort of friendship a few years ago, paused near the huge dining table outside the kitchen to greet each other and chat. Suzy, meanwhile, followed her hostess toward the back of the house, unable to keep her gaze off Hazel’s toned ass.

To deliver lunch, Hazel wore a black bikini, silver high-heeled sandals, and huge sunglasses. A flowing, barely there silver mesh robe billowed behind her as she walked. With her long, dark hair scraped back from her face into a high ponytail, there were definite pop-star vibes. All Suzy could think was how different she was from Lily, who always wore neutral linens and silks, broad-brimmed hats, and flat shoes. Classic chic to Hazel’s modern glam.

“We have lobster rolls!” Hazel announced. “Who’s hungry?”

“Let’s eat, baby!” Lincoln crowed. He placed Wintour on the patio and slapped his hands together. Wintour jogged across the flagstone and jumped up onto the nearest lounge chair, where she curled up with her face on her paws.

“I’m starved,” Sean said, excitedly eyeing the food.

Suzy deposited her tray of food on the long glass table under the pergola on the patio. Jazz music played from tall, sleek speakers placed unobtrusively around the area, lending a sophisticated, easy vibe to the party. Suzy took a deep breath and tried to relax.

These are your friends. Everything is fine. Just breathe.

Lincoln took his spot at the head of the table, and the others began gathering around him. He didn’t seem to be acting strangely with her. Maybe the note really was nothing. Someone pulling a prank. A supremely cruel, ugly, panic-inducing prank. But whoever it was had to know what had been going on. Which meant someone here was an enemy. Suzy hung back a bit, surveying the suspects. Obviously it wasn’t Sean or Marshall—they hadn’t been here when the notes had been delivered, and let’s face it, Sean didn’t have the creativity or the guts. But there was Hazel, Magdelena, Trevor, Candice, Vienna, Florence, their parents.

So much for relaxing.

“Hey, Marls!” Marshall grabbed Marley’s wrist and kissed her cheek as she stepped outside. Marley flinched away from him, which was something Suzy was definitely going to need to ask her about later. “I’m going upstairs to wash up.”