Page 64 of Death of a Grill Master

Zane blinked. “What?”

“A sea cave. West of Thunder Hole. I followed you. Saw you go in the water. I found the cave. Someone’s been using it—dive gear, food wrappers, even a phone case.”

Zane’s expression closed off instantly.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“No,” he said too quickly. “I don’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

She searched his face, but the fear she saw there didn’t feel like guilt. It felt like recognition.

“When I came out, my anchor line was cut. Someone wanted to sabotage me. It wasn’t you, was it?”

Zane shook his head. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“But you’re scared.”

He stood. “I have to go.”

“Zane—”

He looked over his shoulder. “Whatever you think you saw—don’t go back there. It’s not safe.”

And with that, he bolted for his Jeep, peeling out of the dirt lot before she could stop him.

Hayley staggered back to her car, hands trembling as she fumbled with the keys.

The drive home was a blur.

The waterproof phone case she’d pocketed from the cave pressed against her thigh, a reminder that this wasn’t over.

Not even close.

Bruce was pacing in the driveway, looking like he was ready to call the Coast Guard. When she pulled in, he ran to the car and yanked open her door.

“Where the hell have you been?”

Hayley stepped out, drenched, hair plastered to her skull. “I lost the kayak.”

“I don’t care about the kayak!”

He wrapped her in a hug so fierce she almost burst into tears.

“Get inside,” he said. “Shower. Now.”

Later, wrapped in a blanket and cradling a cup of tea, Hayley sat on the couch while Bruce listened to the full story, his expression growing darker by the second.

“Someone tried to kill you.”

She nodded. “I can’t be sure, but that cave—it’s a hideout. Someone’s using it regularly. And they didn’t want me finding it.”

Bruce ran a hand through his hair. “You have to tell Earl.”

“I plan to.”