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“So, you must have known ‘old Archie,” Laney said.
Alex shrugged. “Not well. He’d come into port for food when he needed it, and we might pass the time of day, but that’s about it. You sound like you knew the man.”
“He was here when my friends and I were stranded here. He was very kind. Made it clear that we could use the house. He even helped get our boat back up and running.”
Nothing that the fisherman said gave Laney any further clue to his association with Archibald Devane or the Marquis. Maybe he was telling all there was to tell, although he could have been deliberately obscure. Whichever was the truth, she was nervous in his company, and thought perhaps that it was time to head out. As much as she wanted to find the Book of Pleasure, she couldn’t see an opportunity to further her search.
They’d finished their sandwiches and Alex ate an apple. Laney declined one for herself.
“So,” she said,
breaking the awkward silence, “maybe it’s time I tried this ankle. What do you think?” She started to rise from her chair.
“Give it a go,” he said, then he sat back and watched her gingerly move toward the bookcases.
Laney’s plan was a good ruse to give the bookcases a second look without being obvious, and she deliberately took her time. However, with the fisherman’s eyes on her, she worried that every move only incriminated her more completely.
“How’s it feel?” he finally asked.
“Pretty good,” she turned back smiling.
“You still thinking this would be a good place for your fashion shoot?” he asked.
“Maybe. When I get back, I’ll have to look at the pictures and see what I have before I can make a decision. But you’d be surprised how these old walls will photograph. It’s a special kind of ambience,” she gazed around appreciatively.
“I really wouldn’t know; it just seems like an old house to me.”
Laney continued her walk around the library, testing her foot, while casually browsing the shelves. She stopped suddenly, having spotted a book that urged a close look. Letting her idle curiosity lead, she moved a little closer to her find and absently ran her hand along several volumes. She picked up a couple, browsed through them and put them back, then in the same manner, she picked up the black leather-bound book that was the object of her interest. Her whole body shuddered, fear and trepidation settling in her gut, as if she felt an energy emanating from the book itself. Her excitement swelled. She turned the book over, feeling her heart beat a little faster, then she opened the cover, seeing the name she hoped to find. She tried hard not to let her exhilaration show as she read those familiar words. Meanwhile, the fisherman watched her closely, waiting for her to speak, his silence almost challenging her to report what she had found. But after thumbing through a few pages, Laney put the book back on the shelf, regretting that she hadn’t seen it earlier when she’d taken the diary.
“Anything interesting?” Alex asked.
Though still quaking from her discovery, Laney turned, remaining poised, “You wonder why these books have been left here. They might actually be valuable.”
“Well, in fact, they were due to be boxed up and shipped out.”
“Really? Something you’re going to do?”
“Nope, not me. But no one’s showed up so far.”
Still hiding her present distress, she smiled and carefully moved on. As she moved away from the Marquis’ book, she could feel the power of it tugging her back, wanting her, begging her to take it. If only the fisherman would leave the room again so she could be alone. If only. She’d stuff it alongside the other and pray that no one would ever know.
The room seemed to warm now; there was no breeze and Laney’s breathing felt ragged and edgy. Her nerves overwrought. Her skin clammy with sweat. She wanted to escape the heat and the suffocating feeling that closed in all around her, but she couldn’t leave. She needed to stay—stay with the book, her book, her prize. It belonged to her, her mind insanely rattled on.
But there was the fisherman, with his eyes still fixated on her—he probably couldn’t care less if she took the book, but she didn’t dare ask. She was too afraid. He might ask questions she would be afraid to answer, uncover her lie, climb even deeper inside her than he already was. She was practically convinced that he knew something more about the island than he’d shared so far.
Laney gazed back at him, smiling chagrinned and self-conscious. So restless and so scared, she knew it was time to get away from this damning place. It knew her secrets, her lies, the trickery so out of character for a woman whose life had always been about uncovering truth. She couldn’t stay here any longer and maintain the façade. Like the walls of the crumbling house, her front was falling into disarray. The fisherman’s eyes kept seeking her out as if they knew the truth and were just waiting for her confession. He wouldn’t leave her alone. She suddenly turned back to face him, and was about to suggest they leave, but before she could speak, she saw his eyes light on her left hand.
“That’s an interesting bracelet you’re wearing, Ms. Priestly,” he said.
Laney bristled. The blood froze inside her veins and she stood motionless for several seconds.
“You mean…” Her hand finally went to the platinum band, covering it, as she felt its heat make her entire body throb.
“Yeah, that one,” he said. “I assume you know what it means.”
Although they were still a good ten feet apart, she could feel a powerful force radiating from his body. She cocked her head as if she didn’t quite understand what he wanted.
“Am I wrong, or doesn’t that bracelet belong to the Marquis?”
