Bikinis in Paradise (Tj Jensen Pardise Lake Mysteries) Read Free Page A

you’ve come up with.”
    “You sh ould come by rehearsal tomorrow,” Connor suggested. “It’s in the community center at ten.”
    “I’ll try to do that. For now , I guess I should continue my search. If the model comes back by, will you remind her that she’s needed at the resort?” Tj asked.
    “Sure thing.”
    Tj really should get back to the resort and let the missing model find her own way back. She would certainly be penalized for not adhering to protocol by checking in and attending the orientation with the other models, but Kiara was an adult and therefore responsible for her own bad choices. On the other hand, walking along the lakeshore was a much more desirable activity than overseeing the orientation, which Tj knew Leiani and Julie would handle just fine without her. After a bit of consideration, Tj decided to continue on to the cove. If Kiara wasn’t there, chances were she’d run into her as she returned to the resort.
    The sandy beach became less densely populated with sunbathers as she left the area where the resort was located and continued on toward the north. The only way to get to the cove was via a rocky trail that left the beach and wound through the forest for a time before returning to the lakeshore. By the time Tj ran out of beach, it was already more than forty minutes since she’d left Maggie’s Hideaway. She was debating whether to continue when she remembered the panicked look on the face of the girl’s sister. Annabeth seemed to be afraid of the man who met Kiara. Perhaps the model was in danger and needed to be rescued.
    Tj stood at the top of the trail where it looped back down toward the beach. The small strip of white sand that bordered Secret Cove was deserted. Tj felt her phone vibrate when she was halfway down the path. She paused to answer.
    “Did you find her?” Leiani asked.
    “No. I’m at the cove now, but I don’t see her. I’m going to head back,” Tj replied.
    “I spoke to one of the other models. She didn’t think Kiara left willingly with the man who was waiting for her,” Leiani informed her. “She said that Kiara seemed surprised to see him when she got off the bus. According to the girl who was sitting just behind her, the man grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side. It appeared they were arguing, but after a minute or two, Kiara followed him toward the beach.”
    “Did you manage to track down the sister?”
    “No. I looked around, but there was no sign of her.”
    “Okay . I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
    Tj turned to head back toward the resort when Echo took off down the path.
    “Echo,” Tj called, but her normally obedient dog ignored her. “Echo,” she tried again, before following down the steep trail.
    The dog ran to the edge of the waterline and looked out toward the horizon.
    “Echo , there’s nothing out there. Now let’s go; it’s getting late.”
    The dog barked and swam into the water. Suddenly, Tj got a chill down her spine. There was only one reason Echo would flat-out disobey an order.
    “Damn.”

Chapter 3
     
    Tj hugged her sometimes boyfriend and lead deputy for the Serenity branch of the Paradise Lake Sheriff’s Department, Dylan Caine. He’d arrived with fellow deputy Roy Fisher shortly after she’d called 911. Based on the direction from which they’d arrived, Tj assumed they’d parked on the road and then hiked down the steep embankment.
    “She’s about thirty yards out in approximately twenty feet of water,” Tj informed Dylan as sh e fought to control her shivering. The lake water was freezing at this time of the year, and the cove was entirely in the shade at this time of day. “It looks like she’s been hit on the head. I would have tried to bring her in, but she’s been weighted.”
    Dylan took off his shirt and wrapped it around Tj. In any other situation , she would have stopped to notice how gorgeous Dylan looked in the tank top he wore under his shirt, but the only thing Tj could see now