The Island of Dangerous Dreams Read Free Page B

something, Justin. I know you are.”
    He grinned and widened his eyes, trying to look innocent. “I can’t imagine what you mean.”
    She leaned forward. “You are offering this to me exclusively, aren’t you?”
    “Would you like another cup of coffee?” he asked.
    She actually slapped the table so hard that theempty cups jiggled, and I dropped a greasy french fry into my lap. “Ah-ha! You’re not answering my question.” Madelyn paused and tried a different approach, her voice slipping out like thick cream. “Justin, dear, our friendship should count for something, shouldn’t it?”
    “Friendship should never be mixed with business,” he answered.
    For a moment they just stared at each other, their eyes like dark blue laser beams. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see smoke rising from little holes in their foreheads. Then the judge said, “Tomorrow, Madelyn, I’ll expect you to meet me promptly at ten A.M. at the boat slip in Fort Lauderdale. You know where to find the
Croesus.
”
    Ten A.M. So much for dark water at night.
    “Andrea and I will be there.”
    “Perhaps there’s something else that Andrea might want to do,” he offered.
    “She’s in my care, Justin,” Madelyn said. “Of course she’ll come. There’s plenty of room on your boat for just the three of us, so there’s no problem in including Andrea.”
    He began to speak, then changed his mind. Madelyn’s eyes became little slits, and she said, “It won’t be just the three of us, will it, Justin? You’re bringing someone else! Who?”
    He dabbed at his chin with his napkin and said, “Madelyn, you have been invited. Either accept or refuse, as you see fit.”
    “I wish I had even an inkling of what you are planning,” Madelyn said.
    “Trust me.”
    She smiled, but there wasn’t any humor in it. “Justin, dear, I’d never be that foolish.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said. He picked up the check and slid from the booth. Before he walked to the cashier’s desk he gave me a smile that could have just been taken from the cafe freezer and said, “It was a pleasure to meet you, Andrea.”
    I stammered something polite in return, but I didn’t mean what I said any more than he did.
    Madelyn collected her handbag and prepared to follow, but I reached across the table and grabbed her arm. “Let’s not go,” I whispered.
    “Why in the world not?”
    “I don’t like the way he’s behaving. I don’t even like him.”
    “This is a business proposition, Andrea. Likes and dislikes don’t matter.”
    “But I feel strange about going with him. Creepy. Weird. I know it’s just a hunch, but …”
    She pulled away, slipped gracefully from the booth, and stood over me. “You don’t conduct business by following hunches, Andrea.”
    I got up, too, and followed her out to her car. Once inside, she seemed to relax a little, although the skin over her knuckles was stretched tight as she gripped the wheel. I was surprised at what an intense person she was.
    “Maybe I could go home,” I said, hoping desperately that she’d agree.
    She turned to stare at me for just an instant, her eyes wide. “I thought you were enjoying your visit with me.”
    “Oh, I am,” I said, nearly choking on the words.
    “I’m glad,” she said, “because it’s a pleasure for me to have you here.”
    With a start I realized that she meant it.
    “You’re my only niece, and I’ve always felt close to you.” I guess the words sounded odd to her, too, because she gave a funny little laugh and added, “I don’t get close to many people, Andrea. Maybe I don’t know how to show what I feel. But believe me, I don’t want you to go home. I want you to come with me. You’ll love the island and the swimming. Justin has a beautiful place.”
    “I’ll be in the way.” I almost groaned aloud. No matter where I went I seemed to be in the way.
    “No, you won’t,” Madelyn said. “Just relax and enjoy yourself and leave the business to