The Ugly Duckling Read Free

“Everyone who accepted is legitimate.”
    Maybe. “Any other way to get on the island?”
    Conner shook his head. “It has a rocky coastline that’s accessible only by the one dock. Medas is postage-stamp size. You can walk around the entire island in under an hour. Besides the mansion where the party’s going to be, there’s only a few other outbuildings.”
    “And Kavinski’s security men will be guarding the dock,” Jamie said. “It doesn’t seem to be a situation Gardeaux would choose to rid himself of enemies.” He smiled. “On the other hand, Kaifer seemed an impossible target, too, and we managed it.”
    “We were lean and hungry,” Nicholas pointed out. “These days Gardeaux is a fat cat who prefers to wait outside the mouse hole for his prey. But I suppose I’ll go and check it out.”
    “I could go. Or you could send someone else.”
    “No, I’ll do it myself.”
    “Why?” Jamie’s gaze narrowed on his face. “Could it be that you’re growing restless in the wilds?”
    God, yes, he was restless. Restless and impatient and wanting this over. He was no closer to bringing Gardeaux down than he was a year ago.
    “You’re too used to walking on the edge,” Jamie said lightly. “And you’ll never be anything but lean and hungry, my lad. I admit I miss it, too, at times.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, it’s deplorably true that one can have only so many conversations.”
    “I don’t miss it. I just want Gardeaux.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I’ll need a report on all the names on the list.”
    “It’s already on the desk in your hotel room. As you’ll see, there doesn’t seem to be any common thread connecting the names.”
    No, Medas was going to be a snarl of inconsistencies and guesses and maybes.
    But the circled name on the list that Conner had mentioned might indicate something; prime prospect or prime target. Either way, she merited attention. He unfolded the paper Jamie had given him.
    The name that topped the list was both circled and underlined.
    Nell Calder
.
    June 4

Medas, Greece
    “I saw a monster, Mama,” Jill announced.
    “Did you, love?” Nell placed a white hyacinth to the left of the lilac in the Chinese vase and tilted her head appraisingly. Yes, perfect. She reached for another lilac as she glanced at Jill standing in the doorway. “Like Pete, the magic dragon?”
    Jill looked at her in disgust. “No, that’s a pretend monster, this was a real one. A man monster. With a long gray nose and eyes like this.” She formed a circle with her thumb and forefinger, and then, judging the circle too small, used her other hand to make the eyes larger. “And a humped back.”
    “Sounds like an elephant.” One more delphinium and the arrangement would be finished. “Or maybe a camel.”
    “You’re not listening to me,” Jill said. “It was a man monster and he lives in the caves.”
    “The caves?” Fear leapt through Nell. The flowers instantly forgotten, she whirled to face her daughter. “What were you doing there? You know Mr. Brenden told you that you weren’t to go into the caves. The real estate agent told him the sea rushes in, and bad tides could sweep you away.”
    “I just went in a little way.” She added virtuously, “And then Daddy called me and I came right back out.”
    “Daddy took you there?” Dammit, Richard should have watched her more closely. Didn’t he know that an island posed all sorts of dangers for a four-year-old? Nell knew she should have gone with them when they all decided to take that stroll along the beach. Richard always became distracted when he was surrounded by Brenden’s coterie. He always had to be the best, the most charming, the funniest, the cleverest in any group.
    What was she thinking? Nell wondered guiltily. Richard didn’t have to be the best; he
was
the best. Jill was her responsibility and she should have gone with them and taken care of her instead of hiding back here and playing with the flower