The Lifeguard Read online

  A chill snaked its way up her spine, and Kelsey moved her feet, testing the ground behind her.

  “But wait—I did see you before. You got off the boat yesterday.”

  Kelsey knew if she had seen the old man yesterday she would never have forgotten that face. She frowned and saw that he was laughing at her.

  “You don’t see me, but I see you.” The grizzled head bobbed slowly. “Isaac sees a lot of things.”

  One step back. “What…what do you mean by that?”

  He lay one finger along his upper lip, smugly considering. “Ever hear of the ninth day, girl?”

  Kelsey shook her head.

  “When a person be drowned, his body will float on the ninth day. Except this body ain’t a he. And it ain’t never gonna have a chance to float.”

  Kelsey stared at him, her legs turned to rubber beneath her. “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just trying to scare me—”

  He gave a high-pitched chuckle. “Me? Scare a nice little girl like you? Isaac just tells the truth; you should listen to old Isaac.”

  “I should report you!”

  “Report me?” he breathed in, his face mocking. “Well, now, I see I was wrong about you, wasn’t I?”

  “Wrong about what?”

  “I thought you be a smart girl. I thought you listen to the truth.”

  “You tried to scare me back there, and it wasn’t funny—”

  “You’re right, girl, it wasn’t.” His grin faded, lips settling into a thin, serious line. “It wasn’t funny. And it wasn’t me.”

  A gust of wind whined around the lighthouse, and Kelsey glanced toward the tower, suddenly cold. “What do you mean it wasn’t you? I heard you! You were watching me!”

  For several moments he regarded her passively, his lips finally curling into a humorless smile. “Don’t believe everything you see, girl. Folks ain’t always what they seem to be.”

  Kelsey turned her back on him and started walking, fearfully conscious now of the old man lumbering to his feet.

  “You remember what I say!” he shouted. “You remember, and you have a care! There’s evil all around you, closing you in! It’s got you! Anytime it wants you, it’s got you—”

  She heard him running now, stumbling after her, and in terror she veered off the road, scrambling over a ledge, praying for a foothold. The cliff went almost straight down. Trying not to look, she felt her way backward over the rocks when she heard a sharp whistle above.

  The old man was at the edge of the cliff, grinning down at her, his eye patch like a dark scab on the side of his face.

  Gasping, Kelsey scrabbled down another few feet, clutching at anything she could find. She didn’t even see the loose stone that turned her foot and threw her off balance. Groping wildly at an overhang of brush, she felt the weeds come loose in her hands, the searing pain as her body slid down the cliff toward the sea below.

  There wasn’t even time to scream.

  Shutting her eyes, she braced herself for the impact, the cold water…“anytime it wants you it’s got you…got you…”

  “I’ve got you!”

  The voice was right in her ear, and arms, strong and warm and solid, tight around her body…

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Kelsey’s eyes flew open. Neale’s face was just inches from her own, his body stretched out beneath hers.

  “I…that man was chasing me—” Kelsey struggled in his grasp, but Neale’s arms were like steel. With one heave he pushed her away, and she scrambled up. “I slipped—that man—”

  “Don’t you know you could have been killed!” He was positively seething, and Kelsey stepped back, tripping over her own feet. “Nobody climbs on those rocks, you understand? Nobody! If anything had happened to you, there wouldn’t have been anyone around to help you!”

  “Well…well, you were here!”

  Neale was fighting for control. “There’s no telling what could happen this far from the main beach—you could have broken something or speared yourself on the rocks. Not to mention drowning. Or sharks.”

  “Sharks! But—the water’s too shallow—”

  “How do you know? Have you been in?”

  “Well—no—but—I just thought—”

  “You just thought,” he glowered at her. “Sharks don’t need deep water to rip you apart—three feet would do them just fine.”

  Kelsey flushed with embarrassment. “But that man—he was coming after me and—” She was babbling and pointing at the same time, and as Neale followed the direction of her arm, his eyes grew even darker.

  “You were up there? You went to the lighthouse?” He was incredulous. “How the hell did you get up there?”

  “Through—up the road—”

  “The road! What’s the matter with you, can’t you read?”

  “Read what?” His anger was frightening her again, and she grew defensive. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—” She broke off, eyes widening, as he grabbed her and began pulling her around the side of the cliff. When they finally reached the road, he pushed her so roughly towards the gate that she nearly went sprawling.

  “Read it,” he ordered.

  Kelsey looked where he pointed, and she gasped.

  The gate was shut. And locked.

  And the sign posted on it had big, bold letters that could have been seen half a mile away: PRIVATE ROAD DANGER POSITIVELY NO TRESPASSING.

  “I…” Her lips moved, the color draining from her face. “I…that wasn’t there before.”

  “It’s always there. It’s been there for the whole summer. And the summer before this one.”

  “Look, I’m not lying! You can think what you want, but that sign wasn’t there! I swear it! Someone must have—”

  “What?” The black eyes challenged her.

  “Must have moved it,” she finished lamely. “Look, I know it sounds stupid, but—”

  “You’re right. It sounds stupid.”

  “The sign wasn’t there,” Kelsey snapped. “And what about that crazy old man up there who tried to chase me down the cliff? What about him spying on me, what about that? He probably took down the sign—I felt him watching me even before I went up the road!”

  “What crazy old man?” Neale sighed.

  “Don’t tell me I’m making him up, too,” Kelsey jerked her chin towards the lighthouse. “He was hiding up there and tried to scare me with that disgusting eye patch—”

  “Oh,” Neale nodded, shrugging his shoulders. “Old Isaac. Sleeping off another hangover, probably. You should have been scared—maybe that’ll put some sense into you.”

  “Don’t talk to me like that,” Kelsey said, hands clenching at her sides. “That old man could have taken down the sign, and you know it. Anyone could have taken it down.”

  Neale went over to the sign and grabbed the length of chain woven neatly between the metal rails. “See this? This is to keep nosy people like you out of here. The gate stays locked all the time. Only the lifeguards have keys to it.” He pulled a ring from his pocket, separating one heavy blue key from all the others.

  Kelsey stared at him, at the padlock anchoring the chain, at the empty road on the other side of the gate. “It wasn’t locked,” she mumbled. “I didn’t imagine it—”

  “Okay. A mirage, right? Or you walked right through it, maybe?” For several long moments Neale stared at her, a muscle working in his jaw. “Okay,” he said at last. “Come with me.”

  Kelsey shrank away as he grabbed her arm again and began dragging her back around the cliff. When they reached the overhang where the beach disappeared, Neale ducked under, leaving her no choice but to go with him. There was a brief moment of darkness as they wound through a low stone tunnel, but almost immediately they went up an incline out into the sun.

  They were on a smaller beach, penned by towering cliffs on three sides, the ocean on the other. Only this beach was different from the one she had seen that morn
ing. Kelsey stared at the jagged rocks sticking out of the water along the shore, at the spikes of stone edging her in all around, all black and coated with slime. The wind screamed around them, beating the low tide into a frenzied boil. And those awful, razor-edged rocks. As black as death.

  Kelsey’s stomach tightened with some sense of imminent danger. The water was too close here—too wild—and those boats, rocking slowly on the waves beyond the first outcrop of sawtoothed rocks…those boats just heaving up and down…up and down…

  “What are they doing out there?” Kelsey wanted to run from them. “They’re too close to the rocks. Shouldn’t you warn them?”

  Neale looked down at her, his face hard. “They’re looking for Beth. They found her things on that ledge over there.”

  Kelsey didn’t want to look, yet felt her eyes following the point of his finger. The ledge was only partway up the cliff, easily accessible, and surrounded by water that appeared fairly shallow.

  “It’s not so deep now,” Neale went on, and Kelsey jumped as if he had read her mind. “You could wade in it as long as the current doesn’t slam you up against those rocks. But later…when the tide comes in…” His voice dropped, and Kelsey stepped away from him. “Should I go on?” Neale asked in mock politeness.

  “I don’t like it here,” Kelsey forced some authority into her voice that she didn’t feel. “I’m going back.”

  “Suit yourself. It’s not fun to think about. Being trapped here.”

  Kelsey turned on her heel and fought down the urge to run. Neale had done this to her on purpose, and she didn’t know what he was trying to prove anyway. He didn’t seem to be taking his sister’s death very hard, and he certainly didn’t seem to like her. Kelsey wondered if Neale cared about anything. She ducked through the tunnel, falling gratefully out into the daylight at the other end. She didn’t know if he was following or not as she hurried back along the beach. To her relief there were other people out now, the sounds of distant shouting and laughter. Kelsey quickened her pace. She wouldn’t let Neale upset her; she’d just try to stay out of his way and—

  “Look out!”

  The dog came out of nowhere, and as it leaned its huge paws on Kelsey’s shoulders, she heard shouting from all directions.

  “Donna, you know the rules! No dogs on the beach!”

  “I know the rules, Neale Connell! He broke his chain! What do you want me to do?”

  “Hey, it’s okay—he won’t hurt you!”

  As three people converged on her all at once, Kelsey managed to free herself from the dog’s embrace.

  “Gosh, I’m really sorry—I hope Rex didn’t scare you—Oh! Are you Kelsey? I’m Donna Westin—I heard you were here for a visit.” The blonde girl now paused for breath and pumped Kelsey’s hand warmly, a contagious smile lighting up her whole pixieish face. Kelsey smiled back, but before she could reassure the girl, Donna rushed on. “Skip here told me he met you—now we’re all practically neighbors—only some of us are more sociable than others.” She glared at Neale, who didn’t seem at all perturbed.

  Kelsey looked into Skip’s green eyes and felt her own smile widen. “Hi.”

  “You should keep better company.” Skip grinned. “Having fun?”

  Kelsey had forgotten all about Neale, but now he spoke up and moved out from behind her.

  “She seems to think that one death’s not enough excitement around here.”

  Donna gasped, and the air grew electrically still. “God, Neale…that’s a terrible thing to say—”

  Neale gazed past Donna to Skip, who was looking at the ground. “I’ve noticed Skip doesn’t seem to be too torn up about anything—”

  “Knock it off, Neale,” Skip said quietly.

  “That’s not fair, Neale, and you—” Donna began, but Skip cut her off.

  “I was only meeting Beth. To talk. We weren’t going to run away together, for—”

  “Don’t argue with him, Skip, he’s just upset, he’s—”

  “I know what you think of me, Neale.” Skip’s voice lowered, and his green eyes fixed themselves on Neale’s face. “I know you don’t like me, and I really don’t care. But if you’re looking for a suspect, the sheriff’s already given me the third degree, and I’m still out on the streets. And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not even handcuffed!”

  “Not that it would matter,” Neale retorted. “Your father’d just buy your way out of it.”

  Skip made a sudden move, but Donna thrust herself between them, her hands on Skip’s chest.

  “Stop it! You’re just upset, Neale—anybody would be! We’re sorry—we’re all sorry—so don’t say anything else. You, either, Skip, just keep quiet!”

  Kelsey saw Neale’s eyes, the livid set of his face, and a shiver of apprehension went through her as he slowly, slowly drew himself back.

  “Get your damn dog off the beach,” he muttered.

  They watched him walk away, and then Skip cupped his hands to his mouth, throwing a shout straight at Neale’s back.

  “She can do whatever she wants as long as I’m around—I own this beach!”

  Chapter 5

  “NOT THE GREATEST INTRODUCTION,” Donna said ruefully. “I’m really sorry about all that.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Kelsey threw her a tight smile. “I think maybe I’m starting to get used to him.”

  “Yeah, well, good luck.”

  They looked at one another and burst out laughing, and Skip glanced down at his watch.

  “Look, I’ve got to run—I’m on duty. Just ignore him, Kelsey, that’s what we do.” He tipped his baseball cap. “Ladies…I trust you’ll have the pleasure of my company again?”

  “If you’re lucky,” Donna retorted, and he gave them a jaunty wave as he trotted up the beach.

  “So,” Donna was all smiles again. “How about some breakfast? I know a great place for cinnamon rolls.”

  “Well…” Kelsey shaded her eyes and peered off through the gathering crowds. “I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving, and I really don’t know what the situation is back at the house—”

  “I understand.” Donna’s face was sympathetic, and Kelsey felt comfortably drawn to her. “It must be awful for you, showing up in the middle of everything. Sure you wouldn’t go for one little roll?”

  She looked so beseeching that Kelsey laughed and gave in. “To tell the truth, I don’t really want to go back to the cottage now. Neale really hates us being there, I think.”

  “Oh…Neale.” Donna nodded and whistled to her dog. “Neale’s like that about everything. He’s not real popular around here.”

  “What was all that about between him and Skip just now?” She fell into step with Donna along the shore.

  “Who ever knows, with Neale…?” Donna shook her head. “Skip was supposed to meet Beth that night, so I guess Neale thinks Skip can clear up the mystery somehow.” Donna steered her away from the beach through the trees. “Come on, the diner’s this way.”

  Kelsey straggled up the hillside, stopping to catch her breath as she saw the old building with its west diner sign,

  “Fancy, huh?” Donna swept long hair back from her face and waited for Kelsey to catch up. “The busiest part of the beach is farther down, past your cottage. That’s where everyone really hangs out. But this place doesn’t have so many tourists. No offense.” Winking mischievously, she tied Rex to a post by the door and pulled Kelsey inside.

  “Aren’t you afraid to leave him?” Kelsey asked as Donna nudged her into a booth by the window.

  “Kelsey, it’s so safe on this island, it’s positively boring.” Donna gave the menu a cursory glance. “We get some important people here, like Eric, of course. Artists. Writers. People who rent for the summer. The others are tourists—they only come for the day.”

  Kelsey unfolded her napkin. “How come the media isn’t beating down Eric’s door? People must know what’s happened, and he’s well-known.”

  “Yeah, but that’s where Skip’
s father comes in. Skip’s grandmother was Beverly, if that tells you anything.”

  “Beverly?” Kelsey stared at her, totally baffled, and Donna leaned across the table, her face animated.

  “Beverly Island.”

  “Oh!” Kelsey’s eyes widened. “You mean that Beverly?”

  “That Beverly!” Donna looked pleased with herself and bounced back against the torn upholstery. “Well, I can’t actually remember which grandmother, but it was one of them. The island’s been in the family for generations.”

  “So when he said he owned the beach, he wasn’t kidding.” Kelsey let it all sink in, shaking her head. “Is that why Neale doesn’t like him?”

  “Well, let’s face it, Skip’s not very discreet about his position around here. Like I was saying about his father—Eric didn’t want reporters around, so Mr. Rochford took care of it. He’s got money and power, and what he says goes. Skip usually gets what he wants.” Donna greeted the waitress and ordered coffee and rolls for two. “I don’t think Neale liked Skip hanging around Beth. She had kind of a crush on him.”

  “Maybe he’s just an overprotective big brother,” Kelsey suggested.

  Donna shook her head. “They were all stuck in boarding schools most of the year. And summers were spent with relatives and friends ’cause Eric never had the time. That’s what Skip told me, anyway.” Donna sat back as the waitress placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of her. “Eric farmed them all out after their mother died…they never really saw each other while they were growing up.”

  “How does Skip know all this?”

  “He and Justin have roomed together at school the last few years. They’re best friends—swim team, honors, all that good stuff.”

  “Maybe that’s when the friction with Neale and Skip started—”

  “Uhh-uh.” Donna shook her head and reached for the plate between them. “Neale wasn’t at the same school. Skip didn’t even know Justin had a brother—Justin never mentioned him.”

  “That’s weird…”

  “Yeah, especially ’cause they’re only a year apart, so it’s funny that they were always in different schools.”