Page 41 (2/2)

"It’s ridiculous I’ out the corpse was stolen I’ht it was Dona Isabella Actually, I scared the poor woly beautiful, just like Dona Isabella," Vanessa said The lying was coht once that she’d seen Dona Isabella, or she did see her often, her face carved as a figurehead, in her drea so that the line was barely there any so easily

"Oh, Lord, oh, Lord!" Zoe exclaimed, horrified

Maybe she should have said that she’d seen Carlos Roca Jay was staring at her as if she was crazy, and Zoe looked terrified

"Look, I’ really dark, they ers in to close this place, and I want to get back to the boats," she said

Jay looked at her and then sighed "Well, the first take was good And when you took off, I wound up with soirl!"

"Daive me a break, okay?" Vanessa asked She cursed herself Surely she could have thought of a different lie! One that wasn’t--supernatural

"Oh, God, oh, God!" Zoe said

"Hey, there’s a cute little restaurant bar just down fro stiff drinks and feel better all the way around!" Jake suggested

Vanessa didn’t want a drink She wanted to be away from all of them Except for Katie

But Katie wanted peace and happiness all the way round "One big stiff drink apiece," she said "We’ll have a long day to friendly drink"

"And Vanessa will start seeing little green people, aliens in the Berle," Jay said

Jake punched Jay in the arm--not hard, but soundly "Jay, stop!"

Jay stared at Jake He had a superior, angry look in his eyes for a moment The look seemed to say Hey, I’m a director/producer, I’m the boss

But Jay wasn’t a producer/director on this shoot

He let out a breath suddenly "Jake, thanks--I needed that," he said with a laugh "Vanessa, I’m sorry I was just-- You looked so beautiful there, your hair kind of floating in the breeze, with the lights and the bridge and the foliage And it was forlorn, it had…oh, well I’reat editor I’ll make it work, and Sean and David will love it"

He was Jay again The Jay she had known forever She felt silly, being afraid of hiet that drink," she said

They had fun Vanessa was pleased that she hadn’t insisted she was going back

The bar was composed of a small number of tables with palm-frond shelters over theuitarist played and sang

When they returned to the boat, Marty was on deck, taking his guard duty very seriously

"Ahoy, who goes there?" he demanded

"It’s us--we’re back," Vanessa told hi down to the deck, as were Zoe and Jay, but Marty rose, ever the gentleuys back yet, Marty?" Vanessa asked

"Jaden and Ted cao, and they’re both in bed Sean, Lia soon, I warrant," he said cheerfully "I’ll be right here, right here on deck, if you need uess I aht, Vanessa," Jay said "I’ll hang out here with Marty a bit, I guess" He was silent, looking at her "Good night," he said again, and then, his back to Marty, he mouthed, "I’m sorry I’m really sorry"

She s"

In the master’s cabin, she started Bartholohostly buckle-shoe foot upon it as he stood in a Captain Morgan stance He gave her a start, and she thought again that she was having trouble with reality and fiction or ihost could be Others saw hi at her

"What?" she er at her

"I followed you today," he said

"You did? Well, that was…nice of you? Or nosy of you?" she asked

He sighed, set his foot on the floor and walked to her It was odd She could feel hiht that he was cold A cold breeze

But now she thought that he offered a strange warmth She saw his eyes, and he was concerned Barthololad

She would have liked hi, but you have to tell Sean the truth," Bartholomew said "What truth?"

"That Carlos Roca was in the park, following you At least, I think that’s who it is And he was in Key West, too, at the pirate festivities He’s been watching you--and following you," Bartholoasped She sank down on the bed in the cabin, and Bartholomew sank down beside her

"He’s real," she whispered

"Yes," Bartholomew said