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Hang on a sec The road led to a sli up a few levels, she wound down the road, then slowed to a stop This had to be it; it was the end of Shoreline Drive An iron gate barred the driveway, flanked by stone posts and a slas Point Number 66 was a ways back; this had to be 97

Heck yeah!

She turned off the engine and got out of the car Lucy had joked about the Bush compound, but Parker wasn’t sure the Bushes could afford this place The house was gorgeous S The driveway led up through the pines to what had to be a fifteen- or twenty-rooh the light was fading froe beds of white and red ieas, mountain laurel and ivy…the place was like a park! Good Lord, in ten minutes, she could be inside, wine and bath a reality!

“Thank you, Aunt Julia!” Parker breathed She couldn’t wait to see what it looked like Was it furnished? She had an air iven hoell kept the outside was, she’d bet it was full of solid old furniture Maybe there was a caretaker; it sure looked that way Weird that she owned the place and had never been sent a bill or anything Then again, maybe her accountant had taken care of it Still, she should’ve known if someone was on the payroll

Whatever She wasn’t co You knohat? She’d have a party before she sold it Nicky could wear his little tux, and she’d wear that ice-blue Vera Wang, and they’d send out invitations—Parker Harrington Welles and Nicholas Giacomo Mirabelli warmly request the honor of your colas Point, Gideon’s Cove, Maine

“Okay, okay, let’s get inside,” Parker muttered There was a code box; she flipped it open State-of-the-art Getting back into the car, she reached into the glove coiven her the day he told her she was broke There was the deed, there was his business card, there was a key…but no code Dang it! She pulled out her phone and found Thing One on her contacts list It went right to voicefrom him, and he was unavailable

“Hi, Thing One, it’s Parker I’m here in Gideon’s Cove, and I have the key, but I don’t have a code for the gate Would you please call et this? Thanks”

Her irritation with her father’s minion faded as she looked back at the house It was so pretty, and far less iet at least half a mil for this place, probablyon to it and rent it out—

“Problem?” ca Material—u in a somewhat battered pickup truck, and ten minutes apart hadn’t dih a flattering thought, was so

“Oh, hi again” She held her phone up to her ear “Just talking to my lawyer,” she lied, in case he was a serial killer “But I found it fine, thanks See you around Have a good night”

“You’re at the wrong place”

Parker blinked “Excuse me?”

“Julia Harrington’s is back there” Malone nodded behind him

“Where back there?” Parker asked

“That little place you just passed”

Parker looked back down the road There was nothing except the shed She glanced at Malone He nodded

No That couldn’t possibly… Oh, no Uh-uh Her stomach twisted abruptly

That wasn’t a house It was a shack A falling-into-the-ocean hut

“That?” she squeaked

“Ayuh”

No No, no That house had boards over the s It was…crooked so down to the rocky beach below Square-footage wise, it wasn’t really a house at all! It was the size of her bedroom back home

Odd little noises were co frouy “You sure?”

“Julia Harrington’s?”

“Yes”

“I’m sure, then”

Bugger! Bugger and damn Parker took a deep breath, then another

“You need anything?” Malone asked

“Um…a different house?” He didn’t respond “No, I’h”

He nodded and put his truck in gear

“Wait! Malone, is there a hotel in town?”

He shook his head “Used to be a bed-and-breakfast, but it burned over the winter”