time she’d lived on the island, Sabrina had come to know and care about many of its residents.
“Larry Thomas. He took the curve at Bordeaux too hard,” Neil said.
Sabrina had just about had it. Screw this villa. The hell with its suicidal bride. Poor Larry Thomas, who flew sea planes just about every day of his life, died because he didn’t navigate a curve right? And what was wrong with her, immediately indicting Neil as a cheater when he was only acting as a friend to a woman whose husband had just died?
“Look, if you want to question me, do it now. Otherwise, I’m leaving. I’m happy to talk to you or Sergeant Detree, but I have a caterer and music to cancel, and accommodations to find for these people, Detective,” Sabrina said, standing up to face Hodge.
“Actually, Ms. Salter, you all need to leave. The EMTs have suggested that there are signs Ms. Rodriguez’s death may not have been accidental or a suicide. Of course, we won’t know for certain until the medical examiner does an autopsy over on St. Thomas. We have the dive and scene-of-the-crime teams on their way. None of youare permitted to leave the island, except you, Mr. Perry, because you have nothing to do with this case. Please leave your telephone numbers with Sergeant Detree and let the station know where you’ll be staying once arrangements are made. Several of the safari taxi drivers who apparently were meant to take people on tours are waiting to take you where you need to go. No one is permitted to take anything,” Vernon Hodge said in a voice devoid of any emotion except, Sabrina detected, a note of condescension.
“Are you saying Elena may have been murdered?” Sean lurched out of his chair, tipping it over.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, and why we’ll be wanting to talk to you, your family, and the villa rental staff a whole lot more.” Hodge crossed his muscular arms over his chest, clearly a signal for Sean to come no closer. Sabrina was relieved to see Neil place a hand on Sean’s shoulder, knowing any confrontation with the police would only complicate matters. She remembered seeing marks on Elena’s throat when Kate was checking for a pulse and was afraid she knew where this was heading.
“Let’s head to the taxis, folks, so we can find you new accommodations.” Sabrina gestured for the Keating entourage to follow her, but none of them moved.
“That’s ridiculous. Who would want to kill Elena?” Kate sat shaking her head, leaning into Jack, who was seated next to her.
“That’s what we’re going to find out, ma’am.” Hodge’s thin lips curled at the corners of his mouth into the hint of a smile.
“Please walk out to the taxis now. Oh, and Ms. Salter. Don’t worry about canceling the caterer. My people will be working here all night and will naturally need some fortification.”
Chapter Twelve
Within three minutes, they were all herded into two taxis. Henry and Gavin got into one, which would drop them at the Ten Villas van parked on Gifft Hill outside of Henry’s condo. Henry would then drive Gavin to the Westin, where he could be reunited with Lisa and his daughters at his mother’s unit.
Sabrina was pleased at how quickly she and Henry had been able to pull a plan of sorts together. They’d worked together so well when establishing Ten Villas that Sabrina had been surprised by their conflict over whether to add Villa Nirvana to their roster. Now she felt they were back in sync again and could manage this crisis unified.
She and the remainder of the Keating family plus the company CFO were now headed in the second taxi to Ten Villas’ only vacant house. Villa Bella Vista was located high atop Bordeaux Mountain, the highest point on St. John. Deep in the rainforest, Bordeaux had a mystical feel to it. Driving under the heavy shelter of locust, hog plum, andyellow prickle trees, climbing nearly to the peak to arrive at Bella Vista, Sabrina always felt as if she had entered the
“Larry Thomas. He took the curve at Bordeaux too hard,” Neil said.
Sabrina had just about had it. Screw this villa. The hell with its suicidal bride. Poor Larry Thomas, who flew sea planes just about every day of his life, died because he didn’t navigate a curve right? And what was wrong with her, immediately indicting Neil as a cheater when he was only acting as a friend to a woman whose husband had just died?
“Look, if you want to question me, do it now. Otherwise, I’m leaving. I’m happy to talk to you or Sergeant Detree, but I have a caterer and music to cancel, and accommodations to find for these people, Detective,” Sabrina said, standing up to face Hodge.
“Actually, Ms. Salter, you all need to leave. The EMTs have suggested that there are signs Ms. Rodriguez’s death may not have been accidental or a suicide. Of course, we won’t know for certain until the medical examiner does an autopsy over on St. Thomas. We have the dive and scene-of-the-crime teams on their way. None of youare permitted to leave the island, except you, Mr. Perry, because you have nothing to do with this case. Please leave your telephone numbers with Sergeant Detree and let the station know where you’ll be staying once arrangements are made. Several of the safari taxi drivers who apparently were meant to take people on tours are waiting to take you where you need to go. No one is permitted to take anything,” Vernon Hodge said in a voice devoid of any emotion except, Sabrina detected, a note of condescension.
“Are you saying Elena may have been murdered?” Sean lurched out of his chair, tipping it over.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, and why we’ll be wanting to talk to you, your family, and the villa rental staff a whole lot more.” Hodge crossed his muscular arms over his chest, clearly a signal for Sean to come no closer. Sabrina was relieved to see Neil place a hand on Sean’s shoulder, knowing any confrontation with the police would only complicate matters. She remembered seeing marks on Elena’s throat when Kate was checking for a pulse and was afraid she knew where this was heading.
“Let’s head to the taxis, folks, so we can find you new accommodations.” Sabrina gestured for the Keating entourage to follow her, but none of them moved.
“That’s ridiculous. Who would want to kill Elena?” Kate sat shaking her head, leaning into Jack, who was seated next to her.
“That’s what we’re going to find out, ma’am.” Hodge’s thin lips curled at the corners of his mouth into the hint of a smile.
“Please walk out to the taxis now. Oh, and Ms. Salter. Don’t worry about canceling the caterer. My people will be working here all night and will naturally need some fortification.”
Chapter Twelve
Within three minutes, they were all herded into two taxis. Henry and Gavin got into one, which would drop them at the Ten Villas van parked on Gifft Hill outside of Henry’s condo. Henry would then drive Gavin to the Westin, where he could be reunited with Lisa and his daughters at his mother’s unit.
Sabrina was pleased at how quickly she and Henry had been able to pull a plan of sorts together. They’d worked together so well when establishing Ten Villas that Sabrina had been surprised by their conflict over whether to add Villa Nirvana to their roster. Now she felt they were back in sync again and could manage this crisis unified.
She and the remainder of the Keating family plus the company CFO were now headed in the second taxi to Ten Villas’ only vacant house. Villa Bella Vista was located high atop Bordeaux Mountain, the highest point on St. John. Deep in the rainforest, Bordeaux had a mystical feel to it. Driving under the heavy shelter of locust, hog plum, andyellow prickle trees, climbing nearly to the peak to arrive at Bella Vista, Sabrina always felt as if she had entered the
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