Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble Page B

making an obvious attempt to mask his suspicion, but the sheriff’s gaze bored through her. She took a step back.
    â€œWhat have you touched?” the sheriff demanded.
    â€œNothing but the things in the bathroom.” She stepped out of the doorway so he could brush past her. “What are you looking for?”
    He glanced around the small bathroom. “You had no business coming in here until I had a chance to clear the scene.”
    â€œIt’s not a crime scene,” she said.
    â€œThere may still be clues to what happened to her.”
    He hadn’t been nearly so unfriendly at his office. And even Alec was tense. “H-Have you found her?”
    The sheriff whirled and glared at her. “You mean her body? Is there something you want to tell us?”
    The kidnapping had changed into a murder, and she was a suspect. That was the only possible reason for his change of demeanor. “You found her body, didn’t you?”
    â€œWhat was on that video that you were so eager to make sure no one saw?” the sheriff asked.
    His accusing tone made her swallow hard. He knew she’d erased the video. “It was an accident. I was trying to save it so I could show it to the police. The screen went blank and it was gone.”
    â€œI might have believed you if you’d admitted it from the first. But you said nothing about it when you were in my office.”
    â€œI was going to, but—”
    â€œRight.” He turned around and stared at the room. “Delilah, did she touch anything in here?”
    â€œNo, sir,” Delilah said. “I could see her when she was in the bathroom too. She didn’t do anything.” The phone rang in the distance. “I’ll be right back.” She dashed out of the room.
    â€œAlec, take a look in the suitcase. I’ll go through the drawers.”
    Libby curled her fingers into her palms and prayed that he would find something that would lead them to Nicole and those two men. “Just so you know, I did touch the hairbrush.”
    Tom looked her over. “Thanks.”
    Alec pulled shorts and tops out, then dumped out a bag with suntan lotion, sunglasses, and other sundries in it. The sheriff was opening the furniture’s drawers and looking through them.
    Libby spied Nicole’s laptop on the desk and picked it up. “Maybe there’s something on this.”
    The men glanced up. Tom scowled. “I told you not to touch anything. Alec, you know more about computers than I do. Have a look.”
    Alec lifted a brow and reached out his hand. “May I?”
    Surprised he was gentlemanly enough to ask in spite of the suspicion in his expression, she handed it over. “You know anything about Macs?”
    â€œI have one myself.” He set the laptop on the desk and opened the lid. Pulling out the chair, he sat down and began to peruse the files. “She has a lot of files on this.”
    Libby stood behind him and watched over his shoulder. “Sort by date,” she said.
    He did as she suggested, then leaned forward and read through the sorted files. “What’s this one?” He clicked on a file titled “Hope Beach.”
    The file opened with the picture of a woman. “Who is that?” Libby asked.
    â€œYour sister, Vanessa. Definitely a family resemblance,” Alec said, his voice distracted.
    Libby drank in the woman’s photo before the sheriff blocked her view.
    He bent down to read the document. “It’s kind of a diary. Ms. Ingram is talking about everything she saw and did since she came. Scroll to the bottom first. Maybe there’s an entry for yesterday.”
    Libby peered over his shoulder and read the entry.
    Someone was outside my door last night. He whispered my name. I think it was Brent trying to scare me into doing what he wants. I’ll have a talk with him tomorrow .
    Libby drew in a breath. “Would Brent have hurt her?”
    Tom