Mountain Secrets by Elizabeth Goddard (good books to read for teens txt) 📕

sent him running to Alaska to start afresh. Brock had murdered Katelyn—and now Brock, or rather his twin, was here close to... Jewel.

And poor Jewel, carrying the weight of believing she’d stolen the diamond, when he could easily see a loving mother making sure her young daughter had taken something of value by either planting the seed or allowing her access. But what did he know about it? That was all conjecture.

Everything he had right now was conjecture. He needed the facts. No matter how much he listened to his gut, his instincts wouldn’t hold up in a court of law. He’d been right to follow his gut this far, sure, but he needed to seal the deal. Find the evidence behind the attacks on Jewel. But he could figure that out. Right now he had to get back to her. He turned to enter the restaurant again.

Jewel was gone.

FOURTEEN

“Your sister’s husband is a dangerous man.”

She should have waited on him. He’d made it clear when he’d pulled the police card. The chief-of-police card, rather. But she’d also gotten that he wasn’t going to let her go back to the yacht, where she needed to be. As soon as his focus had turned from her, she’d fled the booth.

Hearing Colin say that Buck was a dangerous man had infused her with determination. She couldn’t let Meral leave with that man, even though he was her husband. But how to get her away? How did Jewel convince her?

After slipping through the window in the restroom, she dropped to the ground. Hemlock, spruce and cedar hid her from view. She’d never done anything like this before. Well, other than taking the diamond. But she had to get to the yacht. She had to save Meral, if she could, and retrieve the diamond while she was at it.

Buck wasn’t going to hurt Jewel in broad daylight in front of the crew or Meral. She could try one more time to save her sister, despite Meral’s vitriolic words.

Pressing her back against the log wall of the visitor center, she hoped Colin hadn’t discovered her gone yet, but he would soon enough. She had to hurry.

She’d seen him on the phone. Had he been checking on old warrants for her arrest for stealing a diamond? The statute of limitations was only a few years, but that wouldn’t make her any less a thief to him. She’d seen the shock in his eyes turn to pure disappointment.

Her words had shaken him as much as his reaction had crushed her. But she was a woman who was destined to lose at love. She was glad she hadn’t actually been playing that game with Colin. Only toying with the idea.

More importantly, she had to protect her sister and survive another encounter with the man after her life.

No more time to think about Chief Colin Winters, and, yes, she should think of him in official terms from now on. He’d made that much clear.

She crept to the corner of the building and peeked around. In the distance the yacht was still anchored in the channel. Had Meral and Buck been taken back yet? If she hurried, she could make it before they left.

Jewel sagged against the wall. A cedar branch tickled her arm. Part of her wanted to give up. It would be easier to sink to the ground and cry for all she had lost—a list that now included her sister for a second time.

Meral’s life could be in serious danger. She could disappear on the cruise. Be pushed overboard, and Buck would likely gain her money, holdings and benefit from an insurance policy as well as obtain the Krizan Diamond either by finding and stealing it or by killing Jewel.

What am I supposed to do now, God? None of this makes any sense.

Why did You let this happen to me? I was doing okay at the B and B. I had made a life of my own already. I didn’t need the past to come roaring back.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Don’t You shove the past, our sins, as far as the east is from the west? I even have one of those cross-stitches Katy makes in one of the rooms. Maybe You did remove my transgression, but I’ve kept my sin close, hidden in the attic and buried away until now. And I’m sorry for that. So sorry.

Jewel shook off the weight of guilt. She could worry about that later.

A pain pierced her side. The muzzle of a gun. Jewel stiffened and gasped. She turned, but a grip forced her to keeping staring ahead. In the distance, The Alabaster Sky began heading out into the channel.

“Looks like your past has caught up to you.” The familiar voice whispered in her ear.

“What’s going on? Why is the yacht leaving without you? Where is Meral?” God, please don’t let Meral be involved. Please keep her safe.

“Your sister is safe and sound on the yacht. She won’t even know I’m gone.”

“Are you saying that you drugged her?”

“Works like a charm. She never even realizes that she’s missing time. She doesn’t have a clue that you hold her life in your hands.”

Jewel gasped.

Colin, come on. Find me. Notice I’m gone!

She’d wanted to escape before Colin found her, and now she wished he would hurry up. He hadn’t let her out of his sight until now. Was he still freaking out over what she’d told him? Still on his phone?

“Come on.” Buck pushed her away from the visitor center and through the trees, away from the center’s entrance and the channel where The Alabaster Sky had been anchored.

Jewel thought to fight him. She wouldn’t go willingly. She tensed, preparing to use a self-defense move, but he pressed the weapon to the base of her skull. Fear corded her neck. Could she fight him and live?

“Don’t even think about it. Remember, you have to think of Meral.