Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

“I’m not arguing. The cruiser it is.”

Kendra and Harley stepped up the ramp while Lynch moved to ready the boat.

It took slightly more than an hour to reach Catalina Island’s Avalon Bay, which formed a breathtaking entranceway to the small resort town of Avalon, with its waterfront hotels, restaurants, and landmark art deco casino. At any given time, there were hundreds of boats anchored in the bay, each a short water taxi ride away from the community’s main pier.

The owner of Starshadow had secured one of the rare harbor berths on the south end of the waterfront pedestrian walkway, and it was here that Lynch moored the cruiser and tied it off. They checked in at the Hotel Atwater, where, to Kendra’s surprise, Lynch had already arranged delivery of two changes of clothes from one of the local boutiques.

She held up a Valentino Garavini blouse. “When did you do this?”

“I emailed the shop from our boat. If they’re not to your taste, we can exchange them. The boutique is just around the corner.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She laughed. “Thank you.”

“Why don’t you freshen up and change, and I’ll walk Harley and find out about this charter service that Williams took from here. Then we can walk over together and get whatever information we can.”

“Sounds good. Then all I’ll have to do is decide between the Christian Louboutin pumps and the Ferragamo loafers.”

Lynch returned in less than thirty minutes, and he, Kendra, and Harley strolled along the pedestrian walkway to the north end of the bay.

“I could get used to this place,” Kendra said as she strolled past the iconic casino building. “Good wine, beautiful sea breeze, and I love the seals.”

“So does Harley,” Lynch said dryly. “He thinks they’re his playmates. I could barely keep him from trying to set up a commune with them when I was walking him. He was so intrigued that I almost didn’t get him back to the hotel. He became quite distracted.”

“He appears fairly calm right now,” Kendra said. She reached down and patted Harley’s floppy ears. “Why was he distracted?”

“Sometimes it happens. I managed to take care of it.”

“Like you take care of everything? If I remember correctly, Harley is very well trained. You did some of the training yourself. That’s why he’s so blasted fond of you.”

“Come on, he’s fond of everybody.”

“Maybe. So what did you find out about the charter boat?”

“Evidently the owner of the boat, Darlene Gatwick, is something of a character. I called her, and she refused to talk to me. She said all of her clients had a right to their privacy. And she assured me that was what was wrong with the world these days. Everyone was nosing around in everyone else’s business. Her boat is moored a few hundred yards north of the casino, just outside the bay area.”

“Good,” Kendra said. “Let’s not take no for an answer. Let’s find out everything she knows about Williams and the guests he might have taken on a chartered trip from here.”

He smiled. “I thought that would be your reaction. By all means, let’s go see what the lady knows. But even if he was here with them, there’s no guarantee they’re still alive.”

“I know that, Lynch. Whatever we find out here, you’ve been extraordinary. No one could do more than—”

“Shit!” Lynch jerked the dog’s leash away from Kendra as the dog took off at a dead run, jerking her down an alley off St. Catherine Way.

“What on earth!” Kendra followed at a dead run. “Is this what you meant when you said Harley was chasing those seals? I believe you now.”

“No!” Lynch was holding out his hand to stop her. “Stay, dammit.”

“Stay?” She was laughing. “Not the right word for me, Lynch. I’m not Harley.”

“Stay! Don’t move!” Lynch was running down a side street. “I don’t think it was the seals…”

Kendra stopped short at the curtness of his voice. No laughter there. Then she started to rush toward the direction of his voice. “Lynch!”

Then she saw him standing at the end of the alley holding Harley’s leash. “You’ve got him?”

“I’ve got him.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward the harbor. “He wasn’t running from me. I think he was on the attack.”

“Nonsense. No dog is gentler than Harley.”