She hadn’t figured out what her next words would be, so she was surprised when they came out sounding coherent. “Even if I had known where to find you, Mark, why on earth would I have called?” Before he could respond, she pictured her support team—Donna, Kevin, Earl, John—and went back to the topic. “But yes, the remains are at the archeologist’s office. It might not seem like a big deal, but there’s a lot at stake.”

“I don’t think I can reach anyone before Monday. But I’ll let you know. I’ll head up there as soon as I can get a boat.”

“A boat?” The question jumped out on its own.

“I’m still on the Vineyard, Annie. Your friend, the cop, threatened me within an inch of my life, but I’d really hoped to see you. I thought if I hung around long enough we’d run into each other. It isn’t crowded here right now, is it?”

She froze. She looked out toward the harbor, toward Edgartown. Was he staying over there? Was he right across the water at the Harbor View? Was he standing on the veranda, looking across to Chappy, hoping to catch a glimpse of her? She ducked back into the cottage and lowered her voice. “I don’t want to see you, Mark. I only want the information.”

She counted: three, four, five, until he answered.

“Okay,” he said. “I owe you that much.”

Annie held off saying that he owed her so much more.

* * *

When she got off the phone, Annie realized that her heart was pounding, had probably been pounding from the time she had decided to call Mark. She shuddered now and pulled her sweater close around her. She had no way of knowing if she’d made a big mistake. For starters, John might never speak to her again. And there was no reason on the planet why Mark would have told her the truth. Even if he knew as many people in the archeology department as Larry did.

She knew she should tell John before he found out another way. Especially since Mark was still on the island. Maybe if John learned it from her, he’d be more inclined toward forgiveness. Wasn’t that what people in a relationship did?

But as soon as she lifted her phone to call him, a familiar voice called out, “Hello?” followed by the sound of a barking dog. Apparently, Lucy and Restless had come to visit. Again. Shielding her eyes, Annie watched them trundle down the slope. They were followed by a large woman, silhouetted in the afternoon shadows. It took only seconds for Annie to realize it was Winnie.

* * *

They walked on the beach in the opposite direction of the spot where Annie had found the skull. Lucy and Restless raced ahead, Lucy tossing twigs of driftwood, Restless catching them, then dropping them onto the sand.