Pulling her phone from her purse, Annie quickly sent a text. U AROUND? I’M AT E’TOWN DINER. She sat back and waited. It would be nice if Lucy was out with friends, doing something fun like learning crocheting or bonsai tree care at the library; taking lessons on the clarinet or flute; or shopping in Vineyard Haven at Rainy Day or at Basics in Oak Bluffs. But Lucy did not seem to enjoy doing ordinary girl things.

Annie rested her head against the seat back and wished she could stop brooding. About Lucy. About Donna. About Kevin’s wounds. And, of course, about the skull. Added to those problems now, Jonas had taken off.

She sighed. She knew she had to leave Lucy’s behavior up to John; Lucy was his daughter, not Annie’s. As for Donna, there might be ways Annie could help with her recovery; Winnie might have some ideas about that, too, or Winnie’s sister-in-law who was a nurse. And Kevin . . . Well, Annie supposed he’d have to resolve his angst about Donna, his guilt about Meghan, and his relationship with Taylor on his own. Because Annie had no idea how to help him. As for the skull, she could not ask John for help—he’d only get aggravated with her and insist that they follow procedures. John was a great guy, but not much use when it came to circumventing the law.

She checked her phone; Lucy hadn’t replied. Digging into her purse again, Annie took out a Tums and tossed it into her mouth. She started the Jeep, figuring she might as well go back to Chappy, just as someone pounded on the passenger window. Annie jumped nearly a foot.

The culprit was Lucy, her face pressed to the glass. She was sticking out her tongue and waving like a five-year-old.

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Annie dropped her head again and pushed the button that put the window down. “You must be great at fright night.”

Laughing, Lucy said, “I got your text. I was at the bookstore looking for something about the island cemeteries. They’re going to order a book for me.”

Well, Annie thought, at least Lucy seemed happy. “Where are you headed?”

“Restless and I were thinking about visiting my grandparents. You going back to Chappy?”

Annie popped the door lock and lobbed her purse into the back.

Lucy lifted the furry dog into the back seat, unhooked his leash, then climbed into the front. She had on jeans with tears across the knees and one of her dad’s fishing jackets. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail that made her look more like eleven or twelve. “Did you have lunch at the diner?” she asked.