Suddenly, she cleared her mind of all thoughts when she heard footsteps. And the voices were coming closer...

“And you’re sure she isn’t dead?” a male voice asked someone.

Bryce tried to remain deadly still but was certain she recognized that voice.

“I’m sure. I just shot her up with a small dose. She should have awakened by now...unless she has heart problems or something,” another deep male voice said. It sounded like it belonged to a much younger man. Bryce had a feeling the voice belonged to the man who’d grabbed her.

“Heart problems?” the older male voice said in a panicky tone. “I don’t want her to die before I tell her why I’m getting rid of her.”

That man wanted to get rid of her? Why?

“I don’t care what you do with her, Jeremy, just pay me and my wife for my troubles.”

Jeremy? Bryce fought hard not to scream in shock. Why would Jeremy Skinner be doing this to her?

Bryce heard the sound of the shuffling of papers, which sounded like money being counted out and exchanged. Jeremy had paid this man and his wife to capture her and bring her here, wherever here was? That meant there was never a Mary Corsuti?

Then footsteps moved away and the place got quiet. Bryce knew she was alone again and squinted her eyes open just a little, in case someone had stayed behind. She drew in a deep breath as she tried to understand what was going on here.

Bryce saw she was on the floor of a boat. She had to tilt her head in a painful way to read the sign. Blackmon Boat Rentals. Jeremy had rented a boat from Jack Blackmon and she was on it. She worked her mouth back and forth. It felt sore from having the cloth tied so tight around it.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps returning and then a pail of water was dumped in her face, and she jerked forward and opened her eyes. She stared up into Jeremy’s grinning face.

“I thought that would bring you around. I couldn’t wait to tell you why you’re here.”

Because of the gag covering her mouth, Bryce couldn’t say anything, but that didn’t mean she didn’t try. Her efforts only made Jeremy laugh. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. I know all about you dumping me for your old boyfriend.”

Bryce watched as Jeremy began pacing and then he stopped to come stand over her again. “When I met you, I thought you were different. I knew you were interested in me, but then you tried breaking things off. You never told me the man you were going out of town with was your ex-boyfriend.”

At what had to be a surprised look on her face, he said, “Yes, I know about him. I heard a couple of ladies talking in Spencer’s about how they hoped the two of you get back together. Then I knew I’d been played.”