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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“Fine,” Regan answered. She and Jack waited while the woman picked up the phone and dialed.

“Dirk?”

“Yes, Mrs. Briggs.”

“There’s a private investigator here looking for an actress named Cleo Paradise. She showed me her credentials and seems to think that Miss Long might be Cleo.”

“Can I speak to the investigator?”

“Certainly.” Mrs. Briggs handed Regan the phone.

“Hello, this is Regan Reilly.”

“Hello, Regan. My name is Dirk Tapper. You’re looking for Cleo Paradise?”

“Yes. Her parents are terribly worried because they haven’t been able to reach her. So is her best friend.”

“They don’t have to worry. She just left my cabin. She’s been here for hours.” He laughed. “We were having a good time.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Regan exclaimed. “I can’t wait to have Cleo call them. They’ll be so relieved. Can you tell me where her cabin is? I’d like to talk to her in person for a few minutes.”

“She’s in Cabin Number Four. Mrs. Briggs can point out which trail you should take. Cleo’s cabin isn’t far from the office. I’d take you up there myself but I sprained my ankle. Please grab one of the little flashlights on the counter there. Let me speak to Mrs. Briggs, please.”

“Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.” Regan handed the phone back to Mrs. Briggs.

“Connie Long is really a famous actress named Cleo Paradise? My goodness,” Mrs. Briggs said to Dirk. “Yes, I’ll show them!” A moment later she walked around the counter, led Regan and Jack out the door, and pointed to the right. “See that trail in the middle? Connie or Cleo or whatever her name is, is in the first cabin at the top of the hill. You’ve got your flashlight but there are also red reflectors on either side of the trail to guide you.”

“Thanks again,” Regan said.

“You’re welcome.”

Outside Dirk’s cabin, Cleo’s old fears surfaced. Her heart was pounding as she hurried down the steep path, shining the flash-light in front of her. Images of her bathing suit on the clothesline flashed through her mind. She started to move faster. It will be OK, she told herself. I’ll be in my cabin in a few minutes and I’ll call Dirk and then Daisy. I can’t wait to tell her about my day with him. The sound of a twig snapping in the woods terrified her. Did that sound come from behind me? Cleo broke into a sweat and started to run, not stopping until she reached the front door of her cabin.

Jack had the flashlight in his hand. He and Regan crossed the parking lot and started up the trail.

“The owner sounded really nice,” Regan reported. “He said Cleo had been in his cabin since early afternoon. What a relief!”

“Sometimes there’s a simple explanation for these things,” Jack said.