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

“That would have been a wise move. Although—” His words halted in his throat. He couldn’t believe what he saw coming down the road toward them.

The Shivering Sherlocks were piled into two ATVs, and as they whipped down the road, he heard them whooping and hollering. They waved their beach towels as they passed Adam and Elle and shouted, “Going to the beach!”

Adam and Elle waved back.

Elle waited until they passed. “That was a close one.”

Adam was appalled. “Two hours earlier and they would have seen my bare butt!”

“I’m almost sorry they missed it.”

He slammed on the brakes and turned to her. “What?”

“It is an awfully nice butt, and those old ladies would have thoroughly appreciated it.” Elle looked completely serious. “Two of them are widows, you know, and one has been divorced so long she says she’s having a romance with her washer when it’s on the spin cycle.”

He wanted to ask her how she found this stuff out. But he knew: she talked to people. If only she would refrain from telling him.

“I suppose we should call Deputy Dave and make a report about Stephen Penderghast.” She didn’t sound as if she was looking forward to that.

“Hm.” He drove on up the road. “Not necessarily. Or at least, not until I’ve done some research.”

“I thought more than anything you wanted to take this—me—to the police.”

“That time has passed.” In fact, he couldn’t remember a single reason he would want such a thing. “Stephen Penderghast lives in the stratosphere of the rich. You stabbed him with a boat hook, possibly killed him.” He turned into their driveway and parked in front of the workshop.

“He was murdering me!”

“I understand. It was self-defense. Nevertheless, there were no witnesses. If Penderghast dies, or if he’s dead, there may be repercussions for you. And if he lives, it could be very dangerous.”

Elle paled. “He’ll come after me.”

“Or send someone after you. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” Not simply because you said you were going to marry me. Because that is what I do.

“I know you will.” Leaning over, she put her hand on his thigh and kissed his mouth. “But you can’t be with me always. Let’s go in and do our research. We have a lot to discover.”

63

ELLE SAT IN A chair beside Adam at his desk while he searched for Stephen Penderghast. She pressed against him, her chest to his arm.

He found a report that Stephen Penderghast had been injured, was in critical condition in a large Los Angeles hospital and was headed into surgery. Then, a week later, the smallest piece of news, a piece they were lucky to find: amid speculation he needed constant and specialized care, Stephen Penderghast had been moved to a posh private hospital.

After that, no information was forthcoming.