“Criminal law isn’t really my area of expertise, but until we’re sure you need one, I’ll represent you on the house. I’m not going to stand back and watch an old island family’s daughter get pushed around, and that’s what happens if you don’t have legal representation. I don’t think any charges have been filed, but I will stay on it and find out.”

“Oh, Mr. Tanenbaum, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“Call me Mark. Mr. Tanenbaum is my dad.” He smiled and I thought, What a lovely man. “In the meantime, talk to no one. Do not give a statement to the police or the press or say a single word on social media, understand? As far as I can see it, I don’t think any crime has been committed here.”

“Good. Mark? Why was she in my yard?” I asked.

“I don’t know. No good reason I can think of. Did anyone see her?”

“I don’t know. I was out on a date with Ted Meyers.”

“No kidding. Well, in your best interest, I’d say no canoodling with him, either, until this is all sorted out.”

“That’s a shame,” I said, thinking, I finally have a fish on the hook and I have to release him?

“Look, Holly, you don’t want to get into a he-said, she-said thing with the chief of police, temporary or not. Basically, from here on in, I speak for you. And I think for you. Here’s my card. You can text me or call me any time of the day or night, but please, if it’s possible, let me get my beauty rest.”

I smiled then and said, “Mark? Am I in trouble?”

“I don’t think so. I think you should relax until I let you know otherwise. Holly, I’m an old-school lawyer. I like to see all the facts and then we go from there. So far, we don’t have all the facts.”

“Will you tell me what you find out?”

“Absolutely. As soon as I hear something, you’ll be the very next to know. I’ll call the coroner’s office this morning. Now, I’ve got to go to the gym. I’ve got a young wife, you know what I mean?”

“I’m pretty sure I do,” I said and laughed. I felt so much better. “Thanks, Mark.”

I walked him to the door and as I glanced at my backyard, I noticed crime scene tape everywhere and three men in bee suits walking around, looking in the bushes.

“Mark! Wait! What’s all that tape and who are those men?”

“They would be crime scene investigators investigating a would-be crime scene. Don’t worry about them. They’re actually on our side.”

“Okay,” I said. I wasn’t so sure.