Her voice sounded distressed. “Chip, I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading back to Orcas Island. I’m planning to pack up my things and, uh, get out of your hair. I’m sorry about everything that happened. I can explain, if you’re willing to hear it. Lucy was released, so that’s good and…well, I can tell you later. See you.”

Chip could tell that she had no intention of seeing him again, but he was not going to let her walk out of his life that easily.

Chapter Thirty

The ride back to Anacortes was a breeze. Margie was still at the wheel, chatting away, but now she had Lucy to contend with, too.

“The guard said that I was the most annoying prisoner he had all week,” Lucy said. “But he also said I was the funniest prisoner he’d had all week, so I’ll take that as a win.”

Margie nodded. “Always take the compliment.”

Lucy leaned forward, perching her head between them from the backseat. “The funniest thing was when Agent McCoy tried to play bad cop with me.”

“Oh yes,” Claire said. “He was always bad cop to me, too.”

“He never listened to a word I said,” complained Lucy, “so I started telling him that he had beautiful eyes.”

That made Claire laugh. “Lucy!”

“What?” She put her hands up. “It’s true! There wasn’t anything else true that I could tell him.”

“Did you know that he apologized to me?” Claire asked, turning around to look at her. “Right before we picked you up.”

Lucy sat back, her mouth open and arms crossed. “What about me? I’m the one he arrested!”

Claire laughed. “Maybe he meant to get to you next.”

“Or maybe he was afraid his apology would be taken as an invitation to hit on him more,” Margie said with a giggle.

Lucy shook her head. “Unbelievable. I wasn’t hitting on him. He was way too old for me, and he always had coffee breath.”

Claire laughed. “I’m just thankful you’re out of there, and that you’re okay.”

“I wasn’t really that worried,” said Lucy. “Like Melanie said, their evidence was all circumstantial. They hoped I would be scared enough to talk about Marty.”

“You still haven’t heard from him?” asked Margie.

Claire shook her head, instinctively checking her phone. “Unfortunately, no. I don’t know where he is or how to contact him. He’s probably still on the run, poor soul.”

“I checked the FBI’s Most Wanted List,” said Lucy. “He’s not on there anymore.”

“Hopefully he’s still on the island,” Claire said. “I’m excited to tell him the good news.”

“After you find him, will you be returning to the hotel?” asked Margie.

Claire bit her lip. “I’ve made a decision about the hotel.”

“Oh?” Lucy leaned forward again.