Island Holiday (Brookwell Island #4)

Chapter 2

Sonya was in her favorite place on earth. Well, almost. She was in the South Carolina Lowcountry, only a few miles away from the resort owned by the family of Harper Ellington, one of her two best friends. But she’d discovered Brookwell Island, a barrier island town south of Charleston, came in at a close second.

Next week, over Christmas, she was expected to spend the holiday at the resort with Harper, the greater Ellington family, and the third woman who made up their sisters-of-choice trio, Hannah Lynch. Well, Hannah Mathison after marrying Seth, who would definitely be joining them as well.

They were such a cute couple. Seth was an awesome guy, a Guardian Agency protector, and best of all, he made Hannah so happy. The Ellingtons had embraced Seth just as swiftly as they’d once embraced Hannah and Sonya when Harper had invited them to spend winter break with her during their first year of college.

Harper claimed it was an Ellington family trait to recognize good people.

Always skeptical, Sonya blamed that initial warm acceptance on the renowned Southern hospitality being in high gear for the holidays. Harper’s family didn’t know Sonya came from a long line of thieves and con-artists. She hadn’t shared those ugly details then and didn’t see the need to ruin the magic with that admission now.

Looking back all these years later, she understood what Harper meant, though she still considered it a fluke and a wonderful twist of fate to have been fondly adopted by the family. In addition to the two best friends she now called sisters, she’d gained two brothers, countless aunts and uncles, awesome parents, and cousins for miles.

And she would go see them all as soon as she was done here on Brookwell.

She had to stop Zimmer first.

She was taking a big risk, trailing Zimmer to Brookwell. Her bosses wouldn’t be happy to know she was this close to the situation. After her chat with the student at the airport, she’d taken her findings on Zimmer to Gamble and Swann and asked permission to keep digging into what appeared to be a worrisome scheme. They’d given her latitude to follow the money, not the man in question.

But after that brief chat with the young woman in the airport, Sonya had become obsessed.

Economics professor Christopher Zimmer had been a client when she worked for the financial firm. Though he’d avoided all the turmoil when she blew the whistle on her boss there, his close association to the board members had raised her suspicions. When his name showed up in an article on consumer travel trends, she’d started poking around.

Carefully.

On the surface, Zimmer’s finances looked legit, even the huge consulting fee hitting his personal bank account with regularity. Then she found the project fund and, eventually, the string of shell companies behind it. On paper, he was the sole manager of the account that was funded by a consumer advocate testing group.

Sole manager. That alone sent up red flags for her.

And the more she dug into it, the angrier she got. Peeling back the layers and payments, she discovered he hired mostly female college students on work study and he paid them via direct deposit or a prepaid credit card. He provided the trendy suitcase and the airfare and usually threw in a weekend at a posh hotel or condo.

Orders for the suitcases weren’t paid for through the fund, only his personal finances. More red flags. And as of four weeks ago, he’d started traveling the same routes as the hired testers, although she couldn’t prove he’d interacted with them during their trips.

She’d sent the intel up the line and Gamble and Swann promised they were handling it. She trusted them, but the whole thing made her cringe. Her typical detachment went up in flames and she couldn’t seem to stop being mad about it.

Granted, emotions and non-verbal cues were not her true strengths. Sonya was much better with numbers than actual people, but the patterns in the money and the traveling were concerning. She didn’t often lean hard on her intuition, but in this case, she couldn’t shake the certainty that something worse was brewing. Was he testing airports and security measures? Or was he already using the suitcases for some kind of smuggling effort that put the student testers in jeopardy if they were caught?

Her remote work allowed her to do her job from anywhere with a good internet connection, making it easy to trail after Zimmer. Apparently the same held true for Zimmer. Despite his obligations to the university in Iowa, he was letting his teaching assistants handle the class load. He was rarely in one place for more than a couple of nights. Most of the time, instead of big hotels near the airports, he used privately owned rental properties.

She preferred vacation rentals too, so it seemed hypocritical to call that a red flag, but it still bothered her. She knew quite a bit about resort properties and hotels thanks to Harper. Although Zimmer had yet to use any Ellington-owned properties, he habitually sent the suitcase testers to East Coast cities, coming close to places Sonya thought of as family spaces.

With the holidays just a week away, she was determined to figure out what brought him—alone—to Brookwell Island. As much digging as she’d done into Zimmer’s scheme, she hadn’t found a record of any testers being sent here.

A shame really. The town was absolutely lovely, especially on a clear day with blue December sky stretching to the horizon.

Brookwell was only a short drive across a few bridges from the Ellington resort. The quaint coastal town was decked out for the season. From the moment she arrived, she’d been delightfully distracted by the decorations. Garlands of holly and evergreens sparkled with white lights at night. Twined around every lamp post, both traffic lights, and outlining each storefront on Central Avenue, the effect was picturesque. The gazebo in the center of town might’ve inspired a Hallmark Christmas movie, right down to the holiday music drifting from the speakers.

All that was missing were the soft drifts of perfect, fluffy snow.

Sonya never cared for winter weather. Growing up, her cold-weather gear was always second hand. Threadbare and worn out, the hand-me-downs didn’t make her feel cozy at all. She’d chosen a school further south mainly to get away from her dysfunctional family and discovered she preferred Christmas in places with balmy weather where she could wear shorts and flip-flops and wade through a cool ocean foam if the mood struck.

Besides, the current gorgeous conditions made following her target much easier.

Zimmer, currently half a block ahead of her, did an excellent casual-tourist impersonation with his khaki slacks, deck shoes, and a dark blue zip-up jacket open over a golf shirt.

If her field skills had been better, she would have used this time to search his room. Unfortunately, Hargrave Hideaway, the bed and breakfast where he was staying, was a bit too small. She’d inquired online about a reservation. From the resulting email exchange, she’d realized the three sisters who ran it were hospitable and friendly, and attentive enough that they wouldn’t overlook a stranger snooping around.

Sonya had to find another way to learn why Zimmer was here. As far as she could tell, it was his first visit to the island. Most recently, he’d visited Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks, and Savannah, Georgia, sites that matched up with his recent suitcase testers.

The historic Inn on Brookwell had plenty of rooms, a luxury spa, room service, and a fine-dining restaurant. Based on his previous travels, that’s where he should be staying.

Instead, he’d chosen the B&B.

Yesterday she had rented a bike and taken herself on a tour of the island, driving by the B&B for any clues explaining his decision. Of course, she came up empty.

If she could just figure out what he was up to she could give her bosses a head start and feel good about her upcoming time off over Christmas.

Her financial investigation had stalled out in the tangle of shell companies. Not a dead end, but not giving up any new information or insight right now. She was missing something important. Something a protector in the field would probably see right away. But it was just her out here, for now. Determination and perseverance could make the difference, so she kept searching.

She trailed Zimmer as he walked down toward the waterfront area, bustling with activity this morning. The locals just referred to it as the marina, but it was far more than docks and boats. From her research, she’d learned the island ran quite a few deep-sea fishing charters, so it was no surprise to find that nearly a third of the slips were vacant. Proof that most of those boats were still out on the water at this hour. Personally owned vessels of various sizes seemed to be moored in a different section, closer to the marina office. And at the far end, several smaller sailboats were tethered.

Back from the water, a long row of shops with a covered boardwalk invited locals and tourists alike to linger and enjoy the expansive, mesmerizing view. She wasn’t sure how any of the locals ever got anything done. She had a difficult time keeping her mind on her task when the beach beckoned under a cloudless sky and fresh breeze.

Coming across a coffee stand, Sonya placed her order. She’d find a seat and pretend to be a tourist while keeping tabs on Zimmer. He seemed to be meandering, but she didn’t believe he did anything without a purpose.

On the counter near the register, she noticed a basket of individually wrapped pastries and holiday cookies elaborately decorated as sand dollars with holiday motifs. Clever. And smart cross-promotion, too. According to the label, the treats were provided by the Bread Basket bakery on Central. She added a cookie with a red stocking on it to her order.

Although this was her first visit, she was already convinced the Bread Basket was the prime reason visitors flocked to the island. Just one taste of the bakery’s signature strudel and she was already addicted.

Sonya decided to place an order for Girl Christmas. That’s what she and Hannah and Harper called the mini-vacation they squeezed in at some point during the holiday season. Time for the three of them to hang out and relax. Harper never mentioned Brookwell, though as attuned as she was to the local hospitality industry, she must know about all its charms. The strudel would be an easy and delicious breakfast for the three of them.

She’d barely settled at a little bistro table when a stranger approached. “Pardon me. I think you dropped this.” She held out a business card.

Sonya pulled her gaze away from Zimmer to the woman who’d spoken. “You must be mistaken.”

“I’m not.” The blonde smiled and stuck out her hand. “Jess Billings. Though you probably know my maiden name, Jess Keller.”

Sonya managed not to groan, but it was a near thing. She’d forgotten the announcement welcoming a regional coordinator to the agency. A woman with offices in South Carolina. “Nice to meet you.”

Jess grinned, taking a seat across from Sonya. “For the record, that wasn’t very believable.”

“Sorry.”

“No worries.” Jess sipped her coffee as if they were a couple of old friends catching up. “Want to tell me what you’re doing out here?”

Not really. Sonya kept that thought inside. “Scoping out vacation spots?”

“Try again,” Jess prompted in a friendly voice.

“You already know, don’t you?” She sounded defensive, but that was better than guilty.

Jess nodded.

“I was about to clear it with Gamble.”

Jess studied her for a long moment. “I believe you.” She traced the edge of the sleeve around her coffee cup. “But you’re taking a big risk.” She leaned forward. “Why not use the resources at your disposal?”

Sonya frowned.

“Me,” Jess clarified. “I’m right here. As the regional coordinator for the agency, I could have put a professional investigator on Zimmer at any time.”

“Which is probably a thousand times more effective than me bumbling around. But he doesn’t know me. He’s never seen me before.” That probably wasn’t a lie. She’d put herself in his path, but he hadn’t considered her worthy of his con. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended or relieved. “I didn’t know I could contact you directly.”

“Technically, no. But I wouldn’t have turned you away.” A hint of a smile tilted her mouth. “Or tattled.”

“How did you know I was here?” Sonya asked.

“Because Gamble has had someone tracking you. Easy,” she added when Sonya tensed, her gaze scanning searching the area for a tail she should’ve spotted. “He’s been working remotely so you wouldn’t get spooked.”

That gave her pause. “I’m plenty spooked now.”

“Good.” Jess sat back and crossed her legs.

Her mind raced toward the worst-case scenario. “Are you here to tell me I’m fired?” She probably deserved it.

“Not even close.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Sonya caught sight of Zimmer once more, still strolling along, watching the activity in the marina. “Does Gamble have a theory about why my target is here?”

“Not that he’s shared with me,” Jess admitted. “I’ve looked at the file you provided.”

“And?” Sonya prompted.

Jess raised her coffee. “And I think you’re right to be concerned. I made a couple of discreet calls.” She paused. “Former cop. Suspicion is my wheelhouse.”

Sonya waited, curious about a professional assessment of Zimmer’s approach to the consumer testing and travel behavior.

“Usually, when things look wrong, they are,” Jess continued. “The suitcase company itself arranged for their products to be shipped around the world, offering plenty of proof that they hold up to the demands of travel. Your target routes his testers through smaller airports, mid-size flights. Hardly any test at all.”

“I agree.”

“What I did learn—entirely by accident—is that three of his testers had their original return flights changed.”

Sonya jerked. “Oh, my God.” Guilt shot through her, pinched her heart. “Where are they?” If ever there had been a time to hate her single-minded focus on the money, this was it. “I knew I was missing something.”

“Stand down, my friend. I’ve sent it up the chain of command and the researchers are picking it apart.”

“What does that mean?”

“So far, they’ve traced the social media accounts. All three are women, college students, and they’ve left cryptic posts on social media about being hand-selected for a special new project. A collage of still photos shows the young women happily posing with the suitcases, in an ‘undisclosed’ location.”

Sonya believed their research team could crack anything. “Meta-data, scenery clues, anything?”

“Not yet. One theory is that the backgrounds were altered.”

Sonya’s stomach sank. “I’ve screwed up so badly.”

“This isn’t on you,” Jess said firmly. “With your target here, I’ve verified that the women aren’t here as well. But no one wants you to become a statistic. You need to back off now. Unless you want to get into the field work.”

“Good grief, no way.” Her palms went damp just imagining it. “I mean, being a protector sounds sexy and looks exciting, but everyone knows I’m better with numbers.” She sighed. “And you caught me unawares to prove the point.”

“Maybe a little,” Jess admitted. “Tell me why this situation is pushing you out of your comfort zone.”

Sonya looked down at the oversized holiday cookie. “Want to split it with me?”

“Absolutely.” Jess grinned. “But I won’t forget I asked the question.”

“I’m not evading. My eyes are just bigger than my stomach.” Especially now that her stomach was in knots over Zimmer and the three young women who weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Jess shook her head in sympathy. “Preaching to the choir. The food around here is incredible all year long. Especially the Bread Basket. Everything Lila and Connie bake becomes my kryptonite.”

Sonya split the cookie inside the wrapper, handing half of it to Jess, while she considered her answer. She didn’t want to get into all the reasons this case was personal to her. And yet she had to offer up some kind of explanation. It was a matter of sharing the facts while keeping all her fears and inadequacies locked down. She didn’t need or want sympathy. Her past was over and done and far behind her. Her life was better for it.

“The man was a client when I worked for a financial firm.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Jess. “You know that story?”

“I do.” Jess lifted her coffee in salute. “Gamble included the short version with the file. Well done.”

Sonya managed not to cringe at the compliment. “Thanks.” Yes, she’d done the right thing, but it never felt like her finest hour, despite how it all worked out.

“Great. Saves time.” She paused to savor a bite of the perfect sugar cookie and then explained how Zimmer had come to her attention. “Nothing added up,” she continued. “So I poked around and when I discovered the way he targets college kids who are pressed for money or desperate for opportunities, I got mad.”

“Because of the exploitation.”

“Yes. Granted, he pays what he promises. The students get an all-expenses paid weekend away. But it doesn’t sit right. He’s a professor and not once has he recruited from his own university or offered such a sweet deal to one of his teaching assistants.”

“That sets off alarms on my suspicion meter,” Jess agreed. “If things were legit, you’d think he’d want to help the folks closest to him.”

“Exactly. And why does he follow some of the testers?”

Jess tilted her head. “Good question. Here’s another one. Why is he here when his testers aren’t?”

“Casing new locations?” Sonya guessed.

They watched Zimmer stroll down the row of storefronts, completely carefree. He spoke with a couple people, shop owners if Sonya had to guess, but didn’t spend too much time on any one conversation. She saw him take a couple of pictures of the ocean. When he seemed to get interrupted by a call, she returned her attention to her own conversation.

“The money isn’t telling you enough,” Jess said.

“No, it isn’t. There’s no clear tie between the suitcase company and the consumer study group. No tie between the company and the man himself.” She followed Jess’s example and didn’t use Zimmer’s name. “I feel like this is escalating, but I don’t have the data. I just want to prevent more trouble, whatever that may be.” She fiddled with the empty cookie wrapper. “He’s taking advantage of these students. Misrepresenting himself. Using their desperation for money or offering connections or…something. If three have gone missing—”

“That’s not confirmed.”

Sonya just stared.

“It’s suspected,” Jess allowed. She leaned forward once more. “Would you have agreed if a stranger offered to send you off for a weekend with a fancy suitcase?”

“In a heartbeat.” The words were out before Sonya could temper the reply. “I qualified for grants and still spent what felt like half my life scouring the internet for any and all scholarships. Five grand for a weekend travel break would’ve been like winning the lottery for me.” She sighed. “And I probably would’ve sold the suitcase for extra money when it was done.”

“Can’t blame you for that,” Jess said. “Do you know why he didn’t hire you?”

Sonya felt the color drain from her face. “How?” Her voice cracked. “How did you find out?”

Jess snorted. “Come on. You’re working for one of the best private security and investigations firms in the world. On top of that, you’re close friends with one of our people.”

“Hannah has been tracking me? I didn’t want to bother her with any of this.”

Jess shrugged. “I can’t confirm who has done what. I don’t have those particulars. But, Sonya, you’re valuable. According to Gamble, everyone likes you, not just the work you do for us.”

Sonya tried to believe it. She had never considered herself very likable. Part of it was her childhood. She didn’t retain any relationships from those years. Not a friend or any familial connections.

As an adult, it came down to a lack of understanding about how people worked. Without Hannah and Harper, she wasn’t sure she’d have any friends. She’d won the friendship and family-of-choice lottery when they wound up as roommates during their freshman year at college. The three of them had been inseparable ever since.

Sonya navigated professional settings with ease. She could analyze, keep her cool in a crisis, and keep a respectful distance. The foundation for those skills was built on her first job, cleaning house for an older neighbor woman who knew how she wanted things done. Sonya had learned more than how to make dull and lifeless linoleum sparkle. She’d seen a different type of life in that apartment and witnessed better choices in action. Not only had the woman taught her how to manage the money she earned, she taught Sonya how to keep most of her hard-earned money away from the black hole of her greedy parents.

Then it dawned on her. “You’re telling me Gamble and Swann already have someone tailing him.”

Jess didn’t react.

Because it wasn’t Sonya’s business. Her role wasn’t to be out here in the field. And yet, here she was, traipsing after Zimmer. “Did I screw up an operation?”

“No. The case is ongoing,” Jess assured her kindly. “To that end, you’ve been assigned a partner to help you sort out all the data you’ve gathered so far,” she explained. She held up a finger, signaling someone behind Sonya.

A partner? Muscles tensed along her shoulders. No, that would be the worst. “That’s not necessary,” Sonya said.

She didn’t do well on group projects. And it was the holidays. She had no problem working straight through. Her friends and the Ellington family would understand if she popped in on Christmas Day for dinner. She, Harper, and Hannah would take their Girl Christmas holiday near the first of the year. It wasn’t fair to drag anyone else down into her workaholic habits.

“I promise to stick to my desk,” she added. “There’s no need to involve anyone else.”

Zimmer was on the boardwalk, roughly a block away, and hovering awfully close to one of the charter boat offices, based on her research of the area.

Jess smiled warmly. If the expression was a ploy, she was good at it. “I used to be a cop,” she said. “One of the things you learn quickly is to count on your partners. I get being a lone wolf. I definitely understand the need to prove yourself, especially when that involves overcoming something from your past.”

Sonya’s breath went shallow as she waited for the hammer to fall. Braced for the worst, certain she was about to be reassigned, she mentally began the task list. Email her current findings and reasoning, write up the report and send it along as well. Then it would be all about finding an effective distraction and the self-control to walk away from a case she desperately wanted to see through to the end.

“Sonya?” The new voice—deep, mellow, and vaguely familiar—jerked her out of her thoughts. “Pleasure to meet you. In person, that is. Connor Brady.”

She stared at the extended hand, then up to his face. Her hand met his warm palm of its own accord. She was too mesmerized by the rest of him. Hazel eyes under darker eyebrows radiated kindness. His short brown hair was pushed back from his face, streaked with gold by the sun. A close-cropped beard framed his square jaw. The lightweight pullover only highlighted brawny arms and a sturdy build.

She recognized his face from agency video calls, but she’d never seen him.

Now, she’d never forget him.