“Only some of it,” Taylor insisted. “I knew he’d found the ship and intended to salvage it. But I didn’t know anything about pirates. And I certainly don’t know where he is! Pirates?”
The last was said with a wail, and her hands shook as she attempted to light a cigarette. She’d finally managed to quit last year, but Lani decided it wasn’t surprising that this situation would have kick-started the habit again.
“Here,” Donovan said, taking the matches from her hand. “Let me.”
Taylor gave him an appreciative look as she inhaled deeply. “I was afraid you’d find out about the Wainani ,” she said on a flat voice. “Especially after Lani told me all about you being recruited for the FBI.”
“I thought you wanted Donovan to find Ford,” Lani objected.
“I did. Because I was getting desperate. He was my only hope. I just didn’t want him to find out about the Wainani at the same time.”
Lani was clearly confused. “Why? Surely you don’t think Donovan would steal the money?”
“Of course not.” Taylor was on her feet, pacing nervously back and forth across the floor of the candy shop that looked a lot tidier than it had just two days ago. She’d locked the door and turned over the Closed sign as soon as they’d arrived. “But I was afraid if he knew what Ford intended to do, he’d arrest him.”
“My jurisdiction doesn’t cover Orchid Island,” Donovan pointed out.
“So?” She shot him the stink eye. “All you’d have to do is tell Chief Kanualu what you know, and Ford could end up in jail.”
“Donovan wouldn’t do that,” Lani said quickly. “Would you, Donovan?”
“I’m a lot more interested in keeping the guy alive than in putting him behind bars,” he confirmed. “Speaking of which, what, exactly, did you tell the Feds?”
“I didn’t think you’d bought that story about the hookup,” Taylor admitted. “I knew it wasn’t very convincing, but I had to make up the story on the spot. How was I to know that you’d find out I’d been to Agent Dempsey’s office?”
“I told you he was brilliant,” Lani put in.
“So you did,” Taylor agreed dryly. “As for the FBI, I didn’t give them any details. I only asked Dempsey and the two other agents he called in, if the government gave rewards for the recovery of stolen salvage. Hypothetically, of course.”
“And you thought they’d buy that?” Donovan asked. As many years as he’d been a cop, he’d heard just about everything. And could still be surprised at the idiocy of some people.
Taylor nodded. “They certainly seemed to. In fact, they didn’t appear at all interested in anything I had to say.”
Donovan knew better, but he didn’t see any point in muddying the waters at this point. Since Taylor had actually been cooperating for once, he didn’t want to take a chance on her clamming up.
“Where is the Wainani , Taylor?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t know. Ford said it would be safer if he was the only one who knew where she went down,” she added, seeing Donovan’s disbelieving look.
“Do you know if he had a chart showing the spot?”
Taylor shook her head dejectedly. “I don’t think so. That’s what the people who trashed our shops were looking for, wasn’t it? The chart.”
“It would appear so,” Donovan agreed.
“I was so worried about the authorities finding out what Ford was doing. But the men who tore the place apart weren’t FBI, were they?”
Donovan’s lips were a taut, grim line. “No. They would’ve shown up with a warrant.”
Her blond hair was like a curtain, hiding her face as she bent her head. When she finally lifted her gaze, her wet eyes observed Donovan bleakly. “Ford’s in a great deal of danger, isn’t he, Donovan?”
Donovan knew the gallant thing to do would be to lie, to assure Lani’s friend that she’d have her missing fiancé back in time for dinner. “I think he is, Taylor,” he said instead.
She digested that for a long, thoughtful moment. “Then you’ll just have to find him before something terrible happens to him.”
“Of course he will,” Lani assured her. “Won’t you, Donovan?”
“Since I’ve always been a sucker for gorgeous damsels in distress,” Donovan said philosophically, “I suppose I don’t have any choice.”
“Taylor is beautiful, isn’t she, Donovan?” Lani asked as they drove away from the Sugar Shack.
Knowing he was in a no-win situation, Donovan merely shrugged. “Sure. I suppose so. If a guy goes for that type.”
She slanted him a sideways glance. “Don’t most men prefer blondes?”
“Not necessarily. And I thought we’d agreed that I’m not most men. Are you by any chance fishing for compliments?”
The blush that was the bane of every redhead’s life rose brilliantly in her cheeks. Folding her arms, Lani directed her gaze steadfastly out the window. “Of course not. Don’t be silly.”
He reached over and took her hand. “For the record, the gorgeous damsel in distress I was referring to was you.”