“We’d better get back,” Quinn said.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead; Sandy Burnett did the same.
Colby thanked Quinn again—and Sandy.
Leaving the hospital, they ran into Tracy Kennedy who was returning with a bag from a nearby clothing store.
“Underwear,” she explained, grimacing. “Home is an hour away in light traffic; I’m coming down to Key West soon, but I promise I won’t surprise you. I’ll let you know when I’m on the way.” She smiled. “I just have to get back into my house, you know!”
“Of course,” Quinn said. “It is your house.”
As they stepped out of the hospital, both of their cell phones started beeping and buzzing.
“No satellite connections seem to work in there,” Sandy said, shaking her head.
She looked at her phone.
“Oh, no,” she said.
Quinn looked at his own.
His heart seemed to lodge in his throat.
There were several messages from Danni.
She was heading to the beach. A couple asking about the film people. And then the last….
Get back here! There’s been another attack!
Chapter 6
The film set scene was absolute chaos.
At first, of course, there was the confusion. Some people watching or even taking part were convinced that it was all part of an elaborate show.
Police and security rushed in. Andrew was gone, tearing onto the beach, trying to determine what had happened.
It seemed that everyone was rushing to the beach—when the girl had come from the thicket of pine trees.
Danni walked along the edge of the trees as people rushed by to the injured girl; Danni prayed that she was only injured—that she had managed to run from her attacker.
She was dimly aware of Andrew shouting to someone. “Did you get it—were you filming? The police will want that film…and I’m going to want that film!”
Danni walked more and more quickly along the edge of the pines. They grew at a bit of a distance from one another—pinecones littered sand and scruff grass beneath them.
She stood still, thinking that she’d seen movement.
And she had.
Something black…a tall figure…moving between the trees.
“Hey! Police!” she screamed. “In the trees!”
At first, she wasn’t even heard. She raised her voice. Suddenly, there were several officers and buff men in beach trunks running toward her; she motioned toward the pines. “I can see someone in there—someone walking!”
She was almost mowed down.
Sirens were blaring. An ambulance was on its way; police vehicles were screeching toward the area. Danni looked at the spot on the beach where the girl had fallen, shading her eyes from the sun.
She still had no idea if the girl was alive or dead, but security and the police had moved in—at least keeping her from being suffocated by those who wanted to try to help her.
Shouts from the area of the pine trees alerted her to the fact that someone had found something. And then, the police came out with bullhorns, announcing that the beach was closed—everyone was to get off.
Danni desperately tried to find out what was going on.
They had to have found something. Something in the scattered pine forest by the beach—something black that moved like a zombie nun.
Danni found an officer and tried to explain that she’d been working with the police; that she was the one who had sounded the alarm. He wanted nothing to do with her—and insisted that she follow the crowd and leave the beach.
She tried to find Andrew or Vanessa or Joe—or any of the film people, but there was tremendous confusion and she didn’t see anyone that she knew.
Finally, she moved out herself—no one there was going to listen to her. She could head back to the station, or see if Quinn had gotten her messages and if he was on his way back.
She had barely broken free from the crowd when a Monroe Sheriff’s Department car stopped by her side. A man in a suit came out; he was lean and hard looking and apparently angry.
“Get in the car, Miss Cafferty.”
He evidently knew who she was.
“Why? And who are you?” she asked.
He produced his wallet and credentials. “Detective Ralph Mason. I want you down at the station for questioning—now!”
Another office was driving the car she noted. She had thought about heading in to the police station. But she was instantly on the defensive. Why did he want her?
“Why in God’s name would you question me?” she asked him.