Paradise Crime Thrillers Books 4-6 by Toby Neal

Author:Toby Neal [Neal, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Toby Neal

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Marcella had been lucky enough to find a parallel parking spot in front of Sophie’s dad’s building. The wide, pretty avenue with its spreading monkeypod trees was quiet in the early morning. She’d texted Sophie on her arrival, and her friend exited the building’s glass doors. Wearing a plain white button-down shirt and easy-movement black slacks, Sophie was dressed as she’d been every day for the five years they’d worked together at the FBI, and the sight gave Marcella a pang.

She got out of her Honda Accord and came around to embrace her friend on the sidewalk.

Sophie smelled of sandalwood soap. Her grip was almost bruising on Marcella as the women hugged. “I’m so sorry I just went off without telling you where,” Sophie whispered. “It was wrong of me. I was…grieving.”

“I know you were.” Marcella was glad she’d taken the time to sort through her emotions and let go of her hurt and anger. She held Sophie at arm’s length. “You cut your hair off again.”

Sophie tugged at her short, dense, dark brown curls self-consciously. “I needed to wear a wig. And—this is easy. Not much to it.”

“That’s always been a good look for you, scar or no scar.” Marcella’s Italian mama instincts kicked in as she took in her friend’s hollow cheeks. “Really, not much to you anywhere, now. I need to feed you up, girl. You’re getting downright skinny. Let’s stop by a coffee shop on the way to the law office; I bet you didn’t eat breakfast.” They got into the Accord and Marcella headed for the nearest Starbucks drive-through. “I’m going to get some carbs, sugar, and caffeine into you. Now tell me everything.”

Sophie did, beginning with her decision to go to Kalalau, spurred by a postcard she’d found in the Ghost’s office. “It seemed like it was some kind of message. I’d been enjoying myself for the most part, figuring out my camping gear each night, Ginger and I just taking our time and enjoying that incredible place, when this woman literally stumbled into our camp, hysterical over her missing son.”

Marcella ordered a large black coffee for herself and tea and a breakfast croissant for Sophie at the drive-through, and listened as her friend unburdened herself about the situation she’d found in that remote valley on Kaua’i. “As soon as I’m done with the deposition, I’m supposed to meet Dad and Alika and Jake for a drink at the Honua Pub. But all I want to do is go see Nakai in the hospital. He must be so afraid with not one familiar face around him.”

Marcella glanced at Sophie, concerned by the vibration of emotion in her friend’s voice. “Sounds like it really affected you.”

Sophie blew out a breath. “I never told you that I was kidnapped when I was seven years old.”

Marcella almost put on the brakes. She glanced at the dashboard clock—there was no time to stop and hear the story. “No, you did not. I would have remembered.”

“I was taken from my family home in Thailand.

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