A Whisper of Danger by Catherine Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

out to the wreck with you?” The boy’s voice cut through the argument. “I’m a good swimmer, and I could help you—”
    “Absolutely not.”
    The words spoken from the stairway in the hallway at the far end of the courtyard drew the attention of every man at the table. Rick swung around, and there stood Jessie. Jessie with her hair cut short and shining red brown in the sunshine. Jessie with her violet eyes rimmed in long, black lashes. Jessie with a yellow T-shirt over a gathered skirt of gauzy fabric in every shade of the rainbow. Beautiful Jessica. His wife.
    “Did I give you permission to come down here, Spencer?” she asked the boy, her voice tight. “Get upstairs this minute.”
    “But I’m eating breakfast.”
    “Upstairs.” One long arm shot out, a finger pointed at the rear staircase. “Now.”
    “Okay, Mom.”
    The word skittered down Rick’s spine like cold marbles. Mom. Jessica Thornton was a mother? He watched the boy push away from the table and plod sullenly toward the steps. How old was the kid? Eight? Ten? He had no idea. Had Jessie remarried? And what was she doing in Zanzibar . . . at Uchungu House . . . with Hunky Wallace?
    “Jessie,” he began.
    “I have one thing to say, Mr.Wallace,” she interrupted, her eyes trained on the Scotsman. “I want you and every single one of your men out of my house now. This is my home and my land. I want you all to get in your trucks and leave me alone.”
    “Now then, lass, you’ve a grand knot in your knickers, haven’t you?” Hunky stood and rubbed his hands over his bare belly. “What have we done to distress you? We’re merely eating our breakfast before we set out to sea. And you might like to know that we’ve been joined by an esteemed representative of the Tanzanian government. May I present Mr. Richard McTaggart? Rick, this is Ms. Jessica Thornton, the new owner of Uchungu House.”
    “We’ve met,” she said, never taking her eyes from Wallace. “Look, I don’t care about your shipwreck. I just want you off my property.”
    “You may not care about the wreck, but the government does. Isn’t that true, Mr. McTaggart?”
    “That’s true.” It was all Rick could make himself say. His mouth felt as dry as an old sea sponge. He could hardly believe he was standing in the same room with Jessie again. After all these years . . .
    “The government has papers,” Hunky told her. “Important documentation of their regulations. Don’t they, Mr. McTaggart? They’ve a right to explore the wreck.”
    “I don’t care who explores the wreck,” she said. “Just don’t come onto my property again.”
    “Listen to me now, lass.” Hunky put a hand on Jessie’s elbow and turned her toward the door. “Why don’t you just come with me and see what I’ve got to show you? You’ll understand in a minute how vital this shipwreck is. And you’ll see why Wallace Diving, Ltd., and the Tanzanian government have no choice but to . . .”
    Rick watched as Hunky led Jessie out of the courtyard toward the front verandah. He picked up a napkin and mopped his forehead. Jessica. Here in Zanzibar.
    So he hadn’t imagined it. She was living here in the old artist’s house. She had a son. And she despised Rick McTaggart. Above all else, that last fact could not be denied. She hated him. Hated him so much she couldn’t even bring herself to look at him.
    He couldn’t blame her. He’d walked out on their marriage years ago. How many years? He couldn’t even remember. He’d been a kid, and things had been so . . . so confusing. So mixed up. At the time he hadn’t known much of anything except that he loved Jessica Thornton. Loved her and was hurting her. Loved her and couldn’t satisfy her. Loved her and would eventually destroy her.
    “You’re the guy my mom barfed on.”
    The voice at his elbow brought Rick back to reality. A pair of eyes the same luminous blue violet as Jessie’s scrutinized him. “Hey, Splint,” Rick said. “Gonna