Dead By Nightfall by Beverly Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

sitting blindfolded on the boat, she had felt a sharp sting on her arm. Now, she realized that sting had been caused by a hypodermic needle. Apparently after she had fallen into a semi-unconscious state shortly before the boat docked, Linden had removed the gag and the blindfold and untied her wrists.
    Nic scooted to the edge of the bed, slid her feet off onto the floor—her bare feet—and stood on the highly polished wooden floor. Someone had removed her shoes. She glanced down at herself and gasped. She was completely naked.
    Who had undressed her?
    What, if anything, had Linden—or anyone else—done to her?
    Seeing a large gold-framed cheval mirror in the corner of the room, Nic ran straight to it and inspected herself from head to toe. No blood. No bruises. No sign of being abused. But then she had been unconscious. With cautious deliberation, she ran her fingers over her mound and between her thighs. Nothing there to indicate she had been violated.
    As she searched the room for an exit—a way out—she discovered a luxurious white marble bathroom, a balcony overlooking an inner courtyard—lush with greenery and flowers, a pool in the center—and one locked door. Draped on a pink padded hanger on the back of the bathroom door, as if it had been placed there just for her, she found a cream satin robe. Without hesitation, she jerked it off the hanger and put it on, eager to cover her nakedness. Just as she knotted the satin belt around the robe, she heard the sound of a door opening and closing.
    Her breath caught in her throat. Garnering her courage, she forced herself to walk out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. Not knowing who had entered or what she would find, Nic stopped suddenly the moment she saw the dark-skinned woman, dressed in a colorful muumuu, carrying a large silver tray.
    â€œGood morning, missus.” The woman smiled at Nicole before she placed the tray atop the large table between the two armchairs.
    â€œWho are you?” Nic tried her best to keep her voice calm, not an easy task considering the predicament she found herself in at the moment.
    â€œI am called Lina,” the woman replied. “You want I pour tea now?”
    â€œNo,” Nic said and then added, “No, thank you.”
    â€œYou want I make bath now?”
    â€œNo.” She walked straight toward the woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. “Lina, I want you to tell me where I am.”
    Lina looked at her as if she didn’t understand the question. “You are here at Sea View.” She pronounced the two words as if one, sounding like zee-few.
    â€œSea View? Is that the name of the town or this house?”
    â€œYou are hungry,” Lina said, obviously ignoring Nic’s question. “I bring you fresh fruit, tea, and bread. You sit. Eat. You feel much better.”
    â€œI feel fine.” Nic skimmed her hands over her body from neck to waist. “Did you undress me?”
    Her large brown eyes wide, Lina stared at Nic and shook her head.
    â€œYou didn’t undress me? Then who did? Who took off my clothes?”
    â€œYour clothes?”
    â€œMy shirt.” She patted her upper torso. “My pants.” She slid her hands over her lower torso. “Who took them off?”
    Lina smiled. “I take. You rest good.”
    Nic sighed with a combination of relief and frustration. The girl’s accent sounded neither Spanish nor French. She had no idea what Lina’s native language was.
    â€œWhere is Mr. Linden?”
    Lina’s expression changed immediately, going from warm and friendly to somber and quiet.
    â€œMr. Linden, the man who brought me here. Where is he?” Nic repeated her question.
    Without saying another word, Lina hurried away from Nic. She beat her fist against the door and called loudly, “I go now.” The door opened instantly. Nic rushed across the room as Lina walked out into the hall, but