Return to Butterfly Island by Rikki Sharp Read Free Book Online Page B

plastic mesh staggered like a drunk on a Friday night along the cliff edge. As they talked, James McKriven led them slowly towards the sound of the crashing sea and the salty smell.
    “Back in 1997 your aunt made a new will in a fit of depression, leaving the entire Stuart estate and the Grange in trust to the islanders. As far as she was concerned, her nephew had died at sea and you and your mother had vanished to the mainland, never to be seen again.”
    “I remember we moved about a lot after we left the island. Dundee, Glasgow, then slowly further south. Lots of places. Lots of little flats and pokey boarding houses, that’s all I remember.”
    “Well, if your mother had wanted to hide your trail, she did her job well. I understand Beatrice had people looking for you both for some time, before illness and infirmity took her. So, in her despair she made that stupid will. But whilst I was recently conducting a general survey of all property on the island, your aunt and I renewed our old acquaintance. After extensive research, I produced a portfolio of investments that would benefit Beatrice and the island far better than her original will would, and she agreed to the wording of the initial document about six weeks ago.”
    “So that’s it then? The Grange passes over to your company?”
    A vexed look crossed James McKriven’s handsome face just for a moment, then he regained his debonair composure. “Would life were that simple, China. I may call you China, I hope. For between us, without the interference of these inbred residents, I’m sure we can come up with a sound business solution that will benefit all sides.”
    “Let’s hope so.” China was a little wary of this fox. She’d worked with many businessmen just like him in Manchester. But so far, he seemed to be making sense.
    “In the fine print of my company’s contract with your aunt, she insisted in inserting a clause that stated that in the possibility of any living relatives being found before the burial of said Beatrice Victoria Stuart the deciding signature be passed to that descendant. In short, my dear, you .” It was then that McKriven overplayed his hand. The look he gave China was like a fox might give a chicken. Hungry .
    “There is one final twist to this tale, but I’ve my doubts that it’s true. Seemingly two nights before her death, your aunt had a complete change of heart. Calling that wretched landlady of the Inn up to the Grange late at night, she wrote out a new simple will, leaving all her worldly possessions to you by name. Somehow, by divine intervention or otherwise, she had discovered that you were still alive.”
    They were stood near the lip of the cliff at that point, the waves now visible some hundred feet below, smashing against the jagged rocks. James McKriven drew China close to him, his arm around her waist, under the pretence of keeping her safe.
    “There was only an original draft of this fictitious will, which was never seen by her solicitor. It was witnessed by Biddy Baxter and she is the only person who claims it exists. Since that night, no one has seen the damn thing, despite a thorough search. Very thorough, I can assure you. So there you have it. Do you want to look through my business proposal, or shall we all scrabble around some more searching under every rock on the tedious island for this imaginary will? Your choice.”
    “I’ll . . . have a think,” China gasped breathlessly, pulling away from James. As she did so, her foot slipped and several stones clattered away under the safety fence and down into oblivion below. Moving quickly, McKriven caught her by one arm, moving the two of them away from the cliff edge.
    “You do that, my dear. But careful now. This cliff has been slipping away inch by inch every year. We don’t want you having an accident, do we?”
    And there was that predator smile again. It was at that point that China realized that James McKriven was a very charming, very ruthless,