Island of Secrets Read Online Free Page B

ladies.”
    Nancy led a smiling Hannah to their table. When the waitress handed her a menu, Hannah read through it. “Heavens, look what they’re charging for lobster salad!”
    Nancy studied the face she had known since childhood, suddenly seeing Hannah in a new light. Her skin was unlined and the color of peaches and cream, her gray hair soft, her figure trim. No wonder a man like Walt Winchester would find her attractive.
    Hannah leaned toward Nancy. “He’s quite a charmer, isn’t he?”
    Nancy grinned. “Yes, he is. I understand he may be appointed a judge on the New York State Supreme Court.”
    â€œReally?” Hannah glanced at the menu. After a minute she said, “You know, I think I’ll have that lobster salad.”
    After a leisurely lunch, the two of them separated. Hannah proudly rode her moped back to the cottage, and Nancy decided to stop by the police station before picking up Barb to go to thebeach. She found Jim in his office, typing up a report.
    â€œHi,” she said. “Got time to buy a girl a cup of coffee?”
    The sergeant looked up from the computer screen. “Hi, Nancy. Gosh, I wish I could but we’re swamped. How about a cup of the local brew instead?” He indicated the coffeemaker in the corner.
    â€œSure. I won’t keep you. I just wondered how the case is going.”
    â€œBefore we sent the hammer to the lab on the mainland for analysis, we noticed initials scratched into the handle. They led us to a suspect.” He poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “He’s being questioned right now.”
    Nancy was surprised. “That’s fast work. Does that mean you think the hammer is the murder weapon?”
    â€œThe preliminary autopsy showed bruises on the face and head, but the cause of death was a sharp blow to the back of the skull. It will take a while to determine if the wound could have been caused by the hammer, but it seems likely.”
    â€œBruises,” Nancy said, thinking out loud. “Sounds like he must have been in a fight before he was killed.”
    â€œThat’s what we figure.”
    â€œWho is your suspect?” she asked.
    Jim frowned. “Another Islander. They both fell for the same girl, and twice before this theytried to settle it with their fists. It’s too bad—they used to be friends.”
    â€œHathaway,” a police officer called from the main room. “The chief wants you.”
    â€œOn my way,” Jim answered. “I’ve got to run, Nancy.”
    â€œSee you later. And congratulations on solving the case so quickly.”
    Jim grinned and hurried away.
    As Nancy rode her moped to Barb’s apartment she felt a sense of relief that the case had apparently been solved so soon. Jim sounded confident that the lab would find evidence that the hammer was the murder weapon. She was ready to relax and enjoy her vacation, without the complication of a murder.
    She was wearing a new bikini under her shorts and T-shirt, and had a towel and her tote bag stuffed in the moped’s basket. She was anticipating a brisk swim followed by a lazy afternoon on the sand.
    At the apartment Angie opened the door. “Hi,” she said. “Barb should be here any minute. Come on in.”
    Nancy and Angie chatted while waiting for Barb. Nancy found out that the two had met at college in Boston, where Angie was majoring in art. Her father owned a pizza restaurant, a popular hangout for college students, and Angie worked there part-time, as did all her brothersand sisters. With her experience as a waitress, it had been easy to find a summer job on Block.
    Without warning the door burst open and Barb charged in, furious. “You’ll never believe what’s just happened!”
    â€œWhat?” Nancy asked, standing up.
    â€œDo you know what the police have done now?”
    â€œWhy don’t you tell us,” Angie said calmly. She