Kingdom by the Sea (Romantic Suspense) Read Online Free Page B

hour ago by a man matching the
description you gave. 
    “Both Chester ’s housekeeper
and Jim White, of White’s Tree Nursery, also saw the perp speeding off in the
boat, headed south.  Presumably the guy will ditch the boat lower down the
coast, so we have an APB out. 
    “Apparently
one of our local innkeepers—Todd Finn—thinks he spotted our guy, too. 
Although, according to Finn, the perp was heading north.”  Donovan shrugged. 
“We’ll find him.  The descriptions were thorough enough.  'Looked like a cross
between a monster and an oaf,'” he read from the file, then explained dryly,
“Old Chester's in his seventies, he doesn't mince words.” 
    What
a relief!  Nicole's description of her attacker had also been pretty distinct. 
From the dim, fleeting glimpse she'd gotten she could say with certainty that
he was tall, ugly, maybe in his forties.  The words “Sloth from The Goonies ”
had crossed her lips more than once. 
    Spackel
handed Nicole and Michael each a cup of coffee and sat down at his desk; the
coffee warmed right through the lightweight cup and into Nicole's palm. 
Normally she liked sweetener in it, but considering how lucky she was to be
alive, she wasn't about to be picky.  Really, coffee was coffee—
    Or
not.  Blech.  It was overly bitter, way too strong, almost foul.  She
took another sip.
    “Sorry
about the coffee,” Spackel said with a deprecating smile.  “Irene goes home at
five.  After that, we're pretty much on our own.” 
    Donovan
continued, “Probably a vagrant passing through on his way to Wellfleet.  It
happens occasionally.  But to tell you the truth, on the off-season, violent
crime around here is practically nil.”
    “Probably
figured he could get some money off you,” Michael suggested.
    Both
officers nodded in agreement, which made Nicole feel better; she didn't want to
contemplate the grislier possibilities.  
    “Or,
for all we know, he wasn't right in the head,” Donovan said.
    Nodding,
Spackel stroked his chin.  “Now that you mention it, there was that
radioactive experiment at the mental hospital not far from here—the one built
on ancient Indian burial ground.” 
    Nicole's
mouth dropped open. 
    Spackel
grinned.  “Just kidding with you.”
    “Oh...”
she said, exhaling a sigh and laughed in spite of herself.  “God, what a
night.”
    “But
I don't want you to worry,” Donovan went on, sitting forward and setting his
amusement aside.  “We have our coast guard patrolling the waters now—if the
perp's still in our vicinity, believe me, he'll come up on their radar.  We've
already alerted the neighboring coast guard stations south and southwest of
here.  Rest assured, Chatham is a very small town.  Around here people notice
things—and people—if they're out of place.”
    “Which
is a nice way of saying there are a lot of busybodies around here,” Spackel interjected. 
“Basically, people are all up in your grill, whether you like it or not.”
    Well,
Nicole was never more thrilled at the prospect of busybodies.  Even though she
had been assaulted tonight, she felt strangely safer now than she had
after her apartment was robbed.  Maybe it was because the police here were so
personable; maybe it was because she hadn't even had to call them.  Maybe it
was knowing the violent troglodyte who had grabbed her on the beach seemed to
be long gone. 
    Donovan
spoke again, this time addressing Michael.  “And Mr. King, what you did was
really decent.  On behalf of the department, I have to thank you.”
    “I
just stepped in the way anyone would have,” Michael responded.  Nicole would
like to believe that, but she was not convinced that the bravery and chivalry
Michael had shown were as instinctive in other men.  Granted, her friend,
Cameron, would have tried to save her.  Of course her dad would have.  But a
total stranger? 
    Nevertheless,
Michael King seemed uncomfortable with the praise.  He obviously