Rounding one corner, they found themselves in the town. The roads were better, and they passed several other cars. The town was much larger than Desmond had assumed it would be. This was what Gabriel could have done for Clindale, if he had wanted to. This was a thriving community, enhanced by the visitors who came here.
“Where should we start?”
Considering several options before answering, he found what he was looking for. “Let’s park and walk around.”
“Okay.”
Pulling into a small parking lot near a restaurant, they got out.
“Let’s go inside some of the shops. If they sell items that are locally made, it won’t seem out of the way to ask questions.”
“Good idea. Let’s give it a go.”
The first shop they went to sold jewelry. Desmond didn’t have to pretend an interest. Striking up a conversation was easy as they examined several pieces, the woman owner enlightening them where she had sourced her material.
After he purchased two pair of earrings he had seen Haley keep going back to, they left the store.
“You didn’t have to buy them. I was—”
“Take them as a thank-you for helping me get on the island,” Desmond said as he gave her the bag to put in her purse.
Biting her lip, Haley accepted the small bag from him. “I’m the one who owes you for getting Leighton and the boys to Nadia.”
“Your brother has a screw loose. I was only able to get her out because I surprised him. When he goes after Leighton, he’ll go prepared.”
“I’ve already thought of that. She’s going to stay with Nadia and Dante for the weekend. When I get there, I’ll be able to find a safe place for them to stay. Gilbert won’t be stupid enough to try anything when she’s under Dante’s roof.”
“No, he won’t,” he agreed.
Spending another two hours visiting the various shops, they then made their way back to the car.
“Hungry?” he asked.
Haley nodded. “I could eat.”
“Want to try out the local cuisine or head back to the hotel?”
“I’m adventuresome; let’s eat here. Which would you rather do?”
“Let’s eat here. I like eating at new places.”
Desmond caught the surprised way she was watching him once they were seated at a table in the restaurant nearby.
“Why were you surprised I would rather eat here instead of the hotel?”
Haley lifted a shoulder at him. “Probably because you don’t have to have a reservation to enter.”
“You think I only patronize five-star restaurants?”
“Or when your personal chef isn’t around.”
“You couldn’t be more mistaken.” He clenched his jaw in irritation.
“Why are you becoming angry?”
“You don’t know me at all.”
“Does anyone really know you, other than Lucas? You’re not exactly a fountain of information.”
“That’s rich coming from you.”
Desmond felt a spurt of satisfaction at seeing she was getting annoyed with his own critique.
“What does that mean?”
“You hole up in your office and only come out when you have to.”
“That’s not true. I’ve tried to make friends, but someone, who will remain nameless, put pressure on his other employees to get their work done before mine. You created an atmosphere of resentment.”
“You’re blaming me for you not having friends?”
Haley lifted her nose at a haughty angle. “I said you would remain nameless, but the shoe fits, doesn’t it?”
His irritation changed to amusement at her snideness. “Since you no longer work for me, the point remains moot, doesn’t it?”
The food arriving brought an end to the sparring. As they ate the steamed rice and spicy chicken, Desmond glanced around the restaurant.
“I’m sorry today was a bust.”
Turning his eyes back to her, he unconsciously gave a low sigh. “It was a shot in the dark, anyway. This isn’t where Gabriel stashed the inhabitants of Clindale.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. I’m going to try again once we reach the hotel. I’ll go to the kitchen and see if I pick up any gossip, but I’m fairly certain this isn’t the place where Gabriel took them to.”
“Can I ask the reason you’re so emotionally invested in finding them?”
“Why aren’t you?” Her examining his motives puzzled him.
“I am, but this isn’t an instance in which I’ve had to deal with matters toward lost populations. That’s the reason Nadia and I created Moonbeam. Did you know Nadia had a horrific childhood?”
“I know she met you in boarding school.”
“Before that, she was a runaway, lost in the foster care system. Her father killed her mother. Do not think I’ve spent time agonizing over contacting my relatives again. I would have never done so if you hadn’t told me about Clindale. I left that life behind, and I’m not enjoying being back in it, other than hopefully Leighton and the boys having a chance at being free of Gilbert.”
“I didn’t mean to come across as ungrateful.”
“If you truly mean that, then tell me the real reason you are helping. The one fact I do know about you, Desmond, is that you don’t get emotionally connected to your causes. You freely use your brain and money to help, but there is a difference in this case. You would not be throwing your wealth and prestige around to find out what happened to them, nor putting on false pretenses, and putting in your personal time to fly halfway across the world.”