First Time in Forever (Puffin Island 1)

“He’s here.”

Emily was busy trying to stem the flood with a couple of napkins. “Ryan?”

“The man with the camera. The one who climbed into the house.”

It took a few seconds for the words to sink in, and when they did, Emily dropped the napkins and slowly turned her head. The man was standing between her and the door, blocking the only exit. He scanned the restaurant as if searching for someone, and, after a few moments, he approached a couple at the table nearest to him and showed them a photograph. Heart thumping, Emily pushed both toys into Lizzy’s hands. “Get under the table, sweetheart.”

“But—”

“Get under the table, and whatever happens, don’t move.” She positioned herself with her back to the restaurant, hoping to block the man’s view.

She was thinking hard about her options when she heard Ryan’s deep voice behind her.

“We’re busy today. I’m going to have to ask if you mind sharing your table.”

Melting with relief, Emily turned her head to warn him, but he put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.

“I’ve got this. Just crowd around and pull up a few extra chairs.” He smiled at the students at the table next door, and they swiftly decamped to Emily’s table, laughing, chatting and crowding around as he’d instructed. “Anna, give Emily your hat. She’s in full sun there.”

The girl next to her slid her hat from her head and passed it to Emily.

She glanced down and saw the words Marine Center embroidered on the front.

“Put it on,” Ryan said softly. “Keep your back to the room and leave the rest to me.”

“Here—” Anna pushed a copy of Marine Biology into her hand. “Get stuck into that. Don’t look so panicked. Ryan has got this. We’ve all got this.”

Two bulky guys with windswept hair sat either side of her, and one of them put his backpack carefully on the floor in front of Lizzy. With so many legs and backpacks, it would be next to impossible for anyone to see her.

Even so, Emily’s heart was thudding as he approached the table.

“Hi.” His smile was warm and friendly. “You guys live on the island?”

Anna smiled back. “During the summer. You?”

“Sadly, mine is a short visit. I wondered if you’d seen this little girl around.” He handed a photo of Lizzy to Anna, who studied it carefully, shook her head and then passed it across the table to another girl.

Their eyes locked, their fingers brushed, and the photo fell into a sticky pool of chocolate milk.

Anna tutted. “Rita, you are so clumsy.” She made a fuss of wiping it and tore the edge. “Oh, no! Now I’m the clumsy one.”

The man gritted his teeth as he took it back. “I thought you might have seen her? She’s traveling with her mother, a woman called Emily.”

“Your wife and child?”

“My sister and her little girl. There are marital problems. I promised I’d help her.”

“Your niece?” Anna took another look at the photo. “She doesn’t look anything like you. But, no, I don’t remember seeing her.”

“The address is Castaway Cottage, but it’s not listed anywhere, and no one I ask seems to know where it is.”

“Castaway Cottage?” Anna looked vague. “Never heard of it, and this is my third summer on the island. You could try asking Pete—he drives the island cab.”

“I did. He said there is no Castaway Cottage.” The man looked frustrated. “But I know that’s the address.”

“Not on this island. Let me see that photo.” Ryan took it from the man. “She looks like Summer. Her mother owns Summer Scoop just along Main Street. Or maybe not. It’s not a great picture.”

“If you wanted to rent somewhere out of the way on this island where no one would look for you, where would you stay?”