Carolina Isle (Edenton 2)

As soon as the three of them were outside, David said, “Where is she?”

“Bathroom,” Sara answered.

“Ariel is snooping, isn’t she?” David said.

“I really have no idea. I wonder why the people here call an American restaurant a ‘public house’ as they do in England?” she said, trying to change the subject.

Five minutes later, Ariel came out the front door and Sara went to her. “What did you do?” she whispered.

“I wanted to try the telephone that I saw in her bedroom. It was dead. I didn’t have time to see if the problem was that it was unplugged before I heard her coming.”

“I wish you’d be more careful. I don’t trust that woman,” Sara said. “And where did you learn to sneak around like that?”

“When you have a mother like mine, you learn to sneak—and lie. I’m good at both. Wait up!” she called to the men and hurried ahead.

R.J. stopped walking and held out his arm to Sara. She took it.

“We’ll fix this,” David said. “After a good dinner—”

“‘Eat, drink, and be merry,’” R.J. quoted.

“‘For tomorrow we die,’” Sara finished.

Chapter Nine

WHEN THEY REACHED THE RESTAURANT the locals called a pub, all four of them smiled. The interior did indeed look like an English pub, down to the horse brasses hanging around the huge walk-in fireplace. It was warm weather so the fire wasn’t lit, but it was easy to imagine that it was lovely when it was.

The waitress treated them as though she was used to strangers. None of the other patrons so much as glanced at them as they were shown to their booth. Ariel and Sara sat beside each other, the men across from them.

The waitress passed out menus, photocopied sheets inserted into those old-fashioned black-trimmed plastic holders. The men ordered beers, Sara ordered a gin and tonic, while Ariel asked for sparkling water with a slice of lime.

“I think we should try to enjoy our time on the island,” David said when the waitress was gone.

“Should we enjoy the ‘no money’ part first or the ‘coming trial’ part first?” Sara asked.

David acted like she hadn’t spoken. “We’ve met someone good, we have a charge account, and we’ll get off the island on Monday. Someday we’ll look back on all this as an adventure.”

The waitress gave them their drinks and as soon as she was out of earshot, Sara said, “I don’t trust that Vancurren woman,” then the women laughed because Ariel had said the same thing at the same time.

“Boo, hissss,” R.J. said, sipping his beer. “Both of you are jealous.”

“Of what?!” Ariel and Sara demanded, then laughed again, because again, they’d said the same thing together.

“We were good at exchanging places,” Sara said.

“You were abysmal,” R.J. said. “Although I like your new clothes, and what did you do with that wig? Do they make it in red?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Sara said, “and don’t start another argument. Ariel and I don’t trust her and we don’t like her.”

“And every word she spoke was a lie,” Ariel said.

R.J. looked at David. “Did she talk? I didn’t notice that she could talk, did you?”

“I thought she was a deaf mute,” David said. “Never said a word, but the hand gestures were nice.”

“Both of you are despicable,” Sara said.

“I agree,” Ariel said. “Any woman could dress like that and look like that, but a lady—”