Island Secrets

By NM Rheneas and TB Van North

KC Shaw leaves her life in New York City to start over on the beautiful Vacation island of Nantucket. Ever the recluse, she mostly keeps to herself while out and about and tries to work on her next book in the popular 'Erin Michaels Series". Only a few months into her new life, things take a turn for the worse. Someone is after her, but who? Is it her past coming back to haunt her or is there someone else trying to get to her? While local police try to figure it all out, her secrets are not the only ones to unravel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312399549

Book preview

Island Secrets

Island Secrets

NM Rheneas

&

TB Van North

1

Off the dirt road and onto the beach path, KC ran full steam.  As she approached Sesachacha Pond, she picked up her speed.  Huffing and puffing, KC reached the beach and ran another hundred yards.  She slowed and finally stopped and bent over, hands on her knees, as she caught her breath.  Sweat ran down her face and every surface of her bare skin was beaded with perspiration. 

KC tugged her tank top over her head and dropped it to the sand.  She kicked off her running shoes and peeled her shorts down as she walked quickly toward the water.  She ran the last few yards until the water hit her mid-shin then she dove into the warm, salty pond.

Early September on Nantucket Island was still summertime warm.  It took until August for the water surrounding the beautiful island to heat up to comfortable levels for most people, and September benefited from that momentum for most of the month.  The shoulder or ‘quiet’ season began after Labor Day when most of the summer folks left to go back to their real lives.

KC’s cell phone was ringing in the pocket of her shorts, but she was oblivious as she cranked out into the middle of the pond.  She stopped and floated on her back, enjoying the beautiful day and the water.

KC Shaw was a fiction writer from New York City who recently transplanted full-time to Nantucket.  The successful run she’d had the past decade with her Erin Michaels series of romantic thrillers allowed her to buy a great little cottage and set up shop far, far away from the hectic life she had been living in the city.  Going to Nantucket a few times a year always proved so nourishing to her soul that she decided to feed it full time.

She swam back to the beach and sat down in the sand next to her clothes.  She always ran with her swimsuit under her clothes so she could swim midway during her run.  KC spent the time she wasn’t writing, running, cycling or swimming.  Her creative outlet of writing needed to be offset by something physical.  KC has been an exercise junkie for as long as she could remember.

KC reached into her shorts pocket and slipped out her cell phone.  She saw the missed call, Fuck. 

She hit send and put the phone to her ear.

Well, if it isn’t little miss island vacation.  Do you have a few minutes for your editor or are you too busy doing whatever it is you do there? 

Cal, why do you always have to be such an asshole? KC’s sarcasm was as pointed as Cal’s.  The two had been working together for years and they’d always had a love-hate relationship.

How’s my book coming?  When will you have a draft for me?

KC sighed.  She had been on the Island full time now for a few months and since buying her house, setting up shop and getting into her new routine, she hadn’t done much writing.  She had been picking away at the outline of her next novel but it was in no way near a full draft.

Say Cal?  Why don’t you fly out for Columbus Day?  This place is fantastic since all the tourists have left.  A weekend.  Just you and me.  What do you say?

Sweetheart, I have been waiting for an invite since you arrived there.  I’ll have Justine book my trip immediately.  Should I get a hotel, or will you host me in your new digs?

Get a hotel, jackass.  Even if I had the room in my new place there’s no way in hell you’re sleeping anywhere near me after a couple of cocktails.

The two laughed and KC breathed a silent sigh of relief.  She knew she would be able to knock out the rest of the draft in the next four weeks. 

2

Back at her newly built cottage, KC stood naked in the outdoor shower.  The stall had six foot tall privacy fencing on all sides, and only the slate shower floor was visible along with eight inches of her legs.  KC loved the breeze that blew around her ankles as she showered in the almost open air.  The birch tree she planted at the corner of her shower enclosure peeked over the top of the white wall.  KC loved to watch the tiny leaves flicker in the breeze – especially if the sun was shining through them – while she showered.

This past Spring, KC made the decision to move full time to Nantucket and worked closely with a local designer and builder to create the perfect little place she plans to call home for many years to come. 

One of the reasons she chose to make such a drastic change was how much she loved this immaculate island and the feel it had. It was unlike anyplace else she’d ever been.  The main reason however, was to escape the growing unease she had in the big city since being stalked and attacked in her apartment a year ago.  She wasn’t raped, but the things her attacker said and how he handled her during the attack were a psychological violation that KC didn’t know if she would recover from.  Not fully anyway.

She didn’t sleep for weeks and weeks.  Cal had persuaded her to stay at his loft one night after having a dinner meeting together.  She knew he’d had too much wine and thought it might not be a good idea, but was so desperate to feel safe and possibly get some rest that it outweighed her worry that Cal might become inappropriate.  Never one to disappoint, Cal made his move and KC swiftly kneed him in the balls and the episode was over.  She did sleep better on Cal’s sofa, but was angry at him for a long time after that.

Her cheerful cottage was very simple.  It was quintessential Nantucket with its cedar shake siding and large shuttered windows.  She only wanted enough room to work and sleep but with soaring ceilings, tons of light, and the very best finishes to keep her creativity up.  KC needed to work in a beautiful setting to put out her best sellers. 

The front of the cottage had a large deck with an oversized, heavily cushioned swing hanging from a beam that made up the simple trellis over the deck.  Four people could easily sit on it and KC loved to watch the sky change as the sun set while stretched out on it.  Inside the front door the entire interior was visible.  It was one large open room with a smallish and efficient kitchen with marble counter tops and black pine cabinets, Sub-zero, Viking and Bosch stainless appliances.  Two comfy bar stools at the short counter served as the only dining area.    Beyond the counter was a larger room where a massive dark wood canopy bed which took up most of the space against the wall.  It was covered in luxurious, overstuffed white bed coverings with piles of gorgeous decorator pillows.  It was the most opulent thing in the entire house and KC spared no expense on any of her few furnishings and finishes.  At the foot of the bed was an overstuffed white sofa with matching overstuffed ottoman.  On the right wall, directly in front of the sofa and bed was a large flat screen television.    The room served as both the living room as well as the bedroom.

The pièce de résistance of the entire space was the gorgeous vaulted ceiling, full of dark wood beams and angles leading into a large cupola.  There were eight skylights at the top, forming a halo around the ceiling, letting in beautiful light.  At night, KC could look at the stars through the ceiling and loved every detail in her tidy little cottage.  The walls were whitewashed pine paneling which had sea shells and enormous dried star fishes on most surfaces.  A large ceiling fan cooled the entire space.  Her only bathroom was enormous, with a frameless glass shower stall large enough for several people, with a built in bench for KC to enjoy the steam, light and sound features of the custom shower panel fixture.  The walls and floor were covered in white Italian marble.  The vanity and mirror were framed in the same painted white walnut finish.  No expense was spared but the lines were clean and simple.  There was an exterior door leading from the bathroom to the outdoor shower with its slate floor and the Birch tree peeking down.  The only interior access to the outdoor shower was through the bathroom.

KC loved her new home and felt secure and serene each time she came back to it.  She knew she could live there for a long time and planned to do exactly that.

3

Order up, Jen!

Jennifer Trainor moved quickly to the service counter between the kitchen and dining room of the Downeyflake restaurant.  The breakfast crowd was noisy and harried this Tuesday morning.  The vacationers had fled and school was back in session.  The island was back to its usual off-season speed and she couldn’t be happier.   She loved the summer but was always glad when the wealthy and stylish people went back to where they came from. 

You taking the boys to Autumn Festival this weekend, Jen? Carly Ryan was looking at her expectantly as Jen refilled two more cups of coffee at the counter. 

You bet hon.  Mack says he can get the day off Saturday so we can all be there together.

Mack Trainor was Jennifer’s’ husband and love of her life.  They had been together since high school and had two boys in middle school.  Mack had been a Nantucket Police Officer for fifteen years before being promoted to Sergeant a few years back.  They lived in a modest (by Nantucket standards) house in Madaket.  Mack made a very good living but Jennifer had worked with Carly since high school, and went back part-time after the boys were born.  The two were best friends and Carly’s family had owned the Downeyflake for generations.

I just started making the girls Halloween costumes.  It will be here quick you know.

Jen groaned as she thought about that task ahead of her, too.  Even though the boys were older and Jen thought it would get easier, it still seemed as busy as when they were tiny and needed her to do everything for them.  She smiled as she thought about how awful her problems were.  She had a fantastic husband; healthy, growing kids; just a happy and hectic life.  Others should be so lucky; she thought as she picked up the two steaming plates of pancakes and delivered them to her waiting customers.

4

Kyle?  What’s your twenty? Over.

Mack Trainor sat at his desk and waited for Kyle to respond to his radio call.

Central this is Fifteen, over.  I just pulled into Branch’s Tow Yard, Mack.  The car is here, over.

Mack rubbed his chin as he thought about this strange crime.  The