Island Boy

By Linda M. Orlando

Sixteen-year-old Dannie hates his new stepfather, Sheriff Mike, and the secluded island where none of the old rules apply. Even the girls are different—especially the tempting Emily Rogers. And when Dannie thinks things couldn't be worse, he and Mike face the danger at Paradise Point. Will Dannie put aside his anger and help Mike solve the mystery before anyone else has to die?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781590882894

Book preview

Dedication

To my son, Marco

Prologue

I t’s too bad you had to get involved, the voice boomed.

He was shoved over the side of the boat so that his head dangled only inches from the frigid ocean water. His entire body trembled with fear. But I won’t tell anybody, I swear.

We can’t take that chance. You might tell Mike, and we can’t have that. We don’t need him making trouble for us.

I won’t, he said, his voice quivering. Besides, Mike is too busy with wedding plans, getting the house ready for his new family.

We just can’t risk it. We’ve got too much to lose.

But I’ve got pictures. If anything happens to me, Mike is bound to find them. He’ll get you anyway.

Where are they? the familiar voice boomed.

If I tell you, you’ll kill me.

If you don’t tell me, I’m going to kill you.

The huge fist struck the side of his head, once, then twice. Tell me where they are!

No!

Again and again the gloved-fist struck him. Where are they?

No!

He’s lying, one of the other men said. He doesn’t have any pictures.

Finish him off! another man commanded.

Then he felt himself falling, tumbling backward. The icy waves splashed over him. He struggled to keep his head above water, but the wooden oar slammed into him pushing him under. He couldn’t breathe. His lungs were filling with water and his arms and legs were so cold he couldn’t move.

Then the darkness came.

One

The deep green water was rough, spray slapping him in the face, as Dannie sat silently in the stern of the boat. His sandy hair fell forward into his face, nearly covering his normally-sparkling blue eyes. He looked back at the mainland, as the life he was used to got further away with each passing second. Then he stared straight ahead at the island that was about to become his new home. He still couldn’t believe his mother had done this to him. He wished she had never gone home for her high school reunion. She had married her high school sweetheart and impulsively moved her family from their life in New York to this secluded island in Maine.

Their life had been good in New York. He had friends. His younger brother, Stevie, and his sister, Kelli, did, too. Now they all had to start over—living with Mike—in his house.

Dannie didn’t speak as the wooden boat met the land and Steve scrambled out and ran up over the rocky shore. Is this our new house? Kelli called, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she headed toward the shingled two-story building.

Go on in, Mike called to her. Make yourself at home.

Dannie watched his mother slip her arm around Mike. They kissed just like he wasn’t there. Why couldn’t they do that behind closed doors? Dannie thought.

Mike’s hand gently caressed her cheek, then his fingers lovingly tucked a spray of brown hair behind her ear. I’m so glad you’re here, Mike said softly to his new wife.

So am I, Dannie’s mother said. Then she looked toward Dannie.

Okay, Dannie, give Mike a hand with the suitcases, his mother said, taking a bag of groceries and heading toward the house.

You grab those two and I’ll get these, Mike said.

Dannie ignored him, just sat there in the boat. So this is it? he grumbled.

Mike stopped and turned toward Dannie. Dannie could feel Mike’s eyes on him. But Mike didn’t say anything, just stood there looking at him. Dannie waited, daring his new stepfather to confront him. He had a lot he wanted to say and secretly hoped Mike would start something so he would have reason to explode with what he was really thinking.

Instead Mike picked up two of the suitcases and carried them up to the grassy shoreline. Dannie watched and waited, his arms folded across his chest, as Mike walked back to the boat. Still Mike didn’t say anything, just grabbed two more suitcases and headed back toward the house.

Finally Dannie stood up. He couldn’t sit there forever. Everyone was ignoring him. They didn’t care that he didn’t want to be there, that his whole life was back in New York. He sighed, then peered over the side of the boat. There was one rock protruding from the water, the one dry spot for him to step with his hundred dollar pair of running shoes.

He stepped over the side of the boat, carefully placing his foot on the rock. Then he shifted his weight. As he did so, his foot slipped on the wet rock. Dannie struggled to keep from falling. But he tumbled backward into the water. He landed first with a splash, then a thud, as he made contact with the rock-strewn bottom.

Arrggh! he bellowed with frustration.

Need a hand? Mike asked, offering his.

Dannie glared up at him, wishing he could wipe that smirk off his stepfather’s face. Then he reluctantly accepted Mike’s hand, allowing Mike to pull him to his feet. Look at my shoes and my jeans, Dannie growled. He pushed by Mike and headed up the shore empty-handed. His soaked jeans and sweatshirt were pasted to his body, his shoes sloshing with each step.

Hey, did you forget something? Mike called, tossing Dannie his backpack and gym bag.

Yeah, yeah, Dannie grumbled, then picked up his stuff.

Dannie stomped up over the rocks, across the grass and into the house, leaving a trail of soggy footprints behind him. He slammed the door. Mom! Mom! Where are you? he bellowed.

Up here, Dannie, she called. Come up and see your new room.

Dannie stomped up the stairs, his wet shoes still sloshing. Where are you?

In here, she called from a room to the left.

Dannie stepped into the room. Bunk beds? No way. I’m not sharing a room with a third grader. Mom, I had my own room, he complained.

What happened to you? You’re soaked.

Duh.

Well, get into the bathroom and get changed before you get everything wet.

But, Mom—

Dannie, don’t. There are only three bedrooms. There’s one for you and Stevie, one for Kelli, and one for Mike and me. You’ll have to adjust, learn to share.

But he’s just a kid. I’m in high school. I need my privacy.

I don’t want to hear it, Dannie. This is our new home and we all have to adjust. You’re not a child. You’re sixteen years old. I shouldn’t have to tiptoe around you and play games. You should be helping Stevie and Kelli get settled in, get used to their new home. Instead you are the problem. You are the one acting like a two-year-old having a temper tantrum. What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to stop living just because I have kids, live like...

So how’s everyone doing? Mike asked, as he came into the room. Getting settled in, Dannie? he asked, putting his hand on Dannie’s shoulder and pretending that everything was all right.

Yeah, we’re doing great, Dannie grumbled. I have to share my room with the squirt, I’m stuck on an island miles from anywhere, I can’t see my friends, had to leave my home. I should be happy, right?

This is an adjustment for everyone, his mother said, trying to ease the tension.

This place stinks. I don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to pretend I’m happy about it.

No, you don’t, Mike agreed. But this is it.

Mike turned and walked away, and his mother did the same. There really was nothing more to say, so Dannie took his bag and stomped into the bathroom to change. When he returned, he threw his bag into the corner and dropped down onto the bed.

I want the bottom, Stevie said, standing in front of Dannie. I can’t climb the ladder, he whined.

Dannie looked at his younger brother. Fine, he grumbled. I’ll take the top.

Thanks, Bro, Stevie said, jumping onto the bed. Isn’t this great? We get to live on an island. We’ve got a new dad and a new house.

Yeah, great. Dannie climbed onto the top bunk and covered his head with a pillow to drown out his babbling younger brother.

Dannie, come down here and give Mike a hand, his mother called.

Dannie reluctantly jumped down off the top bunk and sauntered down the hall.

Dannie! his mother’s voice shrieked.

I’m coming! he yelled back, but he did not move any faster. He was in no hurry to help Mike do anything.

He stepped into the living room. Well, what is it?

Help Mike move the couch. I want it on the other side of the room, his mother said.

Hey, where’s the television? Dannie asked, looking around the large room.

We don’t have a television, his mother explained.

Well, where is it? Dannie demanded. We had one in New York.

And it’s staying in New York. I put almost all of our furniture and household things in storage. You know that.

But our TV...

We’ll be moving some of the stuff up from New York at the end of summer, Mike explained. You and I will probably take the truck and go down.

Great, so we’re not going to have any television all summer?

We won’t need it, his mother said. We’ve got lots of other things to do. We can go out on Mike’s boat, do some fishing on the weekends, or go camping.

Why would I want to go camping? It’s bad enough right here, Dannie complained.

Dannie, that’s enough. I don’t want to hear another word. His mother took a step toward him, her hands resting on her hips.

It’s all right, Kathi. He can speak his mind, Mike said.

He doesn’t need to be rude and self-centered. You know, Dannie, the world does not revolve around you. Other people have feelings, too. If you were acting like an adult, instead of a child, you would recognize that.

Yeah, yeah, Dannie groaned, as his mother continued the same old lecture he had heard so many times before.

Things change, and you have to accept that. You might find out that change is a good thing, his mother continued.

Dannie, grab the end of the couch and let’s get this thing moved, Mike said, picking up one end of the couch.

Kathi left the room as Dannie reached for the other end of the couch. The two worked together to move the couch to the spot Kathi had pointed out. Dannie dropped his end and turned to walk away. I don’t know why anybody would want to live in a place like this, he muttered as he walked toward the stairs.

Dannie went back to the bedroom and looked out the window, watching Mike as he walked across the grass to the rocky shore.

Dannie, you wanna go outside? How about playing ball? Stevie asked.

I don’t feel like it, Dannie snapped.

Come on, Stevie pleaded, tugging on Dannie’s hand. We’ve got all this space to play. It’s like having our own park. Look at the grass and the trees. We might even get to have a tree house.

I said I don’t feel like it, Dannie shouted. Why don’t you go ask your new dad to play with you?

I will, Stevie said, picking up his baseball glove and ball and heading out the door.

Why couldn’t Stevie see that there was nothing good about their move. Didn’t he get it? Mike wasn’t their new dad. He was just the guy who happened to be married to their mom. Their dad had died almost eight years ago, and Dannie wasn’t going to let anyone take his place.

Dannie stared out the window, watching Stevie race down toward the shore. Mike took the ball and tossed it to Stevie. Dannie watched as the ball flew high into the air then dropped, as if on cue, right into Stevie’s glove. It reminded him of the time he and his dad had gone to Yankee stadium. The Yankees had been in the World Series that year and it was the final game. The crowd was so loud, and just about everyone was standing up. Dannie was standing on his seat, just so he could see the game over everyone’s head. It was the last inning. The Yankees were leading. The batter swung and the wooden bat connected with a loud crack. The ball sailed into the air, over the wall, and directly at Dannie. The ball would have hit him right in the face. But his dad reached out and caught it in his bare hand. After the game, they had gone down to the field and had it signed by some of the Yankee players.

Now the ball was somewhere in storage back in New York. Everyone acted like his father had never existed, that the past should be put behind him and forgotten. But that wasn’t going to happen. He wasn’t going to let go. He wasn’t going to like Mike or his crummy house.

Stevie was laughing, wrestling with Mike on the grass. The little traitor was acting like Mike was his dad.

Dannie climbed up into his bunk and stared at the ceiling. He sighed and closed his eyes.

Dannie, I want to talk to you, his mother said.

Dannie opened his eyes and stared at his mother. She was standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips just like every other time she was about to get on his case.

What? he grumbled.

I’ll give you a few days to get settled in. Then I want you and Stevie to go out on the boat with Mike. I think it would be good for you to see how hard he works, what he does for a living.

No way. I don’t want to spend any more time with him than I have to.

Oh yes you will. Maybe then you will show some respect and have some appreciation for the home he has provided for us.

We had a real home back in New York, the same home we lived in with Dad.

I don’t want to hear anymore. You will go, and that’s that.

Fine. But he’s going to be sorry you made me go.

I think he can handle you, she said, slamming the door as she left the room.

He’d be sorry all right. He would make sure Mike would never want him to go out on the boat with him again.

Two

It was only three o’clock in the morning when his mother opened the bedroom door and turned on the light. Come on, boys, time to get up, she called.

Dannie rolled over and looked out the window. But it’s still dark outside.

It’s time to get up and get ready to go to haul with Mike.

Dannie couldn’t believe a whole week had gone by since his mother had decided he had to go out on the boat with Mike. She should have forgotten about it, just like he had. But Mom, he whined.

But nothing.

It’s still dark outside, Dannie repeated.

It won’t be by the time you have breakfast and get down to the mooring. Now come on. Get up and get dressed, and don’t forget to wear something warm.

Stevie sneezed as he rolled out of bed.

Are you feeling all right? his mother asked, putting her hand on his forehead. You feel a little feverish.

But I’m not sick, Mom, Stevie whined.

I think you had better stay home this morning. You can go with Mike another time, she said, pulling his covers back up over him.

But Mom, I want to go.

Not today, his mother said, the tone of her voice telling Dannie that Stevie was wasting his breath arguing with her.

She turned to leave the room. Get moving, Dannie. Don’t keep Mike waiting.

Lucky little twerp, he said to Stevie as he pulled on his jeans and sweatshirt.

I want to go, Stevie said. It’s not fair that I have to stay home. I’m not sick.

Yeah, well it’s not fair that I have to go, either. I’d rather stay home, Dannie said, turning out the light and stomping down the hall.

Good morning, Dannie, Mike said, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table. Sit down and have some oatmeal.

Sure, why not, Dannie said, sitting down at the table.

His mother put the bowl of oatmeal in front of him. He poured some milk on the paste-like substance, then sprinkled some sugar on top of it. He took a spoonful and tried to force it down. There was no taste, nothing to indicate that it was edible. But he swallowed.

Dannie watched Mike as he consumed a large bowl of oatmeal, two