mostly of her daughter. Cate paused every time she saw something that could be on the island. She slowly searched through the dates around the time of when Tianna’s photo had been taken.
Nothing. Disappointed, Cate continued to look.
Two minutes later she saw it.
She opened the post. Nayla’s husband held their toddler daughter and an ice cream cone in front of Widow’s Ice Creamery. She checked the date. It was nearly two years earlier than Tianna’s photo. She showed Tessa her results.
“Well, they weren’t here on the same day, but they did both visit Widow’s. I think it’s something . . . they must have caught someone’s attention.”
“You think it’s a local we’re looking for,” said Cate.
“It has to be someone who knows the area well enough to get three women onto the island and into the state park without anyone seeing something suspicious.”
“True.”
Mike reappeared. “The list is being texted to me in a photo.”
Someone doesn’t want to use their email.
“We discovered that Nayla and Tianna have both visited the island,” Cate told him. “But at different times.”
Mike considered that. “It’s something, right?”
“Yes, but we aren’t sure what.”
His phone dinged, and he opened the text. He read it quickly. “There’s about twenty names. Nothing immediately jumps out at me, but maybe it will to one of you.” He handed his phone to Tessa, and Cate looked over her shoulder.
Tessa flinched at the same moment Cate caught her breath.
Cate scanned the rest of the names and came back to the only one she knew.
Chris Corbin. The island’s real estate agent.
10
“What do you know about Corbin?” asked Mike as they walked down the street to the real estate office. They had checked the other names on the list, and no one lived on Widow’s Island. The link between Jeff Lamb and Chris was too big to ignore.
Cate and Tessa exchanged a glance. “I don’t know much except that he’s rather quiet,” said Cate. “Seems to be good at his job. Clients say positive things.”
“Same here,” agreed Tessa. “I don’t know him personally at all.”
“If you want more information, Mike, I could call Jane,” suggested Cate. “She knows everything about everybody.”
“I’d like to know who I’m dealing with. Call her.”
Cate dialed. Jane picked up immediately, and she put her grandmother on speaker. “Jane, what can you quickly tell me about Chris Corbin?”
“The real estate agent? I think he’s been here for about ten years. I remember Leslie was done with the real estate business about that time, and Chris took it over then. Let’s see . . . he dated Molly Kramer for a bit. Didn’t last. Lots of ladies around here have their eye on him, you know. Single men are rare on the island—although most of the single women are older than him. He’s always polite. Umm . . . seems like he leaves the island for a few weeks after the holidays. Goes somewhere warm, I believe. Maybe Arizona? What else do you want to know?”
Mike shrugged at the question, and Cate understood. Chris Corbin seemed to lead an unobtrusive life.
“I think that’s good enough for now.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you later. I need to go—and please don’t tell anyone I asked you.” Cate mulled over the information as she ended the call. “Where do you think he goes in the winter?” she asked Tessa.
“Who knows?” said Tessa. “Right now I’d like to talk to him, but I don’t want to tip our hand. I think asking why Jeff Lamb calls him would definitely do that.”
“She’s right,” said Mike.
“His car isn’t there,” Cate said, pointing at a spot next to the real estate office. “Chris always parks between those rocks.”
“Whose car is that?” asked Mike.
“Emma’s,” said Tessa.
“She’s Chris’s assistant. You might have briefly seen her when we arrived at the bakery yesterday. Henry had been talking to her. I’ll call and ask her if Chris is in the office.” Cate dialed, and Emma promptly answered. “Hi, Emma, it’s Cate Wilde. Is Chris in?”
“I’m sorry, Cate. He took the day off today. Do you need his cell number?”
“I have it.” She looked at Tessa, an idea forming in her mind. “I might stop by with Tessa for a few minutes. You’ll be around?”
“Yes, I’m here until five.”
“Okay. See you in a few.” Cate ended the call.
“What are you doing?” Mike asked, concerned lines between his brows.
“Since he’s gone for the day, let’s ask Emma if the Reynolds and DeLeon families found their vacation rentals through Chris.” She looked from Mike to Tessa.