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Miles’ stomach.
    â€œYou’re right,” Gavin reassured Ginger like a man bent on getting her naked in the next five minutes. “Mom’s just being silly. You can remind her of that tomorrow. Why don’t we go up and eat that wonderful dinner you had planned?”
    She glanced between the two men. “We can’t just leave Miles. Don’t be so rude, Gavin.” Her elfin face lit up in a smile. “Why don’t you join us? I made more than enough.”
    Miles looked past Ginger and took in the pained expression on his brother’s face. Ginger’s lack of talent in the kitchen was legendary among the townsfolk of Chances Inlet. Clearly she made up for it in other ways, however, judging by the satisfied smirk his brother wore daily.
    â€œMaybe another time, Ginger, thank you. Lori usually fixes enough dinner for both Cassidy and me. I’m on my way back there now.”
    Ginger’s eyes glazed over briefly and her voice had a bit of a euphoric tone to it. “Oh, I remember those dinners Lori made when I lived at the inn. They were amazing.”
    â€œI’m sure whatever you made will be just as delicious, sweetheart,” Gavin said. His encouragement was likely born out of the two chili cheese dogs Miles watched him devour at the pier earlier this afternoon. “I’ll catch up with you on our morningrun tomorrow, bro.” And with that, Gavin hustled Ginger up the stairs to the loft, slamming the door behind them.
    Midas let out a whimper and flopped to the floor with a sigh.
    â€œYeah, three’s probably company up there, huh, pal?” Miles stood up and switched off the lights. “Come on. You can come hang out with me until my conference call later tonight. Right now, we need to conduct some serious negotiations with the mystery who works in Mom’s kitchen.”

FOUR

    T he muted sounds of the grandfather clock chiming the dinner hour floated up from the foyer of the inn. A late-day breeze ruffled the curtains in the window as Lori crouched on the carpet and rummaged through the large duffel bag containing all of her worldly possessions.
Scratch that
. One of her most important possessions was missing: her grandmother’s gold wedding band.
    Tessa, Lori’s Australian sheep dog, breathed out a consoling sigh as she laid her nose down on her front paws. Perched on top of the double bed in the small third-floor bedroom reserved for staff, the dog tracked every movement with her brilliant blue eyes as Lori carefully unpacked and then repacked the bag.
    â€œI know it was in here. I check it every night before we go to sleep.”
    The dog whimpered softly and Lori tried not to panic. That ring was her talisman—the last remaining piece of the life she’d once had. It was the only article of jewelry she’d taken when she’d made her getaway. Lori hadn’t wanted any of the other expensive items—although she could have likely pawnedat least one piece, which would have gone a long way toward making her present circumstances not quite so dire. But none of that other jewelry had actually belonged to her. The pieces were all part of an elaborate ruse, just like the life she’d been living the past several years.
    The lump in her throat was painful as she dug her fingers through the outside pocket for a third time. “It has to be here.”
    Tessa’s head popped up when the door swung open and a big golden retriever bounded into the room. The dog made a beeline for the open duffel bag, rummaging his snout through Lori’s things as if he was looking for a long lost bone.
    â€œHey! Get out, Midas!” Lori shoved the eighty-pound fur ball away just as Cassidy trounced through the open door.
    â€œThat crazy mutt was drinking out of the toilet in the foyer bath again,” Cassidy complained. “I mean, he’s got a full bowl of water in the kitchen. What’s so special about the