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with the possible exception of the fish sold at the small marketplace. As a result, provisioning a rental villa was costly as well. Emma’s stay was funded in part by a worldwide cosmetic company eager to find a new source of botany to add to their antiaging cream line. Currently, it touted the use of sea kelp as a miracle ingredient.
    â€œBut voodoo is practiced on the out islands,” Johnson said. “And in Nassau.”
    â€œNassau is not Terra Cay,” Moore declared in a lofty manner that Emma found annoying.
    Terra Cay was known for its snooty manners. The island’s founding by the English, the extreme wealth of its citizens, and its ironclad rules made for a lovely place to vacation. The surrounding islands were the product of their Caribbean and West Indian ancestry. Carrow had been following the exchange between Moore and Johnson and he glanced at Emma and lifted an eyebrow.
    â€œDon’t many of the staff members on the island practice voodoo?” he said to Johnson, who nodded.
    â€œThey do. For many it’s their heritage. Especially the Haitians. They believe that a voodoo priest or priestess can cure any illness, even cancer.”
    â€œWhich is ridiculous,” Moore interjected. Emma noticed that Johnson pressed her lips together. There was an awkward silence.
    â€œWould you search through the house with me?” she said. “Once we’ve done that I’ll lock it up.” She looked at Carrow. “Then I’ll be free to go to your house.”
    Moore looked at his watch. “It’s almost two-thirty in the morning.”
    â€œSomeone’s always awake on the West Hill,” Carrow said. Moore frowned even harder. Emma thought Carrow had made mention of the West Hill specifically to annoy him. “I’ll wait in my Jeep. Whenever you’re ready,” he said to Emma. He sketched a wave at Moore and then gave the cook a deep bow. “Ms. Johnson, I recall your excellent cooking at the last party at the Blue Heron. It’s a pleasure to see your lovely face again.” Emma was astonished to see the solid, dependable Johnson almost flutter like a schoolgirl.
    â€œAnd you, Mr. Carrow,” she said. Carrow sauntered off.
    â€œLet’s look around,” Moore said. “I’d also like you to come to the office tomorrow so that we can file an official report.”
    â€œI’ll clean up the mess,” Johnson said.
    â€œWait.” Emma took out her cell phone and snapped a photo. “Okay. Thank you.” Johnson bustled off to the kitchen.
    Twenty minutes later all vestiges of the voodoo offering were gone; they had canvassed the house and found nothing. Emma walked with Moore to his Jeep. Twenty feet away she saw Carrow sitting in his, thumbing away on a smartphone. He didn’t look up. Moore climbed back into his vehicle.
    â€œWatch yourself with him,” he said. “Carrow and his group are wild characters. You don’t strike me as that type.” Emma smiled.
    â€œThanks. I’ll keep my wits about me.” She crossed her fingers and held them up for Moore to see. “Promise.” He looked somewhat mollified as he threw the Jeep into gear and drove off.
    She strolled up to Carrow.
    â€œMoore done with his excuses?” he said.
    Emma nodded. “I saw that you didn’t believe the mangrove story. What do you think is going on here?” He slipped a key into the ignition and gave her a serious look.
    â€œI think someone is sending you a message.”

Chapter 6
    C arrow handed her the scotch, the top now screwed on, and threw the Jeep into first gear.
    â€œBuckle up. We have to go straight down the hill and back up. I nearly lost my bass player on the lower curve just last week. Wouldn’t have been a huge loss, you understand, but in this case I’d hate to deprive the world of that brain.”
    Emma smiled at him. He smiled back, threw the car into first and hit the