Lexi came to quickly enough to help the bearded stranger move her into a sitting position on a stone covered with a straggling growth of rock phlox. She felt sick. His grasp was comforting, although she realized he too was shaking.
“Thank you,” she managed.
“Of course. I don’t suppose you have a phone?”
“Somewhere here,” she said. “I’ve already called the police. Rhys—a deputy’s on his way. It may take a while for him to get up here. Can you—”
“Oh, lord. I was running for the ferry. I need to be in Santa Barbara tonight. There’s a conference in the morning.” He looked at her pale face and slumped. “I’ll stay with you until the police get here. Assuming you want me to.”
“Please.”
Please, please, Lexi thought, don’t let him be a murderer.
“Unless that’s an obvious heart attack back t
