Rebel Hard (Hard Play #2)(88)

“Is it possible she needs a couple of days’ time out and then she’ll be back?”

Nayna pressed her lips together. “I have no idea. I don’t trust my sister very much right now.” It was the lie to their mother that caught in her craw the most; Madhuri had witnessed how Shilpa Sharma was at last breaking out of her shell to assert herself with their father. It had taken their mother decades and the near-banishment of a second daughter to find her voice.

If she discovered what Madhuri had done, it would not only hurt her, it would make her doubt her instincts at a critical time. “I am not going to wait around for her to decide to be an adult, but I can’t work out where she might’ve gone.”

“Navin watches true crime shows on TV sometimes.” Raj rubbed at his jaw. “I saw an episode with him where a cop said most people who run tend to go to a familiar place. Especially when stressed—they don’t have the emotional capacity to think of a brand-new place to hide.”

Nayna’s mind flashed to the image she’d seen on Madhuri’s phone. Of that cottage by the ocean. A cottage with a name. “Wait.” Grabbing her laptop, she got it going, then typed in “Seagrass Cottage,” centering her search on New Zealand.

It was the first hit. A listing on a small local website that advertised vacation homes turned into short-term rentals.

Seagrass was located about two hours outside Auckland.

When she checked, she saw that today’s date as well as tomorrow and the day after were blacked out. The place was booked.

“This is a long shot,” Nayna said to Raj. “But it’s where she went with her last boyfriend.”

Raj leaned over her chair, his arms braced on the back. “Owner’s number is listed, but there’s no information about if there’s a direct line to the cottage.”

“I’ll call the owner, say I’m trying to touch base with my sister and I think she’s at the cottage.” If Madhuri wasn’t there, no harm, no foul.

If she was, however…

Nayna crossed her fingers behind her back and made the call. The owner was suspicious at first, but softened when Nayna stayed polite and threw in phrases like “family emergency” and “no cell phone reception.”

“I still can’t give out information on my guests, dear,” the other woman said at last, but Nayna could feel her wavering. “And we don’t have a landline out there.”

That was when Nayna had a burst of genius. “She usually uses my phone number as her emergency contact on any forms that require it,” she told the owner. “If that’s on your records, would that ease your mind?”

The owner didn’t say anything, but Nayna heard clicking on the other end. “Well, I’m so glad you mentioned that,” she said at last. “Your name and phone number are right here on her reservation, so I think it’s all right to tell you your sister is at Seagrass. I hope the news isn’t too bad.”

“Thank you so much for your help.” Nayna asked a few more questions to ensure she understood how to reach the seaside cottage, then hung up.

Raj already had his keys in hand. “Let me call Navin, make sure he’s home to deal with anything that comes up, then we can go. My grandparents are there too, but they’re elderly. I don’t want them panicking if Dad needs medical help.”

His brother proved to be at home and willing to do what was necessary.

“Being half-drunk and out of reach while Dad was undergoing major surgery screwed Navin’s head on straight in at least one way,” Raj said to her as they walked out to his truck. “He’s become way more reliable.”

Nayna waited to reply until they were both in the truck and belted in. “What about Komal?” Despite her strong negative reaction to the other woman the first time they’d met, after learning of Navin’s partying ways, Nayna had come to have a certain sympathy for Komal.

It couldn’t have been fun for a young bride to spend endless weekends alone while her husband hung out with “the boys.” No wonder Komal had started going out to parties of her own. It didn’t excuse her abrasive and often unkind nature, but it gave Nayna insight into the reason she might’ve become that way.

“Hard to tell,” Raj said. “Komal’s been picking up extra shifts at work, so I haven’t seen her much.”

“I guess their relationship is their private business,” Nayna said. “I wish I could say that about Madhuri and Dr. Patel and Madhuri’s lover, but this has the potential to devastate my parents and grandmother.” Aji had been bragging about her granddaughter’s upcoming nuptials ever since the engagement. “I can’t sit by and do nothing.”

And if the news got out, it would reflect badly on her too. More, it would create gossip about the Sens and whether their son was marrying into a family with bad blood.

Nayna’s hands curled into fists on her thighs.





45





Seagrass Tears





In full fury when she got out of the truck two hours later, Nayna strode down the sandy path to the cottage without waiting for Raj.

The cottage was picturesque, surrounded by the waving seagrasses of its name, as well as other foliage designed to survive the saltwater-laced winds that came off the ocean that crashed gently to shore on her right side. She was about to knock on the door when something made her look to the water… and there was Madhuri, sitting on the sand in the dark, her knees tucked up under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs.