A bowl of fruit and a plate of cheese picked through.

 

Sandwiches nibbled.

 

And then everything was packed up and the golf cart along with the security team

headed back up the beach, through the gate, and it closed behind them.

 

Apparently the king’s sunbathing was over for the day.

 

Rogers waited a few minutes and then slowly made his way back the way he’d come.

He left the sand behind, dried off his feet, put his socks and shoes back on,

and trudged to his van. He rubbed the back of his head because it had started to

throb again.

 

He wasn’t sure how much he’d learned today other than that Old Man Ballard had a

helluva retirement package, including a beautiful companion to see to his every

need.

 

He had just climbed into the driver’s seat when a car shot past him on the road.

It was a silver late-model Mercedes convertible with the top down.

 

And the bikini woman was driving though she was now wearing a floral sundress.

 

Rogers hurriedly put the van in gear and pulled onto the road to follow her.