Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [0]
I’ve always loved the character of Andrew Ramsey, and it was a delight to bring him to Magnificent Folly as the hero. Some of you may remember Last Bridge Home when I introduced a very special group of people. It was inevitable that Andrew come front and center in one of the following books. His story stands alone but I made sure to give him the best story of which I’m capable.
You’ll find suspense, mystery and the unknown in Magnificent Folly. But what does that matter if you don’t like the characters? I don’t believe you’ll have any problem with liking Lily Desline and her daughter Cassie and watching them play out their tale.
And Andrew? I can hardly wait for you to meet him
Enjoy!
Iris Johansen
BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN
Tender Savage No One to Trust
Notorious Body of Lies
One Touch of Topaz Final Target
Everlasting The Search
And the Desert Blooms The Killing Game
The Treasure The Face of Deception
Lion’s Bride And Then You Die
Golden Valkyrie Long After Midnight
Capture the Rainbow The Ugly Duckling
A Summer Smile Dark Rider
Stormy Vows/Tempest at Sea Midnight Warrior
Stalemate The Beloved Scoundrel
An Unexpected Song The Magnificent Rogue
Killer Dreams The Tiger Prince
On the Run Last Bridge Home
Countdown The Golden Barbarian
Blind Alley Reap the Wind
Firestorm The Golden Barbarian
Fatal Tide Storm Winds
Dead Aim The Wind Dancer
Contents
Letter to the Reader
Other Books by this Author
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Copyright
ONE
THE MAN ON the cliff was watching Cassie again.
Fear made the muscles tense in Lily Deslin’s stomach. She stood on the deck of the beach house for only a few moments longer, then rushed down the steps, her pace quickening until she was running along the beach path toward Cassie’s small figure playing in the surf.
She was being foolish. The man presented no threat, Lily told herself. Though he had been there on the cliff every evening for the past three days, she was sure he had not attempted to speak to Cassie. He merely had sat on the boulder on the cliff and watched her daughter play on the deserted beach.
Waiting. It seemed he was just waiting.
No. She was blowing this all out of proportion. The man was no more than a dark silhouette against the blazing scarlet of the sky. She couldn’t even see his features, so how could she know that he had any purpose here other than to enjoy the spectacular view over the water of the Oregon sunset?
She knew.
“Cassie!” Lily tried to keep the panic from her voice as she crossed the last few yards separating them. “Time for supper. Come along now.”
“In a minute, Mom.” Cassie kicked at the foam ruffling the waves. “It’s nice now. Sort of …” She hesitated. “Peaceful. Don’t you feel it?”
Lily forced a smile. “It will be just as nice in the morning. You’re going to be as pruney as the raisins in that crazy TV commercial if you don’t get out of the water.” She reached down and picked up Cassie’s crimson Peanuts beach towel, on which a moody Schroeder played his toy piano.
“Okay.” Cassie heaved a resigned sigh and turned and trudged toward the beach. “But it won’t be, you know.”
Lily quickly draped the towel around Cassie’s shoulders. The man was still watching. She could feel the force of his gaze as if it were a touch. “Won’t be what?” she asked as she lifted Cassie’s single brown braid free from the folds of the towel.
“Just as nice in the morning. You said that it would be just as nice then as it is now.”
“Sorry. I guess I lost my train of thought.” Lily gave her daughter a gentle push toward the path leading to the beach house and said jokingly, “Old age setting in, I reckon.”
Cassie’s brow creased in a thoughtful frown as she started toward the path. “I used to like mornings better here when we first came, but I don’t anymore. During the last week I decided that this time of day is best. It makes me feel … beautiful.”
Cassie was beautiful,