I opened and closed the front door as quietly as possible. Making my way into the kitchen, I set the eggs on the counter and moved directly for the coffee maker. I needed an extra hit of caffeine today. Between taking care of Brody and making sure everything on the island ran smoothly, I was running myself ragged.
But it was only for a few more weeks. Brody was more himself each and every day. I poured a cup of coffee, added some half and half and sugar, and then slid onto a stool at the counter. I opened my laptop screen and scanned through the secret email account I kept for Google alerts on my brother and aunt. Nothing.
With a sigh of relief, I was about to close the computer when a ding sounded. I clicked open the chat app E and I used. There was a new message from her.
Evergreenl3: Are you home?
It was the most bizarre question coming from her. Of course, I was home. Other than my quick trips to the other islands, I was always home. And I never checked the chat app on my phone, the connection wasn’t secure.
Phoenix26: I’m here.
Evergreenl3: I hope you were serious about wanting me to come visit…
Phoenix26: You know I was. When can you come?
I instantly began planning all the things I wanted to do with her. Take the kayaks out, go whale watching. I wanted us to eat sandwiches at The General Store and go to Bell’s workshop at Second Chances. We’d have to do a huge barbeque so she could meet all of my friends.
Evergreenl3: I’m already here.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. It wasn’t even eight a.m. The first ferry didn’t arrive for another couple of hours, at least.
Phoenix26: Did you get here yesterday? Why didn’t you message?
Something was wrong. This wasn’t like E at all. She planned everything down to the smallest detail.
Evergreenl3: It was late. I just stayed at a little motel on Anchor. That’s the island closest to you, right?
Shelter was actually a bit closer, and it would’ve been easier for her to stay there instead of having to stay on the ferry even longer, but none of that mattered. E was here. Without warning. And that meant something was wrong.
Phoenix26: E, what’s going on? Where are you? I’ll come get you right now.
Evergreenl3: I can walk to the docks. That’s where you come into town, right?
Phoenix26: I’ll be there in twenty minutes.
I pushed to my feet, dumping my coffee in the sink. I needed to grab my phone and keys. Hell, it was something bad. E and I had become each other’s port in the storm years ago, sharing all the things we didn’t let anyone else in on. But I had started to let others in. Brody, my friends. I had a whole host of support now. I wasn’t sure that was the case for E. I might be the only one she trusted.
Evergreenl3: Thank you for always being there for me.
Phoenix26: Always.
I hurried to find a piece of paper and pen. I scrawled a quick note to Brody, telling him I’d gone to pick up E at the docks on Anchor and would be back soon. He’d be pissed I hadn’t woken him, but I knew Brody wouldn’t be crazy about me going into town alone. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I needed some time with E alone before I had her meeting a total stranger when she was obviously going through something.
I stuck the note next to the coffee maker where he’d surely see it and headed for the front door. I moved as quickly as possible down the trail, trying not to trip over any roots or rocks. As soon as I reached the dock, I realized my error. There was no way for me to get to the boat without signaling the alert linked to Brody’s phone.
I muttered a curse but hurried to the boat anyway. I’d just have to move quickly. I untied the ropes and jumped aboard. I started up the engine and pushed away from the dock. Hopefully, Brody wouldn’t be too mad.
I guided the Whaler away from Harbor and towards open water and Anchor. Picking up speed, I maneuvered the boat through familiar channels. Wind whipped my hair around my face and roared in my ears. The smell of the sea didn’t calm me like it usually did. I was too worried about E and nervous about how pissed Brody would be.
I didn’t hear a thing. Not until cool metal pushed against my lower back.
“Keep driving. Look straight ahead. Don’t move a muscle.”
Everything in me froze. My muscles stringing so tight they should’ve snapped. “W-w-what?”
“Keep driving.”
The voice was so familiar. I reached deep into my mind, trying to place it. But before I could, something sharp pricked my neck. I tried to bat it away, losing my hold on the steering wheel. I should’ve gone for the radio instead, tried to get off a distress call. But strong arms wrapped around me, halting my movements.
In seconds, I felt sluggish as if each of my limbs weighed one hundred pounds. “No…Brody…”
His name was the final word on my lips before I slipped under, and nothing but a sea of blackness surrounded me.
46
Brody
The beeping coming from my phone pulled me out of my deep sleep. I groaned as I rolled over, patting the nightstand for the device. My fingers closed around the cool rectangle, and I brought it to my face to see who the hell was interrupting the amazing dream I had been having.
The alert was from our dock cameras. I pulled up the feed, expecting to see our little seal friend using the dock as his own personal sunbathing spot again. Instead, I saw Shay pulling away in the Whaler.
I sat up straight, instantly awake and alert. What the hell? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, hurrying to pull on my jeans and a tee. I tried her cell phone, knowing it was likely a hopeless endeavor. There wasn’t service out on the water.
I jogged downstairs to find Shay’s laptop still open, a cup of coffee in the sink, and a basket of eggs on the kitchen table. Shay never left a space in any sort of disarray. Everything went back to its place immediately after use.
I scanned the kitchen, looking for anything else out of place. My gaze caught on a note by the coffee maker. I crossed to it in four long strides. Plucking it up, I read it quickly and cursed. Why hadn’t she woken me up? I would’ve gone with her.
It had to have been urgent for Shay to have left like she had. But something in my gut wasn’t sitting right. I pulled up my message app and typed out a text.
Me: Hey, Caelyn. Are you opening the store today?
Within seconds, I had a reply.
Caelyn: That I am. We’ll be open at nine. You need something?
Shay would be pissed as hell at me, but I didn’t much care at the moment.
Me: Shay left to pick up a friend at the docks before I woke up. Can you keep an eye out and let me know if you see her?
Caelyn: I’m at the docks now, waiting on our seafood haul for the day. Don’t see her yet. When did she leave?
I glanced at the time on my phone. It had only been ten minutes since she’d left, and it took fifteen to twenty to get to the docks.
Me: She should be there in five to ten.
Caelyn: I’ll be on the lookout. And I’ll be sure to tell her what a worrywart she has for a boyfriend and to go easy on you.
I wanted to smile down at my phone, but something felt wrong, and I couldn’t shake it. Maybe it was simply because this was the first time in weeks that we’d been apart. Or because of Parker’s warning yesterday that the killer wasn’t done. The combination was likely messing with my head.