19. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Hydessa

" T aylor!"

I turn around to see Makai approaching from the direction of his gym, a broad smile on his face. He's wearing workout clothes, his muscular frame accentuated by a fitted tank top.

"Hi, Makai!" I greet with a smile, noticing exactly what has Allegra swooning.

"I haven't seen you come into the gym yet," he says when he gets close enough.

"It's only been a day," I chuckle, feeling slightly guilty. "I know, I know, I've been meaning to. I've just been busy settling in and getting to know everyone."

Makai nods, his smile unwavering. "I get it. Moving to a new place can be overwhelming. But you should definitely come by. We've got some great classes, and it's a good way to meet people and stay in shape."

I think about it for a moment since I will probably be going for a run anyway, a class wouldn't hurt. "What classes do you have in the mornings?"

Makai's eyes light up with enthusiasm. "We have a yoga class and also a circuit training class in the mornings. Tomorrow happens to be a circuit day."

"Sounds interesting. What time is it at?" I ask.

"7:30 AM," he replies. "In the mornings, it's mostly locals because tourists don't exactly like getting out of bed that early to exercise while on vacation."

I nod, realizing he might be right and that it could be a good opportunity to gather more information about the locals. "I'll definitely try to make it in the morning."

"That's great! See you then, Taylor."

"See you, Makai," I reply, but he is already turning to jog back toward the gym.

Did he just come out here to get me to go to the gym soon? Was he watching and waiting for me to leave the bakery?

Shaking off the thought, I turn away from the gym and resume my walk down the street. The town is starting to feel more familiar as I stroll along, recognizing faces and exchanging friendly nods with locals going about their morning routines. It's becoming easier to distinguish between tourists and islanders—the relaxed pace and purposeful strides of the locals contrasting with the more leisurely and often bewildered wanderings of visitors armed with maps and cameras.

As I walk, I can't help but mull over Makai's friendly persistence. Was he genuinely eager for me to join his gym classes, or was there more to his encouragement? His timing, appearing just as I left the bakery, was almost too perfect. Like he had been watching me.

Lost in my thoughts I almost collide with someone standing squarely in my path. Startled, I jerk back a step, only to realize it's Rye. The slightly weathered lines of his face softened by a faint quirk of amusement.

"Sorry for startling you," he says, his voice carrying a touch of humor.

I blink at him, momentarily taken aback. "That's okay. I should have been paying more attention," I respond with a slight shrug.

His demeanor shifts slightly, the humor fading from his expression. "I was actually hoping I would run into you," he admits, his tone earnest now. "I wanted to apologize for what I said. I shouldn't assume things, and even if I had, I shouldn't have been so vocal about it."

I dip my head in acknowledgement, appreciating his candor. "It's fine. It's not like you know me," I offer softly.

He nods, a faint smile tugging at his lips again. "It feels like I know you though," he admits cryptically, then shrugs as if dismissing the thought. "You're the talk of the town. Everyone is saying something about you everywhere I go."

Internally, I cringe at the thought of being the center of attention, especially in such a small community where gossip can spread like wildfire. "Is that so?" I manage to say, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Rye nods, his expression thoughtful. His attention shifts to something across the street for a moment before he focuses on me again. "Anyway, maybe if you do stick around we could grab a coffee sometime," he says with a grin.

I huff a laugh at his dig about me staying before I shrug. "Maybe... who knows, I might run away to a different island instead," I joke and start to walk past him, but he just rolls his eyes good-naturedly and proceeds in the opposite direction to me.

As I continue down the street, I take a moment to find a spot on the bench where I can sit and observe, attempting to blend in while keeping an eye on those around me. Sheriff Brooks is once again outside the station, a cigarette in hand, his gaze sweeping over the tourists.

He seems vigilant, ever watchful for any signs of trouble. Across the street, Deputy Eli stands with his arms crossed sternly, addressing a pair of teenagers with a serious expression, likely reprimanding them for some misdeed.

My thoughts drift to the seemingly perfect fa?ade of this town. It makes me wonder how much actually goes unnoticed here. With so many people coming and going, how many other transgressions slip under the radar? The bloggers brought attention to the tourist murders, but how many other crimes go unanswered?

I shift on the bench, my gaze drifting back to Sheriff Brooks, who is now flicking his cigarette to the ground and grinding it out with his boot. He smiles slightly as he watches a group of tourists pass by, their loud chatter piercing in volume. He seems to enjoy the happiness of the tourists, but I wonder if he could really enjoy so many people here.

Deputy Eli finishes his stern talk with the teenagers, who slink away with their heads down. He watches them go, it's clear that he takes his role seriously, but I wonder how effective they can be with the sheer volume of people coming and going.

As I continue to sit and observe, Eli starts wandering down the street, keeping an eye out and chatting with tourists. I'm surprised his surly demeanor doesn't make him less approachable, but I suspect the badge helps. It just makes me look at him a little more closely. I barely acknowledge when someone sits on the bench beside me, assuming it's just another tourist like the five others who have sat down and left before now.

"You're looking awful hard at my boy there," comes a gravelly voice. My head jerks around to see that it's the Sheriff who has taken a seat. His posture is relaxed, and the scent of cigarettes finally reaches me on the breeze.

I smile, masking my surprise. "Sheriff, nice to see you. I was just admiring how well he interacts with all the tourists. You seemed to be over there acting like a mildly grumpy old man wanting them to go away," I joke.

To my relief, he chuckles under his breath, a deep, genuine sound. "How old do you think I am then, lass?" he asks, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Feeling emboldened by our easy banter, I grin. "Hmm, fifty-five? Sixty? I mean, it's an island. You could be a hundred but still looking young from the fountain of youth for all I know."

He bellows out a laugh, loud enough to draw attention from passersby. "I'm not even fifty yet. Still plenty of life left in me, Taylor," he responds with a wink, and I can't help the smile crossing my face. He is actually handsome for an older guy.

"Good to know, Sheriff," I reply, still smiling.

He leans back, his gaze following Eli as he continues his patrol. "Eli might be a lot sterner than me but it keeps the kids in line. Comes in handy with all the tourists we get."

"I can see that," I say, watching Eli approach a couple with a child throwing a tantrum. They immediately brighten up, grateful for his assistance. "So, Sheriff, with all these tourists coming and going, does it make your job harder? Do you see a lot of crime here?"

His expression turns thoughtful. "You'd be surprised. Mostly it's petty stuff—drunken brawls, theft, the usual tourist nonsense. But every now and then, something bigger happens. We do our best to keep things under control, but it's not always easy. Next week is usually our hardest week of the year."

I raise an eyebrow at him curiously. "Why next week?"

He clarifies, "Our annual carnival. It's not a huge thing but big enough to draw the crowds. They should be starting to set it up over the next day or two."

"Carnival, huh? I think I saw something about that," I muse, intrigued. "That must be a lot to handle."

The sheriff nods, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It's a good time, but yeah, it keeps us busy. Lots of extra folks around, more opportunities for things to go sideways."

I nod thoughtfully. "Sounds like you'll have your hands full."

He chuckles. "Wouldn't have it any other way. Keeps the job interesting."

We sit in silence for a moment, watching the ebb and flow of people on the street. The town's charm is undeniable, with its quaint shops and friendly atmosphere. Yet, beneath the surface, there's a complexity that piques my curiosity. As if there's an undercurrent running through the island that reminds me of the shadows inside myself.

"So, how are you finding our little island so far?" Sheriff Brooks asks, breaking the silence.

"It's growing on me," I admit. "It's different from what I'm used to, but in a good way."

"What are you used to?" he queries.

"City life." I respond simply.

He huffs a laugh. "Yeah, this is certainly not city life," he says. "If you need anything or have any questions, feel free to drop by the station."

"Thanks, Sheriff. I appreciate it."

He gives me a nod and a brief smile before standing up. "Take care, Taylor. See you around."

With a final wave, Sheriff Brooks heads back towards the station. I stay there people-watching for another hour, long after the deputy has also returned to the station.

I don't see any of the other people on my list except Lily, who waves at me between serving patrons at the café with a smile. Deciding to head back to the house to do some more social media stalking, I get up and start the trek.

As I walk, my attention is drawn to a bus pulled over ahead. As I approach, a girl stumbles out of it and into my path. She looks a few years younger than me, with stunning red hair —a mix of natural and dyed red that deepens the color — and a smattering of freckles across her nose.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," she says with a tired smile, quickly moving her backpack out of the way.

I chuckle softly. "That's totally fine. You look like you've had a long trip," I reply sympathetically.

"You could definitely say that. I'm Beth," she introduces herself with a friendly demeanor.

"Taylor," I respond, extending my hand, it doesn't hurt to be welcoming."Welcome to Amity Island"

"Thank you," Beth replies, glancing around as if taking in the surroundings for the first time. "Would you happen to know where the real estate office is?" she asks, adjusting her backpack.

"Absolutely, it's just over there," I point in the direction of Maddie's office, knowing it's not far.

Beth picks up her backpack again, a grin spreading across her face. "Thanks, Taylor. I'll hopefully see you around."

With a nod and a wave, I watch as Beth heads towards Maddie's office. Turning away, I resume my walk home, the familiar route now comforting after a day of observations and interactions. The sun is beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the streets.

It is strange to realize just how much I am enjoying my time here even with the investigation aspect. I don't know at what point I started dreading the thought of leaving here, but I know I will need to at some point. Even with these murderers, I'm not sure this island is really the right place for someone like me.