25. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Hydessa

A s we step out of the gym, I can see the carnival rides being set up more clearly now. A small thrill of excitement goes through me at the sight. The prospect of going to a carnival makes me giddy in the same way a child would feel. I never got to go to carnivals as a kid.

Maddie and I walk towards the bakery together, the morning seems to brighten with the promise of coffee and conversation. The small shop is already bustling with locals grabbing their morning treats and caffeine fix. Just as we're about to step inside, something catches my attention—a figure emerging from the waves at the beach, carrying a surfboard under their arm.

I can't see their details clearly from this distance, but their hair is slicked back and the wetsuit shows clearly defined muscles. It's still early, so seeing someone already out surfing indicates dedication.

Maddie pauses beside me and follows my gaze. When she sees who it is, she giggles softly. "Umm yeah, that's probably one board you don't want to ride," she remarks cryptically.

I turn to her, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" I ask, trying to decipher her meaning.

She grins mischievously. "Let's just say that board is well-ridden. Chester likes to keep it, um, available for rent at all times," she explains with a wink. "That saying ‘Save a horse, ride a cowboy' does not translate to surfers and their boards… or at least not that one."

I can't stop the laughter from erupting from me. I haven't really had friends in a long time, not since I lost my best friend when I was younger. I could see Maddie, and perhaps even Allegra, being among those I would call friends now though.

"Got it," I reply, shaking my head slightly. "I'll keep that in mind. So Nathan doesn't ride a board?"

She exaggerates a look of shock, but the devious gleam in her eyes gives it away. "I have no idea what you mean," she says before looping her arm through mine. "But if I did, I'd defend that he spends more time on the mats than the waves."

She laughs at her own joke and the sound is loud and bubbly like her personality. There aren't too many people wandering along the beachfront area yet given the time, but it does catch the attention of the few that are. One of those is Chester himself who is still making his way toward his studio.

Looking away from him I see that our laughter has also caught the attention of Jonah, who is pushing a cart with tubs of what I am assuming is the catch of the day towards the cafe. He's paused to look back toward us for a moment but he doesn't linger, continuing on with his delivery after a short nod in my direction, his muscles flexing under his shirt.

There needs to be fewer hot men on this island. Maybe I should just kill a couple off to reduce the options.

Turning back to Maddie, she grins at me knowingly. "So, who else should I be staying away from then?" I ask with a laugh.

"Oh my god, dishing on the men in this town is my specialty. Let's grab caffeine first, though," she gushes as she pushes open the bakery door, leaving me no choice but to follow.

The scent of fresh coffee and baked goods is enticing but also reminds me that I need to go to the store for a fresh supply, as I can no longer trust what I have back at the house. Allegra grins and waves at the sight of us as we walk toward the counter.

"You two look like you could use a coffee, or a shower," she says in greeting and Maddie giggles. "And maybe a little less rough sex." She indicates to her neck while looking at mine and my fingers automatically reach up to touch the bruises there.

My heart speeds up at the memory of Abel's hand wrapped around it while they fucked me, but I push that aside quickly. "Both of you are just assuming it was a good time… what if it was some asshole getting violent?" I ask with a smile so they know I'm only joking.

Allegra moves to grab a pen and paper, writing something down quickly and holds it out to me. It's a phone number. "Then I would expect you to call me, so I can help you hide the body."

I take the note from Allegra, glancing at the phone number and giving her a playful smile. "And where would we hide the body?" I joke, but there's a hint of seriousness in my voice. "Do you have experience with covering up murder?"

Suddenly, there's something dark lurking behind her eyes. "You'd be surprised," she replies with a grin, her tone making me wonder how much of it is just a joke.

Maddie laughs loudly, drawing a few glances from nearby patrons, but she doesn't care. "Two large coffees, please," she says and Allegra moves to start preparing the order. "And throw in a couple of those chocolate croissants. We deserve a treat after that workout."

"So, Maddie, I heard there's going to be a dunk tank at the carnival. Any chance you'll be volunteering?" Allegra asks while she works.

Maddie grins and shakes her head. "No way. I've done it once, and that water is freezing. But I heard Sheriff Brooks might be in it, so that should be entertaining."

I chuckle at the mental image of the stern sheriff being dunked into icy water. "That sounds like fun. Maybe I'll have a go at it."

"You should," Allegra encourages. "It's all for a good cause. The money raised goes to local charities and community projects."

She finishes making our coffees and croissants, and we grab them with thanks. Maddie leads us to a cozy corner table by the window, where we can watch the town start to wake up.

"So, back to our conversation," Maddie says, tearing into her croissant. "Who else should you stay away from? Well, there's Chester, obviously. He's more trouble than he's worth. Then there's Bryce—he works at the bar and is a bit of a player. And maybe steer clear of Ryan, the lifeguard. He's nice, but he tends to get too attached too quickly."

I nod, mentally noting the names, two of them I haven't even met yet but will now be at the top of the suspect list, once I get through the first twelve at least. Well, nine if I crossed off the woman. "Got it. Anyone else?"

Maddie thinks for a moment. "I think that covers the main ones. Oh, and Ty," she says before leaning closer to me. "You know how his tattoo shop is close to the real estate office right? I was closing up late once and I saw him fucking one of his clients on the tattoo chair. I'd never wanted a tattoo so badly before that moment."

She sighs and her eyes flick down to my neck again for a moment before giggling again. "I mean, unless you already know what he's like, cause from what I saw, oh boy, it looked like he likes it rough too."

I take a drink of my coffee to avoid responding. It's not like I can even confirm or deny the comment considering I don't even know who was fucking me last night. I can feel heat rising to my cheeks at the thought, but thankfully Maddie moves the conversation along.

"So, besides avoiding the questionable men in town, what else do you like to do for fun?" Maddie asks, taking a sip of her coffee.

Killing people is not an appropriate response… hunting masked bloggers and being fucked senseless by them is not an appropriate response either…

I take a moment to steer myself away from those thoughts. "Well, besides exploring the island, I'm quite fond of photography," I reply with a shrug. It was always a hobby I enjoyed as a kid and teenager but rarely got time for. It helped me to see the beauty and light in the world while constantly being reminded of the darkness.

Maddie nods thoughtfully. "That's pretty cool! There are so many beautiful spots around here for photography. Have you been to the lighthouse yet? It's one of my favorite spots on the island."

"Not yet, but I've heard other people talk about it. I'll have to check it out," I say, genuinely interested. The idea of capturing the island's natural beauty through a lens did appeal to me, but my mind is too focused on the investigation to give it too much thought. Maybe once I unravel this mystery I can take a few days for myself. Before I have to leave.

I finish the last of the coffee and croissant as my mind drifts to the investigation that has me here. I feel torn, wanting to solve the mystery and stop tourists being killed, but so far I still don't have any solid evidence that it's actually happening. Not to mention that Cain and Abel told me that when they do kill, there are reasons for it. I know from experience working for my parents organization that some killings can be justified depending on the circumstances.

"So, what's it like working in real estate here?" I ask.

Maddie leans back in her chair, taking a thoughtful sip of her coffee before answering. "It's busy, especially with all the tourists coming in during the summer months. But I like it. You get to meet a lot of different people, hear their stories, help them find a place they can call home, even if it's just for a vacation."

"That sounds fulfilling," I comment, genuinely interested. "Meeting new people all the time must keep things interesting."

"Oh, definitely," Maddie agrees. "And you get to see how people connect with the island. Some fall in love with it instantly, while others take time to warm up to its charms."

"Have you ever had anyone just disappear without a trace, instead of checking out like they're supposed to?" I ask, thinking about the tourists that were killed and if Maddie may have noticed those victims disappear.

Maddie chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Nah, no one ever risks the fees we tack on if they don't bring back the keys," she explains, amusement coloring her voice. "But we do have an after-hours key drop that gets used pretty regularly. Sometimes people have early flights or catch late ferries, so they drop off the keys and head out without much fuss."

"That makes sense," I reply, mentally noting this detail with a touch of disappointment. But it could be a place to watch, see if anyone is regularly dropping off keys who is already a local.

"So, are you excited for the carnival?" I ask after a moment, trying to move my thoughts onto something happier.

She beams at the question. "Absolutely! It's one of the biggest events here, and everyone looks forward to it. There's so much to see and do—rides, games, food stalls. It's so much fun."

I smile, feeling a bit of the carnival spirit myself. "When does it start?"

"In three days," Maddie replies, practically bouncing in her seat. "There's a parade to kick things off, and then the carnival opens right after. It's going to be so much fun!"

I nod, already making mental notes to attend. "Sounds like a blast. I'll definitely be there." I frown for a moment, glancing at where the carnival is set up. "They are set up pretty early if it doesn't start for three days."

Maddie rolls her eyes playfully. "Yeah, they do some exclusive VIP things leading up to it. Trying to build up the hype, you know?"

I chuckle, wondering what sort of VIP events they hold and who the VIP's could be. "I guess so."

Maddie checks her watch suddenly and curses softly. "Speaking of getting ready, I have to run. I need a shower and then I have to open the office. Can't keep the tourists waiting."

I nod understandingly. "No problem. Thanks for the coffee and the company. We'll catch up later?"

"Definitely," Maddie replies with a bright smile, gathering her things. "I'll see you around, Taylor."

With a wave, Maddie heads off briskly. I get up and wave goodbye to Allegra on my way out of the bakery, heading toward the grocery store. I need a new supply of coffee, and maybe some cookies I can trust.