5. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Hydessa

T he drive to the island feels long, with my nerves on edge the whole way. But the first glimpse of it as I cross the bridge takes my breath away. The picture I had found on the internet did not do it justice. The bridge is raised enough that the descent to the island side offers a spectacular view of the relatively small town.

I catch sight of a beach on one side and boats on the other. A pointed bluff with a raised lighthouse marks the ocean-side tip of the island, adding to its charm.

My first task is to find the strip of shops along the beachside where most of the tourists congregate. It will be a good introduction to the town, plus I need to get the keys to my new place.

After finding a parking spot, I make my way to the little real estate office. The jingle of a bell rings when I push through the door and a slim brunette with her hair in a bun greets me with a smile, her brown eyes shining from behind the wire frames.

"Hey there, how can I help you?" she asks.

"Hi, my name is Taylor. I think we spoke on the phone yesterday. I'm here to pick up keys to the house I'm renting," I say, holding my hand out to shake hers.

She has a strong grip, and her smile only gets brighter when she realizes I'm not another tourist. "Oh, Taylor! Yes, I remember. Welcome! Let me grab those keys for you."

As she moves behind the counter, I take in the small office space. It's cozy, with a few potted plants and photographs of various properties on the walls. The scent of fresh coffee lingers in the air.

"Here we go," she says, handing me a set of keys. "The house is lovely, right near the heart of the island and away from all these tourists and their parties. You'll love it."

"Thank you," I reply with a smile. "I'm looking forward to settling in."

She nods, her expression warm. Pulling out a map she marks where I need to go to get to the house and gives me a quick run down on the local businesses in the area.

"If you need anything or have any questions about the area, feel free to drop by. We're here to help."

"I appreciate that," I say. "I'm sure I'll be in touch."

With the keys in hand, I step back outside. The sun is climbing higher in the sky, casting a golden glow over the beach and the shops. This island, with its picturesque charm, is going to be my new home for the next few weeks. And with it, the hope of finding some answers.

Maybe even some peace.

From what I can tell, pretty much everything is walking distance, but the address of the house I'm renting is the furthest from the main part of town. I decide to take a stroll through the area first to get a lay of the land before heading up to the house. The air is filled with the salty tang of the ocean, and the sound of seagulls mingles with the chatter of tourists. The strip of shops is bustling, offering everything from souvenirs and beachwear to quaint cafés and seafood restaurants.

As I wander, I make mental notes of places that might be useful or interesting later on. There's a small grocery store, a bookstore that looks like it could hold some hidden gems, and a charming bakery with a tempting display of pastries on the further side.

The pastries and coffee smell too appealing to pass up, so I push through the door and into the warm space. The aroma is divine, and I immediately feel more at ease. The bakery is at the end of the shops, away from the hub of tourists, and I'm happy to see that it isn't as busy as some of the other cafés. The few patrons inside look more like locals, chatting quietly among themselves.

Behind the counter stands a beautiful blonde woman. She's wearing a pretty green wrap dress that accentuates her curves, drawing attention to her figure. I'm sure her looks work in her favor when she does get any tourists down this way. But it's her peculiar hazel eyes that truly catch my attention. The bold colors in them don't detract from the fact that underneath that pretty smile lurks something not quite so friendly.

Or maybe I'm seeing things because of the people I am used to in the city.

"Hey there, hun! What can I get for ya?" she asks, her voice warm and welcoming.

"Hi," I reply, trying to shake off my unease. It's hard to explain sometimes, but it's like the shadows that live under my skin know when they are in the presence of others. It's as if there is a tug in that direction, no matter how firmly I try to keep my feet planted. "I couldn't resist the smell. What do you recommend?"

She beams, a touch too eagerly. "Our croissants are a must-try. Fresh out of the oven. And the coffee is excellent, if I do say so myself."

"I'll take one of those croissants and a coffee, then," I say, smiling back.

As she moves to prepare my order, I glance around the small space. It's cozy, with wooden tables and chairs, and walls adorned with cheerful artwork and photographs. A small bulletin board near the entrance catches my eye, filled with local announcements and flyers. It might be worth checking out later for any useful information.

"Here ya go," she says, handing me a plate with a croissant and a steaming cup of coffee. "Enjoy!"

I thank her and find a seat by the window where I can watch the world go by as I eat. The croissant is indeed delicious, buttery and flaky, and the coffee is just what I needed.

As I savor the last bite of my croissant, the woman comes over, her smile warmer this time. "Need another coffee?" she asks, noticing my empty cup.

I glance down, realizing I finished the coffee without noticing, distracted by watching people outside. Grinning, I reply, "Yes, please. I think this is going to be my new favorite go-to every morning."

Her smile widens, becoming more genuine. "Are you visiting for long?"

I nod and glance back out at the passing people, concocting a story on the fly. "Yeah, I just rented one of the houses closer to the forest. Thought I would see if I liked it here before settling permanently."

Her face lights up with excitement. "You're renting the old Baker house? You should have said something and I wouldn't have charged you the tourist tax," she says with a laugh.

I glance at the couple of other people still at their tables, but she just laughs and waves a hand. "They're locals, hun, don't stress your pretty head. I'm Allegra, by the way. Welcome to Amity Island."

I smile back, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm Taylor."

"Nice to meet you, Taylor," she says, refilling my coffee cup. "If you need anything or have any questions, just let me know. I pride myself on knowing all the good gossip around town. Almost all the locals come here at some point during the day."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? So, you're the person to talk to if I want to know anything about anyone?"

Allegra chuckles, her hazel eyes glinting with amusement. "Absolutely. This island might seem quiet, but there's always something interesting going on. And I hear things." She taps her ear as if I didn't know that's where we processed sound. It makes me feel included in an odd way.

"Good to know," I say, taking a sip of my freshly poured coffee. "I might just take you up on that offer."

She leans against the table, her demeanor friendly but with a hint of something more as her voice lowers to a whisper. "You do that. People come to Amity Island for all sorts of reasons. Some are just passing through, but others are looking for something. It's the ones who are looking that usually have the best stories."

"I guess we'll see what kind of story I end up with," I reply, glancing out the window at the bustling street.

"Indeed," Allegra says, straightening up. "Enjoy your coffee, Taylor. And welcome again to Amity Island."

As I sip the fresh cup I can't help but appreciate how good it tastes. Once I've had enough of the people watching, I glance back around the room. A flyer on the bulletin board catches my attention.

There is going to be a carnival in town for an annual celebration along the waterfront in a week. I can't remember ever going to a carnival, but it seems like something someone living a normal life would do. Even if I solve this investigation quickly, maybe I could do what Seanna suggested and actually spend some time living a normal life here. Taking the time to escape the city might be good for me.

Besides, the locals are sure to be there and it would be an easy place to accidentally allow myself to bump into them and get to know them. I can start creating a list of suspects as soon as I know people's names.

It still baffles me that the local law enforcement has no idea about these murders, yet the blogger always makes it seem like the bodies are left in plain sight. Do they murder them just to write a post about them and then dump the bodies? Are they cleaning up for someone else? Or is the whole town hiding this secret in order to make sure tourists don't stop visiting?

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Two men enter the bakery dressed casually, but the weapons and badges around their hips make it obvious who they are. For a moment, I think about my own badge and weapon hidden in my car.

"Mornin' Allegra," one of them says in greeting. I estimate him to be in his late thirties, maybe early forties, with sandy blond hair and laugh lines creasing the skin around his eyes. The second man is a bit taller, around my age, with black hair and a physique that suggests he spends too much time at the gym. His tattooed muscles are on display in a way that I'm sure is eye candy for most of the female tourists—if they aren't deterred by the perpetual frown that seems to be stuck on his face.

"Morning, Sheriff. Morning, Eli," Allegra responds with a grin.

Eli's frown deepens. "I've told you before, Ally. It's Deputy while I'm on duty."

She laughs, clearly unfazed. "Sure thing, Eli. How can I help you two this fine morning?"

I have to hold in a snort from the way Eli's face twists while Allegra pretends not to notice.

The sheriff, who seems more relaxed than his companion, gives Allegra a warm smile. "Just grabbing our usual and checking in. Anything interesting happening in town?"

"Same old, same old," Allegra says, but her eyes flicker towards me briefly. "Well, we do have a new resident," she adds, nodding in my direction.

That smirk I was wearing suddenly vanishes.

The sheriff glances over and gives me a friendly nod. "Welcome to Amity Island. I'm Sheriff Daniel Brooks, and this is Deputy Eli Carson. If you need anything, feel free to reach out."

"Thank you," I reply with a smile. "I'm Taylor. Just moved into what I've been told is the old Baker house."

"Ah, the Baker house," Sheriff Brooks says, a strange look entering his eyes as he watches me carefully. "That's a good spot. Quiet and close to the woods. You'll like it."

Deputy Carson gives me a curt nod, his expression still serious and his scowl deepening. "What made you come out this way?" His tone is as hard as his features, making me shake internally.

But I refuse to let that show. After all, I'm friendly Taylor who is looking for a fresh start, not Hydessa who is searching for a murderer or two.

"Needed a change in my life," I say with a shrug. "Besides, it's impossible to find a place that has a beach and trees within walking distance of each other without spending a fortune."

Eli eyes me for a moment but the sheriff seems convinced.

Allegra hands them their coffee and a couple of pastries. "Here you go, boys. Stay safe out there."

"Thanks, Allegra," Sheriff Brooks says, taking the bag. "See you around, Taylor."

With that, the two officers leave the bakery and Allegra turns back to me, her smile never faltering.

"Don't mind Eli," she says. "He's a bit intense, but he means well. It's why I tease him so much. Sheriff Brooks, on the other hand, is a sweetheart."

"I gathered that," I say, chuckling. "Thanks for the introduction."

"Anytime, hun. And remember, if you need to know anything, just ask. Enjoy your coffee."

As Allegra moves to help another customer, I take another sip of my warm drink.

I can already see that this little island is completely different from home. In the city, you are one among thousands of strangers who couldn't care less about you. But here, everyone seems to know everyone else, so surely someone knows something about who is murdering people on the streets of Amity Island and getting away with it.

As I leave the bakery, the morning sun is warm on my skin. The air smells of salt and coffee, mingling with the distant scent of the sea.

The interactions from the bakery play on repeat in my mind as I look around at the mix of tourists and locals on the island. This investigation isn't going to be simple. This town has its secrets, I can already tell, but how deep and dark are they buried? How long will it take before I uncover them all?

My main focus is on finding the blogger and stopping the murders, but I have a strong feeling there is so much more to uncover along the way.