8. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Hydessa

I struggled to fall asleep after the new blog post. Not only because I just missed resolving this investigation quickly, but because of the other details that the blog revealed.

There is more than one of them. Their use of the word us and we made that clear.

Why had I never once considered that there is more than one person behind all this?

After that revelation, I looked back over all of the historical blog posts, but I was right, there had been no clues previously. No little details at all, not like what they gave away last night.

If I hadn't already been here and knew where the blog was coming from, the details of the sand would have been another hint that I previously didn't know.

Are they actually going to feed me more information now that I'm closing in? But why? Do they think it's fun to make me chase them? Is it about the thrill for them? Do they think they will get away with this? How did they even know I was here?

The sun can only just be seen creeping into the sky when I tie up my running shoes. I am dressed in leggings and an exercise top, my black hair pulled into a hair tie and away from my face.

I normally run with music playing, but today I don't want any distractions. Especially not after the way I felt those eyes on me. Each time I scan the trees through the window, the feeling tries to return. It's making me paranoid.

The events of last night replay in my mind—how close I had come to finding the killer. How late had I actually been? Hours? Minutes? Shaking my head to clear the thoughts, I grab my keys and some money, step out the front door, and lock it behind me. I start to jog down the quiet street in the direction of the beach.

The rhythmic pounding of my feet on the pavement helps me focus. I need to think strategically, consider the dynamics of a group rather than a single individual. How many are there? What roles might they play? Who is in charge? How do they communicate and plan their actions? Is it a collective decision to post the blog and leave breadcrumbs?

As I make my way past the now partially familiar buildings, my mind races faster than I can keep up with. I need to adjust my approach. If there is a group, I can't just focus on one suspect at a time. I need to consider connections and patterns among multiple people.

One person on a small island getting away with murder is one thing, but how could multiple people hide their actions in such a small close knit town? Any one of the people I have met could be part of this, or none of them could be. I need to watch for interactions, subtle signals, and anything that might indicate a larger conspiracy.

Reaching the beach, I slow to a walk, letting the sound of the waves calm my thoughts. The early morning light casts long shadows on the sand, and the scene is almost serene. But somewhere out there, the killers are likely planning their next move.

Was it here on the beach last time? Is the same sand I'm walking over really just another crime scene?

Today, I decide to start by revisiting the places I observed last night. The artist's studio, the gym and the tattoo parlor are my first stops. I need to gather more information to put in the profiles I began building last night. Their routines, their behaviors, what hand they tend to write with—everything matters.

I also plan to keep my ears tuned in to everything around me. Surely someone knows this latest victim, maybe I could overhear a snippet of conversation with a clue to who she was. There is a decent number of tourists on the island, enough that one disappearing here and there isn't noticed. But the numbers are now adding up to double digits, surely someone has realized something by now.

I pick up my pace again and jog towards the bakery. The lights are shining brightly, and it looks like there are already a few of the locals inside with the same idea as me. The smell of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee reaches me even before I step inside, making me release a happy sigh.

When I push through the door, Allegra greets me with a grin. "Morning! If I knew you liked to run, I would have invited you to run with me in the mornings," she says, her voice much too cheerful for this early hour, especially when I haven't had any coffee yet.

I smile in response, glancing around at the few people already seated at tables with their coffee.

"Umm, at exactly what ungodly hour do you wake up to run and still get here to caffeinate people?" I ask. Her laughter draws the attention of everyone in the room.

"Don't tell me you're a night owl. There are far too many people around here that enjoy the darkness more than the beautiful sunshine," she responds, and for a moment, my heart races. I know she means it literally, but it still cuts a little too close to my own personality. She doesn't seem to notice the effect she's had on me as she continues, "Same as yesterday, hun?"

I look at the display case for a moment before responding. "How about a slice of that banana bread instead? It looks amazing."

She grins with pride as I hand her the money and turn to head toward one of the vacant tables by the window.

Suddenly, I'm forced to pull up short so I don't physically run into the man standing behind me. His deep green eyes are assessing, and it takes me a moment to place where I've seen him before. He was in the grocery store the day before, the one scowling at Rye.

Standing in front of me, he tilts his head as though to acknowledge me, but doesn't say anything as I step past him and make my way to the table.

"Morning, Jonah," Allegra says cheerfully. How can she be so cheerful all the time?

I pause when I realize I know that name. This must be the man who supplied the café I ate at with the amazing seafood.

My mouth waters just thinking about it as I settle into my seat, taking a moment to observe the room. Jonah moves to the counter, exchanging a few quiet words with Allegra. She turns to start preparing the coffee and Jonah walks over to stand near my table.

"It's Taylor, right?" he asks, his voice carrying a raspy undertone. He looks at me curiously.

I smile and nod. "Yes, that's right."

"How are you liking the island?" he inquires.

"It's... interesting," I respond, and I swear his lips twitch in amusement. It's kind of adorable.

Allegra comes over with my coffee and banana bread, placing them on the table, and handing Jonah a to-go cup.

"Anything else you need, hun?" She directs the question to me.

I shake my head. "No, this is perfect. Thank you."

When Allegra heads back to the counter, I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the warmth.

Jonah remains standing by my table, his curiosity apparent. "What brings you to the island?" he asks, taking a sip from his to-go cup.

I hesitate for a moment, debating how to respond, though I'm sure my pause is suspicious as fuck. "Needed a change of scenery." I say, keeping it vague.

Jonah's eyes narrow slightly, as if weighing my words. "Interesting choice. Not many people move here just for a change of scenery."

I smile and shrug, hoping to deflect his curiosity. "I guess I'm not like most people."

He nods slowly, still watching me closely. "So, what is it you do for a job then? Don't tell me you're one of those independently wealthy girls. You don't really strike me as the type."

Somehow, I don't think that 'I chase murderers and the scum of the earth' would be a good response, given my need to fly under the radar. Thankfully, Allegra interjects from the counter, her tone playful yet pointed.

"Don't go harassing the poor girl with twenty questions this time of the morning, Jonah. Especially when she hasn't even finished her first coffee."

Jonah's lips twitch again, and he nods in Allegra's direction with mock deference. "Yes, Ma'am," he says, his voice laced with amusement before looking back at me. "See you around, Taylor." As he turns to leave, I can't help but watch the way his strong body moves. It's as if he owns the presence of the gravity around him.

I let out a slow breath as my heart rate slows down again. As much as I tried not to show it, questions make me nervous. I know I typically ask questions for a living, and my goal here is to get to know these people and gain their trust. That does come with some give and take, which means I need to make sure my story is straight in my mind for when others ask the same things. I know I have a cover set up, but it's rare that I have to use it, so it doesn't come naturally just yet.

I finish my coffee and banana bread, quickly falling in love with this place. Allegra has the green thumb of baked goods, I might actually get addicted.

Looking around the room, my mind races with strategies for the day. I wanted to explore some more of the businesses that I had seen the previous night. Now that the blogger revealed someone was killed on the sandy beach, I feel like the closer places are a good place to start looking. It is still early in the day but this end of the strip of shops is where the gym is, so that will be my first stop.

Getting up from my seat, I wave goodbye to Allegra as I step out of the bakery, the fresh morning air greeting me once again. The gym is just a short distance away, and I make my way there with purposeful stride.

I replay my cover over in my mind as I walk, refamiliarizing myself with it in case I'm asked again. I'm a project manager from the city, I've had one too many big, tough projects recently and I just need a change in pace. The island is the fresh start I need to settle down now. No need to tell anyone my projects are murderers and criminals.

The gym is a modest building with a sign that simply reads "Island Fitness." As I push the door open, the familiar sounds of clanging weights and the rhythmic thumping of running shoes on treadmills fill the air. The smell of sweat and rubber mats hits me immediately, a stark contrast to the bakery's warm, inviting aromas.

No one is at the reception desk to greet anyone but everything is quite open. I can see a few people giving me curious looks, including one man who taps someone on the shoulder and points in my direction. When I get an eyeful of the man as he turns toward me, I can see why there are so many women here this early in the morning.

He is pushing two hundred pounds of pure muscle while tattoos decorate his pecs and down both arms. His bare abs emphasize the freaking eight pack he has. His black hair is cut close to the sides of his head, leaving the top longer.

I am forced to hold back a laugh when he runs his hand through his onyx locks and a woman on a treadmill almost falls over. He notices immediately and flashes a grin in my direction.

"Hey there, welcome to Island Fitness," he says as he walks toward me, his voice surprisingly warm and friendly. "I'm Makai. Are you looking for a day pass?"

"Actually, I'd like a week pass," I reply, motioning down to my running attire. "I've already had a run this morning."

Makai's eyes flick to my running gear and back up to my face, a smile spreading across his features. "Ah, a fellow early bird. Nice. Let's get you set up." He moves behind the reception desk as he waves me over.

As he starts processing my request, I take the opportunity to observe the gym more closely. The layout is efficient, with free weights on one side and various machines on the other. A group of people are engaged in what looks like a high-intensity interval training class in the far corner. Their focused expressions and the instructor's enthusiastic shouts add to the dynamic energy of the place.

Makai hands me a form and a pen. "Just fill this out, and you'll be good to go."

I take the form and start filling it out, keeping my responses as generic as possible. As I write, Makai leans casually against the counter, striking up a conversation.

"So, you must be new around here. I haven't seen you before."

I nod, not looking up from the form. "Just started renting the old Baker house. Figured I'd check out the local spots and start settling in."

He chuckles. "Well, you picked a good time. The weather's great, and there's always something happening around town."

I hand him the completed form and the cash amount listed as the fee for a week. He scans it quickly before nodding in approval.

"Looks good. Here's your pass." He hands me a card. "If you need any help with the equipment or have any questions, just let me know."

"Thanks, Makai," I say, tucking the pass into my pocket. "Is there usually someone here to help all day? I'll probably come back later after I explore some more."

Makai nods. "Yeah, there's always someone around. If I'm not here, one of the other trainers will be. We've got a pretty tight-knit team, and we're all happy to help out."

"Thanks, good to know. And you're open late, right? I thought I saw the lights on late last night," I ask, trying to sound casual. A strange look enters his eyes, and a chill slides up my spine.

"We generally close up around eleven at night. I was here late doing paperwork last night since I'm the owner. Here I thought you were a morning person, not a night owl." His grin is big as he teases me, but there is an edge to it now.

I force a laugh, trying to keep the conversation light. "I guess I'm a bit of both, depending on the day. Besides, it's always hard getting used to sleeping in a new place."

Makai nods, the strange look in his eyes fading as quickly as it had appeared. "Well, if you ever need a late-night workout, just let me know. I can make arrangements for you."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," I say, heading towards the exit. "See you around, Makai."

"See you, Taylor," he calls after me, his voice carrying a lingering note of curiosity.

As I step out of the gym, I can't shake the feeling that Makai knows more than he's letting on. His reaction to my comment about the lights being on late was unsettling. Was he just caught off guard, or is there something more to it?

Either way, I think it is time to add more to my list on the owner of the gym.