Chapter 19

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Maddie sat on her balcony, marveling again at the view from the fourth-floor suite. She stared at the ocean as she tried to process everything.

She'd hoped when she came here that she'd see at least one rainbow. But she hadn't seen any so far.

She didn't believe in signs, but if she did—this would seem like one.

After all, rainbows represented hope.

Her thoughts shifted back to more pressing issues.

Who had left this note? Why?

When the sender wrote, "I know what you did that summer," did that mean he knew about her secret? How would he—or she—have found out? Everything was sealed. She'd even been able to get a job with the state because of that fact.

She stared at the words.

Yes, she was touching the paper. She knew that whoever had stuffed it under the door might have left fingerprints on it. But she didn't plan on taking this to the police, so it didn't matter. She avoided the police whenever possible.

Maddie found it interesting that this note had been typed—just like the one she'd received the night before.

Most people who came on these trips didn't bring a printer with them. Sure, there was a business area in the resort where people could use a printer, mostly for boarding passes and tickets or things of that sort. Someone could have printed the notes there.

But that seemed like a lot of trouble, and this person could have been seen.

She leaned back in her patio chair, her limbs suddenly heavy and knots forming across her shoulders.

She supposed someone could have printed these notes at home and brought the papers with them on the trip. That would have required a lot of preplanning—the thought of which was unnerving. If someone had been planning this for weeks, then she really was in trouble.

But the only reason she could think of that someone might want to print these notes was because they wanted to disguise their handwriting. But why would they do that . . . unless the sender feared Maddie might recognize the penmanship?

The thought startled her.

Really, the only person on this trip whose handwriting she might recognize would be Josh. But Josh wouldn't have had the opportunity to get back to the hotel after their excursion to leave this. As far as Maddie knew, he'd been talking to people ever since they returned from the clinic.

Plus, she couldn't see him sneaking into the business center to print something like this. It would be too risky.

Nothing made sense.

The warning left her feeling even more unsettled than before.

Maybe she could feign sickness and lock herself in the room for the rest of this trip. Or maybe she could switch her plane ticket and head back to New York.

But Detective Kalani had warned her not to leave.

That only left her with one other choice.

She had to buckle down and find answers herself. So far, she'd been casual.

But maybe she needed to take more aggressive measures.

Josh had said he was trying to pinpoint a possible corporate spy. She would ask him if he'd found out anything.

She would also keep an eye on everyone in attendance and see if anyone was acting suspicious.

Someone here was up to no good and was determined to either pull Maddie into things or to get her out of the way.

She couldn't let that happen. She'd worked hard to develop the life she had for herself.

No one was going to ruin it.

Though it was seventy-eight degrees outside, goosebumps popped over her arms. She rubbed her hands over her skin before pulling her arms tight across her chest and staring out at the ocean in the distance.

One thing was certain. Maddie had never felt so alone in all her life.

Maddie decided to take a walk. She didn't want to sit in her room until the luau. Plus, she'd never find answers that way.

Nearly as soon as she stepped out of her room, she ran into Brody. He looked—and smelled—freshly showered.

"Fancy seeing you here." She flashed a smile. "Where's Adrienne?"

"She wanted to rest a little." He fell into step beside her as she headed toward the lobby. "How are you doing?"

"I've been better," she admitted.

"That was a close call back there at the base camp."

"You can say that again. My life flashed before my eyes for a second time since I've been on this island. Thank you again for everything you did." Her throat burned as she said the words. Brody had been a real hero. Again.

"It was no problem." He nodded toward the hallway. "You headed anywhere in particular?"

"Just stretching my legs and trying to clear my thoughts. I heard they're serving fresh fruit in the lobby and that it's delicious."

"Mind if I join you? I'm walking that way also. I need to pick up a few toiletries from the market."

"Not at all." She meant the words. She enjoyed Brody's company—probably more than she should. In fact, she found herself looking forward to seeing him and chatting with him.

That wasn't a good thing. But she could keep her feelings platonic.

"You know what I'm looking most forward to when I get home?" Brody casually tucked his hands into his black shorts, giving their walk the feel of a leisurely stroll.

"What's that?" They stepped outside to cut through the pool area. A fresh breeze tugged at her hair and linen pants, temporarily loosening her lungs.

"Eating Lucky Charms and watching cartoons."

Maddie slowed a step and chuckled. "Are you serious?"

"It's one of my favorite things to do on my days off."

She chuckled again. "I like that. Only I would be eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead. It's clearly the best cereal ever created."

"I think we need to have a face-off or take a poll before we can determine the winner on this."

They laughed again. She pictured the two of them eating cereal in a showdown. The image filled her chest with warmth.

She liked that idea.

A few seconds of silence passed before Brody asked, "This may seem like a weird question, but I'm curious why you moved to New York—if you don't mind me asking."

"Not at all." She slowed her steps again, this time on purpose. She wanted to draw out their conversation and for their walk not to be over too soon. "It was my Poppy's influence—Poppy was my granddad. He'd always wanted to live in New York but never could. He made me promise him before he died that I would live there for at least a year so I could experience it for him."

"And you kept your promise."

She nodded slowly. "I did."

"What about your parents?"

"My dad died when I was young, and my mom had to work a lot to make ends meet. That's how I got so close to my Poppy—he babysat. Then he became ill. Around that time, my mom remarried and seemed preoccupied with her new life. So I would sit with my granddad, and we'd watch movies together."

"Sounds like you had a strong bond."

"For sure."

"You even moved to New York for him."

She frowned at that part of the memory. "I did—though part of me dreaded it. One month before my time in the city was up, I met Josh and ended up staying."

Something flickered in his gaze when she said Josh's name.

"You miss the Midwest?" he asked.

Brody's change of subject didn't go unnoticed.

"Terribly." Maddie glanced at him. "You miss Texas?"

He shrugged, still looking laid-back with his hands tucked into his pockets. "I moved there because it's where I could find the most business doing private security. But my goal has always been to move somewhere with a slower pace one day."

They reached the market and paused.

"Thanks for walking with me," she told him. "It was fun."

"It was. I hope you find some of that tasty fruit you want."

She grinned and watched him walk into the market.

As she did, a TV blaring inside one of the resort's bars caught her eye.

A commercial that was a spoof of an old movie— Urban Legends —was on the screen.

She froze as her brain signaled some kind of realization in her.

I know what you did that summer.

Maddie hadn't been able to stop thinking about that note and what it might mean. And why the peculiar wording?

She closed her eyes.

Think, Maddie. Think. What are you missing?

She opened her eyes and straightened.

Wait . . . Cruel intentions? Jeepers creepers. I know what you did that summer?

Those were all titles—or plays on the titles—of some of her favorite nineties movies. Was that a coincidence?

It couldn't be.

Had she ever posted on social media that she liked nineties flicks? She didn't think so, but she couldn't be sure.

Who on this trip knew she loved movies from back then?

No one except Josh.

A lump formed in her throat at the thought.

He couldn't be behind this . . . right?

But she had seen him inspecting the side-by-side before they took off.

Would he have sabotaged the tires and risked his own safety? Then jumped out, hoping Maddie would be hurt?

She'd scolded herself for the ridiculous thoughts.

But maybe she shouldn't.

After all, what better way to build sympathy toward board members than by having something happen to his fiancée?

Despite the warm breeze brushing through the open-air lobby, her blood went cold.

Did Josh think hurting her would ultimately get him the job he wanted? He still hadn't even mentioned to her that he wasn't a shoo-in, that Nico was also being considered.

If not Josh, how would someone else have found out what movies she liked?

So many questions flooded her mind.

Maddie had to get to the bottom of this.

It was more important now than ever.

At the thought, goosebumps popped up all over her arms.

There it was . . . that feeling again.

The sense that she was being watched.

As she scanned the lobby again, she didn't see any eyes on her. But there were lots of people mingling here.

Her blood went cold when she realized that someone near her right now could be trying to harm her.