Chapter 45

CHAPTER

FORTY-FIVE

"Don't let her get to you," Brody said as he continued to lead Maddie down the beach, away from Logan.

"I can't believe she said that," Maddie muttered, resisting the urge to steal a glance behind her shoulder at Logan again—and to gawk at her audacity. "I wasn't out there with Jared. But if Logan told the detective that . . ."

"A shark is a shark. She's the kind of woman who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. I would just ignore her."

Maddie wished it was that easy. "But it's my word against hers."

"The truth will win," Brody assured her. "It has to."

Maddie wanted to believe him. But she was having a hard time doing that. She'd seen plenty of people lose entirely too much because of lies.

She remembered the mugshot someone had sent her.

Could Logan be behind that too?

It was hard to say.

But someone knew about her past. If this person chose to release that information . . . it would look bad for Maddie.

Individuals like those at this retreat didn't accept people with a criminal history—unless maybe they'd been found guilty of a white-collar offense.

But Maddie . . . she'd gone to prison for a horrible crime.

She'd paid her time.

Then she'd worked hard to prove she was a good person.

It was just one more reason why she'd continued to try to turn her life around after the car accident.

For the longest time, she hadn't been able to forgive herself for her past. But the thought that maybe God could forgive her . . . that had changed the way she looked at life. She'd felt hope for the first time in years.

But had God really forgiven her?

Because after she had been found guilty of murder, her whole life had been turned upside down.

As soon as they reached the resort, Maddie's phone buzzed and pulled her from her thoughts.

It was Detective Kalani.

She excused herself and took a few steps away from Brody. "Hello?"

"Ms. Waters . . . aloha. I'm here at the hotel, and I was wondering if we could speak."

A lump formed in her throat. "Of course."

"I'm in Bree's room. Would you mind coming here to meet?"

"Not at all. I'll head there now."

"Mahalo."

As Maddie ended the call, she tried to maintain her composure. She couldn't panic.

Did Kalani think Maddie had done something to Fowler also? She hadn't been anywhere near the top of that ridge when he'd disappeared. She had witnesses to prove it this time.

Her paranoia was starting to get the best of her, she realized.

Maybe Logan's words had affected her more than she'd thought.

Maddie had to stay in control. She knew she was innocent. Feeling guilty over things she hadn't done would only make her look guilty.

Brody touched her elbow as he stared down at her. "Everything okay?"

"It was the detective." She slid the phone back into her pocket. "He's talking to Bree and asked if I could join them."

His eyebrows knit together. "Why would he want you to join him in regard to Fowler?"

"I don't have any idea." Maddie held back a frown. "I guess I'm going to find out."

"I'll walk back with you."

Part of Maddie felt like she should refuse. But she didn't. She couldn't.

Her legs felt like Jello, and she wasn't sure she'd be able to make it up to Bree's room by herself.

She cut through the pool area, keeping her eyes on the paved pathway She didn't want to know if anyone was watching. Didn't want anyone to look her in the eye and see how unnerved she was.

All she could think about was Kalani and whatever this upcoming conversation would hold.

Finally, they reached Bree's room. As they did, Brody took a step back as if about to leave.

It would look funny if the two of them walked in together.

But before he could say goodbye, the door opened.

Adrienne stood there. Her gaze flickered from Maddie to Brody. Questions pooled there, but in a blink they disappeared.

"I wasn't expecting to see both of you," she muttered. "Come in. Brody . . . I'm not sure if the detective will want you in here or not. But I'm fine with you staying if everyone else is."

Brody exchanged a quick look with Maddie, then the two of them slipped inside the room—one considerably smaller than Maddie's suite. Two queen-size beds, two conversation chairs against the wall, and a table in the corner stared back at her.

The detective stood near the patio doors observing everyone, and Bree sat in a chair near one of the beds.

The woman's eyes were red and bloodshot, and her hands trembled. Maybe some of the medication she'd been given was wearing off.

Or maybe she'd gotten bad news.

Maddie didn't want to think that might be true, but it was a possibility.

"You wanted to see me?" Maddie's gaze stopped on the detective.

"That's right." He nodded, his voice absent of any emotion. "Why don't you have a seat?"

"What's going on?" She still felt confused about why she was called here. She slowly lowered herself onto the edge of the bed.

Adrienne and Brody remained in the background, but the detective didn't ask them to leave.

"Is this about Fowler?" Maddie rubbed her hands against her jean shorts when she realized they were sweaty.

"We still haven't found him." Kalani sounded professional and stiff—and all business, as usual.

Maddie reached toward Bree and squeezed her hand. "I'm so sorry, honey."

"Maddie . . . the police don't think something bad happened to him." Bree's voice trembled. "They think he walked away . . . on purpose."

"What?" Maddie's head spun with the thought.

Why in the world would Fowler leave on purpose? And why had Kalani asked Maddie to come here? What did any of this have to do with her?

The questions swirled in her head as a pounding began at her temples.