Chapter 50

CHAPTER

FIFTY

NOW, BENCHMARK SUNNY DAYS RETREAT, DAY 6

Maddie woke up early, still feeling troubled. Brody had tried to call her a couple of times last night, but she hadn't answered. Josh had tried to call also, but she'd ignored him.

She'd just wanted to be alone.

She wanted to be alone today also.

Part of her felt as if she should call Bree and check on her. But knowing that Fowler might be a corporate spy, and that Bree might have been helping him made her want to stay away.

She was supposed to go to a hula class and then a lei-making class, but she'd decided to cancel. She ordered room service instead—fresh fruit and toast.

She needed to figure out her plan. She wasn't supposed to leave until Friday evening, and today was Thursday.

Feeling cagey, she cracked open the door to her balcony to let in the fresh breeze.

A noise outside caught her ear.

It wasn't the normal joyful sounds of people playing in the pools, laughing, and having a good time.

Something about this sound was ominous and urgent.

She stepped onto the patio, careful not to get too close to the railing.

As she peered outside at the ocean, her eyes narrowed.

A group of people had gathered on the seashore.

What was happening out there now?

Maddie instinctually knew that whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Her throat tightened as memories of Jared's death filled her mind.

No. Not again . . .

What if it was someone she knew this time?

Everyone was too far away for Maddie to make out any details. Whatever the crowd gawked at, their bodies blocked her sight of it.

Part of her didn't want to know. But some kind of internal urgency pressed on her. She had to find out what was happening.

She stepped away from the balcony.

Despite her reservations, Maddie needed to get down to the beach so she could see for herself what the newest tragedy surrounding this trip might be.

Maddie flew down the steps and outside.

She'd pulled her hair into a ponytail and thrown on a blue romper, one that Josh hated because it made her figure look shapeless—his words, not hers.

She'd brought it with her for hanging out in her suite, never intending on leaving the room wearing it. Not with Josh.

Now that didn't matter. She no longer cared.

She cut through the bushes to the beach.

Paramedics had arrived on the scene, and the crowd had grown larger.

Maddie's gaze darted around as she looked for anyone she knew.

She didn't see any familiar faces. Not yet.

She cut through the onlookers murmuring "excuse me" until she reached the front.

Her stomach dropped at the sight of what everyone was staring at. She blinked, certain she wasn't seeing things correctly.

But she was.

It was Logan.

The woman lay on the sand, just at the water's edge. Occasionally, a wave lapped her, making her long hair fan out all around her. She wore a red evening gown, one like she might have put on for a fancy dinner the night before.

Maddie knew without a doubt by looking at her that the woman was dead.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

Another fatality on this trip.

How had this happened?

And when would it end?