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It still unnerved me that every staff member knew my name even if I hadn’t met them.
“I’m about to go on a hike. I’m not that hungry, but feel like I should get something.”
“I know just the thing—no alcohol. I call it Callie’s Energy Blast. Delicious, and also good for hangovers.”
“I don’t have a hangover, but I’ll take one.”
Trying not to seem like I was super interested in the answer, I asked, “When does Jason come on?”
“He was supposed to relieve me at one but needed to talk to security, so he said he’d be late.” She glanced at me, lowered her voice. “We’re not supposed to talk about what happened last night.”
“I was there,” I said.
Callie nodded. “I heard. It’sawful.” She glanced around, leaned over, and said quietly, “I overheard the police talking at the dock early this morning. They said she was strangled.”
I pictured the scarf around her neck. “So it wasn’t an accident.”
“She could have fallen off a boat somehow, got tangled in something.”
“But wouldn’t the captain or another passenger have alerted the authorities?”
“The police are questioning all of the boat owners on St. John. That’s where she was when she disappeared.”
Did everyone believe that except me? While I might not be a nautical expert, I just couldn’t see a body floating from St. John to here—from one small island to a smaller island twenty miles away, separated by a vast body of water?
“Could she have rented a boat?” I asked Callie. “Because I don’t think her body could have floated all the way here.”
Callie’s eyes widened, and I thought about how my comment must have sounded. Before I could backtrack, she said, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Yeah, she could have, but God, I hope not, because then how did she die? You know? If she was strangledhere?” She shivered. “I’m sure the police will figure it out.”
“Yeah, me, too,” I said, though I didn’t believe it. Because it wasn’t the police investigating here, on St. Claire. It was Gino Garman, security chief, who was seen arguing with the victim the night before she disappeared. If Dianahadrented a boat on Sunday, why hadn’t the police learned of it in the two days she’d been missing?
Still, thiswasthe Caribbean. Everyone acted more relaxed and casual than any place I’d visited. Even my Grams, who turned having fun into an art, would have found this island toorelaxed. She’d have been the daredevil to take Jason up on hang gliding lessons just to get her adrenaline pumping.
Callie handed me her to-go “energy blast” smoothie just as CeeCee walked into the Blue Dahlia, dressed in khaki walking shorts and a tight tank top under an unbuttoned lightweight shirt. She wore cute ankle boots, a big hat, giant sunglasses, and a designer backpack over her shoulders.
I felt out of place in my T-shirt, shorts, and well-worn sneakers.
“Hi, Mia!” she said enthusiastically. “Are you ready? I’msoexcited.”
“I’m ready, but is it okay if Brie and Sherry join us? They were also planning to hike.”
I saw Sherry trudging toward the bar, not looking happy at all. Brie was a couple feet in front of her, grinning slyly.
“Of course!” CeeCee said. “The more the merrier!”
Every sentence was an exclamation. It was exhausting just listening to CeeCee.
Brie came up and quickly started talking. “Are you going up to the peak too? Great.” She winked at me “Sherry, Mia and CeeCee are joining us. This’ll be fun.”
Sherry looked from me to CeeCee and then to Brie. Did she suspect that we’d set her up?
“Yes,” she said after a moment. “Sure.”
CeeCee clapped her hands. “This way, girls!” She led us through the lodge and out the back to the base of the mountain trail. “It’s no fun hiking alone, and now it’s a party!”
“Trevor doesn’t like to hike?” I asked.
“Sure he does, but he’s alwayssobusy with work. He doesn’t have much free time.”