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To the south was the bulk of the island—lush and green with flashes of color where a flowering tree had exploded in growth. Below was the resort, laid out like a child’s toy, the main lodge overseeing the myriad of cabins and cabanas, the blue of the pool sparkling in the sun.
To the east was the ocean, calm and vibrant—so light and clear in some spots I could almost see the sand beneath—edging the shoreline for at least a quarter mile. Then the sharp contrast of darker blue water as the shore fell away to the deep.
The ocean wrapped around the northern edge of the island like a glove, water on three sides, making me feel isolated. A flash of me standing here, on this island, in the middle of the ocean gave me a sense of vertigo and smallness—a speck of dust on the vast earth.
The wind whipped around us, but there was a picnic area with heavy wooden tables. Signs warned us away from the north side of the clearing, proclaiming steep drops and rocks below. I had no intention of getting that close toanyedge of the clearing.
I realized that this was the cliff that Jason had hang glided from. I could make out the dock to the south, where I’d arrived yesterday.
“I brought snacks,” CeeCee said, and opened her large backpack. “They made them for me in the restaurant. Isn’t that nice?” She pulled out containers with fruit, sandwiches, and pasta salad and laid them out on one of the three tables. “And champagne! There’s plenty for all of us.”
She popped the cork and giggled when bubbles overflowed. “Sorry.”
CeeCee seemed harmless, except for that out-of-character comment and her strangely deep understanding of finance.
“This was thoughtful,” I said. The hike had made me hungry, the crepes now a distant memory.
“I knew I’d bestarving,” CeeCee said as she opened up the containers. “Help yourself.”
Brie went over to the edge of the cliff and made me nervous. She had her phone out and was taking pictures. Sherry went over to Brie, and as CeeCee chatted, I watched as Sherry drew out her phone and took a selfie of her and Brie. Sherry laughed, looking like she was having a great time, but as soon as the phone camera went off, her dour expression returned. She said something to Brie. Brie shrugged and turned away.
Sherry sat on the bench across from CeeCee and me.
I took one of the plates and put two of the small sandwich triangles on it, some fruit, and a large heaping of the delicious-looking pasta salad.
CeeCee said, “Sherry, we should all get together before we leave. Trevor issucha baseball fan.”
“Sure,” Sherry said, and smiled at CeeCee. “That would be fun.”
She was a lot nicer to CeeCee than to me. Because I was single and unattached? Did she consider me a rival?
I looked around and thought it might be fun to come up here with Jason. He didn’t work mornings, so maybe for an early lunch. I didn’t really know him, and even though we’d almost kissed, I felt like I should learn more about him before throwing caution to the wind and sleeping with him.
My face heated at the thought.
CeeCee said suddenly, “Mia! You didn’t tell me that you’re the one who found the body last night.” It was so out of the blue it took me a second to process what she’d said.
“Me? No. I mean, I was there, but I didn’t find her.”
“I heard it was Diana Harden,” she said. “The guest who went missing. ItoldTrevor that something must have happened to her.”
“I’m sure it was an accident,” Sherry said.
“Did either of you meet her?” I asked.
CeeCee nodded, eyes wide, as she bit into a mango. “Wearrived on Friday, but later than everyone else. Trevor had a meeting, so the resort was kind enough to send a helicopter for us Friday night. There’s a helipad on the top of the mountain.”
I looked around and didn’t see it.
“There.” CeeCee pointed south. I still couldn’t see anything through the trees. “It’s used mostly by Ethan Valentine, we were told, but he sometimes lets VIPs use it. I was scared. I don’t like flying, and a helicopter isa gazilliontimesmore dangerous than a plane. But ten minutes later, we were here!”
“Was she on the helicopter, too?” I asked, then remembered that Brie said Diana was on the ferry with her.
“No. Only Trev and me. But it wasreallylate, and I was hungry, so we went to the restaurant, and Diana was there by herself. Reading, but also... well, she wasn’t very nice.”
“How so?” I asked, curious.
“We had just ordered and were having wine, a really, really yummy prosecco, and she comes over and talks to Trevor. Completely ignores me, except, well, she gave me a mean look. I know, I know, that soundstotallychildish, but it was mean, and I almost cried.” She blinked, looked from me to Sherry.