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My feet stalled, my chest seizing. I tried not to panic. “Oh? Were there pictures?”

Vi wrinkled her nose. “Not good ones.”

I sagged bonelessly into the kitchen chair with my coffee. Maybe that meant I wasn’t recognizable. The risk should be low this far from home, but low-risk and no-risk weren’t the same. She handed me her phone.

“See?”

Local hikers find human remains at popular San Juan beach.

The photo was blessedly grainy, a group shot of the search and rescue volunteers and our group milling around our cars in the parking lot. It wouldn’t win any journalism awards. Quickly, I scanned the article, relieved that I wasn’t mentioned by name. They’d quoted the sheriff, but that was it.

“Have you heard anything more than what’s in the article?” I asked.

Violet shook her head. “EvenWhat’s New, Friday Harboris only pure speculation and condolences for the Dawkins family. No one reports seeing him before the accident.”

The likelihood of anything nefarious happening was low in such a small community. But the lack of explanation for Jordan’s presence in the cove made me curious. And worried.

I taught my morning classes, then texted Lucy and Rae to meet me at our favorite table at the park by the harbor for lunch. Spring could be hit or miss weather-wise, but we’d lucked into blue skies and a light wind. Being able to walk two blocks for a water view at lunch with my friends was one of the best perks of island living, and it made my step light as I walked through town.

“Everyone having a good day so far?” I asked as I slid onto the bench and unwrapped my turkey sandwich.

Lucy grunted. Used to her curt responses, I turned to Rae. “Working on anything interesting?”

Rae wrinkled her nose. “Eric Chancellor’s engine replacement is giving me fits, but nothing I can’t handle. Violet’s at the shop today?”

“Yeah, Vanessa covered yesterday, so Vi is flying solo. Are you both coming to class tomorrow?"

Rae and Lucy nodded. I could usually count on my friends to attend at least a couple of classes each week. It was how we met.

“The weather looks promising for a hike Saturday.” I said it tentatively. On one hand, I loved our weekly hikes. On the other, I was feeling skittish about cliffside trails.

“Sure,” Lucy said.

From Lucy, that was a ringing endorsement. Maybe she needed a new hiking memory as much as I did.

“Maybe Young Hill this time,” Rae offered.

I swiftly agreed. It was inland, so we could enjoy sweeping water views without getting up close and personal with any cliffs over coves.

“Any news?” I finally asked Rae.

Maybe it was none of my business, but given the role we’d played in finding Jordan’s body, I hoped my interest didn’t come across as ghoulish.

“Sheriff Walker says the full autopsy may take a while. They should have the preliminary results pretty fast, but the tox screen will take longer.”

“For his wife’s sake, I hope we get some answers.”

Rae shook her head. “Jordan wasn’t always the most cautious guy. He occasionally drank up there on the cliffs and watched the sunset.”

“Wasn’t the weather kind of iffy for that on Friday night?”

Rae frowned. “Maybe.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad place to off somebody,” Lucy said.

She said it matter-of-factly. No emotion. As much as I wanted to chide her for not considering Rae’s feelings, Lucy wasn’t wrong. If you wanted to kill someone and make it look like an accident, those cliffs were a good spot. But how did a whale boat captain make that kind of enemy?

Chapter 5 – Drew