Page 52 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

—Lee Child, The Affair

I didn’t think that Brie’s plan was going to work, but I didn’t say anything because she was ultra-confident.

Instead, I did exactly what she told me to do, starting with sticking by her side and laughing at her jokes, both the good

and bad.

There were two distinct groups on the snorkeling trip. Two families with a gaggle of kids between the ages of eight and twelve

who all stuck together and outnumbered the adults, then the rest of us. Sherry, Andrew, and Brie; Doug and David; and the

horny honeymooners, who seemed to have tamed their PDA. They still couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but they didn’t

have their lips locked half the time.

It was a beautiful day, and while I was tired, I was glad I’d come. The island was a thirty-minute ferry ride. Though uninhabited, there was a permanent cabana, a

dock and boathouse, and a row of portable toilets. The island was a government-owned nature preserve; St. Claire maintained

the facilities and paid a fee for use.

The reefs were along the eastern side of the island, so we walked fifteen minutes with our gear. Kalise provided a safety

lesson, then a bit of history about the reef and the island itself.

Doug had brought an underwater camera and seemed especially excited about the trip. When I caught his eye, he pointed to David, who was listening intently, then gave me two thumbs-up. I supposed that meant he and David had worked things out. I was glad.

St. Claire had amazingly clear water. But this place, which Kalise called Pedro Point, had water so clear we could see details

on the sandy bottom far from shore.

Kalise brought the kids and parents to one area, and the rest of us went with staff farther along where it was less noisy,

but no less beautiful. Brie and I hung back with the others, and we watched Sherry cling to Andrew, walking a dozen feet ahead.

He didn’t seem to mind, and I—not for the first time—thought Brie might be too close to the situation. She loved her dad and

didn’t want anyone to take her place. It was normal, and she’d outgrow it.

Except... I didn’t like Sherry, either, and I didn’t trust her. She was mean. And her attitude on the ferry back from St.

John was definitely suspicious.

Brie started laughing and playfully hit me. “Are you serious?” she said.

It took me a second, but I caught up. “Totally,” I said with a snicker.

“And?”

“And?” What was I supposed to say? She wanted to make Sherry angry or jealous so she’d do something to irritate Andrew, and

I didn’t actually have a story I was telling.

“What’d you say to her?” Brie made a purposeful glance toward Sherry, so I followed her gaze and realized that Sherry was

looking back at us.

“Oh, I said...” Then I whispered nonsense into Brie’s ear.

This whole farce seemed childish, as if we were gossiping behind Sherry’s back, and no way would she fall for it... except

that her face reddened, and she clutched Andrew tighter.

Okay, maybe Brie did have a good idea.

“See?” Brie said.

“Yes.”

Suddenly Brie started laughing again, and this time Andrew turned around, a broad smile on his face. He stopped walking and

waited for us to catch up. “Having fun?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” Brie said, moving into the narrow space between Andrew and Sherry. “You know, Dad, I’d love to go to that great

fish restaurant on St. John before we leave. Where we went to celebrate my sixteenth birthday?”

“Sure, we still have a few days.”

“Mia, you have to join us,” Brie said. “That’s okay, Dad, right? Mia’s leaving on Tuesday.”

He hesitated a moment, and I wondered if he regretted asking me to steer clear of Brie. “Sure,” he said.

“Maybe it should just be family ,” Sherry said.

Brie shot her a look that Andrew couldn’t see, then said to her dad, “That’s a great idea, Sherry. Thanks for suggesting it.

Just me and you, Dad. We have a lot to talk about before I go to college.”

“That’s not—” Sherry said, then cut herself off when she realized what Brie had done.

“I don’t want to think about you leaving just yet,” Andrew said, and kissed the top of Brie’s head. “It’s been you and me

for a long time, kiddo.”

Brie discreetly winked at me.

Brie, Andrew, and Sherry went to a different section of the reef, and I stood with David because Doug was off in his own world with his camera.

I couldn’t see the Kents anywhere. We chatted for a bit.

David gave me some pointers, then he joined Doug, leaving me alone.

I didn’t mind as I happily floated atop the reefs, looking at the colorful fish and interesting plants.

The water was so amazingly clear and refreshing I could have stayed here all day, especially once I got the hang of breathing through the tube.

I daydreamed about Jason, wondering if maybe we could come here alone before I left.

I didn’t know the rules, but Jason liked to break rules, and this was one I would happily break—alone on an uninhabited island with the guy I lov—liked. Liked a whole lot.

I wasn’t so naive to think that there was a bright future for us, but I wanted to see him away from St. Claire, to find out

if I still felt this tug in my heart. I didn’t really know him, though I knew quite a bit. The way he viewed life, both as something to fully live and recognizing that he was a small

part of a bigger whole. He’d romanced me with both his words and his body.

I wanted to do it all over again.

Suddenly, I couldn’t get any air.

My tube was clogged or something, but I didn’t panic because I was literally swimming just below the surface. Yet when I tried

to emerge from the water, something pushed me down. Now water flooded my snorkeling tube. I kicked away, jammed my toe against

the reef. I finally surfaced, coughing and sputtering.

Sherry stood in the water, glaring at me.

“What the hell?” I said.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said.

“You pushed me down!”

“You’re mistaken.” She made a point to look around. No one was nearby. No one had seen.

In a low voice, Sherry said, “Stay out of my way. I know exactly what you and that little brat are up to. It won’t work.”

“You really are insecure.”

“You have me all wrong. I have more confidence in my little finger than you could ever have. Andrew is mine . We’re getting married. You and Brie will not stop it. He’s already irritated that Brie hasn’t welcomed me with open arms,

and he thinks she’s being selfish. He has needs that only I can satisfy.”

“Two husbands, one dead,” I said, sounding a lot braver than I felt. But there was space between us now, and I could scream

before she could do anything to me. “What did Diana have on you? I mean, you were in the same sorority, after all.”

Her face darkened. “Stand down. This doesn’t concern you .”

Suddenly, her face changed, all sunlight and joy. “Andrew, over here!” She waved at someone behind me.

I turned and saw Andrew and Brie swimming toward us.

“They want us to head back early,” Andrew said. “There’s a storm coming in—nothing big, they said, just overnight rain—but

the ocean is getting choppy.”

As if on cue, wind came in off the ocean and chilled me, and I spotted distant clouds to the east.

Andrew and Sherry went ahead; I hung back with Brie.

“What happened?” she said.

“I really don’t like Sherry. She called you a brat.”

“Really?” Brie laughed, but I didn’t think the situation was funny.

“Diana had something on her. I think she’s dangerous.”

“Like, killed Diana dangerous?”

I didn’t respond because that was exactly what I’d been thinking. Tristan said they had a suspect, but I didn’t see that young

man Georgie killing anyone. I’d really thought it was Gino... but now?

“I don’t know. But she’s definitely up to something.”

“I’m going to tell my dad.”

“We have no proof. We need to find something first, something tangible.”

“How?”

“By figuring out every line Diana wrote in her book to see if it points to specifics.”

“I’m in,” Brie said. “But aren’t you going to see Jason again tonight?”

“I plan to,” I said, finally smiling again. We emerged from the ocean and headed up the beach toward the dock. “But we have

time this afternoon. Can you come by?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I take a shower.”

The waves were choppy as we headed back to St. Claire, the dark clouds coming toward us faster than we were moving, but the captain assured us that we’d all be back at the resort before the first raindrop hit the island.

Everyone was inside the cabin except Brie and me. I’d had it with Sherry. She deliberately cut off my air supply when we were

snorkeling, but I couldn’t prove it. I was more concerned about Brie and what she would face when they returned to Arizona.

“I have to convince my dad that she’s bad news,” Brie said.

“Tomorrow there’s a big dinner and dance up at the Sky Bar,” I said. “If we spend this afternoon and all day tomorrow trying

to find what Diana knew about her, maybe we can expose her.”

“What if we ask Amber?” Brie said.

“Are you serious?”

“We know they were involved. Amber knows about the book and probably also the blackmail, and she only seems to care about

finding the documents. What if we figure out where the documents are, and trade that information for dirt on Sherry?”

I liked that option. “We have to find the documents first.”

Lightning flashed in the distance. “Wow,” Brie said. She craned to see St. Claire. It was at least ten minutes away.

Several people from inside the cabin came to the deck to watch the lightning show. It was pretty spectacular, though a little

creepy. I was glad we’d be back at the resort soon. Brie went to her dad, and Sherry immediately followed, kissed Andrew,

then leaned against the railing.

Brie said something, but I couldn’t hear it. Sherry looked angry and Andrew confused.

The ferry slowed a bit as we neared the island. Then a wave had the boat moving up and down to the point my stomach was a

little queasy. I took a couple deep breaths, getting my bearings. Then I heard a scream and a splash.

“Sherry!” Andrew shouted. “Woman overboard!”

A bell rang, the ferry’s engine cut off, and David grabbed a life preserver and rushed over to Andrew. He tossed the ring out to where Sherry was flopping in the water. She struggled to swim toward it, and I noticed there was blood on her head.

Andrew kicked off his shoes and jumped into the water. He swam over to Sherry, bringing the ring to her. She grabbed it with

one hand, then clung to Andrew with the other. She was sobbing and gulping for air as the waves became more violent from the

incoming storm.

I went to Brie’s side. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. One minute she was standing there. The next, she fell through the gate.”

I noticed then that one of the railing gates was unlatched. If someone had leaned against it, they easily could have fallen

over the side.

“You didn’t—” I said quietly.

“No!” Brie said when she saw what I pointed to. “ She did it.”

“Why?” I asked.

“For attention? Dammit, she set this up, I know it.”

We watched as David and one of the crew helped Sherry back onto the boat, and then Andrew followed. Sherry wrapped her arms

around him, sobbing.

“Let me check your head,” David said. “You must have hit it falling over.”

“It’ll be okay,” Andrew said to Sherry. “You’re okay, thank God.”

Sherry looked directly at Brie and me, smiled slyly, then buried her face in Andrew’s shoulder.

We docked at three that afternoon. The sky was no longer blue, and darker clouds looked ominous on the horizon with lightning

flashing in the distance. I was exhausted and tired. A hot shower, then Brie and I would come up with a plan to beat Sherry.

Then I’d spend the night with Jason. That made me smile.

I was the last in line as we walked up the dock to the waiting shuttle. The kids had run ahead along the beach to the resort

without their parents.

Andrew had his arm around Sherry and she now sported a bandage on her head, which I thought was overkill. Brie stopped and walked over to the side of the dock to take a selfie with the storm clouds as a backdrop.

“Brie, hurry up, Sherry needs to get into some dry clothes and relax.”

Brie looked at me and rolled her eyes.

“Ohmigod!” Doug shouted. “Is that a person?”

Everyone turned to the southernmost edge of the dock. Eli and two of the deck hands jumped off the ferry and joined the group.

They all stopped at the edge of the rocks that led down to the beach.

Something was wrong. I hurried over to Brie’s side as David and Eli climbed down the rocks. Brie took my hand and squeezed.

The fall wasn’t steep, though it could be dangerous because of the rocks that had been built up to create a breakwater between

the dock and employee housing.

There was a body on the rocks. A seagull stood on his head. David reached the body and shooed the bird away.

That’s when I recognized Gino Garmon.

He was very, very dead.