Page 75 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

My heart thudded. I had deciphered Diana’s code. I still had a lot of analysis to do, and without the book to reference, it would be difficult with only my notes and memory.

I went back to the list of five numbers that had flummoxed me. Maybe they referred to people as well.

11 = AA

19 = AI

157 = OG

52 = EB

210 = BJ

I couldn’t think of anyone I’d met or heard about on the island with those initials, but it was a place to start. Maybe I could find a way to access the registered guest list, or a list of personnel.

My cell phone rang, and I stifled a yelp.

I grabbed it, didn’t recognize the number. Spam on an island. I almost didn’t answer, but spam usually didn’t come in the middle of the night.

“Hello?”

“How are you doing?”

It was Jason. I smiled in the semi-dark.

“Sleeping with the lights on. Or, rather, not sleeping.”

“I can be there in ten minutes.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I almost said yes. But I was tired, and I had plans tomorrow to figure out who these people were and if any of them had a motive to kill Diana.

“I’ll be okay,” I said. “Thank you, though.”

“I talked to Tristan. He thinks someone wanted to intimidate you, maybe a mean prank.”

“I think—” I hesitated, wishing again that I’d told him more about the book “—maybe whoever left the book in your gift shop just wanted it back.” That sounded lame.

“I told him about the book. Tristan will follow up with Trina in the morning.”

I almost wished he hadn’t, but maybe then I’d find out if Trina mentioned the book to anyone.

“I had fun tonight,” I said. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

“You mean tonight?” he said with a light laugh. “The sunset cruise is a favorite of mine. You’ll remember it forever, I hope.”

“Maybe if it was just you and me,” I said.

“Maybe before you leave, I can make that happen.”

My heart did a little flip. “Good night, Jason.”

“Good night, Mia.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Everyone who keeps a secret, itches to tell it.”

—Gillian Flynn,Dark Places