Page 39 of The Trip

“I know, and that’s why I came down.”

“Oh, please. It’ll be fine. We won’t be up there for long.”

Emma twists in her seat at the dinette to face Gigi. “We’ve got over a week left in this trip. Why don’t we wait until the seas are calmer?”

Gigi puts her hands on her hips, pursing her lips as if Emma just doesn’t get it. “I already announced to my following that we’d be doing itlivetonight.”

Beth’s gaze meets mine, her eyes widening as if to sayI told you so. She turns toward Gigi. “I’m not risking my life for your live stream, Gigi.”

Gigi’s face falls, seemingly stunned by Beth’s refusal, making me wonder when the last time was that she didn’t get her way. “We have to. It’s the whole reason we’re here.”

I study Gigi. Is she referring to honoring Courtney’s memory or posting “content”?

“This might be a vacation for you, Beth, but I actually have to work.”

I shake my head for giving Gigi’s intentions the benefit of the doubt. Of course that’s all she’s concerned about: her following.

Gigi glances at Emma, then me. “I’ll meet you all on deck. I just need to grab my pocketknife and touch up my lipstick.”

Beth looks between Emma and me after Gigi disappears into her stateroom, the door slamming closed behind her as the floor heels to an angle.

“Did she not hear me?” Beth asks. “I said I’m not going up there. Not toni—”

A scream erupts from inside Gigi’s stateroom.

Chapter Sixteen

Present: Day Four at Sea

Gigi stumbles out of her cabin before I can get up. She’s staring at a small piece of notebook paper in her hand. All the color has drained from her face, and there’s a flicker of terror in her eyes, like she’s seen a ghost.

“What is it?”

“You scared me,” Beth says, clearly annoyed. “It sounded like you were being murdered in there.”

“Look.” Gigi holds out the paper with a tremoring hand as she moves into the middle of the salon.

Emma snatches the paper and holds it over the table. I get to my feet and lean over Gigi’s shoulder to see what it says.

My breath catches in my throat as I read the note, penned in round, neat handwriting I haven’t seen in twenty years.

I know who killed me, and it’s time for you to confess.

XO, Courtney

A haunting silence comes over us as we all stare at the ripped paper. The floor moves beneath me, but I’m not sure whether it’s from the rolling sea or Courtney’s words. I grab onto Gigi’s arm to keep my balance.

Beth looks up at Gigi. “What the—”

“It’s Courtney’s handwriting,” Gigi says.

I stand frozen, my eyes glued to the note.It’s impossible. She couldn’t be.

“You guys don’t think she’s ...” Gigi’s petrified eyes travel between mine and Beth’s. “You know.Alive?”

My pulse races as Beth takes the note from Emma’s hand.

“Where did you find this?” Beth asks.