Page 21

I sipped from the glass of cold water as Eddie sat down with a mug of coffee.

“I get wary about visitors,” he confessed. “Especially around here.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” He waved a dismissive hand. “This town has great views, but the people here are just . . . weird . I’m telling ya. They all just stare at you. Look at you like you’re an alien if they haven’t seen you before.”

I could understand that, especially after that random run-in with Rory and bumping into Sherriff Reed.

“Well, if it helps, I’m only here temporarily. I’m actually staying in the cottage we just spoke about. The one those guys own?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. The Reeds .” He made a noise of disapproval, sipping again.

He said their name like it was a disease.

“They’re too quiet for me. And not a good quiet, you know?

They ain’t neighbors who respect the peace.

Like the Abbots over there.” He pointed to the dark house a few yards away.

“The Abbots are pretty good people. Well, Mrs. Abbot is. Haven’t talked to Mr. Abbot much but he seems like a decent man.

“But the Reeds have that eerie quiet going on, like they’re hiding something.

I always catch them on this side of the lake looking at my house.

I don’t understand why they do it. Like they own the whole damn area or something.

You should’ve seen them when we had the place built.

They were pissed about all the noise, which I understand, but it still wasn’t any of their business.

Plus, the Abbots said they catch them sometimes too, just milling around, looking at their house.

If either of our houses are ever robbed, we’ll know who did it. I’ll tell you that much.”

“Have you ever spoken to the Reeds personally?” I asked.

“Just once. To the one named Damian. And I wouldn’t exactly call it a conversation. He’s a strange one.”

I shifted in my seat. “How do you mean?”

“Dunno. There’s just something off about that kid.

He has that look in his eyes—the kind you see and are immediately skeptical of.

Get this: I saw him fishing one day, figured I’d say hello.

We’d just built the house, and I wanted to get to know the lands.

I approached him, waved and asked how he was doing, and he just stared at me.

” Eddie narrowed his eyes, focusing on the lake.

“For a while I thought something might’ve been wrong with him.

Maybe he was deaf or mute. But he’s not. ”

“Oh, wow. Yeah, that is strange. I waved at one of them earlier and they stared at me too. Didn’t bother waving back.”

Eddie sipped before saying, “It was probably Damian then.”

“So, when did you officially move here?”

“Well, we bought the land about three years ago and had the house built last year. We moved in ’round April, so a couple of months now.”

I sipped again. “And do you like it here?”

“I do. It’s quiet. Like I said, the people can be a little weird, but we just have things delivered or order groceries for pickup if we don’t want to be bothered.”

“That sounds really nice. I’d probably be doing the same.” I laughed.

“See.” He tipped his mug my way. “You get it.”

I looked up as a bird squawked. “Have you ever met the owner of the rental? Alex, I think.”

“Haven’t met him, no,” Eddie answered. “But I hear he’s civilized enough. His uncle is the sheriff. James Reed. I see his face plastered all over the town. The people love him.”

“Mmm. Yeah, I’ve met the sheriff. Twice, actually. He pulled me over when I was on the way here.”

“Seriously?” Eddie scoffed. “My wife got pulled over by him about a month ago. He claimed she was speeding but she swears up and down she wasn’t.”

“I can imagine the cops here are extremely bored.”

“Oh yeah. No doubt about that.” He took a brief pause, then switched gears. “So, what’s all this about your friend?”

“Well, she booked Alex’s cottage a few days ago but I haven’t heard from her since she checked out. When I call, her phone goes straight to voicemail. I figured I’d come to Sage Hill and check things out, but I haven’t had much luck.”

“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you ask them if they’d seen her?” he asked, gesturing across the lake.

“Not yet. I don’t want to alarm too many people.” I swallowed hard while shaking my head. “The thing is, Eve is the kind of friend who is spontaneous. I don’t want to assume she’s missing or anything if she’s just booked a trip to Hawaii or something.” I laughed.

Eddie laughed too. “Hawaii sounds like a dream right about now.”

“Right? So . . . who knows, you know? Only thing is it’s not like her to not be in touch.”

His brows dipped. “No?”

“Not at all.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what.” Eddie placed his coffee down on the nearest surface and leaned back, folding his arms. “I wouldn’t put anything past those boys. I’d go and ask them if they have seen her. Wouldn’t even beat around the bush.”

“Daddy?” a small voice came from the left and I craned my neck to see a little girl standing on the dock with a pink dress on. Her coily dark hair was unruly and her feet bare. She had beautiful beige skin and eyes just like her father’s. Couldn’t have been any older than four.

“Oh, baby girl!” Eddie stood and walked off the boat to scoop her up. “I’ve told you about coming down here all by yourself.”

“Sowwy,” she said in a soft voice.

“That’s alright.” He bounced her on his hip. “How was your nap?”

“Good.” The little girl laughed.

I took that as my sign to get up and stop interrupting this man’s day.

“What’s her name?” I asked, joining them on the dock.

“Go on, baby. Tell her your name,” Eddie encouraged.

“Emily,” she replied bashfully, placing her head on her dad’s shoulder.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Emily,” I cooed. “Well, I’m going to get going. Thank you for the water and for taking time to speak with me, Eddie. I really appreciate it.”

“ ’Course. No problem.”

“I’m thirsty, Daddy.”

Eddie smiled at Emily, then gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be much help, but I hope you figure things out. If you need anything else, I’m only a knock away.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I walked away as Eddie started asking Emily if she was hungry too.

I thought about going back to the cottage, but I gave another glance at the house in the trees. The Abbots. Though I doubted they’d be of more help than Eddie was, I walked in the direction of their home anyway.

Eve Castillo journal entry

I’ve been having weird dreams.

Last night, I dreamt I was under water. For some reason, I’m not in my own body.

I can see myself . . . all of me. I’m under water and my leg is caught on something and I can’t free myself from it.

I look up where the sun is shining. I see people splashing around.

I hear them having so much fun. Someone leans over a platform and looks right at me, pointing.

I open my mouth and bubbles come out as I try to call for help.

I try to swim up but whatever is wrapped around my ankle is holding on tighter and dragging me down. Then I panic because I can’t breathe. I flap my arms, wanting to reach the surface but I never do.

I’ve had this dream two nights in a row. I can’t help wondering if it means my life has become too much—or that I’ve become too much. I ask myself if it’s because I feel like I’m drowning now. Could this mean that when people see me struggling, they don’t care enough to save me?

I don’t blame them.

I can’t even save myself.