Page 49 of Hide Me Darling

She sighs and her eyes flick down to my neck again for a moment before giggling again. “I mean, unless you already know what he's like, cause from what I saw, oh boy, it looked like he likes it rough too.”

I take a drink of my coffee to avoid responding. It’s not like I can even confirm or deny the comment considering I don’t even know who was fucking me last night. I can feel heat rising to my cheeks at the thought, but thankfully Maddie moves the conversation along.

“So, besides avoiding the questionable men in town, what else do you like to do for fun?” Maddie asks, taking a sip of her coffee.

Killing people is not an appropriate response… hunting masked bloggers and being fucked senseless by them is not an appropriate response either…

I take a moment to steer myself away from those thoughts. "Well, besides exploring the island, I'm quite fond of photography," I reply with a shrug. It was always a hobby I enjoyed as a kid and teenager but rarely got time for. It helped me to see the beauty and light in the world while constantly being reminded of the darkness.

Maddie nods thoughtfully. "That's pretty cool! There are so many beautiful spots around here for photography. Have you been to the lighthouse yet? It's one of my favorite spots on the island."

"Not yet, but I've heard other people talk about it. I'll have to check it out," I say, genuinely interested. The idea of capturing the island's natural beauty through a lens did appeal to me, but my mind is too focused on the investigation to give it too much thought. Maybe once I unravel this mystery I can take a few days for myself. Before I have to leave.

I finish the last of the coffee and croissant as my mind drifts to the investigation that has me here. I feel torn, wanting to solve the mystery and stop tourists being killed, but so far I still don’t have any solid evidence that it’s actually happening. Not to mention that Cain and Abel told me that when they do kill, there are reasons for it. I know from experience working for my parents organization that some killings can be justified depending on the circumstances.

"So, what's it like working in real estate here?" I ask.

Maddie leans back in her chair, taking a thoughtful sip of her coffee before answering. "It's busy, especially with all the tourists coming in during the summer months. But I like it. You get to meet a lot of different people, hear their stories, help them find a place they can call home, even if it's just for a vacation."

"That sounds fulfilling," I comment, genuinely interested. "Meeting new people all the time must keep things interesting."

"Oh, definitely," Maddie agrees. "And you get to see how people connect with the island. Some fall in love with it instantly, while others take time to warm up to its charms."

"Have you ever had anyone just disappear without a trace, instead of checking out like they're supposed to?" I ask, thinking about the tourists that were killed and if Maddie may have noticed those victims disappear.

Maddie chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Nah, no one ever risks the fees we tack on if they don't bring back the keys," she explains, amusement coloring her voice. "But we do have an after-hours key drop that gets used pretty regularly. Sometimes people have early flights or catch late ferries, so they drop off the keys and head out without much fuss."

"That makes sense," I reply, mentally noting this detail with a touch of disappointment. But it could be a place to watch, see if anyone is regularly dropping off keys who is already a local.

"So, are you excited for the carnival?" I ask after a moment, trying to move my thoughts onto something happier.

She beams at the question. "Absolutely! It's one of the biggest events here, and everyone looks forward to it. There's so much to see and do—rides, games, food stalls. It's so much fun."

I smile, feeling a bit of the carnival spirit myself. "When does it start?"

"In three days," Maddie replies, practically bouncing in her seat. "There's a parade to kick things off, and then the carnival opens right after. It's going to be so much fun!"

I nod, already making mental notes to attend. "Sounds like a blast. I'll definitely be there." I frown for a moment, glancing at where the carnival is set up. “They are set up pretty early if it doesn’t start for three days.”

Maddie rolls her eyes playfully. "Yeah, they do some exclusive VIP things leading up to it. Trying to build up the hype, you know?"

I chuckle, wondering what sort of VIP events they hold and who the VIP’s could be. "I guess so."

Maddie checks her watch suddenly and curses softly. "Speaking of getting ready, I have to run. I need a shower and then I have to open the office. Can't keep the tourists waiting."

I nod understandingly. "No problem. Thanks for the coffee and the company. We'll catch up later?"

"Definitely," Maddie replies with a bright smile, gathering her things. "I'll see you around, Taylor."

With a wave, Maddie heads off briskly. I get up and wave goodbye to Allegra on my way out of the bakery, heading toward the grocery store. I need a new supply of coffee, and maybe some cookies I can trust.

Chapter 24

Hydessa

Gladys greets me with a large smile and a wave when I walk into the grocery store. It feels good to be someone that people are happy to see, to be part of a community. After grabbing one of the baskets, I take my time to see what the store has to offer. Last time I was here I was so focused on getting just the basics that I didn’t take time for anything else.

As I stroll, I find myself drawn to the section of homemade baked goods, hoping to find a pack of cherry cookies. However, my search turns up empty, which makes me ponder where the package from yesterday came from—did they buy them elsewhere, or did they actually bake them for me themselves?

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