Page 8 of Vacation Friends

The guy drowning in the ocean was the one who’d wanted to meet her, wasn’t he? And he’d said something about murder.

She assumed he’d been talking about himself.

But what if . . . what if he was talking about her?

She’d felt lately as if death was stalking her.

Maddie coughed again, more water gushing out. The woman beside her pounded on her back.

She’d come so close to losing her life. Thank God that this man had seen her when he did. That he’d been a good swimmer. That she hadn’t swallowed too much water.

“My name is Adrienne.” The woman beside her patted Maddie’s back again. “The man who pulled you out is my boyfriend, Brody. I’m so glad you’re okay. I know that had to be scary.”

Maddie hardly heard the woman. Instead, her gaze searched the dark water. “Is Brody okay?”

“He’s a great swimmer. He was a surfing champion before he had to grow up and get a real job. He should be fine.”

That made Maddie feel a little better. But the ocean had claimed some of the best, and the waves on the south shore were especially dangerous.

More commotion sounded near the water.

“What’s happening?” Maddie blinked, trying to figure out what was going on. But her vision was still blurry.

“Brody . . . he’s pulling someone out of the water.”

Maddie’s heart beat harder. “Is the man alive?”

“I . . . I don’t know. Was he alive when you saw him? Let me see if I can get an update for you. Can I leave you alone?”

“Yes, of course. Please, go. I’m fine.” Maddie leaned back on her palms, still trying to steady her breathing.

Adrienne ran toward Brody, sand flying behind her feet.

As she left, another woman appeared beside Maddie. Maybe she was one of the spectators who’d gathered. Everyone seemed to materialize from nowhere, but Maddie wasn’t complaining.

She’d be dead right now if Brody hadn’t seen her. She felt certain of it.

“I thought you shouldn’t be alone,” the woman muttered.

That was kind of her. “Thank you.”

Maddie turned back to the scene. The sun was beginning to rise beyond the cliffs, smearing pinks and oranges in the sky—and allowing her to see a little more.

She watched as Brody and Adrienne leaned over the man, trying to revive him. Another man joined them.

“Do you think he’s dead?” Maddie’s voice cracked as she asked the question.

“I . . . I don’t know. I’m better with computer things than I am with medical things. But they’re still doing CPR.”

Four paramedics rushed through the shrubs and onto the scene, a stretcher between them.

Maddie tried to stand.

When her jelly-like legs started to collapse on her, the woman beside her grabbed her arm. “I can help.”

With the stranger by her side, Maddie managed to find her balance. Together, the two of them crept closer to the man who’d been pulled from the water. She wanted to get a better look at his face.

But it was still dim outside, and too many people stood around him.

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