Page 80 of The House Beyond the Dunes

Reece looks as if he wants to say something but remains silent.

“According to her diary, Stevie was looking for Nikki Kane. She vanished in early July.”

Reece’s jaw pulses. “What’s that have to do with you?”

“I don’t know.”

I’m not sure why I feel like I can talk to him or trust him, but I do. “I started receiving her diary entries after the fall.” I try to shrug off my growing dismay, but it clings to my skin. If Stevie was trying to warn me about Kyle, her timing sucked.

“Think Stevie was having an affair with Kyle?” Reece asks.

The question doesn’t sting. Kyle had lived a full life before me. What worries me is Stevie’s retelling of Nikki and Bourbon. Could Kyle be Bourbon? Was Kyle one of the last people to see her? “Maybe. Maybe she is a jealous ex-girlfriend who wants to get back at me or him and is screwing with me.” Honestly, that would be the most welcome option.

“Have you tried to find her?” Reece asks.

“I searched her name, but nothing popped on the web or on social media. Whoever she is, she’s a ghost.”

“Hard to be a ghost in today’s world.” Reece frowns.

“I don’t think she’s using her real name.” Even I can be found with a quick internet search.

“All correspondences addressed to you?”

“Home address and then texted to my phone. Whoever she is, she certainly knows me.”

“After the write-up in the Outer Banks online local paper.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t named in that.” I swirl the remaining beer in the bottle. I’m almost sorry I mentioned Stevie to Reece. If I didn’t know Kyle, I certainly don’t know Reece. “Never mind. She’s likely someone I know through school or work, and she’s messing with me. That happens.”

“If that’s true, it’s a hell of a bad joke.”

“You’re right. It’s not funny.”

“And it bothered you enough to bring it up to me.”

I hold up my beer bottle. “It’s the beer talking.”

“You’ve only had two and a half.”

“Already over my limit.” I summon a smile. “Thanks for the meal, the stories, and letting me bend your ear about nothing important. I better get back.”

“To your dark house.”

“Are you trying to scare me?”

White teeth flash. “No. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

The teasing light in his eyes returns. Reminds me of why I wanted to kiss him. “Duly noted. Now, the plan is to get a full night’s sleep.”

“It’s nine.”

“I’m a terrible sleeper, so I start early each night knowing three a.m. is coming fast.” And without my medication, who knows how the night is going to go.

He sets his bottle down. “3:33. Halfway to hell.”

“Very true.”

“I’ll walk you home.”

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