Page 7 of Against the Wind

Despite the relatively early hour, as I hit the edge of the village proper, I could see evidence of the news spreading. Streets were clogged with vehicles as tourists fled toward the ferry terminal that would get them safely back to the mainland. Locals were easy to pick out. They stood outside homes and buildings, boarding over windows or installing hurricane shutters. Others would be gathering supplies and planning hurricane parties. Me, I’d be making sure that the clinic was ready for whatever emergency came our way as a result of storm prep or the aftermath.

Because of the congested roads, I was later than I intended when I pulled behind the clapboard building housing the clinic. Nina was just slipping out of her car, her myriad of tiny braids gathered into a thicker plait that hung over one shoulder. She flashed a bright smile that stood out against her medium brown skin.

“Mornin’, Doc. Looks like it’s gonna be a nasty one.”

We both looked off to the south, where clouds were already beginning to build in the distance. “I think they’re wrong about when it’s gonna hit. We’re gonna get somethin’ sooner.”

“Hope not. Lotta folks still tryin’ to get off-island. Rather not have to find a place for them.”

Or spend all our storm supplies.Not that we’d begrudge them aid if needed, but despite some of the monster houses marching along our coastline, in general, our island wasn’t exactly rolling in money and assets. Because we depended heavily on tourist dollars, we tolerated the annual invasion of our shores with varying degrees of hospitality, but there was no quicker way to draw a line between us and them than the kind of storm that would dry those tourist dollars up for a stretch. That and no islander wanted to be responsible for idiot mainlanders who didn’t have the first clue how to prepare for or ride out a storm like this.

“Here’s hoping they get off as planned.”

We strode up the stairs, toward the back door. Like most buildings on the island, it was raised up on stilts to accommodate things like storm surges and flooding.

“Are you planning on keeping us open regular hours today?” Nina asked.

“Depends on what comes in, I guess. You and I both know we’re gonna get more people in for accidents from the storm prep. We’ll be keeping an eye on the weather reports for sure.”

At the door, I paused, my hand buried deep in my purse.

“Something wrong?”

I stared at the knob and the scratches all the way around it. The knob itself looked loose on the door. “Somebody tried to jimmy the back door.”

“Oh, shit! Do you think they got anything?”

“Doesn’t look like they got in.” But the fact that they’d tried didn’t bode well. Not with a storm coming.

Other than the local pharmacy, the clinic was the only source of drugs on the island. We didn’t keep any schedule-onenarcotics on hand for precisely this reason, but the average thief might not know that.

“Do you feel safe running around to the front to check that door?” I asked.

Nina uncapped the mini-mace on her keychain. “Got it.”

As she disappeared around the corner of the building, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed 911.

“911. What is your emergency?”

“This is Dr. Gabriella Carrera. I’m at the island clinic, and there is evidence that someone attempted to break in sometime since last night.”

“Is the door open?”

“No. I haven’t touched it. I don’t know if it’s unlocked or not. My initial impression is that they weren’t able to get inside, but I don’t know for sure.”

Nina came back, giving a thumbs up.

“The front door was untouched.”

“Please remain outside. I’m sending an officer to your location.”

“Understood.”

Nina and I retreated to our vehicles to wait.

Kristie pulled into the tiny staff lot and got out of her Mini Cooper. “Are we having some kind of hurricane party in the parking lot?”

“Attempted break-in,” I explained. “We’re waiting for the police.”

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