Page 45 of The Weekend Getaway

“You don’t remember?” Mia had asked, snaking an arm around her.

Shivering, Sarah shook her head. “Where am I? What happened to me?”

Mia sighed. “You remember we came to Phil’s party, right?”

Sarah nodded, looking away from the blood, looking toward the row of French doors, covered by long, heavy, brocade drapes. Alex, Chris, and Jason stood in one of the corners, whispering furiously, sneaking glances at her.

“Sarah, look at me …”

Dropping her head, Sarah began to weep.

Mia whispered in her ear, “Phil put something in your drink.”

Startled, Sarah jumped, staring at Mia, trying to understand. “What?”

“Phil drugged you,” Mia said. “And then he?—”

A banana leaf slapped Sarah in the face, its sharp edge scraping against her cheek. She stumbled, gasping as she touched her face. Wincing from the sting, Sarah glanced at her fingers. Blood. Her heart lurched. The blood on Phil’s sheets flooded her mind. Had something … bad happened to Phil? Had someone?—

Alex has a new plan now.

What’s the new plan?

He’s going to kill you.

Had that happened? Was there blood on Phil’s bedsheets because Alex had … killed him? Sarah resumed walking, her thoughts chaotic. She didn’t want to think Alex was capable of murder, but if she was being honest with herself, then she knew Alex was capable of anything.

Even murder.

Especially if he believed there was a threat to be eliminated. And Phil was a threat. Phil had promised to destroy them all. He was going to ruin their lives.

Except for hers.

Sarah scoffed under her breath. She didn’t deserve to be spared. She was no better than the rest of them. Reaching the end of the walkway, Sarah walked into the broiling sun,staying on the wooden boardwalk leading to the small boat dock.

A speedboat bobbed in the gentle waves.

A hint of relief washed over her. Mia had told them Alex had taken Phil to the marina, which Sarah hadn’t believed. But, if the speedboat was back, did that mean Alex had returned? Did that mean Mia had told the truth? Could Alex and Phil have resolved their differences overnight? Had Phil been called away on business?

Hope rose in Sarah as she hurried to the boat dock.

If Alex were back on the island, then Grace wouldn’t have to leave. She would see, for herself, that Alex was alive. She would know, beyond any doubt, that she hadn’t seen a decapitated head. Maybe it had been a wild hog. Or a large rodent.

At the boat dock, Sarah strode across the wooden planks. A salt-scented sea breeze wafted across her face as she walked portside along the boat. Sarah glanced toward the starboard side. She frowned, gasping. A horde of black flies swarmed an object lying on the bench seating.

Sarah leaned forward, staring at …

Blood.

The object on the bench seat rested in a pool of blood.

“What the …”

The object was pale, with long strands of blood-soaked blonde hair and?—

“Oh my God …” Sarah whispered, slapping her hands over her mouth as her stomach lurched.

The object on the bench seat was Grace.

---