Page 31 of Controlled Chaos

Porter rubbed at the stubble on his face. “The Coast Guard suggested it was one of three islands that the body parts would have been carried from. This island and the other two on the east side.”

“What’s on those?”

“They’re uninhabitable.”

“What makes them uninhabitable? Are there wild animals, or is the island littered with poisonous snakes or something?” I turned to face Porter.

“Thaddeus’s father bought this island first and, with it, an agreement to purchase the other two as a package deal. Only the other two have sharp rocky cliffs that destroy any ship that approaches. And if somehow someone manages to get ashore by diving, the reefs are infested with sharks and the islands themselves have wild boars, among other things.”

“I’m surprised he still purchased the other two if he can’t do anything with them.”

“I think, one day, Thaddeus’s father had plans to expand.”

I pulled out my phone and shot off a text to George asking him to pull what he could on the other two islands, including using satellite imagery to see if what Thaddeus was saying about the terrain was true. Unlike the spotty cell service at the compound, being this close to the shore helped with getting my text to go through. “Thaddeus and his dad must come from money if he was able to buy all three islands.”

“You’d be correct. He comes from old family money. Apparently, they also have a ton of clout. I should appreciate it since it’s probably what got me into the FBI.”

I pressed my hand to his chest as I was about to walk by. “Don’t sell yourself short. You must be good at what you do. I’m here, aren’t I? And that had nothing to do with the Foster name or your womanly woo-woo.”

Porter followed me back to the golf cart, and I climbed into the passenger side. “Take me to where the plane is kept. Maybe there’s some record of people arriving or departing the island during Katerina’s timeframe.”

“That’s kind of smart. I’m sure they keep a log.” Porter climbed behind the wheel.

We accelerated away, and he turned onto a different path, following the shoreline. The view of the ocean as he drove was breathtaking. Dolphins jumped in the distance. Birds swooped down, getting their breakfast.

“So, you want to tell me the story behind the bad guy that my sister spotted at the coffee shop?”

I shrugged. “Why should I? You already know his name.”

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