Another four began walking across the sand—I wondered how hot they must be in such thick layers—guns at the ready as they moved past us, too, fanning out as they appeared to be searching.
Manu and the officer in charge made their way over to where we were standing. My heart plummeted. I should’ve felt safe, but I only felt scared.
Manu spoke first. “My friends, this is Officer Knowles. He will be leading the investigation into Ms. Emily’s death.”
The officer nodded at us but didn’t speak. The hard lines around his lips made me wonder how much time he spent grimacing. He had a faded tan line from his sunglasses as he lifted them up, glaring at us with eyes that left no room for comfort.
“He has asked to speak to each of you separately.” He nodded at Jaren and Natasha. “Including those of you who are married. Andy, we will ask you to stay in your hut. Brad, in yours. Jaren, in yours. Nick, in yours. Natasha, I will have you wait in the spa. And Ms. Megan can wait in the library.”
“Megan’s gone,” Andy said before I’d had the chance. “Like Laura.”
“She has gone missing, too?” Manu asked, his expression practically wilting. If he truly had nothing to do with what was happening, I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. The island had to have cost him millions, and our visit was ruining everything he’d built. With each person’s disappearance, I saw him deflate a bit more.
I nodded. “Since yesterday.”
The officer’s expression didn’t change. “Very well,” Manu said. “Just spread out like I said, then. I can have your breakfasts brought to you if you would like to finish what you were eating. Please just stay where you were assigned to be until Officer Knowles says otherwise.”
They were splitting us up. It hit me then, and outright fear began to settle in my bones once more. How could we let them split us up when we’d all agreed we were safer together? Then again, what choice did we have? My eyes flicked down to where the gun rested on the officer’s hip. We had no choice. We had to do what we were told.
We’d be fine. Andy had stayed alone all night, and he was fine, I reminded myself. This was just routine. Whether or not I believed it, I had to accept it.
I closed my eyes, moving away from the group with apprehension as sweat began to bead at my temples. My palms were slick with perspiration, and I wiped them on my shirt, shoving them into my pockets.
Whatever was coming, we had to face it alone.
Like it or not, we were all alone in whatever was to come. As we separated, spreading out like corners in a square, that was more obvious than ever before.
Please don’t let this be the last time I see them.
After an excruciating amount of waiting, I watched Officer Knowles and one of his men approach my hut. My palms were drenched with sweat, matching my back and the bends of my knees. I stood, then worried that it was confrontational and sat again, bouncing my foot against the floor in a jarring fashion.
I was increasingly aware of my scent in the room. Of Megan’s scent. Of the fact that I hadn’t cleaned up. Of the fact that I was about to be questioned by police. Weren’t they supposed to ask if I wanted to talk to a lawyer? Maybe only guilty people did that. Why didn’t I clean up? Did I have food on my face from breakfast? Don’t touch your face. That was a sign of a lie. I’d watched too many police shows.
“Officers.” I stood again, unbelievably aware of the sweat pooling above my upper lip as they pulled open the door and stepped inside.
“Sit,” Knowles said, waving his hand at me. The officer behind him held a notepad. He was muscled and tan, bigger than his commander, but kept a few feet back, as if he knew his place.
“What can you tell us about the night Emily Bennett died?”
I took a breath. This was it. This was the moment I revealed the very truth that would ruin my life.
“At dinner, Emily kept talking about secrets. She was acting strange, and she left dinner early.”
“What do you mean strange?” he asked, cutting me off before I’d even gotten started.
Was I first or last in his questioning lineup? I’d waited so long, I couldn’t have been first, could I? Had he heard this story before? What did I remember? I wanted to be sure I was getting it right, but so much had happened since then.
“It just seemed like she was upset over something. Like she wanted to fight with Andy. She was quieter than usual…and, like I said, she left before she’d eaten anything.”
“To your knowledge, had anything happened to upset her?”
“No. She was fine when she left that morning. Chipper, even. But I didn’t see her again until dinner. Something had changed.”
He glanced at the man behind him, who was scribbling notes on his pad of paper, then back at me. “How long had you known Miss Bennett?”
I scratched my head. Touching my face. Pulling it away too quickly, I felt my skin burn with embarrassment. “Um, Andy brought her to our group dinner…like, two months ago? And then again around a month ago? So, I’d met her twice before we came here. But I wouldn’t say I really knew her at all. She kept to herself, even when she was with us. I mean, not to say that she wasn’t friendly. She seemed nice, I just…you know how it is, we’ve all been friends for most of our lives. It’s hard to get in a word edgewise
