“Who knows you keep records?” I asked.
“Anyone that has ever sought me out for help with passports has seen it,” he nodded.
“So who ever took it would have to be one of those people that has gotten a passport,” Miller sighed. “That narrows it down to Green Holt or Skerry, I guess. Are the tunnels still flooded?” He was asking Honey.
“I imagine so,” she answered. “It rained pretty heavily, and it takes a good while for it to evaporate off in the sun.”
“If someone from Green Holt or Skerry travelled to the main island to get your book, Jeff, then they must have taken a boat,” Miller said. “Any chance you guys are using your logbooks here?”
“That silly little thing where we write down if we leave the island?” Honey laughed. She realized Miller wasn’t joking. “Well, on account of the fact that we aren’t really supposed to be leaving the island all that much, we got rid of it,” she grimaced. “Someone from the main island brings over supplies for our little grocery store and that’s about it.”
“If they managed to avoid the marina on the main island, then there would be no record of them getting over there,” Miller said. “I was hoping that finding the mystery attacker would be a little more straight forward.”
“Sorry,” Jeff smiled. “I’ve made such a mess of everything. If I knew the name of my blackmailer then I would tell you, I swear it. I wonder if they will have heard about my injuries, or if they will still expect the payment tomorrow…”
“Hold on,” Miller said, his eyes almost sparkling. “Tomorrow? You are expected to leave money at your drop off point tomorrow?”
“Yes, there’s a spot in the cliffs on the main island. Of all the drop off points, this is my least favorite,” Jeff explained. “I’ve used this drop site a couple of times. I have to shuffle along a narrow ledge to reach a small cave, stash the envelope with the money and then get out of there quickly.”
“What time?” Miller asked.
“Noon,” Jeff replied. “I drop it then walk away. I think they watch to make sure I’m gone; I’ve never seen their face. They are masters at this.”
“Well, I’m pretty smart too,” Miller grinned. “And so’s this one.” He was pointing in my direction and I felt myself blush. “If someone is taking advantage of you, then we will see to it that it comes to an end.”
“You’re a good man,” Jeff smiled. “I only wish I could be of more use.”
“I think it’s time you got some sleep,” Brielle said. “I assume you are going to want him to make this drop off tomorrow?”
“Yeah. We need to make it look as if everything is normal, so it has to be him,” Miller replied.
“Okay, well then you need rest and plenty of it,” Brielle ordered. “Honey, could you show us to Jeff’s room? I’ll need a room next door so I can pop in and out to make observations, and I was thinking…” Brielle’s voice trailed off as she walked out into the hallway with Jeff and Honey.
“Are you guys free to look at the photos yet?” Effie asked. Her and Kate stepped back into the room; Kate still had a firm grip on her Furby. “I know you’ve been busy with this whole mess, but I think that I have some really good ones.”
“Yeah, I think you’re gonna love them,” Kate nodded.
“I think I need to get some shut eye,” Miller said. “But don’t let that stop you.”
“Miller, you are missing out on some mind-expanding stuff right here,” Effie said, patting her laptop. “But if you wanna crawl off to bed alone then fine.” She winked at me and I wondered why she had emphasized the word ‘alone’ like that.
“If you need me, you know where I am,” he smiled, waving as he walked towards the doorway. “Back to Skerry first thing. We will try to clear up this missing aunt business before we need to be at the drop site with Jeff.” He walked through the door into the hallway and was gone.
“You are hot for teacher!” Kate laughed.
“What?” I blushed. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know exactly, but you are getting some serious feelings for that man, Sadie. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know that,” Kate said. “I mean, I am a mind reader…”
“Yeah, I feel like you two have moved into a new place, emotionally speaking,” Effie said. “What’s going on between you two?”
“First of all,” I replied. “It’s private. Secondly… well nothing’s really happened yet. He’s kissed my forehead once or twice but anytime we are by ourselves we seem to be stepping into a crime scene. It’s hardly been a whirlwind of romance so far.”
“Girl, you are the only one here that seems to be going after a guy that isn’t an idiot,” Effie said. “I’ve famously just been pining over my ex-boyfriend for the past year, and it turned out he was into dark magic and murder, not a great combo. My darling sister over here, well she basically got into the same situation as me. You are chasing an adult man with a job and a full head of hair, it’s like a fairytale.”
“If you ignore the werewolf thing,” Kate added.
“Well yeah obviously, you obviously have to ignore the werewolf thing because—”
“Stop!” I called out. “Were you guys about to dish out some advice?”
“We are living vicariously through you, Sadie,” Effie answered. “You have a real shot of living happily ever after, so don’t screw it up.”
“That’s not really the advice I was looking for,” I moaned.
“Has he invited you to the Shell’s Day parade yet?” Kate asked.
“Er…”
“Sadie, if you are hoping to get some romantic time with that tall drink of water then you need to invite him to the
