I feel like a deer caught in headlights and I’m shocked when a low laugh accompanies the person inside the cave as Adam says, “Idiot.”
As he turns off the flashlight, I’m surprised to see Matty looking at me with interest as he says in a low voice, “Where are we?”
“I was about to tell her what happened to Jenny before you crashed the party.”
Matty shrugs. “Sorry, I had to wait until Chester turned in for the night and locked up the office. So, Jenny…”
Adam jerks his head towards our visitor. “It’s ok, Matty is on our side.”
“Our side?” Confusion is now my middle name, and they grin.
“There are a few of us.” Matty says softly. “Staff members who feel uncomfortable about what’s going on here. Most of us hide it well, but Adam failed the audition, and his acting skills leave a lot to be desired sometimes.”
He pushes him playfully and I say with disbelief, “So does Diana…”
Matty shakes his head. “Clueless.”
“Then who?”
A look passes between them, and they obviously decide to trust me a little as Adam says, “Chloe’s in. It’s why we partnered up, but I didn’t want Chester to think it all went too easy.”
“But why do you trust me? I could tell Nate and Chester and your cover would be blown?” Not that I would but I’m surprised they lowered their guard.
Matty sighs. “We wanted you in before we lost you forever. We need you, Katrina. You can help us more than you realise.”
“Why would I help? For what reason?”
Another look passes between them, and Adam says roughly, “Tell her about Jenny.”
Matty looks worried and Adam nods his encouragement.
“I saw Nate and Jenny leave. I was on the other side of the island, smoking in the dunes. I had my binoculars with me as usual so I can identify unwelcome visitors and I saw Jenny shouting at Nate. I was surprised because Jenny just wasn’t the type to shout and then I saw him strike her across the face, causing her to fall inside the boat.”
He shakes his head as Adam growls low in his throat. “Tell her the rest.”
Matty looks worried but says, “I watched them through the binoculars and Nate headed out to open sea. There’s no land for miles out there and certainly not close enough for the fuel he had capacity for. I didn’t see Jenny stand up, and soon they were out of sight. I just knew there was something wrong and so I waited. It must have been one hour later that I saw the boat on the horizon, and it appeared that Nate was alone. I quickly jumped up and headed back to the beach, intending to meet the boat as it landed.”
Adam looks down and my heart thumps with dreaded anticipation as he growls, “I called out to ask Nate if he needed a hand and he waved me away and told me he’d be fine and not to worry. I pretended not to hear him and waded in to grab the line and saw Nate kick something under the centre console. I hauled the boat in and watched him carefully, noticing a mark on his shorts that looked a lot like blood. He tried to get me to leave, and I made polite conversation to keep him there so I could stay to see what happened. I told him I saw him leave with Jenny, which is when he told me he’d dropped her off at Turtle Island.”
“Where’s that?”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and he shrugs. “I’ve never heard of it, and it could be anywhere. Maybe she did go there and is currently enjoying life away from here, but I doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Because she was wearing a bikini when she left, and all her stuff is still here. Also, when I arrived, Chester told me there was nothing but ocean in that direction and a reef that was inhabited by sharks. He even joked that it would be a good place to dispose of unwanted guests because nobody would ever find their bodies.”
“Oh my god, you don’t think…”
Adam hisses. “Matty left Nate to it and hid behind the beach hut. He watched Nate retrieve a knife from under the console and it was covered in something that looked a lot like blood. Nate tossed it into the ocean and when he left the boat, reached down and wiped the blade on the sand before putting it in a box used for baiting fish.”
“Do you think he could have used it for that reason?”
Adam says angrily, “Of course he did, but the bait was a lot larger than normal and a good meal for many hungry sharks.”
I actually feel sick and a little dizzy as they insinuate that the man I just kissed stupid is a cold-blooded killer.
Adam says in a gentler voice, “We don’t know for sure, but we wanted to warn you. Strange things go on here and we need to act.”
“What can we do?” I’m still not sure and Matty whispers, “We have a tentative plan, but that’s all it is. We need to make sure its watertight because if we do this, their operation must be destroyed forever. We just wanted to sign you up and hope you’ll help.”
I fall silent as I digest this information and I can tell they are nervous due to the sudden tense atmosphere that lingers in the air.
My voice shakes as I whisper, “I’ll try. What do you want me to do?”
Matty says, “We’re not sure yet, but don’t let on you know to Nate. Keep guarded around him and don’t fall for his charms like every girl before you. Just be patient and look at everything with a questioning mind, knowing we are trying to work things out .”
Matty looks at his watch. “I should go. Diana will be looking for me. I said I’d only be twenty minutes while I checked the beach.”
He jumps up with a reassuring smile. “Thanks, Katrina, but don’t worry. You’re new here and they won’t target you for a while, at least.”
“Target me. What do you mean?”
Adam growls, “Chester evidently likes what his son has. Keep your distance from him and know he’s just spinning you a story. Enjoy time with Nate, but don’t drop your guard. And don’t acknowledge us in the resort. It’s important nobody suspects a thing.”
Matty nods. “Good advice. So, we’ll meet here again on Thursday when Nate has another session with Sven, and we’ll have a job for you then. Between us, we can figure out what’s going on here and make our plans once we have the information.”
He heads off and Adam says quickly, “We’ll give him five minutes and then I’ll guide you back to the Gazebo. Good idea about running. It’s the perfect cover story.”
We wait a few minutes and I have so many questions but know they will have to wait. Adam looks concerned and whispers, “We’ll look out for you, Katrina. Don’t feel as if you’re alone.”
“It feels that way.” The tears sting behind my eyes as it all comes flooding back and, to my surprise, Adam reaches out and pulls me towards him and just feeling his arms close around me, makes me fall apart. He is so kind and just rocks me gently, holding me and rubbing comforting circles on my back and after a while, pulls back and wipes my tears away in a small act of kindness.
“It’s ok, I know how it feels to be alone.”
“You do?”
I sniff and don’t miss the sad look in his eyes, even in the darkness. “We’re all alone.” His voice is soft, outlined in sadness. “Ask anyone their story and they’ve either lost their parents or been disowned by them. That alone should ring the alarm bells and I’m guessing if we all shared our stories, they’re not that different.”
“That’s strange in itself.”
“Yes, it appears to be a common trend, telling me it’s no coincidence.”
“In what way?”
“Think about it. Who better to work here than people with no life outside of Catalina? Young adults who don’t have the courage or knowledge to make it on their own. Desperate people with nowhere else to go and nobody to miss them or question where they are. It’s an obvious pattern and makes me guarded. Take Jenny, for instance. She was an only child, like every other person here. Her parents died, and she had nowhere else to go. Sound familiar?”
An icy feeling chills me inside. “Are we safe?”
He shakes his head. “All the time we play by the rules. You see, Katrina, it’s why this place appears so perfect. It’s run by fear. Those who question it are biding their time, searching for answers and doing what they must to survive. The only way out of here is in Nate’s boat, and only if they allow it. Many people have left this island, usually under sudden circumstances. When somebody new comes, its vital they fit in, and they pull out all the stops. Luxurious accommodation, amazing food and a partner who makes you feel loved and settled. All of this is designed to disguise the harsh reality of everyone’s future here, and it’s up to us to fight for survival.”
“What do I have to do?” My voice shakes as I wait for instruction and he whispers, “You will be in the perfect position to find out information. Your dinner with his family tomorrow is important. Madelaine isn’t here often and now you know about this, you can look for anything that could help us. Being in reception gives you an added advantage and you can see an overview of what’s happening daily. The most important thing we need is information, and that’s difficult to obtain. It’s why they write everything in that book and allow no internet. We need to listen and absorb and work out a plan which may take more time than we have.”
“Are we in danger, then?”
My heart thumps as Adam nods, his eyes flashing with anger. “If they suspect, then yes, so you must draw on your acting skills and play the game. Matty has uncovered a lot and has a certain level of access, but all the secrets we need are locked away in Chester’s office. Nobody has the key, which makes it difficult to find anything out. Just keep your eyes and ears open and report back when we meet. We’ll find a way out of this madness if we work together.”
His smile is the reassurance I need and he says with a sigh, “It’s time to go. If you need to talk, I’m around; just don’t get caught asking.”
He leads me back onto the ledge and as the spray from the sea hits me, I don’t even register it. My mind is a turbulent sea of its own and I’m definitely not going to sleep tonight as I process everything I’ve heard. I jog back to my room and don’t even remember the journey and as I turn in for the night, I hope to God I wake up tomorrow and this has all been a very bad dream.