Paradise Island: Complete Edition

by DD Cooper

  It was my turn to sip my tea now as I thought of a plausible answer. While I wanted to tell Lucy everything, something inside me told me that enough people already knew: me and Jack. There was no need for me to keep telling everybody, especially since it was supposed to be a secret.

  “Jack fought him off after the explosion,” I looked up as I started to speak and saw Jack nod approvingly. The look of relief on his face told me everything I needed to know to continue. “Henry ran and got on his boat and we haven’t seen him since. I’m pretty sure he’s as far from the island as he could get. Jack told him that if he ever saw him again that the police would know what he’d done. I guess that last part scared him more than anything.”

  “Wow, Sophie, I’m glad you had Jack to protect you. I just wish I had listened to you and locked my damned door in the first place. Then I would have heard him coming, and maybe I would have fought him off before he could have a chance to hurt you.”

  “Don’t think about that, Lucy. What happened happened and it wasn’t anyone’s fault except Henry’s. He’s the only one to blame in all this mess. I’m just glad we all got away relatively unscathed. I hope to never see his face again.”

  We sat in silence for awhile, sipping tea and munching on the cookies. Jack excused himself and I presumed went to his room for something. I guess it was awkward having Lucy here, especially if what he told me was true.

  “Do you have a place to stay?” I asked, not really knowing what I was doing. I was just trying to make sure she was okay.

  “The cottage, silly,” she laughed, though there wasn’t much happiness in it. “You know that place you and I used to live in together?”

  I laughed as well. “Of course, yes of course. Which reminds me, me and Jack stopped by there earlier and ran into Rory. He was looking for you.”

  “Oh, Rory, I remember him. I’ll give him a ring. Thanks for telling me.”

  “No problem. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “Me too. There is one thing you could do for me, if it’s not too much trouble.”

  “Anything,” I said, meaning it. I still felt terribly guilty that Henry’s obsession with me caused Lucy to go through that horrible experience.

  “Could you get me some gloves?”

  “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

  I went to my room and looked through my luggage, trying to find a perfect pair of gloves for Lucy. After I found a pair, I went back to give it to her, but she wasn’t on the couch anymore. I was confused and thought that she might have left, but then I saw her kneeling on the floor, looking through the box of journals. She was looking at the spine of each in quick succession, as if she was looking for a specific one.

  “Here you are,” I said and went to hand her the gloves.

  She looked a bit startled but took them with a smile. “Thank you, Sophie, you’re such a wonderful friend. I couldn’t ask for a better one.”

  “I’m glad,” I said. “What are you looking for in that box?”

  “Oh, I just remembered you telling me about the journals Jack had found. I was curious to see them for myself. I’ve grown up in this town and I wondered what could be so fascinating about them. Did you read them all yet? Anything interesting?”

  “Most of it is not that interesting,” I said. “But the last journal has some pretty juicy things in it.”

  “Do tell! I’m in suspense here,” she said, and suddenly she looked very interested in what I had to say. I remembered what the old librarian had said about the terrible things that happened in the town, and I also remembered Jack’s excitement about maybe making a movie out of it all. I wasn’t sure if I should tell Lucy the whole story just yet. I didn’t want to look like a fool if I ended up being wrong.

  “Oh, it was just about her affair with this local minister. It was quite explicit, too. But that’s pretty much it, though. It wasn’t really as interesting as I hoped it’d be.”

  “Can I borrow the last diary? That sounds absolutely fascinating to me,” Lucy said, looking absolutely gleeful about the whole thing.

  “Since when do you read, especially old diaries? Weren’t you the one who told me that we should experience life, not read about it?” I laughed as I said that last bit, for it was true, Lucy was never a big fan of the written word, and would always act baffled by my ferocious reading habits.

  “Yeah, but it’s different when that story is true and happened on the very island where you grew up.”

  I had to agree with her there, but I still did not want to part with Josie’s last diary. Maybe it had some clues in it that I missed that could help me and Jack look for her body. It felt strange to think of her as dead. But the fact that her precious diaries were still on this island, made me think that she wasn’t too far away. If I had kept diaries for years and years, if I decided to move, they’d definitely be one of the first things I packed.

  “I’m not quite done reading it yet,” I lied. “But once I’m finished, I’ll let you borrow it if Jack approves. They’re his now, after all. They were found on his property.”

  “It hasn’t been his for very long. This land still belongs to the people of this island, no matter what pieces of paper have to say about it.” Lucy looked up from her tirade and saw the look on my face. “Sorry, Sophie. I shouldn’t have said that out loud. It’s just that this is a very small island, and we’re not used to strangers coming in and taking what’s ours. But thanks for the gloves,” she waved them in the air and made a show of putting them on. “I’ll be on my way.”

  Lucy got up to go, taking one last look at the box of journals. She looked disappointed, but beneath that I could sense anger. I didn’t know why she cared so much about the contents of those boxes. “Do you want me to walk with you, or maybe Jack could give you a ride back?” That last part sounded wrong as soon as the words left my mouth. I wished I could unsay it, but it was out there now and I had to own it.

  “No, no, I can manage. I hope to see you back at the cottage soon, though. It’s been lonely without you there.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’ll be back soon. To the diner as well.” I said the words, and I thought I believed them, but somehow I sensed that that whole part of my life: living with Lucy, working at the diner, was done. I couldn’t explain it in concrete words, it was just a feeling that washed over me. I watched Lucy as she made her way down the hill. She looked back up one last time, anger or perhaps just the sun in her face, and she waved. I waved back and once she was a good ways away, I locked the door behind her. It was strange that she was so interested in Josie Browning’s journals. I wondered if she knew something that the rest of us didn’t.

  “Is she gone?” Jack asked when he came up behind me.

  “Yeah,” I said. “She is.”

  “I overheard you guys talking. She seemed awfully interested in those journals. Should I look through the box to make sure they’re all there?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Jack,” I said, but couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow he was right. I sat down on the floor by the boxes and looked through them myself just to prove him wrong. “Besides, I’m the one who took inventory of the journals. I doubt you knew how many you had before I arrived, am I right?”

  “You might be onto something there. So I guess you should be the one to count them. Want anything to eat, I’m making myself a sandwich.”

  “No,” I said. “I’m quite full for now.” And I went to work on seeing if any journals were missing, feeling like a fool for actually doing it. Lucy was my friend, and here I was checking if she’d stolen an old journal. After I made the final count, I was glad to report to Jack that no journals were missing. The last journal was still safe in my room, in the drawer, where Lucy hadn’t been at all.

  “Good to hear,” Jack said. “But you know I don’t trust her.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day the light shone surprisingly bright. For a moment, as I looked at the magnificent view outside, I could believe that if I went
outside it would be warm and I could swim in the water without trouble. Of course, such thinking only lasted a moment. Then I noticed the wind as it made the grass sway in a not too gentle manner and remembered how bitterly cold it could actually be. I remembered as I plunged into the icy water after killing Henry, trying to wash his blood away. And I remember how I nearly froze to death and how hard it was to breathe as I made my way to that cottage and lit a fire. Not the fire that would destroy it, but the fire that would keep me alive. It was interesting how many different uses fire had. It was a dangerous element, one that needed to be used carefully.

  I made my way to the living room after getting dressed and looked at the view from this side. I wondered where Jack and I would start digging. Now that I knew that Thomas Milton’s church had once stood in this very spot, I felt like Josie Browning was buried somewhere here for sure. I just wondered how long it would take us to find her.

  But perhaps I was being a bit too hasty in thinking that Josie Browning was dead in the first place. What if she had just left town without ever meeting Thomas in the church? What if she did meet Thomas and decided to leave town anyway? But these were futile thoughts, for the only way to find out would be to dig. There was also strong evidence to point away from such frivolous theories. For one, Josie’s diaries. They were found in the walls of a house that used to be a church that then got converted to another, very modern house. That would not have happened had she decided to move. Surely she would take her precious journals with her and continue writing in the last one until it was full. No, Josie Browning did not get off this island. Whatever happened to her, I had a feeling that it wasn’t good.

  “Some coffee, tea?” Jack said behind me.

  I jumped up, startled for a second. Once I was back to the physical world, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Sure, tea would be fine.”

  “Didn’t mean to scare you. What were you thinking about?”

  “Oh, just Josie, and whatever happened to her. She was with child you know, and I think that this is probably the last place she was alive. Maybe she’s buried somewhere around here. It would make sense.”

  “Yeah, I’ll have to go to town and get some shovels and some other tools. Do you want to start the dig today?” He brought a hot cup of tea and I took it gratefully, smiling at him, even though I didn’t feel too happy about the whole affair. I was still trying to wrap my mind around what Lucy was trying to do yesterday. Was I just over thinking the whole thing or was she really that interested in Josie Browning’s journals? I wondered if she knew something I didn’t and I also wondered whether I should confront her about it. And the things Jack said. There was still that wedge between us, and until it was talked about, our friendship could not continue the way it once was. Sleeping with Jack was one thing. That I could understand. He was very good looking and very famous if Lucy was to be believed. But purposefully giving him a drug she knew was one of his weak spots? I don’t know, that just sounded way out of line to me.

  “Sophie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “The dig?”

  “Oh, sorry, Jack. I was lost in my thoughts again. I just can’t wrap my mind around the way Lucy’s been acting. But anyway, yeah, we should probably start today or as soon as possible. At least while the skies are still clear. Hopefully no surprise thunderstorms come our way.”

  Jack sat on the couch and drank his coffee. Without even thinking, I joined him and sat by his side. I sipped my tea and let the cup warm me.

  “You’re being very understanding about all this,” I said. “You just got this house built, and now we’re going to dig around it.”

  “To be honest, Sophie, this is one of the most exciting things that has happened to me. Besides meeting you, of course,” he added.

  “Of course,” I said mockingly and laughed.

  “Plus, I know how much this means to you. And if there’s any chance you’re right, we owe it to Josie to at least make an effort in finding out what happened to her. That’s why I’m doing this. Because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Soon afterward Jack went into town on his bike. I decided to stay home to give him more room on the bike and I needed some alone time anyway. Going to the library was one thing, and even that was a bit out of my comfort zone. I could not fathom having to go to town again and interact with the people. Working in the diner was different. I got paid to do it so I had to. Plus, it always helped to have Lucy there just in case things got a bit tough. I looked at the view outside and decided to go for a walk around the property, just to get a feel of the place. I put on my warmest clothes and closed the door behind me. I walked slowly around, but there was nothing here that screamed “Grave! Please dig!” If only real life was like that, it would be much easier. More often than not I found myself looking down on the view below, admiring the sea as its waves crashed to the shore, went back, and came back again. I was mesmerized by it. Behind the house, I could see outlines of houses far, far below. I tried to imagine how it all looked like in Josie’s time. Probably not much different. I did know that the place Josie lived was walking distance away from the church and I wondered where it could be located. Maybe I should have asked the old librarian for a map of the island at the time that Josie lived here. I had a feeling that there were a lot more houses and buildings here at that time. It seemed this particular island lost its appeal over time. I could see why. There wasn’t much to do here, and everyone who wanted to do something caught the ferry to the city, just like Lucy often did.

  “Sophie,” I heard a familiar voice behind me, but I still jumped in surprise.

  “It’s just me,” Lucy said, her arms up in surrender. “I just came by to talk. Where’s Jack?”

  “He’s in town getting some things. Why, did you need to talk to him?”

  “No, I came here to talk to you. I don’t know what came over me yesterday. Maybe it’s this whole thing with Henry. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize if I came off as too strong about the whole journals thing. I was just curious about them, that’s all.”

  “It’s okay, Lucy,” I said. “They are very interesting pieces of history of this island. I can understand how you’d be curious, having grown up here and all.”

  Lucy smiled and brushed some red hair out of her face. “I’m glad you understand. Anyway, what have you been up to this whole time? Have you and Jack...?”

  “God, no! He’s just letting me stay here for a bit. I have my own room and everything.”

  “Must be nice,” Lucy said. “I’ve never had a guy be that nice to me. Heck, even Jack wasn’t that nice to me! He must really like you, though.” She laughed as if she had just said a joke. I didn’t laugh with her. There was something that I needed to get out and this seemed like a perfect opportunity.

  “Can you blame him, Lucy? The cocaine, I mean. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

  Lucy looked down on the ground and kicked a bit of sand before she looked up again. “Yeah, I’m sorry I lied about that. I just didn’t want you to think any less of me.”

  “But why, Lucy, why would you do that? You already had him in bed, why would you bring the drugs into it? You do know he went to rehab for that stuff a couple of times already? You could have caused a relapse.”

  “I didn’t think it through. I got it before we went to his place. Before I even talked to him. And later, it seemed like such a waste to throw it away. It cost quite a bit. I thought he was still using, though. If I knew he was clean and sober, I wouldn’t have done it. You believe me, Sophie, right?”

  I looked away. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. My whole life has turned upside down in the past few days. People I thought were my friends ended up doing things I never thought they’d be capable of.”

  “Surely you don’t mean me, Sophie? It’s me, Lucy, remember? Your friend? The one that helped you out when you were all on your own. I don’t think we should let a guy get between our friendship. Not even a guy as famous as Jack.”

  “That’s not w
hat’s going on here, Lucy, and you know it.”

  “But isn’t it? All of this stuff started happening when he showed up. When he hit on you. Remember? Henry was a creep but I think he only lost it when he saw you with Jack.”

  “So now it’s my fault that psycho kidnapped you and tried to kill me?”

  “No, no, that’s not what I meant, Sophie. I’m sorry if it sounded like that. I’m just saying that maybe you need to put a little distance between you and Jack. I don’t think he is what he seems to be. Yeah, he’s famous and all, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good person.”

  “Jack is a wonderful person. You don’t know him the way I do.”

  I looked away, at the far side of town, and wanted Lucy to just go away. She was planting doubts in my mind that I just didn’t need right now. Soon Jack would be here and we’d start doing what needed to be done. We’ll start unearthing the ground beneath us, and maybe putting Josie’s spirit to rest. I wasn’t sure if I actually believed all that, but it was a nice thought. I knew that if I had died a death like hers I’d be pissed off. Of course, it was more than possible that there was nothing after death, which meant that the only consolation our dig would bring, if indeed it did unearth something, was consolation to her family. And I thought that was more than enough. And here was Lucy talking about things that didn’t really matter right now.

  “Listen, Sophie, I’m not trying to be the bad guy here. I’m just telling you the way I see things. You’ve just met Jack, and he’s nice and lovely right now, but what about the long term? You really think he can stop the constant sex and drugs for you? It’s romantic, I know, but guys like him, they’re used to getting what they want when they want it. Don’t think for a second he’d hesitate shagging some bimbo hitting on him on the street just because he has you waiting for him at home.”

  “You mean a bimbo like you?” I spat the words out in disgust, and regretted them as soon as they left my mouth.

  “Sophie, there’s no need for that,” Lucy looked shocked.