Chapter 67
The driver
Daniel sipped his limeade as he made his way over to the Rolle's fish fry booth. As he approached, Dustin glanced up and caught his eye. Knowing what was coming, Dustin turned to his brother and gestured that he was taking a break.
Daniel stood off to the side, waiting as Dustin walked over, wiping his hands on a towel. "I probably wouldn't shake my hands right now, still got some conch on them," Dustin said with a nod, offering his elbow instead. Daniel bumped it with a grin.
"I'm guessing you're here about the woman I took to the Lagoon today?
" Dustin's gaze dropped to the sand. Daniel felt a pang of sympathy.
Dustin was a good guy who'd been caught up in a mess that cost him his job.
If it were up to Daniel, he'd give him a second chance, but those weren't his decisions to make.
"Well, yeah. How about you tell me what happened? I met her myself today, and I'm betting she gave you quite the story." Daniel leaned back against a palm tree, bracing for the tale.
"That's the thing, Daniel. It didn't feel like a story.
She seemed legit," Dustin began, scratching the back of his neck.
"She came to the Conch Shack looking for me.
Malcolm had said I would drive her to the Lagoon.
She's part of the research team you've got out there, isn't she?
" His eyes pleaded with Daniel to agree with him.
"I figured, hey, if it's for the dolphins, I'll help. And I miss y'all, but I get it. I messed up. But then we're driving and it got weird."
Dustin stepped closer, lowering his voice. "She starts with the small talk. Asking about the island, where to eat, and any must-see spots. I thought nothing of it. But then she asks if I know of any places she and Dr. Gray could live."
Daniel raised his eyebrows. Dustin nodded, continuing. "Yeah, I thought, what? Dr. Gray is head over heels for Riley. But I kept it to myself. Who knows, maybe they're involved? Maybe Riley's just his 'local experience,' you know?"
Daniel grimaced at the thought, but stayed quiet, waiting for more.
"So, we're almost at the gate, and she says, 'I'll grab the gate and head in so you don't have to drive down the road. It's not far.'" Dustin's eyes locked on Daniel’s; confusion clear in his expression.
"And that's when it hit me, Daniel. How did she know how much further it was?
She'd never been there before! I felt sick.
I should've turned around right then and taken her back, but I couldn't think straight.
So, before I make the turn, she jumps out with her bag and takes off down the road.
I was so rattled; I just drove back to the Conch Shack, nodded to the boys and left. "
Dustin let out a heavy sigh, clearly relieved to be done telling the story. Daniel, however, was even more puzzled.
"How did she know about the gate? There are no signs on that road. We don't want tourists or locals bothering us at the Lagoon." Daniel's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.
"Thanks for clearing this up, Dustin. Don't worry, you're not in trouble.
We're finding out she's... resourceful, to say the least. From what you've told me, sounds like she's been to the Lagoon before.
Maybe more than once. It took me a week to memorize those turns, and she knew the last one before you even got there? She's definitely scoped the place out."
Dustin looked relieved but still uneasy. "I hope you figure it out, Daniel. I need to get back. Gerald will have my head if we run out of stock this early in the fish fry." He offered his elbow again, and Daniel bumped it before Dustin headed back to the booth.
As Daniel walked away, he spotted Marta's vehicle pulling into the parking lot beside his. Cam and Gray must have just arrived too as they were standing there waiting. Well, Daniel thought, time to see if we can find Shelley and get to the bottom of this.