Carter
Everything has changed.
What seemed like an adventure now feels dark and scary. Where he thought he could be brave, he’s not. He’s not a hero. He’ll never conquer the half man, half beast in the cave maze and emerge to cheers. Those who seemed his idols, his mentors, are shifting shape into something more uncertain.
His eyes burn and he turns his face to the window so no one can see him beginning to cry. Perhaps he doesn’t even have the balls to become a great detective one day.
Their bus halts at a traffic light.
That’s when he sees her. The redhead. Down the stone alley.
Arrabella.
She’s in little white shorts and a halter top, and she’s arguing on the stairs in the alley with the tall pale-haired man. Both appear furious. She waves her arms, points at the man, and yells something. He shoves her away and whirls around to climb the stairs.
Arrabella grabs for his arm. He shakes her loose and flings her against a stone wall. Her big black straw hat goes flying and rolls down a few stairs. Her red lips part in a perfect O of shock.
Carter holds his breath. His pulse spikes. He leans forward. But another tour bus draws up in the next lane and blocks his view down the alley.
When the traffic light turns green, the other bus pulls away. And the alley is empty.
As his bus moves forward, Carter suddenly spies the orchid man climbing quickly down the stairs. He goes past where the couple was arguing. He turns a corner and disappears.
He’s following them.