Still Mad, page 3
Either way, they were on Bahamian soil now, and they were ready to find their killer. They still didn't know the link between the victims—and until they did, anyone could be next.
***
Lily held on tight in the passenger seat of the rental car as Xander pulled up to the beach. The whole drive over, they'd felt the wind push and pull the car, trying to force it off the road, but they'd made it in one peace. The sky was getting even darker now, looking like practically night, even though it was only noon. And Lily realized that this wasn't even the storm—this was the calm before it.
They had to hurry. The storm would wash all evidence away—if it hadn't already.
Getting out of the car, Lily felt the wind push against her. Cold and hot air mingled—a recipe for trouble, but they had to push on.
Up the beach, Lily could see crime scene tape flapping in the wind. Clearly, the officers had abandoned their post, and the body had been removed, but there could be something there, something they missed, and if they didn't look now, it could be too late.
Lily took off onto the sand.
"Dawn, be careful!" Xander called out, chasing after her.
"Hurry!" she shouted. "There could be something out here!"
The wind was strong, the waves crashing against the shore. It was hard to see anything in the murky darkness, but Lily kept her eyes peeled. She spotted the few boats docked on the water, including the one she was sure belonged to Anita, the victim. She hoped it would last the storm—going on it right now was too dangerous. Lily scoured every inch of sand, looking for any clues that might have been left behind. But after a few minutes of searching, she found nothing, not even a single broken shell or piece of fabric.
Lily turned away from the beach and looked out at the storm raging above them. The rain had started to come down now, and it was coming down hard. Lightning lit up the sky like a flashbulb, followed by thunder like an echoing roar. The storm would be here soon, and they had to get back to safety before then. But not yet.
The wind blew Lily's hair wildly into her face, stinging her skin, but she kept on looking. She knew she had to find something—or at least hope that there was something to find.
Thunder howled above.
"Dawn, come on!" Xander shouted. "We've gotta get out of here!"
"Not yet!" Lily yelled back. "The storm could wash it all away!"
She kept looking, her eyes darting around the sand. And then, suddenly, she saw it—an antenna sticking out of the sand. Lily's heart raced as she quickly ran over to it and dug into the sand.
It was a broken radio receiver, half-buried.
Could this be what they were looking for?
"Xander!" she shouted back at him. "I found something!"
Xander quickly made his way over to where Lily was, his eyes scanning the area before he knelt down beside her. Lily's hands were shaking as she gingerly lifted the receiver out of the sand, careful not to damage it any further.
"What do you think?" Xander asked, his eyes fixated on the receiver.
Lily examined it closely, looking for any signs of tampering or damage. It was an old model, probably outdated, and Lily had no idea what it would be used for. When she pressed buttons, nothing happened, so clearly, it was broken.
Lily held up the radio receiver, showing it to Xander. "Do you think it could have belonged to the killer?"
Xander took the receiver from her and examined it. "It's got some scratches and scuff marks ... looks like it was thrown or dropped."
Lily nodded. "And it's not just a coincidence that it's here on the beach, near where Anita's body was found."
Xander looked up at the sky, then back at Lily. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Lily nodded, relieved that they had found something. But as they turned to leave, the storm hit them full force. The wind picked up, howling around them, and the rain came down in sheets, drenching them to the bone. Lily and Xander struggled to keep their footing as they ran across the beach, but then the wind became so strong, it pulled Lily's feet right out from beneath her.
Xander dove back and tried to lift her, and Lily felt helpless against the storm's might.
"We can't drive like this!" Xander shouted.
Lily held onto him for support, but even Xander's sturdy body was being shoved by the wind, and the rain pelted them harder and harder. Lily looked out at the ocean and saw a massive wave coming in—and in the clouds, a menacing formation that Lily could never mistake.
This wasn't just any storm.
It was a hurricane.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lily had to think fast. They were by docks—there had to be a shelter around here somewhere.
She scanned the area and saw a small boathouse not too far away. "The boathouse!" she yelled to Xander. "We can wait out the storm there!"
Xander nodded, and they both sprinted towards the boathouse, the wind pushing against them with all its might. When they finally reached it, they slammed the door shut behind them, panting heavily.
The boathouse was small and cramped, but it was enough to keep them somewhat sheltered from the storm. Lily pulled out her phone to check the weather and saw that the storm was a category one hurricane. They were lucky to have found shelter when they did; this boathouse was small, but it was clearly old and had withstood many storms that had hit the Bahamas. Lily had to hope it would withstand this, because Xander had been right; driving in a storm like this was more dangerous than waiting it out.
Xander pulled out his flashlight and shone it around the boathouse, looking for anything that might be useful. But the only thing they found was a small first aid kit and a couple of life jackets.
Lily sat down on a bench, her heart racing from the adrenaline. "What do we do now?" she asked.
Xander sat down next to her. "We wait it out. And then, as soon as the storm passes, we continue our investigation."
"That could take forever," Lily said. "We could be trapped here for a day."
"The recent storms have been quick, right? It's our best damn bet, Dawn, unless you have a better idea."
Lily nodded, hoping Xander would be right. But as the wind continued to howl and the rain hammered against the roof, she couldn't help but worry; if the storm got worse, or if it hit them directly, the shelter might not survive.
It has to, she reminded herself. It's survived this much. It can survive this too.
To distract herself, Lily looked at the broken radio receiver, trying to make out anything about it. What was it used for? It could be anything; a police radio, perhaps, but it didn't look like one of those.
Xander noticed her staring at the receiver and leaned in to examine it closer. "Any luck?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.
Lily shook her head. "It's so old, I can't even tell what kind of radio it is. But something tells me it's important."
Xander nodded. "Agreed. We need to find out who it belongs to and why it was out on the beach."
Lily looked back out at the storm raging outside. It frustrated her to no end; she wanted to get out there and get more work done, but they were truly trapped.
When Lily felt Xander's warmth close to her, she looked over to see him sitting close to her on the bench, looking down on her. Rain dripped from his hair and onto his face, and they held eye-contact for a moment too long.
He was the first to turn away.
But Lily's breath caught in her throat. For a moment there, she'd almost thought he was going to kiss her.
Her heart pounded as they sat in silence, listening to the chaos outside of the boathouse. For a moment, Lily wondered what it'd be like to be vulnerable with Xander. She hadn't been that way with many people. There was her ex, Eduardo, who had asked her to marry him, but she hadn't been able to commit.
And then there was Xander.
Lily couldn't help but feel drawn to him. He was strong, reliable, and intelligent—everything she needed in a partner for an investigation like this. But there was something else about him that intrigued her; something that made her heart race and her palms sweat. Lily couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to let go and be vulnerable with Xander. To let him in, to let him see her scars and her fears. She knew that he would be there for her, just like he had been since they started working together, but the thought still scared her.
As the storm raged on outside, Lily found herself inching closer and closer to Xander on the bench. She couldn't explain why, but being near him made her feel safe in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
Xander noticed her movement and turned to look at her. "You okay, Dawn?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Lily nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She was too close to him now, and she could feel the heat from his body radiating towards her. She looked up into his green eyes, trying to read his expression.
Lily found herself leaning closer to him, their faces just inches apart. She could feel his breath on her skin, and she wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them and kiss him.
But before she could, there was a loud crash outside the boathouse that startled them both. With her chest heaving, Lily pulled away, checking herself. What was she thinking? They were on a case, and even if they were trapped alone here, it was too soon ...
Lily wasn't ready.
Or maybe she was, and she was too scared to move on. She didn't know. But she decided it was best if they just pretended that it didn't just almost happen.
"So," Lily began, "we should find out if Anita or—"
"Hey, slow down," Xander said, his Southern accent smooth. "I think we were sharing a moment there, weren't we?"
"We were not, Jackson," Lily muttered. "We should focus on the case."
Xander sighed. The old Xander may have made a snide comment, but he just seemed hurt. "Wish you'd open up to me more, Dawn," he said. "I thought we were past this."
Lily's heart sank with guilt. She knew she was being flaky and frustrating, and after all this time, maybe she owed Xander a bit more of an explanation.
"Look, Xander," she murmured, and she could feel his green eyes on her. "I'm not trying to push you away. Things are just tough for me when it comes to love and dating and all that. I mean, the last guy I dated asked me to marry him, and I responded by dumping him."
He sighed. "Okay, Dawn. What are you thinking?"
Lily tried not to show that she was flushing. "I wonder what Anita was doing here when she was killed. There are only a few boats docked here."
Xander nodded, his expression more serious now. "Yeah, it's strange. And what about that radio receiver? It has to be connected to something."
Lily nodded. "We need to find out who it belongs to and why it was here. It could be a clue to Anita's murder. I want to take it to an expert. We should find one on the island."
"Yeah, that'd be nice," Xander muttered, then flinched as the walls shook around them. "But something tells me we're not going anywhere for a hot minute."
Lily nodded in agreement as the storm continued to rage outside. The wind and rain were beating against the boathouse with such ferocity that Lily feared it might not withstand the onslaught. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that had settled into her bones.
Xander noticed her shivering and slipped his jacket off. "Here," he said, holding it out to her. "Put this on. Better than nothing."
Lily took the jacket gratefully and slipped it on over her head. It was still damp from the rain, but it smelled like Xander, and it was warm. She zipped it up and hugged herself once more, feeling a little more secure.
Xander sat next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her close. "You're freezing," he said. "Just try to relax. We'll get through this."
Lily leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his body seeping into hers. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sound of his steady breathing, letting it lull her into a sense of calm.
But even as she tried to relax, her mind kept drifting back to the moment before the crash outside. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards Xander and the way he made her feel safe and secure. As they sat in the boathouse, huddled together for warmth, Lily couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with him. But she knew that now wasn't the time to act on it. There were still too many unanswered questions about Anita's murder, and they needed to focus on finding answers.
As the storm raged on outside, Xander and Lily huddled together in the boathouse, waiting for it to pass. Lily wondered where the killer was; he had already taken two young women in the span of a week, and a timeline like that showed no signs of slowing down.
Maybe he was out there right now, stalking his next victim.
CHAPTER FIVE
His boat rocked on the turbulent sea as he watched from afar as the storm blew in. Most people would move, flee, but he knew better than to try and outrun a storm. He respected its power, and in return, the storms respected him. They were his only allies in this cruel world; they would not hurt him.
Everyone else was radioed to go inside, but he knew he would survive this, even as the raging winds whipped around him. He had a new radio now, safely held in his hand, and he listened to it over the sound of the storm.
"Category one ... everyone needs to take shelter ..."
He turned off the radio and smiled to himself. He was out at sea, gripping the railing of his boat as he looked on with admiration.
As the storm raged on, the man's excitement grew. He loved the power of the storm, the way it tossed his boat around like a toy. It was a dance, a dangerous game between man and nature, and he was the master. He felt the wind whip through his hair and the rain sting his skin, but he didn't care. This was what he lived for.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the darkness. The man laughed out loud, feeling the thrill of danger pulse through his veins. He knew he should be scared, that he should be seeking shelter like everyone else, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. This was his moment, his time to shine.
The waves grew higher, crashing against the side of his boat with a deafening roar. It was a battle, a struggle for control, and the man was winning. He felt the boat rise and fall beneath him, the water sloshing over the sides. He was soaked to the bone, but he didn't care. This was what he was born to do.
He had always been a solitary man, finding peace in the chaos of nature. He had always been drawn to the sea, the way it ebbed and flowed, and the way it could be both calm and deadly. It was a reflection of his own soul, and he found solace in it. The storm was his truest companion, his only lover in a world where everyone else had abandoned him. The waves crashed against the side of his boat, and he felt as though he was being embraced by a long-lost friend. The storm was his only solace, his only refuge.
And when it passed, he knew it will have cleansed the world.
Washed away so many sins.
People did not respect storms, not the way he did. They were all fools, ignorant to the power of nature.
But it was not just the storm that he respected. It was the unpredictability of life. The way it could turn on a dime and leave you reeling. He had learned that lesson the hard way, and now he lived his life on the edge, always seeking out the next great challenge.
As the storm began to dissipate, the man knew it was time to return to shore. He turned his boat and began to navigate his way through the choppy waters, feeling the exhaustion creeping up on him. But he didn't mind. He had faced down the storm and come out on the other side, more alive than ever before.
But the storm wanted more from him. He could hear its whispers in the winds as they died down.
"We demand another."
Yes ... another.
Another life to steal. An offering to the mightiest force.
The man's heart raced as he listened to the murmurs of the storm. They asked so much of him, and yet he was happy to oblige.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the wind whip through his hair. He would have to sacrifice something to the storm. The storm was a force to be reckoned with, and it would not be content until it had taken something from him. As the man opened his eyes, he saw a seagull perched on the railing of his boat. It looked at him, its beady eyes seeming to bore into his soul.
The man felt a shiver run down his spine. The seagull was a sign, a message from the storm. It was asking for a life, a sacrifice.
A smile curled at his lips as he looked onward to the great island before him, with all its people in it.
He knew what he had to do.
CHAPTER SIX
Lily had felt like the storm would never pass, but it did.
As she and Xander drove away from the beach, where Anita's body had been found, some locals had emerged from their homes to clean the wreckage. Everything was still blanketed in a hazy purple-gray sky, but there were patches of blue sky peeking through. The trees were bent and battered, but they still stood tall in defiance. She saw broken boards and debris in the sand, buildings still covered in a thin layer of sand, shattered windows, and bright colors of various umbrellas tossed about, a sign of life slowly returning to the island. Lily tasted the acrid air of destruction, a bitterness that lingered on her tongue. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the wind blowing through the trees was still present, though it had died down significantly.
Lily relaxed in the passenger seat of the car, still damp from the storm and feeling cold. Xander quietly drove beside her, but she couldn't stop thinking about the moment they'd shared in the boathouse. This relationship between them was getting dangerously close to real, and Lily felt herself getting cold feet again, but she couldn't do that to Xander, not after all this. She was determined to get on that date with him as soon as they finished this case. Until then, she had to stay focused on finding out whoever had killed Florence and Anita.
