Someone Else’s Life(11)

B: What’s the woman’s name, in case I need to tell the detectives later?

A: Oh, right. Good idea. We should be careful. Her name is Serena.

B: What’s her last name?

A: No clue.

B: Ask her. So that we have a full name. Just in case.

A: Don’t scare me.

B: I’m not trying to.

“Is that your husband again?”

Annie looked up when she heard Serena’s voice. “Yes, sorry. He’s just checking up on me.”

“That’s nice.” A longing look played across Serena’s face. “Don’t mind me. Go ahead and text him.”

“Thanks.” Annie looked back down at the phone.

A: It feels rude to ask her last name right now. I’ll ask her later. We’re having tea.

Well, Serena was having tea. Annie didn’t say that she’d switched to wine.

B: Be sure not to wash her cup. We can use it to get her DNA later to ID her.

A: Hardy har har. You’re so funny.

B: I’m not trying to be funny. And hardy har har? Who says that anymore?

A:

B: Maybe you should let her know you’ve contacted someone from the outside in case she’s planning on robbing us blind.

A: We don’t have anything of value to rob. And besides, she knows I’m texting with you. She’s sitting right in front of me. Be right back. I feel rude just sitting here texting. I should probably turn on the news.

B: Ok. Talk soon. I’m here.

Annie looked up from her phone to find Serena studying her.

“Where’s your husband now?” The woman tilted her head to the side. “At work?”

“Yes. He works at the Lihue airport. I don’t know how he’s going to be able to get home tonight.” Annie worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I hope they don’t close down Kuhio Highway.” She walked to the coffee table and picked up the TV remote. “We should probably keep an eye on the news.”

Serena swiveled on her stool so that she could see the TV. “I hope your husband can get home safely. You guys look like you have a wonderful relationship.”

Annie was absorbed in finding a channel that had the weather on, so it took a moment for her brain to catch up to Serena’s words. When it did, she turned sharply toward Serena. “What do you mean, we look like we have a wonderful relationship? When have you ever seen us together?” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said we’ve never met?”

“We haven’t.” Serena’s eyes widened. “I just meant . . .” She broke off and gestured toward the wedding photo Brody had unpacked and placed on the side table next to the couch. “From your picture . . . I, um. And the way he texts to check up on you. It just sounds like you have a wonderful relationship. That’s all I meant.”

“Oh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to jump down your throat.” Annie relaxed her death grip on the remote, not realizing she’d been clutching it so tightly until she eased off.

As if to prove Serena’s point, Annie’s phone dinged again.

B: All good?

A: Yes. But something about her bothers me. I feel like I know her, but I can’t place her.

Annie looked up from her phone, but Serena was absorbed in watching the news and not paying attention to her. Still, it made her feel funny to be texting about someone when they were sitting right there with her. She looked down when Brody responded.

B: Wait, what? You’re serious?

A: Yeah. It’s just a feeling I have. Can’t put my finger on it.

B: How would you know her? From Kauai?

A: Maybe? I don’t know. I asked her if we knew each other and she said no.

B: That’s not good. Do you feel unsafe?

A: No. At least I don’t think so.

B: I can’t believe you let a stranger into the house, given your past obsession with Criminal Minds and true crime shows. And what happened at the lake.

A: She doesn’t look like a murderer.

B: Murderers never look like a murderer. You’re the one who’s always told me that.

A: Yeah, yeah. Use my words against me.

She looked up when the meteorologist came on and started talking about the storm. In silence, they listened to her, and Annie’s heart sank when she heard phrases like “rare severe thunderstorms,” “wind gusts up to sixty-five miles per hour,” “flash floods,” and “road closures due to coastal flooding.” She even warned of possible evacuation for parts of Kauai. This didn’t sound good. Especially because they lived right on the Wailua River.

“This is bad.” Serena’s voice echoed Annie’s feeling of dread. “I thought Kauai was supposed to be paradise. I wasn’t expecting storms like this.”

“This isn’t normal. My family has been vacationing here for years, and my father and sister moved here almost four years ago. This is pretty rare, as the news is saying.” Annie left the TV on but lowered the volume and made her way back to the kitchen. “But wait, didn’t you say you live here?” Had she said that?

“I envy you.” The longing in Serena’s voice distracted Annie from the fact that Serena hadn’t answered her.

“You envy me?” Annie couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. “Why?”

Serena’s shoulders jerked up and then dropped. “You seem like you have the perfect life.”