I pick up the phone and dial the front desk. The clerk answers after only two rings. “Front desk,” they say cheerfully.

  “Hi, I’m calling to report a stranger in my room.”

  “Excuse me, ma’am?”

  “I walked into my room and there was a guy on a ladder. He said he was fixing the air conditioning, but I received no notice about someone coming into my room to fix anything, so I am calling to make sure he’s legit.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. Let me take a look.” There’s silence on the other end of the line for several seconds.

  “Yes, ma’am. I see that our maintenance man was scheduled to come into your room today to fix your air conditioning unit. It looks like his presence in your room was authorized.”

  “Then why didn’t he tell me he was coming in? What kind of business comes into guest rooms without notifying them first?” I question, my voice laced with frustration.

  “I’m so sorry, ma’am. That is not our policy. He should have told you ahead of time,” the clerk responds earnestly.

  “Well, he didn’t. I will definitely be reporting this.”

  “You have my sincerest apologies, but I assure you there was no stranger in your room; you are completely safe. It is our mission here to make sure our guests feel safe and comfortable.”

  “Well, I don’t feel safe and I definitely don’t feel comfortable,” I retort.

  “I understand, ma’am. Thank you for reporting this. I will make sure that my supervisor knows what happened.”

  “That’s all you’re going to do?” I ask incredulously.

  “I’m sorry, that’s all I’m authorized to do without manager approval.”

  “Fine,” I say and hang up, not allowing her to finish. I have no intention of spending the rest of the afternoon trying to figure this out. I guess I’m going to have to try and let it go.

  I glance over at the boxes and decide now is as good a time as any to open the other one. I grab it, pull it from the counter and untie the white bow. I pull off the lid and inside is a photograph. I take it out and gasp. It’s a picture of me as a child on the beach, standing in front of a palm tree. It looks like it’s been cut and I’m standing next to somebody who has been cut out of the picture. I flip it over and notice that there’s writing on the back. It reads: You’ve come a long way. There’s no signature nor any indication of who it came from.

  Beads of perspiration form on my brow as panic begins to set in. What in the actual hell is going on here? This is probably some sick joke my agent is playing on me. She was mad at me for taking so much time away from my work. She’s probably doing this just to get back at me.

  I walk to my room quickly, take out my computer, connect it to the Wi-Fi, pull up the video calling app and dial my agent’s number. After a few rings, she answers, her face filling the screen of my computer. It looks like she’s at a restaurant of some kind. There’s the sound of clinking forks on plates in the background and a dull roar of conversation.

  “Chloe, it’s so lovely to see you!” She says. I hope everything is okay at your resort?”

  “Yeah, about that, Brooke, have you been leaving me gifts?”

  “What are you talking about, Chloe?”

  “I found two gifts in my hotel room, one when I arrived and one outside my doorstep the next day. Inside are things that only people who know my true identity would send me.”

  Confusion crosses her face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Chloe. You made it very clear; you wanted me to leave you alone during this trip. So, I have done what you requested and left you alone. I am not sending you gifts.”

  “Well then, somebody somehow figured out that I’m here on the island. And not only that, they know who I am. Are you sure you didn’t mention to anyone where I was going?”

  “Of course not. To be honest, I’m insulted. You should know better than that. I’ve been your agent for a very long time and I have never told anybody your secret, nor have I told anybody that you’re on this little trip with your friend for the next two weeks, even though I think it’s a dumb idea.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s not really your decision what I do with my time.”

  “I know, but you’ve already taken a lot of time off to grieve your father. You know this industry is fickle. The more time you take off, the more likely it is that you won’t be able to get back into it. But no, I have not told anybody where you are or who you are.”

  “Well then, how does somebody know then? Who could possibly know?”

  “I don’t know, Chloe, but you need to calm down. The whole point of this trip for you was to relax so that you could come back rested and reinvest in your next album, ready to write new songs. This doesn’t sound like rest to me.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t be able to rest either if you were getting the things that I’m getting.” I grab the two boxes, take out the CD and the photograph and show them to her. The color in her face drains. “Is that you as a kid?” She asks quietly.

  I nod. “My dad took me here when I was a little girl. I think this photo is from that trip, but I don’t even know who could have taken it or where it came from. And look, this is my CD. It is obvious that this person knows both of my identities.”

  “Okay, well I see why you’re freaked out. I’m going to do some research on my side here. Just don’t do anything rash. I’ll call you back when I find out anything.”

  “Thank you. I also need you to find a helicopter company that flies to this island, just in case I have to get out of here quickly. Waiting for a boat to take myself home if something sinister is happening is not going to work.”

  “On it,” she says. “I’ll find a helicopter company that can fly out to get you at a moment’s notice.”

  “Okay, thanks, Brooke. I better get back to Tawni. She’s probably wondering where I’m at.”

  “Give me a couple of days, Chloe. I’ll figure this out.”

  I hang up the call and close the computer, rub my eyes and sit down, taking deep breaths. I don’t want to end this trip because Tawni will never forgive me. But I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

  14

  JERRY

  A dirt path leads steeply down to the small wooden bungalow that overlooks the ocean. In spite of its incline, I usually navigate the path with ease. But today, I’m struggling. The knee I hurt in my fall off the ladder, though not broken, is causing me lots of pain. As I make my way down, my granddaughter, Emmeline, spots me from her perch in the window. She waves furiously, then runs through the house and dashes outside.

  “Papi, Papi, you’re here!”

  “Emmeline! How are you today?” A large grin spreads across my face. No matter what kind of mood I’m in, that little girl always gets me to smile.

  She rushes towards me, arms open wide, ready to envelop my leg in a tight hug. As soon as she wraps her arms around me, I wince.“Oh!” I exclaim, trying to gently pry her off. “Papi’s leg hurts today. You’re going to have to hug my neck instead.”

  “Oh, Papi. I’m so sorry your leg hurts. Are you okay?” Even at four years old, her empathetic heart shines brightly. She reminds me so much of my late wife, Anna. Every interaction with her is bittersweet as my heart begins to ache for my best friend. I lean down as best as I can and Emmeline grabs my neck. Lifting her gently, I give her a bear hug.

  “What have you been doing today, Miss Emmy?”

  “I had to go to school,” she says with a hint of frustration.

  “But don’t you love going to school and seeing your friends?”

  “I guess, but it’s just so hard to sit still.”

  “I understand that. That’s why I chose a job where I could walk around all day. I never could sit still in school either.”

  I set her down and pat her on the head. She takes my hand and leads me into the small house. As I open the front door, I see my daughter Joy standing at the stove, stirring a pot filled with what I assume is something delicious.

  Hearing my entrance, she turns around. “Hey, Dad,” she greets warmly.

  Setting the spoon aside, she approaches me and wraps me in a warm embrace. “How are you?” She inquires.

  “Oh, you know, just getting old. But otherwise, I’m good.”

  She eyes me with a hint of suspicion as I make my way across the room. “What did you do to your leg?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I reply. “I’m fine. Just a little beat up, that’s all. It’ll heal.”

  She crosses her arms. “Dad, I don’t like you working at the resort anymore. It’s too much for you, climbing up and down those ladders every day. You’re not young anymore. One of these days, you’re really going to hurt yourself.”

  “What else do you want me to do with my time? With your mother gone and me living alone in that cabin, it’s best if I keep myself occupied.”

  “You don’t have to live there anymore, Dad. You can come live with us.”

  “In this small place? Don’t you think it’s already crowded with the three of you? Besides, I like having my own space. If I lived here, you guys would be all up in my business.”

  “There’s plenty of room here,” she says, exasperated. “And I worry about you. You’re not the young man you used to be. What if you trip and fall on your way to the cabin? Or if something happens to you while you’re there, like a heart attack or a stroke? I wouldn’t have any way of knowing.”

  “I’m pretty sure if I don’t show up to work, Mary will inform you.”

  “Yeah, but Dad, by then, it might be too late. Please just tell me you’ll consider living here.”

  “Fine,” I concede, “I’ll consider it, but no promises.”

  “A consideration is better than nothing,” she sighs. “Em, go get your papa. It’s time for dinner.”

  Joy loads the table with beans, rice and tortillas. It’s all homemade and delicious. She’s a chef at the resort, but the food she makes here always reminds me of my Anna’s cooking and it feels like home.

  “Everything smells delicious,” I comment as I sit down at the table.

  “Help yourself, Dad,” she says, sitting down across from me.

  We’re joined a few minutes later by Emmy and Juan, Joy’s husband. He shakes my hand before sitting next to me.

  “How are you doing?” He asks kindly.

  “Good, good. Nothing to complain about.”

  “How’s your photography coming along?”

  “I’ve taken some really nice ones lately,” I say, allowing the excitement to exude from me.

  I pull out a couple of prints from my pocket and show them to everyone. The shots were taken just after the sun rose above the horizon; the sky was still a dark blue and the rays of the sun just sliced through the blue. Surfers on the water are silhouetted against the rising sun.

  “Wow, these are beautiful,” Juan comments.

  “Thank you,” I reply. “I think they’re some of my best work.”

  “I don’t know how you keep taking pictures of the same things over and over, Dad,” Joy muses.

  “They’re not the same. Each guest brings something new and different to the island. Every time I take pictures, I see something unique in them. It gives me purpose.”

  “Well, I’m glad you have a hobby, Dad, but I think I would get bored if it was me.”

  I shake my head. “No, I’m never bored. Sometimes, these photographs help me live a life I can only dream of by imagining that I am the subjects in my photos. Especially with your mom gone, I need something to dream about.”

  Joy reaches over and grabs my hand. “We all miss her, Dad.”

  I nod, tears threatening to spill onto my cheeks, but I manage to hold them in. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should move here. But I’m just not ready to give up my independence. Not yet. Besides, there are things about me that I’m not sure that they would accept. Some secrets are just for me.

  15

  CHLOE

  I grab both red boxes and shove them into my beach bag. It’s obvious I can’t rely on anyone else to thoroughly investigate this. Everyone I talk to seems to just be placating me. They say all the right things to make it sound like they’re going to investigate, but then nothing happens. I’m pretty convinced that no matter who I tell, nothing’s actually going to be done. If I want to figure out who’s sending these gifts, I’m going to have to figure it out myself.

  But I don’t want to do it all alone. I need Tawni’s help. I have to figure out a way to talk to her about this without revealing my true identity.

  When I arrive at the beach, I find Tawni exactly where I left her. She hasn’t moved an inch for nearly an hour. She’s lying on her back, sunglasses on. The rays of the sun have already begun to make their mark on her skin. She looks darker everywhere that is not covered by a swimsuit and the day has barely even started.

  “Tawni, wake up,” I say, gently nudging her.

  She groans, “Chloe, why did you have to wake me up? I was sleeping so well.”

  “Because if you don’t put some of this sunscreen on, you’re going to end up burning.”

  She pulls off her sunglasses and peeks at her skin, then dismissively waves at me. “Nah, it’s fine.”

  “Yeah, well, much longer and you’re going to be blistered.”

  She grabs the sunscreen from me and starts applying it to her body. “Fine, but only because I don’t want to be blamed for ruining this trip.”

  There’s a long silence between the two of us as we watch two men with their shirts off getting ready to head out on the water.

  “Gotta love this view,” she says, whistling quietly. “You won’t even believe the eye candy I’ve seen since you left. It’s like Christmas.”

  “I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to catch up during the rest of this trip,” I say.

  “Yeah, well if you don’t, it’s your loss. What took you so long anyway?” She asks as she rubs the lotion on her arms.

  “You would never believe what was inside that second gift.”

  “You opened it without me? How could you do that?”

  “I just had to know what was in there, especially after finding a stranger in our hotel room.”

  “Woah, woah, woah, woah woha. Hold up. There was someone in our hotel room?” Tawni asks in disbelief.

  “When I walked into the hotel room, there was a guy on a ladder, Tawni. I swear he was doing something shady.”

  “What shady thing could he have been doing on a ladder, Chloe?”

  “I don’t know, but he scared me so bad. Actually, I think I scared him worse when I screamed because he fell off the ladder and immediately left. He swore up and down that he was just fixing the air conditioning, but I don’t trust him.”

  “What did the front desk say when you called them?”

  “That he was just fixing the air conditioning,” I say quietly.

  Tawni raises her eyebrows at me. “You can’t mistrust everybody around you, Chloe. Not everyone is out to get you.”

  “Yeah, well it’s clear that somebody is.” I take the red boxes out of my bag and open them both in front of her. “Obviously, you’ve seen the one with the CD, but look at the second one.”

  She looks inside and carefully takes out the photograph. She studies it for a few minutes and then looks at me. “What is this?”

  “That’s me.”

  “What?” She asks, confused. “Why would somebody have a photograph of you as a kid?”

  “Yeah, that’s exactly my question. I have no idea.”

  “Chloe, this is creepy.”

  “You’re telling me,” I respond.

  “What do you think it means?” She asks.

  “I think it means I have a stalker.”

  “But why?” Tawni asks. “You’re nobody. Who would want to follow you around like this?”

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out. Nobody else seems to want to help me on this, so I guess I’m gonna have to investigate it myself.”

  “What does that even mean, Chloe?”

  “Well, I know there are cameras pointing all over this place. If I could just see the security cameras that point to our door, I could figure out who’s going in and out.”

  “And how do you plan to get into security to see the cameras?”

  “I have my ways. Don’t you worry about that. I just wish that the people here would do something about this, instead of just laughing it off or dismissing it as no big deal.”

  “What do you expect them to do? Check every single hotel room?”

  “Well, maybe, yes.”

  “I know it’s a little creepy,” Tawni says. “But I don’t think it’s dangerous. It’s a picture of you and then some CD of a pop star. I don’t even know how they’re related.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s enough to freak me out.” I grab the photograph from her and inspect it more closely. I look around me; the beach I’m sitting on now and the beach in the picture look oddly familiar. In the background of the picture is a small surfing stand with a red roof. I look to my right down the beach and then gasp. “This picture was taken right here on this beach,” I say, showing the picture to Tawni. “Look, you see that stand? It’s over there. My dad must have brought me by this stand when I was a kid. This picture was taken right here. There has to be someone on this island that knows about this.”

  “Well, that’s a little creepy.”

  “Now you see why I want to investigate this?”

  She slowly nods her head. “Yeah, I’m in. I’ll help.”

  I give her a quick hug. “Thanks for always being such a good friend.”

  She nods. “I still don’t quite understand why someone would want to do this to you.”

  “I don’t know,” I say absently, staring at the photograph again. I notice something in the background of the photograph that I hadn’t noticed before. I bring it close to my eyes, trying to make out what it is and then it hits me. “Oh my god.”