Unleash The Island

Chapter 10

The next day rolled around and the island was crowded in a not-so-good way. The lines to the ferries were jam packed and going down the road. Families rushed to get out. Cops were scouting every crevice, presumably searching for Edward in the crowds. Stores were empty and the customers were low.

As Leo was biking on the sidewalks, he spotted EJ. She was biking in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. He quickly glanced over his shoulder, then crossed the street.

"EJ!" he exclaimed, catching her attention. "This is insane."

"Tell me about it," she said as she kept peddling. He trailed behind. "My boss still has me working."

She took a hard left and Leo followed suit. She was heading towards the diner. They placed their bikes on the rack and they walked into the diner. He plopped down in his spot, even though he had been there once. Their small TV was on and the news came back.

"There has been a confirmation," a newscaster announced. "Three members were found dead in the basement of the house. A younger son and daughter with their father, Henry Kendrick. Police are still trying to gather information, so we will update throughout this case."

EJ did not bother to listen as she cleaned off the counter. Leo's foot bounced on the floor as his brain twisted.

"What do you think about all this?" he asked her as she adjusted the cash in the register. "I mean. It's insane."

"It was probably a gas leak." She half-heartedly meant it. "It happens pretty often."

"But they were all trapped in the basement," he stated with his hand pointed. "And they already have a killer in mind."

EJ shut the register and faced him. "I don't care, Leo. I have my own life to lead."

She went to the kitchen and brought out a cup of water, then placed it in front of him. He took a couple sips as the news already came back with more. The police chief he had seen on the beach stood in front of a podium. He instructed vacationers to leave and residents to stay at home unless their suspect, Ed, was arrested. An image of him was cast with every detail.

Edward Labin. 41 Years Old. 6"1. 183 lbs.

He had dark hair with piercing, blue eyes. His hair was cut short, almost a buzz cut. He had a scar on his right eyebrow. The picture looked like a mugshot from more than a decade ago.

"I swear," Mary said as she marched to the front, "all this stuff is going to drive this business to the shitter."

"Nobody's going to leave the island," EJ assured. "Whoever this Ed guy is will be found."

"Man, I remember Ed," Mary said as she stared at the image. "I lived a couple streets away from his family. He was always a quiet kid." She started to wash a glass. "Didn't know he had it in him to be a killer, ya know."

Mary went back to the kitchen to rant to a chef. EJ stared at the screen for once. The image did not make her recall anything about him and she had lived on the island her whole life. She had never seen him before. Leo twiddled around with his glass.

"You can stay at my house, if you want to," he mentioned. "It's very safe with a gate and cameras."

"So, you're the one with the gate," she said, eyeing him.

"I can get my step dad's car and we can bring some of your stuff to the house." EJ started to contemplate it. "You'll have your own room, if that's what you're wondering."

Her parents always told her to never say no to somebody rich, unless it was a horrible thing. Leo was not as bad as she initially thought. "If you insist."