Washed Ashore

Washed Ashore Copyright © 2023 by Cara Kent All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Author's Note Also by Cara Kent The man started and ended his life much the same: alone. How did the saying go? You’re born alone, you die alone. Which was interesting because no one really came into this world alone. Presumably, your mother was there when you were born, followed by doctors and nurses and a family member or two, if they could stomach it. Or if a woman went the natural route, a midwife or doula was there to welcome you into the world. While his mother’s birthing plan was not known and no one was in the position to ask her, she had been there, and therefore, he had not been alone. He was not alone in death either, to be fair. He walked to the beach for something. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. A moment of peace. Quiet time to watch the sunset. A moment of reflection. Time to watch the last rays of orange fall into the water. Whatever the reason, he was there now. Perched in the sand watching the cool water lap at his feet. He had always loved the beach. Being close to the water had a calming effect on him. And that was what he needed now. They were lucky. No, not the man—his luck had finally run out. The person behind him was. The person behind the shadows tucked next to a sand dune watching and waiting. So far behind him he hadn’t noticed them when he sat down. Finding an empty beach in Honolulu was rare. Tourists were all over the place. But not here, not now. There was a party at the local hotel, only a six-minute walk from the beach, and all the guests had been invited. What was the party for? Surprisingly, no one knew. And when free liquor and food Get out and meet some people. My mother and Tony parroted each other almost every time I talked to them. They were right, which made the comment even more irritating. I had always been a focused and driven person. When I was working, my personal life always suffered. I just wanted to make a good impression at work, and for that, I needed to stay focused. But since we closed my first case, I felt like I could relax a little more. So we started weekly game nights. We alternated between houses. Special Agent Hattie Baldwin started it, and she set the bar pretty high. We were playing Clue, and she had themed cocktails and matching snacks. I was pretty sure she had it catered; but still it was amazing. Tonight was Tony’s turn. After work I went home to take a shower and get changed. Tony offered to come and pick me up, but that didn’t make sense. He would have to leave his house, pick me up, and then drive back to his house. That was a waste of gas. And I was a big girl. I could drive myself. I left the house around six. I had been ready an hour ago, but I didn’t want to be too early. I filled in the time by cleaning my kitchen, which had been a little neglected lately, and unloading the dishwasher. Tony lived not that far from me. It was a nice, quiet neighborhood that reminded me of my own. His house was white with turquoise trim. There were two cars already in the driveway when I pulled up. Before exiting my car, I grabbed the bottle of red wine from the back seat. It had become my go-to gift on Friday nights. I walked up to the door