A few days later, Nikki sat at a picnic table in the staff commons cabin and looked down at the water of the lake sparkling between the lush trees.

The summer breeze carried the scent of jasmine and the earthier note of the rich soil in the woods.

She told herself she’d better soak in the sights and scents of nature now. Today was her last day at Maxwell’s. By this time tomorrow, she’d be back in the city. And the smells of New York this time of year were more pungent than fragrant.

The last few days had been a blur of sleepless nights and multiple drafts of her piece on Travers and his insider trading ring.

Now it was time to find out if the result of her summer’s work was good enough.

Nikki sighed and picked up the phone to call her mentor.

Though she had done her best to write an insightful article, Nikki had still been nervous hitting “send” on that email last night to Nala.

“Nikola,” Nala trumpeted her full name so loudly Nikki nearly jumped out of her seat. “I read your article.”

Nikki yanked one of her curls out straight and let it bounce back up, the tension getting the best of her as she waited for the verdict.

“Nikki, are you there?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m here.” She was almost breathless with anticipation.

“I’m blown away,” Nala said. “I’m so proud of you. Your work is exceptional.”

Nikki hugged herself, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.

“Are you there?”

“I’m here,” she said. “I’m so glad you like it.”

“Like it?” Nala sounded amused. “This is beautifully done.”

“Well, I had a lot of help getting the data,” Nikki said.

“I’m not talking about just the data, honey,” Nala replied. “I’m talking about the way you wrote this article. You’re drawing the readers in, making them care about insider trading. This can be a topic that’s hard for readers to identify with.”

“Thanks,” Nikki said.

“So, I think you’re ready,” Nala said.

“For what?”

“This piece is done, Nikki,” Nala said. “There will be edits but the bulk of your work is done. It’s time to do the piece on the aliens.”

Nikki blew out a breath through pursed lips.

She had known this would be coming if the trading piece was good enough.

“I have to run,” she told Nala.

“Well, I’m glad you called,” Nala said. “I’m proud of you. Can’t wait to see what you do with the aliens.”

Nikki hung up, shoved the phone in her pocket and grabbed her laptop.

The screen door slammed behind her and she jogged down the railroad tie stairs.

This is the last time I’ll head back to the lawn, the last time I’ll hear the birds singing in these trees and see the island reflected in the lake.

At last she reached the lawn.

Instead of going right back to her bunk, she crossed the lush grass toward the water.

A small group was laughing and dancing and forming a conga line in the pavilion, the music sounding tinny from this distance. Kids squealed and splashed in the pool. And the smells coming from the lodge told her it was cook-out day, and the chefs were flipping burgers on the big veranda.

But Nikki climbed down onto the pebble beach, where she was utterly alone.

She watched the little waves lap the smooth stones for a moment and thought about the night of Addy’s birthday and gigantic Remington wading through the water with her floating birthday cake, which somehow looked miniature in his care, as the others looked on in wonder.

The expressions on Addy and Remington’s faces had been so bare, so loving, that it almost hurt to look at them.

Nikki had turned away and Indiana caught her eye and winked. Have fun, his wink told her. Your day is coming, Nikki Fortune.

Her day wasn’t coming.

But that didn’t mean she would exploit the friendships she had made.

For better or for worse, she was their friend, even if they didn’t want to be hers. She would guard their secrets to the grave.

Even though Indy had betrayed her, she loved him anyway. It hurt to admit, but it was true. And Nikki believed in the truth.

Nikki slid her laptop out of its protective sleeve. All of her research was backed up to the cloud, except her work on the aliens which she considered too sensitive to be stored anywhere but her own machine.

She studied the computer for a moment thinking of all the hours she had spent with it.

Then she flung it like a Frisbee, out over the water.

It skipped twice like a stone, then sank.

Nikki carefully climbed the hillside and crossed the lawn to her cabin to pack.

Her heart felt lighter now, and she found herself walking to the beat of the conga that was still playing in the pavilion.

When she reached her bunk she found an envelope on her pillow.

Come to the island at midnight. Bring your camera.

The note wasn’t signed.

And Nikki had been planning to sleep at a bed and breakfast in town so she could be on a bus back to the city by dawn.

But her curiosity had been awoken and she knew there was no way she could let the mystery rest.

Nikki shoved the note in her pocket and decided to go have a burger. There was nothing so pressing in the city that she couldn’t stick around an extra night. It wasn’t like anyone was waiting for her there.