Isla

 

After locking myself in my room, I’d torn through my bag, hoping by some chance my phone would still be in there. It wasn’t. My wallet was also missing and I let out a frustrated sigh. I had no money, no identification. Was I even in Maui legally? Was this really how the Witness Protection Program worked? It didn’t seem legit in the least.

Nor did Kai, the “protector.” More like a hippie surfer who’d spent too much in the sun.

Sitting on the floor, I let my head tip back against the wall and watched the fan whirring overhead. I couldn’t even cry. Too many thoughts and theories were crowding into my brain, making my breath short and temper flare. Why is this happening to me?

Kai’s words cut through my brain suddenly and a cold prickle danced along my skin.

Thank Dr. Crane.

And what had he asked me?

Never heard a little whisper in your head that all of this was too good be true?

That had triggered a sense of forgetting something. Something important.

As I thought back over the past year, meeting Dr. Crane and joining TLO, Kai’s questions nagged at me. It was true – I’d never asked any of those questions. It didn’t seem necessary at the time, but now I wondered at how easily I’d been bought. How eagerly.

And be glad those memories are gone. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to the TLO.

Arguments began to rage inside of me.

Please. You don’t even know this Kai. He all but said he kidnapped you and made stupid jokes about it. He doesn’t even seem to care all that much that you’re upset. Or awake. Is he even keeping an eye on you? If he was a protector, why hasn’t he checked on you? And where’s his proof?

Dr. Crane did nothing but try to help you. How can you turn your back on him so quickly?

But Kai doesn’t seem like a criminal mastermind. Aren’t kidnappings usually crimes of passion? I’ve never even met this guy, although come to think of it, there is something kind of familiar about him. Dammit! I need answers. And food.

My stomach rumbled. I wished I’d eaten breakfast. Standing up, I went to the door and then hesitated. What do I do? Panic rose in a tide. Kai had said someone would be here at the end of the week, but what did that mean? Am I really in the witness protection program? Why? Is he lying?

Ignorance is bliss.

UGH! Kai, get out of my head, I thought irritably.

A knock interrupted my thoughts and I squeaked, flailing backward and hitting my legs on the bed. Sitting down, I glared at the door. "Don't come in," I ordered.

“I can’t, you locked the door.” Kai’s voice was back to its usual vague tones. “You didn’t finish your breakfast, kid. I know you’re starving. I’ve got your bowl right here.”

Staring at the door, I both refused to answer and willed him to leave.

“Come on, Isla. You and I both know I could break down this door. But one, I’m respecting your boundaries Two, this is a nice door.”

“Just leave it on the floor.”

I winced at my harsh tone. My grandmother was probably rolling over in her grave at my manners. But I grit my teeth. Kidnappers don’t deserve politeness. 

“The cats will get it,” Kai replied. “And you should know, I doubt your patience will outlast mine. I’ll wait out here all day if I have to.”

Huffing, I marched over to the door and jerked it open. Kai was standing there with several cats arranged around his feet and a steaming bowl in his hands. Reaching out, I took it and then kicked the door closed before he could get a word in.

“You’re welcome,” he said a moment later, sounding as though he were trying not to laugh. “So, the bathroom is down the hall to the left. Hot water doesn’t last too long, sorry. I’m going surfing and then lunch. Maybe a nap. But feel free to holler if you need anything. Or protecting.”

I was about to reply, then snapped my lips shut. I heard Kai sigh and then move down the hall. Shaking my head, I dug in and let out a sigh at the frustrating deliciousness of it. It was so good and unlike anything I’d ever had before. Then I froze, staring at the empty bowl.

What if it was poisoned?

No, I saw Kai eating it. Besides, why would he poison me now?

Right?

Moving to the door, I pressed my ear to it and was relieved to hear the house sounded empty. Dashing down the hall, I went to the front windows and peered out. Sure enough, Kai was down there, a surfboard propped up next to him in the sand.

He was sitting and staring out at the horizon. Something about his posture seemed lonely. A feeling of pity rose up and I couldn’t help but wonder, why does he live out here all alone?

Dislodging that thought, I then prowled around, getting the lay of the house. The living room, kitchen, and dining room were all connected and filled with windows. Alongside the kitchen was a small porch, with a small table shoved in the corner. Then there was a pantry, Kai’s room, which he’d left unlocked, and another bedroom, which had an air of disuse.

Going into Kai’s room, I stared around, frowning. It was even neater than the rest of the house. A big bed with a hilarious tropical print, orderly bookshelves, and vintage surf posters. No laptop or phone as far as I could see. All of his clothes were simple, surf shorts, shorts, and t-shirts.

It also smelled good, a mix of suntan lotion, salt, and something masculine.

I paused as something flickered in my brain. A sense of comfort amongst the chaos. Being held as though I was the most precious thing in the world.

But then it was gone and I let out a frustrated sigh.

Even though I knew it was a waste of time, I searched through the other rooms. Finding nothing, I decided I would take a shower after all. Peering outside again, I saw Kai was now out in the water, nothing but a long shadow against the horizon. Hurrying to my room, I grabbed clothes and rushed to the bathroom.

Taking a deep breath, I hastily undressed and frantically got in. Scrubbing at myself, I got in and out in five minutes – the fastest shower I’d ever taken. I was dressed before my skin was even half-dried. And I let out a sigh as I made it back to my room, wringing out my hair.

At that moment, an ache went through my right hand and I glanced down at it. Just above my wrist was a red ring almost the size of a quarter. I stared at it, then poked it.

“Ow! Dammit!” I snapped.

Where had that come from? Was Kai responsible? Was this related to my memory loss?

Smoothing my sweating palms down my shorts, I shook my head and left my room. I was extremely thirsty and I couldn’t think about that right now. In the kitchen, I inhaled a glass of water and studied the beach. Kai was nowhere to be seen. A strange, nervous feeling shot through me.

Is he okay? Did he drown? Should he be out there all alone?

I went and sat down at the counter, propping my chin on my hands. Why did I care? Suddenly the door opened and Kai appeared. A faint sense of relief went through me as he nodded and moved past me to his room. The scent of soap followed him and I realized he was only in a towel. A squeak escaped me and my cheeks flamed. He is crazy!

When he came back out, wearing a tank top and floral shorts, he came into the kitchen and wiggled his eyebrows at me. “You’re still here. Guess you must trust me a tiny bit, huh?”

I ignored that. “Is it safe for you to surf alone?” I blurted out before I could help it.

“Probably not,” Kai said as he went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle filled with a bright orange substance, then poured himself a glass. “Not dead yet, though. Why do you ask?”

I hunched my shoulders. “Well, shouldn’t a protector be more concerned about me?”

A smile tugged up into his cheek. “You’re asking for more protection?” He began to move around the kitchen, pulling down a big bag of brown rice, then vegetables from the fridge and small container of dark meat. “Didn’t you ask for space earlier?”

I frowned. “No, well yes. I mean – you don’t seem like some secret agent guy.”

“Astute,” Kai commented dryly, filling a pot with water.

When he didn’t say anything else, I bristled. “So, what are you?”

“I told you,” he said.

Again, I waited for him to say something and he didn’t. “Kai–” I started to say.

“Listen.” He cut me off and gave me a look. “I can’t give you the answers you want. And I don’t particularly love this situation, either, Isla. Subterfuge isn’t really my thing.”

"Wait, are you telling me your excuse for not being honest is because you're following orders or something?" I asked. "That's bullshit."

To my surprise, Kai stopped what he was doing and nodded. “It is,” he agreed. “And it isn’t.” I rolled my eyes. “The woman who gave me the orders, the Director, is a smart woman. I’ve learned to listen to her. Saves a lot of headaches. And keeps people safe.”

“Well, she isn’t here. Just tell me and I’ll pretend to be surprised.”

“She’d know,” Kai said dryly. “She’s a genius.”

“Sounds like a bitch,” I muttered, folding my arms on the counter.

A small chuckle escaped Kai. “She doesn’t mean to be. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself.”

“So, you work for some government agency that rescues people and puts them on tropical islands without their say so?” I stared at Kai as he smiled at me. “I don’t believe you.”

“You will,” he said.

Getting up, I began to pace around as he continued to cook. And now ignore me. “What am I supposed to do for the next couple of days?” I demanded. “What about my roommate? Where does she think I am?” Then I bit my cheek. Dammit, that’s right, I sublet the apartment. Dionne thinks I’m in Japan. She won’t be worried for at least a week or so.

“The Director could tell you that last one. As for here, enjoy yourself. Go swimming. Surf. Read.” He waved a hand at the corner desk. “Paint and draw. You’re an artist, right?”

I stared at him, nonplussed, then over at the desk. “That’s for me?”

“Yup.”

“Creepy,” I muttered and swung down from the stool, going over to it. “You sure you didn’t kidnap me because you were lonely or something like that?”

Kai laughed loudly. “Wouldn’t I have gotten to know you first? Seeing how compatible we are?” A reluctant smile twitched onto my face and he grinned. "The Director got those for you. Her little safehouse welcome gift."

Safehouse welcome gift? Kai, how do you work for the Feds? The… Who the hell runs the Witness Protection Program? Ugh, I want my phone.

Well, I had to admit, the art supplies were of a higher quality than I’d ever seen before.

“Who is this woman to you?” I asked. “It sounds like you only listen to her because you have to.”

“That’s kind of how it works with bosses and big sisters, I think,” Kai replied, beginning to chop up the vegetables.

“Big sister?” My interest was piqued and I wandered back over to the counter to sit down. “She’s a genius, huh? What happened to you?”

As soon as I said it, I was horrified at myself, but Kai only laughed. “Hm. Who says I’m not? I mean sure, my IQ is only what, 139? And hers is 180 – I think. But they’ve done studies – once you hit a certain IQ, intelligence all becomes relative. And what even is intelligence? Is it solving equations in under a minute or arguing about the root of a word? Staring into space for tiny blinks of light that might be other planets?” He looked at me. “Or is it being happy with whatever shit life doles out to you in the here and now on Earth?”

I gaped at his sharply intelligent and philosophical side. “Uh…”

“Here’s my advice, Isla. And mind, you, I don’t know shit. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to always make the best in any situation. To live life. Embrace the now. You know?”

My sense of humor was starting to return to me. I looked around at the clean kitchen, the adorable surfer guy cooking for me and the seven cats who’d made their way into the kitchen.

Putting my hands over my face, I started to laugh, loud and hard. "Of course, I wound up in the witness protection program," I gasped, putting my cheek on the counter and trying to catch my breath. "In Maui. Maui.” With an apathetic surfer bro secret agent spouting new age bullshit.

“That’s the spirit,” Kai said equitably.

I can’t believe this is happening. Closing my eyes, I blew out a breath. But of course, it is. I’m a jinx. So, of course, it was all too good to be true.