Page 6 of Wild Temple
“I hope your friend’s okay. If there’s anything we can do for you, please let us know. Have you contacted local authorities?”
“Not yet. I just got into town.”
She frowned again. “Don’t expect much.”
“Good to know.”
She gave me a key, and I made my way up to my room.
It was nice, with stylish furniture, two double beds, a sleek desk, and a large flatscreen display. A balcony overlooked the pool and had a view of the ocean in the distance. Amicrowave and a mini fridge would assist with late-night snacks.
I settled in, then stepped through the sliding glass doors onto the balcony. The warm breeze blew the sheer curtains into the room. The two suites were close enough together for me to climb onto the next balcony. The gap was a little wider than I would have liked, but I was able to climb over.
Fortunately, Isabella hadn’t locked the sliding glass door. I slid it open and gained entry to her room. It was the mirror image of my suite. The two rooms were connected via a shared door. I unlocked it to make access easier in the future.
Both beds were made.
A roller suitcase on a stand was open. There were clothing items in the dresser drawer, and some hung on racks in the closet.
I didn’t see her phone, but her laptop was still on the desk. She wouldn’t go far without her laptop, except maybe a day trip to see local sights.
The TV rumbled at a low volume. Background noise.
The faint traces of Isabella’s perfume still lingered.
I looked around the room but didn’t see any signs of a struggle.
In the bathroom, all of her makeup and toiletries still stood on the counter. One thing was clear—Isabella hadn’t gone on an excursion to another part of the island, not without her clothing and overnight kit.
I stepped back into the room, closed the sliding glass door to the terrace, then snatched her laptop on the way out. I stepped through the adjoining doors, leaving the door to her room unlocked.
I put the laptop in my room, then stepped into the hall and knocked on the door directly across from Isabella’s.
The sounds of the TV inside filtered down the corridor. Footsteps shuffled, and a moment later, the peephole flickered. An American accent filtered through. “Who is it?”
I flashed my badge to the lens, more out of habit than anything else. “I’m looking for my friend. She was staying across the hall from you. She hasn’t been seen in days. Do you recall seeing her recently?”
The girl pulled open the door. She was a cute brunette with powder blue eyes and full pouty lips. Not hard to look at. Her brow knitted. “Are you saying she’s missing?”
“It appears that way.”
Her face scrunched up with sadness. “You mean she was, like, abducted?”
“I don’t know.”
The girl cringed. “I’ve always thought this place was pretty safe. Has that changed?”
“Hard to say. When was the last time you saw her?”
She tightened her lips and thought about it for a second. “Well, now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve seen her in a week. I thought she left. I hope she’s okay. She was really nice. Her name is Bella, right?”
I nodded, then dug into my pocket and handed her a card. “If you remember any details, get in touch. I’m staying just across the hall in #306.”
She took the card and studied it for a moment. “Florida? You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?”
“Bella’s important to me.”
She looked at me with doe eyes. "That's so romantic. I hope somebody will travel halfway around the world to find me if I go missing."
