‘ The castle is the Chateau Godard which is ta large place on North Bay Island , the one that is usually shrouded in mist every morning and every evening . I could be wrong , but maybe she is staying low on the island .’ ‘ Anyone else you can think of that would know this ?’ ‘ Maybe ,’ Digby said with a tight jaw . He handed the photos back to me and turned to head for the stairwell that led to the floor above . ‘ When I find her , is there a message you would like me to pass along ?’ ‘ Everything that needed to be said was said . Like I said before , ya know the risks before you start the game . No one to blame ,’ as he reached the first step he turned , ‘ lock the door as you go out . And if you find her …’
Digby didn ’ t have to say anything more , I knew that look on his face , the shimmer just under saddened eyes . It was the same look Tully had and no doubt my client Mr . Brevis had an occasion to share it as well . Only Brevis must have felt something else as well because he was the one paying a lot of money to find Twilight . And I don ’ t think he was interested in getting back that loving feeling .
North Bay Island was not an afternoon jaunt . It took a long slow ferry ride across choppy waters just to get to Prescott Harbor . It was as good a place as any to be close to the city but disappear at the same time . There was a little town and the folks on the island , the few that there were year round , relied on the heavy tourist traffic that came with each spring , summer and autumn . In the early mornings throughout the year the island was a bit obscured by the marine layer that would shroud it from view . It was an exciting moment for tourist to approach the invisible island just as the marine layer was clearing and they could witness in bright sunshine the fragile beauty of North Bay Island . That is if it were a sunny day ; today was not one of those days I discovered as I sighted the island under a flat grey sky .
The ferry hadn ’ t been too full so I was able to catch a glimpse of most of the other passengers on the trip . Though most were your typical tourist escaping the city , it was clear that I wasn ’ t the only hound who sniffed out that the trail leading to Twilight , Celine , or whomever they were looking for , had made it ’ s way to the island . This of course put me in an awkward situation - do good work and have someone follow behind me only to beat me to the prize , or follow someone else and toss the wrench in their machinery . Because I didn ’ t trust anyone else ’ s work ethics I decided to go my own way and keep one eye over my shoulder .
‘ After getting off the ferry I made my way to the first little tourist booth along the docks . I figured I could get a map of the island , a snack , and information . If anyone knew who was on the island it would be the folks who saw them arrive at the only official entry and exit point . I tossed two bars of chocolate and a bag of pistachios onto the counter . The slim girl behind the counter gave me a courteous smile and began to ring up the items .
‘ Is there anything else ?’ she asked as she placed the bag of pistachios into the paper bag where she had already deposited the chocolate bars . ‘ Yeah , can you hand me one of those maps of the island ? The best one you have please .” She grabbed a plain looking green and white one and handed it over . ‘ This one ’ s not the prettiest , but it ’ s the best one as far as getting around ,’ she looked up , ‘ that ’ s what you wanted right ?’
99 THE CONE - ISSUE # 15 - 2018