Apex

23 | natural selection

JULY 10

DAKOTA

Kayaking was Syd's idea. He'd claimed it would be good for our souls, but all I was feeling at present was tremendous back pain.

"Keep up, loser!" Syd shouted from over his shoulder, grinning deviously.

"I will throw my paddle at your head," I threatened, struggling to paddle against the current. Waves lapped against the bow of the kayak, and sloshed into the cockpit. My poor vintage Levis.

We continued to paddle along the jagged cliffside, returning to our launching point at Cape Blue's cove. The last time we were there was on May 16th, and everyone on Friday Island knew how that night ended. The cove was a source of dark energy, a place no longer frequented by locals. While the headlines would eventually go away, the island's memories of what happened there wouldn't. 

As much as I wanted to stay away from this place, I was eager to move on. I needed to start letting go of what happened here and how it left a stain on Apex. Being at war with myself over where my loyalties should lie was too draining and ultimately did more harm than good. I was willing to take a page out of Allix's book and give the whole self-forgiveness thing a shot.

"Brenna should be on her way," Syd informed me when we returned, lugging his yellow kayak up the beachfront. The plan was for the three of us to stop by the party that Pacific King was hosting for its 50th anniversary. "She said she had an emergency meeting."

I threw him a skeptical look. "It's not for Apex."

"She's a busy person. Busier than you, at least."

Syd's jab was lame, and we both knew it. We laughed for what felt like the first time since our senior year of high school. Too much had changed since then.

We were about to start the trek up the overgrown cliffside trail when Syd's phone rang. Natasha Bedingfield's Pocketful of Sunshine was his ringtone, and had been since the eighth grade.

"That's probably Brenna now," Syd said, rummaging through his backpack.

"Answer it before my ears bleed," I replied, and clapped Syd on the back. "She's got you wrapped around her finger."

Syd finally located his phone, holding it up like baby Simba from The Lion King. However, when he checked the screen, a pensive expression spread across his face.

"Nicki," he greeted. "What's up, dude?"

With the conversation underway, I busied myself with packing up my 35mm film camera. I'd always admired the vintage quality and briefly forced Syd to be my muse while kayaking.

Syd tapped me on the shoulder, extending his phone. "Nicki says he needs to talk to you."

"Now?" I arched an eyebrow. 

"Just take the damn phone."

Grimacing, I put the call on speaker. "Nicki."

"Pay attention," Nicki instructed, intensity threading through his words. "We don't have much time."

The explanation was brief yet concise.

Maud believed that Albert, Mr. Nakamura's best friend and employee, killed the orca. She'd been working alongside a young paparazzo, and they'd planned to confront Albert tonight at the party. But when Maud didn't show up, Nicki found Allix and told her what Maud had told him.

"Allix says Maud told her that the guy was at Providence Point when you three went to get the photos of the Black Swan," Nicki said, and I could hear Allix's voice in the background.