‘Suite eleven.’ And with that she promptly hangs up. Can a cat really be plotting her downfall? I can confirm you really do hear all sorts in bookshops! I work down my list and manage to get hold of a few more resort guests whose orders have arrived and offer to deliver them too. I call the front desk and ask if Joji can bring a bicycle to the bookshop for me. Once I’ve locked up for the day, I gently place the books into the basket of my bike and go about delivering books, feeling like I’m some kind of book Santa. I cycle along the path past the Cabana Bar, waving to the expats, breathing deep as I pass the colourful lantana blooms that give off a slight citrus scent. It’s fun taking a peep into the renovated suites and meeting guests from all around the world with such varying tastes in books.
As I’m cycling back to staff quarters, I run into Michel, like, literally run into him, as he turns at the wrong moment.
‘Argh! Sorry!’
‘Nearly made me crash the helicopter, now you’re trying to take me out with a bike? I’m starting to worry that I might be the one who needs to take an “insurance” snap of you, Harper.’
‘Well, yes, not ideal to run into you like that but if you were more spatially aware…’
‘Oooh, it’s my fault. Again!’
‘Thank you for admitting that.’
‘What? No!’
I grin. ‘Which room is yours?’ I point to the staff quarters. I know Mariola is in room four, which is close to where we are. ‘So I can avoid it, before you go getting any ideas.’
‘Very funny. None of them. I live off site.’
Before I can ask him why, Mariola appears looking gorgeous in a long, floaty, orange dress. ‘Oh, don’t you look pretty? Are you two…?’ I point from one to the other. Have I interrupted something?
Mariola laughs. ‘I’m not sure what Michel’s doing. I’m off to dinner at my parents’ place.’
Is Michel blushing? It’s hard to tell with the fading light and the way he’s ducking his head all of a sudden. ‘Me too. Dinner with the family. Not Mariola’s family – uh – my family. Came to get Joji.’
‘Joji?’
‘He’s my cousin.’
‘Two peas in a pod when it comes to flirting,’ Mariola says. ‘Anyway, I better go. Have a good night, you two.’
Michel nods, stuffs his hands in his pockets and watches her go.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say the man is smitten, but Mariola seems blithely unaware.
‘Cat got your tongue?’
‘What?’
I leave him with the sound of my laughter.
24
The next day, I invite Turt into the bookshop to cool off. He shuffles slowly behind me and makes his way to his usual spot, a circle of sunlight in the corner. Oh to have the life of an Aldabra giant tortoise. I move out of his way so he can pass but his shuffling slows further. I’m no tortoise expert, but Turt seems a little lacklustre today. Maybe he’s just hot. When he settles in the cool, I get back to work, making a mental note to keep an eye on my reptile friend.
The Wi-Fi in the bookshop is much stronger than in my suite, so I quickly bring up the Reddit forum again to check out the only online community that seemed to be open to the idea that Tia might not be real. I just can’t let it go. Reddit seems to be popular with the Gen Z crowd who are savvy when it comes to delving into online dramas and finding the truth. Or that might be wishful thinking on my part. I click to the newest posts in the sub reddit.
r/Harpersbookhaven
Mushymintpeas101: A friend of a friend who works in publishing says there’s going to be an announcement about Tia soon. Something big. Details were scant but do we think that means she’s going to admit to using AI? Or is it something else altogether?
FauxLives: I don’t think they’d announce that, right? Besides, it’s not illegal, is it? Yeah, if they found out she lied to them and used AI, then it wouldn’t look good but I very much doubt they’d tell anyone. Who knows, maybe they’re aware? Maybe it’s OK, as long as the book is decent.
Tipsietaipan_1989: The book was terrible! And I don’t think publishers would be OK with it, it kinda goes against everything they stand for, surely?
Mushymintpeas101: Yeah, true. Don’t know why I got the feeling it was something big and scandalous. It could be I’m way too invested in this and want answers that I’ll probably never get!
Unreliablenarrator708: Same, girl, same! Whatever you do, don’t go down the #CancelHarper rabbit hole on Twitter. The conspiracy theories are wild. Someone should write a book about what’s happened to Harper and the drama this has created.
