I stopped halfway down the path.From here, the front of the haunted house was partially blocked by a prop shed, but the dock path beyond the trees was visible.
Interesting.“From here, he could watch the crowd and the dock path,” I said.
Push stepped up beside me and followed my line of sight.“Yeah.”
“Could he get to the dock fast?”
“Through there.”He pointed to a narrower trail between trees.“Cuts down toward the lower path.”
I stared at it for a long moment.The footage had not shown that.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Piney leaned slightly closer.“That good okay or creepy okay?”
“Both.”
“Great news,” he muttered.
We walked for another twenty minutes.I checked camera angles, watched how paths connected, and asked enough questions that Piney eventually declared he deserved hazard pay for escorting my brain around the island.
Push answered every question without complaint.That was new, or maybe I was just noticing it differently.
He didn’t dismiss me.Didn’t tell me I was overthinking.Didn’t act annoyed when I asked him to stand in a certain spot so I could see how visible he was from one camera to another.
He just did it.Big, quiet, tattooed man standing where I asked while I tried to solve his island murder nightmare.
Very convenient, also a little hot.Not the murder nightmare part.The listening part.
“Where’s the area where the ghost boat drops people off?”I asked finally.
Push pointed toward a path closer to the water.“They walk out there.”
I immediately started toward it.
Push caught my elbow before I made it three steps.
I looked down at his hand, then up at him.“Problem?”
“We can take the boat.”
Piney groaned dramatically.“Thank God.I was about to fake a hamstring injury.”
I stared at him.“From walking?”
“From emotional exhaustion.”
“You are a biker.”
“Who doesn’t need to think about my emotions.I’m interested in bikes, beer, titties, and money.”
Push shook his head and started toward the dock.“Boat’s faster.”
“Also less walking,” Piney added.
“You’re both very rugged,” I said.
“Damn right,” Piney replied.
