Detective Brian's p.o.v

I sit very comfortably in the bus and engage in an interesting conversation with the young woman sitting on the seat next to me. She is very beautiful, about a year or two younger than me, and has a this twinkle in her eye that attracts my attention towards her.

"So why did you become a crime investigator?", she asks with an eyebrow raised in a very cute manner that causes me to smile to myself. "I had followed the family's dealings with danger. My dad was a detective too. My mom is an archaeologist and my elder sister is a criminal lawyer. It's just in the blood.", I boast.

She nods. "So blood is in the blood!", she states and laughs at her own silly joke causing a spark to ignite in me. And then, surprising myself, I burst in a fit of laughter too. Well she is kind of dumb, in the sense that she does not think before she speaks, but she is very attractive.

"How is it that I have not seen a beautiful personality like yourself on the cruise?", I question in a slightly flirtatious tone.

"Hmm. I guess you haven't seen the biggest entertainment on the cruise then. You didn't watch the play at the playhouse did you?"

"Well I haven't. I'm not into plays and acts. I mean, why watch a stupid role play when we have HD and blueray television.", I voice out my opinion.

"Yeah!", She smiles and turns around to face the window.

"What's wrong? Did I say something incorrect", I ask concerned.

"Everyone has their own thoughts and opinions.", she shrugs.

"However, I am the lead actress in the play.", she states flatly.

Oh I have a strong urge to grab the 9mm pistol sitting my left pocket, and pull the trigger on my head.
Now I had been acting foolish. Why didn't I think before speaking? I decide to explain myself.

"Actually I didn't mean to...", but she cuts me out before I can finish the sentence and starts laughing again.

"It's alright Detective Danger Zone."
I smile at my new nickname.

"By the way", she flips her blonde hair out of her face, "I am Mariah. But you can call me Mary"

We become so engrossed in our useless conversation, that I do not realise when the tall buildings and busy roads are replaced by tall trees and a quiet, bumpy side road.

I become aware of the surroundings only when Mariah begins to dose off an hour later. How did I not realise the change in atmosphere?

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Amy's p.o.v

The deserted area gives me the creeps. My eyes constantly scan the outside wild world for signs of life.

"Are we going camping or are we going to a resort?", Mr murderer asks no one.

The bus starts moving down at an angle and I realise that we are travelling down a steep escarpment towards the ocean yet again. Only, this is not the hotspot beaches we just arrived from, but is more of those wild, rocky beaches no one visits.

I almost jump up in relief when I notice the white building from a distance. The first sign of civilisation eases my nerves.

But when the bus travels closer to the resort, large, tall, gated fences surrounding the entire resort comes into view.

Probably to ward off the wild animals, I shake myself.

As we arrive at the main gate, a straight faced security guard opens the gate with a remote and we enter the small yet elegant resort. The large areas of grass are neatly trimmed and mowed. The bus travels along the gravel path and stops in front of the long, glass sliding door.

"Welcome to Cooper's palace", a loud voice startles me. A tall, handsome man around 25 or 26 emerges from the fancy wooden door. He engages in a conversation with Mr Hillburg and then invites us in. I later learn that he is in fact the owner of this small resort on this isolated beach on this big plot of lonely land. And I also gather that not many people have booked to stay here this week. The palace hotel seems empty.

"Where are all the other guests? I don't see anyone nearby?", Detective Brian steals the words from my mouth. "Ahh I thought to reserve the entire resort for you people. After all you are special...coming all the way from SA", he boasts. "Why that was so thoughtful Mr Thomas", John's father expresses his gratitude.

"Naah it's not that...its just that there are either too many of you or too less place in this resort...All the rooms are booked and apparently all are booked for you. So there are no other guests besides you", he laughs.

His eyes wander over his guests and locks on mine. I give him a weak smile and he does the same, turns around and walks away. I let out a sigh, look at my newfound and old friends before I set my eyes on Jameel. He gives me a reassuring nod before disappearing into the corridors with his small bags.