Caribbean Rescue (Coastal Fury Book 16), Matt Lincoln [best book recommendations .txt] 📗

The inside of the building looked like a place outside of time. There was a large, old-fashioned gumball machine tucked into one corner of the lobby. Right next to it was a row of little coin-operated vending machines, the kind that would spit out small toys and stickers in exchange for a quarter.

All over the walls were a mishmash of posters and framed paintings, some that looked relatively new and some that were so yellowed and worn that it was a wonder they were still even hanging onto the wall. The walls themselves were painted a pale green color, though I could see bits of white plaster peeking through the occasional crack.

A low counter that separated the front waiting room from the rest of the small building bisected the lobby. The man standing behind the counter perked up as soon as we stepped inside.

“Welcome!” the man inside the store greeted us warmly. I’d noticed earlier how friendly everyone on the island seemed, and though it was obviously fake coming from someone like Turner, most of the people we’d encountered appeared genuinely welcoming. “What can I do for you today?”

“We need to rent a car,” I replied as I approached the counter. We were the only people in the building, which wasn’t that surprising, considering how few cars I’d seen on the road at all since we’d gotten here.

“Of course you do!” The man smiled as he leaned across the desk to shake my hand. “That’s why you’re here! My name is Monroe. Please, come this way.”

He stepped out from behind the desk and led us through a door at the back of the store. It let out into a large parking lot, though I noted at once that most of the spaces were empty.

“You’re in luck,” he said without breaking stride. “Usually, I’m completely booked up by now. It’s the busy season, you know? But I do happen to have a few cars still available.”

He led us all the way to the rear end of the parking lot before coming to a stop.

“Now, what kind of car were you looking for?” he asked. “I have a few trucks available if you need the space.”

“Anything’s fine,” Olivia replied. “We just need it to run.”

“Now, hold on a minute,” Holm replied. “We should at least have a look first.”

“Why?” Olivia asked, sounding genuinely confused. “A car’s a car, isn’t it? How about that one?”

She pointed to one seemingly at random, a black sedan at the end of the lot.

“Ah, very good choice,” the clerk complimented her. “Nineteen-ninety-four Chevy Impala. Very reliable car, and with plenty of horsepower, too.”

“That’s… not bad, actually,” Holm muttered. “I mean, it’s not great, but it’s okay.”

“What are you even talking about?” Olivia scoffed. “Come on, let’s get the car and get back to Kew Town.”

I understood where Holm was coming from. While I wouldn’t say I was obsessed with car culture, Holm and I both had cars that we loved and valued, though it was clear Olivia couldn’t care less.

We headed back into the shop to sign the papers and pay for the car. The clerk was kind enough to explain how people drove on the left side of the road in Turks & Caicos. He even gave us a printout explaining all the ways it was different from driving in the United States.

“Most of the cars on the island are imported from America,” he explained. “So even though we drive on the left, the wheel is on the left as well. It might take some getting used to.”

“Thanks.” I nodded. “I think we’ll manage.”

“Excellent.” The man smiled as he handed us the key. “Well, just bring it back here when you’re done. There’s also a drop-off point out by Wheeland where you can leave it instead if that is more convenient.”

“Thanks,” I replied as I took the key.

We headed back out into the parking lot where the Impala was waiting. I climbed into the driver’s seat without hesitation.

“I call shotgun!” Olivia spoke up immediately.

“Wait, why do you get to drive?” Holm grumbled.

“Because I got here first.” I grinned at him. “You can drive next time. Come on.”

Once we were all inside, I pulled my phone out of my pocket to set up the direction back to Kew. So far, we’d only been riding in taxis, so I hadn’t actually paid much attention to the way there and back.

“Okay,” I declared as I finished inputting the address of the police station into the GPS app. “Ready to go.”

I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. I had to resist the urge to take my eyes off the road and look around. The island really was beautiful, everything from the greenery to the bright blue of the ocean in the distance, and even the architecture of the houses was a stunning sight to behold. So far, I’d been using the car rides as opportunities to admire the view, but that was impossible when I had to focus on driving.

“Hey, Marston?” Holm muttered as he leaned in close behind me from the back seat.

“Yes?” I asked.

“You’re on the wrong side of the road,” he snickered.

I flushed as I realized he was right and jerked the steering wheel sharply to the left so that the car would be in the correct lane.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” Olivia flinched as the car suddenly swerved. She’d been staring down at her phone and probably hadn’t even noticed that I’d been driving on the right-hand side.

“Marston was driving on the wrong side of the road,” Holm laughed. “Right after the guy just got finished reminding us, too.”

“I got distracted with the GPS,” I smiled sheepishly, laughing in spite of myself. “Besides, he was right. It is confusing when the steering wheel’s on the left side. I just went into autopilot and started driving like I usually would.”

“Man, I can’t believe you did that again,” Holm chuckled.

“What do you mean ‘again’?” Olivia asked, putting