Does Insomnia Own A Bracelet?

Does Insomnia Own A Bracelet?

         Nancy Drew I’m not. I am a Nancy though, Nancy Olivia Newton. Everyone calls me by my name’s acronym—Non.

         Tonight, I’d hidden among the rocks overlooking the marina. Training my night-vision binoculars, I scanned the yachts…nothing. I relaxed, gulping Pepsi, hoping the sugar and caffeine would provide an edge. Insomnia cycle, day five. I felt trippy, heading toward my best of ten sleepless days.

         Movement caught my attention. I honed in, witnessing two men carrying a bundle. The sliver of moon couldn’t illuminate features, although the string of lights along the ramp-railing revealed they were large and blonde.

         A woman’s arm came loose from the bundle, the lights reflecting something shiny. I squinted, refocused, and gasped despite my need for secrecy. The shine was from a one-of-a-kind present from a friend…me.

         Scrambling across the rocks, I headed to my car hoping to outrace the departing yacht. I was investigating drug dealers. How had my friend ended up inside that blanket?

         I dialed my cell phone while struggling to remain calm.

         “Hello?”

         “Steve, is Andrea there?”

         “Sure, let me get her.”

         Andrea answered. “Non, what’s up?”

         I couldn’t get my head around Andrea being alive. “Just wanted to make sure our lunch is still on.”

         “Sure. You sound upset.”

         “I’m fine.”

         “Non, where ever you are, go home. You sound exhausted.”

         I felt trapped in the Twilight Zone. “Alright, until tomorrow.” I disconnected, rounding the final curve. Creeping down the ramp, I found the yacht gone.

         I searched for the yacht’s running lights. Nothing. Something crunched underfoot as I walked up the ramp. I picked up Andrea’s charm bracelet, glad she was alive. Who had been put on that yacht? I rolled the bracelet in my hands as I walked to the car. Tomorrow needed answers. Tonight I needed sleep.