Once Stephen was back on solid ground, he showed the fish to Kylie.

Kylie tried not to make an ugly face and said, "If you clean it, I would still be willing to make that cream soup that I was talking about?"

​​

"You?" Stephen looked at her with doubts.

"Yes!" Kylie exclaimed. She was quite exacerbated. "I am a very good cook. I can make watermelon stew, fried mango with eggs, pepper cake, and yes, even cream fish soup!"

Stephen frowned. "Thanks, but no thanks," He replied. "I've heard that your cooking has made too many people sick. Why don't we change out of our wet clothes, and then I will cook something for you."

Hearing this made Kylie feel sad, but she said nothing, and when Stephen offered her his hand, she took it and allowed him to lead her up to the cabin.

Lucas had rejected all of the recent jobs that had landed on his desk for Kylie. Some people were suspicious about this, but he was doing everything that was possible to keep her disappearance a secret. Not only was he returning her emails for her, but he was also pretending to be her on social media. One thing that she couldn't explain away or ignore though, was the fact that Dangerous Word had not finished shooting, and they could not wrap up until Kylie showed up and played her parts.

Lucas had asked Ethan for advice. The film had been scheduled to be released in a month's time, but without Kylie, the studio was wondering if it would ever be completed. If she didn't show up and honor her contractual duties, they were threatening to sue her, not just for the cost of making the film, but for all projected profits.

Ethan had read through all the documents and contracts, and he had suggested that the studio use a body double for the remaining scenes. "If you do that," he'd said, "then Kylie with surrender any money owed to her."

The studio had ignored his proposition. They hadn't even called him back.

After Kylie had been gone for a while, Nate suggested that he take a break from looking for Kylie and see if he could find Nico, but Ethan just looked at him and said, "Just leave the hot potato for him."

Nate looked at him curiously and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you okay…? I think you need a break. Catch up on your sleep. Even if you don't look for Nico, it is clear that you need to take a break from looking for Kylie. It clearly hasn't gotten you anywhere. For once in your life, can't you just let the police do their job?"

"Fuck off," Ethan sighed casually. "I am fine. I don't need to slow down. If anything, I need to step up my efforts, at least until Kylie is found!"

"You're a human," Nate argued. "You're not a robot. Like everyone else, you need to rest occasionally!"

Ethan slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face had grown a short unkempt beard. It did not suit him. He opened his mouth as if he had something more to say, and then he closed it without uttering a single word.

"Since Kylie disappeared," Nate continued, "you haven't closed your eyes even once. You have been drinking pot after pot of coffee. Look at your hands; they're shaking! No one can go on like this indefinitely. If you don't take a rest, I'm afraid that the next time Kylie sees you will be at your funeral..."

"Quit exaggerating," Ethan scoffed. "Leave me alone, please. Your demeanor is hindering my concentration."

"Whatever," Nate sighed as he stepped into the hallway. "It's your funeral."

Behind him, he heard Ethan standing up to close the door to his office. Sensing that something was wrong, he turned back in time to watch his boss collapse to the floor. Nate smiled. He had assumed that if Ethan didn't rest on his own accord, nature would eventually put him to bed. Better now than later, he thought.

Once Nate had assured himself that Ethan hadn't been hurt, he called Ricky, and between them, they were able to carry him to his room and tuck him into bed. Being this close to him, Ricky said, "He positively stinks. When was the last time that he showered or changed his clothes?"

"Not since Kylie disappeared," Nate replied. "It is quite disappointing. I had always thought that Ethan was stronger than this…"

Ricky put his hand over Ethan's hand and said, "He may be asleep, but let's not talk this way in front of him. It is starting to make me feel uncomfortable. Likely he will sleep for a long while, but we have no guarantee that he isn't awake already; eyes closed as he listens to us talk…"

"Don't worry," Nate laughed. "After what he's put his body through, he's gonna be out for days!"

***

Stephen had labored in the kitchen for over two hours to create the creamed fish soup that Kylie had promised him. He placed the pot on the table, set out bowls and spoons for himself and Kylie, and then he called her in. "Kylie," he shouted. "Dinner's ready."

Kylie had been sitting on the back deck, watching the water as the waves came up halfway along the beach and receded. "I'm coming," she called back as she stood up. She stretched, yawned, opened the back door, and tried not to gag. The smell that assaulted her nose was noxious. She decided right then that she wouldn't eat the soup, but when he saw the hopeful look on Stephen's face, she couldn't help but push down any evidence of her disgust. She knew that if she didn't enjoy the soup that she would hurt his feeling. After everything he had done for her, that was the last thing she wanted to do.

Stephen led her to the table, sat down across from her, and ladle the soup, first into her dish, and then into his own. "Eat," he said. "Tell me if it isn't the greatest food that you've ever eaten."

For a second, she thought she wouldn't be able to eat it, but then he ran a spoon through the hot liquid, and like magic, the aroma began to improve. Compelled by this new smell, Kylie dipped her spoon into the bowl, tasted it, and found that it was delicious.