Dead Asleep by Jamie Freveletti

drug marketed to shift workers that are employed at all hours. It’s designed to keep them awake. Of course then comes the alcohol to take the edge off and sleeping pills to bring it full circle.”
    Emma wasn’t surprised at this last bit of information. What went up had to go down, and most addicts swallowed tranquilizers to get to sleep. She suspected that he had found the mandrake and dumped it into his alcohol as well.
    â€œIt doesn’t sound as if you’ll be recording.”
    Carrow shook his head. “We’re under contract to produce another record, and soon. We’re behind as it is. I called the studio on the mainland and we’ve arranged for a second crew to come here. Engineers, equipment, and two new musicians. They’re on their way. We’ll set up at the villa. And Layton will be airlifted out this afternoon. There’s a tropical storm brewing. It’s some miles away but could impact on our ability to get him out if we wait any longer.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. She sighed and reached into the back of the Jeep to get her messenger bag with the specimens. Suddenly she felt unbearably tired. Before she could lift the strap to her shoulder, Carrow reached out and picked it up for her.
    â€œYou look exhausted.” He eyed her clothes. “Were you crawling through the mangrove?”
    Emma shook her head. “More like running for my life. The man was there.”
    Carrow’s eyebrows flew up. “Did you tell Duncan?”
    Emma nodded. “I called him from the Jeep once I got back to it. He and Randiger were headed there to look for him. I decided to come here. I need a shower and some time to think. There’s something strange about the entire thing.”
    â€œWere his eyes crazy again?” Carrow grimaced. “That sounded like the weirdest thing about him when you described him to me last night.”
    â€œThey were. But I’m not sure what it is he’s after. I just don’t believe that it’s me, because I’ve done nothing to merit the attacks.”
    â€œMaybe he wants you to stop collecting.”
    Emma nodded. “That’s the only possible explanation. But what he wants is irrational. If I don’t collect the plants, someone else will. They can’t stop progress forever.” Emma started walking toward the villa, and Carrow walked in step with her.
    â€œDoesn’t sound like rationality is something this guy’s got in abundance, if you know what I mean.”
    Carrow’s comment depressed Emma further. Her tropical island vacation was fast turning into a demented circus, and she was beginning to seriously consider abandoning the entire project. She would have, except the cosmetic company had paid her extremely well to embark on this mission. Collecting the plants was only phase one of the job. After that her lab was to formulate test batches of creams for the second phase. The final phase was to conduct clinical trials on the creams’ antiaging effectiveness. Between all three phases her company stood to make millions, and keep her and her employees busy for the next four years. She hated to walk away from such an interesting and lucrative project because of a madman.
    â€œI need a shower,” she said. Carrow ran a hand through his hair.
    â€œCan you help me search for the mandrake?” he asked. “I asked the landscaping crew, but while they don’t know what it looks like, they insist that they do know every plant around my villa and it’s not there. That doesn’t mean it’s not somewhere else on the island, though.”
    Emma paused. With everything going wrong, the last thing she needed was another plant to acquire. She was behind schedule before the midnight visitors, but now she would have to harvest ten more plants. It had taken her three days to locate the first batch, but she hoped to cut that time in half. Still, she needed to use