Chapter 6: Frank Szatowski returned to Blackbird cottage, greeted by the lingering heaviness of the recent tragedy involving the death of Gwendolyn. His sister, Tammy, and niece, Abigail, were gearing up for a hike in an attempt to move on from the events, while Frank found himself caught in the pull of grief. Despite Tammy’s insistence that they press on with the wedding-related activities, Frank was overwhelmed by the emotional toll of the situation and opted to stay behind to rest. As they left for their hike, Frank quietly prepared a snack, hoping to avoid further encounters and the emotional strain that accompanied the unfolding events, leaving him with the need for solitude.

While alone in the quiet of the cottage, Frank made the decision to head toward the beach, seeking some space from the crowd. He had heard that Gwendolyn’s body had been dragged to shore, and he felt compelled to witness the aftermath firsthand. As he walked along the shore, the previously chaotic and frantic atmosphere had settled into eerie silence, with only faint traces of the tragedy left behind. The sense of grief that had weighed on the area still hung in the air, and Frank’s mind was filled with an unsettling quietness as he reached the entrance to the camp.

Upon arrival, Frank encountered Hugo, who seemed unfazed by the events, maintaining an upbeat attitude. Hugo offered to help Frank retrieve his car, though Frank insisted he could handle it himself. Nevertheless, Hugo remained persistent and promised to take care of the Jeep’s delivery, maintaining a cheerful disposition, which felt out of place against the somber backdrop of the tragedy. As the two spoke briefly, Hugo casually mentioned his ongoing role in managing the camp, dealing with maintenance tasks throughout the year. This routine glimpse into the workings of the camp seemed to contrast sharply with the chaos surrounding the death and the heightened emotions of the day.

After their conversation, Frank made his way into town with a deep sense of unease. He stopped at a local restaurant, the hum of activity around him only serving to heighten his internal turmoil. As he walked away from the bustling area, he took a wooded path leading to Brody Taggart’s home, where he hoped to gain clarity on the details surrounding Gwendolyn’s tragic death. Upon arriving, Frank was startled by the barking dog and was taken aback when Brody appeared, holding an AR-15 and pointing it in his direction. The confrontation was tense, and Frank tried to maintain his composure as he explained his urgent need for answers regarding Gwendolyn’s death. After a brief, tense silence, Brody’s sister, Linda, came outside, offering a more welcoming attitude that helped diffuse the situation.

Linda and Frank quickly found common ground in discussing her daughter, Dawn, and the complexities of her relationship with Aidan Gardner. Linda expressed her concerns about what she called “Gardner Standard Time,” a manipulated reality controlled by Aidan and his family. This, she explained, was part of the web of influence Aidan had woven around her daughter, leading to a difficult, often confusing relationship that had no clear boundaries. Linda’s revelations about Aidan’s manipulative tactics shed light on the dynamics between him and Dawn, making it evident that their relationship was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.

The conversation soon took an even darker turn when Linda shared unsettling details about Dawn’s final days. She revealed that Dawn had found a pregnancy test, which had sparked further anxiety, and that a phone call from her daughter just before her disappearance had raised alarms. Linda voiced her deep mistrust of the police’s investigation into Dawn’s disappearance, suggesting that crucial evidence had either been overlooked or deliberately ignored. As Linda spoke about the possibility of a cover-up, Frank felt a rising sense of dread. The chapter ended on a note of suspicion and uncertainty, with Frank’s growing concerns about the potential dangers facing his own daughter, Maggie. The mysteries surrounding Gwendolyn’s death and Aidan’s influence on those around him created a web of questions that left Frank feeling trapped in a situation far beyond his control.