The lighthouse stood at its precarious peak. Its ancient eye scanned the sea, a still sentinel, fulfilling a purpose long lost. Once, it was painted preciously, adorned with pigments of deep red and pure white. Now, its very foundation had fallen, cracking the long-faded colors. The stress of waves broke stone over centuries leaving the lighthouse to balance at the edge of its adjoining cliff. The beacon atop shone over decrepitude, a pointless warning to ships asea, resplendent in its light.

The sound of surf seemed to echo all around Lenox as Maurice led him to the strong steel door and knocked, causing an echo that ran up the structure. A chorus of gulls overhead filled the long silence that followed. Then, the door cracked open, and Lenox saw a single emerald eye that seemed to float in the abject darkness of the lighthouse's interior. A large chain kept the door from bursting open from wild wind.

"Maurice." The man said, voice creaking like rusted steel, "I don't have any fish for you. Go away."

"Davy, is that any way to greet your best friend?" Maurice replied.

"My best friend is dead." Davy's hands tightened, "She was murdered, Maurice. You were my customer."

Lenox slowly took a step back. He had no idea why Maurice brought him here. He told him that the lighthouse was historic, and it did seem old. Maurice neglected to mention that someone was living here.

"Don't be like that Davy." Maurice said, "No one has seen you for more than a month. Your ship has been docked the entire time."

"I have no reason to leave," Davy said. "I only fished for her anyway."

"I think I can change your mind. This" he beckoned for Lenox to approach. "is Lenox Aspect, owner of the Emerelda."

The door slammed shut. The steel reverberated like a giant bell.

"Well," Lenox said, "guess it's time to go." He didn't want to get involved with whatever Davy had going on, especially anything involving murder on just his second day on the island. He turned and started walking towards the van. Then he heard the door open.

Now standing in the sunlight, Lenox got a better glimpse of Davy. He had a swarthy complexion, his stark black hair jutting at all angles. A light beard obscured his jaw, and he had bags under his bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn't slept or scarcely blinked all week. He looked uncomfortable in the pristine white collared shirt he wore haphazardly tucked into naturally faded jeans.

"Mr. Aspect," Davy said, his voice still seemed rusted, but adopted an unnaturally formal tone. He spoke into the air, avoiding eye contact with Lenox.. "Can I come to your home?"

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Maurice brought his palm to his forehead.

"Master Lenox, please forgive Davy. He has always been unsociable, and the death of his dog has transformed him into a bit of an ogre." Maurice said this at full volume, clearly audible to Davy, who for his part, seemed absolutely nonplussed by the aspersions cast against him. Maurice continued, "As to why he is so excited to go to the Emerelda, he believes that his dog was poisoned by a plant in our gardens. He's been extremely annoying to me and the sheriff, whom he has called every day since he demanded an autopsy- again on his dog."

Now animated by talks of his erstwhile pet Davy interjected "Well the sheriff isn't doing anything about it! Even after the autopsy showed poison."

"From a plant" interrupted Maurice

"A plant that doesn't grow in this region. Someone murdered her and I need to know why, and who, so I can murder them right back."

"Look Davy, if you want to go to the Emerelda, you can't just ask to be invited over. You should try to make a friends. Lenox is around your age. He likes dogs... I assume."

"I don't like dogs. I loved Danae." Davy said. " She was my best friend, my only friend. She was only 5 years old Maurice. We were supposed to have much more time together. Her smile lit up my world more than that damned beacon ever could." He jutted his arm toward the top of the lighthouse. The passion of his voice gradually diminished as he turned toward Lenox, looking at him with more than a passing glance for the first time. His dark complexion suddenly lightened, and Lenox could see sweat beading down his face as he started to speak in a halting, uncomfortable manner as if he were reading a manual on how to use his vocal cords.

"Hello. I am Davy. You Are Lenox. You Own The Emerelda. I Own The Lighthouse. Hello."

Lenox had not had the chance to speak this entire conversation. He had no real desire to do so either. He wasn't sure what was going on with Davy or why Maurice brought him into this situation in the first place. He had enough on his plate without having to worry about dog murderers, and Davy's latest address towards him inspired no confidence that he would be a good conversation partner. It is with this in mind that Lenox answered with a polite smile.

"Hello Davy, nice to meet you. Your lighthouse seems very... homey. If you want to visit the Emerelda, I am sure that Maurice could show you around anytime."

Lenox caught a stern look from Maurice.

If Lenox had anything better to do with his day, he would've protested Maurice's quiet urgings. Because he was somewhat curious and because he did not, in fact, have anything planned for the day, he relented.

"Uhh... Or I could show you around."

"Excellent," said Maurice. "I will inform the rest of the staff that you will be having someone over. Davy, I hope you don't mind showing Lenox around town." Maurice indicated the amount he cared about Davy's opinion on the matter by walking toward the van during that sentence.

Lenox caught up to Maurice. "Hey Maurice, do I have to do this? Davy seems... difficult to talk to."

"I didn't know your time was so very important, Master Lenox, that you couldn't spend some time helping a grieving man. Just take him to the pub and he'll open up."

"I don't have an ID, Maurice. Not to mention it is 10:30 in the morning."

"Hey" Maurice lowered his voice as he whispered in Lenox's ear, "Davy is a nice guy, you'll get along if you give him a chance. Plus, he won't just stick around for your money. As for the ID, you're on an island, don't worry about it."

Lenox, realizing he couldn't talk his way out of escorting Davy around closed his eyes and muttered. "I thought adults were supposed to be responsible."

Maurice laughed, "And who gave you that ridiculous idea?" Then he got into his van and was off, leaving Lenox alone with Davy.

"So... Davy, you're a fisherman, right? What caused you to take up that occupation?"

"Yes I Am A Fisherman. I Like The Ocean. And Not Talking To Strangers."

Lenox rubbed his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger, "Jesus Christ, Davy." Realizing he wasn't going to get anywhere with conversation, he gave up. "So, Maurice tells me there's a pub around?"

Davy smiled, an unpracticed rictus that looked unnatural on his naturally dour expression. "Yes. I think. Yes. That would. Be good. It isn't far. Of a walk."