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Motions.That was an interesting word choice.

“You should be pulling that file,” Silas said, waving his finger, “and using that badge of yours to finally give this town some peace over what happened.” He leaned closer. “Or maybe she knew of something her dad had hidden out here. That man had all sorts of wild stories. Perhaps one was true, only he was the one doing the crime.”

Now that was an interesting theory.

“Like what?”

“You’re the cop. That’s your job to figure it out, not mine.”

Dawson wanted to remind Silas that he was the one who’d bragged about knowing every inch of the Everglades. Every nook and cranny. That he knew everything that went on in these parts. But Dawson had had enough of this conversation. It wouldn’t get him anywhere. He knew what Silas thought; that meant that over fifty percent of this town believed the same thing.

Silas pushed the lever, engaged the engine, and took off.

Well, that was fun. Not.

Dawson reached for the radio. “Chumrunner,Chumrunner,Chumrunner, this isWatchdog, over.”

“This isChumrunner, go ahead,” Keaton said.

“How many boats have made it back beside Silas and Chad?”

“Everyone except Audra,” Keaton said. “But my little lecture about not going out at night isn’t sticking. I’ve got five people scarfing down a quick meal, and they all plan on going on a night run. Looks like I get to work a little overtime.”

“Not fun for you, but did you really expect people to come in and stay in before the sun set?” Dawson rubbed the back of his neck. “Anyone see Audra?”

“I can ask around, but Fletcher warned me she might stay out past dark. They all used to come out here at night as kids. It was their playground. His words, not mine.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Dawson said. “She’s the only solo boat, and I’m shocked you’re not the least bit worried.”

“I never said it didn’t concern me, and honestly, I’m annoyed by it. Hayes is still out there, and I told him to look for her. However, the color of her hair also has my hackles up because of you.”

“I’m not even going to comment.” Dawson did understand his buddy’s concern. His last girlfriend, Liz, had done a number on him—more so than any other redhead.

“Where are you?” Keaton asked.

“Near the loop. I’ll head up toward the fork and see if she went that way.”

“Negatory,” Fletcher’s voice boomed over the radio. “If Audra’s still out there, my guess is she went west past the northwest bend and through Snake River to the island with no name.”

“Why would you think that?” Dawson asked. Why would she venture that deep into the Everglades? Even the locals don’t like to be caught out there when darkness overtook daylight.

“Because that’s where she says she was right before her dad disappeared.”

“It’s not the easiest one to find.” Dawson arched his back. The first few times he’d gone out that far in the Everglades, he’d gotten lost. Really lost. It had been embarrassing. At least he understood the night sky and had used it to navigate his way home. But the damn eyes in the water freaked him right out. Too many fucking gators.

He hated those creatures. Why anyone would want to wrestle one, he had no idea. Coming face-to-face with a few of them last year while dealing with pythons had been scarier than the first time he’d gone underwater. He’d nearly panicked, and he considered himself one of the calmest, laid-back men on the planet, next to Fletcher.

But he drew the line at alligators.

“And some wetlands look like islands near Snake River,” he muttered. He’d made that mistake once or twice in the first few months he’d lived here. Sadly, the guys teased him, but he didn’t give airboat tours as much as everyone else did. His job as chief required more daytime hours than everyone else. He often only did the occasional weekend tour, so his knowledge of the Everglades wasn’t as extensive as the rest of his buddies.

And they loved to razz him about it.

“I told you, it’s the island with no name,” Fletcher said. “The one tucked back deep in the Everglades that almost no one goes to because it’s a swampland. But it’s simple to find. Head northwest. Take the Snake River around the second bend and loop through Gator Junction. There’ll be a fork, so go west and just keep on going. The water will narrow. The trees will dance over your head like baby rattlesnakes. But then it’ll open up, and the island will be on your starboard side. My guess is she’ll be there.”

“Your guess better be right, or when I get back, I’m going to kick your ass.” Dawson hooked the mic in the cradle. Then he took out his phone, pulled up the map, and stared at it for a good second. He’d lose service shortly, but if he left the map open, he’d still be able to use it. He also had a chart in the glove compartment. He knew how to use that. Plus, he was getting better at understanding the twists and turns.

Still, the Everglades were scary as hell at night, especially this section. There was a reason most people didn’t take Snake River at night.