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“That makes me nervous, considering what those two did.”

“Me, too.” He sighed, rounding his shoulders and contemplating why he not only trusted a woman he’d just met but why he’d break all the rules for another redhead. “Can you keep your distance from them?” He tossed back half his beer.

“I can promise I won’t start anything since I don’t know them, but I won’t keep my mouth closed if they come at me.”

“Fair enough.” He patted his hand on the cushion. “Can you be quiet for ten minutes while I tell you what my plan is?”

“Yeah.” She plopped down next to him. “But can I say something first?” She tilted her head and battled her eyelashes.

This woman was going to be the death of him. “Sure.”

“Since my return, I remember things.”

“You mentioned that, and I want to get to that topic when I’m done.”

“Okay, but I’m wondering if maybe Trevor Williams could’ve had something to do with my dad’s death.” She arched a brow.

“That thought has crossed my mind in the last couple of hours, but he wasn’t a cop at the time of your dad’s disappearance.” He’d be a fool not to wonder that based on what he’d learned about Trevor’s past—not to mention how Trevor had made it possible for the drugs to come right through Calusa Cove from Mexico. While the DEA had shut down that particular run, Trevor had only been able to give up one name, and by the time the DEA had gotten to that man, he was dead.

They knew the cartel was running the drugs into the country through other means. Trevor had told everyone that’s all he’d known about. His role had been to turn a blind eye and let the ships and trucks pass right on through town—or run interference.

Dawson didn’t buy it. Trevor knew more. Either he was afraid, or he had been promised something to keep his mouth shut.

Like protection in prison. Protection for his family.

Or both.

However, something had been going on in the Everglades long before that.

As well, Dawson had another dilemma he needed to deal with, and that was how much to tell Audra about his personal thoughts and how much digging he planned on doing.

“He left town shortly after my dad disappeared,” she said. “Don’t you find that suspicious?”

Good Lord. She was a rabid Chihuahua. “Maybe, but answer me this—when did Benson leave town?”

She narrowed her stare. “Maybe a year earlier. He got a job in Miami. I don’t know what he was doing, but he didn’t get into trouble like Trevor did. We should talk to Trevor.”

“There is nowe, and it’s time for you to listen.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tomorrow, I’m going to let you use my personal airboat and drone.”

“Gee, that’s mighty big of you.”

He turned and glared. The more she opened her mouth, the more he wanted to do one of two things—either lift her off the sofa and toss her out into the humid night or toss her on his bed and shut her up in other ways.

There was something very wrong with him. This combativeness between the two of them shouldn’t be such a turn-on.

“I was being sarcastic. It comes with the hair.” She raised her hand. “Go on.”

“I have some police work I have to do in the morning, so I’m not thrilled about sending you out there alone, but Hayes is going to be right on your tail as much as he can be without it looking creepy.”

“Sounds like fun, though I’d rather have you on my tail.”

He closed his eyes and counted to ten before opening them again. If she made one more snide remark, he was going to hush her by sticking his tongue in her mouth.

Yeah, he had issues.

He cleared his throat. “You and I will have long-range walkie-talkies so we can communicate. You will go about python hunting like you want that damn prize money.” He lowered his chin. “When I’m done with cop stuff, I’ll have Fletcher or Keaton drop me off at that island, and I’ll poke around. When I’m done, you’ll pick me up, and we’ll finish out the day hunting together. Any questions?”

“Won’t people wonder about how you ended up on my boat or why you’re there?”