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“Hi. This is Warden Marsden. I have here in my office, Trevor Williams. He’d like to speak with you unofficially. Are you willing?”

“That’s an interesting request.”

“It’s for his safety. He needs to know that this conversation never happened.”

“Agreed.” Dawson rubbed his jaw.

“Hello?” a male voice echoed over the speaker. “Thank you for taking the call and agreeing to my terms. I need you to first listen and, second, never reach out to me again—unless you button things up, and then I’ll be at your beck and call.”

Dawson frowned. “That’s a bit cagey.”

“Look. If word gets out that I’ve said anything to you, I’ll die. My family will die. I’m taking a big risk even doing this. But I’ve heard some things have happened in Calusa Cove. If you think something is happening, it’s happening. Just probably not the way you believe. I didn’t do the things I was accused of. At least not like I was charged. I took the fall because I valued my life and was promised protection.”

“Are you saying you didn’t run drugs through Calusa Cove?”

“I wasn’t the one doing it, but I did turn a blind eye. I did allow it to happen. I am guilty of that. I could give you a million reasons why I did it. Blackmail. Money. Power. They all played a role.”

“Are you calling to give me names?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”

Dawson pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then why the hell did you call?”

Trevor sighed. “If you can get me and my family into the witness protection program, I’ll flip. I’ll testify. I’ll give you everything I’ve got. And trust me when I say it’s a lot.”

“What’s the difference between flipping now or later?”

“Because if I’m the one who gives them up, they won’t kill me, they’ll kill my family, and they won’t die quick. It’ll be slow and painful,” Trevor said with a slight tremor in his voice. “Do we have a deal?”

“First, I’m not the one who can make that deal, and you know that,” Dawson said. “Second, in order for me to help get you that deal, I need a hell of a lot more information…like for starters…I need to know exactly who you were helping? Give me names and I’ll go to my contacts with the FBI and the DEA.”

“I give you that now, my family is as good as dead.” Trevor let out a hefty sigh. “Why the hell do you think I’ve been so quiet this past year. I don’t know who I can trust.”

“What makes you think you can trust me?”

“Because your friends with Fletcher,” Trevor said. “He’s about as straight as they come. I know that from Ken.”

Dawson sucked in a deep breath. “How does Ken factor into all this?”

“He doesn’t,” Trevor said with a sharp tone. “Start with the cartel that was known to run drugs when my old man was chief. Talk to Anna. She knows those names. Get someone to agree to help me, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

“It’s a tall order and I can’t promise anything, but I’ll make some phone calls,” Dawson said. He had nothing to lose.

“Thanks. And good luck.” The line went dead.

Now that was interesting.

CHAPTER12

Audra stared at the docks.The morning had ticked by at a snail’s pace as she waited to hear from Dawson. Minutes turned into hours, and it was well past the lunch. She’d given up all hope of going back out into the Everglades for another day of python hunting. A slight breeze rippled across the water. A few hunters milled about, staring—more like glaring. A searing pain tore at her heart. This town was her home. Her soul. All she’d ever wanted was to belong. To fit in. To be anything other than a swamp monster.

“You probably shouldn’t have told me about your conversation with Trevor,” she said softly.

“Nope. But I did.” Dawson lifted her chin. “Am I going to regret doing that?”

“I can keep a secret.” She nodded. “It just seems weird he’d do that.”

“It is. But there was no reason for me not to agree to it. I don’t believe in coincidences and too many strange things have happened. I’ve got to connect the pieces and if Trevor has intel that will help me, I need to find a way to get him talking. Trading it for his protection is something we do all the time, if it puts bigger fish away.”