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Paul handed his weapon to Mo, who wouldn’t even look at her or Dawson. He kept his gaze at his feet or on the door.

Coward.

What was he thinking getting messed up with these killers? Poor Anna.

Shit. What if Anna was involved? The thought made Audra shudder.

“We have a small window to get this shit done,” Paul said. “That tropical storm is going to be nasty. I heard even Silas is staying home today, so let’s wrap this up. Mendoza is expecting this to be distributed today. I’m not about to lose out on any more money. We’ve been delayed enough as it is.” He stood and strolled toward the other side of the room, waving his arms around.

“You’re working for the Mendoza Cartel?” Dawson asked.

Paul turned and glared. “None of that matters to you.”

“I’m the chief of police. Of course, it matters.”

Paul shook his head. “Not for long.”

“Wait. What about Hector Mendoza? He died in the Everglades when my dad was young. The story goes that he lived back here until he met his wife,” Audra said. “Is he connected to all this?”

“This town and its ridiculous legends,” Paul mumbled. “It’s all bullshit. Hector betrayed his family, so they killed him. Simple as that.” He waved his massive gun. “Mo, you keep an eye on those two.”

Mo didn’t lift his gaze. Actually, he turned his back, held his rifle, and let out an audible sigh.

Audra shifted and leaned into Dawson. “I can’t believe those two bastards killed my dad,” she muttered, her chest tight, anger burning a hole in her gut.

She had to get free of the zip ties and take these murderers down. Audra twisted her hands in an attempt to free them. “My wrists are raw from trying to get out of these things,” she said, her voice so low only Dawson would hear.

“I’m close,” Dawson said, barely audible. “And I’ve got a plan.”

CHAPTER16

“Look at me, Mo,”Dawson said once everyone else had left the small hut.

Mo didn’t flinch.

“Don’t ignore me,” Dawson tried again. He didn’t know Mo all that well, but he knew their situation. Understood it. And he knew Anna, trusted her, and couldn’t believe she knew what her husband was up to. The wife was always the last to know. If she did, well…damn. Either way, he planned on using his connection to his secretary to help get himself out of this lose-lose situation.

The man refused to acknowledge Dawson.

“Do you have any idea what your going to prison will do to Anna?” Dawson said softly.

Mo glanced over his shoulder. “That’s not going to happen. It can’t happen.”

“You’re standing there, holding a semiautomatic weapon, while the chief of police is tied up. If Audra dies, that’s life. If I die, too, that’s two life sentences with no possibility of parole. And even if we don’t die, I’ve got you on kidnapping, possession with the intent to sell, and we’re not talking small-town shit here. We’re?—”

“Stop talking.” Mo finally turned. He wiped his hand across his face. “I’m not going to kill anyone. I didn’t kidnap anyone. I’m not really part of anything. My job is to drive cars or boats from one point to the other. That’s all I do. I don’t ask questions. I just do what I’m told, and I take my money. I’m not really doing anything wrong.”

“Jesus, Mo. You’re a smart man.” Dawson lifted his chin. “Holding that weapon while we’re sitting here is a whole lot wrong. Now, how about you do the right thing by untying us? Then help us get the hell out of here so I can get backup, and if you are willing to testify against them?—”

“Are you kidding me?” Mo inched closer, bending forward. “What about the cartel? It’s not just Paul. Why the hell do you think Trevor’s sitting in prison with his mouth essentially duct-taped? If he says anything, they’ll come after his family. My hands are tied. Like I said, I do my job, and my mom gets a nice cushy nursing home to live out her days, and my wife gets to have her nails done whenever she wants.” Tears formed in the man’s eyes.

Dawson shook his head. Greed didn’t always drive people.

Sometimes, it was simply necessity.

“Have you had any contact with anyone inside the cartel?” Dawson wondered if Paul had driven the point home to Trevor to keep his mouth shut or if someone else had. That little point mattered.

Mo shook his head. “I first started driving crates from Calusa Cove out to Naples and dropped them off. I didn’t see anyone. A couple of times, I picked up things out in the Everglades and brought them to drop-off points. I once asked Paul about all this, and he told me if I ever betrayed him, the men he worked for would slit my neck, rape my wife, and?—”