Page 30

COULTER

A trickle of sweat meandered its way down my temple and rolled under my chin as I stood on the fly bridge, guiding the Ellie II back into the marina.

The diesel engine hummed far below me, and I laughed out loud as I saw Kai and Reef’s retrievers running back and forth on the dock as my brothers stood there, lines ready to tie us off.

The four customers, roofers down from Tampa, were gathered at the stern, chattering about their catch from the day.

It had been a great day out off the Hump.

The fish boxes were full of good-sized mahi.

And they’d hooked a monster sailfish. It was so big it snapped the line and got away before they could land it.

I heard them on the way back in, their laughter and excitement tangible, as they told the story of ‘the one that got away’ over and over again.

As with all fishing stories, the fish got bigger and meaner with every telling.

I maneuvered the boat into its berth, throttling back and hitting reverse as we eased up to the dock, so she settled in place with barely a bump. “Alright, gentleman,” I called out, cutting the engine. “We hope your Rodman Reels experience met all your expectations.”

“Best day ever! My wife will never believe I hooked that monster today,” the taller one who’d nearly landed the sailfish said.

“Too bad we couldn’t get him to the boat for a pic. Next time,” I grinned.

“Hell yeah. That’s the motivation we need to be top salesmen again next year. Today was the highlight of our free week in the Keys, hands down,” his friend replied. “I plan on catching the sailfish next year.”

“We’ll see if we can't get one for each of you,” I chuckled, enjoying their competition.

Kai, Reef and I offloaded the coolers and gear. With hearty thanks and handshakes, each one of the smiling salesmen palmed me a crisp Benjamin on their way off the boat. They headed up the dock, already planning their next trip.

Now that there was no more money to be made, in typical brotherly fashion, the twins left the dirty work to me.

As I finished tying off the spring lines, and started the cleanup, I noticed Faith and Detective Ramirez getting out of a Charger in the parking lot.

My heart did a hopeful little flip seeing her there at first, but then the sight of her partner annoyed me.

“What the fuck?” I threw the deck brush down and started toward them.

“What brings you two here today?” I asked, strolling up to them. “Are you looking to book a charter, or just stalking me?”

“Interesting choice of words,” Oscar said with a smirk .

“We need to talk, Coulter,” Faith said softly.

Oscar had a mean look in his eyes. “We can do it here, or down at the station, your choice.”

“Why Detective, you’re so sweet, pretending I have a choice in the matter,” I sneered. “Just ask your questions so I can get on with my life.”

“Shall we sit?” he asked, but was already heading toward the table under the tiki hut a few yards away.

“Sure, but don’t get too comfortable.” I said, begrudgingly following them. I didn’t want them there, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to an interrogation room with that asshole to talk about the night Kylie got trashed and started a fight.

I sat on the opposite side of the picnic table, facing them.

Faith didn’t even look at me while her partner handed me a manila folder.

I flipped it open, expecting to see the report of that awful night.

Instead, I saw color prints of still frames of my truck, time stamped December 22, 23, and 24. Oh shit.

“Care to explain why you were caught on camera on Kylie’s street in the days before she died? You conveniently forgot to mention that when we questioned you,” Detective Ramirez sneered.

His tone sent an angry wave through me. “Yeah, I drove by her house. I was trying to talk to her in person, like I told you before. But her car was never there, so I just turned around at the end of the street and went home.”

Ramirez narrowed his eyes. “Why didn’t you mention that before?”

“Because I didn't see her. I didn’t talk to her. I didn’t even stop. It didn’t seem relevant. ”

Faith responded calmly. “Not telling us that you’d been there multiple times looks suspicious.”

Her partner hurried to add, “It could be argued that it appears that you were stalking her.”

My mouth dropped open and I glared at Faith. “I wasn’t stalking her. Just like I said the million times you’ve asked… I wanted to talk to her in person and see with my own eyes that she was okay. I kept driving by, hoping to see her car, but she was never home.”

“She was home for this one.” Oscar tapped on the photo from Christmas Eve. “In fact, this was taken right around the time of her death.”

My throat closed around a big lump that formed there.

I swallowed it down and snapped at him. “There is no point in trying to defend myself. You’re not going to believe me no matter what I say.

” I tried to sound confident, but the thought that I might have been able to save Kylie if I’d stopped, made me break out in a cold sweat.

“Looks to me like you were casing the joint, planning the crime. And then you finally got the nerve, and did it.” Oscar tapped the Christmas Eve image again.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “All I did was drive by. If you want to look at cameras, why don’t you try to find some others near the entrance of the neighborhood, so you’ll see I didn’t stay there long enough to kill anyone?

Oh wait…I know why. You’re not interested in the truth.

” I closed the folder and stood up, slapping the weathered wooden table top.

“If you two are going to keep trying to pin a murder on me that I didn’t commit, I need a lawyer before I talk to you again. ”

Faith wouldn’t meet my eyes as she stood. Ramirez let out a grunt. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, taking back the folder and turning to leave.

“And another thing,” I called after them. “Don’t you dare show up and treat me like a murderer at my place of business, ever again,” I snapped, my anger boiling over. Faith finally looked at me. I shook my head, glaring. “I thought you were different.”

Faith flinched, but didn’t say anything. They both walked away, leaving me fuming on the dock.