Page 10

CHAPTER 9

Audra balled her fists and rolled them across her thighs. She didn’t need to hear what people were whispering to know that everyone in this town thought she was trash. Low-hanging fruit. A snake.

A murderer.

Hell, some people actually believed she was a swamp monster by night. She could almost tolerate that. Expected it.

But being accused of cheating during the Python Challenge grated on her last nerve. There was no reason for her to do that. The only thing she had to prove to anyone in this town was that she hadn’t killed her father, and that was a battle she’d never win.

She eyed Baily as she strolled across the broken pavement with two beers in her hand. They hadn’t spoken much, and it was a bit tense when they did.

“Thought you might like a cold one.” Baily handed her a beverage.

“Thanks.” Audra brought it to her lips while she stared at Tim O’Toole and Dawson. They stood twenty paces away. Dawson had his arms folded across his chest. His stance was wide, and he didn’t move a muscle, not even a nod or shake of his head.

Tim, on the other hand, practically danced. His arms flapped about like a bird unable to take flight. He’d always been an excitable character. A man in need of way too much attention.

“How are you holding up?” Baily asked.

That was a loaded question.

Dawson had told her to wait by the picnic tables while he reviewed Tim’s statement. He’d told her not to speak to anyone. Lucky for her, no one wanted to chat, but she figured Baily would be the exception to the rule.

“Tim and Benson are bringing up those old stories about me being a Stigini. A fucking Owl Witch.” Audra shook her head. “I’m sorry that my being here brought drama to your business.”

“Tim’s an idiot,” Baily said, pointing to a souped-up Bronco. “He bought that truck over there last year, thinking it might impress me.”

Audra gagged and coughed. “He’s been hitting on you?”

Baily climbed up on the picnic table. “He hits on anyone who doesn’t have a dick. Ever since he started working for Silas, he believes he’s got game. Like he’s some important man about town.”

“I’m sure Fletcher put him in his place the second he returned.”

“Oh, Fletcher had a lot to say about Tim trying to get into my pants. I considered going out with Tim just to piss off Fletcher.” Baily sighed. “However, I have more self-respect than to go out with a joke like Tim. That guy probably has more porn loaded on his computer than every male in this town. I have to wonder if he’s ever gotten laid without paying for it.” She leaned closer. “He’s been picked up twice for soliciting a hooker.”

“Jesus, that’s sad.” Audra swigged her beer. “He tried to be so smooth and cool with me back in high school. Like he was sure I was into him. He said he knew all the signs, and I didn’t need to pretend anymore.”

“Right, because you didn’t have a crush on my brother since the fourth grade, and everyone knew it.” Baily jerked her head in Dawson's direction. “And now you’ve got the hots for the chief.”

“And you’re still in love with Fletch.”

“It’s Fletcher,” Baily corrected with a laugh. “And even if I was, that ship sailed a long time ago.”

“Why?”

“That’s not a question I can answer in a couple of minutes.” Baily’s lips curved into a half smile. “I know tonight’s not going to be a good night for you, but how about we have drinks tomorrow, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

“I’d love that.” She reached out and squeezed Baily’s hand. “But for the love of all things holy, why are we calling Fletcher by his full name? It’s weird. It doesn’t roll off my tongue naturally.”

“While I believe he’s been going by Fletcher for a long time, the fact that everyone in town is now calling him that is kind of my fault.” She jumped to her feet, waving to Princess Afloat as it came down the channel. “Walk with me. I need to catch some lines for Trinity. She’s coming in solo, and while she can handle that sucker all by herself, she’s still a princess.”

“We’re going to chat about her, too,” Audra mumbled.

Baily laughed. “She’s changed. She’s one of my better friends in this town. Actually, one of my only friends.”

Audra stood and followed Baily toward one of the slips where the bigger cruisers were docked. “Next thing you’re going to tell me is Lilly is your friend, too.”

“She is.” Baily nodded. “Both girls have changed. While Trinity is still a rich bitch who doesn’t have to lift a finger if she doesn’t want to, she’s not a mean girl. And Lilly, well, ever since she hooked up with Hondo when he came home to take care of his dad, she’s been a completely different person. She’s a great mom, too, even if her kids are little pistols.”

“They might be the only things that have changed in this town.” Audra stepped out on the dock. “So, let’s circle back to Fletcher.”

“Long story short, it’s all part of his plan to win me back. Or, at the very least, for me to forgive him,” Baily said. “We weren’t speaking much, but when Ken died, things just got worse. Not because I blame him for what happened, but because he and the team blame themselves.”

“Do you know what happened?” Audra asked. “Dawson has like a billion scars on his body. He looks like he’s been burned, tortured, shot, and spit through a woodchuck.”

“So, the rumors about you and him are true.”

“Not commenting.”

“You don’t have to. Not with that grin.” Baily winked. “As next of kin, I was given the official story from the Navy. Unfortunately for me, Fletcher showed up here, bawling like a baby, and gave me a few details I wish I didn’t know.”

“And that’s why you blame him?”

“Logically, I know that what happened to Ken could’ve happened to anyone on that team. They were SEALs, and SEALs die in combat,” Baily said. “The blame aspect isn’t so much about what happened on the mission. It followed years of arguments. You and I both know that Ken and I weren’t as close as this town would like to remember. We had our problems, especially about what to do with the marina if and when our dad died, and dad was drinking himself into an early grave faster than Superman. Because of that, Ken always wanted out of Calusa Cove and thought I should leave, too.” Baily shrugged. “This was home for me, and having my brother and boyfriend take off fucked with my head.”

“You knew Fletcher was never going to stay. There was nothing left for him in this town—not when his mom left, and his dad’s business folded.” Audra lowered her chin.

“He had me. The Navy wasn’t supposed to be a career but an education. When I saw that wasn’t going to happen, or that he wasn’t going to come home, I couldn’t do it anymore. I wouldn’t hold on to a man who loved the Navy more than he loved me.”

“I get it. I do.” Audra nodded. “But what does this have to do with calling him Fletcher?”

“When he and the boys moved back and made it clear they were going to make this their home, that they were going to help me save this marina since I was on the brink of having to shut it down, it made me nuts. Fletcher was the last person I wanted to be indebted to, but he’s relentless. He’s always coming around, wanting to make things right—to do what Ken never would. And Fletcher wants a second chance. I told him I’d consider going out on a date with him when he grew the fuck up. He thought going by his given name was a good start, and he acts all serious around me. It’s weird.”

Princess Afloat turned and backed into the slip.

Baily caught the bowline and Audra the stern. They tied the pretty cabin cruiser to the dock in silence.

Trinity hopped off the boat with her pretty heels dangling from her fingertips. “Good evening, ladies,” she said. “What’s the good gossip? Besides Audra and the sexy chief.”

“Do you want to get shoved in the water?” Audra took a step forward. “Because I don’t mind a repeat of the second grade.”

Trinity tilted her head, lowered her chin, and smiled. “Just so you know, and everyone will back me up, I’ve told all those chattering about it to shut up, it’s not their business, and that they have no idea what they’re talking about.”

“Then why bring it up?” Audra narrowed her eyes. “You shoved it in my face like you’re enjoying it.”

“You still have a chip on your shoulder.” Trinity sighed, shaking her head. “I was getting coffee this morning with my friend Mallary. I saw you and Dawson. I’m certainly not judging. Lord knows that man is wound tight in a weird, sarcastic kind of way.” Trinity looped her arm around Audra. “Anyone up for a drink tonight?”

“Can’t,” Baily said. “But we’re doing something tomorrow night. You should join.”

Audra glanced over her shoulder and glared. She wanted to spend time with Baily—alone. Having Trinity tag along was like forcing her to enter the Miss Everglades Pageant.

“I’ll be there. Text me the deets. Maybe we should invite the boys. You know…Audra’s new man, Fletcher… And now that I’m single again, perhaps I should give Keaton Cole a little second glance.” Trinity gave Audra a good hip check before sitting on the bench at the end of the dock. “ If we can get through a conversation without yelling at each other.”

“Is he still giving you shit about searching for Jared’s boat?” Baily laughed.

“He believes I’m being reckless.” Trinity rolled her eyes. Not much had changed, except she was nicer. Kinder. Maybe a little softer. “I won’t be taking out the boat tomorrow. She’s getting cleaned.”

“Good to know.” Baily nodded.

Audra glanced toward the parking lot. She couldn’t see Dawson anywhere. That wasn’t a good sign. He would have her hide for disappearing. Now, that was an odd sensation. Being concerned about others wasn’t her strong suit. “I better get going.”

“I’m looking forward to girls’ night tomorrow.” Trinity waved.

Audra inched closer to the parking lot, searching for Dawson, but all she found was Paul and Tim, huddled not far from the picnic tables she’d been sitting on a few minutes ago.

That was strange. She would have expected Silas to be standing there with Tim, but whatever.

She sucked in a deep breath and made her feet move. She had to walk past Tim and Paul to get to her car or Dawson’s patrol vehicle. To get anywhere.

“Don’t say anything,” Baily whispered. “No matter what they toss at you, just keep walking.”

“Right. Because that’s real easy for me.” Audra’s heart stuck in her throat like a massive frog.

“Hey, Baily,” some male voice called. “I need help with the pumps.”

“Dammit. I’ve got to go. That’s my dockhand. My credit card reader’s been acting squirrelly lately, and I can’t afford to have these clowns drive down to the next marina to fill up because I can’t handle it.” Baily squeezed her biceps. “Seriously, don’t engage. Those two aren’t worth your breath.”

Folding her arms across her chest, she kept her head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Back in the day, she would never dream of making her way anywhere without her head held high. She’d always given as good as she’d gotten. Oftentimes, she’d tossed the first insult. That attitude had given her a nasty reputation.

She didn’t care.

It honestly kept the riffraff away. If she started it, she didn’t have to finish it.

But today, with all the questions and memories swirling in her brain, she didn’t want to test fate.

“You’ve got some fucking nerve,” Tim sneered. “You really are a swamp monster.”

She swallowed the bile that smacked the back of her throat and kept walking. It took all her energy to let this slide. Tim was a wannabe. He didn’t have any friends in this town any more than she did. But at least people had respected her talents. He had none.

He was an insecure dick who’d tried to buy his way into popularity. Even his own family tended to brush him under the rug, pretending they didn’t come from the same stock. It was probably why he worked for Silas and not the family crabbing business.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” Tim called. “Don’t fucking ignore me.”

“Considering the situation, I think it’s best,” she said, not glancing over her shoulder. For the seventeen years she’d lived in Calusa Cove, she’d never backed away from a war of words.

Except maybe when she’d snuck away in the middle of the night. This felt very much like that, and she resented it.

The uneven pavement vibrated under her feet.

Quickly, she shifted, turning and holding her ground. She raised her hand. “Tim, this isn’t the time or place.” She continued to stumble backward toward the entrance of the marina. The sooner she found Dawson, the faster she’d be safe from opening her big fat mouth. “I’m not going to discuss this matter with you.”

“You’re a crazy person.” He now stood only six feet away. He planted his hands on his hips. “A witch, just like your grandma. I heard she spoke in weird languages and was nuttier than your old man.”

She glanced around. Silas and his crew had gathered on the other side of the parking lot. Silas actually inched forward, but she didn’t know if it was to protect her or Tim.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dawson come into view as well as Hayes. Dawson marched in her direction like he was a man on a mission.

Just back up. No need to engage.

Tim closed the gap. “You’re a liar—a cheat. I saw you use your weapon to kill those pythons,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. Slowly, he took four more steps. She could see the wildness of his eyes.

He believed his own bullshit.

Wonderful.

“That’s enough, Tim,” Dawson said, wedging himself between her and Tim. “It’s time to calm down.”

“Calm down?” Tim shifted his gaze, glaring at Dawson. “I’ll calm down when you arrest this woman—this Stigini .” As if that word could cause her harm.

“Tim,” Dawson said in his strange, firm, but soft voice, “I need you to back away.” He tapped his badge. “We’ve got both statements and?—”

“And what are you going to do about it? Take her side because you’re fuck?—”

“I would not finish that statement if I were you.” Dawson rested his hand on his weapon. “Now, walk away.”

Tim didn’t listen. Instead, he leaned closer. “She’s a fucking murderer. Everyone knows she killed her father in cold blood and dumped his body in the Everglades like gator?—”

“You shut the fuck up.” She lunged forward, cocking her first, ready to land it right between that asshole’s eyes.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Dawson’s voice boomed in her ears. A strong arm came around her midsection and lifted her feet right off the ground less than a foot away from Tim.

She kicked and tried to wiggle herself free. “Let me go, Dawson.”

“Yeah, put her down. Let’s see what she’s made of,” Tim said.

“I’ll fucking tear you limb from?—”

“Be quiet, Audra.” Dawson covered her mouth. “You don’t want to do this,” he whispered. “He’ll press charges.”

She gripped his wrist, digging her nails into his skin, kicking, wiggling, and doing her best to break free. “ Put. Me. Down ,” she demanded. No way would she take this from Tim O’Toole.

“Are you going to behave?” Dawson’s breath tickled her skin.

She turned her head and glared. Why did she have to behave when Tim was the one being a total dick?

“I told you she was dangerous.” Tim waved his hand wildly in her direction. “I didn’t do anything, and she came at me, ready to hit me. She’s a lunatic.”

“Are you kidding? You got in my personal space. You called me names,” she said, kicking her feet, struggling once again to break free. “I was defending myself.”

“She’s right, Tim,” Dawson said. “If I hadn’t stopped her from hitting you, I’d be hard-pressed to ignore the fact that you were being aggressive and accusatory. I was worried you might attack her.”

“I was a little worried he might do that, too,” Silas piped in out of nowhere.

That was strange, but she wasn’t about to question someone coming to her defense, even if it was Silas.

“That’s bullshit,” Tim said. “I don’t know why Silas is taking her side, but everyone knows why you are. I hope she’s worth it.”

“You better shut up,” Audra said. “Once Dawson puts me down, I’m going to?—”

“Be quiet.” As if she were a sack of potatoes, he tossed her over his shoulder. “Tim, if I were you, I’d go home. I don’t appreciate you antagonizing anyone, including me, and that’s exactly what you did. Unless you’d like to join us at the station.”

“No. I’m fine,” Tim said.

Audra sighed. She let go of all the fight she had left inside. This was a battle she could not win.

“That’s what I figured,” Dawson said. “Let me do my job. Now get in your car and leave.”

“Does your job include kicking her out of the challenge and arresting her for not only using her weapon when it wasn’t necessary but threatening me?” Tim asked.

Audra couldn’t see anything other than Dawson’s ass. It was a nice ass, but she’d rather have a bird’s eye view of what was happening with Tim right now, yet it wasn’t worth the argument.

“Leave the detective work to me,” Dawson said. His voice was tight and filled with frustration.

“I’ll have your badge if she’s back out here tomorrow,” Tim muttered.

“Good luck with that.” Dawson turned and strode across the parking lot. His thick muscles flexed under his uniform. He set her on her feet and opened the back door of his patrol car.

“Oh no. I’m not getting in that thing.”

“Get in the vehicle.” He pointed.

“Make me.” She folded her arms and cocked her head.

He pressed his hand on the top of her head. “Do not make me get out the cuffs.” He leaned in. “Because this is not how I envisioned using them on you.” He arched a brow.

“You’re arresting me?” She blinked. Why did every man she ever went to bed with betray her?

“No,” he said. “But I am taking you down to the station to do a gunpowder residue test.”

“I can’t believe you’re going to believe that dick over me.” She narrowed her stare. “I didn’t fire my weapon. Those other idiots that flew by didn’t stop and give a statement. They disappeared, so no witness.”

“I know that. Now get in.” He gave her a little shove, reached across her body, and buckled her in the back seat.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’ve been called worse.” He sighed before slamming the door and slipping behind the steering wheel. He revved the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

“I left my long-sleeve salty shirt on your boat,” she mumbled. “It’s my favorite.”

“I’ll circle back and get it for you when we’re done,” he said. “For the record, I know you didn’t shoot anything. This is a fucking formality. I need to do it so I can get this entire town off my ass and let Remy close the complaint against you—proving Tim wrong and a liar.” He glanced in the rearview mirror. “You’re too busy letting your emotions get the better of you to listen or even think logically about the situation.”

“Oh, really? How would you feel if someone accused you of the things Tim did?”

“I’d be pissed,” Dawson said. “But I’d like to believe that if I was sleeping with the police chief, I’d be smart enough to let him work for me instead of making his job that much harder.” He rolled to a stop at a light. “Do you think it was fun for me to toss you over my shoulder and manhandle you into this vehicle?”

“Yes,” she said, holding his smoldering gaze.

He cracked a smile. “Okay, maybe a little.” He blew out a puff of air. “But when are you going to trust that I’m on your side?” The patrol car inched through the green light and turned into the station's parking lot.

She contemplated her answer while he shut off the engine and opened the back passenger door.

In true cop form, he took her by the elbow and led her toward the front door, which only added to her annoyance. However, that was tempered when she realized Tim had followed them to the station and was parked across the street.

Fucker.

“Hey, Chief.” Remy stood in the main room of the station. He waved a file. “I took the statement of that other witness.”

“I thought they never stopped at the marina?” Audra glanced between the two men. Remy had been a cop when she’d been a kid. He was a good man. The kind of man who was impartial. He did his job and treated the people of this town with kindness and respect, and that included her and her dad. “What the hell did they say?”

“Relax, Audra.” Remy handed Dawson the file. “They didn’t. This is someone else, and it doesn’t jibe with what Tim reported.”

“Oh,” she said. “Still doesn’t make me feel better.”

“You’ve always jumped to conclusions, and it’s never done you any favors,” Remy said. “What do you want me to do, Chief?”

“For starters, since Tim followed us here, you can tell him I’d like to have a chat. Bring him inside and to your office. I don’t want these two crossing paths.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “You’ll do the residue test. I don’t want anyone coming at me, saying I’m tampering with evidence or playing favorites with my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend?

What the hell?

“Got it, Chief.” Remy smiled and strolled down the hallway.

She followed Dawson into his office. “I’m sorry,” she managed. “I don’t mean to cause you all this grief.”

“It’s okay.” Dawson tossed the file on his desk, waved his hand over one of the chairs, and then took a seat in the big leather one. He let out a very long breath.

“Aren’t you going to look at that?” she asked.

“I already know what’s inside. It doesn’t prove you didn’t fire your weapon, but it gives us something else to look at. Or should I say, someone else.”

“Are you going to tell me who?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. Not right this second anyway.”

“I see,” she said. “You’re mad.”

“I’m frustrated.” He leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “I asked you not to talk to anyone. I have no problem with you chatting with Baily or Trinity, but I don’t give a shit what Tim or Paul said to ruffle your feathers. You were going to haul off and hit him. Had I not stopped you, we both know Tim would’ve filed charges because he can, and I would’ve had to follow through.” He tapped his badge. “It’s my job to serve this community, even jerkoffs like Tim O’Toole.”

“At least we agree that man is useless.”

Dawson leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “I’m begging you to make my life easier from here on out.”

She sighed, slumping in her chair. “All I want to do is figure out what happened to my dad. I’ve put off doing this for way too long. But it’s hard when everyone in Calusa Cove treats me like I’m the one who killed him or like I’m some kind of witch.”

“Yeah, well, don’t come gunning for me, but you’re making yourself an easy target.” He lowered his chin. “I need you to rely on me. You need to trust that I know what I’m doing. Responding to everyone who gets in your face about what they might think of you only adds fuel to the fire and creates this narrative, making idiots like Tim do stupid shit,” Dawson said, then cleared his throat. “Moving on to something more important, I spoke with a detective from State today. A Detective Lester. He worked with Trip on your dad’s case but also helped put Trevor away.”

She sat up a little taller. “And?”

“It didn’t go very far, but he directed me to the FBI, who then directed me to the local DEA office.”

“That sounds like a circle jerk if I ever heard one.”

Dawson chuckled. “The bottom line is I have some new paperwork to comb through first thing tomorrow morning. My goal is to see what kind of dots I can connect between what Trevor was doing and what your father thought was going on.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know much about what my dad?—”

“But I learned a little more.” Dawson waggled his finger. “Your father loved his conspiracy theories. He loved stories about pirates, right?”

“He told them all the time. Old tales about how pirates in the seventeenth and eighteenth hundreds would use the Everglades to hide when they were pursued. They would build old shacks to hide their treasures because no one would dare go back there. There’s even an old sunken ship out in the island barriers to prove he’s not crazy about that.” She smiled. She used to love to listen to her dad get all riled up around the campfire while she roasted marshmallows. “And then there was the Ghost Ship of the Everglades.”

“That one is my favorite. Keeps some people from going out there at night.” Dawson nodded. “But it turns out, Agent Ballard of the FBI and Agent Pope with the DEA think there might be some merit to some of your dad’s ramblings.”

She bolted out of her seat. “Are you serious? Why haven’t I been notified? Why hasn’t anyone done anything about this before?”

Dawson chuckled.

“This isn’t funny.” She stood over his chair with her hands on her hips and glared.

“No. It’s not, but your reaction is.” Slowly, he rose. “The DEA is constantly dealing with drugs coming in from all directions. Mexico, South America, to name two places.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “Right now, Agent Pope is dealing with the Mendoza Cartel.”

“Hector Mendoza,” Audra whispered. “There’s an old story my dad used to talk about?—”

“I know the tale.” Dawson nodded. “I’ve asked the DEA to see if there is a connection between Hector and the cartel. That will take time. Pope has asked me to be on the lookout for anything suspicious, but so far, I haven’t seen anything. I’ve worked with the Coast Guard and the FBI in case the drugs have made it inland. It’s an ongoing battle. And then there are gun runners—which the Mendoza Cartel is also rumored to be part of. It appears that what Trevor was doing was small potatoes. Yet the DEA saw—and I agree—it was a tiny portion of a bigger operation in the transport of drugs and maybe other things. Only Trevor wasn’t—still isn’t—talking.”

Audra opened her mouth, but Dawson silenced her with his finger.

God, she hated that, but she’d let it go for now.

Of course, she didn’t care for being manhandled either, but when Dawson had flung her over his shoulder, it had felt more akin to caring than being treated like a second-class citizen.

“I believe Trevor was a peon,” Dawson continued, “and the more I think about it, he’s got a lot to protect—an ex-wife and a kid. That’s something. But my point is, I’ve always wondered if someone else in or near this town controlled things—is still controlling things.”

“All the more reason we need to get out to the island with no name.”

Dawson cupped her cheeks and kissed her softly. “Hayes already checked it out. There’s nothing out there but old driftwood—old remnants of a cabin.” He arched a brow. “If something’s going on in our part of the Everglades, it’s on a different island. There are eight days left of this challenge. I suspect whoever is keeping that shack is incredibly nervous with all of us out there, stomping around, looking for snakes, and potentially stumbling upon whatever they’re hiding out there. It’s time to use that to our advantage.”

“Do you believe the gunshots and the possible drug running are connected?”

“I generally don’t believe in coincidences,” Dawson said, pointing to the file on his desk. “But based on what’s in there, and how some feel about you in this town, it’s hard not to wonder if it all doesn’t circle back to the day your dad died.”

She jerked her head back. “So, maybe we should focus on those who spoke out the loudest about hating me.”

“For sixteen years, this town has whispered your name and what happened around campfires like a scary story. You’re folklore. A ghost. Silas liked to bring up your name every now and then. So did Paul.” Dawson tucked her hair behind her ears. He stared deeply into her eyes. “A lot of people mentioned the girl with the fiery hair and soul connected to the swamp. That doesn’t mean they killed your dad, but you’re back, and they’re reminded that a man disappeared, and everyone believes you hold the key.”

“Why don’t you just come out and say it.” She leaned back on his desk. “Everyone’s afraid I’m going to kill someone else.”

“When they don’t have a reason why you did in your dad, it makes it much scarier, so yeah, they worry you’ll go off on someone else because you lose your temper like that’s the normal thing to do—even when someone’s being nice.”

“Well, it’s kind of normal for me,” she said. “Because nice always came with a price. So, I never trusted it. If someone smiled at me or gave me a compliment, I’d narrow my eyes, stick my tongue out, and say something crazy.”

“Jesus, no wonder?—”

“Hey, Chief,” Remy called. “I’ve got some bad news.”

Dawson pinched the bridge of his nose. “What?”

“When I went outside, Tim was gone. No sign of him anywhere.”

“Wonderful,” Dawson said under his breath. “Do the residue test on Audra. I’ll take her home when you’re done. Then, you can find Tim and question him about the contradictions of our other eyewitness. If he gives you a hard time, call me.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Audra glared, folding her arms.

“You’re going to have to trust me.” Dawson sidestepped her and strolled out of his office.

Trusting anyone was like asking her to Wine Wednesday with the girls in the office. It had happened once. She hated every second of it and learned that most people didn’t like her, and the feeling was mutual.