Page 75 of Hidden Depths

“Not without Tom you don’t.”

“I’ll find him.”

“No, you won’t.”

“I know where he is.”

“Sara, we found his body. We’ll need a statement from you about what happened before you got on that bus.”

“What?”

“Tom’s dead.”

“No. That’s not possible.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re lying.” She gripped the gun tighter as her hands shook harder.

“I wish I was.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“That’s up to you. But it makes no difference. You need to put your gun down and come with me.”

“Admit you’re working with Dutch.”

“What would that accomplish?”

“You’re going down for this.”

“Oh yeah? And who’s going to listen to you? You’ve pointed a weapon at the sheriff and threatened his life.”

“I’ll do more than threaten it. I could accidentally fire it at any moment.”

“Then you should put it down.”

“No way. You throw your gun into the water.”

“I won’t do that.”

“Then I’m pulling the trigger.”

“That would be a mistake.”

She could hear sirens in the background. “Throw your gun in the water. Otherwise, I won’t trust you.”

He tipped his head to crack it, then tossed his weapon sideways.

When she heard the splash, she changed her aim to the car, focusing on the tire. If she hit it, it would be a miracle.

“Now it’s your turn,” he said with his hands lifted in front of him.

Her finger shifted to the trigger, and she squeezed.

Dodd dove out of the way, and the tire hissed.

Sara, startled by the kick from the gun, yelped and dropped it before springing into the shallow water. She trudged her way quickly into the nearby mangroves and prayed the darkness wasn’t inhabited by any hungry alligators.

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