Page 10 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

This was not what he wanted to deal with right now. He’d rather hop on one of the airboats and check out the hunt.

Not the redhead.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

“They have a federal license as a distributor, so they can be in possession of it, but there is no reason for it to be on their boat.”

“You’ve got that right,” Dawson muttered. “Where are you?”

“Dock three, slip eight.”

“I’ll be right there.” Dawson tucked his phone in his back pocket. Time to go earn his paycheck.

CHAPTER2

Audra pausedas she strolled across the parking lot, glancing over her shoulder. Fletcher and his friend—the good-looking cop with warm, inviting eyes—had perched themselves on the picnic bench. It was strange to see Fletcher again. Weirder that he’d been so kind.

But she shouldn’t allow her mind to concentrate on the other man, the sexy cop. It was a distraction she didn’t need. Nor want. She’d come here to do a job. She sighed, turning her head and marching forward.

With her heart firmly planted in her throat, pulsating wildly, Audra pushed open the door of Mitchell’s Marina. This used to be the place she’d come to when she’d wanted a shoulder to cry on. Or a good laugh. Or to simply sit by the water, swing her legs, and chat with her bestie.

The air-conditioning smacked her face like a frozen popsicle. She couldn’t remember ever seeing this place so packed full of people.

Full of strangers and familiar faces.

Both gave her scrutinizing glares or leisurely once-overs. The innocent bystanders were about to learn about one of the town’s greatest and worst legends.

She yanked her sunglasses from her face and tucked them safely in her bag while she clutched her paperwork. Sixteen years ago, she’d sworn she’d never set foot in this town again. It had taken everything from her.

Her father. Her friends. Her dignity.

It had almost taken her freedom.

Calusa Cove had been her happy place. A little slice of Florida heaven that she’d wanted to cherish for as long as she could.

Now, it represented hell.

She had no idea why she’d agreed to do this piece. She could have turned it down or begged to go to a different location. There were many to choose from. She could have let some other photographer and writer take the assignment. It didn’t have to be her, even though her boss thought she was best suited for the job, and he wanted the personal angle. He wanted it told from someone who used to live there. Someone who understood the community better than most.

If only she hadn’t displayed that damn picture of herself with that stupid alligator on her desk and bragged about how many pythons she’d caught the last time she’d entered the challenge, and if she’d only kept her mouth shut about Calusa Cove.

She didn’t have anything to prove to anyone—yet proving herself capable of everything was all she ever did. Her father had never once believed he needed to prove himself to this town. He hadn’t cared what anyone thought. But his daughter? His only child? Yeah, Audra had cared. No matter how she’d tried not to, she’d hated how people had looked at her dad.

And her.

A few people glanced in her direction. They pointed and whispered, but it was Silas and his group that decided to say her name for everyone to hear.

“Audra McCain.”

The sound of Silas’ voice bounced off the walls and crash-landed in her ears. It vibrated down her spine and tormented her system.

Half the room went silent.

Heads turned.

Someone dropped a knife.

The metal clanked against the floor with a thud.

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