Page 12 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“My mama was no witch. Being spiritual and connected to the earth doesn’t make someone a creature of the Everglades.”

“Maybe not. But that doesn’t stop people from talking, now does it.” Silas lowered his chin. “Looks like you’re up next. Good luck,” Silas said. “You’re going to need it, little girl.” He and his crew zigzagged through the crowd and stepped outside.

Audra made her way to the counter. She sucked in a deep breath and did her best to smile at Baily, who didn’t bat an eyelash. Audra didn’t know what was worse. The pointing, whispering, and staring reactions—or this non-reaction from the girl who had been her best friend since birth. “Hey, Baily. How are you?”

“Doing just great,” Baily said.

“Not shocked to see me?” Damn it. The last thing Audra wanted was to sound desperate.

“I accepted the online reservation for the boat slip, so I knew you were coming,” Baily said. “You’re lucky I had one that late in the game.”

Audra pushed her papers across the counter. “I appreciate you not turning me away.”

“It’s just business, and it would be wrong of me to do that,” Baily said with little emotion. “We do have scout snakes in the area. The GPS tracker information on those will be in the app. You should’ve been given that information in an email.”

“I have it.” Audra nodded.

“Will you be using a drone?”

“I am, and my drone information is with my paperwork.” Audra stared at the person she had once told all her secrets to. Baily had been there when Audra’s mother had died. She’d stood at the sad gravesite that almost no one had attended and held Audra’s hand while her father cried like a baby. Baily had been one of the few people in Calusa Cove who hadn’t cared that her father was the town loon.

This woman wasn’t that girl. Audra didn’t know who this was, and that broke her heart.

“I’m staying up the street at Harvey’s Cabins. Maybe we can have a drink while I’m here,” Audra said.

Baily thumbed through the papers before stamping them and filing them with the rest of the hunters’. “You know who else is back in town?”

“Fletch.”

“He hates being called that,” Baily said. “It’s Fletcher these days.” She laughed, but it wasn’t a funny laugh. It was more like a sad one, and Audra knew why.

Audra reached across the counter. “I’m so sorry about Ken.”

Baily jerked her hand away as if she’d been burned. “I like to continue to blame Fletcher and his friends for that.”

“As in, the new cop named Dawson?” Audra’s mind drifted back to the handsome man with the dreamy eyes.

“Yeah,” Baily said softly. “Fletcher came back with three guys from Ken’s team—Dawson, Keaton, and Hayes. They run Everglades Overwatch, an airboat touring company out of my marina. Drives me crazy that I have to see them and be reminded of what happened.” She handed Audra a parking pass and a couple of stickers, along with her copy of the paperwork. “You’ll find your boat at that dock, and as you can see, many hunters are using dogs. Do you have one? Because if you do, I need to know about it.”

“No dog.”

Baily tapped one of the stickers. “Keaton, our local Fish and Wildlife guy, wants me to ask about pairing off with another team. He mentioned he reached out in an email.”

“He did, but nope, I’m staying solo.”

“All right. I’ll let him know I asked,” Baily said. “I’ll have to think about that drink.”

“I know you’re mad at?—”

“That’s not the right word.” Baily sighed. “I’m angry at Fletcher and his friends. You? Well, you hurt me, and you broke my brother’s heart. I’m not sure I want to go down memory lane with you.”

“I don’t know what Ken told you, but you know we had problems before he left for boot camp. When he found me about a year later, he…” What the hell could she say about that? Nothing. “We were kids. We can talk about all of it or not. It’s up to you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “But this isn’t the time or place.”

“Check back in when you return.” Baily nodded. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” Audra collected her things and made a beeline for the entrance, ignoring the stares. She pushed open the door, but before she could make it outside, she bumped right into Trinity Stevenson, of all freaking people. She blinked.

Trinity stumbled backward, not because Audra knocked her that hard, but because she was wearing two-inch heels.

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