Page 50 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

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—thisStigini.” 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?—”

---