Page 60 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“What about today?”

“Old habits die hard,” Silas said. “But none of this is what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Dawson knew when to stop beating a dead horse. “All right. I’m listening.”

“Now that Tim’s been murdered, there’s a lot of chatter about how Audra came at him last night with her fists ready to fly. She would’ve clocked him good had you not tossed her over your shoulder.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Dawson muttered.

“Yeah, well, it was amusing to watch.” Silas chuckled before clearing his throat. “But all that talk has taken a weird turn, and honestly, I don’t like it.”

“Outside of everyone thinking she killed Tim?” Dawson couldn’t imagine anything more absurd.

“Oh, yeah.” Silas nodded like an old man bobblehead. He waved his toothpick like it was a sword. “While waiting to get to my boat this morning, Paul, Benson, and Dewey discussed how they keep seeing Audra going to strange, out-of-the-way places, like the island with no name. Her going there’s not a big deal, and I’d honestly expect her to go there, but Reaper Island? That’s a bit out of the way. While I’m sure snakes are back there, there are so many other places to go looking than making the trek all the way up there. It’s too close to one of the other challenges, and we don’t cross streams, if you know what I mean. But they believe she’s hidden something there. They also talked about how she must’ve been doing something illegal back in the day and that her dad must have caught wind of it. Them saying that is strange all by itself, but they weren’t trying to be quiet about it. It’s spreading through town like wildfire.”

“Now that’s interesting, considering you mentioned that it was possible Victor could’ve been doing something nefarious out there.” Not that Dawson cared about other people’s opinions, but Silas had gone out of his way to call this meeting. Besides, it was a new and interesting twist that the town was taking, and he wanted to know why.

The why was always important.

“I like to talk smack,” Silas said. “Sometimes seeing people’s responses to the shit that comes out of my mouth gets me the answers I need.”

“Well, then tell me your thoughts. If Audra could’ve been hiding something sixteen years ago, why did she wait so long to come back and get it?”

“If that little girl was doing anything against the law, Victor wouldn’t have taken her out there with him to find out what it was. But outside of having a mouth like a truck driver and an attitude the size of Texas, Audra wasn’t a bad kid. Actually, I always found her to be amusing. I enjoyed her energy. Worse thing she ever did was take matters into her own hands when someone wronged her instead of taking it to her old man or the law.” Silas stepped from the vehicle. “I know I’ve been hard on her since she returned.”

Dawson snorted. “You flat-out accused her of killing her dad.”

“No. I implied it. Two different things.” Silas shrugged. “I struggle to believe she doesn’t know something about that night. Whether it was through those nightmares of hers she refused to tell me about or something else.” He waggled his finger. “But she didn’t fire her weapon, and I don’t believe for one minute she killed Tim or slashed Benson’s tire. She’s not ten anymore.” Silas sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

“Well, you’re about the only one in town who believes that,” Dawson said. “Want to tell me why?”

“While I know she’s got reason to hate Tim, she’s got no reason to come back here and kill the man. That said, no one in this town, myself included, has made her return easy.” Silas scratched the side of his face. “You need to know that everyone is going to come gunning for her, hard. Harder than before. That means they’re coming for your badge, and while I haven’t always been your biggest fan, you’ve proven to me that you have Calusa Cove’s best interests at heart.”

“Are you feeling okay, Silas?” Dawson reached out and placed the back of his hand on Silas’ forehead. “Have a fever or something?”

“Fuck off.” Silas slapped Dawson’s arm away. “My point is, she’s going to need a protector now more than ever.” He pointed toward Paul, Benson, and Dewey. “They might have tolerated her presence yesterday. They won’t do it now.”

“And you will?” Dawson asked. “Tim worked for you, not Paul, though you’re all good friends. Either you’re turning on your pals, or you’re setting me up.”

“I’m not doing either.” Silas ran his hand over his beard. “I was going to fire Tim when this was over.”

“Nothing like burying the lead.” Dawson planted his hands on his hips. “Why?”

“He was stealing from me.” Silas cocked his head. “No, I wasn’t going to turn him in. Just wanted to humiliate the little bastard. And no, I didn’t kill him.”

Dawson raised his hands. “I didn’t say you did, but since we’re on the subject, where were you last night?”

“I was python hunting until midnight, and then I went home. You can check with my wife.” Silas moved the toothpick from one side to the other. “But seriously, any real suspects?”

“I’m not having that conversation with you.”

“Well, I need to get going. We’re going to have a moment of silence down at the docks. If you need me, you know how to get ahold of me.”

Dawson rubbed his jaw. Next year, he would for sure take this week off work. He turned and headed toward his patrol car when his cell phone went off. He reached into his pocket and stared at the caller ID flashing on the screen.

Florida Federal Prison.

He jogged to his vehicle and tapped the green button as he slipped behind the steering wheel. “This is Chief Dawson Ridge.”

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