Page 64 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“I think he might be more on your side than either of us thought, but we’ll table that for now.” He bent over, lifted the snake bag, and set it on the side of the porch. Then he lifted her camera bag. “When I was in the Navy, specifically as a SEAL, one of the tactics we used on missions was redirection.”

“In theory, I’m aware of what that means.” With her insides shaking like the buttons on that snake, she followed him inside the cabin.

“Calusa Cove is focused on you and what you’re doing. Everything that’s happening has you at the center and me chasing my tail.” He set her bag on the counter. “I honestly believe James and Eliot meant to put that dynamite on your boat.”

“And blow me up,” she muttered.

“No. I think they wanted to report it missing, have me find it, and arrest you. The question is, why? Right now, the only connection to the town they seem to have is Benson.”

“That means they’re connected to Paul.”

“That could be true.” Dawson leaned against the counter. “When that plan failed, they came at you on the water. We don’t know who that masked man was who untied your boat and cut the fuel line, but they didn’t want you finding remnants on that island, like old wood that belonged to crates used to hide cocaine.”

“What are you talking about?” Audra stared at Dawson. She blinked. “What crates? What cocaine? Am I going to want to throttle you?”

“Probably,” he said, grimacing.

She made her way to the liquor cabinet and pulled down a bottle of tequila, pouring herself a nice glass on the rocks. She didn’t bother offering one to Dawson, knowing he was still on duty for a few more hours. She plopped herself on the sofa and sipped her beverage. “I’m listening.”

“I sent the wood you saw on the island with no name to the Feds and the DEA. It came back that it’s possible the paint markings are from an incredibly old case. A seventeen-year-old case,” Dawson leaned against the counter with an arched brow.

Her hand paused with the glass halfway to her mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I were.” He shook his head. “Your dad wasn’t crazy at all.”

“No, he wasn’t. But he did suffer from a mental illness. No denying that. And he mixed shit up all the time.” She set the glass on the end table, guilt gnawing at her gut. “He knew something was going on back there in the swamp.” She’d gone along with him that night, not because she’d believed him, but because he was her father, and she’d felt bad about their earlier argument.

“Well, he was right, and something tells me it never stopped,” Dawson said, glancing at his cell. “It might have paused. Or even slowed down. But someone—and my guess, a local—is still running drugs through Calusa Cove, and I’m going to put a stop to it.”

She smiled. “Is it weird that I’m turned on by how you said that?”

“No.” He laughed. “Felt kind of sexy rolling off my tongue.” He sauntered across the room and hoisted her off the sofa, crushing her against his chest. “Keaton just rolled into the parking lot. I need to chat with him, and I have to go back to work. I want you to stay in this cabin. You can visit with Lilly. Or have Trinity or Baily over. But I don’t want you leaving. Can you do that for me? Please?”

She brushed a strand of his hair off his forehead. “I kind of love it when you beg.”

He cocked his head, tilting her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Promise me.”

Audra cocked an eyebrow. “Can I at least sit on the front porch?”

“Yes. As long as you don’t get pissed off that I’ll be having someone drive by every so often.”

“I can live with that.”

“Good.” He brushed his lips across her mouth. “Call or text if you need me.” And with that, Dawson was out the door, leaving her with her thoughts.

Which weren’t good.

Someone wanted her gone.

And not just out of town anymore. That snake wasn’t a message. It could have been a nail in her coffin.

* * *

Audra saton the front porch of Dawson’s cabin with Trinity and Baily. She stared out at the evening sky. “Do either of you need another drink? Maybe a snack?”

“I’m good. Really. But thank you,” Trinity said.

“Me, too.” Baily raised her glass. “Is there anything we can do for you?”

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