Page 40 of Lake's Legacy

“You mean the bayou? I guess the Coast Guard. Why?”

“No, I mean the tribal lands. Does the tribe have a police presence?”

I shake my head. “No. The Sheriff has jurisdiction. Why?”

“Would you say they have a strong presence?”

I chuckle. “No. We get a few patrol cars occasionally coming through, but for the most part, they let us police ourselves.”

“That’s what I thought. If the chief gains recognition from the US government, they’ll get funding for a tribal police force. It might not be more than a handful of cops, but they’ll provide more coverage than the Sheriff currently covers. Right?”

I slowly nod as I consider the additional ramifications of tribal recognition. “You think someone doesn’t want that to happen?”

“I think it’s a possibility.” He flips the paper around and hands me a red pencil. “Can you draw the boundaries of the land your people own?”

I take the pencil and outline the area from memory. Drawing the property lines on the mainland is easy, but I have difficulty remembering how many islands belong to the tribe. I slide it back to Zip when I think I’ve done a decent job. “I think that’s right. It’s been a while since I lived here, but property doesn’t change hands often. What are you thinking?”

“Your people own a direct path between the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a smuggler’s dream. Look at all the locations where they could hide merchandise.” Using his finger, he indicates a path through the bayou that passes by various tribal landholds. Once they reach the mainland, they have direct access to the highways and backroads to move it.”

I studied the areas he pointed out and realized that Pieter’s land is the perfect location for moving cargo into or out of tribal territory. Joseph’s land is on the water and connected to Pieter’s land via a tiny sliver of swampland. Is that why the skinheads focused their attention on these two families?

“Remember, I told you about the Oxbridge’s and the Billiot’s?”

“The families harassed by the men we have at The Farm?”

“Yes. These are their landholds.” I point to the two locations.

Zip nods. “If I was setting up a smuggling operation, these are the two places I’d need. Look at them. They’re perfect. I’mguessing they have at least a house on each plot?” I nod. “Perfect for storing goods. Cut a path through the swamp, and they’d have easy access between the two properties. The area’s remote. How much do you want to bet the Sheriff doesn’t spend much time patrolling this far out?”

“Wouldn’t make that bet. Shit. Do you think that’s what the skinheads are doing? They want the land to use for smuggling?”

“I’d say it’s a good possibility. Especially if we consider what Dr. Sinclair overheard, say their leader sent them here to establish a smuggling route but somehow got involved with whoever wanted to exploit the land for oil. How perfect would that be? The oil company would come in and set up rigs, leaving the skinheads free reign for their smuggling efforts.”

“Both plans would fall apart if Coyote managed to convince the government to recognize our tribe. But there is no way these guys attacked Coyote. You guys shipped them off to The Farm before the attack.”

“What’s The Farm, and who did you ship there?” Toff asks, coming into the kitchen and going toward the coffee maker.

Zip and I both grimace before turning to face Toff. Neither of us says anything, which has Toff turning to study us. “Well?”

“It’s club business,” I tell him.

Toff studies me before returning to the coffeemaker and pouring himself a mug. He turns back. “I’m your brother. You can trust me.”

“Yes, you are, and yes, I can, but it’s safer for you and us if you don’t know. Just drop it. Okay?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: OLIVIA

I wake up cold, so I know Lake’s no longer in bed. Rolling over, I feel the sheets and realize he’s been gone for some time. Checking my phone, I expect the time to be much later than seven. Rolling out of bed, I shower and pack my clothes and toiletries. Annette and I are driving back to New Orleans today, and I want to be ready to leave. Stepping out my door, I run into Toff, who is leaving Annette’s room. He gives me a guilty look before hightailing it downstairs. Annette smirks at me.

“I thought you two were a couple,” I tease her as we follow him.

“He didn’t want to be alone last night.”

I can only nod at that statement. The previous day was tough for Toff. From the sound of raised voices from the kitchen, today is off to a bad start for him, too.

“Just drop it. Okay?” Lake snaps.

“What’s going on?” I ask Lake, eyeing the two brothers as they glare at each other.

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