Page 2 of Covert Chaos

"We love you. No one who matters cares you were married to a drug lord," Hattie said. "But I care that you're excellent at solving murders."

"Actually, some do care." I pointed to my docks. "I spent three hours cleaning graffiti off there this morning."

"Graffiti? In Bass Derby?" Lucy looked appalled. "What did it say?"

"It mentioned Stanley, drugs, and the way I'm destroying the world." Stanley was my ex-husband. I'd helped the FBI put him in prison for being a drug kingpin. A big newspaper had recently published a lengthy exposé on him and his ex-wife (me), who had betrayed him to the feds, which reminded the locals of who I used to be, which wasn't helping my still-fragile business. "They'd painted a peace sign on my dock, too, so I'm hoping that's a message from the universe that I'm actually a good person?—"

"Hey! I know you're having an existential crisis, but you need to put it away right now and focus on me." Hattie held up her hands to silence us. "Mia, turn off the parking lot cameras."

Lucy and I both stared at Hattie, and my gut sank as I saw the look on Hattie's face.

It was bad. Whatever it was, it was bad.

"It's illegal?" I finally asked. "You got involved with somethingillegal?"I shook my head. "No. Absolutely not. You know about my past. I can't get involved. This, right here, is why I have to retire from repeatedly breaking the law with you guys, even if it's in the name of justice."

"Oh, man, Hattie," Lucy groaned. "What did you do?"

"Cameras," Hattie repeated.

Oh, God. This was really not good. Regret building in my belly even before I did it, I pulled out my phone and used the app to turn off all the cameras in the marina. "All clear, but think really hard if this is something that Lucy and I want to know about."

"I want to know," Lucy said. "I definitely want to know. What's going on, Hattie?"

"Come!" Hattie turned and ran back down the stairs again, heading to her tailgate.

Lucy hurried after her, and even King Tut leapt off the railing and strolled casually after them, pretending he wasn't following Hattie, even though he definitely was.

Betrayed by my nearest and dearest. All I wanted was for my little business to prosper. Was that so much to ask?

But I followed them to the truck, because, well, it was Hattie. And the things that happened to Hattie were always surprising, entertaining, and dangerous.

All of which I enjoyed, unfortunately.

Two

But I wasn't getting involved. I had to retire. Mandatory retirement for the sake of future Mia's financial and business well-being.

When I reached them, Hattie unlocked the back of the truck and raised the flap on the canopy. She shined a flashlight into the back. "Look."

Lucy immediately leaned closer, King Tut hopped up, shot over the tailgate, and went right in. I reluctantly peered inside.

It took me a moment to figure out what I was seeing, but the blue jeans, faded yellow T-shirt, sneakers, and limp hand were clues I couldn't ignore. "There's a man smashed up against the front of the truck bed. Napping, maybe?" I hoped he was napping. But the angle of his head was very wrong.

"Is he bleeding? He looks like he's bleeding," Lucy said.

"It's not blood," Hattie said. "It's raspberry pie."

I wanted to cheer for the fact he was covered in raspberry pie and not blood, but the fact he wasn't moving at all was concerning. "Is he drunk?"

"Oh, come on, Mia. Seriously? You two can't recognize a dead guy when you see one? Where's your corpse radar? Honestly. We don't have time for this."

Oh…man.

Lucy clapped her hands. "This is great. Who is he?"

I stepped back. "It's not great. Why is he in your truck? Why did you bring him here? Why didn't you call Devlin?" Devlin Hunt was a local cop. Not the police chief, because Chief Stone was an underqualified dandelion who was Lucy's cousin and the son of the mayor. Devlin was ex-black ops, former gang member, and besties with the FBI agent who had managed my undercover work against my ex. Devlin was fully incorruptible, even by us.

Definitely a smart choice to call Devlin about a body.

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