Page 69 of Undertow

Wait.

Source?

Do the Hartfords have an informant inside Palmetto Acres?

“I said I don’t know! I can’t exactly confront them right now, can I?”

Adrian winds up for another strike, but Julia holds up her hand. She shakes her head and waits as her brother reins in his anger.

With incredible calm, she crouches to Tyler’s level on the stone floor. “Adrian is right. You will confront your source and find out what they know, but for now you need to think. When and how could they have gotten this through?”

She shoves the tablet in front of his bloody face, and he does his best to examine the photo through the swelling.

“I…” He grunts in frustration, clenching his eyes shut. “They left the island four times this past week. Two through the bridge and two through the marina. But there was only one time in.”

“Who came in? When?” Julia demands.

He forces in a ragged breath. “Tuesday. No wait. Monday. It was that slimy asshole, Abe. A land crossing.”

Shit, they’re talking about my arrival. My pulse picks up as I realize how close I came to being caught. What would have happened if they found Abe trying to smuggle me past them? To be fair, Tyler didn’t do much to prevent it. No vehicle search. Didn’t even ask questions. Maybe he deserves this wakeup call. In my experience, you get a bullet for negligence like that, not a few kicks to the ribs.

“You think he brought this in during that crossing?” Adrian asks.

Tyler shakes his head, then grunts. “I don’t know, maybe.”

“But why would they have it on display now? Shaw found this today,” Julia interjects.

Good point.

My brain launches into a counter search to explain the gap. It’s just a matter of time before I’ll be involved in the conversation, and I need to be prepared. If Abe brought this in days ago and I didn’t see it when I originally noticed the safe, why would they have it out in the open?

I didn’t think about that. Didn’t realize how closely the Hartford’s tracked McArthur movements in and out of Undertow.

“Maybe they’re planning to move it,” I say. All gazes snap to me, and I shrug. “Maybe they weren’t putting it away but taking it out. What would you do with that kind of cash?” My tone is curious, as if I have no idea.

“The gambling,” Tyler says.

We turn our attention to him as he staggers to his feet. Julia rushes over to support him when he wobbles. His eyes lift to hers with a hint of excitement.

“That must be how they’re cleaning it,” he continues. “My source says there’s lots of shady shit going on in there.”

Julia considers his words before shaking her head. “No. Their gambling business is illegal too.Shady shitwould just bring in more money to clean.”

“Not all of it’s illegal,” I say, drawing their attention again. “I worked at one of the Atlantic City properties last year.” That’s a lie, but thereisa McArthur casino there. “It was a full-blown casino. Totally legal. Vegas as well. Plus, do you think they’d be above bribes to partner with tribal casinos around the country?”

It was a rhetorical question. We all know the answer.

“Shit,” Adrian mutters. “He’s right. And if they now have the RLC backing them…”

“We’re fucked,” Tyler finishes.

Julia’s jaw tightens as she glares at them. “No. We’re motivated. Mama H was right. We’ve gotten too complacent. We’re too cozy in our little island bubble, doing things the way they’ve been done for generations. If we have any chance of continuing to play this game, we need to adapt and go bigger.Muchbigger.”

“What are you saying?” Adrian asks.

Julia studies him for a moment before starting toward the door.

“Two days, Ty,” she calls out.

---