Page 41 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
“Yeah, well, neither did the rest of us. You’ve been circling like a shark since the moment Dewey was exposed, and now suddenly you want a meeting? Fletcher might be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Me?” She shrugged, keeping her distance out of fear she might actually haul off and hit him, or shove him right next to that nice ten-foot gator hanging out in the reeds. “I’m still undecided.”
Decker didn’t respond, just nodded and kept his head down as she led him across the gravel, inside the marina, and into the back room, which was a little bigger than her office. She pushed it open and stepped aside, motioning him in like she was escorting a criminal.
Fletcher leaned against a folding table, arms crossed. The second he saw Decker, his jaw tightened.
“You’re late,” Fletcher said flatly.
“I stopped in town, just to see if I was being followed.” Decker flicked a glance toward Baily, but she was already turning on her heel, heading back out. “She’s not staying?”
“I heard enough of this bullshit last night,” she muttered under her breath. “Fletcher will either call me if I need to be here or fill me in later.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I can’t be trusted in the same room with you. Fletcher’s worried I’ll use that pretty face of yours as a punching bag instead of the one in his garage.”
“She’s right.” Fletcher smiled, giving her a wave. “Don’t go too far.”
“I’ve got her six,” Bingo said and trailed behind her as she made her way back to the dock with long strides and her heart hammering in her throat. There had been a time, when she’d first met Decker, that she’d actually liked the man. She’d even entertained going on a couple dates. Coffee at first. She’d quickly learned she wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t a horrible human.
Or so she’d believed at the time.
Did all men betray trust?
She pulled her phone from her back pocket, scrolling through her contacts. She was about to call Audra—maybe Trinity, someone who would understand the boiling mix of frustration and helplessness clawing at her chest—but a car pulled into the lot.
Chloe stepped out, dressed in a pair of jeans and a fitted jacket, sunglasses perched atop her head, and a messenger bag slung over her shoulder. In some ways, she was the total opposite of Hayes. She was focused, direct, and often times, harsh when she opened her mouth—that was if she even spoke. However, once they’d all gotten to know her, she’d softened a bit.
Hayes could be quiet. He could blend into the wall and remain unnoticed. But everyone saw Chloe coming. She was a force to be reckoned with. Hayes was just this laid-back dude who made everyone feel good.
Yet, Hayes and Chloe together…were pure gold.
“Good evening, my sweet friend,” Chloe called out, striding toward her.
“Nothing good about tonight, and I’m not sweet, not anymore,” Baily said, forcing a smile. “Not when Decker Brown shows up wearing horrible designer clothes that mock boat attire and make me feel like I’m on a bad movie set for a remake of Jaws.”
“Wow, that’s a mouthful. You’re starting to sound like Audra.” Chloe stopped beside her, following her gaze toward the marina. “I take it Decker’s already here.”
“Unfortunately.” Baily crossed her arms. “He showed up looking like a kicked puppy. Claims he had no idea what he was getting into when he was asked to come to town and keep tabs on me. That he didn’t know the Barbaros were behind it, yet that family destroyed his town outside of Miami.” Baily let out a whopper of a sigh. “If the Barbaros are behind my loan, then Ken knew. If Ken knew, I’m bringing him back from the dead and killing him myself.”
Chloe’s brow rose. “Yeah, I understand how you’d feel like that.”
“I honestly don’t understand anything,” Baily muttered. “Nothing makes sense. Ken and Julie acted like they wanted nothing to do with this place. I feel like I’m walking a tightrope with no idea when or where it’s going to snap.”
Chloe exhaled. “I know. And I wish I could say I have all the answers, but it’s still a tangled mess. I came by to go over some things with Fletcher. I think we’re circling something. A name came up—Garrett Danvers. He used to work for the Barbaros’ manufacturing business. His name’s buried in one of the shell companies connected to the LLC that’s tied to your marina loan.”
“Garrett Danvers? That name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“He lives in Maryland. I haven’t been able to get hold of him, but I’ve got an old friend heading to Garrett’s place tonight. I’m hoping we’ll hear from him before this meeting with Decker is over. Meanwhile, I’ve pulled in a favor.” Chloe glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “My old friend Greer Hudson—she’s a sheriff out in Oregon now. We were in the Bureau together. Her cousin Enzo is a corporate and securities lawyer on Marco Island. Greer said he’s the best, and he’s willing to take a look at everything we’ve got.”
Baily’s eyes widened. “I trust you, Chloe, I do. But do we want to bring in someone else?” Baily hugged her middle. “I’ve been screwed over too many times…” She let the words trail off.
Chloe curled her fingers around Baily’s forearm. “Listen, I totally understand why you’d be concerned about me, or anyone, talking to some Joe off the street. Greer isn’t just anyone. She’s a sheriff and a former FBI agent that I would trust Fedora’s, Hayes’s, and my life with. She’s as good as they come. If she says her cousin is solid, then I believe her.”
Baily nodded. “What about this Garrett guy in Maryland?”
“My contact isn’t going to bring you, or this situation up. All he’s gonna do is ask some questions and find out if Garrett left on good terms or bad. See if there’s dirt to be had and go from there. If there’s a thread to pull, we’ll find it. But we need to do the digging, and this is how it works. Sometimes, you’ve got to trust a little when trust doesn’t feel like the right thing to do.”
“All right,” Baily said. “Fletcher has access to everything. The loans, the books, the bank statements. I’m not keeping secrets from him anymore.”
“That’s good, because we’re running out of shadows to hide in. If we’re going to bring the truth into the light, it needs to happen fast.”
Baily looked back toward the marina door. “Let’s just hope Decker decides to stand in the light, too.”
