Page 50 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
“It’s not an easy road.” Keaton chuckled. “We’ve seen him lifting weights, training at the gym, and running every morning, but we had no idea. I told him that we’re more than happy to answer questions and help him anyway we can.”
“He’s a humble and proud kid.”
“I think this town breeds everyone that way.”
Baily paused at the edge of the lower docks, where Everglades Overwatch kept their boats. Fletcher and Hayes had pulled in and were currently helping their guests off their vessels.
But that didn’t last long. At least not for Fletcher, as he made a beeline for Baily while Hayes continued with the final few moments of their tour.
“Hey, you.” He tugged her to his chest, pressing his warm lips to her temple. “I’d ask if you were okay, but that seems like a stupid question considering we passed by the boat. Only the very top of the center console was visible from the water line.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I remember when my dad bought that hunk of junk. I was maybe all of five.”
“He took me and Ken out in that boat the day he brought it home. We went fishing for hours and caught absolutely nothing, but it was the best day ever.” He tilted her chin with his thumb. “This changes things, and I can’t have you fight me on being alone. Someone didn’t want to just scare you. They wanted you dead.”
“I thought about that, and it doesn’t make sense,” she said softly, but with a slight tremble to her voice. “My will leaves everything to you.”
He jerked his head. “I didn’t know that.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know what else to do after Ken died. I thought about leaving it to my nephews, but that meant Julie would have control, and I figured she’d sell it. I didn’t want that. I knew you’d try to keep it for them. Or at least make an?—”
He hushed her by pressing his mouth over hers in a sweet kiss. “The problem isn’t who you’re giving the marina to in your death, it’s who controls that loan, because it might not matter.”
Chapter 13
The unseasonably warm Florida evening clung to Baily’s skin like a damp second layer as she stepped onto the back porch of Hayes and Chloe’s house. Normally, the winter months were a welcome respite, with the lack of humidity and the potential for a cool breeze floating in off the ocean.
However, even if snow floated from the sky, nothing could dull the temperature rising in her bloodstream.
A glass of iced tea sweated in her hand, the faint clink of ice cubes breaking the silence as she joined the others already seated beneath the string lights that stretched from post to post overhead.
The porch overlooked a patch of land between two other rentals, just outside of town. Across the street, Harvey’s cabins and the familiar silhouette of Dawson and Audra’s B&B were nestled between two large live oaks. And in the distance, just behind the tree line, was the edge of the Everglades.
She eased into one of the chairs and did her best to shed the heavy weight of her problems, as if she were a snake shedding its skin.
To her left, Fletcher draped his arm across the back of her chair, his palm just barely brushing her shoulder. He smiled, leaned in, and kissed her cheek, soft and sweet. He could be so kind. So gentle. So loving. She cherished that part of Fletcher. Especially now when her world felt as though it had spun out of control and there was no way to stop it.
To her right, Dawson leaned against the railing, his thumbs hooked into his front pockets, his sharp gaze scanning the horizon like he half-expected trouble to walk out of the trees. But that was typical of Dawson. Always on high alert. Hazard of being police chief.
Enzo Hudson sat at the table. He wore a crisp white, button-down shirt, which he’d rolled to his forearms. He tapped a thick manila folder against the wood with steady fingers. He’d shown up at Chloe’s five minutes after Baily and Fletcher, with an all-business attitude, ready to jump into whatever he’d found.
Baily appreciated that, but everyone needed—or wanted—a moment to pour drinks, make the introductions, and get settled.
“I started pulling more boxes from closets in my parents’ house,” Fletcher whispered. “We can go through them later.”
“You really think we’ll find more things like that notebook from my dad?” she asked.
“I have no idea. But my folks did tell me that Ray was acting strangely right before his heart attack. Not to mention my mom kept everything. There could be more clues, and I can’t shake the feeling that whoever tore through your apartment and rifled through your desk at the marina was looking for something specific.”
“I can’t imagine what that might be.” She lifted her glass and sipped, staring off toward the Everglades. So many secrets hidden in the murky water. Too many betrayals lurking in the past.
“Okay,” Enzo said, his voice as smooth as silk but with a current of steel beneath. “Not that I’m in a hurry, because I’ve got all day, but I’ve been hyper-focused on this ever since I started. So, are we ready?” Enzo lifted his black-rimmed glasses and pushed them on his face, glancing around at everyone with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
“I take it you found something interesting.” Fletcher waved his hand.
“You could say that.” Enzo tucked the pen behind his ear and lifted a stack of papers. “I’ve reviewed the loan documents, which by themselves are sketchy. So, I reached out to a forensic accountant and gave him access to the financial information that I had, and…” Enzo’s words trailed off as he shuffled papers around.
Baily held her breath, tightening her grip on the glass. “And?”
