“No, but you two have,” Bobby said. His words came out slurred, and now she noticed his eyes were red. “You two have managed to ruin my life. I want to know where Carrie is. I let that first bitch go, but I’m not doing it again. I’m not going to be the laughingstock of this town.”

“Shut up, Bobby.” Donny’s stare remained firmly locked on her.

“I don’t think anyone is laughing at you.” She looked at Mabel, who was tense but calm.

“I am certainly not laughing, young man. I don’t think anything about this is funny, and if you hold me here much longer, I’m going to miss dinner and tonight is taco night. I love taco night.” Mabel’s voice trembled slightly, but it was obvious she wasn’t about to break.

He shook his head and everything about his manner seemed sloppy. She would bet he’d been drinking most of the day. “You know what I’m talking about. Everyone thinks I abuse my wife, and it’s all because of the two of you.”

“No, I think it’s because you hurt her,” Lila said slowly. “I’ve got records of all her injuries. You only got away with it for this long because Doc Hamet didn’t want to be bothered.”

He sneered her way. “Doc knew when to keep to his own business.”

“Mabel was Doc’s nurse, too. She didn’t have anything to do with the sheriff arresting you. It was my call to go to him. Why don’t you let her go and we can talk about this?” If Mabel was safe, her options would open up. If she was the one he was holding, she might have some moves to get herself out. It would be risky, but anything was better than watching another friend die.

Bobby obviously didn’t want to listen. “There’s nothing to talk about. I want to know where my wife is. You take me to her and I’ll let you live. I don’t have anything to lose and if I’m going down, I would love to take the two of you with me.”

This was the real Bobby Petrie. The other one was nothing but a mask. What had set him off? He’d seemed so calm these weeks. Since he’d been arrested that first time he’d laid low, staying out on his island and showing up for his court dates.

“You have a lot to lose,” she pointed out. “Think about your family.”

Donny huffed. “This is all about family. Carrie sent paperwork today filing for divorce. We’re not stupid. Momma made her sign some papers so she wouldn’t be able to take part of our boat and the business like the other one did, but that uppity lawyer she got in New Orleans thinks she can get around it.”