Portia watched a boat slide noiselessly over the water as a diver, shaking his head, surfaced. It had been that way for hours.

“I just hope to hell you’re not bullshitting me,” Crawley said as he stubbed out his cigarette and it hissed against the wet weeds.

“Why would I even bother to come in?” Moss asked.

“You knew you’d be in trouble. So maybe you were just showing off. Proud of the arm…maybe you’re involved.”

“Well, if I was, I’d have to be a real dumb-ass, now wouldn’t I? I came to you guys cuz I thought it was the right thing to do. My civic duty, or whatever ya want to call it. The arm was in that gator’s gut, and I figured you all would want it. But I don’t know where it came from before it ended up in that gator’s stomach.”

He was mad now and he spat a stream of tobacco juice to the ground. “I done what I had to. Can I go now?”

“Not just yet,” Crawley said, obviously enjoying the poacher’s discomfiture. That was the trouble with Sonny Crawley, Portia thought, he had a mean streak. But it looked like the hunt would be fruitless, at least for today.

Whatever secrets were hidden deep in this swamp would remain submerged, concealed beneath the murky water for at least another night.

CHAPTER 22

H ours later, Kristi drove back to campus.

She didn’t like lying.

As a teenager lies had slipped over her tongue easily, but now, ten years later, she had more trouble hiding the truth.

She’d had to lie to Jay.

She’d gotten to his house and explained about the van and he’d wrapped his arms around her and held her as if he never wanted to let her go. “You stupid, stupid girl,” he said into her hair.

“I’m not taking that as a compliment,” she responded.

“It wasn’t meant to be one. Who knows who that guy was? What he’s capable of? Oh, for the love of God….” He’d kissed her hard then, his lips hungry, eager, his hair wet from the rain. She’d wound her arms around his neck and returned the ardor of his kiss. “Jesus, you scared me,” he said. “I was afraid—”

“Shh.” She hadn’t wanted to hear his fears. Had only wanted to be reassured by his strength.