“What in the world is this about?” Mary Alice wondered aloud as Major Bissell and two other officers got out of the van.

“Turn around,” I whispered to her and Frances. “Go back to the car.”

“What are you talking about?” Sister asked.

“’Morning, Lieutenant Bissell,” I called. “We’re all over here. Mr. Stamps and Mr. West are on the boat.” I grabbed Sister’s arm. “Back up, damn it.”

The three police officers came striding over to the Stampses’ pier.

“’Morning, ladies,” Lieutenant Bissell said. Then, whispering, smiling as if we were having a pleasant conversation, “What on God’s earth are you doing here?”

I smiled and whispered back. “We came to get Eddie Stamps. How the hell did I know this would happen? You should have been here an hour ago.”

“Hey, Lieutenant Major,” Eddie called.

“Hey, Mr. Stamps!”

“Who’s the woman?” one of the officers asked.

“It’s Laura Stamps,” I said.

“What the hell is going on?” Sister asked.

“I think we have our murderer,” Major Bissell answered. “Y’all don’t run. It’ll spook him. Just turn around slowly. Be prepared to hit the ground.”

“Oh, shit!” Frances said.

Laura Stamps was looking at the police officers. She was still standing on the boat, though, holding Eddie’s arm.

“Mrs. Stamps?” Major Bissell called. “Could I see you for a minute?”

“What for?”

“It’s about the permit to relocate the septic tank.”

How in the world had he thought of that on the spur of the moment? I almost forgave him for being so slow getting here.

“You need to talk to Eddie, too,” Laura called. She stepped out onto the pier and reached back for Eddie’s hand. He pulled away. “Come on, Eddie. We need to see what Major Bissell wants.”

We had almost made it off the pier. Laura turned and walked toward us and the three policemen, looking back over her shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart.”

“Mr. West and Mr. Stamps, we need to talk to you,” Major Bissell called. “If you would please get off the boat.”

“Oh, Lord, they’ve got guns!” Frances said. And, indeed, each of the marine patrol officers was aiming pistols toward the boat.

“I’m just taking Berry for a ride, Laura,” Eddie called. “We’ll be back after a while.”

I didn’t see what happened next, but Sister did. She said Eddie turned to the dash and reached down toward the ignition. Berry West screamed, “Oh, shit!” and dived into the water. And then the whole world became hell.