He had to hand it to the woman. She was not only sharp, but extremely quick. “I have a field team. They’ll be meeting me in a couple of days. A few weeks ago a boat hit an abandoned oil well and knocked off the cap. I represent Jake Bannaconni’s company. He wants to know the exact damage done to the environment and how best to fix it. Mr. Bannaconni is especially fond of this area and wants it as pristine as possible. Once I determine the extent of the damage, I can formulate a plan and my team will come in and aid me with that. Mr. Bannaconni will implement the plan as soon as we complete the study.”

“I knew his great-grandfather,” Pauline said. “A good man.”

“I never had the privilege, but Mr. Bannaconni speaks highly of him.” He stood up when Saria did. “Thank you for the wonderful breakfast, Pauline. It was delicious. Saria, when we go through the swamp, would you mind pointing out the Tregre property?”

There was an instant silence as if he’d dropped a major bomb. The two women exchanged uneasy glances.

“Why?” Saria and Pauline both asked simultaneously.

Drake’s shrug was casual, but his radar screamed a warning at him. “A friend of mine had relatives with that name from this area. He doesn’t remember them, but he thought I might run across someone with that name.”

“You wouldn’t want to,” Saria said. “We don’ want to set foot on their property.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I thought all of you got on with your neighbors.”

“We get along with them,” Pauline confirmed, “because we don’ bother them.”

Drake shrugged. “No big deal. I just told him I’d keep an eye out. I’ll just grab my pack, Saria, with my test kit in it. Be right back.”

“I’ll be packin’ the boat,” she said. “I take food and water and tools just to be on the safe side. Meet you there in ten minutes.” She snagged one last beignet and sauntered out of the room.

Drake watched her go. “She sure is beautiful.”

“And never forget she has five brothers,” Pauline warned.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a grin as he started out of the room. He turned back. “One other thing, Pauline, and I’m a little embarrassed about this. Last night I was on my balcony and it started to rain some. I just stripped and left my clothes and shoes on the railing. I didn’t want to get the floor wet and I figured I’d get them in the morning, but they were gone. I looked on the lawn, but couldn’t find them.”

Pauline flashed him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Darn raccoons will carry off anything. I should have warned you about leavin’ things outside.”

Chapter 7

7