AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A few seconds later, a rubber raft splashed down into the water, then two coastguardsmen jumped into it. They quickly paddled to Drayton, rescued him, then came back and pulled Theodosia into their rubber boat.
“Your boat sprang a leak?” the first coastie asked her.
“We were shot at,” Theodosia said. “But I’m pretty sure our boat is salvageable.”
“We can pump it out, slap on some temporary sealant, and tow it back with us,” the second coastie said.
“Bless you,” Theodosia breathed.
When they drew alongside the Coast Guard cutter, Theodosia immediately recognized Tidwell’s bulk leaning over the railing.
“I’m not sure I should give you permission to come aboard,” Tidwell said. He sounded supremely annoyed.
“I don’t think I can swim home,” Theodosia replied. She was feeling tired, bedraggled, and in no mood to trade verbal barbs with Tidwell. “So I’d appreciate a lift.”
Tidwell disappeared as the coastguardsmen hauled Drayton and her on board.
“Thank you,” Theodosia told them. “Thank you all so much.”
As they watched their boat being pumped out, Drayton nudged Theodosia and said in a low voice, “Where’s the gun?”
Theodosia patted her cross-body bag. “Tucked away safely in here.”
“For goodness’ sake, don’t let anybody know you’ve got it or they’ll think we shot Booker.”
“Mum’s the word.”
Eventually, Tidwell strolled out of the wheelhouse to speak with Theodosia.
“You had no reason to come out here looking for Mr. Booker,” Tidwell told her in a crabby voice. Dressed in baggy jeans and a sweatshirt that said fbi, he wore a bright orange life vest on top of all that, which gave him an odd appearance of the Michelin Man. “Booker was a suspect in a murder investigation.”
“Not anymore,” Theodosia said. “Now he’s been murdered. A strange twist of events, don’t you think?”
“Which we shall deal with. So you no longer need to meddle in what is an ongoing police investigation.”
“Meddle,” Theodosia said. “Such a quaint term. And if I hadn’t come out here and found Booker shot to death, you might still be looking for him. Heading down the wrong path.”
But Tidwell didn’t want to hear it.
“Do not—I repeat—do not insinuate yourself into this investigation.” And with that, Tidwell spun sharply on his heels and didn’t speak to her for the rest of the trip.
***
Back at the dock, Theodosia thanked the coastguardsmen for their help, then spoke to the night manager at the yacht club about getting the boat repaired. Finally (finally!), she grabbed Drayton and drove him home.
“I’m sorry the evening turned out so badly,” she said as they pulled up to his house.
“Are you kidding?” Drayton said. “It was the most excitement I’ve had in years. Discovering a dead body, getting shot at, and then being mired in quicksand. It was like being conscripted by Captain Bligh.”
They sat in the dim interior of her Jeep.
“Are you really okay?”
“Aside from the noxious odor still clinging to my clothing, I believe I’ll eventually dry out.”
“Okay then,” Theodosia said. “See you tomorrow.”
Drayton climbed wearily out of her Jeep, hesitated, then turned around and said, “The one positive outcome is that we now know for sure that Claxton’s killer is still out there.”
