Page 76 of Reeves

She nods without asking questions.

“Drive safe.”

The morning air hits my face when I step outside. It's warm already. The kind of Louisiana heat that builds all day until evening storms break it apart.

I climb into the Hummer and start the engine. The radio crackles to life, some news station discussing traffic patterns. I turn it off and sit there in the silence, only the hum of the engine for ambiance.

The drive to Bay St. Louis will take forty-five minutes on aSaturday. That's long enough to change my mind six times. Long enough to overthink every word of Charli's message and every possible outcome of showing up.

But not long enough to forget the image of Benjy pointing down the beach yesterday, explaining where we'd build the next trap.

I shift into reverse and pull out of the garage. As I pull onto the road, the rearview mirror reflects the Stone family estate growing smaller behind me.

For once, I'm not running toward something to escape what's behind me. I'm driving toward a five-year-old who believes I keep my word.

The beach parking lot is nearly empty when I pull in. There are just a few scattered cars and one weathered pickup truck with fishing gear in the back. The sun sits high already, casting sharp shadows across the sand.

I spot them immediately.

Charli stands near the water's edge in a yellow sundress, her hair caught by the breeze. Benjy is close by, animated, engaged.

I climb out of the Hummer and walk toward them across the soft sand. The sound of me approaching draws Benjy's attention first.

His head snaps up, and his face breaks into a wide grin.

"Reeves!"

He jumps to his feet and runs straight at me, sand flying from his swim trunks. The enthusiasm hits me square in the diaphragm. There's no hesitation or shyness. Just pure excitement that I showed up.

"I started it already! I figured out the perfect spot, and I made the outline. I think I know exactly where they'll try to sneak past us."

The words tumble out so fast I can barely follow them. He grabs my hand and tugs me toward his work area.

"See? Look at this. I made it way bigger than yesterday, and I put it right here where the sand is hard but not too wet. The pirates can't see it coming."

I crouch down beside him and study the rough circle he's scratched in the sand. Maybe three feet across with several smaller marks radiating outward.

"Tell me about these lines."

"Those are escape routes. Pirates always have backup plans, right? So I figured out all the ways they might try to get away, and we can block them with more traps."

"What about high tide? Will it reach this spot?"

"Nope. Mom and I checked the water line from yesterday. This is totally safe."

I glance toward Charli.

She’s standing about ten feet away, watching us, arms loosely crossed. I can see her blue-and-white striped bathing suit through her sheer dress. The loose fabric shifts with the wind, outlining more than it hides before settling back against her.

For a second, I forget what Benjy is saying.

Our eyes meet.

She looks at me differently today. Yesterday, she was measuring every word I said to him, watching for signs that I might overstep.

Today she’s watching to see what I’ll do next.

Not guarded. Not pulling back.