Page 3 of Beneath Still Waters

Ferd took a deep breath and released it. Anna herself was a good enough reason to choose Wayside to heal from her gunshot wound. No stress from her. Connor wouldn’t force her to work,but he’d also stopped trying to understand her. “Yeah, I’ll be here for at least another few weeks.”

“Great! I’ll see you then.” She hung up and Ferd tossed her phone back onto the seat next to her.

At least nothing ever happened at Wayside.

THREE

Rain pelted Ferd’s face as she headed for the lake. This was about the spot where Duke had come from behind last time, though she hadn’t seen him for three days. Huh. She'd kind of expected to see him. She scrunched her face and squinted into the distance.

The lake path reached the road, and beyond it, a sliver of the dark, frothing lake churned in the distance. Duke appeared at her side a moment later. “Didn’t think I’d see you again after I warned you when I do my running.”

She laughed because a nice guy wasn’t going to make her adjust her schedule. Bailey might have, but not Duke, even with her brother’s warning. “Did Bailey find his boat?”

“Haven’t seen him since I saw you last. I figure he had no reason to come back out here if his boat was missing. I confirmed that he made a report, though.”

Her neck prickled to life. Every instinct prodded her to go look. “Have you gone to the lake? To, you know, check it out?”

He stayed at her side, taking a second to form an answer. A frown creased his brow. “No, why? Most of the lake isn’t ourjurisdiction. I forwarded the complaint over, just in case the guys in the neighboring county see anything.”

The wind hit her face, blowing her hair all over. “I’ve never been down to the water. I usually skip it.” She swerved down a narrow path toward the sandy boat lift area with tufts of lake grass growing in clumps along the edges.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” He followed her, picking up his pace.

“It’s a lake? I’m going to look around.” She slowed as the wet sand sucked her shoes in deeper than her sore muscles could take. She pulled hard against the suction to lift them out.

A large, two-deck fishing boat lay on its side on the beach, so big it probably had a sleeping area inside. She jogged toward it. Duke's footsteps crunched behind her.

“Ferd, don’t go any closer. That could be a crime scene.”

He doesn’t knowyou’re a cop…Ferd stayed in place, but the stench that washed over her with each wave from the lake twisted her stomach. “Duke, I think?—”

“I know.” He strode past her. “I hope it’s not Bailey. That’s his boat, and it’s not supposed to be on shore like that.”

That much, she could’ve guessed. “Do you think he confronted a thief?” She took a step forward. His back was turned. He wouldn’t notice one step.

“I don’t know. Won’t know until I can get a team in here to look.”

What if that stench wasn't Bailey? What if he was lying inside, injured? Blood had smelled different when she laid on the ground facing death. She closed her eyes and pushed the thought away. “I’m trained, just so you know. I’m here recuperating, but I can do this. I know the Piper’s Ridge force is small. I can help you as long as you give permission.” If he would.

His hesitation answered before he spoke. The long pause made her sure he’d say no. “I shouldn’t. You aren’t part of the Piper’s Ridge force. I also know I’m the only one qualified, even if I’m not on duty. I could use the help.”

“Is that a ‘yes’?” She made sure her phone was securely zippered into her running shorts.

“Where were you trained? Is this something you could help with?” He hesitated, glancing up at the wall of boat in front of them.

“I went to the academy in Douglas, same as every other officer in Wyoming, hired in Cody and they sent me.”

“I want to, but . . .”

“That’s a ‘you’re welcome to help’ in my book.” She stepped closer to the boat. The source of the odor wasn’t clear yet. This would probably be a bad time to mention that, while she had been through officer training, she’d never touched a murder investigation.

Her heartbeats stacked on top of each other. Bile rushed to her throat. The last time she was in a situation even close to this, she was the target. “I’ll look inside if you give me a boost.” She motioned with her thumb to the top of the railing, at least three feet above her head.

“It must have been tossed ashore in the storm last night.” Duke frowned as he looked down at her. “I don’t like sending you in there alone.”

“Then give me your gun and I won’t be.” She tried to hide her grin at the look on his face.

“Are you surprised that I don’t have it with me while I run?” He held out both hands, threaded together to form a step for her.