Logan nodded. “Which means we need the killer, or killers, alive,” he said.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’ve only ever killed a man when it was to save another. I’m not a cowboy, Logan. I don’t let my emotions rule, and I don’t shoot unless I have to,” Dallas said.
Logan glanced at him quickly. “Sorry. I wasn’t implying anything. But I know how hard it is when you lose someone on your team.”
Of course the guy knew about him. After all, Adam Harrison had been watching him. “You’re talking about William Warwich.”
Logan shrugged and said, “I know you had no choice—I read the report. The victim came within split seconds of death. I know it was a justified shoot.”
“Then...?”
“I lost my wife,” Logan said. “And I remember wanting to skin the killer alive, that’s all.”
They were both silent as they continued to drive. Then Dallas said, “We both know we need to take the killer—or killers—alive. But first we have to find them.”
They hadn’t gone far, not even ten miles, when Dallas saw the giant sculpture of a dolphin on the left side of the road that announced the presence of the research facility.
People were leaving. It was past five, and the place had closed. But they explained who they were to the employee manning the entrance, and a few minutes later the facility’s friendly photographer led them out back.
Hannah and Kelsey had evidently borrowed bathing suits so they could swim with the dolphins. Now they were using the “splash zone” to rinse off.
Hannah was standing under the spray of a playful whale, smoothing back her wet hair. Her eyes were closed; her face was turned to the water. She appeared as graceful as the best swimmer in the sea, sleek and stunning. He found himself staring and gave himself a mental shake.
“Hey!” Kelsey called to Hannah. “The guys are here for us.”
Hannah quickly turned and went for her towel. As she dried off, she waved to a tall woman with dark hair and equally dark flashing eyes. Hannah quickly introduced Dallas and Logan to her friend who ran the center, Stella Marsh. Stella greeted them warmly, urging them to return when they had time.
“You look good,” Logan said, smiling at Kelsey.
“Stella got us in on the last swim,” Kelsey said. “I love dolphins. They’re such magnificent creatures.”
“You should see them with Stella,” Hannah said. “They’re like puppies. They know her. They’re affectionate with her.”
“What can I tell you? They’re smart,” Stella said.
“Give us two seconds to get dressed,” Hannah said, hurrying for the changing rooms. Kelsey followed on her heels.
Stella chatted to the two men while they waited. Of course the deaths in Key West came up. Logan and Dallas were careful in their replies. Investigations were under way. No one really knew anything yet.
As they talked, though, Dallas felt the tension in him easing. It had been okay. Hannah had come here and enjoyed a break from the situation. And she was safe. Nothing had happened.
He almost felt calm as they got into the car for the return ride.
“Impressive place,” he murmured as Logan pulled out onto the road.
“Oh, I love it there,” Hannah said. She smiled at him, but her smile quickly faded and she looked at him somberly. “Well? What did you find out? Was she...?”
He nodded. “Someone held her down there.”
She didn’t reply but looked out the window.
“Did the M.E. tell you anything? Was there any evidence on her body?” Kelsey asked.
“Whatever they found is with forensics. He’ll tell us what they find as soon as he hears,” Dallas said.
“I hope it’s soon,” Kelsey said, looking out the window. “I do miss this place. There’s something wonderful about growing up on an island.”
“And difficult sometimes, too,” Hannah said. “I mean, it’s only ninety miles to Cuba but about five hundred miles to the state line. Sometimes it felt like we weren’t even part of the rest of the country.”
The cousins talked comfortably as they went, pointing out places they loved along the way.
“We’re being followed,” Logan said quietly after about ten minutes of reminiscing.
Dallas turned slightly, discreetly, to look out the back window.
It was hard not to think you were being followed on the way to or from the Keys. The only through-route in either direction was US 1, but it was unlikely that a car would stay with them by coincidence through Marathon, where there were multiple lanes through both the business and residential districts.
Now, though, they had left the town behind and driven onto Seven Mile Bridge.
Dallas quickly caught Logan’s eye in the rearview mirror, his own expression questioning.
“Same car that pulled in behind us right after we left the dolphin facility,” Logan said. “It deliberately hung back through town, but now it’s with us again.”
“We sure as hell can’t pull off,” Kelsey murmured.
Dallas reached for the Glock in his shoulder holster.