Legend turns toward the shoreline, gaze sweeping the trees. “We ain’t chasing ghost stories,” he says even, becausethat’s what a man says when he can’t afford to believe in monsters. “We’re looking for a girl.”
Royal nods once and the men move again, but the air stays wired tight.
Bethany marches down toward us, heels sinking into mud, mouth already open.
“This is ridiculous,” she says loud. “You’re all acting like children.”
I don’t even look at her.
My focus is Brittany because she’s stepped closer to the water without realizing it, like the lake is pulling her with a string.
“Back up,” I bark.
“I’m not made of glass,” she snaps.
“Didn’t say you were,” I answer, and the edge in her voice almost makes me smile even now, even with blood in the water. I lower my voice so it’s just for her. “You need to get up the hill.”
“Why?”
Because I don’t like the lake looking at you. Because something out there moved wrong. Because Pearly Gates is circling and now there’s drag marks and blood and I don’t know if this is a monster or a man who likes hiding under water. But I don’t say any of that. I give her the only thing she’ll accept when she’s scared and mad.
“Because I said so,” I say.
She rolls her eyes, but she steps back.
Bethany stops three feet away from the shoreline with her hands on her hips. I imagine a Lake Monster rising up and swallowing her whole.
“Oh, now you’re worried?” she sneers. “Now you’re protective?”
I turn to her finally, and I don’t yell. I don’t argue. I don’t defend. I just say, “Go back to your cabin, Beth.” The authority in my voice lands. She hears it. So does everyone else. She studies me like she’s deciding whether to push, then laughs soft. “This ain’t over,” she says.
“It ain’t,” I agree, but I don’t mean her. I mean the lake.
Holler hops back to shore. “No body,” he reports. “Just blood.”
Royal gestures toward the treeline. “Drag marks go that way too.”
Two directions. That’s worse.
Legend’s jaw tightens. “We keep searching,” he says. “Pairs. Nobody alone.”
His eyes flick to me, then to Brittany, and that look says everything.
I nod once.
I ain’t assigned to a team. I don’t move toward the woods. I stay where I am, next to her. Keeping the ol’ ladies and other women away from the lake. The shift ain’t loud or dramatic, but it’s real. Everyone’s on edge. Bethany sees it. Royal sees it. Legend definitely sees it. And the lake, Hell, the lake watches all of us like it’s got time.
A distant splash echoes from deeper out, not near the dock, far enough that it ain’t a thrown rock and it ain’t a mistake. Brittany’s hand brushes mine for a second, instinct and fear and something else, and I don’t pull away.
“Tell me that wasn’t what I think it was,” she whispers.
“I don’t know what you think it was,” I say, but I know.
Something moved under that boat. Something big enough to tip it, or someone strong enough to fake it. Either way, this ain’t about Bethany anymore, and it damn sure ain’t about gossip. Now it’s blood and water and something hunting. I’ll deal with my wife later. Right now, I step half an inch closer to Brittany, visible and unapologetic, and when Bethany starts in again behind us I don’t even turn around.
Chapter 24
Brittany
