friends through grade school, high school, and they’d gone off to Gainesville together for law school. Jordan also worked for Tate’s father, specializing in civil suits.
“And my tent-mates that trip,” Raina said, presenting Lucia, Mya and Elly.
They all greeted Axel, smiling like Cheshire cats.
“Oh, and this is my husband, Len Smith,” Mya said quickly, introducing the man at her side. Len Smith was with the police department for Perrine, one of the many municipalities making up the county. He greeted Axel warmly, as well.
“Cop—and FBI,” he said, explaining his position to Axel.
Since Len had grown up in Orlando, Raina assumed they’d been talking about Axel since she’d gone to greet him.
“It’s so cool you’re here,” Lucia said.
“Very cool,” Mya agreed, but then frowned. “But you’re down from the DC area. We have FBI here, don’t we? And cops.” She paused, laughing softly. “We have lots of cops! City of Miami, City of Perrine, City of North Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Miami Springs and literally a few dozen more. But I guess it’s good to have an agent come in from outside the area.”
“He’s here because he grew up in the area and knows the Everglades like few others, I’d imagine,” Len said, smiling at Axel.
“Because of the recent murders?” Tate asked. “I’d have thought it would fall to the county or maybe even the Miccosukee police?”
“I just go where they send me,” Axel told him.
“And Axel has come down before,” Robert said. Her brother liked Axel. He respected him, Raina knew.
“Well, I can see where you’d be helpful,” Tate said. “You know the terrain. Except the terrain may have nothing to do with it.”
“A date gone bad?” Jordan suggested.
“Drugs?” Mya asked, wide-eyed.
“Still under investigation,” Axel said easily. He looked around the group. “You all know just how hard it is. Especially with the terrain. Leave a body. If any of the bigger beasts don’t get it, the little ones will. Flies, mosquitoes, you name it.”
“Too true,” Elly said. “I know you guys all love it out there, and the Miccosukee restaurant makes the most delicious pumpkin bread known to man, but for me, yuck! Too many mosquitoes. And in summer, the heat is drenching.”
“The birds we saw were gorgeous,” Mya said. “Herons, cranes, egrets—”
“There’s an egret sitting on my car almost every morning when I head out to work,” Elly said. “He’s a cutie, but I can enjoy watching him from my window. In the air-conditioning.”
“I guess you love it or hate it,” Axel said lightly.
“Well, I suppose it’s fun now and then to take the Trail across to Naples. You know, stop for pumpkin bread and maybe take a break at the ranger station. But now that Alligator Alley is part of I-75 and you have more than two lanes all the way. Oh! And you can stop at the Seminole village up there! That’s fun!” Elly added, clearly excited.
“And there are the casinos, too,” Tate mentioned. “Poker is just as good at either—Miccosukee or Seminole.”
“Ah, but the Seminoles now have the Hard Rock with the giant guitar in the air,” Mya said. “I mean—”
“Axel is part Seminole, too,” Tate put in.
“A little bit of everything,” Axel replied lightly.
“Oh!” Elly said suddenly. “I have to announce seating for dinner. Raina, where’s Titan?”
“Titan is ready. He’s in the lounge with Clive the Clown. The two of them bonded when they met. He told me he would stay with Titan. When we’re seated and you’ve started speaking, I’ll go back and get him ready to come out,” Raina assured her.
“You left Titan?” her brother teased.
“I trained two of Clive’s cats once,” Raina told him. “Beautiful animals. He has the two cutest, furriest rescues you ever want to see. He’s a great guy. Titan is in good hands. Trust me. Titan is a great judge of people.”
“Dogs usually are,” Axel said lightly.
A small podium had been set up in the ballroom where they were gathered. Elly gave them a brief and awkward smile and hurried toward it. A mic was already positioned for her, and she quickly welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming, for the purchase of their tickets and for their generous donations.
She announced dinner.
Raina took Axel’s hand, doing it so quickly she didn’t realize her own motion until it was completed. She flushed slightly.
“I have you up with us. I’m where I can head back to Titan in a second.”
“Sounds great,” he told her.
“I’m near your table,” Tate Fielding said. “And I think one of our old chaperones