did. She was the one who had just told him the killer was in the room.
Elly wanted to go out. They would go.
“Sure, but we have to go somewhere we can bring Titan. Axel knows of a new place.”
“For sure!” Elly said. “Titan, you were the best!” She stooped down to hug the dog. Titan easily accepted her touch. He knew Elly well.
“Lead the way, Axel. Oh, should we address you as Special Agent, Secret Agent Man or something else?” Elly asked.
“Axel works just fine,” he told her, smiling good-naturedly.
“It was really cool to have you here,” Elly told him. “Mrs. Gintry told me how many raffle tickets you bought. And they received a large donation from a man who said he learned about what we were doing from you.”
Axel smiled. “Our titular director happens to be a wealthy man known to involve himself in many projects. That’s how I met him years ago. Anyway, I’m glad. And it speaks well for the project. Adam Harrison investigates anything that warrants his attention.”
“Well, thank you!”
“This is still my original home,” he said. “Anyway, I’ll text the address to you all so we can hit the road. They’re trying to close down for the night.”
They headed out. In the car, Axel glanced her way. “You okay with this?”
She looked at him. “You really think Elly could be a suspect? Or Mya? Or Lord, Lucia?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. Then...”
“I thought you might want a little time with your friends. Time to wind down, as well.”
She smiled. “And now I’m not a liar. I told my brother the truth.”
The pub Axel had suggested was new. Raina hadn’t even seen the sign for it before. It was a charming little place. The owner had used natural foliage to create a courtyard area surrounded by flowering shrubs. There were other patrons out there, but Axel found the perfect place for them, a little nook just a bit off from the other tables with flowering hibiscus bushes creating something of a little alcove for it.
A flip-page menu was on the table, offering drink specialties, nonalcoholic specialties, late-night food and a page for “Fidos.”
She smiled. The “Fido” page offered bowls of water and a two-or three-biscuit choice. No charge.
“Okay, I like this place!” Elly said. “Cheese sticks! Chicken wings! I’m starving. Yes, we just left a dinner, but I didn’t eat enough.”
“And I’m sure Titan is ready for a biscuit,” Lucia announced.
“Titan, you want a biscuit?” Raina asked.
He let out an agreeable woof.
“I think he’ll take the three-biscuit option,” Raina said.
“I’ll take a craft beer,” Len added.
A waitress came, and they ordered.
Axel and Raina sat next to one another on one side of the table; Len and Mya were together on the other. Elly and Lucia brought up the ends.
Raina casually touched Elly’s hand as they sat.
Nothing. Then she reached across the table to tap Mya’s hand and suggest she note the flowers around them.
Nothing.
It was going to be a bit harder to touch Len. And Lucia. For the moment at least.
“So! How long do you think you’ll be down here, Axel?” Lucia asked.
“As long as I’m asked to be around, I guess.”
“I’m not asking questions. I swear!” Elly said. “I know it’s an ‘ongoing’ investigation. But how does it work? I never really got the whole thing. Sometimes it’s local, sometimes it’s federal...and we’re glad you’re here, of course, but...”
“Nigel Ferrer is lead on the case. He’s working with Andrew Osceola, Miccosukee police. They asked for me to be sent down because I grew up in the area. I’m not in charge on this. I’m assisting,” Axel explained.
“Ah,” Lucia said.
“My beer!” Len said happily. The waitress was bringing their drink orders.
“Okay, so what’s the story with this Adam Harrison?” Mya asked.
“I know!” Lucia said. They all glanced at her. “I googled him. He’s a special assistant director or something like that, and he’s in charge of a unit called the Krewe of Hunters. Apparently, you all have one of the highest solve rates of any organization in the country.”
“We work hard,” Axel said.
They were all still staring at him.
He smiled. “Adam Harrison was down here, involved in another charity event, when I was about ten years old. I happened to be there and I spent some time with him. We talked about legends that have to do with the Everglades. We kept in contact now and then. I always knew I wanted to be in law enforcement. And by the time I finished with the military, I figured FBI, and