She let him pull her in and once on the floor of the boat, her body snapped in on itself, trying to expel the last of the dirt and water she’d breathed in. Through watery eyes, she saw Gretchen lose her grip on a wild Marisol Dutton. Marisol disappeared beneath the water. The boat operator was already getting close to Gretchen. Hayes lifted her into the boat. Beside Josie, Gretchen’s body was racked with spasms as she, too, coughed and hacked. Finally, they both collapsed against the inside of the boat. Josie looked down to see a streak of blood soaking through her jeans. She’d definitely popped the stitches in her leg this time. Along the shoreline, where the trees had fallen, Connie held fast to a large branch. Beyond her, on firm land, her little dog ran back and forth, barking. The boat steered in Connie’s direction and picked her up.
“Marisol,” Josie gasped. “Where is she?”
Sawyer shook his head. “I don’t know. She went under.”
“We have to get her.”
“I just watched her try to kill you.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Josie said. “I—”
He held up a hand to silence her. He unsnapped his helmet, took it off and threw it onto the floor of the boat. “I know,” he said. “You don’t leave anyone behind. Dead or alive.”
Then he jumped into the water.
Fifty
Josie stood in front of Ray’s headstone watching the cemetery staff prepare to lower Beverly Urban’s coffin into the plot next to his. Glancing behind her, Josie lifted a hand and waved to the people assembled there. None of them were related to her but all of them were family. Noah, Lisette, Misty, Gretchen, Mettner, Chief Chitwood, and even Amber Watts had shown up—all to pay their respects to Beverly and Vera Urban. Once Sawyer had rescued Marisol from the moat, he’d revived her with CPR. She’d spent a few days in the hospital before turning herself in to police at the direction of her attorney. The details of the plea bargain she was after were still being worked out between her lawyer and the District Attorney but in the meantime, she’d agreed to pay all funeral arrangements for both Beverly and Vera. Josie had chosen the plots and luckily, there were two available right beside Ray.
Beverly would finally get what she wanted. In death she’d be with the boy she’d pined after for all of eternity. She’d have a proper burial and Josie would care for her grave just as she cared for Ray’s. Vera had been buried an hour earlier and with both women being interred on the same day, only a few feet apart, Josie had chosen to have a small ceremony.
One of the workers gave a wave to indicate that the mourners should pay their final respects and the others stepped up beside Josie. Misty had brought flowers and she handed them out to each person. They each took a moment to place one on top of Beverly’s coffin before walking off toward their vehicles. Josie and Noah hung back, watching as Gretchen and Chief Chitwood assisted Lisette and Mettner held Amber’s elbow each time her heels sank into the grass.
Josie felt a tickle at the back of her neck. She turned and saw her twin sister, Trinity, several yards away. Unable to suppress her grin, Josie broke away from the funeral party and jogged over to her, throwing her arms around her sister.
“Whoa,” Trinity said into Josie’s hair. “I missed you too.”
Josie let go and stepped back. They looked each other up and down. Trinity said, “Are we wearing the same little black dress?”
Josie laughed. “Looks that way. What are you doing here?”
Trinity linked her arm with Josie’s. “I thought you needed me.”
Josie raised a brow. “No, that’s not it.”
Now Trinity laughed. “Okay, that’s not it. I have news. It looks like I’m going to get my own network show.”
“Trinity, that’s incredible! Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.”
“We should celebrate,” said Noah, walking up to them.
“He’s right,” Josie said. “Can you stay in town for a day or two?”
“To celebrate me?” Trinity asked. “Of course!”
She winked and headed off to say hello to Lisette.
Noah stepped up beside Josie and slid his hand into hers. They watched as Trinity was received by Lisette, Misty, and their colleagues like an old friend. Noah said, “Are you okay? Don’t tell me you’re fine. You always say that.”
Josie smiled. “I’m working on it. It’s better now that Trinity is here.”