Deadly Touch

by Heather Graham

  “A little secret—we’d never wrestle anything as big as Big Ole Mac,” he told her. “Like everything else, it’s learned.”

  “I don’t think I’d be into learning,” Tate said, shaking his head.

  “Well, when people ran south, they learned to live with alligators. And snakes and mosquitoes. That’s why we have chickee huts to this day—usually built up, to keep creatures away. Make use of our natural wood, thatched roofs using our palm fronds—hey, we knew survival out here.”

  “You still have a chickee?” Tate asked him.

  Jeremy laughed. “I have a nice little house made of concrete block and stucco that I sleep in at night. I do have a chickee in my yard. Nice to hang out in when you’ve been in the pool.”

  “Oh. On reservation land?”

  Jeremy nodded. “We really are aware of modern standards of living. I’ve got cable, too.”

  Tate chuckled good-naturedly. “Of course, I wasn’t implying you all were backward in any way. If I was offensive, I’m truly sorry. But I do have some friends up in Broward who practice the whole going back to culture and nature kind of thing.”

  Jeremy nodded an agreement. “I was not offended. I, too, have friends who embrace the old ways. Thankfully, they help keep our culture alive. But we bring down some of the biggest music acts in the country when we have powwows, and we don’t care if they’re Native, African American, white as the driven snow, yellow, red or pink.”

  Larry walked up, smiling. “And we do love our casinos. Talk about revenge on the white man!”

  They all laughed. Raina looked past Tate as she did so. Axel was in conversation with Tate’s father, Jefferson Fielding, Jordan and Mya.

  She excused herself, remembering she was supposed to throw twenty dollars’ worth of raffle tickets in the Atlantis bowl for Clive the Clown. It took a few minutes to write his name on them. While they’d call out the numbers, the winners didn’t have to be present to collect their rewards.

  Elly was soon back onstage after that, telling them they were welcome to keep mingling, but the raffles were about to end and volunteers would be collecting all the bowls with the tickets. She’d soon be calling out the numbers, once everyone could get comfortable to see their tickets.

  Raina smiled at her friends as she headed back to the table, texting Clive his numbers. As she was doing so, Axel joined her at the table.

  “I guess this will be rather long,” he said.

  “Not so bad,” she assured him. “Elly is quick and good at this.”

  And Elly was.

  Raina hadn’t seen Axel put tickets anywhere, but apparently he had done so and had given his tickets to Jeremy. She saw him smile as he pushed them over to Jeremy and a number came in. The ticket won a complete set of fishing gear. Jeremy appeared exceptionally pleased when he lifted his hand indicating he had the ticket. He stood and brought his number to Elly for verification. Everyone clapped and the night went on.

  Her training session was won by a teenager who looked to be very excited, and Raina was definitely pleased.

  Clive won a spa day.

  She was amazed to discover she’d won the trip to Atlantis. Jokingly, all her friends turned to her, suggesting they should be her “plus one.”

  When she sat down, Axel was looking at her, grinning.

  “Oh, I’ve always wanted to go but just never found the time or the occasion. Now, I’ll have to! Have you seen the pool? The dolphin encounters?”

  He laughed and told her he’d piled the rest of his tickets into a day with a trainer at the Dolphin Research Organization down in Marathon. “There is nothing like a good animal encounter to shake it off after a difficult case,” he told her.

  Finally, everything began to wind down. Raina excused herself, walking to the back of the room where the ticket baskets had been set out on the tables with explanations of the donations. She’d seen the teenager who had won her services there, and she wanted to assure the girl they’d work it out on a timetable that fit both their needs.

  The girl’s name was Eva Herrera and she looked shy at first, and then threw her arms around Raina. Raina caught her, hugged her back and smiled, then gave her one of her cards. “Just call me. What kind of pup?”

  “A rescue. He was at the pound. Sweetest thing you ever want to meet, but I think he’s mainly pit bull, though you know our rescue guys. They called him a terrier mix. But he’s huge and he jumps and because he’s so big he can hurt people, but I love him and...”

  “We can cure him of jumping. I look forward to meeting him.”

  The girl’s parents were apparently ready to go; she saw the middle-aged couple waiting, smiling at their daughter and Raina, but ready.

  Raina hugged the girl goodbye. As she watched her walk away, she leaned against the table.

  That’s when it hit her. An overwhelming sensation of fear. She felt as if something touched her throat. Something cold and hard. Then it felt as if a trickle of hot liquid slipped down her chest. She saw darkness, but felt sudden terror and realized she was feeling what Jennifer Lowry had been feeling in those seconds before she had died. She smelled the earth and blood as she stood there, a wave of dizziness almost claiming her. She felt herself falling on soft, damp grass.

  “Raina?”

  She blinked. Jordan Rivera was standing near her, frowning with concern.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Jordan!” she managed. “I’m, uh, fine. Excuse me!”

  She fled. At first she wasn’t sure where she was going. She couldn’t see properly, and people were everywhere.

  She hurried back toward the stage and then around it, rushing through the wings and back to the green room.

  Clive was there with Titan. The clown was out of his makeup. In real life, he was Clive Bower, a sixty-year-old, semiretired entertainer from St. Pete. He was lean and silver-haired with a shy and sweet disposition and he stared at her, quickly rushing to her.

  Titan, of course, did the same.

  “Raina? Raina? What happened, what’s the matter? You look as if you just discovered Mars was about to collide with Earth,” Clive said, catching her arm and leading her to one of the sofas to sit. “Raina, please...?”

  “I—I’m all right.”

  She was all right. She was away from the table.

  “Can I get you something? Anything that will help? My goodness, what happened?”

  “I—I don’t know,” she said quickly. She hadn’t been able to think at first. Now, she managed a smile. “Exhausted, I guess, and I hadn’t realized it. I’m fine. Honestly.”

  “There are no more bottles of water in here,” Clive said. “I guess it was only you, me and Titan using this room tonight. I’ll run and get you some.”

  He started to the door and turned back. “Are most of the people gone? Not that they’d recognize me, anyway, but you know me with crowds when the makeup is off.”

  “It’s clearing out,” she said.

  Titan was by her side, his nose on her knee, his large dark eyes expressive as he stared up at her, mournful and anxious.

  “Thank you, Clive.”

  He nodded and hurried out.

  She stroked Titan’s head. “It’s okay, boy, it’s really okay.”

  The door opened; she thought Clive was returning. Maybe he hadn’t found any clean glasses or water carafes.

  It wasn’t Clive.

  It was Axel.

  She looked up at him and said, “He was here. You were right to want to come. The killer was here.”

  Seven

  Axel didn’t want to leave Raina that night, but he was worried her brother wouldn’t take it well.

  Robert liked him, but he wasn’t sure just how much Robert would like him in the future if he thought he was making a move on his sister, especially while living and working in a different
state.

  Admittedly, he was fascinated by Raina. Attracted. Really attracted.

  She had come to the function with her brother, so naturally Robert assumed he would drive her home.

  Raina’s brother had shown up in the green room soon after an older man Axel quickly recognized as the clown—sans his makeup and costume—came back in bearing a cup of water.

  Now, he teased his sister.

  “Hey, you okay? What’s up? Is this just excitement over winning the Atlantis trip? You look pale,” Robert had told her.

  She had smiled. “Yeah, big night, I guess. I’m fine now.”

  “Great. Ready to head home?”

  “I think a few of us were going to go for a nightcap,” Axel said. “Do you want to join us?”

  “Personally, I’m beat. And my work comes home with me. We have several major trials coming up. Forgive me. I’d like to be more fun, but duty calls,” Robert said. He looked at his sister and seemed to frown slightly as he looked at Axel.

  “I will give her a ride home,” Axel said.

  “You’re taking the dog—to a bar?” he asked.

  “There’s a new pub with outdoor seating and dog bowls by the door. They’re welcoming the canine crowd,” Axel said.

  “You could take him home for me,” Raina said.

  “Titan will be fine,” Axel said, before Robert could answer. “I think he deserves a night out, too. What the hell other dog can harmonize?”

  Axel still wasn’t sure Robert looked happy, and he wanted to stay on the man’s good side. They’d had a good working relationship.

  “Robert, if Titan is with me, you really shouldn’t worry,” Raina said.

  “True. No one messes with that dog. All right, then, I’ll leave you guys. Have fun,” Robert said. He walked over to give Raina a kiss on the cheek and frowned again. “You’re as cold as ice,” he told her.

  Luckily, Clive chimed in then. “They have the air-conditioning back here down to about zero. We do too much of that around here, freezing everyone inside ’cause it’s so darned hot outside.”

  “Didn’t realize how cold it was!” Raina said lightly.

  “All right, then,” Robert said. “Don’t forget the family thing. I’ll be sleeping, but text me you’re in safe, huh? If I wake up, I won’t worry.”

  “Promise,” Raina told him.

  “I’m out of here. Great night, and thanks for getting me my raffle tickets,” Clive said.

  “My pleasure. It’s always great to see you!” Raina said.

  Then she was alone with Axel and Titan.

  “What happened?” he asked her. “And it’s nice you two keep tabs, by the way.”

  “We’ve always done it,” Raina murmured. “When anyone is flying anywhere. We keep my parents in on those texts.”

  “What happened?”

  “At the end there, I leaned on the raffle basket table or just touched it or something and I felt this sensation. I suddenly knew whoever was behind the murders was here! I can’t explain it. I don’t know who, just that whoever touched Jennifer Lowry also touched the table. I’m sure that sounds irrational—”

  “Not to me,” he said quietly.

  “But how could it even help? There were hundreds of people here tonight, all of them supporting this project. Where would you even begin?”

  “It’s a better beginning than what we had,” he told her. “Can you get me a list of the people who were here tonight?”

  “Yes, Elly would have that. I’m not sure how to ask her for it, but there’s a way, I’m certain.”

  “That will be helpful.”

  Titan let out a soft, warning growl.

  There was a tap on the door and it opened; it was one of the workers for the country club. “Oh, sorry, just trying to get the place all closed up for the night. Hey, pup!” The man beamed at Raina. “Saw your act with him. Great dog!”

  “Thank you,” Raina said. “Say hi, Titan.”

  Titan obediently barked, staying close to Raina.

  “And we’re on our way out right now,” Axel said. “Sorry to keep you.”

  “No problem,” the man said.

  Axel took Raina’s hand. “You need anything else from here?”

  She indicated a box that held some of Titan’s counting toys. Axel picked it up, and they smiled at the club employee and quickly left the room.

  Raina made a point of brushing by him. She realized she was trying to see if she could get anything—any sense of anything—from touching him.

  She did not.

  She smiled and hurried out the door, Titan at her side. Axel followed with the box.

  Mya and her husband and Lucia and Elly were standing in front of the stage when they emerged, as if waiting for her.

  “There you are, Raina. And Axel!” Lucia said.

  “Were you waiting for me?” Raina asked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

  “I begged these guys to get a drink with me,” Elly said. “It’s over! It was a success. And the raffles did exceptionally well, too. We raised a bundle. I am so happy, but keyed up. I’ve talked these guys into a drink. Or coffee. It’s late for coffee, but I can consume a boatload of the stuff and sleep.”

  “Up to you, Raina,” Axel said.

  He couldn’t suspect anyone in this group, she thought. But maybe he 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 b
iscuit,” 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 by then, he had his unit going and he contacted me. I work with great people.”