But he knew as much as he loved his strange homeland—well, what he saw as his homeland, though he’d been born in Baptist Hospital, Miami—that, over the centuries, the Everglades had a history of being used for sinister deeds.
Far beyond the long-ago murder spree of the pirates, over a hundred and fifty bodies had been found in the Everglades since the 1960s. Seeing the Miami-Dade cop, he was afraid it signaled yet another disappearance.
He would prove to be correct.
He walked over to the group.
“Hey, Axel, how are you doing? You must be heading off to some Ivy League school before long.”
Axel realized he knew the older county policeman who had spoken. Vinnie Magruder’s patrol was out in this region and he was friends with a lot of the Miccosukee police.
“No, sir. I’m going into the marines, then I’ll go to college,” Axel told him.
“Well, good plan,” Vinnie said, glancing at Jeremy and the two Miccosukee policemen who were there.
“My folks are both good with it, thanks. What’s going on?” Axel asked.
“A Kendall area woman is missing. Fran Castle. I found a car deserted on the Trail, on the embankment between here and the casino, near one of the power stations where there’s no guardrail. Found it right around two o’clock. Sounds like she and a friend were at the Miccosukee casino and then suddenly the friend couldn’t find her. Not necessarily a big deal—until I found the car.” He hesitated, shrugged and sighed deeply. “They’ve got cops and dogs working the area. They’ll skirt north and west after. I was just letting all these guys know to be on the lookout. We’ll be searching county land, tribal land, state and federal. Makes me sick, the crime that goes on here. Killers and sickos think they can make people disappear and get away with it. Well, I intend to put a stop to that. You haven’t seen or heard anything?”
“You think...she’s dead? Killed and dumped?”
“I, uh, sorry—I mean, she could be lost out here somewhere. Or she could have just left her car—illegally, where it is—not knowing. She could’ve just taken off.”
“I’m only out here to tell tales to the school group,” Axel said. He shook his head and added, “I wish I could help. If something bad has happened, if there are more search groups starting up, I’d be happy to join in. I, too, hate that people think they can use this land to hide their crimes and get away with them. It has to be stopped. Hopefully, this woman is found alive and well.”
“Hopefully. We’re just a little jaded and worried. The Everglades. One-point-five million acres. It’s a wonder and a danger if people don’t know what they’re doing.” Vinnie paused, shaking his head. “Anyway. Keep an eye on the kids, huh? But for now, don’t say anything. Who knows? Maybe someone met her and they decided the Seminole Hard Rock had better payouts and they headed to Broward County.”
Axel didn’t think he believed it. But he also agreed not to tell. The kids on the school trip were filled with the wonder of the Glades—ecology, fast airboats and even alligators.
“I’ll stay by the fire, keep the dog company and watch out for the kids,” Axel said. He turned and walked away.
He was afraid the missing woman would remain just that—missing. Fran Castle. He wished with all his heart he could help. That they would find her. That she would be okay.
He doubted it. Too often, far too often, someone disappeared in the Glades only for an unwary fisherman to find remnants of him or her—what had once been a living, laughing human being.
Axel was suddenly even more determined to stick to his plan. He would join the military. And he knew that someday, somehow, some way, he would help hunt for the people who did such things.
In fact, he already had a pretty good idea as to exactly what he wanted to do—and to whom he’d go when he was ready.
* * *
He was there. Hunkered by the fire, stroking the dog. “It’s all right, my friend,” she heard him tell the animal. “Bad things do happen, but tonight you’re on guard duty for this group of kids. Strange night. But you are the best dog, always on guard. And look! I have a bit of jerky treat right here in my pocket.”
He frowned suddenly, glancing over toward Raina, aware she stood just outside her tent, though she hadn’t moved or