Peril in the Shallows by Addison Fox

Author:Addison Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-12-06T19:52:52+00:00

Chapter 10

No more secrets.

The idea settled deep in her core, spreading outward. It was a satisfying thought, and with respect to their partnership, Kerrigan had every confidence they were over the hump.

Arlo had willingly addressed the background check he’d done on Big Will and his sons and she’d shared her past. Their partnership was back on solid ground.

But what else was between the two of them?

That was another matter entirely.

She had feelings for him. She’d been hard-pressed to deny them from the first, but the way he’d pulled her into his arms?

It had meant everything.

And that was something she needed to play close to the vest.

Which meant—as always—it was much easier to focus on work.

“Why did you run Big Will and his family?”

“I can’t fully say. Something about our visit struck me as worth digging into. But part of why I didn’t say anything was I couldn’t put my finger on why.”

“You can work a hunch without any reason other than it’s an angle. I wouldn’t have been upset.”

“I know that now. But at the time the captain’s words were still ringing in my ears about the dark, violent overtones of this case and then seeing you with someone you knew so well.” Arlo tapped his fingers on the arm of the love seat. “I let it cloud my judgment. I didn’t want to cast aspersions on your friend if I could help it.”

“The captain’s worried?”

“He’s trying not to be, but, yeah, he is. The sheer viciousness of those kills on the boat has him engaged on this case. A bit of that rubbed off in my approach, I’m afraid.”

“Because I’m a woman.”

“Because you’re new and eager and learning, and I overrotated a bit too much on the protection angle.” Something distinctly mischievous lit his blue gaze. “I won’t do it again.”

She was helpless against that hint of mischief. “See that you don’t.”

“Besides. Not every hunch pays off and I’m glad this one didn’t.”

Although she had a fondness for Big Will and certainly didn’t want to think anything problematic was running through his business, she didn’t think Arlo was off base, either.

“Let’s play this out. The Gentry family has a lot of history in the boat business and a lot of access to a variety of stakeholders in that industry.”

“You think something’s there?”

“I’m saying let’s not be too hasty and write it all the way off. Part of why we visited Brooklyn Yacht in the first place was because Big Will knows everyone. He knows the business forward and backward, and it stands to reason he’d have some knowledge of that unregistered boat that went down.”

Kerrigan almost laughed at the look of pure, unmitigated relief on Arlo’s face.

“You’re really into this line of questioning.”

“It makes sense. And while I’m not saying Will lied to us, he’s running a big business with a lot of tentacles. Wholesalers. Mechanics. Parts. It’s equally as likely he knows something as it’s happening underneath his radar. But it’s worth poking there a bit more.”

“I think you’re on to something with the associated aspects of the business.

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