Dead in the Water Read Free

first to arrive and claim the choice seats. Winston sat in the outer seat with me on the bench ahead and put the two duffel bags on the floor in front of his feet. Darlene pulled a paisley-print scarf over her teased-to-submission and lacquered hair and settled in beside Winston. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him. Madeleine sat beside me in the front. Neither Madeleine nor Darlene wanted an outside seat, so this seemed the best arrangement. Wimps in the middle, the brave ones inches away from the water and whatever chose to live in it. Maybe I should rethink my seat.
    Two couples from Montreal took the unoccupied seats, one couple in front of us and the other next to us. A teenage boy and girl belonging to the first couple took the seats in the far front. There was room for two more riders next to the kids, but no one showed up.
    The airboat pilot seemed friendly enough, but like his partner who sold us the tickets, he took one look at Madeleine and got friendlier, directing most of his attention to her, helping her to put on her ear protectors to muffle the sound.
    â€œ I think I can do it myself.”
    He ignored her and leaned over the couple next to us to clap them on her ears. “Don’t want the little lady to hurt her hearing now, do we?”
    In this part of Florida attractive women of normal or shorter height are always “little ladies.” Close to six feet without my preferred footwear, I’ve never been called anything but “hey you, lady.” Men rarely offered me help with anything, but I thought I’d test this theory.
    â€œ What about me?” I held my ear protectors out to him.
    â€œ You’ll be fine.” He continued to adjust Madeleine’s, and I held my breath just as I’m sure Madeleine did. Whenever it came to men and Madeleine, something bad always happened. The last time a man took an interest in her, my car blew up. I’m not saying it was her fault, but things seemed to always go awry when she was around.
    I sighed in relief as he stepped back and checked the red containers of gasoline on the dock. He shook his head, added gas to the boat, then flipped open his cell. I couldn’t hear what he said, but the call was brief. Good. I was anxious to get going. I was cold enough just sitting here in the boat. I couldn’t imagine what it was going to feel like flying down the canal with that wind whipping at my face. I wanted the ride to be over before it began.
    The pilot took his high seat behind the passengers. The boat leaped forward with much rattling, roaring, and shaking. He increased the speed, and the roaring grew louder as we flew out to the main waterway. Soon we were cruising down the wide expanse of the canal surrounding the Big Lake, its waters on the other side of the high berm to our left. The vibrating was so strong that I thought I’d chip teeth if I clenched my mouth closed. Mouth open, I risked bugs flying in.
    I was surprised at the number of boats on the canal—other airboats, canoes, bass boats—heading toward the locks and the lake beyond. Even a few kayaks. As chilly as the air was, I hated to think what it would be like if a person went overboard into the water. Instant hypothermia.
    Winston tapped me on my shoulder. I turned to look at him.
    â€œ Having fun?” The skin around his eyes crinkled with humor as he grinned at me.
    He’d turned his cap around so that the wind couldn’t catch the bill and flip it into the water. I pulled the hoodie on my sweatshirt up over my head and tied it under my chin.
    â€œ Uh, sure.” I smiled back.
    The cold wind rushed at us, flattening my face and making my eyes water. If there was anything to see, the tears in my eyes obscured the view. The boat raced through the water, swaying back and forth over the surface, making me worry it might swerve and capsize. Once I got used to the rocking from side to side, I settled back to enjoy the