“Tell me, Hunter. You’ve always been straight with me.”

He looked up, into the blue eyes he’d fallen in love with as a teenager. They’d been inseparable growing up, best friends from the fort days all the way through the growing pains of middle school, both shrugging off dating in favor of crabbing off her family’s dock.

But somewhere along the way, things had changed for him. He’d realized that his red-haired playmate had turned into a red-haired beauty.

So, technically, no. He wasn’t always straight with her. He’d buried those feelings long ago in favor of something more important. A friendship that had sustained both of them through some tough times. His dad’s inability to find and keep a job, her mom’s battle with cancer. The loss of her husband. His friend.

“It’s him. Oh, Hunter. Why is he back now?”

Hunter put his hand over hers. “We’re going to find whoever did this and make sure he pays for what he did.”

FITZGERALD BAY:

Law enforcement siblings fight for justice and family

The Lawman’s Legacy—Shirlee McCoy, January 2012
The Rookie’s Assignment—Valerie Hansen, February 2012
The Detective’s Secret Daughter—Rachelle McCalla, March 2012
The Widow’s Protector—Stephanie Newton, April 2012
The Black Sheep’s Redemption—Lynette Eason, May 2012
The Deputy’s Duty—Terri Reed, June 2012