r go…which meant the sex…in…the…creek had been unnecessary。
Not that she hadn't enjoyed it； or wouldn't love to try it again； but still she felt tricked。
〃Why didn't you tell me last night？〃
Skink flashed her the politician's smile。 〃Slipped my mind。〃
〃Asshole。〃 She picked a leaf out of her wet hair and peevishly flicked it into the wind。 Swatted a horsefly off her ankle。 Folded her arms and glared。
He leaned down and kissed her forehead。 〃Look on the bright side； girl。 You got over your fear of crocodiles。〃
CHAPTER THIRTY
At half past noon； a police cruiser stopped at the intersection of Card Sound Road and County Road 905。 A broad…shouldered black man in casual street clothes honked twice at Edie Marsh。 As he motioned her to the car； she recognized him as the cop whom Snapper had shot outside Paradise Palms。
〃You might not believe this；〃 she said； 〃but I'm really glad you're OK。〃
〃Thanks for your concern。〃 His tone was so neutral that she almost didn't catch the sarcasm。 He wore reflector sunglasses and had a toothpick in the corner of his mouth。 When he reached across to open the door； Edie glimpsed a white mat of bandage between the middle buttons of his shirt。
〃You're Jim； right？ I'm Edie。〃
〃I figured。〃
He took the road toward Miami。 Edie assumed she was being arrested。 She said； 〃For what it's worth； I didn't think he would shoot。〃
〃Funny thing about morons with guns。〃
〃Look； I know where he is。 I can show you where he is。〃
Jim Tile said； 〃I already know。〃
Then she understood。 The trooper had no intention of trying to find Snapper。 It was over for Snapper。
〃What about me？〃 she asked； inwardly speculating on the multitude of felonies for which she could be prosecuted。 Attempted murder。 Fleeing the scene。 Aiding and abetting。 Auto theft。 Not to mention insurance fraud； which the trooper might or might not know about； depending on what the governor had told him。
〃So what happens to me？〃 she asked again。
〃Last night I got a message saying a lady needed a ride to the mainland。〃
〃And you had nothing better to do。〃
From miles behind the sunglasses： 〃It was an old friend who called。〃
Edie Marsh kept trying to play tough。 It wasn't easy。 No other cars were in sight。 The guy could rape me； kill me； dump my body in the swamp。 Who'd ever know？ Plus he was a cop。
She said； 〃You didn't answer my question。〃
The toothpick bobbed。 〃The answer is： Nothing。 Nothing's going to happen to you。 The friend who left a message put in a good word。〃
〃Yeah？〃
〃'Jail will not make an impression on this woman。 Don't waste your time。' That's a quote。〃
Edie reddened。 〃Some good word。〃
〃So you get a free ride to Florida City。 Period。〃
After crossing the Card Sound Bridge； the trooper stopped at Alabama Jack's。 He asked Edie if she wanted a fish sandwich or a burger。
〃I'm barefoot；〃 she said。
Finally he broke a smile。 〃I don't believe there's a dress code。〃
Over lunch； Edie Marsh tried again。 〃I got sick when Snapper pulled the trigger；〃 she said； 〃back at the motel； I swear。 It's the last thing I wanted。〃
Jim Tile said it didn't matter one way or the other。 To appear friendly； Edie asked how long he'd been assigned to Miami。
〃Ten days。〃
〃You came for the hurricane？〃
〃Just like you；〃 he said； letting her know he had her pegged。
On their way out of the restaurant； he bought her an extra order of fries and a Coke for the road。 In the car； Edie tried to keep the conversation moving。 She felt more secure when he was talking； instead of staring ahead like a sphinx； working that damn toothpick。
She asked if she could see the bulletproof vest。 He said he'd had to turn it in at headquarters； for evidence。 She asked if the bullet made a hole and he said no； more of a dimple。
〃Bet you didn't think hurricane duty would be so hairy。〃
Jim Tile fiddled with the squelch on the radio。
Edie said； 〃What's the craziest thing you've seen so far？〃
〃Besides your geek partner shooting at me？〃
〃Yeah； besides that。〃
〃The President of the United States；〃 he said； 〃trying to hammer a nail into a piece of plywood。 Took him at least nine tries。〃
Edie straightened。 〃You saw the President！〃
〃Yeah。 We had motorcade duty。〃
Thoughtfully she munched on a French fry。 〃Did you see his son； too？〃
〃They were riding in the same limo。〃
〃I didn't know he lived in Miami； the President's son。〃
〃Lucky him；〃 the trooper said。
Edie Marsh； sipping her Coke； trying not to be too obvious： 〃I wonder where his house is； somebody like that。 Key Biscayne probably； or maybe the Gables。 Sometimes I wonder about famous people。 Where they eat out。 Where they get their cars waxed。 Who's their dentist。 I mean； think about it： The President's kid； he still has to get his teeth cleaned。 Don't you ever wonder about stuff like that？〃
〃Never。〃 Fat raindrops slapped on the windshield。 Still the trooper stayed camped behind the sunglasses。
Edie didn't give up。 〃You got a girlfriend？〃 she asked。
'Yes。〃
Finally； Edie thought。 Something to run with。 〃Where is she？〃
〃In the hospital；〃 Jim Tile said。 〃Your buddy beat her to a pulp。〃
〃Oh God； no。。。。〃
He saw that she'd spilled the Coke； and that she didn't even know it。
〃God； I'm so sorry；〃 she was saying。 〃I swear； I didn't…will she be all right？〃
Jim Tile offered a handful of paper napkins。 Edie tried to sop the soda off her lap。 Her hands were shaky。
〃I didn't know；〃 she said； more than once。 She recalled the engraving on the mother's wedding band； the one that Snapper had stolen。 〃Cynthia〃 was the name on the ring； the mother of the trooper's girlfriend。
Now Edie felt close to the crime。 Now she felt truly sick。
Jim Tile said； 〃The doctors think she'll be OK。〃
All Edie could do was nod； she was tapped out。 The trooper turned up the volume of the police radio。 When they reached the mainland； he stopped at a boarded…up McDonald's。 The hurricane had blown out the doors and windows。
A teal…blue pact was parked under a naked palm tree。 A man in a green Day…Glo rain poncho was sitting on the hood； from the sharp creases； it appeared that his poncho was brand…new。 The man hopped down when he saw the Highway Patrol car。
〃Who's that？〃 Edie asked。
〃Watch out for broken glass；〃 Jim Tile said。
〃You're leaving me here？〃
〃Yes； ma'am。〃
When Edie Marsh got out； the man got in。 The trooper told him to shut the door and fasten his seat belt。 Edie didn't back away from the car； she just stood there； crossing her arms in a halfhearted sulk。 The effect was impaired by the slashing rain； which caused her to blink and squint； and by the stormy wind； which made her hair thrash like a pom…pom。
Through the weather she shouted at Jim Tile： 〃What am I supposed to do now？〃
〃Count your blessings；〃 he said。 Then he made a U…turn and headed back toward Key Largo。
Bonnie gave Augustine a nervous kiss before she left camp with Skink。 Her husband was on his way。 They were to meet at the road。
Alone； Augustine tried to read； huddled in the old ambulance to keep the pages dry。 But he couldn't concentrate。 His imagination was inventing dialogue for Bonnie and Max's reunion。 In his head there were two versions of the script； one for a sad good…bye； one for I'm…sorry…let's…try…again。
Part of him expected not to see Bonnie again； expected her to change her mind and fly back to New York。 Augustine had accustomed himself to such letdowns。
On the other hand； none of his three ex…fiancees would have lasted so long in the deep woods without a tantrum or a scene。 Bonnie Lamb was very different from the others。 Augustine hoped she was different enough not to run away。
Despite his emotional distress； Augustine kept a watch on Snapper； still zonked from the monkey tran…quilizer。 It wouldn't be long before the dumb cracker woke up blathering。 Except for the cheap pinstripe suit； he reminded Augustine of the empty…eyed types his father used to hire as boat crew。
Another thing that got him thinking about his old man was the lousy weather。 Augustine recalled a gray September afternoon when his father had dumped sixty bales overboard in the mistaken belief that an oning vessel was a Coast Guard patrol； when in fact it was a Hatteras full of hard…drinking surgeons on their way to Cat Cay。 The marijuana bobbed on seven…foot swells in the Gulf Stream while Augustine's father frantically recruited friends； neighbors； cousins； dock rats and Augustine himself for the salvage。 Using boat hooks and fish gaffs； they retrieved all but four bales； which were snatched up by the agile crew of a passing Greek tanker。 Later that night； when the load was safe and drying in a warehouse； Augustine's father threw a party for his helpers。 Everybody got stoned except Augustine； who was only twelve years old at the time。 Already he knew he wasn't cut out for his old man's fishing business。
Augustine climbed