Page 38 of The Game We Played

We arrive at the docks at the end of the boardwalk. No one is running away here. But there are small children chasing after the crabs.

In the middle of the chaos is an overturned truck. A man wearing yellow waders stands next to the vehicle, appearing confused.

Alaia tugs her hand out of mine and hurries to the man. “Floyd! What happened?”

His nose wrinkles. “I don’t quite know. I loaded the truck with the crabs I harvested from my traps the same way I do every morning. I was driving toMariner’s Marketto deliver them and the next thing I know the truck is overturned and there are crabs everywhere.”

“Are you injured? Do we need to get you to the hospital?”

He waves away Alaia’s concern. “I’m fine. I’ve hurt myself harder falling off my boat.”

She narrows her eyes at him. “You haven’t been drinking, have you?”

A woman stalks out of the crowd. “Floyd! What the hell have you been doing?”

“I’m sorry, Lana.”

She fists her hands on her hips. “You can’t be causing all this chaos during tourist season. Smuggler’s Hideaway relies on tourism.”

Alaia scowls at the woman. “Mayor Lana, maybe we can check he’s not injured first?”

My eyes widen. This woman is the mayor? She appears older than my grandmother. Although, my grandmother would never wear a skintight dress or yell at a man in public. She’s far too dignified – and boring – for those actions.

Floyd shakes his head. “I’m fine. I need to gather up my crabs before they’re all gone.”

“Too late.” Alaia points to a woman standing over a large pot of water. “Your crabs are now officially lunch for the patrons of theSalty Siren.”

The fisherman groans. “Not again.”

“Don’t say another word.” A woman rushes toward Floyd. Corbin trails after her. And here I thought things couldn’t get more interesting. I love this island.

Alaia scowls at the woman. “What are you doing here, Siena?”

Siena stands next to Floyd. “I’m protecting my client.”

“I’m not the police. I just want a statement about what happened for the newspaper.”

Siena purses her lips. “A statement the police will use to prosecute my client.”

“Since when are you Floyd’s attorney?”

“Since the time the town persecuted him for forgetting to tie down his boat.”

Alaia crosses her arms across her chest. “As I recall, his boat hit the dock and caused a fair bit of damage.”

“Unsubstantiated rumors.”

I sidle up to Corbin. “Is this your landlady?”

He grunts, which is basically a yes in his language.

“Now, I understand why you didn’t want to stay in the resort.”

He growls at me. “Not one bad word about Siena or I’ll let the defense squash you.”

I hold up my hands. “Not saying anything bad. But things are becoming much clearer to me.”

“Don’t you dare start rumors about me when you’re the one who’s in trouble.”