Reading · Victoria LK Williams, author

Now Available: https://books2read.com/MilosBeachMystery

Chapter 4

Lily stared, transfixed by the rifle, wondering how much danger they were really in. Shelly, however, didn’t seem bothered by it at all. She was far too angry about what she’d seen along the waterway to think about personal safety.

“I’m not going anywhere until I talk to Dale Trapper. I take it you’re all aware of the damage to the shoreline.”

“Mr. Trapper is busy, and I don’t see any damage—just debris from the storm. Mind your own business, missy.”

The older man climbed out of the Jeep and walked toward them as he spoke. Lily took an instinctive step back, but Shelly held her ground.

“Shelly, maybe we should go and get reinforcements—like Zack,” Lily hissed, careful to keep her voice low.

Before Shelly could answer, there was a rustling in the palmetto undergrowth lining the natural beach. All three turned toward the sound. A deeply tanned man, a little older than the two women, stepped out of the brush. His long, scruffy hair was bleached nearly white from sun and salt, evidence of too much time spent on the beach.

He wore a jean shirt with the sleeves cut off and swim trunks. Water shoes protected his feet while allowing him to slip easily into the water whenever he wanted. Inwardly, Lily groaned. She knew this beach bum. He’d been aggravating her and Shelly since they were kids, and while time had dulled the edge, Lily had never truly warmed to Billy Mitchell, not like Shelly had, even though she knew he was often helping the ocean community in small, understated way. Such as teaching the local kids surfing and ocean conservation skills.

“Yo, Sarge, you’re scaring the girls. Put the gun away. I know these two—they’re harmless.”

Billy called out as he crossed the beach. When he got closer, he winked at Lily as if they shared some private joke. Sarge didn’t relax his stance, merely grunting, “They’re trespassing.”

The man Billy called Sarge stood slightly apart from the others, arms folded, watching her and Shelly with the kind of stillness that made Lily’s skin prickle. He wasn’t big — not the way Billy was big — but there was something coiled about him, a precision in the way he stood, the way his eyes tracked movement. Like he was counting things no one else thought to count.

“Don’t mind him,” Billy said, catching her looking. “Sarge keeps the wheels turning.”

Sarge said nothing. His eyes moved from the dock to Lily to the dunes and back again, and she had the uncomfortable feeling of being filed away somewhere behind that flat expression.

“Chill, dude. They’re not hurting anything.”

“Sir, I really insist on speaking with Mr. Trapper. I’d like to hear his side of the story before I contact my superior.” Shelly’s voice didn’t waver, and Lily couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

“And what gives you the right to demand a meeting with Mr. Trapper?”

“I’m an FWC Environmental Protection Officer. Does that mean anything to you?”

The older man raised his eyebrows and loosened his grip on the rifle. It was clear he knew to tread carefully. Without another word, he walked back to the Jeep and spoke into a microphone. Seconds later, he returned.

“You,” Sarge said, pointing at Shelly, “can come up to the house and speak to Mr. Trapper. The other one stays here. Don’t move around. Billy, keep an eye on her.”

Shelly shot Lily an encouraging smile before heading for the Jeep. Moments later, the engine roared to life, and the vehicle disappeared up the drive toward the main house.

Left behind, Lily and Billy stared at one another. Before Billy could start in with his usual teasing, his gaze shifted past Lily toward the water. His mouth fell open as he pointed.

“Is that cat swimming?” Billy nearly shouted.

Lily turned and grinned. Of course Milo was swimming. A leash was no match for a determined cat, and Milo loved the water. They both watched as he paddled ashore, climbed onto the sand, and shook water from his fur. Then Milo trotted over and rubbed against Lily’s legs, dropping something shiny from his mouth. Without thinking, she bent over and picked it up, shoving it into her pocket with a swift, discrete movement. But not before she noted what Milo had dropped. Where and when did he find this?

“Billy, meet Milo—the biggest beach enthusiast I know.”

“That is so cool. I’ve never seen anything like that.” Billy crouched and held out his hand. Lily was surprised when Milo allowed him to pet him; she’d half expected a hiss. Maybe Milo was a better judge of character than she was.

“What’s really going on out here, Billy? Do the Trappers actually need an armed guard patrolling their property?”

“Oh, Sarge’s harmless. I don’t think he’d ever use that gun—but I wouldn’t test him, either. What are you two doing out here anyway?”

“Shelly’s doing her job, checking for storm damage. She wasn’t happy about the cut in the beach line.”

“Yeah, well, she’d be better off turning her back and ignoring it. The Trappers aren’t people you want to mess with.”

“You know Shelly. She’s not going to do that.”

Billy wasn’t listening. His attention had shifted to Milo, who was moving toward a patch of sawgrass. The fur along the back of the cat’s neck stood on end.

“Hey—what’s wrong with your cat?”

Lily didn’t answer. She followed Milo, uneasy but curious. Billy hesitated, remembering Sarge’s instructions.

“Lily, you need to stay here,” he called.

She kept walking.

With a curse under his breath, Billy followed her. Lily pushed through the sawgrass, following Milo’s narrow path, wondering what had caught his attention.

She didn’t have to wonder long.

Lily froze.

Milo was sniffing a dark pool of blood.

At first, Lily thought it might be an animal—maybe a panther or a wild boar. But there were no drag marks, no tracks leading away. Instead, she saw human footprints and a discarded backpack.

Billy stepped up behind her. Lily spun on him, her face pale.

“Do you still think Sarge is harmless?” she asked, pointing.

Billy stared at the ground, then looked back at Lily.

“Just how long were you on the beach before Sarge found you? That blood is fresh.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You and Shelly were the only ones out here.”

Milo's Beach Mystery

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