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Chapter Eighteen

It was 9:16, and Sam still hadn't arrived. Candi leaned against her car with a sigh, wrapping her arms around herself. She had been so close to texting Jen about Sam's presence in Camden, but she had the feeling Sam wanted to meet with her alone, and Jen would never allow that to happen, partly out of protection and partly because Sam was definitely eye candy.

Other employees were leaving Hickory's, and the parking lot was getting more and more empty. Candi glanced around once more, then opened her car door. Just as she buckled her seatbelt, headlights flooded through her car windows, and the sleek black Impala pulled in beside her car.

Candi waited for the slam of Sam's car door before she exited her own vehicle. "Your late," she said, turning to the tall man.

Sam shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry. I was… held up."

"It happens." She stuck her hands in her pockets. "So… you wanted to ask me some more questions?"

"Yeah. Shall we walk?"

"Sure. Lead the way."

She fell into step next to Sam's long strides. She was thankful he took her straight onto Main Street, where there were streetlamps and tourists still roaming around. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sam, but you could never be sure with someone who was still practically a stranger.

"How was your shift?" Sam asked her.

Candi laughed. "I know you didn't travel all this way to ask me how work is."

"Right. Where did we leave off last time?"

"You had asked about my parents."

Sam nodded. "Sorry that was such a sensitive subject for you."

Candi was determined she wouldn't get emotional this time. "It's fine. I've had time to adjust."

"So… you wouldn't mind me asking a few more questions about the event?"

Candi hesitated. "Like what?"

"Like… has your family had a history of drowning?"

Candi frowned. "That's a weird question."

"But have they?"

She kicked a rock that was in the road to the side. "My grandma got tangled in a fishing net a long time ago and fell into the water. They couldn't get her out in time. And my great-grandpa had gone missing while out at sea. But those were all accidents."

"And your father's death wasn't?"

Candi stopped walking and stared hard at Sam. "I didn't say it wasn't."

"But… he was a fisherman. A good swimmer. How could he have drowned?"

"What are you saying, Sam?"

"I'm saying…" he ran his hand through his hair. "I know this is hard for you to talk about, and you've probably asked the same questions over and over again. How could your dad – a good swimmer, good fisher – possibly have drowned? And more importantly… Why weren't you able to save him?"

Candi looked away then, because she knew that if she kept looking at Sam's sympathetic face, she would lose control of her emotions. Sam continued.

"I know those questions must haunt you. But listen to me, Candi. Whatever happened out there… it wasn't your fault."

Candi nodded, and resumed walking without looking at Sam. They were silent for a moment, then Candi said softly, "It must all be part of the job."

"What?"

"Living so close to the sea, making a living off it… eventually she'll take a few people as payment."

"Who?"

Candi shook her head. "Nevermind."

Sam took her shoulders and turned her gently to look at him. "Candi, this is important. Were you just being metaphorical and referring to the sea? Or to something else?"

"The sea, of course," she said, twisting away from him. "Who would want to hurt us?"

"Us as in your family? Candi, how long has your family been in the fishing business?" Sam was getting excited, eager about something. Candi couldn't for the life of her think of what her sob story could mean to him.

"I don't know, a few generations? The Lockwoods used to have a really great fishing business until my great-grandfather disappeared. I guess the family was just too torn up about it to keep it up the way it needed to."

Sam was shaking his head. "There's a pattern," he muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Candi, have you had any near-drowning experiences?"

"Remind me how these questions are going to help your tourist article?"

"Okay, I'm going to be straight with you." He led her to a bench that faces a line of shops, including an ice cream shop and a book store.

Candi sat down, eying Sam carefully. Something slimy was writing in her gut. "You haven't been before?"

Sam sat next to her. "No, not exactly."

Candi couldn't decide if she felt angry, relieved, or afraid. If this guy wasn't writing a generic article, why was he asking her all these questions? She stiffened when she saw him reach into his jacket. He pulled out something small, and flipped it in front of her.

An FBI badge.

It took her a few seconds to process. She raised her eyebrows at him. "And you couldn't just tell me you were an FBI agent when we first met?" Then, worry began pounding against her chest. "Why is the FBI interested in my family? In my dad?"

"Because… we're not exactly sure the drowning was an accident."

Candi heard what he said, but had trouble processing it. "What do you mean? How could it not…?"

"Listen, there are things that –"

"I was there!" she snapped. Sam watched her carefully. She took a deep breath. It probably wasn't a good idea to yell at a cop. "Sorry. But… I've already been through this. I was there, I saw him drown. End of story. Can we please just let it go?"

Sam sucked in a deep breath. "Candi. You know, deep down, that there's more to this."

Inexplicable fear clutched at her throat. "What more could there be?" she whispered.

"You know what, I've upset you enough. Why don't you have a sleepover at Jen's? She'll cheer you up. And then we can resume this conversation in the morning."

Candi frowned. Something Sam had just said sounded familiar. She looked at him. "Why would you suggest I sleepover at Jen's?" A memory clicked in her head. In their last meeting a week ago, Gabe had asked if she had ever had sleepovers at her friend's house.

Sam shrugged. "Just a suggestion. I'll walk you back to your car."

Candi silently followed Sam back the way they had come. She had so many questions… but didn't know where to start. Why was the FBI investigating a nearly two-year-old death? One that didn't have anything remotely suspicious about it? Why did Sam think it wasn't an accident? A thought clicked in her head.

"Sam."

"Yeah?"

"Did someone drug my dad?"

There was a silent pause. "What?"

"Maybe it made him pass out and that's why he drowned." The idea of someone being so cruel to her father made her blood boil. "Is that what you think happened?"

Sam gave a grim chuckle. "No, Candi. That's not what I think."

"Then what?" she asked impatiently.

Sam seemed to be debating. "I don't want to scare you…"

"What?" she demanded.

He sighed. "Candi." He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I think there's something in the water that is after your family."

He watched her blank stare, the confusion tumbling behind her eyes. Gabriel actually felt good getting it out in the open. Candi needed to know the truth. And if he could give it to her through the mouth of Sam, even better. Then he'll look like a crazy son of a bitch.

Finally, Candi spoke. "Like… what? A monster?" she asked sarcastically. She had a twisted, sick smile on her face that looked more like she was baring her teeth at him. Yikes.

"I don't know," he said. "But you have to see the pattern… Your great-grandfather, your grandma, your dad… one member from each generation has drowned. There's no coincidence in that."

She blinked several times. She had long, dark lashes, the kind that didn't need mascara to be pretty. "You are probably the worst FBI agent in the history of FBI agents. What are you trying to do, scare me?"

"You know there's truth to what I'm saying." He wanted to reach out to her, comfort her, hold her. But he restrained himself. "You yourself almost drowned last week. Now tell me: how could a swimmer like yourself nearly drown in only six feet of water?"

Her eyes had widened. "How could you possibly know about that?"

"Because I know what's out there. And from the looks of it… something is very angry with your family."

She shook her head. "I can't believe this," she mumbled. She turned around and began to walk away from him. Again.

He caught up to her and touched her hand. She snatched it away like she had been electrocuted. "Candi."

She refused to look at him. "Just let me go," she said.

"Candi, please promise me something."

"What?" she snapped.

He took a deep breath. "Don't go near the water. Don't swim in it, don't dangle your feet over it. Not until we find out what this thing is."

"Not making any promises." She walked even faster, and Gabriel slowed. He let her go. She had reached the point where he could no longer reason with her. Maybe giving her a night to think on it would clear her mind, see some sliver of truth in what he was saying.

He just hoped Sam could find some answers. And soon.

In the meantime, he wasn't letting Candi out of his sight.